Chapter Fifty-Three: Aba

A single blow from the golden brick shattered the giant scorpion’s head. The vitality of poisonous insects is extraordinary; even with its head destroyed, the massive scorpion’s body still convulsed and struggled on the ground, its long legs gouging deep furrows into the earth.

“This is a Shadowwind Scorpion. The largest I’ve ever seen was barely ten feet long, already quite troublesome.” Ji Hao crouched nearby, watching as the burly youth wielded a bronze short blade, deftly slicing open the creature’s carapace. “I’ve never seen a Shadowwind Scorpion grow to such a size before.”

“It has gained sentience,” the brawny youth remarked as he skillfully pried off the scorpion’s entire back shell, revealing the pale silver, slightly translucent flesh beneath.

“Don’t let it go to waste!” Ji Hao’s mouth watered instantly. The Shadowwind and gravel spewed by this giant scorpion had left Ji Hao almost powerless; its strength was comparable to that of a Grand Shaman. Its meat would be a tremendous nourishment for him.

Seeing the burly youth about to discard the scorpion meat, Ji Hao hurriedly leapt onto a nearby banyan tree, picking hundreds of large leaves and spreading them across the ground. The youth chuckled and began cutting the flesh into neat slabs, stacking them carefully on the leaves.

Qing Ying, accompanied by dozens of warriors, approached. The warriors spread out to keep watch, while Qing Ying, curious, moved closer to the scorpion and drew a dagger, fiercely scraping it against the shell.

Sparks flew, and Qing Ying’s dagger was severely dulled, yet the scorpion’s shell remained unmarred.

Ji Hao couldn’t help but exclaim, “What a sturdy shell! Such excellent material—if forged into armor, it would be incredibly durable.”

The burly youth laughed, nodded to Ji Hao, and spoke kindly, “Young friend, it was my carelessness just now—I nearly let this monster injure you. Since you appreciate its value, I shall refine this shell into armor and gift it to you for protection.”

As he spoke, the youth had already sliced open several of the scorpion’s long legs. A green, icy light glimmered, and thirty-six fist-sized transparent beads rolled out from the legs, each bead emerald green. When the morning mountain breeze swept by, they spun and floated into the air.

“Wow?” Qing Ying exclaimed in surprise. “Shadowwind Scorpions grow these beads? I’ve never seen such a thing. Even the most knowledgeable elders in our tribe never mentioned this!”

“Ordinary Shadowwind Scorpions, no matter how large, are just regular poisonous insects; they wouldn’t grow these ‘Scorpion Dragon Pearls’.” The burly youth collected the beads, tucking them into his sleeves, and smiled at Qing Ying. “This one is different—it has gained sentience, absorbed the essence of sun and moon, seized the mysteries of heaven and earth, and thus nurtured thirty-six Scorpion Dragon Pearls within.”

“What are these beads used for?” Ji Hao asked the youth, curiosity in his eyes.

The burly youth gathered the beads, then smiled and nodded at Ji Hao, speaking freely, “My name is A Bao. I am an ascetic, wandering the world, and the Southern Wilderness is the final stop of my journey.”

“I have traveled through the Central Lands, East, North, and West Wilderness, gazing at the stars and occasionally gaining insight. The movements of the stars contain infinite mysteries. I recalled that the ancient Celestial Court once had a great formation named ‘The Primordial Star Transformation of Life and Death’. I wished to emulate the secrets of the stars and craft a treasure. For this, I needed thirty-six thousand Scorpion Dragon Pearls; these are the final thirty-six, and now my collection is complete.”

Ji Hao smacked his lips, staring at A Bao in astonishment.

To verify his insight and forge a treasure, he had to collect thirty-six thousand Scorpion Dragon Pearls—meaning he had to slay a thousand giant scorpions, each as powerful as a Grand Shaman!

How many places had A Bao traversed to gather so many pearls?

How abundant and wild must this ancient continent be, to harbor so many sentient Shadowwind Scorpions in its mountains?

“A thousand giant scorpions… You truly have patience!” Ji Hao said, genuinely impressed.

“A great deal of time was wasted,” A Bao said, scratching his head and smiling honestly. “My master says I squander my focus on playthings, wasting much of my cultivation time. If I weren’t so obsessed with crafting treasures, my cultivation would be far greater. But if I didn’t forge treasures and only practiced asceticism, what joy would there be?”

Ji Hao gave A Bao a thumbs up; his words made perfect sense.

Cultivation is the process of refining one’s heart, aligning it with the natural world. A Bao follows his heart, immersed in crafting treasures; one might say he wastes his talent, but isn’t this, too, a path of cultivation?

The warriors carried the scorpion meat, singing songs of the Southern Wilderness as they led the way. Ji Hao dragged the empty shell, chatting eagerly with A Bao as they walked toward Cold Stream Valley.

A Bao, having traveled countless lands, possessed astonishing knowledge; his descriptions of landscapes were full of wonders unimaginable in the Southern Wilderness. For example, the endless seas of the Eastern Wilderness, the vast Northern Abyss, the strange poverty of the Western Wilderness, and the bustling Central Lands.

“Ji Hao, the world is vast. You must travel and see it, to honor the body that heaven and earth have bestowed upon you,” A Bao said, his character bold and straightforward, shining with optimism. In a short time, he already regarded Ji Hao as a friend.

“If I have the chance, I will certainly leave the Southern Wilderness,” Ji Hao replied earnestly. “I want to see for myself what this world truly is… A Bao, you said the Central Lands are bustling—what are they like now?”

A Bao frowned and shook his head vigorously. “When I last passed through, the chaos was at its peak. Each day, thousands met disaster; countless women were violated, countless children enslaved or killed.”

He pressed his lips together, his expression dim. “A Bao’s strength is limited. I have saved many, but cannot save everyone. In this world, I am but a humble ascetic; saving the world is beyond my meager abilities.”

“The Central Lands—I’ve heard of them; the grandest, most majestic region between heaven and earth!” Qing Ying said curiously. “A Bao, as you describe it, it’s just as disorderly as the Southern Wilderness!”

“Far more chaotic than the Southern Wilderness!” A Bao replied sternly. “The Southern Wilderness is a peaceful, harmonious haven compared to that.”

Having just fought fiercely with the Blood Fang Gang and the Blackwater Serpent Tribe, with so many dead and wounded, such chaos—and yet the Southern Wilderness is considered a haven?

Ji Hao’s blood surged—he yearned to see the Central Lands for himself, to witness what kind of world existed there.

Cold Stream Valley came into view. From a distance, Ji Hao raised his head and called out, “Father, Mother, we have an honored guest! Bring out the wine and roast meat to welcome him!”

He paused, then added with a smile, “A guest from beyond the Southern Wilderness!”

The long bone horn sounded; a squad of Fire Crow Tribe warriors opened the heavy gates on the defensive wall and marched out in formation.

***

A Bao!

Caw caw, raising my claws, asking for your recommendation votes!