Bill felt curious about his newfound stature.
He had not merely grown another pair of ears after all.
He had grown taller as his limbs had stretched, becoming more human-like in length.
This was expected. His father had told him that the large macaque form he had seen was merely an incarnation, and nothing like his true form, which had human like proportions.
As he grew closer to his father's appearance, he would grow to appear more human obviously.
The change wasn't merely physical either, as he found a newfound sense of power emerging, as he felt his power spike, far stronger than before.
It was ridiculous that he could get stronger merely by hearing the rumors of others. It made him curious about his father, who had been absorbing rumors for ages, and profiting from the same energy as he had, yet still unable to break into the 6th rank.
How hard was it to break into the 6th rank?
It wasn't merely that sense of strength that amazed him, but this increased ability to detect the world around him.
It was amazing.
His ears were already capable, but now? With a mere twitch of his four ears, he could hear across the whole city.
Nothing was hidden from him.
Even the magic formations were nothing before him, as those sound isolation magic circles were easily pierced by his will.
Wonderful!
Remembering what his father had promised him, Bill eagerly jumped back into the world Tree space.
It was time to go meet his uncles.
----------------------------------------
Seeing Bill reach the four-eared state, the 6 eared looked quite happy as, though he grudgingly agreed to take him to meet his uncles.
In order to do so, they took a flying nimbus.
It reminded him of a certain legend...
Yet when he turned t ask he merely received a warning glance which stopped him from asking.
From asking that question. He still had plenty of other things to ask.
"What was the prehistoric age like?" Bill asked, and Liuer paused, as if recollecting.
It was a violent time. You humans have no idea how good you have it now.
For the weak, it was hell, being trampled upon by the strong.
And for the strong, it was paradise.
Many of the top powers of today were born from the prehistoric age.
Even then, the 5 were gathered. The qilin, qinglong, baihu, xuanwu, zhuque...
there were others in that group of course. A great insect tyrant, a turtle that could control time. But only the 5 of them survived to the modern day.
The macaque reminisced, lost in old memories, flying over the empire.
"Wow! What about you guys?"
Hmmph! Us three? We were born strong! The prehistoric period was our playground! Nothing stood in our way! I mean, there were a few obstacles... The monkey backtracked quietly as he continued, telling tales of great violence
They were simple stories, for they were tales of violence. There was little else to talk about in Liuer's eyes.
It painted a picture of the prehistoric world, one painted in blood.
Bill found himself a bit bored by the tales of blood, so he shifted gears, choosing to ask about other things.
"You said before the prehistoric age, there was another. A war of scales. What was that like."
The macaque paused, as he recollected once more, but hesitated.
This... I know little about.
"BUt aren't you the 6-eared macaque? Surely you should've picked up some things!?"
The macaque laughed awkwardly as it explained. Bill, to ear something requires someone to speak. Whether it be out loud, or silently in their own mind, a speaker is necessary.
The war of scales was before the prehistoric age. The number of people still alive from that time are few.
And those few, I cannot hear through. My abilities are great, but for those of that level, it is easy to block my hearing.
Still... I have heared things. The bigger monkey drew out, causing the younger one to impatiently stomp, and Liuer laughed before continuing.
The prehistoric age to you was violent, but it was nothing compared to the age of scales.
The prehistoric age was an age of survival. There was great injustice, great brutality, and plenty of death, yes. But that was life.
The war of scales... was bloodshed. A war between two great fronts, a war that spanned countless eons, a war said to be even longer than the prehistoric age.
We know the dragons were one side in this war. In these times, there were no color dragons, no metal dragons, no eastern dragons, wyverns, nothing. Simply dragons. Creatures with a similar body to today's easter dragons, but they were scaleless. One survivor told me that the dragons of then resembled today's axolotl's to some extent.
Dragons then, purely used mana. There were no qi type dragons.
Their enemies were many, creatures of boundless physical strength. The first qi users.
