Half a month later.
In a marsh along a tributary of the Longze River.
A Monster Hunting Team of seven had applied Breath Concealing Talismans and was making its way along the edge of the marsh.
At the very front was Puppet Master Shi Xiangdong, a Wood Attribute cultivator at Qi Refining Level 8. He directed a Golden Saber Mantis Puppet Beast, three feet tall, to clear the way.
As its golden blades swung, great swaths of reeds were sliced apart, revealing a narrow path rarely trodden by human feet.
The Mantis Puppet Beast's triangular compound eyes scanned in every direction, rotating a full 360 degrees without a blind spot. Its vision was exceptionally keen.
Shi Xiangdong had attached a trace of Divine Sense to the Mantis Puppet Beast. It could not only clear the way ahead but also keep watch for movement and quickly sound the alarm.
Behind Shi Xiangdong came the Iron Brothers, both at Qi Refining Level 6 and of the Earth Attribute. These Body Refiners practiced Spirit Martial Dual Cultivation. They wore helmets and armor and carried Fine Gold Profound Iron Great Shields.
In the middle was Wen Zijian, the team member with the highest Cultivation Realm. At Qi Refining Level 9 and of the Gold Attribute, he wielded a pair of Sun Moon Twin Blades, sharp enough to cut through anything.
Further back was a round-faced female cultivator named Xia Muqing. At Qi Refining Level 6 and of the Water Attribute, she had a cheerful-looking face and a slightly plump build. She was watching Shen Xuan beside her with open curiosity.
Shen Xuan had disguised himself as a Qi Refining Level 5 cultivator. He walked beside Xia Muqing in the middle of the team, looking completely at ease.
In truth, he had already cast Insight Technique, monitoring every subtle movement within thirty zhang.
At the very back was Zhao Chunsheng, a Qi Refining Level 8 cultivator of the Fire Attribute. He held a High-grade Magic Tool, the Fire Phoenix Saber, and kept watch over their rear.
Even before Shen Xuan joined, this team had developed a complete system of offense and defense, with all Five Elements represented: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.
What Shen Xuan hadn't expected was that Zhao Chunsheng would be the team leader.
He was responsible for gathering information, planning their operations, and distributing the spoils.
That put Shen Xuan somewhat at ease.
After all, Zhao Chunsheng was a cautious man, renowned as the "Rabbit Monster Hunter."
This time, their target was an Iron Armored Crocodile, a Tier 1 High-grade Water Attribute Monster Beast that had appeared in the marsh.
"Iron Armored Crocodiles are solitary beasts. Their hides are incredibly tough, and their teeth are razor-sharp. Talisman Master Shen, you've only just joined the team and lack experience. When the beast appears, stay behind me," Xia Muqing said kindly.
But as soon as she finished speaking,
Shen Xuan's brows knitted slightly.
"Careful!"
Shi Xiangdong's warning came from up ahead.
A buzzing filled the air from every direction, like a rising tide. In an instant, the sound surrounded Shen Xuan's Monster Hunting Team.
The Iron Brothers raised their sturdy shields, protecting both flanks.
Wen Zijian's expression turned grave. A pair of Sun Moon Double Wheels appeared in his hands, their spiritual light slowly brightening.
Xia Muqing tensed and instinctively stepped in front of Shen Xuan.
Within their field of vision,
countless deep-yellow poisonous bees blotted out the sky, packed so densely they formed clouds of yellow. Poison stingers protruded from their tails as they flew toward Shen Xuan and the others.
"Fellow Daoists, those are Yellow Striped Poison Bees, Tier 1 low-grade Yao Insects. Their stingers are highly venomous," Shen Xuan identified them and quickly explained.
"Just a bunch of Yellow Striped Poison Bees, and they dare attack us? They're asking to die!" Zhao Chunsheng said coldly, Fire Phoenix Saber in hand.
The Fire Phoenix Saber in his grip swelled against the wind, blazing with crimson light as he swept it at the surrounding swarm.
The next moment,
shrill cries rang out without end. Countless Yellow Striped Poison Bees turned to ash and rained down from the sky.
"Fellow Daoist Mu, protect Talisman Master Shen. We'll help."
The Iron Brothers spoke in unison. In the blink of an eye, they wielded their sturdy shields, swinging and smashing them at the Yellow Striped Poison Bees around them.
Although the Yellow Striped Poison Bees were numerous, they were only Tier 1 low-grade Yao Insects, with limited strength.
Elsewhere,
Shi Xiangdong kept the Mantis Puppet Beast under his control, maintaining a constant watch over the surroundings.
Wen Zijian held his Sun Moon Double Wheels but didn't attack, standing to one side to cover the others.
Seeing Zhao Chunsheng and the Iron Brothers with the upper hand and killing the bees in the heat of battle, Shen Xuan held back.
