Volume One: All Things Awaken, Spring Reigns Through the Four Seasons Chapter Seven: Journey to Mount Putuo in Search of the Divine Treasure
Mo Wen fell into deep thought. Although the official authorities had announced the existence of evolution and mutation, their explanations about mutation were scarce. Mutation was subject to chance and unpredictability; given Zhou Sheng’s current situation, it was impossible to say how things would develop.
“Mo, am I going to turn into a beast? What about Xiaoyu? We promised to get married after graduation, but if this happens…”
Seeing Mo Wen remain silent, Zhou Sheng grew increasingly anxious, his voice hoarse, his face full of bitterness.
Mo Wen carefully touched the hard scales, pinching them between two fingers. He summoned all his inner energy, but the scales remained unscathed. The searing heat of his energy only made Zhou Sheng yelp in pain.
With his flawless body, Mo Wen could pierce steel plates with his bare hands, yet these unremarkable-looking scales didn’t even bear a mark!
“Evolution and mutation are two different paths. Perhaps you have already set foot on the path of mutation. There’s no need to worry; whatever the power, it can ultimately be controlled by humans. For now, don’t practice your inner energy technique. I’ll go consult our chief!”
Mo Wen tried to comfort Zhou Sheng. The only person he could turn to for help now was the chief. Leaving the campus, Mo Wen drove back to the precinct. The light in Su Qiang’s office was still on; he was scribbling industriously, the sound of his fountain pen brushing across the notebook.
“Chief!”
Su Qiang put down his pen and flexed his fingers, a little helpless. “You want another match with me, is that it?”
He misunderstood, thinking Mo Wen had come late at night to spar. Mo Wen quickly explained Zhou Sheng’s situation in a few words.
“The path of mutation is unfathomable. It seems your friend’s body is undergoing bestial transformation.”
After a moment’s thought, Su Qiang added, “Humans aren’t the most superior beings in the world. Mutating into a beast, while retaining human wisdom and gaining an animal’s powerful body—such a thing might not be bad in the future!”
His words carried a deeper meaning. The future? What kind of future?
Pressed for answers, Su Qiang remained tight-lipped. Returning to his dorm, Mo Wen called Zhou Sheng and told him not to act rashly.
Closing his eyes, the black sphere in his heart pulsed with his heartbeat. He silently recited the scripture, letting his inner energy flow and wrap around the black sphere. The sphere seemed to be activated, radiating light, and Mo Wen could sense a feeling of joy emanating from it.
He tried to gently manipulate the sphere with his energy; it seemed to respond to his thoughts, allowing him to control it. Gradually, Mo Wen drew the sphere out of his body and held it in one hand. Suddenly, the cup on his desk vanished into thin air. In his heart, Mo Wen silently commanded, “Return!”
In the next instant, the cup reappeared in its original place. After several repeated experiments, he was finally certain: the sphere could store objects!
The universe within a mustard seed!
Mo Wen was ecstatic. From now on, wherever he went, he could simply stash everything in the black sphere and travel light!
After playing with it a while longer, Mo Wen withdrew his energy and the sphere returned inside him. His mind still whirling with thoughts, he fell into a deep sleep.
After his body became flawless, Mo Wen noticed that while practicing the scripture, his entire body felt clear and transparent, but he made no further progress. According to official explanations, once one achieved a flawless body and their inner energy became refined, it would condense in the mind, opening up the spiritual sea—reaching the Divine Pivot stage.
Although Mo Wen’s inner energy now surged like the tide, he was still at the “Qi” stage. Only by transforming energy into liquid could he open the spiritual sea, which might require a perfect opportunity.
The police department was unusually idle that day. Feeling curious, Mo Wen humbly sought Su Qiang’s advice, only to see him shake his head with a wry smile—he himself had been stuck at the flawless stage for over a year!
Inside the archives, Lin Xi pulled Mo Wen aside mysteriously. She teased him daily, leaving him distracted, so he simply slumped into a chair in resignation. “All right, beast, do your worst!”
Lin Xi burst out laughing, her ample curves shaking as she leaned in close to Mo Wen.
“Come on, Sister Lin, you’re serious?”
