Hunting Monster Beasts Outside

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Shen Long appeared before a two-story red pavilion. The plaque bore three large golden characters: "Craftsman Hall."

He walked inside. A spacious, brightly lit hall greeted him, its shelves lined with a large number of Dharma Artifacts in all manner of styles. Two Green-Shirted Attendants were introducing Dharma Artifacts to customers.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, the shopkeeper is upstairs. You can go up yourself."

One of the Green-Shirted Attendants spoke.

Shen Long thanked him and strode toward the second floor.

Upon reaching the second floor, Shen Long saw a rosy-faced green-robed elder flipping through account books.

The green-robed elder had a round face, large eyes, and a small goatee. He looked kind and amiable.

"Shopkeeper, is the young shopkeeper not here?"

Shen Long asked with a smile.

The green-robed elder was Sun Huowang, the shopkeeper of Craftsman Hall, at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer.

Sun Huowang set down the account book and said with a smile, "Yiming went out to discuss business. Do you need a Dharma Artifact repaired?"

He had a son and a daughter. His son, Sun Yiming, had no talent for artifact refining but was good at dealing with people, so he handled business negotiations. His daughter, Sun Yiyue, possessed talent for artifact refining and inherited Sun Huowang's mantle.

Whenever Shen Long suffered damage to his Dharma Artifacts while hunting Monster Beasts, he brought them to Craftsman Hall for repairs. Sun Huowang's fees were fairly low.

"Your birthday is in a few days. I do not have anything valuable, but this pot of Green Peach Brew is a small token of my regard. Please accept it if you do not find it beneath your notice!"

Shen Long took out a wine pot and handed it to Sun Huowang.

Ever since leaving his position, Shen Long had given Sun Huowang a pot of Green Peach Brew on every birthday, expressing his gratitude.

Without Sun Huowang taking him in, Shen Long might not have lived to this day. When cultivators met with mishaps while hunting Monster Beasts outside, it was difficult for those they left behind to survive. Qin Qing and Qin Tianhe were an example.

Once Qin Qing died while hunting Monster Beasts, it would be difficult for Qin Tianhe to survive on his own.

Over the years, some cultivators had died while hunting Monster Beasts outside, leaving their children orphaned. These orphans found it difficult to survive alone; they either sold themselves to cultivation lineages or vanished without a trace for no apparent reason.

Selling themselves to cultivation lineages was somewhat better, since at least they could stay alive. However, from then on, they had to obey the cultivation lineages' orders. Some Evil Cultivators or evil sects specifically gathered orphans with spiritual roots, using them to practice their arts or train them into deathsworn soldiers.

Given Sun Huowang's artifact-refining skill, a pot of Green Peach Brew was hardly precious.

"How many times have I told you? There is no need to spend so much. It is not easy for you to earn Spirit Stones."

Sun Huowang spoke in a reproachful tone, though he still accepted the Green Peach Brew.

"It is only a pot of Green Peach Brew. It is nothing."

Shen Long smiled calmly.

"Oh, right. The Chen Clan has recently been purchasing hundred-year-old Golden Rain Grass. Keep an eye out when you hunt Monster Beasts. If you obtain hundred-year-old Golden Rain Grass, you can sell it to the Chen Clan."

Sun Huowang said.

"Golden Rain Grass!"

Shen Long nodded. "Thank you, Shopkeeper."

Information was also a cultivation resource. Sun Huowang had extensive connections, so he learned of every stir and whisper in the Marketplace early.

After chatting for a few moments, Shen Long took his leave.

Returning to his residence, Shen Long activated the Soundproofing Array, sat cross-legged upon the stone bed, and began cultivating.

Blue motes of light emerged inside the room. As he inhaled and exhaled, they surged toward his mouth and nose.

Ten hours later, Shen Long left his residence and headed toward the Martial Practice Garden at the mountaintop to practice spells.

The days passed one by one. Aside from cultivating and practicing spells, Shen Long would stroll through the square where Rogue Cultivators set up stalls, inquiring about strange tales from the cultivation world or seeing rare and peculiar objects.

Half a month later, Shen Long was cultivating at his residence when a Sound Transmission Talisman flew in. He immediately stopped cultivating and grabbed it. As his five fingers closed, the Sound Transmission Talisman burst apart, and Sun Yang's voice rang out. "Fellow Daoist Shen, come to Daoist Xu's residence. There is work."

