The Flood Dragon Beast's Treasure Ground, a Wealth of Spirit Medicines; the Plan Advances, an Unexpected Turn Brings Murder (Ten-Thousand-Word Update-Please Vote and Subscribe)

On a lone island in the Inner Lake of the Reef-Strewn Sea.

Five imposing Core Formation True Persons stood together. The other four focused their gazes on True Person Pine Waves, who stood at the center of the rocky platform, slowly reining in his magical power. Inquiry and anticipation showed on their faces.

"Excellent! I haven't let everyone down!"

True Person Pine Waves slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and stroked his long beard, addressing the others with a relieved smile.

The unusual compass-shaped treasure floating before him now gave off a continuous, steady hum. The fragment of scale at its center had been reduced to residue, clearly exhausted and unusable.

Evidently, this had been their only chance to track the beast. No wonder True Person Pine Waves had looked so grave and burdened.

"I've found a faint, recently left trace of an aura with the same origin as this scale. It's weak, but it points in a clear direction."

True Person Pine Waves' eyes shone. "Once we get closer, I can follow that trace with my ancient tracking secret art. Then we can follow the map to find the steed and pinpoint its lair, or the place where it most often appears and dwells!"

"Excellent!"

"Wonderful!"

"Brother Songtao, your methods truly live up to your reputation!"

Everyone brightened at his words and offered praise. Finding a definite lead meant they had successfully taken the most crucial first step.

"Then let's not delay. We should go!"

True Person Pine Waves rather enjoyed the satisfaction their praise brought him, but quickly put away his smile and said solemnly, "We won't use a spirit boat as we venture deeper this time. It's too conspicuous and liable to alarm the demon beasts in the lake. It's also cumbersome and insufficiently nimble. Traveling