Demon Beasts

Unlike the cultivators of the three sects who took year-round turns garrisoning Silent Valley, this joint operation was a short-term assignment.

The next day, Song Yan and the others followed Lu Ziye as he inspected the area around the spirit valley.

"Spiritual power fluctuations like these, which also affect the spirit plants and spirit beasts in the valley, most likely come down to a few possibilities..."

Gu Qingqing watched this "Senior Brother Lu" curiously. He did not seem as strange as Senior Sister Liu Yuechan had said.

As Lu Ziye led the three toward Spirit Demon Plain, he explained, "First, a special spirit beast might be roaming around. There are many spirit beasts and demon beasts in the cultivation world that are accompanied by unusual spiritual power fluctuations. This is the most likely possibility."

"Second, a cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment might be nearby, attempting to advance to the Golden Core Realm... but that is extremely unlikely."

That made sense. In a place as small as the Chu Kingdom, most sect disciples would choose to make their breakthroughs within their own sect grounds, where it was safer.

Those who chose to break through out in the mountains and wilderness were usually rogue cultivators.

And the six great sects essentially knew the rogue cultivators of the Chu Kingdom inside out. If there really were one with hopes of reaching Golden Core, everyone would already know and have come calling to forge ties.

"As for the third possibility, a hidden realm or grotto-heaven might be about to emerge near the spirit valley, with spatial fluctuations affecting the valley's ecology..."

"That is the least likely possibility."

"With assignments like this, it is usually some demon beast causing trouble. Most of you are leaving the sect on an assignment for the first time, so there is no need to be too nervous."

Lu Ziye said solemnly, "You will not need to exert yourselves, and naturally, there will not be any danger."

Inwardly, however, he heaved a long sigh.

When other sects sent people on joint assignments, their inner sect disciples came in pairs. Why had he come alone this time?

Without anyone familiar to tease, it was truly dull.

If he had to name someone who looked familiar, it would be that outer sect disciple named Song Yan.

Just what had his master seen in him? She kept watch over that shabby little shop every day, waiting for this brat to come calling.

Could she be an old cow wanting to nibble tender grass...?

With no one to chat and fool around with, he could only entertain these outrageous, malicious speculations about Qin Xijun, nearly failing to hold back his laughter.

Outside Silent Valley, two thousand-year-old green parasol trees overlapped to form a natural gateway. Their gnarled roots soaked in a cold spring, its surface scattered with faded prayer talismans.

"Peace year after year..."

"Cultivate diligently without cease..."

These prayer talismans must originally have been hung on the branches by the disciples stationed here year-round, only to fall after exposure to wind and sun.

Lu Ziye said lightly, "Since we have nothing else to do, let me take you around Spirit Demon Plain first..."

He thought these newly promoted outer sect disciples probably had little experience with assignments outside the sect.

Many outside assignments were indeed fraught with danger, but inspections of a spirit valley like this truly amounted to sightseeing.

Once I take these children out to play for a couple of days, they will understand...

They chatted as they walked, and when the stone path curved toward a cliff, the view suddenly opened up.

The fierce winds of Spirit Demon Plain swept toward them, carrying the fresh scent of vegetation. Song Yan caught the hem of his robes as the currents lifted it.

Herds of unusually colored deer leaped through the morning glow, faint spiritual radiance rippling from their long tails. Dark-patterned tigers lay dozing on massive rocks, their breath swirling. There were also demon beasts Song Yan had never even seen in books and records, whose names he could not give.

"What magnificent scenery..."

The young cultivators, who had seen little of the world, marveled at Spirit Demon Plain's magnificent scenery as they walked across it.

Occasionally, cultivators acquainted with Lu Ziye greeted him. They seemed to be disciples of other sects.

Buzz-

A Sound Transmission Talisman flew over from afar and settled beside Lu Ziye.

"Brother Lu, we have discovered a First-Order Late-Stage demon beast near Hidden Moon Pool, east of Silent Valley. Come quickly and help..."

A demon beast?

Lu Ziye's expression changed...

But after a moment's thought, he smiled in understanding. "Looks like the assignment will be over soon. No more playing around..."

Judging solely by its level of demon power, a First-Order Late-Stage demon beast was equivalent to a human cultivator at the late Qi Refining stage.

However, demon beasts were naturally endowed with powerful bodies, and a few were even born with uncanny divine abilities. Thus, it took two or three human cultivators working together to contend with a demon beast of the same realm.

Fortunately, disciples of all three sects were gathered here, so that was not much of a problem.

Still, Lu Ziye wondered, Could a mere First-Order Late-Stage demon beast... really cause spiritual power fluctuations over such a wide area?

Could it be advancing to the second tier...?

