Chapter 22: Demonic Beast
Unlike the cultivators from the three sects who were stationed at Serene Valley on long-term rotation, this joint operation was a short-term mission. The next day, Song Yan and the others followed Lu Zi Ye as they surveyed the area around the spirit valley.
“This type of spiritual energy fluctuation, which also affects the spirit plants and spirit beasts within the valley, most likely indicates a few possibilities…”
Gu Qing Qing stared curiously at this “Senior Brother Lu.” He did not seem nearly as strange as Senior Sister Liu Yue Chan had described.
Lu Zi Ye led the three toward the Spirit Beast Plateau while explaining. “First, a special spirit beast may have appeared. There are many spirit beasts and demonic beasts in the cultivation world, and their presence is often accompanied by unusual spiritual energy fluctuations. This is the most likely scenario.”
“Second, there may be a cultivator at the perfect Foundation Establishment Stage nearby attempting to advance to Golden Core… though this is extremely unlikely.”
Indeed, given the small territory of the State of Chu, sect disciples would most likely choose to attempt their breakthrough within their own sect’s mountain gates, where it was safer.
Those who chose to break through in these remote mountain regions were typically rogue cultivators.
And the situation of rogue cultivators in the State of Chu was something the six great sects had essentially memorized. If there truly was a rogue cultivator with a chance of reaching Golden Core, everyone would already know about it, and people would have come calling to establish relations.
“As for the third possibility—a secret realm or paradise near the spirit valley may be about to manifest, and spatial fluctuations are affecting the valley’s ecosystem…”
“This is the least likely.”
“Missions like this are usually just about some demonic beast causing trouble. Most of you are leaving the sect on a mission for the first time, so there is no need to be overly nervous.”
Lu Zi Ye said solemnly, “You won’t need to exert much effort, and naturally there will be no danger.”
Inwardly, he was sighing.
When other sects dispatched joint missions, inner disciples always went in pairs. How was it that only he had come this time?
With no familiar people to tease, it was truly boring.
The only somewhat familiar face was that outer disciple named Song Yan.
What exactly did their master see in this boy, to stand guard at that little shop every day waiting for him to show up?
“Could it be she has designs on a younger man…”
With no one to banter with, he entertained the wicked thought about Qin Xijun in his mind and nearly let out a laugh.
They walked out of Serene Valley, where two thousand-year-old green parasol trees intertwined to form a natural gateway. Their gnarled roots soaked in a cold spring, and faded prayer talismans floated on the water’s surface.
“Peace year after year…”
“Diligent cultivation without cease…”
These prayer talismans had originally been hung on the branches by disciples stationed here over the years, but had fallen after being weathered by wind and sun.
Lu Zi Ye spoke lightly, “Since there is nothing else to do, I will take you all to the Spirit Beast Plateau first…”
He thought that these newly promoted outer disciples had probably never participated in an outbound mission before.
Many outbound missions were indeed full of danger, but spirit valley patrols like this one were truly just sightseeing.
“Take these kids out for a couple of days, and they’ll understand…”
As they chatted and walked, the stone path turned toward a cliff face and suddenly opened up.
The fierce wind of the Spirit Beast Plateau rushed toward them carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees. Song Yan grabbed at his robes, which were being whipped up by the gusts.
A herd of multicolored deer leapt through the morning light, faint spiritual aura rippling from their long tails. A black-striped tiger lay dozing upon a boulder, its breath stirring the air. There were also several demonic beasts that Song Yan had never even seen in books and could not name.
“What a magnificent sight…”
The young, inexperienced cultivators marveled at the grandeur of the Spirit Beast Plateau as they walked across it.
Occasionally, cultivators who knew Lu Zi Ye would greet him—they appeared to be disciples from other sects.
“Hum—”
A voice-transmission talisman flew in from a distance and landed beside Lu Zi Ye.
“Brother Lu, outside Serene Valley, near the Hidden Moon Pool to the east, a first-stage late-phase demonic beast has been detected. Come quickly to assist…”
A demonic beast?
Lu Zi Ye’s expression shifted…
But after a moment’s thought, he smiled easily. “It seems the mission will be over soon. No more fun…”
A first-stage late-phase demonic beast—in terms of demonic power alone, it was equivalent to a cultivator at the late stage of the Qi Refining Stage.
However, demonic beasts were born with powerful bodies. Some even possessed eerie supernatural abilities. Therefore, demonic beasts of the same level required two or three human cultivators to fight together.
Fortunately, with disciples from all three sects gathered, this was not a problem.
But Lu Zi Ye harbored a doubt. “A single first-stage late-phase demonic beast… could it really cause spiritual energy fluctuations of this magnitude?”
