Yakshas and Jade Crocodiles

"Even if it's an easy business, you wouldn't have the guts to do it, fellow Daoist!" The image of the dead Niu Gui'er in Kang Dabao's mind became vivid again, and the mockery and contempt in his tone did not diminish in the slightest.

"She's the furnace cauldron that ran away from the Yuan Household back then and was rewarded by Yuan Feng!" Kang Dabao's pupils dilated, and he almost exclaimed in surprise.

He had seen the wanted poster back then and had some inappropriate thoughts, but he never imagined that one day he would actually face that furnace.

Come to think of it, a full twenty years have passed since I last joked about this with Niu Gui'er.

Was she taken into Yuan Feng's bed or coerced by him? Given the nature of Sect Leader Kang Da, even if he knew, he wouldn't care.

However, the identity of the blue-clad female cultivator made him somewhat troubled. "The Six-Leaf Azure Lotus Dao Seal... that female cultivator from the Fenli Zhang Household is a relative of Patriarch Zhang. She kept looking at me earlier, and then lifted the hem of her robe—was she asking me for help?"

"Senior Brother, what's wrong?" Jiang Qing noticed something was amiss and asked with concern.

Kang Dabao hadn't yet figured things out and didn't want to say more, so he just shook his head and remained silent.

Xu Liuxian was not much younger than the other three present combined, but he was the most impatient. Seeing that the other cultivators had already entered the assessment, he became somewhat anxious.

At this moment, he disregarded his status as merely an extra and whispered to the Daoist Black Shoes, "Fellow Daoist Black Shoes, let's go in too."

Upon hearing this, the Daoist Black Shoes snapped out of his reverie and addressed the three men calmly, saying, "Yuan Feng, Yue Lan, and Lang Yi are no ordinary Foundation Establishment. None of you can defeat them. If you encounter them, do not harbor any illusions; just run."

Having said everything that needed to be explained, the Daoist Black Shoes said no more, but led the way into the mirror, with the others following closely behind.

Only when the final Sect Leader Kang Da entered the mirror did the yin-yang fish chasing each other stop, and only when the radiance dissipated did they disappear completely.

The water flows as clear and swift as ever, and the bright moon remains like a silver plate.

--Inside Mountain-Viewing Cave

"Sizzle." A slanted-eyed, sharp-toothed Yaksha left three scratches on Qi Buxiu's exquisite golden bell with its claws.

The golden bell, a magical Law Artifact nurtured for many years, trembled slightly under the enemy's bombardment, Qi Buxiu, hiding inside, trembled even more violently. The jade pendant hanging at his waist had turned blood red, revealing its owner's anxious mood at this moment.

The Yaksha opposite him flapped its two wings, a cruel glint in its triangular eyes, and occasionally let out a cacophony of laughter.

It wasn't some ignorant, stupid creature like those low-level Demon Beast. Having lived in this cave abode for over a thousand years, it rarely encountered such a weak prey. The thought of being able to devour it without expending much effort in battle naturally made it genuinely happy.

With a tug on its fascia, the Yaksha unleashed a powerful wing strike, sending two more black wind blades crisscrossing and striking the golden bell. Deep marks appeared on the bell's surface, and the shock caused Qi Buxiu's Qi Buxiu crimson.

Master Qi has been roaming Cloud Horn Prefecture for decades, and he couldn't possibly rely entirely on Chu Yanran's reputation to make a living. After all, he was a ruthless character who rose to power by constantly changing wives. When the situation became critical, it stirred up the ruthlessness that was inherent in his background Rogue Cultivator!

Forced back the blood in his mouth, a fierce glint flashed in Qi Buxiu's eyes.

The Yaksha's laughter grew louder, revealing a mouthful of yellow, foul-smelling sharp teeth. It brandished its two claws, gleaming with dark light, and lunged at the golden bell. But halfway there, a golden ray of light emerged from the bell.

The Yaksha panicked, not expecting its prey to be able to fight back. Seeing that the golden light was quite powerful, it quickly retracted its claws and crossed its wings behind it to protect itself.

The golden light struck the Yaksha's wings, instantly piercing through the membranes. The Yaksha's once-proud iron wings, capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, were now as fragile as paper, the golden light piercing through them, leaving the Yaksha- sized head directly exposed to its sharp edge.

