Chapter 15: Lord Gaoshan! The Gongyang Treasure!
If it had been anywhere else, Jiang Yan would have run at the first sign of trouble.
Safety came first.
But this was Pan’an County, where his grandparents lived—he had to understand the situation.
No matter how dangerous it was, he had to...
Take his grandparents and run together!
With that in mind, Jiang Yan said in a deep voice, “What’s the name of the diseased domain you're from? Who’s the strongest monster there?”
“The place I came from is called Shaolao Mountain. The domain lord is named Lord Gaoshan,” Chen Yu replied honestly.
“What level is Shaolao Mountain? Is it Turbid Stream-level?”
“I don’t understand what ‘Turbid Stream-level’ means. That’s probably how you humans categorize our diseased domains,” Chen Yu carefully glanced at Jiang Yan and continued, “I’ve only heard other monsters say that Lord Gaoshan is a demon general at the Old Talisman stage, commanding hundreds of monsters at Shaolao Mountain. I’m just one of them.”
Old Talisman stage?
Jiang Yan remained calm and said, “Explain the hierarchy of cultivation levels.”
Chen Yu looked at him with some confusion. Though she found it odd—wasn’t this common sense?—she didn’t dare question him and said:
“Unlike humans who have schools to pass on knowledge, monsters inherit memories through their bloodline, which unlock as their strength increases.
I’ve just entered the Transcendent stage as a small monster, which corresponds to the human race’s initial transcendent stage—Spirit Awakening—awakening one’s spirituality. My previous boss, Fly Boy, was a greater monster, corresponding to the human mid-transcendence stage—Foundation Establishment—meaning the planting of transcendent foundations.
Once, a monster stronger than me at the peak of the Spirit Awakening stage challenged him, but was devoured by a swarm of flies in a single clash, leaving only white bones behind.”
At this point, Jiang Yan thought of Commander Lu, who could slice through anything. He wondered who was stronger—Fly Boy or Commander Lu?
“Above that is the Monster Commander, corresponding to the human high transcendent stage—Law Seed stage. At this stage, one gathers the corresponding elemental qi and nurtures a law seed within the foundation. As for the next level, the Old Talisman stage...”
Chen Yu felt Jiang Yan’s probing gaze and smiled bitterly, saying, “You’re giving me too much credit. Low-level monsters like us don’t have the bloodline qualifications to carry such high-level spiritual knowledge. We don’t even have the right to meet Lord Gaoshan. I don’t know what kind of monster he is, but I do know how strong he is.”
“Oh?”
“Because a month ago, while I was patrolling at the foot of Shaolao Mountain, I heard a cold snort that made the earth shake as if a land dragon had stirred—it was an apocalyptic scene.”
As she spoke, Chen Yu’s face filled with terror as she murmured:
“Later, I heard from Fly Boy that someone barged into Shaolao Mountain to meet Lord Gaoshan, causing chaos. Many greater monsters and monster commanders died. It angered Lord Gaoshan, but that person came out unscathed. After that, Shaolao Mountain began nearing the present world.”
“Who was that person?” Jiang Yan asked.
“I never saw her. I just heard she was a human woman,” said Chen Yu.
A human?
Jiang Yan pondered and asked, “Between Lord Gaoshan’s Shaolao Mountain and the Corpse-Dissolution Court, who’s stronger?”
“Of course, it’s the Corpse-Dissolution Court,” Chen Yu answered without hesitation, then explained, “Because Shaolao Mountain is under the Corpse-Dissolution Court’s dominion. Though Lord Gaoshan doesn’t pay tribute to the Court, he still must obey its decrees.
In this deep Historical Long River, the Corpse-Dissolution Court is the top hegemon. Though it rarely descends into the present world, its cavalry has already trampled countless diseased domains and annexed them, growing stronger. Now, it’s comparable to a small world.
Rumor has it that the ruler of the Corpse-Dissolution Court is a great figure related to ancient celestial beings and Buddhas who returned from the dead.”
Jiang Yan nodded, gaining a rough understanding of the Corpse-Dissolution Court. It seemed that extracting special Buddha Oil would not be easy. He then asked, “There was a contact—so Shaolao Mountain has already descended into the present world? Where is it? I’d like to take a look.”
“If Shaolao Mountain were still around, would I have dared to run around? I almost made it, but just as we were about to succeed, Lord Gaoshan turned and glanced back at us monsters. Suddenly, he coughed up blood, ruining everything. He was rejected by the present world and thrown back into the depths of the Historical Long River. I don’t know if someone sabotaged him.
But during the collision between the diseased domain and the present world, a black hole appeared and sucked me in. I woke up here in the present world.”
Chen Yu shook her head.
At this point, she had retracted her white fur and returned to her human female form.
She prostrated herself on the ground, deliberately sticking up her butt. Though her figure wasn’t full, her body was young and enticing.
This was the way beasts—or rather, monsters—expressed submission.
The weak should be dominated by the strong!
She lowered her head like a dog, displaying obedience. Yet, her eyes brimmed with ambition.
