Just like everywhere else on the mountain, the grass and trees had long since withered, and a deathly silence hung in the air.
But this giant stone was different—it had a presence all its own.
Even if Grace were just an ordinary Spirit Master, she could sense its aura—a lonely, timeless energy, quietly brimming with spiritual power.
It made you feel... as if it possessed a soul, as if it was truly alive.
Grandpa Gene the High Saint led her to hide behind a stone at the mountain peak, then poked his head out to take a look.
"That stone right there," he pointed at the giant boulder atop the peak. "There's a Stone Sprite being born inside."
Grace widened her eyes, staring intently, and nodded. "The stone's already cracked open a seam!"
"Yep! It's about to come out!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the crack made a sharp "crack" sound and grew longer.
The two of them held their breath, watching closely. Soon, more cracks appeared, spreading wider and wider, until finally, the entire stone shattered—and from within, a stone figure crawled out.
Grandpa Gene the High Saint vanished from Grace's side in an instant and snatched up the stone figure.
The stone figure struggled desperately, but there was no escaping Grandpa Gene's grip.
"Hahaha, little rascal! I've finally got you!" Grandpa Gene laughed heartily.
"High Saint," Grace beamed and ran over, saying, "Turns out it's so easy to catch! There's really nothing dangerous about it!"
Grandpa Gene glanced around, pulled out a bag, stuffed the Stone Sprite inside, and said, "We'd better hurry back!"
But just then, a sudden noise came from behind them.
The two turned around, both letting out startled cries.
It was a gigantic mouth!
A mouth so big it could bite off the entire mountain peak!
The thing had shot up from the bottom of the cliff, so they hadn't seen it at all before.
That mouth carried a suction force Grace couldn't resist, pulling her straight toward it.
Grandpa Gene could've escaped, but seeing her get pulled in, he rushed over and grabbed her.
But once inside that mouth, he found there was nowhere to get a grip—he and Grace slid helplessly toward the throat.
"High Saint!" Grace shouted. "The Radiant Celestial Parasol!"
Grandpa Gene channeled his celestial power into Grace's hand.
The Radiant Celestial Parasol activated, shielding them both inside its magical barrier.
Yet an invisible force kept dragging them further, sliding them toward the creature's throat.
"Ah! It's going to eat us!" Grace cried.
"Bigger! Make it bigger!" Grandpa Gene poured more celestial power into Grace.
The Radiant Celestial Parasol kept expanding until it got stuck at the edge of the creature's throat, unable to go any further.
They could feel the creature getting frustrated at not being able to swallow them.
It seemed to be trying with all its might to gulp them down, but just couldn't manage it.
Then a force blasted up from the throat, as if it wanted to spit them out instead.
But the Radiant Celestial Parasol was wedged right there—neither up nor down.
The airflow surged back and forth again and again. Grace and Grandpa Gene crouched inside, able to see those sharp teeth and the black, barbed tongue.
And they could smell the beast's foul, fishy breath.
Yet, somehow, both of them started to feel something strange.
They felt like laughing.
Even though they were about to be eaten, they couldn't help but want to laugh.
The creature was totally stuck—right in its throat.
"High Saint, did you get a good look at what tried to eat us?" Grace whispered.
Grandpa Gene shook his head. "Couldn't see clearly, but something that big must be an ancient beast."