“Could it be in the process of advancing to the second stage…”
By the time Lu Zi Ye arrived at the Hidden Moon Pool with the Dongyuan Sect disciples, the disciples of the other two sects were already standing on the nearby cliffs.
“Brother Lu.”
Song Yan stood nearly at the back of the crowd. Everyone gazed toward the cold pool in the distance.
Beneath the calm surface of the water, faint white light flickered, like a spiritual glow pulsing with breath.
“A Crucian Loong…” Beside Song Yan, another cultivator from a different sect who was also standing at the back of the crowd looked slightly puzzled and said:
“This fish demon dislikes cold pools. How could it appear in the Hidden Moon Pool…”
The man wore a white Dao robe. Judging by the insignia on the cuffs and collar, he appeared to be a disciple of the Lingfu Sect.
He seemed to have more to say, but Song Yan did not catch the underlying meaning.
“Senior Brother seems quite familiar with this creature?”
“I am Wan Song Ran, of the Wan family of Chenzhou.”
The Wan family…
Song Yan realized.
In the world of the State of Chu, apart from the six great immortal sects, there were also four great cultivation families.
The Zhao family of Eastern Chu.
The Qin family of Southern Chu.
The Wan family of Western Chu.
The Yan family of Northern Chu.
Although the strength of these four great families could not compare to the six great sects, they were roughly on par with the likes of the Ziyang Sect.
The Wan family of Chenzhou in Western Chu was famous throughout the world for their spirit-controlling techniques. It was only natural that they would be familiar with these demonic beasts.
A scion of a prestigious family, no less…
“Brother Wang, Brother Chai, is this fish demon truly the culprit behind the spirit valley’s fluctuations?”
Lu Zi Ye’s expression was skeptical. He probed with a spirit-sensing technique, and judging by the aura, this fish demon was still far from advancing to the second stage.
“Ha ha, whether it is the culprit or not, no one can say for now. Slaying it first and reporting back is the proper course of action.”
“Xia Wei, set up the formation.”
“Yes, Senior Brother.”
The three outer disciples of the Xuanyuan Sect flew forward. In moments, they had placed formation disks and formation beads at three points around the Hidden Moon Pool and began setting up the formation.
As if sensing the threat, the previously still waters of the cold pool began to churn.
Boom!
A massive, dark-scaled Crucian Loong burst from the pool, opening its jaws to roar. A wave of demonic wind swept outward.
At the same time, a dozen or so smaller demons surged from the shallows at the pool’s edge. Most were at the early stage of the first tier, though several were at the middle stage.
“Dongyuan Sect disciples, assist in slaying the surrounding minor demons.”
Lu Zi Ye gave his orders, then joined Wang Xi and Chai Yang Hui of the Lingfu Sect’s inner sect in advancing to confront the fish demon.
The fish demon swung its massive tail, attempting to send the three formation disciples flying, but was blocked by a stream of jade-green light.
Chai Yang Hui activated a spiritual talisman, and the jade-green light spread outward, forming a ring-shaped net that attempted to trap the fish demon within.
“What powerful talisman work…”
Song Yan marveled. This was the Lingfu Sect of the Xiapi Prefecture in Linzhou, renowned for their talismanry!
A single talisman deployed, and a first-stage late-phase demonic beast was trapped within!
Song Yan did not linger in admiring the brilliant display of the three inner sect disciples. The sounds of magical artifacts and spells surged around him like a tide.
Song Yan steadied his mind, summoned his flying sword, and joined the fray.
The demons in the pool were all water-attribute demonic beasts. His fire-attribute techniques, the ones he was somewhat more proficient in, were of little use here.
Moreover, among the cultivators present, his cultivation was at the bottom. Under little pressure to attack, this was actually a perfect opportunity to practice the flying sword control techniques recorded in the “Essentials of Sword Technique.”
Meanwhile, in an overlooked corner of the battlefield—
Wan Song Ran, the Lingfu Sect disciple who had spoken to Song Yan earlier, was fighting and retreating at the same time, gradually disappearing into the deep woods by the pool’s edge.
With a few leaps, he landed on a branch. Through the dense foliage, he watched the fierce battle in the pool from afar, his gaze settling on Wang Xi.
“With Wang Xi’s strength, plus the five Xuanyuan Sect disciples, this battle should end quickly…”
“But he hasn’t deployed any magical artifacts, hasn’t used any killing moves, hasn’t drawn upon his spiritual energy…”
“Right now, it is entirely that inner sect disciple from the Dongyuan Sect and Senior Brother Chai Yang Hui fighting on the front lines…”
“This Wang Xi…”
“No, rather, this Xuanyuan Sect—there is something seriously wrong.”
His gaze shifted between Wang Xi and Shen Huai. Finally, his eyes hardened, and he drew a red-and-black short flute from his Qiankun pouch.