Ling Xiao’s pace didn’t slow even after finding the black vulture’s nestlings.
At present, he only had one type of herb and one type of demonic beast. This was clearly insufficient.
“Astral Flower: one of the herbs required to refine a breakthrough pill!”
“Dual-Winged Snake: its gallbladder is an important material for the heart-guarding pill. A mature dual-winged snake is a peak rank one demonic beast and very poisonous!”
“Qi Transformation Fruit: the main material to refine a breakthrough pill!”
“Diamond Wolf: its bones are used for refining diamond pills. A mature diamond wolf is a common rank three demonic beast!”
……
While searching for herbs and demonic beasts, Ling Xiao simultaneously practiced his two intermediate movement techniques. After three days, he had already reached perfection in both.
Ling Xiao then initiated the second heavenly step of <Soaring Cloud Steps>.
Upon reaching the second heavenly step, the speed of <Soaring Cloud Steps> had already surpassed other similar martial arts. Even the speed of Peak Rank Three Martial Vein martial artists could not compare to him.
If he used <Violent Qi Formula>, he could escape even Rank Four Martial Vein martial artists.
As for <Hundred Steps Flying Sword Technique>, he frequently used it when hunting demonic beasts, so after three days, he had mastered the in-combat use of <Hundred Steps Flying Sword Technique>. Although he’d cultivated it to perfection before, now he had actual accompanying experience.
Now, he could truly lock onto a target.
If he ran into another dark vulture, he would definitely not miss its vital point again. Death was certain after a single move.
He had also circulated <Pure Yang Technique> while utilizing movement techniques and <Hundred Steps Flying Sword Technique> these past three days. As a result, his <Pure Yang Technique> had also made rapid progress, reaching the ninth layer and approaching the perfection realm.
Naturally, other than improvements in his strength, he had also received many other gains.
In addition to hunting demonic beasts worth over 20,000 to 30,000 taels of silver, he had added ten types of herbs and three types of demonic beasts to his Landscape Painting.
If it were not for his limited number of farmers and herdsmen that he could do nothing about for now, he would have chosen to continue harvesting here for several more days.
However, it was now time to go back. He had already collected all the necessary materials, so it was not time to refine them into pills.
After all, the key point was to increase his strength to Rank Three Martial Vein for the upcoming annual competition.
To his regret, he hadn’t encountered any peak rank three demonic beasts these past few days.
He was helpless. He didn’t dare to go deeper into the Crouching Dragon Mountain Range by himself. If he lost his little life, that truly wouldn’t be worth it.
“Aowu——!”
As Ling Xiao was preparing to leave, he suddenly noticed a big red dot on the Landscape Painting’s map.
Then, a howl from afar shook his body.
“A rank four demonic beast——Howling Moon Wolf!”
Ling Xiao examined the big red dot and was greatly startled.
Leave quickly! He could deal with peak rank three demonic beasts, but he didn’t even need to imagine how he’d contend against a rank four demonic beast. It was not an opponent he, a Peak Rank Two Martial Vein martial artist, could deal with.
“Scram! We lured this Howling Moon Wolf out of the mountains!”
Just when he thought to leave, a group of youths came over. There were roughly 12 or 13 people, and their cultivation levels were not weak.
The strongest among them had an aura comparable to Ling Yixue’s, and many were Peak Rank Three Martial Vein martial artists.
“Scram? I wasn’t even thinking of robbing that broken thing from you all! What’s wrong with you all?”
Ling Xiao frowned.
“I’m Li Xingyun. Just now, my junior apprentice brother offended you. I apologize. I wonder how I can address Sire?”
This person’s bearing was not bad. Li Xingyun?
That’s right! Wasn’t he that genius disciple of Heavenly Peak City’s Li Clan?
“I’m Ling Xiao! I don’t mind. In any case, I was anyway leaving.”
Originally, Ling Xiao had been a little annoyed, but seeing Li Xingyun’s etiquette, he didn’t fuss over it.