Mo Wen feigned a wail. He knew Lin Xi wouldn’t come to him just to flirt—she must have something important to say.
After she’d had her fill of teasing, Lin Xi finally whispered, “Little brother, I know a place that holds a Divine Treasure!”
The so-called Divine Treasure was not literally the treasure of gods. It referred to rare and extraordinary objects, as if bestowed from the heavens, earning the title of Divine Treasure.
Mo Wen remained noncommittal, so Lin Xi tried to tempt him further. “Putuo Mountain in the South Sea, the Guanyin sanctuary. I have a close friend living at the foot of Putuo Mountain. Recently, someone came down from the mountain with a pearl. After swallowing the pearl, they instantly opened their spiritual sea!”
A pearl that could help open the spiritual sea—a dream for anyone stuck at the flawless stage!
Mo Wen was tempted, but after witnessing the dangers on the Huangpu Bridge, he knew that opportunity often came hand-in-hand with peril. Lin Xi made it sound easy, but who knew how dangerous it really was?
“How about the mists of Putuo Mountain? Have those who descended figured out the rules?” Mo Wen pressed. The famed Putuo Mountain, with the world’s resurgence, could not possibly be without new laws.
“Those who descended were hidden cultivators from Putuo Mountain, flawless for years. But in front of dozens of evolvers, they swallowed the pearl and opened their spiritual sea—this is absolutely true! As for the rules, that’s what makes Putuo Mountain different from other sacred peaks. The rules haven’t manifested!”
Lin Xi pondered for a moment before answering.
No rules? Mo Wen frowned, but seeing Lin Xi’s confidence, he began to consider giving it a try.
“So, what does the chief say?”
Seeing Mo Wen’s interest, Lin Xi excitedly dragged him out, her commanding presence on full display. “I’ve already taken care of your leave! If he refuses, I’ll break his bones myself!”
Lin Xi had come fully prepared—even Mo Wen’s high-speed rail ticket was bought. Everything had been arranged, so Mo Wen had no choice but to agree.
From the metropolis to Putuo Mountain, the train sped along, taking only three hours. Putuo Mountain lay on the Zhoushan Archipelago, long known as the southern screen of China in myth and legend.
Guanyin dwells on the Southern Sea, manifesting freely in Zhoushan!
As the train arrived, Lin Xi leaped up and waved from afar. A white BMW pulled up before them. From the driver’s seat stepped a tall, stunning woman wearing sunglasses. Her long hair fell over her shoulders, a blue coat draped past her knees with open buttons, revealing a toned figure with striking curves. Black stockings wrapped her long legs—another rare beauty!
The two women, apparently reuniting after a long time, exchanged profuse compliments before Lin Xi remembered Mo Wen.
“This is my new little brother, Mo Wen—he’s incredible!”
Holding the beauty’s hand, Lin Xi introduced her. “My best friend, Mi Lu. Isn’t she gorgeous? Do you feel tempted?”
Mo Wen didn’t know how to respond. He extended his right hand, shaking Mi Lu’s before releasing it. Lin Xi leaned over to whisper in Mi Lu’s ear, the two women glancing at Mo Wen and giggling.
They got in the car. Lin Xi had planned the entire trip; Mo Wen felt like a mere attendant. In the passenger seat, Lin Xi shamelessly propped her long, slender legs on the dashboard, her casual attire accentuating her figure.
The two women kept up a lively chatter, their bold conversation making Mo Wen blush to the tips of his ears.
They were treating him like he was invisible!
Mo Wen felt indignant, but fortunately, the car soon stopped. It was midday, and the three of them had a casual meal at a charming little restaurant.
“Since the hidden cultivator came down the mountain two days ago, evolvers have been entering the mountain one after another. None have returned, and there’s been no further news!”
Finally, they got to the main topic. Mi Lu explained that Putuo Mountain was currently overflowing with people, most of them evolvers at the Soul Essence stage, with a few flawless ones entering the mountain as well.
Mo Wen sensed something was amiss. According to Mi Lu, there were at least a hundred evolvers who had entered the Putuo Mountain mists, yet not a single one had returned.
Clearly, things were far more complicated than Lin Xi had originally suggested.