Editor:Â EndlessFantasy Translation
For an emperor, the peril in the wilderness wasnât as daunting.
Unless facing a beast emperor, it was rare for an emperor to meet their demise.
The emperor-level spirit beasts typically resided in restricted areas.
Navigating the wilderness, Braydon Neal held a map in his hand.
Donta Imperial City lay 60,000 miles away from Machusaâa considerable distance to cover on foot.
He pondered how long it would take him to traverse that distance.
Glancing at a red dot on the map marking a forbidden zoneâthe Flood Dragon Forbidden ZoneâBraydon recalled his past encounters.
Two years ago, he had acquired the God Slaying Bow and vanquished three black flood dragons with as many arrows.
âThe Black Flood Dragons hold a grudge against me,â he mused. âAttempting to capture one as a mount would surely alert the remaining dragons, leading them straight to Donta Imperial City.â
Recognizing the risks involved, Braydon abandoned the idea of capturing a mount from the forbidden area.
Though he wasnât afraid of the creatures, he feared exposure of his whereabouts and potential retaliation from the divine-level characters of the Donta Imperial Dynasty.
He wasnât foolish enough to engage in a solitary battle against the entire dynasty.
Turning his attention to another restricted zone marked on the map, Braydon decided to proceed there directly.
As he ascended into the air, a thunderous roar echoed from the dense forest below.
A colossal black panther, exuding a ninth-level spirit beast pressure, emerged.
Recognizing its formidable presence, Braydon emitted an emperor pressure, causing the panther to cower in fear like a submissive kitten.
Eager to press on, Braydon soared through the air for three thousand miles before landing in a designated locationâYin Feather Mountain.
Throughout the year, a perpetual shroud of white fog enveloped Yin Feather Mountain, obscuring its interior from view.
Despite the limited visibility, the map indicated it was a restricted areaâa probable habitat for a beast emperor.
Intent on securing a beast emperor as his mode of transportation, Braydon ventured into the area alone, cutting through any obstacles in his path.
With his current prowess, Braydon was a formidable force, capable of even challenging a great-success emperor.
If divine-level adversaries did not appear, no one could contain Braydonâs might.
Descending onto Yin Feather Mountain, Braydon was met with a resounding cryâa giant eagle spirit beast, a dominant force among aerial creatures, swooped down.
With wings spanning over a hundred meters, it was a formidable sight.
The misty surroundings surged as the monstrous bird approached, its razor-sharp claws poised for attack.
âPhilippine Eagle!â Braydon murmured.
It was an emperor-level spirit beast.
Braydon braced himself for the encounter.
As he arrived at the mountainâs summit, his attention was drawn to a snow-white fox with three tailsâa charming yet startling sight.
Remarkably, the fox could converse in human language, leaving Braydon momentarily dumbfounded.
The fox addressed Braydon with an unusual query: âHuha, hamit?â
Confounded by the unexpected interaction, Braydon wished for the presence of someone who could decipher the creatureâs wordsâa companion like Little Fool, blessed with the unique ability to communicate effortlessly with all beings, whether human, ghost, or demon.
However, Braydon remained vigilant, recognizing the uniqueness of Yin Feather Mountain.
The enigmatic little fox seemed anything but ordinary.
Legends in Hansworthâs Rare Treasures Record spoke of a divine beast with nine tails, capable of cataclysmic destruction upon maturityâthe resemblance to this fox was uncanny.
Amid Braydonâs contemplation, a delicate melody wafted from a rocky outcrop at the peak.
Someone was playing the pianoâa skill beyond the grasp of spirit beasts, indicating human presence.
Braydon peered through the mist, his curiosity piqued.
âYouâre quite foolish. Yin Feather Mountain is off-limitsâtrespassers meet their end. Donât you know?ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
A faint, feminine voice resonated, tinged with admonishment.
The abrupt halt to the music only heightened Braydonâs astonishment.
The speakerâs command of English hinted at a connection to ancient Hansworth.
Recalling his teacher Finley Yanagiâs teachings about ancient martial artists residing in the ruins, Braydon pondered the significance of this encounter.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Eagle circled menacingly above, poised to strike at any sign of aggression.
While his initial intention was to get a beast emperor as his mount, Braydon hesitated.
If this mountain had anything to do with Hansworth, he would not make any moves against it.
Deciding against drawing his weapon, he introduced himself as a disciple of Mount Sinoâa test to gauge the girlâs reaction.
âMount Sino?â
âWhich Mount Sino?â The girlâs response was soft yet probing.
âThe one and only Mount Sino,â Braydon affirmed, testing her knowledge.
âHas the bronze door reopened?â The girlâs surprise was palpable.
âIt has remained open for many years,â Braydon replied, intrigued by the implications of their exchange.
Braydon clarified the circumstances surrounding his arrival.
The girl resided in Yin Feather Mountain, a remote location tens of thousands of miles from the 16th ancient city.
Few ventured deep into the ruins there, let alone ventured to Yin Feather Mountain.
Consequently, outsiders possessed scant knowledge of the area.
Emerging from the white fog, Sariyah Johannes, clad in blue, cradled the little fox, her inquisitive gaze fixed on Braydon.
Doubt laced her voice as she questioned, âAre you truly a Mount Sino sword cultivator?â
In response, Braydon summoned his vitality, transforming it into 10,000 swords that encircled him in the skyâa display that elicited a warning cry from the Philippine Eagle.
Witnessing this spectacle, Sariyahâs skepticism waned.
âIndeed an outsider sword cultivator. Only the Sword Immortal of Mount Sino commands 10,000 swords, just as the books describe,â she mused.
Unhurriedly, Braydon followed Sariyah into Yin Feather Mountain, where he discovered she was the sole inhabitant.
Alone, save for the Philippine Eagle and the little fox, Sariyah had lived there for nearly thirty years, her family long gone, their graves marking the mountainâs rear.
âHow long were you frozen?â Braydon inquired gently.
âI cannot recall. Itâs a distant memory. My father left me a letter, instructing me to remain in Yin Feather Mountain and avoid venturing beyond its bounds,â Sariyah replied, her recollections hazy.
Since awakening, Sariyah had resided in Yin Feather Mountain with the little fox as her constant companion.
Her upbringing was overseen by the Philippine Eagle, the sole guardian figure in her life.
Details regarding her ancestors were gleaned solely from the letters preserved within ancient tomes.
Yin Feather Mountain, a forbidden domain, was vigilantly safeguarded by a beast emperor.
Over centuries, hardly anyone dared to intrude upon its tranquility, with those who mistakenly ventured into its confines meeting a swift demise at the talons of the Philippine Eagle.