"Bang!" The Yaksha's head exploded like a thin-skinned, generously filled soup dumpling, splashing juice everywhere.

A Yaksha at the Peak Qi Refinement facing a Second-Tier Middle-Grade Sharp Metal Moon Spear Talisman priced at 820 Spirit Stone —how could it possibly survive?

"Damn it!" Qi Buxiu removed the golden bell, his gaze towards the Yaksha's corpse filled with resentment. Eight hundred and twenty Spirit Stone! How many years of blacksmithing would it take him to earn that back!

Just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief and harvest the usable materials from the Yaksha, the sounds of battle broke out nearby again.

Qi Buxiu probed with his Divine Sense and saw a large group, probably a dozen or twenty, of Yaksha screaming in terror as they were driven over by a swordsman in black.

The black-clad swordsman stood calmly in mid-air, his expression aloof. His flying sword, like a whip urging sheep, drove a group of Yaksha away.

His flying sword moved with varying speed and force, dodging and weaving to avoid the valuable parts of the Yaksha's body. Often, a single strike would pierce their vital points, knocking them off one by one and causing them to fall to the ground.

It can be described as relaxed and carefree, so elegant and unrestrained.

Qi Buxiu a beat. Before he could even activate his concealment talisman, the black-clad swordsman spotted him at a glance.

"This junior pays respects to Master Qi." The black-clad swordsman spoke calmly, disregarding his Foundation Establishment level, and bowed to Qi Buxiu.

"It's Brother Qing, it's Senior Jiang." Qi Buxiu recognized the handsome swordsman in front of him as Jiang Qing, the junior brother of his apprentice. He breathed a sigh of relief and felt much more at ease.

Fortunately, he had a good relationship with his family before, and they were allies after entering the cave, so he wasn't worried that Jiang Qing would harm him. However, the latter's Swordsmanship seemed to be much more powerful than his wife had described.

"This junior dares not accept such praise. Senior has been very kind to my senior brother in the past, and I am deeply grateful. I hope that senior will not emulate those vulgar people."

Jiang Qing's expression was sincere as he continued, "Senior and I were unlucky; we were teleported to the South Ghost Cave. Although the dangers are less, the cave abode's treasures are also fewer. We need to find a way out as soon as possible, otherwise, besides these stupid Yaksha, we're afraid we'll gain nothing else."

Qi Buxiu tell from Jiang Qing's tone that he wasn't faking it, but ultimately he didn't have the courage to be a senior to Foundation Establishment True Cultivator.

Just lamenting the impermanence of life, the scene of Yuan Jin leading his fellow disciples to the Qi Household to deliver gifts reappeared in his mind, truly as if it were a lifetime ago.

After composing himself, Master Qi replied softly, "Fellow Daoist Jiang is right. My wife told me before that if we are teleported to the South Ghost Cave, we only need to follow the Fang Yi the Six-Leaf Tendril Orchid grows northward to enter the Moonlight Palace in the center of Mountain-Viewing Cave."

"Oh?" Jiang Qing's face lit up with joy. At this moment, he no longer cared about Qi Buxiu's form of address and continued, "Since it is what Madam Qi said, then it must be correct. Senior, would you like to come out with me?"

"Thank you for your trouble, fellow Daoist. When I meet my wife, I will make sure she repays you handsomely." Qi Buxiu a sigh of relief. Although Madam Qi had made an agreement with Daoist Black Shoes in the cave, it was only a gentleman's agreement after all, without even a signature. Therefore, he was really afraid that Jiang Qing, who had just reached the Foundation Establishment, would abandon him, a burden, and go alone.

"You're too kind, senior. It's nothing to mention." Jiang Qing smiled easily, saying nothing more. Qi Buxiu also looked embarrassed, unsure of what to say.

Jiang Qing was quite different from the shrewd and worldly- Sect Leader Kang Da. Since Qi Buxiu to say, Jiang Qing had no talent for finding things to say, and the cave fell silent for a moment.

For a moment, the only sound in the cave was Jiang Qing picking up the Yaksha's corpse.

Qi Buxiu was impressed by Jiang Qing's nimble movements. He thought to himself that Jiang Qing must have hunted many Demon Beast over the years, and his skill was comparable to that of several well-known butchers that Qi Buxiu knew.