Instead, he cast Insight Technique and silently monitored everything within thirty zhang.
The Yellow Striped Poison Bees were merely numerous. They weren't difficult to deal with.
Soon, the Yellow Striped Poison Bees had lost half their numbers.
The rest shrieked and turned to flee.
Everyone took a moment to collect themselves and recover.
Zhao Chunsheng gathered all the Black Shield Poison Bee carcasses they had brought down.
"These things aren't worth much. Only the Stinger Tail Poison can fetch a few spirit stones."
After a while, the team continued onward.
Half an hour later, they stopped at a patch of Swamp Grassland.
Zhao Chunsheng checked the Geography Jade Slip.
"According to the information we gathered, the Iron Armored Crocodile's range is somewhere nearby."
"Everyone, be careful. The Iron Armored Crocodile is a Tier 1 High-Grade Water Attribute beast with Copper Bones Iron Armor. Its attack and defense are both formidable!"
Zhao Chunsheng had barely finished speaking
when Shi Xiangdong said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, there are so many of us, and we even have an expert like Fellow Daoist Wen. What's there to fear from one measly Tier 1 High-Grade Monster Beast?"
"Once we find the Iron Armored Crocodile, spread out. I'll deal with it," Wen Zijian said expressionlessly.
His tone brimmed with confidence.
The team continued searching.
Shen Xuan followed behind Xia Muqing.
As they walked,
Shen Xuan suddenly sensed an unknown object approaching from ahead.
It was moving incredibly fast!
"Careful!"
He had barely called out a warning when a tremendous force struck Shi Xiangdong's Mantis Puppet Beast, smashing it apart with a thunderous crash.
"Croak!" A roar suddenly rang out.
Then, a gigantic, dark-brown Iron Armored Crocodile came sprinting out of the Swamp Grassland at lightning speed.
A foul wind surged.
Its enormous jaws, lined with gleaming white fangs, snapped viciously at Shi Xiangdong, who stood at the very front.
Clang!
At the very last moment,
Wen Zijian's Sun Blade Wheel suddenly burst with brilliant spiritual light and shot forward to meet it.
At the same time, a protective spiritual barrier lit up around Shi Xiangdong. A Green Wood Shield appeared in his hand, spiritual energy churning across its surface as he guarded himself.
Rumble!
The Iron Armored Crocodile's massive body collided with the Sun Blade Wheel, producing a metallic crash. Then both were hurled backward.
The Iron Armored Crocodile let out a mournful cry, then vanished into the marsh.
Shen Xuan had already slipped a pair of Water-Splitting Emei Daggers over his hands. He activated the Water Condensation Edge Shaping Art, and four Ice Divine Dragons lay concealed along the daggers, poised to strike.
Seeing that Wen Zijian had reacted in time and Shi Xiangdong had been prepared, and that the Iron Armored Crocodile had gained no advantage, Shen Xuan quietly withdrew the spiritual energy he had channeled into the daggers.
On the spot,
Wen Zijian recalled his Sun Blade Wheel and glanced at it. Its spiritual light had dimmed somewhat.
"What a tough Iron Armored Crocodile! A Tier 1 High-grade beast, and just the one we're looking for!"
Wen Zijian turned to the other six and said quickly, "I'll go after it. The rest of you follow."
With that, he stepped onto the Moon Blade Wheel, Sun Blade Wheel in hand, and sped across the marsh's surface, searching for the Iron Armored Crocodile.
Just as Wen Zijian was searching back and forth across the marsh's surface, the Iron Armored Crocodile suddenly erupted from the water.
Water sprayed skyward,
as if an explosion had gone off.
Its enormous body shot out of the water like lightning. Its gaping jaws opened wide, lunging straight for Wen Zijian.
"Beast, prepare to die!"
Wen Zijian stood fearlessly as the Sun Blade Wheel swelled against the wind and slashed hard toward the Iron Armored Crocodile's forehead.
"Clang!"
The sound rang out like metal striking stone.
The Iron Armored Crocodile took the blow to its forehead. Wounded, it failed to bite Wen Zijian, plunged back into the water, and disappeared beneath the marsh.
"So tough!"
Wen Zijian hovered above the water on his magical tool, but didn't dare enter the marsh.
He was a Gold Attribute cultivator. Once in the water, he would have no way to deal with the Iron Armored Crocodile.
But the Iron Armored Crocodile didn't swim away and lie in wait.
The vengeful beast wouldn't leave Wen Zijian alone.
Every so often, it leaped out of the marsh, roaring as it snapped at him.
In the marsh water, the Iron Armored Crocodile swam much faster than it ran on land.
Surges of spiritual energy churned and spread without pause. The ceaseless clang of metal striking stone, accompanied by ferocious roars, echoed across the marsh.
The fierce battle made the entire marsh tremble, as if the world might be turned upside down at any moment.
Before you continue