Chapter 683: Blue Flood Dragon Inner Core

# The Mortal World

"So fast!" the old man exclaimed, his face filled with shock. From the moment they saw Qin Sang act until they rushed in, only a few dozen breaths had passed. Yet, Qin Sang had already effortlessly captured the Azure Flood Dragon leader amidst the swarm, with no signs of a fierce battle. This indicated that the Azure Flood Dragon had been subdued without any ability to fight back. The three exchanged glances, deeply shocked, their eyes reflecting profound worry. They had accepted Qin Sang's commission after careful consideration, believing that with their hidden trump cards, they would have the power to resist even if Qin Sang turned hostile. Only now did they realize how naive they had been. This cloaked Daoist possessed extraordinary strength; if he truly attacked them, they would be as helpless as that Azure Flood Dragon.

"Kill the flood dragons!" the old man, a decisive individual, commanded, withdrawing his gaze from Qin Sang and gritting his teeth. The other two also knew it was too late to dwell on such thoughts. Qin Sang's actions throughout their journey did not suggest he was a particularly ruthless person, which slightly eased their minds. Qin Sang paid no mind to what others were thinking. He first cleaved open the demonic mist with a sword, then released two Sky-Soaring Yakshas who, in conjunction with the Ebony Sword, effortlessly captured and killed the mere peak-stage fiend spirit Azure Flood Dragon. However, he dared not delay. After capturing the Azure Flood Dragon leader, he immediately summoned the Nine Dragons Heavenly Chariot Talisman, preparing to slay the dragon and extract its soul. Otherwise, too long a delay would attract surrounding demonic beasts.

Qin Sang held the Nine Dragons Heavenly Chariot Talisman and pressed it against the Azure Flood Dragon's brow. The Azure Flood Dragon roared furiously, its ferocity unleashed, but as the talisman grew brighter, its light, like countless silver needles, pierced the flood dragon's body. The flood dragon's struggles began to weaken. Before long, a palm-sized flood dragon essence soul was slowly extracted inch by inch from its brow, gradually flying towards the Nine Dragons Heavenly Chariot Talisman. The flood dragon essence soul began to resist fiercely again, but all was futile before Qin Sang. Qin Sang swiftly formed various hand seals, activating the Nine Dragons Heavenly Chariot Talisman, gradually devouring the flood dragon essence soul until the talisman completely stabilized. Qin Sang beckoned, and the talisman flew into his palm. Within the pure, jade-scepter-shaped talisman, seven flood dragon souls were now imprisoned, its power elevated to another level.

Putting away the Nine Dragons Heavenly Chariot Talisman, Qin Sang turned to look around. After losing their leader, the flood dragons fell into disarray, scrambling to escape towards the seabed. The old man and the other two had already taken advantage of the chaos to kill over a dozen large flood dragons, their expressions filled with excitement. By this time, the seawater below was stained crimson with blood, and a faint smell of gore diffused outwards. The water mist also became increasingly thin. Just then, the old woman's voice suddenly came from outside: "Daoist priest, there seems to be unusual activity in the eastern sea. Strange winds are whipping up waves and blowing them towards us." Qin Sang shouted, "Stop killing! Dissect the flood dragon carcasses and leave this place!" If they attracted a powerful demon, all six of them would be in grave danger. Moreover, according to the rules of Duyan Island, they couldn't wipe out this entire group of Azure Flood Dragons. What they had now was enough. The old man and the others understood the gravity of the situation, immediately ceased their attack, and collected their spoils. Qin Sang also skillfully dissected the flood dragon carcass before him, taking only the valuable parts and storing them in his Thousand-Pound Ring. When he finally cut off the flood dragon's head, Qin Sang let out a soft 'oh?', extended his true essence into it, and unexpectedly retrieved a blue pellet resembling a demon core.