“So it turns out that you’re a Ling Clan disciple. Since we came across each other due to fate and this Howling Moon Wolf is so powerful, how about we deal with it together? Later, you will naturally have a share of the harvest.” Li Xingyun laughed.
“No need. I’m afraid of death!” Ling Xiao waved his hand before turning around without the slightest reluctance.
“Humph, coward!”
“Ling Xiao… I have not heard of this name. He must only be an ordinary disciple. Senior apprentice brother Xingyun, you are truly too nice. Why did you speak so much with him? If it were Ling Feng, Ling Tieshou, or Ling Yixue, perhaps only then could they have been helpful.”
“Enough, don’t speak any more about it. The Howling Moon Wolf is coming. Quickly set up the traps and prepare to attack!”
Li Xingyun waved his hand. Although he was only 15 or 16 years old, he had the demeanor of an expert.
When Ling Xiao was roughly 200 to 300 meters away, he stopped. He was very interested to see how these disciples of Li Clan, one of the four major clans of Heavenly Peak City, would deal with this Howling Moon Wolf.
Rank four demonic beasts were equivalent to Rank Four Martial Vein martial artists who could use gang qi.
The disciples of Li Clan had set up traps, leaving behind only Li Xingyun as bait. The others all hid, preparing to attack the Howling Moon Wolf after it entered their trap.
However, they had clearly underestimated its strength.
“Aowu!”
When it rushed over, the wolf howled and unexpectedly shot out blade-shaped gang qi from its mouth, leveling the ground around it and destroying all the prepared traps.
“Not good! This fellow is too strong. Moreover, it is also cunning. We are not its opponent. Withdraw!”
Originally, Li Xingyun had wanted to face a rank four demonic beast with his Peak Rank Three Martial Vein cultivation. However, he had never expected a rank four demonic beast to be so strong.
All his expectations had been exceeded.
Even he could only withstand a few moves. If another person had been in his place, that gang qi might have already killed him or her.
“Ah——!”
Before he could finish speaking, someone had already been cut into two pieces at their waist.
That person was a Peak Rank Two Martial Vein martial artist who had hid behind a big tree. Who would have thought that even after blasting through the big tree, the gang qi would still manage to cleanly bisect him?
This time, the panicking Li Clan disciples fled in all directions. Some even carelessly tripped on roots along their path.
“This is the terror of a rank four demonic beast!”
Ling Xiao who had been hiding in the distance couldn’t mock the disciples of the Li Clan. He too would have been in a difficult situation in front of such a demonic beast.
“Everyone, don’t panic! I will block it. You all withdraw quickly.”
At the critical moment, like a true protagonist, Li Xingyun didn’t turn around and flee. Instead, he brandished his sword with his trembling hands and aimed at the Howling Moon Wolf.
This sword had blocked the blade-shaped gang qi.
He now understood the gap between himself and a rank four demonic beast.
It was impossible to win!
However, he might be able to endure its strikes! He had no choice.
Ling Xiao had to admire this Li Xingyun. This kind of person was far superior to Ling Fei, Ling Chong, and Ling Feng, those honoured disciples of Ling Clan.
Perhaps, he was on par with Ling Yixue.
“Gale Sword!”
Li Xingyun yelled and rushed forward, leveling his sword at the Howling Moon Wolf’s throat.
No matter which demonic beast, their throats were always a weakness. Li Xingyun obviously knew this.
Gale Sword?
That should be an advanced sword technique. Li Xingyun truly deserved to be called a Li Clan’s genius. He had actually obtained an advanced sword technique. It seemed he had received special, targeted cultivation.
“Senior apprentice brother Xingyun, you can do it!”
“Kill that evil creature!”
Upon seeing Li Xingyun’s attack, those originally panicking disciples unexpectedly stopped and cheered.
“They truly are helpless idiots! Not quickly running away… It’d be a wonder if Li Xingyun isn’t infuriated to death!”
Ling Xiao was speechless.
He was very clear. Although Li Xingyun was powerful, he could only stall against that Howling Moon Wolf to help the remaining disciples of the Li Clan escape.
Those helpless idiots were a group of pig brains.
