Chapter 45: The Valley of the Precipice
Chapter 45: The Valley of the Precipice
Ji Xinghuo and his companions made their way to the edge of the cliff, gazing into the distance at the vast expanse of steep peaks that lay before them.
While none of the mountains were particularly tall, most rising below 500 meters with a small number exceeding 1,000 meters, the tallest peak visible in the horizon stood at a height of over 2,000 meters.
However, almost every mountain exposed nothing but bare rock.
The terrain was extremely treacherous, with a chaotic arrangement of cliffs, stone pillars, and platforms, all covered in lush greenery and jungle. Deep ravines crisscrossed the landscape, with streams flowing gently through them, and patches of mist hovering in the valleys. In the distance, they could even spot floating peaks that seemed to belong in a celestial realm.
Ji Xinghuo was reminded of the karst landforms on Earth, the most famous being the Tianmen Mountain scenic area.
But this place before him was even more majestic and awe-inspiring.
"The Valley of the Precipice!"
"I've heard about this place before, and now I finally get to see it with my own eyes," Chi Zhonglin exclaimed.
Chi Zhonglin, or Pool of Scales, as his name translated, rummaged through his backpack and pulled out an old-fashioned film camera. He began snapping photos of the breathtaking scenery in the distance.
Ji Xinghuo was intrigued. "What kind of camera is that? How does it work?"
"It's an old film camera that doesn't need electricity. It uses a mechanical shutter and a single-use flashbulb, and it really tests your photography skills," Chi Zhonglin explained as he clicked away, capturing several shots. Turning to Ji Xinghuo, he asked, "Xinghuo, do you want me to take some pictures of you? I can develop the photos when we get back, and you can keep them as souvenirs."
"Sure, why not?" Ji Xinghuo readily agreed, intrigued by the idea of a new experience.
He followed Chi Zhonglin's instructions and turned his back to the valley, facing the camera. He struck a pose with his right hand forming a scissors shape and a smile on his face.
"Move a little closer, lift your head, and relax your smile. Be more natural," Chi Zhonglin directed.
"Okay, okay..." Ji Xinghuo adjusted his pose.
"Perfect, hold that pose and don't move."
"Ready? 3, 2, 1!"
Click!
The flash illuminated the scene, capturing the moment forever on film. Chi Zhonglin directed Ji Xinghuo to a few different spots and took dozens of photos, until he finished the roll of film.
Ji Xinghuo watched as Chi Zhonglin skillfully handled the camera with an air of professionalism. "Zhonglin, are you a professional photographer?" he asked, curious.
"It's my hobby," Chi Zhonglin replied with a hint of pride. "Film cameras are the most traditional photography equipment. They possess a classical beauty. A true master photographer is one who can capture excellent photos with a film camera."
Ji Xinghuo saw a rare seriousness in Chi Zhonglin's eyes—a mix of solemnity and passion—as he spoke about his hobby.
Although Ji Xinghuo didn't fully understand, he could appreciate the sentiment.
In this era, most people had their own hobbies.
Even the most niche interests could form communities, bringing like-minded individuals together. These communities formed the fabric of the Asia-Pacific community, giving rise to countless "amateur experts," commonly known as "Hobby Masters."
Ren Mian and Jiang Nan Caiyi were already aware of Chi Zhonglin's passion for photography, so they weren't surprised.
"Would you two like to take some photos as well?" Chi Zhonglin offered.
Ren Mian shook her head.
"Zhonglin has taken plenty of photos of me in the past," Jiang Nan Caiyi declined as well.
"You can take some together with Xinghuo," Chi Zhonglin suggested.
Intrigued, Jiang Nan Caiyi glanced at Ji Xinghuo, who didn't object, and happily stood beside him. Together, they posed for over a dozen photos.
"I'd like to take a photo with Xinghuo as well," Ren Mian said as she stepped forward and stood next to Ji Xinghuo.
Click!
The moment was immortalized on film, a timeless memory.
"Alright, let's get down to business," Ren Mian said, signaling Chi Zhonglin to put away his camera. "For the next half month, we'll be exploring the Valley of the Precipice. Our goal is clear: to find the Stone Sickle Giant Ape."
Chi Zhonglin's face betrayed his skepticism. "Are you sure there's a Stone Sickle Giant Ape here?"
"I've received information from three separate sources, all indicating that someone has spotted the Stone Sickle Giant Ape in the Valley of the Precipice. The chances of it being true are over ninety percent. We have to give it a shot," Ren Mian asserted as she pulled out a map detailing the geographical layout of the valley and pointed to their current location.
Chi Zhonglin gazed at the endless sea of stone peaks and valleys, sighing, "The Valley of the Precipice is so vast. Trying to find a single Stone Sickle Giant Ape in here is like searching for a needle in a haystack. It all depends on luck."
"Yeah..."
Ji Xinghuo nodded in agreement.
He had already heard about their hunting target from Ren Mian the day before.
The Stone Sickle Giant Ape was an omnivorous beast that resembled a baboon.
However, it was far more terrifying than a baboon. It was larger, stronger, and faster, possessing four arms. It was exceptionally adept at climbing rocks and trees, and by nature, it was vicious and preferred to live in groups. It possessed a degree of low-level intelligence, capable of setting traps and ambushing its prey. Once you encountered one, the entire group would swarm you.
When the Stone Sickle Ape awakened as a monster, it gained either the "Stone Sickle Claw" or "Rock Skin" ability.
The former was a superior ability, but it held little value.