Dissecting Demon Beast's corpse is a skilled job. The same Demon Beast's corpse can be dissected by a novice and a skilled person, and the latter's dissection may be worth 50% more than the former's.

These First Tier Yellow-Toothed Yaksha are notoriously worthless, but their sheer number makes them worth a considerable sum.

Jiang Qing, the Double Brightness Sword Immortal, came from a poor background. Even with the frugality he learned from his senior brother, the sect leader, he couldn't simply discard them. He even made some plans for dissecting these ugly things after the sword incident.

In addition, his movements were indeed skillful, so in just a quarter of an hour, he had cleaned up the pile of Yellow-Toothed Yaksha corpses.

Qi Buxiu stood by, truly showing the respect due to a junior, without uttering a word.

Jiang Qing's waist Storage Bag bulged again, and his mood Qi Buxiu along with him. Before long, the two found a clump of Six-Leaf Tendril Orchid.

This spiritual flower is not of high quality, but its growing conditions are quite demanding, making it very rare in the outside world.

Its petals are colorless and odorless, as thin as gauze. When it blooms, it resembles a delicate child clutching her heart, or a beautiful woman suffering from illness. Although it is beautiful, it will cause a slight burning sensation on the skin of mortals after they touch it. Apart from being a favorite food for many spirit beasts, it has no other great use.

The two searched for the Six-Leaf Tendril Orchid, fighting and driving away several groups of Yaksha along the way, and it took them half a day before they finally arrived at a green lake.

The entire lake was filled with thick, murky water, floating with the remains of Yaksha and many other Demon Beast. The stench made Jiang Qing frown slightly.

He first used a concealment technique to hide himself and Qi Buxiu.

Immediately, a ray of silver light appeared at the edge of the black dot in Jiang Qing's eyes. He used his Second Tier Spirit Eye Technique to take a look. Although he still couldn't figure out how far the lake stretched, he easily discovered the figures of a large number of water beasts swimming in the lake.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Qing guessed:

"Exalted Cultivator Guanyu once raised a troop of Jade Crocodile Dao Soldiers in his early years, but it is said that they were lost to the barbarian witch army in the battle to Pingrong. The Jade Crocodile in this lake may be the offspring of those Daoist soldiers who were not yet powerful and were left in the cave abode by Exalted Cultivator Guanyu."

"I've also heard of this Daoist army," Qi Buxiu see clearly what was happening in the water, he still managed to gasp in surprise. "Legend has it that the Exalted Cultivator Guanyu that Jade Crocodile Dao Soldiers to fight the barbarian General Zuo for nineteen days and nights before finally slaying that barbarian Golden Core cultivator."

Jiang Qing shook his head. "Senior, this rumor is somewhat biased. According to the notes of our sect 'Patriarch Zhang, although the barbarian general Wu China was no match for Exalted Cultivator Guanyu, he still managed to escape unscathed. Although Exalted Cultivator Guanyu was superior, he must have used countless methods to defeat the barbarian chieftain in that battle."

This Jade Crocodile is merely an ordinary Daoist soldier. Even with a few False Core Demon Generals intervening and leading it, at most it would only be a relatively powerful technique for Exalted Cultivator Guanyu, far from the miraculous methods you described, fellow Daoist."

"Since it was recorded by your sect's founder, it must be without error. I, Qi, have learned a lot." Qi Buxiu a sudden realization.

Jiang Qing's expression was cold, and he said nothing more after listening to Master Qi's words.

Such rumors might be believed by those Qi Refining Qi Refinement with no real background, but Qi Buxiu's statement was simply a pretense of stupidity to highlight Jiang Qing's shortcomings.

People who are good at doing these kinds of pleasing things are always quite likable. No wonder that among the tens of thousands of cultivators in the surrounding states, only Master Qi can eat such a soft and fragrant bowl of rice.

It's a pity, Qi Buxiu was just throwing his charm at a blind man. Jiang Qing is one of the few who doesn't fall for flattery, so his efforts were completely ineffective.

"Then I, Qi, will test the waters first." Qi Buxiu took a step forward and took out a black-glazed gold bowl.

Then Master Qi made a lotus mudra with his hands, and his feet moved in a series of rapid steps. After a few breaths, Buddhist light gradually began to emerge from the black glazed gold bowl. Qi Buxiu's face showed a devout expression, and a faint Zen sound emanated from his abdomen.

