A Fated Encounter

"Damn it!" Wei Suo cursed inwardly.

This stone maggot cave was a labyrinth, with countless large and small branching tunnels. If Nangong Yuqing hadn't led the way, even if Wei Suo had been told there were two Jade Cloud Ganodermas inside, he probably wouldn't have been able to find their exact location. The path leading to where the Jade Cloud Ganodermas grew was so narrow in some places that only one person could pass through by bending over. If Nangong Yuqing hadn't been chasing demonic beasts, she certainly wouldn't have ventured into such a place.

Previously, Wei Suo had been puzzled about how Nangong Yuqing had discovered the two Jade Cloud Ganodermas and knew so much about the demonic beasts within. Now, following her to the location, he suddenly understood why.

Before them was a gourd-shaped cavern. The two sections, both adorned with stalactites, were about tens of feet square, connected only by a short passage wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side. The two Jade Cloud Ganodermas, emitting a white, jade-like luster and resembling lingzhi mushrooms carved from white jade, grew on a stalactite directly facing one of the outer caverns.

Wei Suo, stealthily approaching in the darkness, saw them almost at a glance. Nearby, a Wind Spirit Howler, about as tall as Wei Suo, stood on a stalagmite on the ground, glaring menacingly at one of the outer caverns.

Inside one of the outer caverns, more than thirty Ice Snow Mantises had gathered in a fan shape, as if attending an auction.

The Wind Spirit Howler was covered in dark green feathers that resembled iron plates. Its head was similar to that of a giant eagle, with a large, hooked beak. Its four clawed limbs were like forged iron, and the short feathers on its dark green tail were triangular, hanging behind its rear, giving it a very peculiar appearance.

The appearance of the more than thirty Ice Snow Mantises, pure white with frost-like patterns, was no less terrifying. Their four-lobed mouths and large, glass-like eyes, devoid of pupils, looked extremely frightening. Their two thick, short forelimbs were shaped exactly like two heavy sabers. The chilling aura emanating from each Ice Snow Mantis was no less than that of an Ice Silk Spider.

"The Jade Cloud Ganoderma is almost ripe!"

At almost the same moment Wei Suo clearly saw the situation in the two caverns, the white light from the two Jade Cloud Ganodermas intensified, and a refreshing, exotic fragrance began to spread.

"These Ice Snow Mantises can't hold back any longer!"

What made Nangong Yuqing and Wei Suo, who were holding their breath, feel their hearts race and couldn't help but exchange glances was that the Ice Snow Mantises, which had been confronting the Wind Spirit Howler, began to stir.

Under the command of an Ice Snow Mantis that appeared to be the largest and had the deepest white frost patterns, the thin wings beneath the carapaces on the backs of these Ice Snow Mantises began to vibrate. Three of them leaped forward first, pouncing towards the Wind Spirit Howler. Their four-lobed mouths simultaneously spewed out three streams of white mist, surging towards the Wind Spirit Howler.

Instantly, frost appeared on the walls of the cavern along their path.

"Damn, these late-stage Level Four demonic beasts are too overpowered!"

But what made Wei Suo gasp was that the Wind Spirit Howler didn't move at all. It merely opened its mouth and unleashed dozens of bright wind blades. Judging by the sharp whistling sound, each wind blade seemed to possess a power no less than Wei Suo's Azure Water Blade.

If the strength of a mid-stage Level Four Unicorn Thunder Viper was equivalent to a cultivator at the Fifth Level of the Sea of Consciousness Realm, then the strength of the Wind Spirit Howler before him was definitely comparable to a powerful cultivator at the First Level of the Circulation Realm.

"Crack crack crack!"

The wind blades collided with the white mist spewed by the three Ice Snow Mantises, creating violent explosions. However, without any suspense, they quickly pierced through the three streams of white mist and struck the forelimbs of the three Ice Snow Mantises, which they had raised like shields.

Numerous deep scars appeared on the thick, saber-like forelimbs of the three Ice Snow Mantises, and streams of peculiar blue blood gushed out. One of the Ice Snow Mantises even had a forelimb severed. Several subsequent wind blades struck this Ice Snow Mantis, causing it to fall backward onto the ground. Blue blood poured from its body and mouth, and it was completely unable to get up, looking utterly miserable.

But almost at the same moment the Wind Spirit Howler unleashed its wind blades, the oldest Ice Snow Mantis, like a decisive general, subtly moved its forelimbs. Another four Ice Snow Mantises leaped forward, practically using the first three as shields as they sprang from behind them towards the Wind Spirit Howler.

Seeing that the Wind Spirit Howler couldn't immediately unleash more wind blades, hundreds of dark green feathers from its chest suddenly shot out like a hundred sharp arrows, striking the four Ice Snow Mantises.

