I still remember the dusty air of Rockrest Flat, the kind that clings to your fur and whispers old secrets. After toppling the Rock Vanguard—a battle that left my palms sweaty and my staff scorched—I found myself at a weathered shrine, catching my breath. It was there I first noticed something… off. A stone Buddha head, half-hidden beside a pillar, its eyes glowing with a strange, rhythmic chant. The air thickened. The eyes almost seemed to beckon me.
I stepped closer, and without thinking, I pressed my palm against its forehead. A rush of energy surged through me—the first pair of Buddha eyes, absorbed. That was when the real hunt began.
The Second Glimmer: A Twisted Path
Honestly, I almost walked right past it. Turning away from the shrine, I followed a narrow trail that curved along a rocky wall. My mind was still on the Rock Vanguard, replaying my dodges. Then, just as the path seemed to tighten and turn, I spotted a second stone head pressed humbly against the right wall. No chanting this time, just a silent, patient glow. I knelt, absorbed the eyes, and felt a pull deeper into the canyon.
Ascending to a Silent Watcher
Now with two sets of eyes pulsing inside me, I scanned the opposite side. A wooden platform rose above the dust, creaking with age.
I climbed, swatting away a few bony yaoguai who thought they could stop me. At the top, perched like a forgotten guardian, was the third head. Its gaze felt heavier, almost mournful.
Into the Torchlit Caves
Descending from the platform, I backtracked to that second head. This time, I noticed a wooden stairway climbing up the left side, half-shrouded in shadow. “Why not?” I thought—curiosity has always been my best and worst guide. The stairs led into a series of damp caves, lit by flickering torches that made the shadows dance. At a crossroads, an altar held the fourth Buddha head, looking almost regal.
I absorbed the eyes quickly, the air down here thick with incense and danger.
A Ledge Overlooking Darkness
Instead of leaving, I pressed on through the caves, across a shallow puddle, and into a vast cavern I recognized—the arena where I’d later face the Mother of Stone. But for now, a detour called. I turned right, out onto a ledge that hugged the cliff, wind whipping at my fur. At the edge, built onto a rickety wooden frame, sat the fifth Buddha head. It stared out into the abyss, as if waiting for something inevitable.
The Last Stand and a Guarded Secret
Five pairs now. The final one felt almost… guarded. I made my way to the Squall’s Hideout Shrine, that quiet open field behind a rock. Right there, a rock guai stood sentinel over the last Buddha head, its stony fists gleaming.
One swift staff strike and the guard crumbled. I absorbed the sixth set of Buddha eyes, feeling a sudden, heavy resonance in my chest.
Awakening the Giant
With all six eyes humming inside me, I knew where to go. I retraced my steps to the battlefield where I’d beaten the Rock Vanguard. On the left, a massive, faceless rock formation jutted out like a sleeping giant… waiting.
I pressed my hands against the stone, and the world shuddered. The rock cracked, shifted, and grew into something terrifying—Shigandang, a hidden King Yaoguai, a mountain given rage. The ground trembled with its every step.
The Battle That Tested My Bones
Let me tell you, Shigandang is not just a bigger Rock Vanguard. It slams the earth with shockwaves that ripple through your very soul. AOE attacks fill the arena, and dodging becomes a dance of inches. I learned quickly—stick to its back like a stubborn monkey. Wait for an opening, unleash a light attack combo, then leap away before the spikes answer. It took me three tries, a broken gourd, and more curse words than I care to admit. But when the giant crumbled, it dropped the Heart of Stone, plus a handsome pile of Will and Silk. The feeling? Pure, exhausted triumph.
That quest wasn’t just about collecting eyes; it was about paying attention to the world, the quiet clues scattered in the dust. If you ever find yourself on those paths, listen to the whispers. They might just lead you to something massive.