Chapter 1323: Qingling Tempts the Demon

Half an hour later, they appeared outside a narrow valley. On both sides were steep stone walls over a thousand zhang high, and the valley floor was filled with blue weeds taller than a person.

Wang Changsheng's spiritual sense swept over the area, but he found nothing unusual. Wang Qingling then released two puppet beasts, which rushed into the valley without incident.

"Ninth Uncle, let me go in and take a look!"

Wang Qingling volunteered. If there was any abnormality, she would be the one in trouble. After all, they had known Mo Yunzi for too short a time and needed to be cautious.

"Alright, Qingling," Wang Changsheng urged with a serious expression, "be very careful. If you find anything unusual, retreat immediately, and I will support you."

Wang Qingling agreed. She released her Earth Dragon Worm, jumped onto its back, and after the worm emitted a yellow glow, both disappeared into the ground.

Wang Changsheng released his Dual-Pupil Rat, sending it to follow. The rat was quite resilient; if anything happened, it could shield Wang Qingling. Even a powerful fourth-tier demon beast couldn't instantly kill a top-grade third-tier spiritual beast.

Not long after, a deafening roar echoed from the valley. Wang Changsheng and Mo Yunzi's expressions tensed, their faces filled with wariness.

A mound of earth swelled from the ground, rapidly moving towards them. The Dual-Pupil Rat emerged from underground, letting out sharp "squeaks." Its small, dark eyes were filled with fear as it immediately scrambled onto Wang Changsheng's shoulder.

Wang Qingling and the Earth Dragon Worm emerged from underground. Her expression was serious as she said, "Ninth Uncle, Senior Mo, the Blood Toad Beast has consumed a Blood Glaze Ganoderma and is currently in a deep sleep. It's quite sensitive right now, and the Dual-Pupil Rat was injured by it, though thankfully not severely. This Blood Toad Beast's divine abilities are formidable. I think it's safer to set up a formation to lure it out, trap it, and then seize the opportunity to collect the spiritual medicine. That way, it'll be more secure."

"I've already tried that tactic, it's useless," Mo Yunzi said dismissively. "It won't fall for it at all. Anyone who tries to lure it will only become its target. If it were that easy to trick, I would have collected the Blood Glaze Ganoderma long ago; why would I wait until today?"

"Qingling, how confident are you?" Wang Changsheng asked. He knew Wang Qingling was proficient in beast-taming techniques. She often communicated with other spiritual masters, and during her trip to the Central Plains immortal cultivation world, she had specifically visited the Murong royal family to learn a great deal about beast-taming.

"Around seventy percent!" Wang Qingling said seriously. "Let me try! Ninth Uncle, this will reduce the risk." They had no deep connection with Mo Yunzi, and if, while dealing with the Blood Toad Beast, Mo Yunzi suddenly snatched the spiritual medicine and abandoned them, Wang Changsheng and Wang Qingling would be in trouble. It was always wise to be wary of others.

Wang Changsheng nodded. "Alright," he said, "go ahead and try! Be careful."

Mo Yunzi let out a light snort and remained silent, thinking, *If you don't listen to an old man's advice, you'll suffer losses right before your eyes.*

Wang Qingling and the Earth Dragon Worm drilled into the ground, moving towards the valley. Not long after, Wang Qingling stopped. Not far away was a cave entrance about a zhang wide, dark and making it impossible to see inside.

She took out a blood-red sandalwood incense stick, placed it inside the cave, and lit it. A pungent smell wafted out, pouring into the cave. With a muffled thud, a massive yellow earthen wall emerged from underground, sealing the cave entrance.

The incense Wang Qingling used was Beast-Mating Incense. When breeding spiritual beasts, higher-tier ones are often uncooperative. In such cases, beast-taming masters would enclose two spiritual beasts together, give them things like Aphrodisiac Pills, or light Beast-Mating Incense to stimulate their primal instincts, making the process easier. The Beast-Mating Incense was refined with ingredients like Aphrodisiac Powder, specifically targeting high-tier demon beasts. Since the Blood Toad Beast had just consumed a thousand-year-old Blood Glaze Ganoderma, its vital energy was abundant, making it highly susceptible to increased mating desires.

A short while later, a violent roar erupted from inside the cave. Wang Qingling quickly smashed the yellow earthen wall and rushed out of the valley.

Wang Changsheng had already set up a formation outside the valley, waiting for Wang Qingling to lure the Blood Toad Beast out.

"Ninth Uncle, it's about to burst out!"