It transformed its hands into a pair of hard and sharp stone claws resembling sickles, which packed a powerful punch. However, since this ability wasn't part of any job template, very few people would fuse with it, making it difficult to sell for a high price.
On the other hand, "Rock Skin" was a basic ability that some beast tamers would try to fuse with to enhance their defense.
But it wasn't very valuable either, fetching only around two to three thousand dollars.
Nevertheless, if a Stone Sickle Ape continued to grow and evolve into an elite monster, it would become the super-class monster known as the Stone Sickle Giant Ape, with a high probability of awakening a super-limit ability—Earthquake Pulse!
Earthquake Pulse was the core ability of the "Earth Walker."
The larger the number of monsters, the greater the chance of an exceptional one emerging from their midst, and the more formidable it would be.
Superb monsters not only awakened innate abilities from their genes but could also, like sentient beings, fuse with exotic species to master a broader range of abilities.
The Stone Sickle Giant Ape was one such monster.
"We're here to take a chance and see what we can find." Ren Mian smiled. "The Valley of the Precipice isn't just home to the Stone Sickle Apes. They're merely the most dominant group here. There are also hundreds of other monster species, and who knows, we might stumble upon something else."
"Let's go in."
A moment later, Ji Xinghuo and his companions climbed over the cliff and entered the Valley of the Precipice.
Despite its name, the valley was a continuous expanse of mountains. As they ventured further, all they could see above were towering peaks and sheer cliffs, with dense forests and hidden ravines alongside them. The terrain was incredibly complex, damp and hot, with mist hanging in the air, making it easy to get lost if one wasn't careful.
This place was a paradise for adventurers but a hell for ordinary people.
"Go around that tree." Ji Xinghuo pointed ahead to a thick, green snake coiled in the shadows of the tree canopy, its body thicker than an arm, making it hard to spot amidst the foliage.
"Iron Arrow Green," Chi Zhonglin commented, sidestepping to avoid the snake.
This snake wasn't venomous, but it had rough and thick skin. It liked to hide in trees and pounce on its prey like an arrow. If it evolved into a monster, it would likely awaken the "Iron Scales" ability, which would make it much more valuable.
As they walked, a large millipede scurried out from the grass, baring its fangs and claws. Chi Zhonglin stomped on it, crushing it instantly. "This place looks nice from the outside, but being inside is pure torture."
Ji Xinghuo nodded in agreement, sharing the same sentiment.
His magnetic field senses picked up on numerous life forms in the vicinity.
Poisonous snakes, insects, mosquitoes, birds, and various small animals were everywhere, from the trees to the ground, and in the crevices and dark corners. Even within a hundred meters, the number of hidden creatures was countless, their magnetic fields intertwining in a chaotic mess.
Ren Mian was familiar with this environment and remained unfazed.
Jiang Nan Caiyi, however, felt a bit scared. Women naturally feared insects and snakes, and it was hard to overcome this psychological shadow even as an extraordinary being.
Suddenly, Ji Xinghuo paused.
He looked to the right, about a kilometer away, where several long, strip-like platforms were visible on a cliff about a hundred meters below the peak. Many humanoid creatures were sitting or crawling on these platforms, foraging in the trees for food.
They plucked wild fruits and tender leaves, digging up plant roots and stems to eat.
"Stone Sickle Apes." Ji Xinghuo observed them closely.
The Stone Sickle Apes did resemble baboons, but they were much larger. Even when sitting, they were about a meter and a half tall. Their bodies were covered in short, sparse hair, revealing their tough, brown skin that resembled rocks.
They had human-like facial features, with long heads, protruding mouths, and deep-set eyes that shone with a blood-red hue.
The most distinctive feature was their four sturdy arms.
Each palm was disproportionately large, with four long, sharp fingers that could easily dig into the earth or sever tree trunks.
When standing, the Stone Sickle Apes were nearly two meters tall. With their four arms and two legs working together, they climbed cliffs with incredible speed and agility, as if they were running on flat ground. As they moved, their tails would become visible, longer than their bodies and incredibly flexible. These tails resembled scaly snake tails, ending in a spear-like blade.
Ren Mian also spotted this group of Stone Sickle Apes.
She studied them for a moment but couldn't make out the details from this distance, so she said, "Let's get closer without alerting them."
The team stealthily approached the cliff where the Stone Sickle Apes were located and stopped about two hundred meters away.
"Xinghuo?" Ren Mian looked at him questioningly.
Ji Xinghuo shook his head slightly.
He had already sensed the situation with his magnetic field earlier. This group of Stone Sickle Apes wasn't small, numbering over forty individuals. Among them were six that had evolved into monsters, led by an elite Stone Sickle Ape. However, there was no sign of the Stone Sickle Giant Ape.
Chi Zhonglin looked a little disappointed and asked, "Should we make a move?"
"Never mind," Ren Mian replied, shaking her head. "Stone Sickle Claws and Rock Skin aren't in high demand, so there's no point in hunting them. Besides..."
She glanced up at the sheer cliff, "...it's not easy to kill Stone Sickle Apes in a place like this. Making too much noise might attract other unwanted attention."
"That's true. I don't really want to fight them anyway," Chi Zhonglin admitted.
Ji Xinghuo was actually quite interested in the Stone Sickle Apes, as killing monsters would yield spiritual source energy. However, since his teammates weren't keen on engaging, he didn't want to cause trouble.
The group turned back and put some distance between themselves and the Stone Sickle Apes before continuing deeper into the Valley of the Precipice.
(End of Chapter)
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