Cultivation: From Menial Laborer to Immortal Venerable - Section 6

As his cultivation deepened, he quickly reached the peak of the second layer of Qi Condensation.

Unfortunately, the remaining medicinal power wasn't enough to support him in breaking through to the third layer, but he had a premonition that another pill would do the trick!

Thinking of this, a sharp glint flashed in Zhou Xun's eyes.

"I only have less than 20 Spirit Essences left, not enough to buy a Qi Induction Pill,"

"It looks like the plan to kill the Goldspirit Rat needs to be moved up!"

Four hundred li east of Red Leaf Square, two figures were moving swiftly.

It was Dan Xiong Hai and Zhou Xun, on their way to hunt the Goldspirit Rat.

That day, after Zhou Xun made up his mind, he found Dan Xiong Hai the very next day and agreed to the plan.

They had agreed that all spoils from this expedition would be divided into three parts: they would each get one part for their joint efforts, and Dan Xiong Hai, as the discoverer of the Goldspirit Rat, would receive an additional part.

"Goldspirit Rats are naturally vigilant and extremely agile; they flee at the slightest disturbance. We need to buy Intoxicating Fruit to use as bait, coupled with traps, and we'll achieve twice the result with half the effort!" Dan Xiong Hai said.

Intoxicating Fruit is a low-grade spiritual fruit often used to brew spiritual wine. It's not expensive, costing only one Spirit Essence per fruit.

"Leave this to me!" Zhou Xun took on the task.

As for other necessities like spiritual tools for storing demon blood and meat, and traps for capturing the Goldspirit Rat, they were all handed over to Dan Xiong Hai.

As a demon hunter, he already had these items prepared at home. When Zhou Xun returned with the Intoxicating Fruit, Dan Xiong Hai had already packed his equipment and was waiting.

They set off early the next morning.

Each of them carried a large pack. If they weren't cultivators, they would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.

"If only I had a Storage Pouch!" Zhou Xun sighed.

But even the lowest-grade Storage Pouch cost at least 10 Spirit Stones, which translated to over a thousand Spirit Essences – wealth Zhou Xun had never seen in his life.

"My uncle has one, but he treasures it dearly and never lets me play with it," Dan Xiong Hai said, a wistful look on his face.

They chatted as they traveled.

It took them a full five days to reach their destination.

It was a deserted valley surrounded by high mountains.

The two of them lay on a hillside, looking down into the valley.

Lush trees grew straight up, with no sign of human activity. A stream several feet wide divided the entire valley in half.

"This place is so remote, how did you find it?" Zhou Xun asked curiously.

"Since I wasn't accompanied by my uncle, I took a detour on my way back to the Square, sticking to deserted paths. Although it was more arduous, it was safer."

"The other day, while I was resting here, I suddenly heard fierce tiger roars from the woods to the west, and I could faintly sense spiritual energy fluctuations. I stealthily crept closer!"

"I saw a tiger and a rat fighting. The tiger, though just a mortal beast, was swift and strong, not to be underestimated. The rat, however, was a Goldspirit Rat, a low-grade demonic beast of the first rank."

"A Goldspirit Rat, about a foot long with golden fur, was battling a fierce tiger that was eight feet long with a magnificent coat of yellow and black stripes!"

"The tiger attacked ferociously, moving like the wind and swatting at the Goldspirit Rat. The Goldspirit Rat dodged and weaved with ease, occasionally slashing the tiger's hide with its claws, even gaining the upper hand!"

"Enraged, the tiger opened its mouth and lunged, but in its haste, it exposed a weakness in its neck. The Goldspirit Rat opened its mouth slightly, and a golden blade shot out, slicing across the tiger's neck."

"With a 'thwack,' the tiger fell from the air, twitching a few times before dying!"

"Immediately after, the Goldspirit Rat dragged the several-hundred-pound tiger carcass deeper into the woods."

"I followed, crossing ridges and streams for over ten li, until I reached this valley and stopped."

"The Goldspirit Rat entered the valley and squeaked a few times into the air. Then, four Goldspirit Rats – one large and three small – emerged from the valley and began feasting on the tiger. I noted the valley's location and returned to Red Leaf Square."

After hearing Dan Xiong Hai's account, Zhou Xun couldn't help but marvel.

"I never expected a mere low-grade demonic beast of the first rank to be able to fight bears and tigers, let alone prey on them!"

"How should we deal with such a fierce creature?"

Dan Xiong Hai smiled and said nothing. He opened the large pack he was carrying, took out a white object, and with a gentle shake, it transformed into a large white net.

