Lin He activated the Cloud-Treading Boots and moved, his speed suddenly surging. With a single forward slash of the top-grade flying sword in his hand, a Mountain-Pushing Beast fell to the ground and lay still.
"There really are a ridiculous number of Demon Beasts here."
In the short time he had been traveling, Lin He had already encountered five or six waves of Demon Beast attacks. He took out a map. A region marked as dangerous lay closer than any other, and he intended to take a look there.
"This direction leads deeper into the Ring Mountain Range. I'm afraid I'll encounter more than just these Lower Level One Demon Beasts."
Sure enough, after another hour of traveling in that direction, an Upper Level One Demon Beast, a Blazing-Horn Deer, blocked Lin He's path. The fire-attribute beast immediately spat a great mass of fireballs at him.
"I don't have time to tangle with you."
Lin He waved his hand, and five Peak Level One Demon Beasts appeared in succession: a Mountain-Pushing Beast, a Three-Eyed Fire Wolf, an Azure Water Crocodile, an Icefire Wolf, and a Wind-Howling Eagle.
Facing the raging flames, the Mountain-Pushing Beast shimmered with a layer of yellow light. Its Stone Skin Technique activated, instantly boosting its defenses. The great fireballs could not harm it at all.
Meanwhile, the Three-Eyed Fire Wolf beside it fired a ray of divine light from its third spirit eye. The ray struck the Blazing-Horn Deer, leaving it dazed and disoriented.
The Azure Water Crocodile and Icefire Wolf attacked together, unleashing a thick Water Arrow and a stream of searing flame. How could the Blazing-Horn Deer withstand so many attacks? It was soon blasted to the ground and knocked unconscious, then taken into Lin He's portable space.
Lin He was quite pleased with the four spirit beasts' first coordinated effort. The Mountain-Pushing Beast absorbed the damage, the Three-Eyed Fire Wolf disabled the enemy, and the Azure Water Crocodile and Icefire Wolf were the main attackers. As for the Wind-Howling Eagle, it flew very low, handling scouting and lookout duties.
Lin He had once sent the Wind-Howling Eagle higher into the air. Naturally, the higher it flew, the broader its view became. But the moment it rose into the sky, numerous flying Demon Beasts swarmed it, forcing Lin He to abandon the idea.
Afterward, Lin He encountered quite a few Upper Level One Demon Beasts in succession. Beasts seldom seen outside were commonplace here, but with the help of his five Peak Level One spirit beasts, he naturally made his way through without trouble.
"This should be the place."
Lin He arrived at a cavern. Chilling gusts blew from within; it hardly looked like a welcoming place.
"The Heavenly Gate Fort disciple specifically marked this place as dangerous on the map. There's probably a Peak Level One Demon Beast guarding it. Better be careful."
The Mountain-Pushing Beast squeezed its massive body inside first, and only then did Lin He cautiously follow. Sure enough, the moment they entered the cavern, a dazzling beam of golden light descended and struck the Mountain-Pushing Beast, making it stagger. Fortunately, it was now a Peak Level One spirit beast. Otherwise, it might not have withstood the blow.
Only then did Lin He get a clear look at the attacking Demon Beast. It was a giant python covered in golden scales. Opening its enormous mouth, it formed a ball of golden light, evidently preparing its next attack.
"A Peak Level One Golden-Light Python!"
Lin He's gaze lingered on the Golden-Light Python for a moment before shifting to a spirit herb nearby, which radiated a bone-chilling cold.
"Oh? Isn't that Cold Star Grass? Judging by its age, it must be at least a thousand years old."
While Lin He examined the spirit herb, the Golden-Light Python, disturbed by these uninvited guests, swallowed the golden ball of light. Then it opened its great mouth and spat out a burst of golden light, this time aiming directly at Lin He.
Apparently, seeing how thick-skinned and tough the Mountain-Pushing Beast was, the Demon Beast had decided to change targets.
As the golden ball of light hurtled toward him, Lin He calmly took out a small mirror-the Azure Condensation Mirror.
The mirror immediately emitted a beam of light that froze the golden ball in midair. The Azure Condensation Mirror could immobilize not only magic artifacts, but spells as well.
The Golden-Light Python had never encountered anything like this. Its dull mind could not make sense of it, and Lin He gave it no time to figure things out.
He shifted aside, and the Three-Eyed Fire Wolf fired a ray of divine light from its third spirit eye, leaving the python dazed and disoriented. The Icefire Wolf and Azure Water Crocodile appeared in succession, unleashing a thick Water Arrow and a stream of searing flame that tore open the Golden-Light Python's hide and flesh.
The rest was much simpler. Lin He took out the Mother-and-Child Blades and joined the fight. Before long, the Golden-Light Python could hold out no longer, and he took it into his portable space.
Lin He carefully harvested the Millennium Cold Star Grass. Its medicinal properties were far too cold and yin in nature, and it was not an ingredient for refining Foundation Establishment Pills. However, Lin He had thought of a use for it, so he put it away with great care.
After confirming that there was nothing else worth collecting nearby, Lin He headed toward his next destination with his five Peak Level One spirit beasts.
One day later,
Beside an ancient, unadorned Greenstone Hall, Lin He waited at his leisure. After a day of fierce battles, his gains had been considerable.
He had acquired over a dozen Peak Level One Demon Beasts alone, along with more than thirty Upper Level One Demon Beasts. In addition, he had obtained over a dozen medicinal herbs four or five hundred years old, as well as two thousand-year-old spirit herbs.
"Millennium Cold Star Grass, Millennium Ice Spirit Flower."
Both medicinal herbs were excessively cold and yin in nature, but Lin He was very pleased with them.
Setting aside his thoughts, Lin He wandered around the Greenstone Hall and discovered restrictive enchantments that could limit spiritual sense. He did not dare test them recklessly. After a while, he seemed to hear something, and with a quick movement, he entered the stone hall.
At the same time, a large group of Covering Moon Sect disciples arrived, led by Nangong Wan.
Nangong Wan swept the area with her spiritual sense and, sure enough, discovered the restrictions. Rather than alarmed, she was delighted.
"Everything we encountered before was trash. I hope this one will satisfy me."
Nangong Wan waved her hand and took the lead inside. The Covering Moon Sect disciples behind her dared not dally and hurried after her.
After descending more than a hundred stone steps, they unexpectedly found an entire marshland. In its center stood a small white jade pavilion, with an enormous golden chest resting inside.
At the sight of the enormous golden chest, Nangong Wan's eyes burned with eagerness.
"Is that Black-Scaled Python the beast guarding this great golden chest?"
"Reporting to Martial Ancestor, that is correct. This Demon Beast is much stronger than ordinary Peak Level One Demon Beasts. Please be careful, Martial Ancestor."
"It's merely a Level One Demon Beast. In a moment, I'll trap it with my magic treasure. You'll attack it with the Yin-Yang Traction Technique."
Naturally, the other Covering Moon Sect disciples dared not say anything more and hastily voiced their assent.
Nangong Wan tapped the Vermilion Bird Ring she wore. It immediately conjured specks of flame, and over a hundred fireballs began forming continuously. Even the temperature rose considerably.
Just as Nangong Wan was about to act, the Demon Beast in the marsh could restrain itself no longer.
A
pitch-black, serpent-shaped monster covered in enormous armored scales appeared.
"That isn't a Black-Scaled Python. It's an Ink Flood Dragon!"
At the sight, Nangong Wan could not help but blanch.