"Work at last."

Shen Long let out a long breath of stale air, delight appearing on his face.

He collected the five Spirit Stones from the Soundproofing Array, then walked out and headed up the mountain.

He arrived before a Blue-tiled Courtyard. A cyan wooden plaque hung at the entrance, bearing three large golden characters: "Green Bamboo Courtyard."

The courtyard gates stood open, and he strode inside.

The courtyard was not large. Within it stood a two-story Cyan Pavilion and a Cyan Stone Pavilion.

Sun Yang and a burly Yellow-Shirted Big Man sat in the stone pavilion, drinking tea and chatting.

The Yellow-Shirted Big Man had thick brows and large eyes, with a yellow Spirit Beast Bag tied at his waist.

Xu Lei, at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, was also the only cultivator in the Monster Hunting Team who kept a Spirit Beast.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, you have advanced to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer. Congratulations!"

Xu Lei said with a hearty laugh, his voice rough.

"Daoist Xu should be close to advancing to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer as well, right?"

Shen Long said.

Xu Lei had entered the Qi Refining Seventh Layer three years ago. He was likely close to making a breakthrough.

"I wish. I am stuck at a bottleneck."

Xu Lei sighed, his face filled with worry.

Every cultivator encountered bottlenecks; only the frequency and duration differed. Some cultivators rarely encountered bottlenecks, while others encountered several within a single realm. It varied from person to person.

"Bottlenecks are not so easily resolved, Daoist Xu."

A gentle female voice rang out.

As soon as the words fell, a purple-skirted young woman in her early thirties and a tall, thin green-shirted man entered.

The purple-skirted young woman had striking features, towering twin peaks, and watery peach-blossom eyes that could snare souls. She exuded the charm of a mature woman.

The green-shirted man had honest-looking features, giving people the impression that he was simple and guileless.

The green-shirted man was called Chen Qiang, and the purple-skirted young woman was called Liu Xin. Both were at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer and were Dual Cultivation Partners.

"Where is Fellow Daoist Qin? He has not arrived yet? Whenever there is work, he is always the most eager."

Liu Xin asked.

"I already sent him a Sound Transmission Talisman. He is probably accompanying his grandson while he practices spells. Let us wait."

Sun Yang said.

"Daoist Xu, what Monster Beast are we hunting this time?"

Liu Xin asked.

"Two First Rank Late Stage Flame Spiders. The old rules: divide and conquer."

Xu Lei said.

First Rank Late Stage Monster Beasts were comparable to late-stage Qi Refining cultivators. Their strength was not weak.

Liu Xin nodded. "With only two First Rank Late Stage Flame Spiders, they should not be a match for us."

"Daoist Xu, how did you discover the Flame Spiders? The intelligence will not be wrong, will it?"

Shen Long pressed.

Monster Beasts did not remain in their nests forever; they also went out to forage. Sometimes, mistakes were made when investigating their numbers and cultivation.

"I investigated personally and kept watch for several days. I did not find a third Flame Spider. As long as we do not encounter a second rank Monster Beast, there will be no problem. Daoist Xu's Ice Crystal Scorpion is no ornament."

Sun Yang said.

Xu Lei kept a first rank middle stage Ice Crystal Scorpion. It had been passed down from his father and had served two generations, though his father had died in the jaws of a Monster Beast.

"Haha, work at last!"

A delighted male voice sounded.

Qin Qing strode in quickly, his face full of smiles. If he did not go out to hunt Monster Beasts soon, he would not even be able to lift the lid off his cooking pot.

"Since everyone is here, let us depart!"

Xu Lei did not waste words. With a sweep of his wide sleeve, he led Sun Yang and the others from the residence and activated the Warning Formation.

After leaving the Marketplace, Xu Lei raised his right hand. A streak of cyan light flew out and transformed into a flying boat gleaming with cyan light, with a cloud design on its hull.

The low-grade flying magical tool, Azure Cloud Boat!

Xu Lei stepped aboard first, followed closely by Sun Yang. Qin Qing and the other four boarded in succession.

Xu Lei formed a hand seal, and the Azure Cloud Boat lit up with cyan light as it flew into the sky.

I am not feeling well today, so there is only one chapter. I will make up the chapter I owe in a few days.