Small Tower

Over a hundred Crimson Fireballs rained down one after another upon the Yellow Earth Wall, turning into rolling flames that swallowed it whole. The Yellow Earth Wall exploded apart, smoke and dust billowing everywhere.

Shen Long and the other five scattered, fleeing in different directions.

They were no match for dozens of Fire Crows. It all came down to whose luck was worse—who would be targeted by the Fire Crows.

Qin Qing ran the fastest. With his Great Perfection Wind Control Technique, he flashed several times and vanished into a Cyan Bamboo Forest.

Xu Lei directly took out an Earth Escape Talisman and slapped it onto himself. A Yellow Light Screen emerged, wrapping around his entire body, and he burrowed into the earth and vanished.

Sun Yang slapped a Flight Talisman onto himself. A pair of Cyan Feather Wings grew from his back, and with a gentle flap, he soared into the sky at great speed.

Shen Long summoned the Black Tortoise Shield, which spun endlessly around him.

Several Crimson Fireballs struck the Black Tortoise Shield, turning into Crimson Flame that engulfed it.

Two Fire Crows flapped their wings and swooped toward Shen Long.

With a flick of his right hand, Shen Long sent out a Crimson Fireball as large as a water vat. It struck one Fire Crow, and rolling flames engulfed its body.

A Fire Crow's sharp claws struck the Black Tortoise Shield with a dull thud.

Shen Long chanted under his breath. Cyan light blazed from his right hand, and with a flick of his finger, a streak of cyan light shot out and sank into the ground. A Cyan Vine as thick as a baby's arm burst from the earth and wrapped around the Fire Crow's claws.

He quickly ran into the distance, the Black Tortoise Shield continuing to circle around him.

The Fire Crow spat out a stream of Crimson Flame that landed on the Cyan Vine, reducing it to ashes.

Several Fire Crows swooped at Shen Long. With a light flap of their wings, each unleashed several Crimson Fireballs that hurtled toward him.

Most of the dozen-odd Crimson Fireballs struck the Black Tortoise Shield, becoming flames that engulfed it.

Shen Long chanted under his breath as two Fire Crows flew over. He shook his sleeve, and two Crimson Fireballs as large as millstones flew out, accurately striking the two Fire Crows. Flames engulfed them both.

Cyan light lit up beneath his feet. His body grew lighter as he moved into the distance.

More than a dozen Fire Crows pursued Shen Long, launching Crimson Fireballs at him. The Black Tortoise Shield blocked them all. Whenever they came within thirty meters of Shen Long, a Crimson Fireball as large as a water vat would smash into them.

After a while, a rushing river appeared ahead. Shen Long put away the Black Tortoise Shield and jumped into the river.

More than a dozen Crimson Fireballs fell from the sky and struck the water, blasting up waves as white mist filled the air.

Half a day later, Shen Long emerged from the river. Seeing Cyan Bamboo Forests on both sides, he finally climbed ashore.

His spiritual power had been severely depleted. He sat down cross-legged, took out two Spirit Stones, and absorbed the spiritual qi within them to slowly recover his spiritual power.

A little while later, Shen Long put away the Spirit Stones and rose to his feet.

With a thought, blue light flashed across his body, and a Blue Water Screen emerged to protect him. He then stepped toward the bamboo forest.

As he passed one bamboo stalk, a thick, long cyan tongue shot out and struck the Blue Water Screen, sending ripples across its surface.

Shen Long reacted quickly. With a flick of his right hand, a Crimson Fireball as large as a water vat flew out and struck the bamboo.

Rolling flames swallowed the bamboo, revealing a cyan lizard. It was engulfed by the raging blaze and let out a pained hiss.

A blue Flying Dagger shot over and severed its head. The first rank early stage monster insect was slain.

"Color-Changing Lizard!"

Shen Long recognized the monster insect. These insects were skilled at concealing themselves and could blend into their surroundings. They were relatively common monster insects in the Thousand Bamboo Mountain Range.

Shen Long put away the Color-Changing Lizard's corpse and continued onward.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he arrived at an open area.

Several Yellow Earth Spikes about a foot long burst from the ground and struck the Blue Water Screen, sending ripples across its surface.

Shen Long flicked his right hand, sending out a Crimson Fireball as large as a water vat that smashed into the ground.

