Mountain Pushing Beast

"Daoist Xu, are we going into the mountains to hunt Monster Beasts?"

Shen Long asked.

"Our target this time is the Snow Cloud Fox. The Chen Clan is offering a high price for First Rank Snow Cloud Foxes."

Xu Lei said.

"Snow Cloud Foxes! There are Snow Cloud Foxes in the Thousand Bamboo Mountain Range?"

Shen Long frowned.

Snow Cloud Foxes were small in build, gentle in temperament, and sharp of nose, skilled at finding spirit herbs. They were greatly favored by female cultivators. Snow Cloud Foxes were also exceptionally timid; at the slightest rustle of wind or grass, they would immediately burrow underground and flee, making them difficult to capture.

"I received reliable news that First Rank Snow Cloud Foxes have appeared deep within the Thousand Bamboo Mountain Range. The Chen Clan's offer is very high. If we catch a Snow Cloud Fox, we can make a fortune."

Xu Lei said.

"Deep in the Thousand Bamboo Mountain Range? We won't run into second rank Monster Beasts, will we?"

Qin Qing asked worriedly.

"There are already very few Monster Beasts in the outskirts, and spirit herbs are scarce as well. We can only venture into the depths and try our luck."

Sun Yang said.

"I have no objections. We must be extra careful this time. I hope we do not run into Chen Xiong and the others."

Shen Long said.

"They left the Marketplace several days ago. I saw it with my own eyes. They are not so idle as to keep watching us specifically. They need to hunt Monster Beasts to earn Spirit Stones too."

Sun Yang explained.

"Since that is the case, let us enter the mountains! Hopefully, we can catch a Snow Cloud Fox."

Qin Qing said. He was desperately short of Spirit Stones and could not wait much longer.

"We brothers have no objections."

Xu Wen voiced his strong agreement.

"Since no one has any objections, let's set off!"

Xu Lei said, and the group left the Green Bamboo Courtyard.

After leaving the Marketplace, Xu Lei brought out the Azure Cloud Boat and stepped aboard. Sun Yang and the other seven hurriedly followed.

Xu Lei formed a hand seal, and the Azure Cloud Boat lit up with cyan light before flying toward the sky.

Three days later, the Azure Cloud Boat landed in an open area. Not far away stood a Cyan Bamboo Forest that stretched beyond sight.

Shen Long and the others stepped down, and Xu Lei put away the Azure Cloud Boat.

A clear, ringing cry of a crane sounded out as a massive Azure Crane flew in from the distant horizon. Five men and one woman stood upon its back, led by a voluptuous Green-Skirted Young Woman.

"Liu Jiao! Mrs. Liu."

Xu Lei recognized the Green-Skirted Young Woman.

Liu Jiao was the captain of a Monster Hunting Team and possessed Qi Refining Eighth Layer cultivation. She had a personal friendship with Xu Lei.

"Daoist Xu, what a coincidence!"

Liu Jiao greeted Xu Lei.

Xu Lei smiled. "Mrs. Liu, are you here to catch Snow Cloud Foxes as well?"

"Yes! The Chen Clan is offering a high price. It will depend on who has the ability to catch a Snow Cloud Fox. We'll be taking our leave first."

After Liu Jiao said this, the Azure Crane flew off in another direction.

"There is another competitor now. I hope we can catch a Snow Cloud Fox."

Qin Qing said expectantly.

"Everyone, be careful. We may encounter second rank Monster Beasts here."

Xu Lei cast a yellow protective shield over himself and walked toward the bamboo forest.

Shen Long and the others each cast a defensive spell over themselves and followed.

The Thousand Bamboo Mountain Range covered a vast area. Finding a First Rank Snow Cloud Fox amid the boundless mountains was no easy task.

The bamboo forest was quiet, and they did not travel quickly.

A grayish-white tail spike burst from the ground and struck the Cyan Light Screen around Ye Yuqing, producing a dull thud.

Ye Yuqing reacted swiftly. With a flick of her right hand, a red Talisman flew out and transformed into more than ten Crimson Fireballs the size of bowls, smashing one after another into the ground where the tail spike had emerged.

With a series of thunderous booms, roaring flames engulfed an entire area.

Ye Yutang brought out a Flying Dagger glimmering with red light and slashed it toward the ground.