"This net is called the 'Spirit Restraining Net.' It's woven from the silk of the Human-faced Spider, a low-grade demonic beast of the first rank. Although it's not a magical artifact, it's extremely tough and ordinary low-grade demonic beasts can't break free from it. It's an essential item for us demon hunters!"

Then, he took out three javelins, about three feet long, entirely black, with spearheads emitting a cold, faint glow.

"These are 'Demon Hunter Spears,' semi-magical artifacts commonly used by demon hunters. Infuse them with spiritual energy and throw them; ordinary low-grade demonic beasts cannot withstand them. They are top-notch weapons!" As he spoke, he handed one to Zhou Xun.

"This one here is..."

As Dan Xiong Hai introduced them, Zhou Xun felt a pang of envy.

They always said demon hunters were wealthy, but he hadn't expected them to be this rich.

The equipment Dan Xiong Hai had brought alone was worth more than seven Spirit Stones.

"For this operation, I'm getting one-third of the spoils, so I'm getting the better deal!" Zhou Xun thought to himself.

After explaining all the equipment, Dan Xiong Hai led Zhou Xun in setting up the traps.

Once the arrangements were complete, the two of them hid in the trees.

He smeared a powder on himself to mask his scent, then activated his Aura Concealment Technique. Holding onto the tree trunk with his left hand and gripping his throwing spear with his right, he stared intently in the direction of the valley.

Beneath the tree lay a fruit about the size of a fist, entirely green, emitting an intoxicating aroma. It was indeed the Intoxicating Fruit.

"When the Spirit Rat comes out to taste the Spirit Fruit, we'll both strike at the same time!" Dan Xiong Hai whispered, lowering his voice.

Zhou Xun nodded and said no more.

The entire forest was silent, save for the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Less than half an hour passed when Zhou Xun's gaze suddenly sharpened.

A rustling sound came from the bushes about thirty feet away, and then a squirrel about a foot long emerged. This rat was golden-brown all over; it was undoubtedly a Goldspirit Rat.

It poked its head out, its nose twitching, its round eyes darting around.

It soon discovered the Intoxicating Fruit beneath the tree.

However, it didn't go straight for it. Instead, it cautiously circled the area several times.

After testing the surroundings several times and finding no danger, it ambled up to the Intoxicating Fruit and began sniffing it with a look of intoxication.

Zhou Xun and Dan Xiong Hai exchanged a look, their eyes flashing with cold light. They slowly raised their throwing spears, channeling spiritual energy, ready to strike.

Suddenly, the Goldspirit Rat froze, jumped back a few steps, and let out a few squeaks behind it.

"Squeak squeak—"

Zhou Xun's heart tightened, thinking they had been discovered.

Immediately after, an echo of "squeak squeak—" came from the valley.

It turned out the Goldspirit Rat, upon discovering the Intoxicating Fruit, had no intention of hoarding it. Instead, it was calling for its family.

Soon, another rustling sound came from the bushes, and four Goldspirit Rats, one large and three small, all golden-brown, ran out.

As soon as the four Goldspirit Rats appeared, they were drawn to the Intoxicating Fruit. They quickly surrounded it, greedily inhaling its fragrance before devouring it with gusto.

Seeing the five Goldspirit Rats present, Dan Xiong Hai's scalp tingled.

"This is bad!"

The three small ones were manageable, but the two adult Goldspirit Rats were truly difficult opponents.

He had personally witnessed Goldspirit Rats hunting fierce tigers before.

His original plan was to use the Intoxicating Fruit to lure out one rat, kill it, and then deal with the other. Now, he would have to rely on Zhou Xun to distract one of the adult Goldspirit Rats.

After he killed his target, they would team up to kill the other.

As for the three small ones, he couldn't afford to worry about them.

So, Dan Xiong Hai turned his gaze to the other adult Goldspirit Rat and signaled to Zhou Xun.

Zhou Xun understood instantly and nodded slightly.

In less time than it takes to say it, they hurled the throwing spears, which had already been infused with spiritual energy, fiercely downwards.

As expected of a beast with sensitive spiritual perception, the Goldspirit Rat sensed their move the moment they struck and, with a push of its hind legs, prepared to flee.

Seeing the Goldspirit Rat's movement, Dan Xiong Hai's heart sank, and he knew it was not good.

Indeed, he had missed!

The tip of the spear grazed the Goldspirit Rat's hind leg, drawing a trickle of blood, but it did not strike a vital spot.

Fortunately, as he attacked, he flicked a "Spirit Restraining Net" from his waist, shaking it downwards to cover the Goldspirit Rat.

"Close one, close one!"

He then drew another throwing spear from his back, leaped from the tree, and stabbed the netted Goldspirit Rat to death.

Only then did he have the leisure to look towards Zhou Xun's side.