Chapter 261: Ink Jiao

"By the way, let me warn you beforehand: If you agree to help but then back out, you will be executed without mercy. You have a choice: if you help, do so diligently, and our Yang family will never treat friends poorly. If you choose not to help, you may stay at Violet Moon Villa for a period, but if you cause any trouble, we will punish you severely without leniency," Yang Zongwang stated sternly, his gaze sharp.

The Yang family currently had two Core Formation cultivators: Yang Shengwen and Yang Zongwang. Three years prior, Yang Shengwen had suddenly returned severely injured. After explaining the circumstances to Yang Zongwang, he fell into a deep coma.

While traveling abroad, Yang Shengwen had pursued a heavily injured Level 3 demonic beast but unfortunately encountered a powerful enemy. Although he fought his way out, he sustained severe injuries and fell into a coma shortly after returning to the Yang family.

Yang Zongwang had searched through all the family records and found a Level 3 elixir formula, the Jade Dew Pill, to save Yang Shengwen. However, he had only managed to gather most of the necessary spiritual herbs in a short time. Coincidentally, a Level 3 flood dragon had appeared in the Violet Moon Mountain Range. If this creature could be slain, its demonic core could replace the remaining two main ingredients. The challenge was that Yang Zongwang was only at the first level of Core Formation; he wasn't confident in killing the beast alone, and while he could use a Level 3 formation, his spiritual power wouldn't be able to control it for an extended period. Left with no choice, he had to seek outside help.

Only Yang Zongwang knew about Yang Shengwen's severe injuries. Even if the news got out, outsiders would at most assume Yang Shengwen was simply not at Violet Moon Villa.

Although Yang Zongwang spoke politely, if they truly refused and stayed at Violet Moon Villa, the Yang family might find an excuse, claiming they were causing trouble, and then legitimately eliminate them. If they agreed to help Yang Zongwang, there was certainly some danger, but their feet were their own; if danger arose, they could always flee.

"Senior Yang, this junior is willing to help, but could you possibly give us the reward first? That would put our minds at ease." The bearded man's eyes darted around as he said with a fawning smile.

"I can give you half upfront, and the other half after the task is complete. I don't have time to waste debating with you. State your decision, yes or no."

Yang Zongwang was a little impatient. Had circumstances not forced his hand, he truly would not have wanted to ask them for help. If he invited local forces from Yue State to help, other Core Formation cultivators might get involved, and he feared he wouldn't be able to secure the Level 3 demonic core.

Everyone exchanged glances. Though somewhat reluctant, they had no choice but to grudgingly agree.

A look of delight appeared in Yang Zongwang's eyes. "Good," he said. "You can stay at the Violet Moon Pavilion for now. Later this evening, we will give you half the reward, and the other half after the task is accomplished."

Yang Zongyan then arranged a room for each of them, and they settled in temporarily.

The next day, Yang Zongyan personally delivered the items and distributed them in front of everyone present.

After the task was completed, receiving an additional thirty jin of Darkfrost Water would bring the total to ninety jin, which would be enough for Wang Changsheng to cultivate for ten years.

"Husband," Wang Ruyan said with some concern, "I don't think slaying this Level 3 flood dragon will be easy. There might be unexpected complications."

"The arrow is on the string; we have no choice but to shoot," Wang Changsheng consoled her. "If we refuse now, it will be even more dangerous. The Yang family has a good reputation; they should uphold their promise." He was also without recourse, as he had initially thought they would only be helping the Yang family search for spiritual herbs or refining materials, never imagining it would involve assisting Yang Zongwang in slaying a Level 3 demonic beast.

"Let's hope so! When the time comes, we'll act according to the situation."

Three days later, Yang Zongwang's voice reached Wang Changsheng's ears. "Fellow cultivators, it's time to depart. Everyone, please come out!"

Hearing this, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan stepped out of their dwelling.

Outside the pavilion, Wang Changsheng saw dozens of Yang family disciples gathered around Yang Zongwang.