Wei Suo couldn't help but swallow nervously as he watched. The power of these hundreds of dark green feathers was no less than the wind blades it had just unleashed. The forelimbs of the four Ice Snow Mantises were only slightly better, developing numerous cracks, but the exposed portions of their bodies were riddled with holes, spewing blue blood. They were certainly not going to survive.

With a whoosh, a blur of green flashed. The Wind Spirit Howler seemed to vanish from its spot, grabbed one of the previously injured Ice Snow Mantises, and instantly returned to its original position. Its four sharp claws dug deeply into the Ice Snow Mantis's body, pinning it beneath its feet as it triumphantly glared at the oldest Ice Snow Mantis.

The leader-like Ice Snow Mantis also seemed to decide to fight to the death. Under its command, all the remaining twenty-odd Ice Snow Mantises gathered together and desperately spewed white mist towards the inner cavern.

"Crack crack!"

Layers of frost rapidly advanced. The two previously injured Ice Snow Mantises were directly frozen in solid ice. These Ice Snow Mantises seemed intent on freezing the entire cavern.

A flicker of disdain flashed in the Wind Spirit Howler's eyes. It opened its mouth and unleashed more bright wind blades, instantly slicing through the advancing ice wall, sending ice shards flying and cutting off a large portion.

"Boom!" But at this moment, a white figure shot out from the ice wall. Its two saber-like forelimbs struck the Wind Spirit Howler, actually severing dozens of its dark green feathers and inflicting two wounds on its body.

This white figure was none other than the oldest Ice Snow Mantis!

Following the charge of this Ice Snow Mantis, the other twenty-odd Ice Snow Mantises also shattered the remaining ice wall and rushed in.

The Wind Spirit Howler let out a pained screech, but the attack from this Ice Snow Mantis seemed to completely enrage it. Amidst its sharp cries, most of the feathers on its body instantly shot out. More than ten of the twenty-odd Ice Snow Mantises that followed were directly turned into sieves.

The oldest Ice Snow Mantis seemed to anticipate this counterattack from the Wind Spirit Howler. Its body was almost entirely retracted behind its two saber-like forelimbs. These forelimbs were clearly more than a level stronger than those of the other Ice Snow Mantises. When the dark green feathers struck them, they left no marks.

But at this moment, a pure green Demonic Core was spat out from the Wind Spirit Howler's mouth, heavily impacting the two forelimbs of this Ice Snow Mantis.

With a "crack" sound, the two eyeless orbs of this Ice Snow Mantis instantly filled with expressions of fear and despair. Its two forelimbs instantly showed countless cracks and then completely shattered. The pure green Demonic Core continued its trajectory without pause, striking the Ice Snow Mantis's body and blasting it into pieces.

After killing this Ice Snow Mantis, the Wind Spirit Howler, with its chest bleeding, turned its gaze to the two Jade Cloud Ganodermas. The leaves of these two Jade Cloud Ganodermas had fully unfurled, revealing fine patterns on their surfaces, and inside, numerous crystal-clear spores, like tiny pearls, were visible.

These two Jade Cloud Ganodermas were clearly fully mature!

The Wind Spirit Howler opened its mouth, about to swallow one of the Jade Cloud Ganodermas whole. But at this moment, two figures suddenly appeared in the cavern that had previously been occupied by the Ice Snow Mantises. A blue light suddenly shot out from the hand of one of them, its speed so great that the Wind Spirit Howler had no time to dodge. With a "swish," this blue light pierced directly through one of the Wind Spirit Howler's eyes and exited from the back of its head.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Before the Wind Spirit Howler could react, Wei Suo, who had seized the opportunity to charge into the cavern with Nangong Yuqing, continuously bombarded the critically injured Wind Spirit Howler with clusters of fireballs.

The defensive capabilities of a late-stage Level Four demonic beast like the Wind Spirit Howler would normally withstand several fireballs and allow it to counterattack, similar to how it was injured by the Ice Snow Mantis. However, its head had been severely wounded by Nangong Yuqing's Magic Treasure, its chest bore two gashes, and more importantly, almost all its feathers had been stripped away, leaving it like a plucked chicken.

Wei Suo unleashed over a dozen fireballs in quick succession. This powerful demonic beast, which could normally easily kill Wei Suo, was directly turned into a roasted chicken, completely lifeless.

Guarding the narrow exit, Wei Suo unleashed another barrage of Fireball Talismans. After firing less than twenty Fireball Talismans, he killed all the surviving Ice Snow Mantises that had been injured by the Wind Spirit Howler.

The two tempting Jade Cloud Ganodermas emitted a fragrant aroma.

"Hahaha!"

Wei Suo and Nangong Yuqing exchanged delighted glances, about to pick the two Jade Cloud Ganodermas, when suddenly a sound came from the cavern behind them. A clear, pleasant voice exclaimed in disbelief, "It's already over?"

"No way?" Wei Suo only had to turn his head to be stunned. Standing in the cavern behind them with a look of dejection was the striking young beauty in silver who had left a deep impression on him.