Chapter 313: Out to Rescue

In a hidden underground cave within the Taiyi Mountain Range, Wang Changsheng, Wang Changfeng, and Wang Mingjiang were besieging two enormous red spiders. In the lower-left corner of the cave, more than a dozen red sprouts, about a foot tall, were growing.

The Two-eyed Rat had most of its body tucked inside a spirit beast pouch, its head poking out, its pair of small black eyes darting around.

The two red spiders were only mid-grade second-tier creatures. Facing the attacks of three Foundation Establishment cultivators and multiple second-tier puppet beasts, they were no match.

Wang Changfeng wielded a shimmering red banner. A vast expanse of crimson flames surged out, transforming into two thick, crimson fire pythons that lunged at the two red spiders.

"Boom!"

The two crimson fire pythons struck the red spiders respectively, immediately bursting apart, and surging flames engulfed their forms.

Wang Mingjiang took out a blue iron rod. With a loud shout, the rod glowed with dazzling blue light, extending several feet, and forcefully struck towards the sea of flames.

"Boom!"

Two deafening thuds followed, and soon after, the flames dissipated.

The two red spiders were reduced to a pulpy mess, their bodies shattered, with green and red liquids flowing all over the ground.

As soon as the two red spiders died, the Two-eyed Rat immediately darted out of the spirit beast pouch and quickly ran towards the red sprouts.

Soon, it reached the red sprouts, emitting strange chirping sounds.

Wang Changsheng walked over, carefully dug out one of the red sprouts, and fed it to the Two-eyed Rat.

After consuming a red sprout, the Two-eyed Rat climbed onto Wang Changsheng's shoulder, excitedly wagging its tail.

"Ninth Brother, your Two-eyed Rat's sense of smell is truly keen," Wang Changfeng said with an envious tone. "It can always find spiritual herbs over a hundred years old."

"The Taiyi Mountain Range is vast and rich in spiritual energy, so there are more spiritual herbs over a hundred years old here. It's not as easy to find such herbs elsewhere," Wang Changsheng replied. "We've been out for quite a while now; it's time to return to the market city to rest for a while. The gains from these past few months are enough for us to cultivate in peace for a year or a year and a half. Several of our second-tier puppet beasts are severely damaged and need repairs."

They had been in the Taiyi Mountain Range for several months, hunting numerous second-tier demonic beasts. They hadn't encountered any demonic beasts above high-grade second-tier, and thanks to their multiple second-tier puppet beasts, they had remained safe. The demonic beast resources in the Taiyi Mountain Range were indeed abundant, so it was no wonder so many cultivators traveled long distances to hunt here. However, with his wife and children in Wang Family Fort, Wang Changsheng wouldn't stay in the Taiyi Mountain Range for too long. Wang Changfeng and Wang Mingjiang's combat experience was growing, so Wang Changsheng's return to the family was only a matter of time.

They collected the red spider carcasses, dug up all the spiritual herbs, and walked out together.

Exiting the cave, each of them summoned an Azure-scaled Horse. They mounted their horses and spurred them on. The Taiyi Mountain Range was home to many demonic birds, including quite a few flocking demonic birds, making flight by artifact relatively dangerous. Wang Changsheng's tamed Azure-scaled Horse was already a low-grade second-tier spirit beast, while Wang Mingjiang's and Wang Changfeng's Azure-scaled Horses were still high-grade first-tier. Azure-scaled Horses are relatively fast. Soon after, they disappeared into the vast mountains.

In a large canyon, three men and one woman were enveloped by a blue light barrier about ten feet in size, with a blue lotus blooming on its surface. Hundreds of red crows were frantically attacking them. On the surrounding ground, dozens of red crow corpses lay scattered, and the air was thick with the smell of blood.

The red crows flapped their wings, releasing crimson fireballs that slammed into the blue light barrier, causing continuous explosions.

"Damn it, what terrible luck! We've actually run into a flock of Fire Crows. This is going to be troublesome," a tall, thin middle-aged scholar said with a frown.

"I told you we should have waited for Senior Brother Zhao to finish his seclusion," another person chimed in. "If Senior Brother Zhao were here, this flock of Fire Crows would be nothing."