"Is this a demonic beast's inner core?" Seeing this pellet, Qin Sang recalled the Skyflame Flood Dragon's inner core he had obtained from Kong Xin in Waya Valley. The two looked very similar. However, the Skyflame Flood Dragon's inner core contained powerful fire energy, whereas this inner core seemed to be a poisonous one, slowly corroding his true essence. After entering the Demonic Sea, Qin Sang's understanding of demonic beasts was far greater than before. He knew that such inner cores were not unique to the Skyflame Flood Dragon. Hunting late-stage fiend spirit demonic beasts also carried a very low probability of obtaining similar inner cores. Demonic beasts with inner cores were generally stronger than others. Immortal cultivators had not yet clarified whether inner cores were related to demon cores. However, like demon cores, inner cores could also be added to Fiend Demon Pills and Blood Bone Pills, enhancing their medicinal potency, thus making them highly valuable. This Azure Flood Dragon, possessing an inner core, should have been very powerful. Unfortunately, it couldn't display its full strength before being besieged and killed by Qin Sang and his two Sky-Soaring Yakshas. Qin Sang took out a jade box, about to seal the inner core, when he suddenly felt activity from the chubby silkworm in his insect basket, and his heart stirred. The silkworm's cries were as urgent as when it first saw the Thousand-Hand Spider Fruit, sounding impatient. Could it be that its true favorite food was demonic beast inner cores? Qin Sang's face lit up with joy. He had tried countless methods, but the chubby silkworm remained unresponsive. Unexpectedly, in an unplanned turn of events, he had found something it liked here! "No, wait," he mused, "it might also be because this is a poisonous core that it attracts the silkworm's interest. I wonder if a true demon core would work?" Qin Sang remembered that the chubby silkworm's abilities were all related to poison, he muttered to himself. Now was not the time to confirm this. Qin Sang first put away the Azure Flood Dragon inner core, quickly finished dissecting the flood dragon carcass, and seeing that the others had also finished, immediately ordered them to leave.

The six individuals concealed their aura and fled outwards, hearing the tremendous sound of surging waves behind them. Only after escaping a considerable distance did they dare to turn back and observe. They then saw that the water area where they had hunted the flood dragons was engulfed in raging winds, with demonic energy soaring to the sky, even obscuring the bright moon. Terrifying dark figures seemed to be emerging from the deep seabed. If they had lingered a moment longer, they truly would have been trapped! Everyone was secretly alarmed, becoming even more cautious in their stealth, traveling through the night and safely leaving the sea area without major incident.

The next morning. "You've been active here for so long, you must have a safe stronghold, right? Take me there. We'll wait until this sea area calms down before coming out to hunt flood dragons again," Qin Sang said gravely. After killing the Azure Flood Dragon last night, Qin Sang felt that the subsequent commotion was a bit too significant, leaving him uneasy. He decided to proceed cautiously. The old man hesitated for a moment, but ultimately complied with Qin Sang's order, turning to fly due south. After flying for several days, the group landed on a desolate island. Stone crevices on the island led straight underground, and at the very bottom, a spiritual vein was hidden. Although small, it was still usable as a cave dwelling.

Qin Sang gave a few instructions, chose the innermost cave dwelling, and set up an isolating barrier. He took out both the chubby silkworm and the Azure Flood Dragon's inner core. Upon seeing the Azure Flood Dragon's inner core, the chubby silkworm's eyes glowed just as they had when it saw the Thousand-Hand Spider Fruit, its cries filled with intense longing. Though the inner core was highly valuable, Qin Sang certainly wouldn't be stingy if it could enhance the chubby silkworm's abilities. He immediately unsealed the Azure Flood Dragon's inner core and threw it to the silkworm. The chubby silkworm chirped happily, its body manifesting a seven-colored halo. It landed on the Azure Flood Dragon's inner core, then crawled over entirely, embracing the core. It wasn't gnawing on the inner core like it ate the Thousand-Hand Spider Fruit, but rather using the seven-colored halo to absorb the inner core's power. The chubby silkworm held the inner core with a look of contentment. It didn't form a cocoon, appearing half-asleep, and the Azure Flood Dragon's inner core showed no visible changes. It seemed that its absorption of the Azure Flood Dragon's inner core would be a long process.