First Hunt

Half a month later.

A swamp area along a Longze River tributary.

A Monster Hunting Team, seven people in total, applied a [Breath Concealing Talisman] and walked along the edge of the swamp.

Leading the way was the Puppeteer, Shi Xiangdong, Wood attribute, Qi Refining Level 8, commanding a Golden Saber Mantis Puppet Beast, three feet tall, to clear the path.

With the golden sabers swinging, large swathes of reeds were cut open, revealing a path rarely trodden by humans.

The mantis puppet beast's triangular compound eyes scanned in all directions, rotating 360 degrees without blind spots, its vision extremely sharp.

Shi Xiangdong attached a sliver of his Divine Sense to the mantis puppet beast, allowing it not only to clear the path ahead but also to observe movements in front and provide quick warnings.

Walking behind Shi Xiangdong were the Iron Brothers, Qi Refining Level 6, Earth attribute, two Spirit Martial Dual Cultivation Body Refiners, wearing helmets and armor, wielding Fine Gold Profound Iron Great Shields.

In the middle was the team's highest-cultivation member, Wen Zijian, Qi Refining Level 9, Gold attribute, wielding a pair of Sun Moon Twin Blades, invincible.

Further back was a Round-faced Female Cultivator, Xia Muqing, Qi Refining Level 6, Water attribute, with a cheerful appearance and a slightly plump build, observing Shen Xuan beside her with a face full of curiosity.

Shen Xuan, disguised as Qi Refining Level 5, walked in the middle of the team, at ease.

In reality, he had already cast [Insight Technique], monitoring subtle movements within thirty feet.

At the rear of the team was Zhao Chunsheng, Qi Refining Level 8, Fire attribute, holding a High-grade Magic Tool, the Fire Phoenix Saber, guarding the rear.

This team, before Shen Xuan joined, had already formed a complete offensive and defensive strategy, with all five elements of Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth present.

What Shen Xuan didn't expect was that the Captain was Zhao Chunsheng.

He was responsible for gathering intelligence, planning operations, and distributing spoils of war.

This also put Shen Xuan slightly at ease.

After all, Zhao Chunsheng was a cautious person, with the reputation of a "Rabbit Monster Hunter."

This time, their team's target was a Tier 1 High-grade Water attribute monster beast, the Iron Armored Crocodile, which had appeared in the swamp area.

"The Iron Armored Crocodile is a solitary monster beast. Its hide is extremely tough, and its teeth are incredibly sharp. Talisman Master Shen, you've just joined the team and lack experience. When the monster beast appears, stand behind me," Xia Muqing said kindly.

However, as soon as she finished speaking.

Shen Xuan's brow furrowed slightly.

"Careful!"

From the front, Shi Xiangdong's warning came.

A "buzzing" sound came from all directions, like a tide, instantly surrounding Shen Xuan and his Monster Hunting Team.

The Iron Brothers raised their sturdy shields, protecting their flanks.

Wen Zijian's expression tightened, and a pair of Sun Moon Double Wheels instantly appeared in his hands, their spiritual light slowly igniting.

Xia Muqing looked nervous and instinctively shielded Shen Xuan behind her.

In everyone's sight.

Countless deep yellow poisonous bees, blotting out the sun, dense and numerous, transformed into masses of yellow clouds, stingers protruding from their tails, flying towards Shen Xuan and the others.

"Fellow Daoists, these are Yellow Striped Poison Bees, Tier 1 Low-grade Yao Insects, their stingers are highly poisonous." Shen Xuan recognized the poisonous bees and quickly explained.

"How dare mere Yellow Striped Poison Bees attack us! They're seeking death!" Zhao Chunsheng, wielding the Fire Phoenix Saber, said coldly.

Then, his Fire Phoenix Saber grew explosively in the wind, emitting a brilliant red light as he swept it towards the surrounding swarm of Yellow Striped Poison Bees.

The next moment.

Miserable screams echoed continuously, countless Yellow Striped Poison Bees turned to ash and fell from the sky.

"Fellow Daoist Mu, you protect Talisman Master Shen, we'll go help."

The Iron Brothers said in unison, and in an instant, they controlled their sturdy shields, swinging and smashing them at the surrounding Yellow Striped Poison Bees.

Although these Yellow Striped Poison Bees were numerous, they were only Tier 1 Low-grade Yao Insects with limited strength.

On the other side.

Shi Xiangdong controlled the Mantis Puppet Beast, maintaining vigilance around the perimeter.

Wen Zijian held the Sun Moon Double Wheels, not attacking, but observing from the side.

Seeing Zhao Chunsheng and the Iron Brothers gaining the upper hand and fighting with gusto, Shen Xuan did not attack.

Instead, he cast Insight Technique, silently monitoring the movements within a thirty-zhang radius.

