Chapter 80: Bitterness in Longma's Heart

Longma jolted in fright and dashed off in panic. But it only managed to turn around before the Little Vajra Monkey grabbed its tail.

"Monkey Brother, please, I was wrong!" Longma screamed, begging for mercy. Yet once the Little Vajra Monkey had caught it, it swung Longma back and forth like a sandbag, smashing it mercilessly from side to side. The tragic cries echoed endlessly in the night.

"Is this... the innate talent of the Vajra Monkey clan?" Qiu Yingying opened her eyes and stared at the Little Vajra Monkey in astonishment.

She had witnessed many techniques of the Vajra Monkey, and thus knew this powerful race possessed the gift of gigantism, allowing their bodies to grow several times—up to tenfold—with their strength increasing accordingly. It was truly formidable.

In her view, the Little Vajra Monkey's normal size should be no bigger than a fist, but now it had surged to two meters tall—clearly using its racial talent.

She was quite curious how Qingxi had managed to lure this juvenile Little Vajra Monkey.

Qingxi watched Longma being pummeled, feeling no pity. Although this creature’s body was originally modified from a fine horse, it had been strengthened after being possessed by the Heavenly Dragon Soul, with much room for growth.

Sometimes, a bit of tough training could be beneficial.

At the very least, it might stop Longma from being so cowardly.

When Longma had finally been smashed enough, Qingxi spoke: "Alright, alright, stop tormenting Longma. It may have thick skin and flesh, but it can’t handle you pounding it like that!"

At Qingxi's words, the Little Vajra Monkey snorted, tossed the trembling Longma to the ground, and its body swiftly shrank back to the size of a fist.

Its domineering aura instantly transformed into an adorable presence, blinking large eyes as it stood obediently atop a stone, pointing at the collapsed Longma and chirping towards Qingxi.

"You dared say I can’t take a beating? That’s so unfair to dragons!" After being battered, Longma found its memory of beast speech had become much clearer; suddenly, it could understand the Little Vajra Monkey’s words, and was so angry its face turned purple.

However, when the Little Vajra Monkey cast a disdainful glance, Longma immediately shrank back, pleadingly looking at Qingxi.

Qingxi suddenly pointed at the night sky and said, "Look at the moon, it’s so big and bright!"

Such clumsy acting left Longma feeling deeply wounded.

Why was the master ignoring it? Could it be… he also found the little monkey so cute he no longer wanted Longma?

No! I am a Heavenly Dragon Horse—how can I be so cowardly? I must be strong! I must not cower!

Longma roared inwardly, eyes blazing with fighting spirit. It sprang up, feeling a surge of warmth within its body, the soreness and pain quickly fading.

Power flooded its frame; it swelled with confidence and glanced sideways at the Little Vajra Monkey, sensing it might now hold its own in a fight.

But as soon as it met the Little Vajra Monkey’s contemptuous gaze, Longma shuddered uncontrollably, quietly turned away, and muttered, "Why is it that even a little monkey can bully a dragon…"

Longma sorrowfully traced circles on the ground with its hoof, looked up at the moon, and tears streamed down its face.

Qingxi gazed at Longma’s desolate silhouette, feeling a bit guilty, but to toughen it up, this was necessary.

Later that night.

Qiu Yingying healed her wounds, and together with Qingxi found a relatively intact ancient building to rest in. "Tonight was a failure. Tomorrow night, we’ll try again," she said, then retreated to the inner room to rest.

Qingxi looked at Longma, who was snoring peacefully beside him, and couldn’t help but chuckle.

This creature certainly had a big heart!

The Little Vajra Monkey lay curled up on Longma’s soft belly, sleeping soundly.

In the deep stillness of night, Qingxi took out a bottle of Essence Condensation Liquid and continued converting vital energy into true energy.

Before breaking through the bottleneck of the Innate Realm, the spiritual energy drawn into the body would only convert into vital energy, not true energy.

Only after breaking through the bottleneck could the spiritual energy absorbed directly transform into true energy.

So now, every bit of true energy used from his sea of energy would be reduced, and unless necessary, Qingxi didn’t intend to use true energy.

As more vital energy was converted, the available vital energy in his sea diminished.

Under such circumstances, not using true energy meant his strength would be greatly diminished.

Therefore, many cultivators who had reached the peak of the Qi Refining stage chose to seclude themselves for long periods until they broke through the bottleneck before emerging.

If not for helping Qiu Yingying acquire the supreme technique, Qingxi would have chosen to stay in seclusion until reaching the Innate Realm.

The night passed quietly.

Thanks to the acceleration of the Essence Condensation Liquid, and the strength of a body comparable to a lower-grade Xuan-rank beast, sixty percent of Qingxi’s vital energy had been converted into true energy.

Watching the morning light streaming through the broken wall, Qingxi stretched lazily and thought, "At this rate, in four more nights, all vital energy will be converted."

"So hungry!" Longma groggily opened its eyes, yawned widely, and then focused its gaze, discovering the Little Vajra Monkey lying on its belly. It jolted in fright.

"Yaya!" The Little Vajra Monkey chirped in a childish voice, displeased at having its dream disturbed.

"If you’re hungry, come with me to find something to eat," Qingxi said, stepping out of the ancient building. He spotted a wild rabbit darting through the grass and followed it.

Seeing his master leave without a backward glance, Longma scrambled after him.

"Yaya!" The Little Vajra Monkey, tossed to the ground, roared in protest. With a light leap, it perched atop Longma’s head, grabbed one ear, and pointed toward Qingxi, ordering Longma in beast speech to follow.

Recalling the terror of last night’s violence, Longma dared not resist and could only follow Qingxi stealthily.

Qiu Yingying emerged from the inner room but did not follow. She had placed a strand of sword energy on Qingxi; unless they encountered a beast of middle Xuan-rank or higher, there would be no danger.

A few hundred meters away.

Qingxi concealed himself behind ruins, left hand forming a claw as vital energy surged forth, forming a golden curved bow. As he drew back the string, a golden arrow was instantly condensed.

With a sharp "crack," the arrow shot out, pinning the rabbit to the ground dozens of meters away.

"Longma, bring back the rabbit," Qingxi released the bow, which dissolved into vital energy and returned to his body.

"Got it!" Longma perked up.

After a night of hunger, it felt it could devour ten rabbits.

Carrying the Little Vajra Monkey, it trotted over, ready to seize the rabbit with its hoof.

But at that moment, a silver net of true energy descended from the sky, enveloping both Longma and the Little Vajra Monkey.

No matter how they struggled, it was futile.

Qingxi, who was about to turn away, saw this scene and his expression changed subtly.

"Ha ha, what a bountiful haul!" A middle-aged man in a blue robe strode out, left hand behind his back, right hand grasping a spiritual thread connected to the net of true energy.

Clearly, he was the one who had cast the net.

The blue-robed man released the aura of the early Innate Realm; the air became oppressively heavy, utterly subduing Longma and the Little Vajra Monkey.

"Why am I so unlucky!" Longma could have cried.

Last night it was bullied by the Little Vajra Monkey; now, wanting just a meal, it was captured.

Is there any Heavenly Dragon Horse in the world living a more miserable life?

If Qingxi knew Longma’s thoughts, he would surely reply earnestly, "No! Because you are the only Heavenly Dragon Horse in the world, so you are the most miserable one."