Chapter Fifty-One: The Little Beast's Name Is Kunpeng

Chapter Fifty-One: The Little Beast's Name Is Kunpeng

This was already the second time Wu Hong had encountered a beast capable of communicating with him. Yet the wondrous little creature before him, this tiny ball of feathers, could also converse with humans, filling Wu Hong with endless curiosity.

Having once experienced communication with a beast, Wu Hong responded in his mind, “What is your name?”

“What is a name?” The little beast’s squeaky voice sounded in his mind, making Wu Hong chuckle.

Seeing Wu Hong laugh, the little beast became overjoyed as well. On its small, bird-like face, a distinctly human expression appeared, amusing Wu Hong so much that he laughed aloud. He responded again in his mind, “A name is like your species—what kind of creature are you?”

The little beast fell silent for a while. Just as Wu Hong thought it might not even know its own kind, the answer came.

“My kind is called Kunpeng!” The word reverberated in Wu Hong’s mind like a thunderclap.

Wu Hong recalled reading about the Kunpeng in an ancient text: In the Northern Sea, there is a fish, its name is Kun. The Kun is so vast, no one knows how many thousand miles it stretches. It transforms into a bird, its name is Peng. The Peng is so immense, its size too is unfathomable...

A long-forgotten memory surfaced in Wu Hong’s mind.

But as he looked at the little vulture-like chick in his hand, he simply could not reconcile it with the legendary Kunpeng.

“Well then, let me give you a name. From now on, you’ll be called Kunkun!” Wu Hong sent the idea to the little Kunpeng, who, upon hearing its new name, hopped and bounced with delight, immediately leaping onto Wu Hong’s shoulder.

Wu Hong smiled, glanced around the cave, gathered some Monkey Wine, and strode toward the exit.

Those blocking the cave parted to let him pass, none daring to stop him until he disappeared into the crowd.

“What was he doing in the cave? The Inborn Manual is right there on the table, and instead he comes out with a strange bird!”

All were left in confusion at the cave’s entrance; for a moment, they forgot even the lure of the legendary manual.

“Ha! If you don’t want the Inborn Manual, this old man won’t stand on ceremony!” Suddenly, an old man darted into the cave from the crowd. The others, startled, shouted and rushed after him, plunging into chaos and fierce fighting.

Blood splattered, rocks collapsed, and the Monkey Mountain cave was utterly destroyed in the mayhem. The combatants fought desperately, the air filled with the cries of battle.

Wu Hong stood atop a low hill, gazing upon the frenzied struggle in Monkey Valley, shaking his head helplessly.

Why must people fight so relentlessly?

This small world was vast beyond measure. Though there were rumors of those who had reached the Realm of Rebirth, they were just rumors—no one truly knew if such beings existed.

During his days here, Wu Hong had heard that this small world stretched tens of thousands of miles to the southernmost edge.

With no other choice, Wu Hong and the little beast journeyed alone, climbing every mountain, exploring every cave, leaving no dangerous place unchecked.

Along the way, Wu Hong encountered countless powerful and rare beasts, yet he never harmed a single one.

When tired, the man and beast would rest beneath a great tree; upon waking, they would press on southward. Though the days were monotonous and repetitive, Wu Hong found he could adapt; there was no strife, no scheming, and his heart grew tranquil.

One day, Wu Hong reached the edge of a vast lake. Its expanse was so great that the far shore was nowhere in sight, more like a sea than a lake. Yet the surface was as calm as a well, without a ripple, so Wu Hong deemed it a lake.

Wu Hong could not swim, nor could he build a proper boat. Had he been traveling with others, perhaps there would have been some way to cross, but he journeyed alone.

The experts and adventurers of the martial world were all still embroiled in the struggle for the Inborn Manual in Monkey Valley; the truly powerful had long since headed south ahead of him.

Calculating the time since entering this small world, Wu Hong realized with surprise that half a year had already passed.

He wondered if anyone had found a way out.

Unable to think of any means to cross the lake, Wu Hong walked to a huge tree, its trunk so massive it would take a dozen men to encircle it. With a single slash, the tree thundered to the ground.

Carving into the trunk, Wu Hong hollowed out a crude compartment just large enough for one person.

After more than an hour, Wu Hong had painstakingly hollowed a large hole in the trunk.

He frowned slightly, wondering if the log would sink once it hit the water.

He trimmed off the branches and, with great effort, rolled the many-ton trunk into the lake, sending up a towering splash.

When the water stilled, Wu Hong saw that the makeshift cabin was submerged while the rest of the log floated unscathed—he had hollowed it too little, so the trunk could not balance in the water.

Left with no alternative, Wu Hong dragged the log ashore and carved the cavity larger.

After an indeterminate length of time, Wu Hong’s simple boat was finally ready.

Using a giant branch as an oar, he paddled across the vast lake.

He rowed for who knows how long; the land disappeared behind him, and all around stretched only endless green water.

Scanning the distance, Wu Hong suddenly spotted a woman floating motionless on the tranquil surface. Shocked, he paddled urgently closer and saw her pale face.

Wu Hong leapt from the boat, driving up towering waves with a mighty step, and swept the woman into his arms, landing back on the bow.

Only then did he look closely at her face—and was stunned. Her beauty could only be described as unrivaled; her features were exquisitely lovely, but what set her apart was an ethereal grace that made all others seem dull by comparison.

She wore a plain blue robe, hair cascading down her back and bound with a silk ribbon, but the aura she exuded was unlike any woman Wu Hong had ever met.

Even unconscious, her extraordinary beauty left Wu Hong momentarily dazed.

He gently lifted her, pressing his palms against her back, and slowly channeled his internal energy into her.

Suddenly, a wild surge of force erupted from within her. Even with Wu Hong’s current cultivation, he could not withstand it—a torrent of power instantly rushed into his body.

With a choking sound, Wu Hong spat a mouthful of blood, splattering her robe with golden-red droplets.

He was stunned. Never before in all his cultivation had he encountered a woman with such profound inner strength.

Wu Hong even wondered whether this wild power was truly internal energy.

Had it not been for the Great Sun Tathagata Sutra in his mind suddenly bursting forth with a flash of light, Wu Hong might have been instantly destroyed by this rampaging force.

He could scarcely imagine anyone in the outside world possessing such internal energy.

Just as Wu Hong was distracted, the Great Sun Tathagata Sutra, which had not manifested in his mind for days, suddenly emerged above his head, radiating a dazzling light that bathed the woman.

What Wu Hong did not notice was that Kunkun, the little Kunpeng, had fixed its large eyes unblinkingly on the Sutra floating above.

Golden rays streaked across the sky, piercing even the dark clouds overhead with their invisible brilliance.

The golden light shone ceaselessly upon the woman for many hours until, with a soft sound, the Sutra returned to Wu Hong’s mind.

Yet Wu Hong felt its radiance had grown even brighter.

With a soft sigh, the woman slowly opened her eyes. Her jet-black gaze sparkled like the stars, as if they could draw in one’s very soul.

When she saw Wu Hong and the little beast watching her, she tensed at first.

But after studying Wu Hong for a moment, she relaxed and said coldly, “Was it you who saved me?” Her voice, though icy, sounded to Wu Hong like heavenly music.

For a moment, Wu Hong was stunned. How could a human voice be so beautiful? Though the words faded, their melodious tone continued to echo in his mind.

Seeing Wu Hong staring, the woman grew annoyed and raised her hand as if to slap him, but then, as if recalling something, she let it fall naturally.

Only then did Wu Hong come to himself and say, “Ah! Miss, are you feeling any better?”