Because she realized that the humanoid monster before her emitted a very young aura. Though he didn’t seem to know much about transcendence, he possessed immense strength—and he had specifically compared the Corpse-Dissolution Court and Shaolao Mountain.
What did that mean?
It meant the other party had a very high bloodline level—likely the descendant of a Corpse-Dissolution Court monster commander or even a demon general left behind in the present world.
The golden light that had previously blocked him was, without surprise, likely the rumored Vajravārāhī Tummo Seal.
As for Jiang Yan possibly being human? It was possible, but unlikely.
Because it had personally seen him swaggering down the street with a giant severed monster arm, which now seemed to have come alive, covering his hand and radiating intense malice toward her.
This was definitely a strange monster that could seize the limbs of others.
Unfortunately, it had been fooled by his appearance and, not sensing any powerful aura from him, assumed he was just an ordinary human cultivator—planning to take him down with a sneak attack.
Unexpectedly, it had walked straight into the tiger’s den.
‘He seems calm, but with just one sentence, he exposed his identity. This monster cub is still too green.’
Chen Yu laughed to herself, roughly guessing that he had likely been hiding in human society since childhood and did not yet understand the diseased transformations within the Historical Long River.
If she could just guide him a little, help him transform into a Monster Commander or even a Demon General, then assist the Corpse-Dissolution Court in opening the gateway to the present world, she would definitely earn his favor—perhaps even become his beloved concubine.
By then, she would not only enjoy his handsome looks, but also devour endless amounts of human flesh and blood.
While she was fantasizing about the future, Jiang Yan’s calm voice rang in her ears:
“One last question—how were you born?”
“Me? Of course, I was birthed,” Chen Yu paused briefly, then licked her lips and said, “My mother captured many fathers. Day and night... The last one standing got her pregnant with me. But he was old and lost his charm, so we devoured him.”
“As for my mother, I think it was the same with her. If you're asking about the first monsters, maybe they were born of nature or perhaps from the diseased transformations of the Historical Long River.”
“My lord, I was foolish to offend you earlier. I now willingly submit to you, to be commanded at will,” Chen Yu said seductively, eyes fluttering. “But that’s all I know. This long night... why not let me atone for my sins properly...”
“If you’re useless, then go die.” Jiang Yan’s voice was ice-cold, as he tossed her aside like trash, throwing her next to the Coffin Spirit.
Chen Yu was stunned.
It was the first time she had seen such a cold and ruthless monster, completely indifferent to seduction.
As the Coffin reopened, blood threads spread out like a web, and terror gnawed at her heart like a venomous snake. Her desire to survive peaked.
She didn’t want to die!
So, white fur once again burst from her body—but this time not to attack Jiang Yan.
Because that would be a dead end.
Instead, she shielded her human form with her white-furred body against the encroaching blood threads.
At the same time, a five-foot-tall white figure emerged from her shadow and dashed madly toward the glass window.
Its eyes were wild.
If it could escape, it would indiscriminately attack humans, create chaos, and buy time to flee.
Five meters...
Three meters...
One meter...
Seeing the glass within reach, the white-furred creature’s face lit up with joy. Its claws raised, ready to smash through.
“Vajra Sword!”
With a whispered chant echoing in the room, air currents surged, brushing through the creature’s fur—not with comfort, but with bone-chilling cold.
With a sharp sound—
The white-furred monster was pierced through by golden light and nailed to the wall beside the window.
As the brilliance faded, a unique sword was revealed. Its shape resembled a triple-pronged vajra.
The hilt was carved with a Buddha’s head, though the face was that of a deer. Its sharp antlers curved to form the guard.
The blade was deer-blood red, with three faces nearly two meters long, each inscribed with Sanskrit scripts, quivering slightly as if chanting a Buddhist hymn.
Forged from antlers using Tibetan Buddhist methods, though the Sanskrit Sword Buddha Arm had compressed part of its size, it was still nearly two meters long. It could be used as a sword, a staff, or even thrown as a spear—extremely versatile.
One strike, and blood splattered!
The white-furred monster turned its head with difficulty and saw Chen Yu, now wrapped in blood threads, being gently laid on the bed. In an instant, it understood...
It had been tricked!
“If I didn’t scare you a little, how would you willingly release your possession?” Jiang Yan said with a smile, seeing through its true form.
A white ape.
Covered in white fur, sharp claws, fond of handsome men, heavy makeup, and possessing parasitic and shape-shifting abilities—these traits matched a local folklore from Linping near Hangzhou in Jiangnan Province.
Lady of the Mountain!
This was a white ape-type monster that liked to possess newlywed brides and defile themselves with their handsome grooms day and night, until the victims were drained of all essence and flesh.
If the possession couldn’t be expelled, the only option was to kill the possessed person.
According to legend, Lady of the Mountain would even control the possessed woman to spray her monthly “peach blossom water,” disrupting the spells and tools of the Daoist priests sent to subdue her.
That image was simply too abstract.
But facing Jiang Yan’s intimidation, it had likely lost its senses, mistaking him for a fellow monster, and didn’t think to use that move.
Had it used it...
Jiang Yan really would have been disgusted!
