Chapter 44: Breaking Through the Monkey's Pass (Part 2)

Though the male disciple was somewhat talkative, his hands and feet were nimble. He made a note in the ledger, handed back her identity token, and told her she could enter on her own.

Since Zhao Chun was seeking to achieve a state where her body could move as her mind willed, she naturally prioritized movement techniques and chose the "Forest Piercing" trial.

As she broke through that small opening, Zhao Chun did not dare lower her guard. Her feet never stopped moving as she leaped forward with great speed.

After passing through the small opening, the gray mist suddenly thickened, abruptly shrinking her vision to a mere two or three meters in front of her. She had to probe her way forward inch by inch before she could leap forward with confidence.

The stone forest was rugged, yet not entirely barren; strange branches and green pines clung to the cliff walls in various postures. Most vexing of all was the damp climate, which caused vines to climb the stones and moss to cling to them. Even when Zhao Chun used the stones to gain leverage, she still had to be careful not to slip and fall.

Just as she had cautiously navigated through three or four layers of stone fans, a dark shadow suddenly lunged from the right.

It was here!

She did not dare relax, gripping her Crimson Edge Dagger in front of her in a posture of utmost defense.

The Shadow Monkey was quite lifelike, with even its fine fur clearly visible. However, with its crimson eyes and a mouth full of sharp fangs, it was obvious that it was not a friendly creature.

As soon as it appeared, it repeatedly charged at Zhao Chun, attacking with both hands and mouth. The Shadow Monkey was only about eighty percent the size of an ordinary ape, making it even more agile. Its claws were so sharp they were chilling; Zhao Chun did not dare let it get close and could only swing her blade to defend herself.

However, while the creature was incredibly fast, its strength was not great; a single strike from Zhao Chun could send it flying four or five meters away. She finally seized an opportunity when a Shadow Monkey was sent tumbling back, lunging forward to slash it across its abdomen, splitting it completely in two!

There was no scene of flying flesh and blood; instead, the Shadow Monkey dissolved into two clouds of black mist and vanished in an instant.

Zhao Chun did not waste time and continued forward. The further she went, the more Shadow Monkeys appeared. Often, as soon as she killed one, another would arrive, as if they were coming in an endless stream.

Fortunately, they always attacked one at a time rather than in groups.

Having killed many monkeys, she had summarized a few key points: the threat of the Shadow Monkeys lay entirely in their claws and teeth. Even a mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivator would likely be torn apart if caught once. However, once their claws and teeth were avoided, their bodies were like fish on a chopping block, easily broken by a single strike.

Though they were easy to kill, the constant onslaught of Shadow Monkeys still presented significant obstacles to Zhao Chun. She had been in the stone forest for nearly half an incense stick's time, yet she still did not know where she was or how much progress she had made. She had spent all her energy fighting the Shadow Monkeys, and her speed of advancement was growing slower and slower.

Yet, if she ignored them, the Shadow Monkeys would only increase in number, and Zhao Chun, being on constant guard, feared she might eventually injure herself.

It was unclear how much time had passed or how many she had killed. Her limbs felt as if they had been poured with molten iron, and even her consciousness grew murky; she knew only to continuously dodge, swing her blade, and run forward.

When she finally passed through another small opening and her vision suddenly cleared, she was drenched in sweat and collapsed onto the ground, exhausted.

Zhao Chun took out a pill to restore her energy and regulated her breathing for several moments before crawling up from the ground. Her clothes, having been treated with a dust-proofing spell, did not pick up any grime, but the sensation of them clinging wetly to her body was unpleasant.

With a casual flick of a cleansing technique, she felt her body become dry. Zhao Chun looked up to observe where she had arrived.

The small opening behind her was likely the exit of the stone forest. She had indeed made it out. Beside her stood an old pine tree in a welcoming posture, its trunk rough and wrinkled like a kind old face. Beneath one of its protruding branches hung a stone tablet, its surface as smooth as a mirror, inscribed with

*Zhao Chun, Mid-stage Qi Refinement, Eight Ke.*

This must be the time she had taken.

Eight *ke*? Zhao Chun frowned. A full hour. This result was far too slow; looking at the rankings, the fastest times were within a hundred breaths.

Turning back from the path beside the old pine, she arrived below the small pavilion where she had started. Zhao Chun darted up again, only to find that the male disciple was gone, replaced by a short, stout old man standing there.