"Senior Brother Zhao has been in seclusion for ten years! Who knows when he'll come out?" a third person retorted. "What's the use of saying all this now? We should think of a way to escape!"

The Taiyi Mountain Range had abundant demonic beast resources: fierce beasts on the ground, demonic birds in the sky, and venomous insects underground. Earth escape techniques could easily lead them to venomous insects. Their highest cultivation was only Foundation Establishment fifth-layer, and the lowest was Foundation Establishment third-layer. Fire and wood escape techniques would only allow individuals to leave. As for escape talismans, they had just used them up recently. They could either fight their way out or abandon their companions and flee for their lives. The Fire Crow King was a high-grade second-tier demonic bird, and there were over twenty second-tier demonic birds and hundreds of first-tier demonic birds. Fighting their way out was not realistic.

"I'll use my spells to hold them back," the middle-aged scholar stated. "Junior Sister Chen, use a flying talisman artifact to leave. Junior Brother Li and Junior Brother Chen, use escape techniques to leave. I'll delay them for a moment. Don't worry, I have my destined artifact; they won't find it easy to kill me."

"No! If you do that, Senior Brother Xiao, you'll be in danger!"

The middle-aged scholar shook his head and said solemnly, "Alright, we've worked together for many years, so stop being sentimental. When I unleash my destined artifact to distract them, you all quickly escape. I'll follow later. I wouldn't do this if I weren't somewhat confident in my ability to escape."

After saying this, he opened his mouth, and a golden light shot out. It spun around, transforming into a colossal golden bell with demonic beast patterns carved on its surface. He formed a hand seal, and the golden bell immediately shone with a dazzling golden light. A deep bell sound rang out, and a wave of golden sound surged forth, sweeping outwards in all directions. This Demon-Suppressing Bell was his ancestral destined artifact. It could unleash sound wave attacks, but with his Foundation Establishment fifth-layer cultivation, he couldn't unleash its full power.

The moment the bell rang, some low-tier Fire Crows fell from the sky. Wherever the golden sound wave passed, the crimson Fire Crows were sent flying backward. Seizing this opportunity, they deactivated their protective barrier. The woman in the green dress summoned a paper crane talisman artifact and jumped onto it. With a clear cry, the green paper crane spread its wings, carrying the woman in the green dress as it transformed into a streak of green light and shot through the air. The other two men, forming hand seals, their bodies glowed brightly with spiritual light, and they transformed into a ball of fire and a streak of green light respectively, disappearing from sight.

The high-grade second-tier Fire Crow King let out a strange cry. A wave of red sound flashed out, meeting the golden sound wave. At the same time, it flapped its wings, sending dozens of crimson fireballs shooting out. The red sound wave collided with the golden sound wave, immediately unleashing a powerful wave of air.

The middle-aged scholar formed a hand seal, and the golden bell sprayed out a large expanse of golden light, enveloping his entire body. Dozens of crimson fireballs slammed onto the golden bell, transforming into surging flames. The Fire Crow King led hundreds of Fire Crows to unleash fire-elemental spells to attack the golden bell, causing the golden bell's light to flicker wildly.

"Pfft!"

His destined artifact, under attack from hundreds of Fire Crows, lost much of its spiritual power. The middle-aged scholar opened his mouth and spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood, his face turning pale. The Fire Crow King let out a strange cry, and hundreds of Fire Crows surged towards the middle-aged scholar. The middle-aged scholar was terrified out of his wits, a look of despair on his face.

"Roar!"

A deafening dragon's roar rang out. An enormous white flood dragon flew over, plunging into the flock of Fire Crows and rampaging through them. That wasn't all. Over a dozen second-tier flying puppet beasts flew over, either unleashing magical attacks or striking with their claws, engaging in combat with the Fire Crows.

The middle-aged scholar seemed to sense something, turning his head to look behind him. He saw three men standing not far behind him—it was Wang Changsheng and his companions. Wang Changsheng had personally witnessed the middle-aged scholar staying behind to hold back the demonic birds to allow his companions to escape. He admired the man's character. Moreover, given the man's identity as a disciple of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, Wang Changsheng decided to intervene and save him. Wang Mingren had already joined the Taiyi Immortal Sect, so having another friend wouldn't hurt.