The white-furred monster’s eyes filled with despair as it pleaded, “Please, don’t kill me. You want information about Shaolao Mountain, right? Actually, before descending into the present world, Lord Gaoshan gave all of us monsters a mission.”
“What mission?” Jiang Yan asked indifferently, showing no interest—like he couldn’t care less if she answered or not.
“Lord Gaoshan ordered us to search for a treasure hidden in the present world.”
The white-furred monster had originally planned to keep it vague, but seeing Jiang Yan’s reaction, and especially as its life force rapidly faded, its face twisted in desperation. It roared with all its strength:
“You must know—even if the present world is appealing, not every monster wants to come here. Especially when Lord Gaoshan already rules a diseased domain. As long as the mutation doesn’t deepen or the domain isn’t destroyed, there’s no need to rush into the present world. Coming here risks being targeted by you humans.
This time, Shaolao Mountain approached the present world with help from that human woman. For Lord Gaoshan to take such a risk means the treasure contains something even a monster at the Old Talisman stage would covet.”
Hearing this, a flicker of curiosity appeared on Jiang Yan’s face. He frowned and asked, “Why should I believe what you’re saying isn’t just a lie to save your life?”
“I can tell you the treasure’s origin. It was buried by a high-ranking figure of the Taiping Army surnamed Gongyang. Back then, their forces swept across half the country, looting countless treasures. Even a portion of it would be like a mountain of gold and silver—it’s all hidden there now.
And Lord Gaoshan said there were already many transcendent artifacts among that loot. After being baptized in the Historical Long River, they underwent mysterious transformations.
If you can excavate it, becoming a monster at the Old Talisman stage is entirely possible!” Lady of the Mountain clung to this lifeline, spilling everything she knew.
“Tell me where it is first,” Jiang Yan pressed.
Lady of the Mountain gritted her teeth and said, “I’m not stupid. If you know the location, I’m dead for sure. But I can tell you—it’s somewhere in Jiangnan Province. Let me live, and I’ll help you find it.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yan slowly drew the Sanskrit Sword. Lady of the Mountain rejoiced, “Great! Now quickly get me some human blood food, or I’ll—”
Before she could finish her sentence, the Sanskrit Sword pierced her heart.
At the moment of death, she looked at Jiang Yan in disbelief.
Did this man really feel no temptation over the treasure?
“Idiot. If you knew where the treasure was, wouldn’t you go there yourself and get stronger? Why would you bring it to me as a gift?” Jiang Yan sneered.
The treasure was probably real—such detailed fabrication couldn’t be made up in a short time—but a minor monster wouldn’t know its location.
Especially since she mentioned a human woman entered Shaolao Mountain.
That person couldn’t find the treasure in the present world and had to collaborate with Lord Gaoshan for help.
Either it was extremely problematic—or extremely dangerous.
Even if it was real... so what?
Jiang Yan had the Dark God Embryo inside him.
As long as he had diseased creatures to feed on, his growth would be terrifyingly fast.
There was no need to risk being targeted by mysterious forces for some vague treasure.
The Ash Lamp appeared, extracting Lady of the Mountain’s soul.
In her terrified gaze, it was quickly covered by hordes of Ash Insects, like bees gathering nectar. It rapidly waxed over and transformed into lamp oil in the lamp base.
All living souls could become lamp oil, keeping the flame eternal and nourishing the soul.
Just as her soul was about to fully melt, several streams of aura—gray-blue and entirely different from Lady of the Mountain—spiraled out and hovered in the air.
“What are these things!?”
The moment Jiang Yan saw them, his hair stood on end—as if a terrifying beast had locked eyes on him.
That kind of pressure definitely wasn’t from Lady of the Mountain.
It must have been some kind of curse—or came from an even more terrifying diseased monster.
Fly Boy wouldn’t have that kind of ability. Could it be from the Law Seed stage, or even... Lord Gaoshan?
Was it a mutation caused by long-term proximity—or did he plant a control mechanism in all monsters?
Killing them would trigger it.
Hiss hiss!
While Jiang Yan was deep in thought, the Ash Insects lunged at once, opening their mouthparts and tearing into the gray-blue aura.
In an instant, it was shredded—only a few wisps dissipated into the void, the rest devoured.
The originally pale-gray lamp oil now carried a faint green hue, and the flame burned brighter than ever.
Everything happened—and ended—so quickly that Jiang Yan felt confused by the anticlimax.
Whatever. The result was good.
Jiang Yan willed it, and dark tendrils stretched out, devouring Lady of the Mountain’s corpse and nurturing a new fruit on the Dark Mother Tree.
Before he could examine it, another knock came at the door.
Dong!
Dong dong!
“Mr. Jiang Yan, are you there? I’d like to speak with you in person,” came the raspy, magnetic voice of a man from outside the door.
Again!?
Using the same excuse.
At this hour... and a man?
What is this, the Sichuan Province channel?
Or was another monster from Shaolao Mountain hunting down Lady of the Mountain?
As he stayed alert, the voice outside continued, “Allow me to introduce myself. We’re from the Bureau of Historical Revision. We’d like to speak with you about...”
“What happened this afternoon on Pan’an Old Street.”