"Where is the one who was on duty just now?"

The old man scratched his head and replied with a smile, "You mean Tu An? He only works the day shift; he has already handed over his duties."

Only then did Zhao Chun notice that the sky had darkened and a bright moon had risen, hanging among the treetops. She had set out in the afternoon and had been delayed on the way, so it was indeed late. Furthermore, the area near the Three-Part Stone Forest was always shrouded in gray mist, making it difficult to tell day from night.

"Is there anywhere nearby to rest?" This stone forest was a dangerous place, and she feared she would have to come dozens more times. If she could rest nearby, it would save her the trouble of traveling back and forth.

The old man gave her a surprised look but did not ask questions, replying directly, "Go right from this small pavilion and you will see a row of stone cave dwellings. One Essence Stone will allow you to stay for ten days."

That was quite cheap. Zhao Chun thanked the old man, only to hear him ask, "Are you the one called Zhao Chun? How long did it take you?"

Standing at the entrance, Zhao Chun held up a single finger. "One hour."

The hand of the old man stroking his beard paused slightly. After a long silence, he whispered, "Eight *ke*... quite the talent..."

Upon leaving, she easily found the cave dwelling he mentioned. She placed an Essence Stone into the small hole in front of the door, which swallowed it instantly, and then the cave door opened to welcome her in.

The interior was simple, containing only a stone table, two stone stools, and a stone bed at the very back, with clean bedding. Zhao Chun took a prayer mat from her storage bag, sat cross-legged upon it, and began her nightly cultivation.

Although her first passage through the stone forest had been quite wretched, she had gained much from it—especially toward the end, where it felt as if her consciousness and body had merged, allowing her to act and kill enemies without even having to think.

However, the moment she emerged from the stone forest, that wonderful sensation vanished. Zhao Chun pursed her lips; she would have to practice more.

When she rose the next morning, her entire body felt heavy with fatigue. Zhao Chun stretched her limbs, feeling a long-awaited sense of relief. After tidying her clothes, she headed toward the small pavilion.

Tu An had long since started his shift. Seeing Zhao Chun arrive again today, he let out a long "Eh?" and asked, "You're coming again today?" As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized he had been too nosy; if she wasn't coming back, why would she bother with the pavilion?

"Did you pass yesterday?"

"I did."

His eyes widened and his mouth hung open in shock. "You really passed? How long did it take?"

Zhao Chun replied, "Too slow. Eight *ke*—a full hour."

Tu An took a deep breath, his irritation rising. He said angrily, "You're pulling my leg! You call that slow? Do you have any idea how many people fail to pass and come out carried out horizontally? Even those who pass take several hours and end up covered in wounds. You, on the other hand, look like you haven't sustained a single scratch, and you're back again today!"

He leaned in and whispered, "Tell me the truth, I won't laugh at you. Did you actually pass?"

Zhao Chun brushed him aside with a palm and raised an eyebrow. "An elder recorded it last night. Go check for yourself."

Recording in the ledger required cross-referencing with the stone tablet under the pine tree, making errors unlikely. Tu An knew this, but Zhao Chun's result was so astonishing that it piqued his playful side. He muttered, "Can't even make a joke."

"Is the Three-Part Stone Forest extremely difficult?"

She asked Tu An, having a vague inkling that her result was actually quite good.

Tu An nodded repeatedly. "Among the thirty-six dangerous areas of the Lingzhen Sect, the Stone Forest is the most perilous. That's why few people have come here in recent years. Other places are dangerous due to terrain, miasma, or temperature, but this place is dangerous because of the Shadow Monkey Array. If an accident occurs, you might not lose your life, but losing limbs or becoming disabled is a real possibility."

Zhao Chun knew well that the Shadow Monkeys' claws and teeth were even more lethal than ordinary weapons; they were indeed very dangerous. Among speed and strength, she excelled in speed, which was likely the key to her successful "Forest Piercing."

She took a cloth bag from her sleeve and tossed it to Tu An as she walked toward the exit. "There are one hundred Essence Stones inside. Record another five attempts for me."

Tu An weighed the bag and whispered, "She's not very tall, but she's certainly a complete eccentric..."

"I can hear you."

Zhao Chun's voice drifted in from outside, startling him so much that he ducked behind the counter.