When the flames dispersed, a scorched-black scorpion lay on the ground, its tail spike grayish-white.

"A first rank early stage Iron Tail Scorpion!"

Ye Yuqing recognized the demonic insect.

"Do not let your guard down. Iron Tail Scorpions hide underground and are not easy to spot. Fortunately, their methods of attack are simple, and they are not very strong."

Xu Lei reminded them.

Ye Yuqing put away the Iron Tail Scorpion's corpse, and the group continued onward.

A day later, they appeared in a long, narrow valley. Vegetation was sparse within the valley, the stone walls on both sides were uneven and jagged, and large quantities of grayish-white stones littered the ground.

Along the way, they had encountered quite a few First Rank demonic insects, most of them first rank early stage and no match for them at all. However, the corpses of these first rank early stage demonic insects could not be sold for many Spirit Stones.

Before long, a cave several zhang wide appeared ahead.

"Daoist Qin, go investigate and see what Monster Beasts are inside."

Xu Lei said.

Qin Qing acknowledged him. Cyan light flashed beneath his feet as he dashed toward the cave, while Xu Lei and the other seven waited outside.

Very soon, a series of ear-splitting explosions came from within the cave.

"Stay on guard!"

Xu Lei warned.

Qin Qing rushed out of the cave and said, "There are two First Rank Late Stage Mountain Pushing Beasts inside, along with more than ten stalks of Three-Leaf Grass."

Before his words had even faded, more than ten yellow Earth Spikes about a foot long shot out of the cave.

Cyan light flared beneath Qin Qing's feet as he dodged the dozen or so yellow Earth Spikes.

Two yellow Monster Beasts resembling wild boars charged out of the cave. Two thick, long yellow tusks protruded from their mouths, each nearly two feet long.

Mountain Pushing Beasts had thick hides and tough flesh, violent temperaments, and immense strength. They loved ramming their enemies. Any cultivator struck by one would be severely injured even if they did not die.

The two Mountain Pushing Beasts charged toward Xu Lei and the others, each opening its mouth to spit out more than ten yellow Earth Spikes about a foot long.

Ye Yuqing brought out a Talisman glimmering with red light, its surface bearing the image of a tiny serpent.

The red Talisman exploded, transforming into a Crimson Fire Serpent over a zhang long that slammed into one of the Mountain Pushing Beasts.

With thunderous booms, the Crimson Fire Serpent's body exploded and became raging flames that enveloped one Mountain Pushing Beast. Before the other Mountain Pushing Beast had charged very far, a Cyan Vine as thick as an adult's arm burst from the ground and wrapped around its hind leg, knocking it to the ground.

Several Dharma Artifacts shot through the air and struck the Mountain Pushing Beast, leaving multiple shallow bloody marks on its body.

Ye Yuqing slapped her Spirit Beast Bag with her right hand. A tiger's roar rang out, and a streak of cyan light flew forth, landing on the ground and revealing a massive tiger covered entirely in cyan fur.

"A first rank middle stage Green Wind Tiger!"

Shen Long recognized the beast.

The Green Wind Tiger opened its mouth and spat out a Cyan Wind Blade around three feet long. It struck one Mountain Pushing Beast with a dull thud.

The Mountain Pushing Beast struggled violently and tore apart the Cyan Vine. The Green Wind Tiger pounced forward, opening its blood-filled maw to bite at the Mountain Pushing Beast's neck.

Though the Mountain Pushing Beast was of a higher rank, the Green Wind Tiger was clearly stronger. Moreover, Ye Yuqing and Ye Yutang were assisting it.

The Ye Yutang sisters dealt with one Mountain Pushing Beast, while Shen Long and the other six dealt with the other.

Before long, the Green Wind Tiger bit through one Mountain Pushing Beast's neck, and the beast collapsed into a pool of blood.

Seeing that the situation had turned unfavorable, the other Mountain Pushing Beast spat out more than ten yellow Earth Spikes at Shen Long and the others, then turned and fled into the distance.

It had not run far when a thick Cyan Vine burst from the ground, wrapped around its hind leg, and sent it crashing heavily to the ground.

A breeze swept past as the Green Wind Tiger caught up. It opened its blood-filled maw, revealing a row of sharp tusks, and bit toward the Mountain Pushing Beast's neck.