They had scales, beautiful, hard scales. It is called the war of scales by those who know, for it is said, that dragons began using scales as proof of their victory, a form of trophy over the losers.
Less spoken about is the fact that todays giant dragons, or the western ones, take many of their features from their enemies, from the wings to the general body shape, and that the eastern dragons took on their physiques, and improved them, becoming the qi dragons seen today.
Much of what we respect in dragons today is what they've taken from the losers.
"If their enemies were so great, then how did the dragons win? It sounds like most of a dragon's greatest features come from these great foes." Bill questioned, and the macaque gave a wide grin.
They cheated of course! The only way to defeat a foe equal to your level.
They-
The macaque created a pregnant pause, as the grin turned malicious.
Oops. Trips over. We're here now!
"Wait, but the age of scales!"
Oh well, better luck next time. You wouldn't want to make uncle Wuzhiqi waiting would you?
The older macaque teased, dissipating the nimbus and leaving poor Bill with no room to discuss.
The two of them had arrived by a river surrounded by sand, indicating that they had stopped in a dessert.
There was a variety of wildlife sorrounding the large river, with slithered through the vast swaths of yellow.
Monkeys were clearly the dominant group, with a pack of them leisurely sitting by the lake, merely watching with curiosity as they approached, showing no fear, and even a hint of playfulness.
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
yin-yang monkeys, The females absorb yin, the men absorb yang.
They're a species established using brother's blood as the foundation.
"Doesn't that mean uncle Wuzhiqi should be somewhere nearby?
As Bill commented that, the water bubbled and a huge head emerged from the water, a stark white head, followed by broad, black shoulders.
The ape like creature was huge, easily over 100 feet tall, looking like a mix between an ape and a baboon.
Bill had seen the black shoulders, but quickly realized that it was not merely the shoulders, but all the fur under the head was black.
The rattling of chains could be heard, causing Bill to curiously look at the source
A large chain dangled from the neck of the large ape, broken off at the third link.
A booming voice reverberated through the room, as Wuzhiqi warmly welcomed them.
Brother! You've finally brought me a nephew! Did you finally convince sister Pheme?
Something like that. Liuer said, smiling somewhat bitterly.
Wuzhiqi chuckled, as he observed little Bill.
4 ears already. Soon enough you'll have 6 ears! Wuzhiqi praised, and Bill smiled as he bowed and showed respect.
"Greetings uncle Wuzhiqi! Thank you for your good wishes. I'll try!"
I know you will! If you're a son of Liuer, you no doubt have the same gossipy nature! He chuckled.
Liuer looked around. Is brother gibbs not here yet?
Shouldn't you know that already? Wuzhiqi asked, and Liuer snorted, showing a look of annoyance.
Lord Jorvus has been putting my ears to work nonstop. They're a little overworked currently. I'm still being worked to death currently monitoring players. Why else would I only send one of my incarnations here?
Fair. I'm glad I don't have any useful abilities like you. Wuzhiqi commented, showing a teasing smile, causing his brother to grumble.
Whatever...
They didn't have to wait long for the third brother, as he made his appearance thunderingly.
A large monkey hand appeared out of nowhere, attached to a long arm which reached into the air indefinitely, where Bill could not see its end.
Ziiiiiip!
A weird sound occurred as Bill witnessed an equally ridiculous sight.
A gibbon was sliding down the arm. No, the gibbon was sliding down his own arm.
Despite knowing the legend, seeing it was another thing entirely, as he watched the arm pass through the gibbons body as he slid down.
He looked like a plain gibbon in many ways, having no particularly special aspect to him, yet there was a sense of auspiciousness to the beast.
Once it landed on the ground, the arm flew back from the endless reach, as his arms shortened back to normal gibbon size.
They were still long, long as a gibbon's arms are meant to be, but nothing like the indescribably distance they were earlier.