These Yellow Striped Poison Bees were only numerous; dealing with them was not difficult.

Soon, the Yellow Striped Poison Bees lost nearly half their numbers.

The rest screamed and turned to flee.

Everyone tidied up and recovered.

Zhao Chunsheng collected all the corpses of the Black Shield Poison Bees he had cut down.

"These things are worthless, only the Stinger Tail Poison can be exchanged for some Spirit Stones."

After a while, everyone continued forward.

Half an hour later, they stopped at a swampy grassland.

Zhao Chunsheng looked through the Geography Jade Slip.

"The collected intelligence shows that the Iron Armored Crocodile's activity range is around here."

"Everyone be careful. The Iron Armored Crocodile is a First-Order High-Grade Yao Beast, Water Attribute, with Copper Bones Iron Armor. Its attack and defense power are both very strong!"

As soon as Zhao Chunsheng finished speaking.

Shi Xiangdong, in front, said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, with so many of us, and a master like Fellow Daoist Wen, what's there to fear from a mere First-Order High-Grade Yao Beast!"

"Once we find the Iron Armored Crocodile, spread out, and I will deal with it," Wen Zijian said expressionlessly.

His tone was full of confidence.

The group continued their search.

Shen Xuan followed behind Xia Muqing.

As they were walking.

Shen Xuan suddenly sensed an unknown object approaching from the front.

It was moving extremely fast!

"Careful!"

Just as he issued a warning, Shi Xiangdong's Mantis Puppet Beast was struck by a massive force and shattered with a bang.

"Roar!" A roar suddenly sounded.

Immediately after, from the swampy grassland, a huge, dark brown Iron Armored Crocodile suddenly charged forward at high speed.

A foul wind swept through the air.

The white, sharp teeth in its massive maw fiercely bit towards Shi Xiangdong, who was at the forefront.

Clang!

At the critical moment.

Wen Zijian's Sun Blade Wheel suddenly erupted with a powerful spiritual light and flew to meet the attack.

At the same time, a protective spiritual shield lit up on Shi Xiangdong's body, and a Green Wood Shield appeared in his hand. Spiritual energy fluctuations continuously rotated on its surface, protecting his body.

Rumble!

The Iron Armored Crocodile's massive form fiercely collided with the Sun Blade Wheel, emitting a loud, metallic clang. Both were sent flying backward.

The Iron Armored Crocodile let out a mournful cry and immediately disappeared into the swamp.

Shen Xuan's hands were already fitted with the Water-Splitting Emei Daggers, and he activated the Water Condensation Edge Shaping Art. Four Ice Divine Dragons were hidden at the tips of the daggers, poised to strike.

Seeing that Wen Zijian had acted in time and Shi Xiangdong was also on guard, the Iron Armored Crocodile gained no advantage and had to quietly withdraw the spiritual power it had infused into the Water-Splitting Emei Daggers.

On the spot.

Wen Zijian retracted the Sun Blade Wheel and glanced at it. The spiritual light on it had dimmed slightly.

"What an Iron Armored Crocodile! Tier 1 High-grade, this is the one!"

Wen Zijian turned to the other six people and said quickly, "I'll chase it, you follow me."

With that, he stepped on the Moon Blade Wheel, held the Sun Blade Wheel, and sped across the swamp's surface, searching for the Iron Armored Crocodile's tracks.

Just as Wen Zijian was scouting back and forth on the swamp's surface, the Iron Armored Crocodile suddenly burst out of the water.

Water splashed to the sky.

It was like an explosion.

Its massive body shot out of the water as fast as lightning, opening its gaping maw and biting directly at Wen Zijian.

"Vermin, die!"

Wen Zijian was fearless. The Sun Blade Wheel grew in the wind and heavily slashed towards the Iron Armored Crocodile's forehead.

"Clang!"

A sound like metal striking stone.

The Iron Armored Crocodile was hit on the forehead and, unable to bear the pain, its gaping maw failed to bite Wen Zijian. It leaped back into the water and submerged into the swamp.

"So tough!"

Wen Zijian flew on the water's surface with his artifact but dared not go into the water.

He was a Gold Element Cultivator, and he couldn't do anything to the Iron Armored Crocodile once in the water.

However, the Iron Armored Crocodile did not remain submerged and move away.

Remembering the offense, it relentlessly pursued Wen Zijian.

It would leap out of the swamp from time to time, roaring and snapping its jaws.

In the swamp water, the Iron Armored Crocodile's swimming speed was clearly much faster than running on land.

Boiling spiritual power fluctuations continuously spread outwards, and the incessant sounds of metal clashing, accompanied by fierce roars, echoed above the swamp.

The fierce battle made this swamp tremble, as if it would be overturned at any moment.