The chanting grew louder and louder, yet it no longer felt noisy; the Buddha's light grew brighter and brighter, yet it was not dazzling.

Surprisingly, a hint of holiness appeared on the face of Qi Buxiu, this disheveled old Daoist. Jiang Qing was quite astonished, wondering where Qi Buxiu had learned Buddhist cultivation techniques, which were rare in the surrounding states.

Before the doubts in my heart had dissipated, I saw some small beasts with shallow cultivation gradually crawling out of the lake. They seemed unable to find the source of the Buddha's light and Zen sound, so they could only keep bowing and kowtowing on the shallows.

Jade Crocodile emerged from the lake, its eyes revealing a strange, almost anthropomorphic look. The smaller animals, who usually fled at the sight of it, showed no alarm and continued to bow.

Even though a small animal beside it was swallowed whole by the Jade Crocodile, letting out a piercing scream, and its body was splashed with the juices and sap of its companion, it simply turned slightly to the side to avoid it, without affecting its movements in the slightest.

Qi Buxiu's Buddhist chanting stopped when only one small animal remained on the shore. Perhaps the Jade Crocodile had lost patience, or perhaps it had eaten its fill, for it wagged its thick, fat tail and returned to the lake.

Jiang Qing waited a while longer, Qi Buxiu put away the black bowl and open his eyes did he ask, "Senior, have you gained anything?"

As soon as the black bowl was put away, the compassionate look on Qi Buxiu's face vanished, and he respectfully replied upon hearing the question:

"Thank you for waiting, fellow Daoist. I used Buddhist chanting to inquire with these sixteen small beasts and learned that this lake is probably a hundred miles in circumference. They have seen about one or two hundred Jade Crocodile in the lake, including two or three Second Tier ones. There are also six or seven types of First Tier Demon Beast, all living in groups."

"In that case, crossing the lake will be quite troublesome. How did such a large lake suddenly appear out of nowhere? My senior uncle and brother didn't mention it to me before they came." Jiang Qing sighed, and Qi Buxiu remained silent.

Neither of them mentioned how to fly across the lake using a magical artifact, because according to what their predecessors had said, flying through the Mountain-Viewing Cave was very risky.

Not only were there several kinds of fierce winds that were rarely seen outside rising and falling, and it was estimated that their power was so great that even a first-rate False Core would have difficulty withstanding them, but there were also souls of the Exalted Cultivator Guanyu that he had summoned from who-knows-where, wandering around the entire cave abode.

Sitting idly by and waiting for death was not in Jiang Qing's nature. He tentatively summoned his flying sword, lifting a huge Jade Crocodile from the lake and tossing it at their feet.

Ignoring the emotions of the ferocious beast that was flailing its arms and legs in immense pain, Jiang Qing coldly used his fingers as a knife to slice open the flesh of the Jade Crocodile from a distance and began to study it.

Before long, the giant beast beside the two of them died, leaving only a steaming mass of flesh and bones.

Qi Buxiu watched from the side, marveling inwardly. Jiang Qing's skills were even better than those of the master chef who had been in charge of cooking for two decades at the Huang Household Old Shop in Xuanwei City. Even if he were to suffer a great calamity and fall on hard times, he could probably still find a way to make a living as a chef.

Jiang Qing neatly arranged the Jade Crocodile's skin and flesh, and began to calculate in his mind. This Jade Crocodile was much more ferocious than those Yaksha that looked much more ferocious before. In terms of the same level, one Jade Crocodile could probably take on three or four Yaksha.

Even though their numbers are far fewer than those of the Yaksha, I'm afraid I only retain about 70% of my full strength in this lake. These ferocious beasts gather quickly, and if you get involved and don't get rid of them in time, you'll be entangled and attacked.

Enough said. Once entangled by twenty Jade Crocodile, escape would be nearly impossible. Moreover, there was Second Tier Jade Crocodile leader in the lake. Even if he could win, wasting time here would be a waste of this rare opportunity to enter the Mountain-Viewing Cave.

Thinking of this, Jiang Qing took out another piece of yellow silk and began to calculate deftly. After working on it for about half an hour, Qi Buxiu dared not disturb him. Only after Jiang Qing let out a long breath did he ask, "May I ask if you have a method to cross the lake?"

(I never expected that Brother Liu Qingshu could actually guess who the female cultivator Mi Li was. He's really amazing.)

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