Sky Yin Mountain Range, Hunting Demonic Beasts!

Li Qingyuan smiled. "Yes, Grandpa Clan Leader. I have completed the talisman runes of the Flame Ice Soul Severing Talisman."

"Hiss!" Clan Leader Li Guangao sucked in a sharp breath and said in disbelief, "How could there be such a monster like you in this world?"

"The Flame Ice Soul Severing Talisman uses First-grade High-rank Talisman Paper, yet you—yet you managed to complete its talisman runes?"

Li Guangao praised, "Good lad, how exactly did you do it?"

Li Qingyuan said, "Grandpa Clan Leader, I studied it painstakingly every day. It took me nearly three years before I was lucky enough to perfect it and complete the talisman runes."

"Over these past two or three years, I not only used up a great deal of talisman-making materials, but I nearly wore out your Wind Spirit Wolf Hair Brush as well."

With that, Li Qingyuan handed over a Mid-grade First-tier Talisman Brush—the Wind Spirit Wolf Hair Brush.

Li Guangao saw that his beloved Wind Spirit Wolf Hair Brush, a Mid-grade First-tier Talisman Brush he had bought for 150 Spirit Stones, was now over ninety percent worn down and covered in dense cracks.

This talisman brush could destroy itself at any moment.

Li Guangao burst into laughter. "Hahaha, it broke well—broke wonderfully!"

"One talisman brush in exchange for the inheritance of First-grade High-rank Talisman Paper. We came out ahead."

Crack!

The moment Li Guangao finished speaking, the Wind Spirit Wolf Hair Brush shattered with a crack. Spiritual light scattered in all directions as the magical artifact was destroyed.

The brush shaft broke apart, and the wolf hairs at its tip crumbled away one after another, turning to ash.

Li Guangao: "..."

Li Qingyuan gave a bitter smile. "Grandpa Clan Leader, it seems our clan needs to buy a First-grade High-rank Talisman Brush."

Li Guangao gritted his teeth and said, "No fear. Isn't it just three or four hundred Spirit Stones? This old man is now a Qi Condensation Level 7 expert. I only need to hunt a few dozen, perhaps a hundred, Mid-Stage First-Rank Demonic Beasts."

"The clan cultivators can squeeze a little tighter and tighten their belts. Within a year or two, we will surely buy a First-grade High-rank Talisman Brush."

Li Guangao laughed. "Heh, with your brat's talent in the talisman path, you will certainly be able to draw Masterwork Quality Flame Ice Soul Severing Talismans, comparable to a single strike from a Qi Condensation Ninth Layer cultivator."

"Haha, when that time comes, this old man will not be afraid at all even of Qi Condensation Eighth Layer cultivators."

Li Guangao thought it over and said, "No, no. Two years is too long."

"This old man will throw away his face and borrow Spirit Stones from a few old friends."

Li Qingyuan smiled, took out ten Low-Grade Quality and ten Genuine Quality Flame Ice Soul Severing Talismans—a full twenty talismans—and said, "Grandpa Clan Leader, keep these talisman papers safe."

"Oh, right. These are talismans that Grandpa Clan Leader personally succeeded in drawing."

Li Guangao put away the talisman papers, pointed at Li Qingyuan, and smiled with narrowed eyes. "You little rascal, small as you are, yet full of tricks."

Borrowing Spirit Stones on mere words carried no weight.

Even if the other party lent Spirit Stones out of friendship, they would not lend much.

However, if Li Guangao borrowed Spirit Stones to purchase a talisman brush as a First-grade High-rank Talisman Master, while also gifting the other party one or two pieces of First-grade High-rank Talisman Paper, then so long as they were not fools, they would certainly lend Spirit Stones enthusiastically.

A First-grade High-rank Talisman Master was extremely rare. Let alone in a Third-rate Qi Condensation Family, even Second-rate Qi Condensation Families had very few of them.

Winning the friendship of a First-grade High-rank Talisman Master meant that they could purchase First-grade High-rank Talisman Paper for protection over the long term in the future, rapidly raising their own combat strength.

Even a Qi Condensation Sixth Layer cultivator, as long as they had enough First-grade High-rank Talisman Paper on hand, could intimidate Qi Condensation Level 7 and Qi Condensation Eighth Layer experts.

Every clan had direct descendants. Before those direct descendants had matured, they all needed talisman papers for protection.

Li Guangao said with hearty laughter, "Good. This old man is heading out."

Whoosh!

Li Guangao flew away on his sword. With the abundant spiritual power of Qi Condensation Level 7 and deeper Spiritual Sense, he could use Sword Flight for dozens or even hundreds of miles, rest briefly, then continue flying on his sword.

Three days later, the clan's Hunting Team set out once again.

By now, the clan's Hunting Team had grown increasingly strong.

Second Elder, Qi Condensation Fifth Layer, at completion.

Li Dingzhou, Qi Condensation Fifth Layer.

There were four at Qi Condensation Fourth Layer.

There were eight at Qi Condensation Third Layer.