By the time Lu Ziye arrived near Hidden Moon Pool with the Dongyuan Sect disciples, the disciples of the other two sects were already standing on a nearby cliff.

"Brother Lu."

Song Yan stood almost at the very back of the group as everyone looked toward the distant cold pool.

Beneath the calm water, a faint white light flickered dimly, like spiritual light breathing.

"A Crucian Qiu..."

Beside Song Yan, a cultivator from another sect who was likewise standing at the very back looked slightly puzzled and said:

"This fish demon dislikes cold pools. Why would it appear in Hidden Moon Pool...?"

He wore white Daoist robes. Judging by the emblems on his cuffs and collar, he seemed to be a Spirit Talisman Sect disciple.

There seemed to be something behind his words, but Song Yan could not make anything of it.

"Senior Brother, you seem quite familiar with this demon?"

"I am Wan Songran, of the Wan Lineage of Chen Prefecture."

The Wan Lineage...

Understanding dawned on Song Yan.

In the Chu Kingdom, apart from the six great immortal sects, there were also four great cultivation lineages.

The East Chu Zhao Clan.

The South Chu Qin Clan.

The West Chu Wan Clan.

The North Chu Yan Clan.

Although the four great aristocratic clans could not compare to the six great sects in strength, they were roughly on par with the likes of the Purple Sun Sect.

Among them, the Chen Prefecture Wan Lineage of West Chu was renowned throughout the land for its spirit-taming arts. It was only natural that he would be familiar with these demon beasts.

A scion of a distinguished lineage...

"Brother Wang, Brother Chai, is this fish demon the culprit behind the fluctuations in the spirit valley?"

Lu Ziye looked doubtful. A probe with the Spirit-Appraising Art revealed from its presence that this fish demon was still far from advancing to the second tier.

"Heh, no one knows whether it is the culprit yet. Killing this demon and returning to report is what matters."

"Xia Wei, set up the formation."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Three Xuanyuan Sect outer sect disciples sprang forward. In moments, they had placed formation plates and formation beads at three points around Hidden Moon Pool and begun setting up the formation.

As though sensing the threat, the previously still cold pool began to stir faintly.

Bang!

An enormous, jet-black Crucian Qiu leaped from the pool, opening its mouth to roar and bringing gust after gust of demonic wind with it.

At the same time, more than a dozen lesser demons streamed out of the shallows by the pool. Most were early first-tier, though several were First-Order Mid-Stage demon beasts.

"Dongyuan Sect disciples, help slay the lesser demons around us."

After giving his instructions, Lu Ziye advanced to confront the fish demon alongside Wang Xi and Chai Yanghui, an inner sect disciple of the Spirit Talisman Sect.

The fish demon lashed its long tail, trying to sweep away the three disciples setting up the formation, only to be blocked by a streak of jade-green light.

The Spirit Talisman in Chai Yanghui's hand stirred, and the jade-green glow spread into a great encircling net, seeking to trap the fish demon within.

"What a powerful talisman..."

Song Yan marveled. This was the Spirit Talisman Sect of Xiapi Prefecture in Lin Province, renowned for its talismans!

A single talisman unleashed could trap a First-Order Late-Stage demon beast!

He did not remain absorbed in admiring the dazzling talents of the three great sects' inner sect disciples. The sounds of law artifacts and law techniques surged around him like a tide.

Song Yan steadied his mind, unleashed his flying sword, and joined the battle.

The lesser demons in the pool were all water-aspect demon beasts, so the fire-aspect law techniques he was somewhat more practiced in had little effect.

His cultivation also ranked at the very bottom among the cultivators here, leaving him under little pressure to attack. Instead, this was just the opportunity to practice several flying-sword control techniques recorded in the Essentials of Swordsmanship.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the battlefield that no one was watching.

Wan Songran, the Spirit Talisman Sect disciple who had spoken to Song Yan earlier, fought while retreating, gradually disappearing into the deep woods beside the pool.

With several leaps, he reached the branches and, screened by the lush foliage, gazed at the fierce battle in the pool from afar. His eyes settled on Wang Xi.

"With Wang Xi's strength, plus five Xuanyuan Sect disciples, this battle ought to end very quickly..."

"But he is not deploying a law artifact, not using any killing moves, not stirring his spiritual power..."

"Right now, that inner sect disciple from the Dongyuan Sect and Senior Brother Chai Yanghui are doing all the fighting at the front..."

"This Wang Xi..."

"No, I should say there is something very wrong with this Xuanyuan Sect."

His gaze shifted between Wang Xi and Shen Huai. At last, his eyes sharpened, and he took a short red-and-black flute from his Heaven and Earth Bag.