Teaming Up to Hunt Demonic Beasts

The days passed one after another, uneventful but fulfilling!

Ever since Liu Changxu had switched to cultivating the Fire Lotus Sword Art, his cultivation had advanced much faster. He estimated that he could break through to Late Qi Refinement in another six months.

He had also used up the bottle of Body-Tempering Pills he had won at auction. His physical strength had now reached new heights, and he could even withstand attacks from lower-grade first-tier magical artifacts with his body alone.

His pill-refining and talisman-making skills continued to improve. His success rate for refining lower-grade first-tier Qi Refinement Pills had reached forty percent, while his success rate for middle-grade first-tier Fireball Talismans could reach sixty percent. Even his upper-grade first-tier Fireball Talismans had a success rate of thirty percent.

Refining pills and making talismans had earned Liu Changxu more than three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones! No wonder alchemists and talisman makers were so wealthy!

One afternoon, his fifth brother, Liu Changshun, suddenly came looking for Liu Changxu.

Rather surprised, Liu Changxu asked, "Fifth Brother, did you need something?"

Liu Changshun said with a cheerful smile, "Well, these past few days, my spirit stones have only been going out, with none coming in. I haven't got a single one left, so I'm planning to go Demon Hunting to earn some! But the lineage's elders at Late Qi Refinement are all busy with the Peach Blossom Pavilion and can't lead us out on a hunt. So I wanted to get a few clansmen together with you and go Demon Hunting. Would you be willing?"

After hearing Liu Changshun out, Liu Changxu thought it over. Although he was not short of spirit stones, Demon Hunting would still benefit his cultivation greatly. Besides, his fifth brother had no cultivation-related craft with which to earn spirit stones. They were close, so he ought to help him. In particular, he had grown rather tired of constantly making talismans and refining pills lately, and going out Demon Hunting would be a welcome change. As long as they stayed away from dangerous places, their safety would still be assured! He also happened to have quite a few unsold talismans on hand, which would serve as a powerful trump card.

He then said to Liu Changshun, "Fifth Brother, the two of us alone won't be enough for Demon Hunting. We need to get a few more clansmen involved, and we should tell the lineage elders too!"

Liu Changshun hurriedly replied, "All right!"

So Liu Changxu and his fifth brother, Liu Changshun, went to Grand Elder Liu Qiusheng and explained their plans.

Grand Elder Liu Qiusheng said, "You may go Demon Hunting, but safety comes first. Better to bring back less than take risks! Can you do that?"

Liu Changxu and Liu Changshun replied loudly, "Great-Grandfather, rest assured. We'll be careful!"

Grand Elder Liu Qiusheng, however, thought to himself, What good are spoken promises? Young people are prone to rash impulses. No matter how often you warn them, it does no good! If I forbid them from going, it would be worse if they slipped out in secret. Besides, Demon Hunting is a good thing! Cultivation means defying Heaven and fighting for one's life. How could they lose their drive to advance? But these two youngsters are both promising seedlings of the lineage! Liu Changxu, in particular, has a strong chance of reaching Foundation Establishment. Their safety cannot be taken lightly! Very well, I'll have Baichuan organize a few clansmen and take them out Demon Hunting!

With that thought, Liu Qiusheng said, "I'll have your grandfather Baichuan take you Demon Hunting! It will be safer with a few more people!"

Liu Changxu and Liu Changshun were delighted to receive Grand Elder Liu Qiusheng's approval! They immediately went to find Liu Baichuan and explained the matter to him as well!

Fourth Elder Liu Baichuan, who had already been considering the same thing, discussed the Demon Hunting arrangements with Grand Elder Liu Qiusheng and Second Elder Liu Qiushui, then announced to the clansmen staying in the Purple Forest Market that a Demon Hunting team was being formed.

Three clansmen who likewise had no income in the market and had been wanting to go Demon Hunting immediately signed up.

The three were Liu Changshun's father, Third Uncle Liu Shijie; Fifteenth Uncle Liu Shichao; and Third Brother Liu Changchun.

After deciding on the Demon Hunting expedition, Fourth Elder Liu Baichuan did not lead the team out immediately. Instead, he had them ask around for information. The Liu Household's cultivators were unfamiliar with the suitable hunting grounds around the Purple Forest Market. Venturing out blindly would not only yield little, but could also easily put them in danger!

The Purple Forest Market lay on the southern edge of the Azure Cloud Range. To its south stretched the Azure Mist Plain, with its many lakes and marshes, a renowned land of fish and rice. Cultivating lineages there were as countless as crucian carp crossing a river. The broad Azure Mist River wound through it like a jade ribbon, rushing from west to east into the sea!

The Azure Cloud Sect was the master of this vast land, while the Tang Dynasty was merely its tool for controlling the secular world.

Across its immense territory, the Tang Dynasty had established thirty-two circuits, 369 provinces, and 4,860 counties. The Purple Forest Market was also situated in Eastern Splendor Province, only five thousand li from the provincial capital, Eastern Splendor City. The Azure Cloud Sect had established the Purple Forest Market here as an important barrier against attacks on Eastern Splendor City by the Demon Race of the Azure Cloud Range! If the Demon Race overran the Purple Forest Market, the hundreds of millions of humans living around Eastern Splendor City would face utter annihilation.

The Purple Forest Market also had clear advantages. First, an upper-grade third-tier spirit vein here could attract cultivators to settle. Second, its position between the Azure Cloud Range and the Azure Mist Plain made it well suited as a trading hub. Third, it stood on the southern edge of the Azure Cloud Range. Although it directly faced the demonic beasts deep within the mountains, it could also attract large numbers of cultivators to go Demon Hunting.