Kill a Third-Order Magical Beast, Enter the Cave Mansion (Seeking Follow-up Reads, Seeking Monthly Votes)

The next day.

In the misty early morning, just as the sky began to brighten.

Fully prepared, Little Fairy Doctor pulled Xiao Ze along as they plunged into the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Just as Little Fairy Doctor had said yesterday.

A large number of low-to-mid-tier magical beasts had migrated to the peripheral areas of the Magical Beast Mountain Range to escape the chaos of war.

Little Fairy Doctor and Xiao Ze had not walked many steps.

Before they encountered several waves of magical beast attacks.

Fortunately, these beasts were only of the first rank; even without Xiao Ze, Little Fairy Doctor could handle them with ease thanks to her strength as a Dou Shi.

After slaying a few more first-rank magical beasts.

The two successfully arrived at a place once known as a "safe zone."

However, this former "safe zone" was now occupied by a second-rank Magic Pattern Turtle, whose formidable strength had made it the overlord of this area.

Against a second-rank magical beast, Xiao Ze had no intention of making a move.

It just so happened that Little Fairy Doctor had recently broken through to the Dou Shi realm and was lacking practical combat experience, so this battle was left to her.

After a bout of fighting.

Under Xiao Ze's guidance, Little Fairy Doctor paid a heavy price, but ultimately managed to kill the second-rank magical beast.

After some scavenging, all the medicinal herbs in this area had been harvested by Little Fairy Doctor.

Following a brief rest, the two set off on their journey once more.

The two continued to advance.

Passing through many regions.

They also encountered many ferocious magical beasts.

But with Little Fairy Doctor's powerful strength and Xiao Ze overseeing the situation, every encounter was resolved without incident.

Along this journey, Little Fairy Doctor could be said to have gained a full harvest.

Her once-empty backpack was now stuffed with various medicinal herbs, and even contained several magic cores belonging to second-rank magical beasts.

"Xiao Ze, we've arrived!"

Crossing over a hill and stepping over a small stream.

The two finally reached their destination.

This was a valley with beautiful scenery, filled with swirling mist and the sound of flowing springs; a gentle breeze stirred the green leaves, bringing a cool atmosphere to the place.

"Is this the place you mentioned, where those high-tier medicinal herbs grow?" Xiao Ze stood on a large blue rock, looking down at the tranquil valley below.

"That's right, this is it!" Little Fairy Doctor's small face was flushed red, like a ripe fruit that made one want to take a bite.

She arrived at Xiao Ze's side, panting; having walked this entire way, she was utterly exhausted.

If not for Xiao Ze accompanying her, she would never have dared to venture alone into such a dangerous place.

One had to know, this was an area inhabited by third-rank magical beasts!

"ROAR!"

As if responding to the two who had suddenly intruded.

An angry roar instantly echoed through the valley.

The two looked over and discovered that in a cold pool deep within the valley, a black serpent over ten zhang long suddenly leaped out. Its entire body was covered in pitch-black scales, and its deep green eyes flickered with cold intent.

Countless splashes erupted, and the entire valley was permeated by its aura.

"Is this the third-rank magical beast you spoke of?" Xiao Ze looked at the black serpent before him and said to Little Fairy Doctor at his side.

"That's it, the third-rank magical beast, the Green Nether Python!" Little Fairy Doctor's pretty face flushed with excitement as she spoke.

"Very well!"

Xiao Ze nodded indifferently.

Then, he raised his hand and waved.

He did not even use a weapon.

He simply unleashed a surge of Dou Qi.

Yet, this Dou Qi transformed into a long blade of sword energy in the air. At its illusory tip, a chilling, cold light flickered. It tore through the air and struck directly at the seven-inch mark of the giant black serpent.

"HISSS~"

Stung by the pain, the black python let out a pained hiss.

It twisted its body, and powerful Dou Qi covered its entire frame, hardening into a black shell as it tried to withstand the incoming illusory sword strike.

"Die!" Xiao Ze's cold voice fell.

The sword energy landed directly on the giant black snake's vital spot, slicing through it like tofu without the slightest resistance, severing the beast in two.

A massive amount of foul-smelling blood gushed from the wound.

The giant black snake thrashed on the ground for a while before finally losing all signs of life, becoming nothing more than a corpse.

"It's over already?" Little Fairy Doctor asked, somewhat surprised.

From the moment Xiao Ze made his move to the death of the giant black snake, only a few minutes had passed. This terrifying magical beast that had dominated the Tier 3 region was now just a carcass.

The speed of it all left even Little Fairy Doctor astonished.

"It's over," Xiao Ze said, retracting his arm and speaking indifferently. "You can go down and harvest those high-tier herbs now."

Hearing Xiao Ze's words, Little Fairy Doctor immediately descended into the valley.

She first went to inspect the giant black snake's corpse, and upon confirming it was thoroughly dead, she took out a small knife and began to rummage through the carcass.

In the end, she extracted a Tier 3 magical core.

Having finished that, she began to harvest the mature high-tier medicinal herbs with a beaming smile.

After a bout of busy work, she finally accomplished the goal of her trip.

"Alright, Xiao Ze, we can head back now!"

After placing the herbs into her backpack, Little Fairy Doctor returned to Xiao Ze's side, looking travel-worn.

Fine beads of sweat had gathered on her delicate, dainty nose, and her pure white face was flushed with a rosy glow.

Behind her, she carried a bulging pack filled with all the herbs she had gathered on this trip.

"Wait a moment longer." Xiao Ze looked at the terrain, his sword-like brows knitting slightly.

"What is it?" Little Fairy Doctor asked, puzzled.

"Come, I'll take you to a good place!" Xiao Ze seemed to have thought of something; the corners of his mouth curled up as he led Little Fairy Doctor in a certain direction.

"What kind of place?" Little Fairy Doctor was confused, but she followed behind Xiao Ze nonetheless.

The two walked through the valley for a while before finally arriving at a cliffside.

"Xiao Ze, why did you bring me here?" Little Fairy Doctor looked around and found the area to be extremely quiet; even the chirping of insects and birds from the surrounding forest had come to an abrupt halt.

"Follow me!"

Xiao Ze looked up at the cliff in front of him and then leaped upward.

Although Little Fairy Doctor was confused, she followed him up.

Soon, the two spotted a dark, cavernous opening on the cliff face.

"Hm? This is... an ancient dwelling?" Little Fairy Doctor was surprised. She hadn't expected to find a dwelling in a place like this.

"Let's go in and take a look!"

Xiao Ze smiled faintly and took the lead.

That was right. This dwelling was the one he had learned about from Mu Li, the very same cave that Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor had encountered in the past.

The cave was pitch black and devoid of light.

Little Fairy Doctor stayed close to Xiao Ze's side, remaining vigilant against any dangers lurking in the darkness.

The two walked for over ten minutes before finally arriving in front of a stone door.

Xiao Ze felt around the stone door until he found the mechanism, opening the portal that had been sealed for many years.

Stepping through the stone door, they were met with a blinding light.

Inside the massive stone chamber, hundreds of Moonlight Stones were embedded in the walls for illumination. In the center of the room, a skeleton sat upright on a chair, lending an eerie atmosphere to the entire chamber.

"Wow! So many gold coins!"

"Xiao Ze, this pile of gold coins must be at least several hundred thousand, right?"

"Who exactly was the owner of this dwelling when they were alive? How could they be so wealthy?"