According to his father, uncle gibbon cold grasp entire mountains this way, even pulling down golden crows from the sky in the prehistoric age with this technique. Unrelatedly, he was good at discerning truths and destroying illusions,
Bill soon noticed the sound of breathing as another small gibbon head popped out of the fur of his uncle.
"Nephew greets uncle gibbon and cousin!" he said politely and the old gibbon chuckled stretching his arm out and patting the young macaque's head.
Good, good! You are more polite than your father was when he was young. The gibbon recollected, causing the macaque to look away embarrasedly, and Wuzhiqi to cackle, only for the gibbon to scold him too.
Little Liuer may have stuck his ears where they do not belong but I recall a certain younger brother who used to pick fights everywhere. Were it for the generosity of the last scaled king and kind Nuwa, you would've been squashed a hundred times over already.
And what about you? Little liuer has finally brought me a nephew, but you have yet to give me a nephew or a niece! The gibbon scolded, causing Wuzhiqi to complain.
I consider this whole tribe my children...
Do you dare claim so! Nuwa helped you make this race. If you claim to be the father of this race... The gibbon trailed off, yet his eyes gleamed with eagerness, curious to see how Wuzhiqi would speak.
He was dissapointed.
I dare not! I dare not!
The gibbon rolled his eyes before prying the young gibbon off his back.
Whatever. Meet your newest nephew. Little Dwingli. He said presenting the young gibbon, who had a small fire alit on top of his head.
This one has an aspect of fire on him. Wuzhiqi noted, as he sniffed, and the gibbon shrugged.
Yup. I was thinking of giving him to one of Hestia's attendants given his nature. He casually commented.
Bil wasn't too surprised. The gibbon was classified as a divine beast; though he was in a sense giving his children away as pets, it was more accurate to say that he was giving them positions, ensuring the security of their future.
It was weird, but not altogether unheard of down in the mortal world.
Bill wasn't even offended at the thought of something similar happening to himself. To become the servant of the divine was hardly a bad position to receive.
But to whom would he go to? Hmmmm....
As Bill pondered this question, Wuzhiqi asked Liuer this time.
I doubt you called us back together just to meet up brother. As much as I enjoy these little meetups, I am quite curious as to your plans this time. He said directly, and the gibbon looked over as well as he groomed his child.
Liuer chuckled. Bill has gained his second set of ears, meaning he's opened up one of the main talents of my family: skill mimicry.
What better talents to steal than the talents of our very own family?
Hearing this, Wuzhiqi nodded proudly. Of course! There are few families out there as great as ours! We've outlasted nearly every clan of the prehistoric age! The golden crows, the white sabers, the leviyatins(real whale species), even the megalodon clans are nothing before ours. Shame we can't get the youngest in on this. He grumbled that last part, mildly displeased with the youngest in question.
The gibbon nodded with understanding. Indeed. Though he cannot completely copy our skills until he completes his ability to mimic, he can still learn our great techniques. Wuzhiqi's ability to extend his life as well as his understanding of yin and yang, and my ability to witness the truth of the world and ability to "grab stars" should be quite useful starter techniques for the boy.
He said it with ease, yet were any normal person to hear this, they would stamp their feet with frustration.
Starter skills!? The ability to extend one's life by centuries was something all cultivators dream of. ANd as his level grew, that ability could enter thousands to millions of years.
Of course, to the immortal monkeys, this meant nothing, but for Bill who was merely a demigod and thus restrained by lifespan, this was a huge blessing, giving him an extended period to reach the rank of god.
And this was merely a side effect of yin and yang!
The ability to witness the truth had meany counterparts in this world, yes, but few as well developed as one honed over millions of years. Perhaps only the full form of the skill appraisal could compete, something the system had intentionally locked away.
To grab stars was equally terrifying. Though he couldn't actually grab the stars, this skill allows him to grab things far larger than him, and shrink it to fit his palm.
If it sounded like the skill the buddha once used on Sun Wukong, of course it did! Who else could the bald donkey learn it from?!