Yang Zongwang wasted no words. He summoned a two-headed giant python, over thirty zhang long, entirely red with concentric silver spiritual patterns on its belly. Its body was as thick as a gatepost, and it was flicking its crimson forked tongues while hovering about a foot above the ground. Judging by its aura, it was clearly a Level 3 spirit beast.

"Everyone, get on!" Yang Zongwang walked to the head of the two-headed python, and the others followed, standing on its back.

"Go."

With Yang Zongwang's command, the two-headed python carried nearly a hundred cultivators and flew towards the southeast.

A quarter of an hour later, the two-headed python landed in a narrow valley, and Wang Changsheng and the others disembarked. The valley was overgrown with weeds, and five Foundation Establishment cultivators guarded its entrance.

Upon seeing Yang Zongwang, an elderly man in a yellow robe quickly walked over and respectfully said, "Ninth Uncle."

"How is it?" Yang Zongwang asked. "The ice flood dragon hasn't left its nest, has it?"

"No, we've been watching it here the whole time. It's remained in its nest and hasn't left."

Yang Zongwang nodded and instructed Yang Zongyan, "Good, distribute the formation flags to them." Yang Zongyan then distributed a foot-long, blue-and-red formation flag to each of Wang Changsheng and the others. Judging by their spiritual energy fluctuations, they were clearly high-grade magical artifacts.

"Let me tell you in advance," Yang Zongwang said, "a Level 3 formation has already been set up here. Later, do not even think about escaping. Honestly help me slay that Level 3 demonic flood dragon. Unless you possess special talismans of Level 3 or higher, don't even dream of getting away." Yang Zongwang said with profound meaning, then strode towards a nearby cave.

The faces of some cultivators who had intended to flee if things went south turned very grim. They were now in a situation where backing out was impossible; they could only grit their teeth and proceed, hoping that the Level 3 demonic flood dragon wouldn't be too formidable.

Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and the others followed him into the cave, with the Yang family disciples trailing behind.

The cave wound its way inward, and the deeper they went, the heavier the chill became. Gusts of cold wind blew intermittently, making them feel an increasing, biting cold.

Before long, they emerged into a grotto several mu in size. Grey stalactites hung from the ceiling, and within the grotto lay a two-mu black pool. The cave walls surrounding the pool were covered in thick layers of ice, emanating a faint, ethereal glow.

"Soon, I will lure out that Level 3 demonic flood dragon," Yang Zongwang announced. "Your task is simply to continuously inject spiritual power into the formation flags. The rest will not require your involvement." Having spoken, Yang Zongwang raised his hand and summoned three spiritually potent blue-and-red formation flags. They transformed into a massive blue-and-red light barrier, enveloping the entire black pool.

Wang Changsheng and the other sixty-four Foundation Establishment cultivators dispersed and took their respective positions. Over a dozen substitute Yang family disciples stood nearby, ready to step in if anyone's spiritual power ran low.

Yang Zongwang retrieved a spiritually powerful two-colored formation plate. He cast several incantations upon it and softly commanded, "Eight Gates Wind-Fire Formation, activate!"

The moment he spoke, a green hurricane appeared above the black pool. The pool water began to churn rapidly, forming a vortex several zhang in diameter. In less than three breaths, the entire pool transformed into a colossal whirlpool. A massive volume of the pool water was drawn up into the air, forming a thick black water column that spun rapidly. As the black water column rotated at high speed, the rocky walls surrounding the pool began to crack. The black water column grew increasingly high, seemingly drawing all the water from the pool.

"Roar!" A deafening dragon's roar echoed, and a black flood dragon, over thirty zhang long, burst out from the pool. The black flood dragon was covered in palm-sized black scales, had two half-foot long crystalline horns on its head, and two pairs of massive black claws on its underside, making it appear exceptionally ferocious.

"Attack!" Yang Zongwang struck the formation plate with an incantation, and the plate's light surged brightly. Several green hurricanes, over ten zhang tall, materialized out of thin air, and countless red light points appeared, transforming into a dense barrage of crimson fireballs. The green hurricanes and crimson fireballs swiftly struck towards the black flood dragon.