All Things Are Contracts

Chapter 232: Ascending Monkey Mountain (2)

The forest fire was quickly extinguished by the white monkey’s power. It returned to the depths of the forest with its spoils, examining the items in its hands. The Thunder-Controlling Divine Whip seemed like a good thing, so it kept it to play with. As for the wood and the mirror, it decided to bury them as before.

Soon after, the white monkey arrived at its den deep in Monkey Mountain. It moved aside a grass mat, then dug up the soil beneath, where it had buried many things it had collected, including that mirror it found disgusting.

After digging up the pit, an identical mirror lay in the soil. Looking at the mirror in the pit and then at the one in its hand, the white monkey’s eyes clouded with confusion. But it couldn’t be bothered to think too much and threw the wood and the new mirror into the pit as well. Then it covered everything with soil, placed the grass mat on top, and lay down to sleep. This way, no one could take these things away.

After waiting for a long time, Zhanyue sensed that his avatar had stopped moving and carefully tunneled towards its position. However, even while burrowing, he couldn’t escape the white monkey’s perception. The white monkey suddenly awoke and charged towards Zhanyue.

Seeing the white monkey appear, Zhanyue dealt with its attacks while quickly retreating. Once he had put some distance between them, he activated his avatar technique again. The purple wood buried in the soil transformed into the Ghost Shark avatar, taking the mirror from the soil and fleeing in another direction.

“Ah~” The white monkey let out a fierce cry. It sensed something appearing in its den and abandoned Zhanyue to rush back.

“Trying to escape? Your opponent is me!” Zhanyue controlled his flying sword to block the white monkey. Even with its speed, the monkey couldn’t outpace the flying sword.

The white monkey still held Zhanyue’s Thunder-Controlling Divine Whip, using it to fend off the flying sword. Sensing the thief in its lair getting further away, the monkey became anxious. The whip in its hand now seemed cumbersome, so it threw it forcefully. Zhanyue caught it steadily.

“You’re quite polite for a beast, understanding the principle of returning lost items to their owner,” Zhanyue joked. But the white monkey was now truly angry. It distanced itself and hugged the mirror from its back.

Zhanyue knew what it was about to do and quickly used his earth-burrowing technique to escape. With his ability to fly and burrow, although he couldn’t defeat the white monkey, it wasn’t easy for the monkey to hit him either.

Watching Zhanyue escape and sensing another presence also fleeing beyond its perception, the white monkey screamed to the sky, venting its fury. All the monkeys on the mountain went crazy, searching everywhere for traces of Zhanyue and his avatar. However, Zhanyue naturally wouldn’t stay there any longer.

Soon after, he successfully rendezvoused with his avatar. Their coordination on this trip had been perfect, as they were, after all, the same person. Zhanyue, holding the divine artifact, returned to the Spirit Eye Clan’s territory, feeling satisfied.

In the Spirit Eye Clan’s territory, Chief Ming Guang paced back and forth, worried about Zhanyue’s safety. Nearby, Yunyao sat cross-legged, meditating with her eyes closed.

“Aren’t you worried?” Chief Ming Guang couldn’t help but ask, seeing Yunyao so calm.

“What’s the use of worrying? If he can do it, he’ll do it. If not, we’ll think of another way,” Yunyao replied.

“I mean, aren’t you concerned for his safety? What if he never returns, or comes back insane? What then?” Ming Guang said. This had happened many times before.

“Others went to eliminate the Disaster Beast, but Zhanyue has a different purpose. He’ll try his best to avoid conflict with the Disaster Beast. I trust him,” Yunyao answered.

Chief Ming Guang sighed, “Let’s hope so.”

Not long after, Zhanyue stood before them, unharmed.

“You… how did you return so quickly?” Ming Guang asked, puzzled. It hadn’t even been a full day. Could it be that Zhanyue hadn’t dared to ascend Monkey Mountain?

“Mission accomplished,” Zhanyue placed two mirrors in front of Chief Ming Guang.

“This… this…” Ming Guang was shocked to see the two mirrors. Had he really retrieved the divine artifact from the Disaster Beast so quickly? The chief was thoroughly convinced now. As expected of celestial beings who could eliminate the Fear Beast. This time, they might truly succeed.

“Can you tell which of these mirrors is the divine artifact?” Zhanyue asked.

Ming Guang nodded, “Yes.” He picked up one of the mirrors and looked at his reflection. “The divine artifact shows a clearer image, but you shouldn’t look for too long. Gazing too long can make you feel dizzy. The replica doesn’t have this ability.”

“I see.” Zhanyue picked up the divine mirror and looked. Indeed, his reflection was crystal clear, every pore visible. It seemed as if his eyesight had improved.

“Now that we’ve retrieved the mirror, let’s begin the artifact recognition ceremony,” Chief Ming Guang said.

“This divine artifact needs recognition?” Zhanyue asked, confused.

“Of course. Otherwise, how would the artifact automatically return to its box when its owner dies? Currently, it’s still bound to our ancestor, who isn’t dead, so the mirror didn’t return automatically. Now that you want to use this artifact to eliminate the Disaster Beast, it naturally needs a new owner. Which of you will it be?” Ming Guang asked the two.

Zhanyue was about to speak when Yunyao cut in, “I’ll do it. Last time you took the risk, this time it’s my turn.”

They both knew that whoever became the artifact’s owner would be the core of the attack and in more danger. Moreover, this mirror wasn’t exactly a lucky item – its owners either died or went mad.

“If that’s the case, then you do it,” Zhanyue didn’t argue. After all, Yunyao was the successor of the Great Emperor. He shouldn’t underestimate her.

“How do I become its owner?” Yunyao asked. The old owner wasn’t dead yet, so could a new owner directly take over?

“The method is simple. You just need to look into the mirror and recite the incantation on this box,” Chief Ming Guang brought over the wooden box that housed the divine artifact. Indeed, an incantation was carved on the bottom of the box.

“Alright.” Yunyao picked up the divine mirror and looked at herself. The mirror reflected her otherworldly beauty. She paused, surprised at how clear the mirror was. She didn’t realize she was this beautiful.

“Hey, what are you spacing out for? Don’t tell me you’re mesmerized by your own reflection,” Zhanyue teased from the side.

Yunyao came to her senses and picked up the wooden box. She recited the mysterious incantation on the back: “Clear mind, still heart. Mirror me, not me. True self enters mirror, mind clear, heart still.” This eight-character incantation was in the language of the Myriad Spirits Realm, which she could naturally read. She was now more certain that the person who forged the seven divine artifacts was a predecessor from the Myriad Spirits Realm, perhaps even the Void Emperor himself.

As the divine mirror emitted a beam of light, the new ownership was successfully established.

“How do we use this divine artifact?” Yunyao asked.

Chief Ming Guang shook his head, “I don’t know. This artifact seems to only be able to reflect things.”

But Zhanyue asked, “That Disaster Beast also has a mirror that can emit a strange divine light. Can this artifact defend against that light?”

Ming Guang hurriedly shook his head, “No, no, absolutely don’t do that. Everyone who went up Monkey Mountain thought of this, and surely some tried it, but without exception, they all failed!”

Zhanyue’s gaze sharpened. He realized he had guessed wrong. So how should this mysterious mirror be used?

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A day later, Zhanyue once again set foot on Monkey Mountain, this time with Yunyao accompanying him. They couldn’t afford to wait. There were still many Disaster Beasts to deal with. Rather than guessing, it was better to gain insights through actual combat.