Humans after all, did not exist in the prehistoric age.Their foundation was shallow, and though they learned many things on their own innovation, to say they copied many skills would be an understatement. It is said that Pangu's very own axe technique was based off the skills of the immortal tyrant, a loser of the scale war.
The yin-yang ape chuckled, as he eyed the young gibbon meaningfully. We even have a little playmate for the young macaque to practice with once he's absorbed our skills.
The young gibbon shivered, hugging his father closely to avoid the cold.
THe gibbon shot Wuzhiqi a look, but did not verbally disagree, quietly acquiescing.
It was not a bad thing to refine a child's temperament after all.
Once Bill snapped out of his thoughts,he found the three chaos monkeys staring at him meaningfully.
Why were they looking at him like that?
----------------------------------------
Once he heard their ideas, he too was extremely excited.
It was true, that gossip to him was the first love. Knowledge, especially nowledge not meant to be shared was his greatest joy.
That did not mean he disliked strength. Who dislikes strength?
It was strength that gave the right to eavesdrop, otherwise he'd merely be caught and beaten again.
He hadn't succumbed to torture, but that hardly meant that he wanted to repeat that incident.
Wuzhiqi went first.
Wuzhiqi began practicing in the air, throwing punches, changing stances.
His aura was at times overwhelming, dominating, strong, yet other times it became elegant, beautiful, lingering in the heart of the viewer.
Bill felt it, as his ears quivered, taking it all in
The 6 eared macaque is able to hear more than just sound. It was able to hear all things, from thoughts to rhythm, to the very laws themselves.
He could hear it.
Yin and yang.
The gibbon chuckled lightly as he watched, the young gibbon also looking on curiously.
You know something funny? Because of his in depth control of yin and yang, Wuzhiqi is able to change between a man and woman.
"Really!?" he asked both astonished and curious. The gibbon nodded, with a teasing look aimed at the other brother.
Poor wuzhiqi kept moving, yet a look of embarrassment was seen on his face.
Liuer continued this thought with a gloating look. Indeed, indeed! Back when he first discovered the power of faith, Wuzhiqi wanted to explore it as the path to the 6th level. So he often turned into a beautiful human woman, to lure more followers in.
It failed of course, only leaving him with the embarrassing memories to cherish.
He said it with a gloating look, changing into a stunning eastern woman and speaking.
I'm wuzhiqi, goddess of this river. Pray an lick my feet!
I didn't sound like that! Wuzhiqi roared furiously, stopping midway through and lunging at Liuer, the two locked in combat.
The yin yang apes had begun chanting and whooping as they witnessed the glorious fight.
The gibbon sighed, clearly used to the struggle between siblings as he turned to Bill.
Well, now is as good as any time to show you some of my techniques.
The gibbon raised his hand and it grew
no, it'd be accurate to say everything else shrank.
All the yin yang apes, the river beside them, and even the fighting brothers were now small before the hand of the interconnected arm gibbon.
The only reason Bill even knew he had been shrunken was the large furry face looking down on all of them, as well as the five mountains in the distance.
Any who had read journey to the wes would understand what had happened.
A flux of knowledge entered his brain as the technique was absorbed seamlessly.
The voice of the gibbon echoed all around.
Others have claimed that I can grab the sun and the stars by reaching out.
For when man was young, they watched as I caught a golden crow with one palm, when the clan was still plentiful.
Once you've reached the right level, you can suppress all things with one palm.
Watch.
With that one word, the sky itself was covered in darkness as a large ceiling came rushing down, crushing the two fighting brothers.
Dammit gibbon! I was beating him!
If my real body was here I'd slap you silly! Roared Liuer, yet all he could do was suffer a slapping.
So Bill got to watch his father and uncle suffer a beating at the hands of their senior brother.
It was a fun family gathering overall.
He never found out about his uncle's nasty idea of sparring with the young gibbon, as only the brothers played that day.
The long armed gibbon got the last laugh that day.