Tide Crab

"Most of our Law Artifacts are refined primarily with fire. The higher the temperature of the flame, the higher the grade of the Law Artifact refined. In addition, metal-attribute Spiritual Qi is needed to guide and soften the metal ores."

"As for the success rate you're concerned about, you'll have to memorize and analyze the properties and refining methods of each material yourselves. No one can help you with that."

"All right, that's it for today. Go to the study in the back and find yourselves a book on artifact-refining materials to read."

After the elder left, Shen Ge tilted his head back to look at the sky, looking as though he wanted to cry but had no tears. He had never expected that, even after transmigrating to cultivate immortality, he would be forced to experience the pain of studying all over again.

Sure enough, no matter what world he was in, he couldn't grow stronger without studying.

Shaking his head, Shen Ge followed the crowd to the place where books were kept in the rear courtyard. He picked out One Hundred Explanations of Artifact Refining and left.

The days that followed grew somewhat monotonous. Aside from cultivating, Shen Ge spent most of his time reading and listening to lectures. Occasionally, he went to the training grounds to spar with his fellow disciples. This life continued for over a year.

Still, he had not gone without gains during that time. Although he still fell a little short of refining Law Artifacts on his own, Shen Ge had become acquainted with the sect's well-known disciples. They weren't necessarily close, but at least they recognized one another.

One day, Shen Ge had been planning to go to the Artifact Refining Hall as usual, but Mu Wan came to see him and stopped him. "Shen Ge, I found something good. Want to come take a look?"

Mu Wan had broken through to Foundation Establishment half a year ago. She was now only a little weaker than Shen Ge, at most lacking some combat experience.

Looking at the young woman before him, Shen Ge smiled. "Go on, Junior Sister Mu Wan. What good thing have you found this time that you need my help with?"

"It's nothing much, just a Tide Crab. It isn't very strong, but its shell is pretty hard. I can't handle it alone."

"Shen Ge, come with me. We'll split the artifact-refining materials we get afterward down the middle."

"A second-tier Demon Beast, a Tide Crab?" When she nodded, Shen Ge frowned. "That'll be a little hard to deal with."

"Wait, don't Tide Crabs live in the sea? How did you find it?"

Mu Wan shook her head. "I didn't find it. Our Spirit Moon Sect has a Sand Copper mine by the sea. The people there found it, but they're all Qi Refining Stage disciples. They couldn't deal with it, so they asked us for help."

"Didn't we send anyone at Foundation Establishment or Golden Core to guard a mine? What if someone takes it?" Shen Ge asked in surprise.

"That Sand Copper mine doesn't produce much, just over a jin a year. You know what Sand Copper is used for, so that little bit isn't worth the sect going to great lengths over. It can take it or leave it, so it doesn't pay the mine much attention."

"Mining Sand Copper has become a secondary objective there now. They mainly keep watch on what's happening in the sea and look out for the Demon Beasts in it."

"All right, stop asking questions. Just tell me whether you're coming or not," Mu Wan said impatiently.

Shen Ge chuckled and nodded. "Sure, why wouldn't I? I can bring back a shell to make a shield."

"But isn't it a little risky with just the two of us? How about calling a few more people?"

"Qin Yu and the others have all gone into seclusion to try to break through to Golden Core. Senior Sister Wang Yan and Senior Sister Jin Ling don't have time either. I asked around, and you're the only one left."

"Why are you such a scaredy-cat? It's just a Tide Crab. Is there any need to be like this?"

"No, there isn't. When do we leave, then?"

Mu Wan nodded in satisfaction. "That's more like it. Come on, we're leaving right now, before that thing gets away."

With that, she summoned a flying boat and pulled Shen Ge aboard. It turned into a streak of light and sped straight toward the sea to the south.

The flying boat was powered by Spirit Stones, so it required no spiritual power. Flying at full speed, it took the two of them only a day to reach the coast.

Shen Ge gazed at the boundless sea and remarked, "That was fast. When I set out from Kaohai Commandery, it took me several months to reach the Spirit Moon Sect. Now, riding this flying boat, it only took a day."

"All right, enough reminiscing. You're obviously not that old, so why are you always so sentimental?" Mu Wan remarked, then added, "This flying boat can travel ten thousand li a day, but both the cost of building it and the Spirit Stones it consumes are very expensive. Among the disciples of our generation in the Spirit Moon Sect, no more than ten can afford one, so don't get your hopes up."

"Come on, let's go down and ask the disciples here where that Tide Crab has been appearing."

The flying boat slowly descended, landing in front of a small house built by the sea a short while later.

Someone was already waiting below. When the two stepped off the boat, he came forward and greeted them. "I am a disciple of Azure Jade Peak. Greetings, Senior Brother, Senior Sister."

Mu Wan wasted no words. She took out ten Spirit Stones and said, "This is your payment. Now tell us where the Tide Crab is."

Perhaps thinking Mu Wan's manner was a little arrogant, Shen Ge spoke up. "Junior Brother, thank you for your efforts."

The disciple accepted the Spirit Stones and gave Shen Ge a friendly smile. Then he pointed in one direction. "Senior Brother, Senior Sister, the Tide Crab is in a shallow bay a little over ten li that way. There's a fairly large reef beside it. It's easy to spot."

"Let's go. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can come back. I need to get back quickly, or if Grandpa finds out, I'll get another lecture." Mu Wan turned and jumped onto the flying boat.

Shen Ge cupped his hands in thanks to the junior brother, then jumped aboard. The two flew in the direction of the Tide Crab.

The disciple on the ground watched the flying boat disappear into the distance. He tossed the Spirit Stones in his hand and said, "That senior brother was quite friendly. What a pity, though."

Then he took out a talisman and sent it flying. "Go."

Meanwhile, Shen Ge and Mu Wan had already spotted the reef. Mu Wan frowned, raised her hand and formed Hand Seals, summoning a giant sword and striking downward. But aside from kicking up a little spray, it drew no response.

Shen Ge shook his head. "With an attack covering so little ground, it'd be a wonder if you hit it. Move aside and watch me."

Shen Ge squeezed Mu Wan aside, raised his hand and formed Hand Seals. A few breaths later, countless tiny flying swords hovered in the air. At a rough glance, there were at least a hundred, perhaps even more.

"Go!"

He pressed his palm downward, and the countless flying swords fell toward the sea like a light rain, covering an area within a hundred meters of the reef.

As the flying swords plunged into the sea one after another, the surface soon grew turbulent. A short while later, with a roar, a dark shape larger than the reef leaped out of the water, while water bullets shot straight at the two of them.

Mu Wan calmly maneuvered the flying boat to dodge the water bullets. Looking at the enormous creature below, she said, "Its shell is black as iron, and the spikes on its back are over half a person's height. I'm afraid this Tide Crab is about to advance to a third-tier Demon Beast."

"But there's a gash on its abdomen. It looks like it was pierced by a spike. That also explains why a Tide Crab that normally lives in the deep sea would appear in shallow water."