With a loud boom, a pit more than three meters wide appeared in the ground. A Yellow Giant Rat as large as a house crawled out from underground. Its eyes were blood-red, and several thick, long whiskers grew from its nose.

"A first rank middle stage Spirit-Devouring Rat!"

Shen Long recognized the Yellow Giant Rat. These Monster Beasts were rather brutal, feeding on anything containing spiritual qi. They often attacked immortal cultivators and were common Monster Beasts in Thousand Bamboo Valley.

The Spirit-Devouring Rat charged at Shen Long, intending to use its massive body to smash through his defenses.

Shen Long flicked his right hand, and a Crimson Fireball flew out, striking the Spirit-Devouring Rat. Rolling flames engulfed its body, yet it endured the heat and slapped the Blue Water Screen with its right claw, denting the screen inward.

Shen Long summoned a blue Short Blade. The words "Mystic Water" could be seen on its blade.

The Mystic Water Blade shot straight for the Spirit-Devouring Rat's eyes. It hurriedly swung its right claw and struck at the Mystic Water Blade.

With a dull clang of metal striking metal, a shallow slash appeared on the Spirit-Devouring Rat's right claw.

A low-grade Dharma Artifact could hardly inflict grave injuries upon the Spirit-Devouring Rat, but it likewise had difficulty piercing the Blue Water Screen.

Shen Long began chanting under his breath. Cyan light slowly lit up in his right hand as he slapped it toward the ground.

A streak of cyan light shot forth and sank underground. A Cyan Vine as thick as a baby's arm burst from the earth and bound the Spirit-Devouring Rat's body.

The Spirit-Devouring Rat opened its blood basin of a mouth, exposing a row of sharp teeth. It bit down on the Cyan Vine, snapping it in an instant.

Shen Long traced through the air with both hands. A flash of red light appeared, and a Crimson Fireball as large as a house formed above his head, radiating astonishing heat.

He lightly pointed a finger at the Spirit-Devouring Rat, and the Crimson Fireball shot out, smashing into its body.

A tremendous explosion rang out. Rolling flames engulfed the Spirit-Devouring Rat, and it let out a pained roar.

Shen Long continuously unleashed massive Fireballs that struck the Spirit-Devouring Rat, while also controlling the Mystic Water Blade to attack its eyes, blinding it.

As time passed bit by bit, the Spirit-Devouring Rat's reactions grew slower and slower, and the smell of scorched flesh wafted from its body.

A little while later, its head was severed by the Mystic Water Blade, and it collapsed.

Shen Long let out a long breath. Both the Mystic Water Blade and Black Tortoise Shield were low-grade Dharma Artifacts. This time, the Great Perfection Fireball Technique had played a major role in slaying the Spirit-Devouring Rat.

He walked over to the Spirit-Devouring Rat's corpse and used the Mystic Water Blade to cut open its belly, intending to process the Monster Beast's corpse.

His Storage Bag was only three feet square and could not hold the Spirit-Devouring Rat's corpse. Fortunately, its hide was the most valuable part of it.

He disemboweled the Spirit-Devouring Rat and discovered a Blue Small Tower about a foot tall inside its body.

"A Dharma Artifact?"

Shen Long was both surprised and delighted. He had actually gained an unexpected harvest.

He put away the Blue Small Tower, skinned the Spirit-Devouring Rat, and left the area.

One day later, Shen Long returned to the Marketplace.

He first went to Craftsman Hall and found Sun Huowang. He took out the hide, the Color-Changing Lizard's corpse, and a spider leg.

"The hide of a first rank middle stage Spirit-Devouring Rat, as well as a first rank early stage Color-Changing Lizard and a spider leg from a First Rank Late Stage Flame Spider,"

Shen Long introduced.

Sun Huowang carefully inspected them. After confirming there was no mistake, he said, "You brat have pretty good luck, getting hold of so many materials. One hundred Spirit Stones altogether."

This price was slightly higher than the market rate. Sun Huowang could still make a profit by refining them into Dharma Artifacts and selling them.

Shen Long nodded and agreed.

Sun Huowang shook his sleeve, and a swath of cyan glow swept past. A pile of low-grade Spirit Stones appeared on the table.

After confirming the count, Shen Long put away the hundred Spirit Stones, left Craftsman Hall, and returned to his residence.