And there was Li Qingyuan. On the surface, he was at completion of Qi Condensation Second Layer, the weakest among them. In truth, he possessed Qi Condensation Fifth Layer cultivation and was no weaker than Second Elder or Li Dingzhou.

Li Dingzhou said, "Second Elder, Qingyuan is participating in a hunt for the first time. He lacks experience and his strength is meager. I plan to take him to the outermost area and find some lone First-Tier Early Stage Demonic Beasts for him to practice on."

Second Elder understood without words and nodded. "That will do."

"You father and son stay at the outermost edge. The rest will follow me deeper in."

The cultivators all nodded. "Yes."

Soon, Second Elder led the team away.

Li Dingzhou said, "Yuan'er, let's go."

"Alright, Father!"

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Father and son leaped forward. The Moon Shadow Technique unfolded, and two streaks of light raced through the air, vaulting between the mountain trees like shooting stars, fast as lightning.

Half an hour later, Li Dingzhou stopped and said, "This is the area."

"This is the boundary between the outer and middle layers of the Sky Yin Mountain Range. Although First-Tier Early Stage Demonic Beasts are still the most common here, quite a few Mid-Stage First-Rank Demonic Beasts also appear."

Li Qingyuan nodded.

He had long since studied the topographical map of the overseas island chain and knew it like the back of his hand.

Willow Crane Island was one of the Five Great Islands.

The Five Great Islands curved in the shape of a snake's body. Willow Crane Island lay at the position of the Snake Head. The five islands faced the sea to the east and mountains to the west.

The Sky Yin Mountain Range lay west of the Five Great Islands, cutting the Five Islands of the Sea off from the continental landmass. It stretched for over thirty thousand li from north to south and over ten thousand li from east to west. It was perilous beyond measure and densely populated with demonic beasts.

According to the Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans, the deepest part of the Sky Yin Mountain Range contained not only Second-tier Great Demons, but also more than one Tier 3 Great Demon comparable to human Core Formation Cultivators.

To cultivators of the Five Islands of the Sea, the deepest reaches of the Sky Yin Mountain Range were a forbidden zone of death.

Li Dingzhou and Li Qingyuan, father and son, walked through the mountain forest.

Li Qingyuan saw all manner of snakes, insects, rats, and ants crawling and darting about; all kinds of poisonous bugs and poisonous plants; towering ancient trees; crocodile pools; vividly colored poisonous mushrooms; and huge boulders coated in moss along streams and cliff faces.

Birds and beasts whose names he did not know cried out with chilling calls that echoed through the vast emptiness.

This deep, sinister feeling... this sense of fear... it feels just like the Ailao Mountains.

Boom!

Suddenly, a demonic beast burst out from deep underground.

Li Qingyuan instantly snapped alert. Spiritual power flowed into his feet. He bent his knees and sprang up, force rising from the ground as he shot away, dodging onto a large tree.

The underground demonic beast burst from the earth. It was over a zhang long and entirely black. Its form resembled a scorpion, with a scorpion's head, a pair of pincers, and pedipalps upon its thorax and abdomen.

However, it had neither a scorpion tail nor a venomous stinger.

The zhang-long demonic beast burst from the ground, leaped several zhang, and charged straight at Li Qingyuan.

Li Dingzhou said, "Yuan'er, this is an Earth Cicada Scorpion. Judging from its spiritual power fluctuations, it has reached the level of a Mid-Stage First-Rank Demonic Beast. Be careful in dealing with it. Your father will provide support from the sidelines."

"Also, this demonic beast is not poisonous, so you can fight it at close range."

Li Qingyuan said, "Got it."

"Iron Arm Technique!"

Boom!

Li Qingyuan leaped down from the large tree ten zhang high. The Tier 1 Spell, Iron Arm Technique, unfolded as his fist force erupted. He struck out with a heavy fist radiance that hit the Earth Cicada Scorpion.

The Earth Cicada Scorpion swung its pair of pincers, erupting with spiritual power as it met Li Qingyuan's iron fists head-on.

Bang!

Man and beast collided, spiritual light bursting in every direction. Li Qingyuan was sent flying three zhang before landing on a tree.

The Earth Cicada Scorpion landed and roared. It swung its enormous pincers, sharp beyond compare, directly shearing through a tree so thick it would take two men to encircle it.

The tree snapped. Li Qingyuan sprang away, the Moon Shadow Technique unfolding. Countless afterimages appeared as he swept both hands out, unleashing blade after blade of qi. Gathering Qi into Blade, cutting gold and severing jade.

Bang, bang, bang...

Li Qingyuan moved at high speed, circling the Earth Cicada Scorpion while constantly driving qi blades into the target. He tore its hide and flesh apart, drawing pained howls from it.

"Roar!"

The Earth Cicada Scorpion let out an enraged roar. Spiritual power surged in reverse from within its body, and dense Demonic Power gathered in its mouth before it suddenly spat out a beam of spiritual light at Li Qingyuan.

Li Dingzhou said, "Yuan'er, be careful. This beast has gone mad."