"The Blood Toad Beast will really come out? Is it that easy to trick?" Mo Yunzi asked, half-doubting. He had tried many methods, none of which succeeded. How could Wang Qingling, a mere Core Formation cultivator, manage to lure out the Blood Toad Beast?

"Probably!" Wang Qingling replied. "We'll know when we try." She took out a green porcelain bottle and threw it into the distance. With a "thud," the porcelain bottle smashed against a boulder, instantly shattering and splashing a large amount of pungent green liquid.

"That Blood Toad Beast is male," Wang Qingling explained, "This is the urine of a top-grade third-tier female Azure Moon Toad. It might attract the Blood Toad Beast. Hurry and hide!" Wang Qingling then followed the Earth Dragon Worm into the ground.

Wang Changsheng and Mo Yunzi exchanged a look, then likewise vanished into the ground.

Not long after, a crimson light shot out from the valley. It was none other than a house-sized crimson toad, two zhang tall, its back covered with head-sized bulges. Its two golden demon eyes, as large as millstones, gleamed with a cold light. It opened its mouth, and over a dozen fist-sized crimson fireballs shot out, striking the nearby ground.

Boom! A deafening roar resounded, leaving over a dozen giant craters several zhang wide in the ground. The soil inside the craters showed signs of melting. This location was not far from its lair; it wouldn't take more than three breaths to go back and forth.

A breeze blew by, and a pungent smell wafted towards it. The Blood Toad Beast's demon eyes turned blood-red. Normally, it wouldn't be attracted by female urine, but its vital energy was currently surging within it, making it desperate to find a female toad to mate with. After a moment of hesitation, the Blood Toad Beast transformed into a streak of crimson light and flew forward.

As soon as it flew out of the valley, a powerful gravitational force suddenly arose from the ground, slowing the Blood Toad Beast's speed. Countless yellow mists surged forth, enveloping it.

Wang Changsheng and Mo Yunzi emerged from underground, each holding a palm-sized yellow formation plate.

"Qingling," Wang Changsheng shouted, casting several incantations onto the yellow formation plate, "go and collect the Blood Glaze Ganoderma, and be quick about it!" Wang Qingling acknowledged and flew towards the valley.

The Blood Toad Beast roared in fury, opening its gaping maw, and a large swathe of crimson flames shot out.

Boom! A deafening roar echoed, sending dust flying everywhere. Countless thick yellow ropes emerged from underground, instantly coiling around the Blood Toad Beast and binding it to the ground. The bulges on the Blood Toad Beast's back burst, releasing a large amount of crimson venom. As the venom dripped onto the yellow ropes, they all shattered.

At this moment, Wang Qingling had already succeeded.

"Qingling, you retreat first," Wang Changsheng instructed. "Retreat to where we first met." Wang Qingling agreed, then disappeared into the ground with the Earth Dragon Worm.

Mo Yunzi frowned, but he said nothing.

After about half a quarter of an hour, Wang Changsheng estimated Wang Qingling had gotten far enough away. He then said, "Fellow Daoist Mo, you retreat first. I'll cover the rear." *It wasn't out of kindness; if he retreated first, Mo Yunzi would definitely not agree,* he thought.

Mo Yunzi was a little surprised, but he nodded, put away his formation plate, transformed into a streak of light, and sped away.

Twenty breaths later, Wang Changsheng withdrew the formation. The Blood Toad Beast broke free, and a wave of crimson flames rushed towards him. Simultaneously, a crimson tongue descended from above, like a sharp sword, striking towards Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng's figure flickered, splitting into ten. The crimson flames struck one of the figures, and that figure vanished. One of the Wang Changsheng figures took out the Grand Vast Spirit Severing Blade. The blade tip glowed with white light, and he slashed towards the opponent. A surge of extreme cold energy burst forth, transforming into a white light blade over a hundred zhang long, heading straight for the Blood Toad Beast.

The Blood Toad Beast hastily spewed a wave of crimson flames, destroying the white light blade and causing a large expanse of white mist to erupt. Above its head, the void rippled, and a giant blue palm over ten zhang wide suddenly appeared. The surface of the blue giant palm was covered with blue electrical arcs as it quickly slapped down.

Boom! Accompanied by the Blood Toad Beast's shrill shriek, a swath of blue lightning engulfed it, and countless green thorns surged from underground, binding it.

The Blood Toad Beast opened its mouth and spewed crimson flames, burning through the green thorns. By this time, Wang Changsheng had also disappeared.

The Blood Toad Beast transformed into a streak of crimson light and gave chase, heading precisely in the direction Mo Yunzi had left.