Chapter 315: Fire Extinguishing Crow King

The mouth of the calabash burst open, and hundreds of red flying daggers shot out, vying to strike the Fire Raven King. With its wings wounded, the Fire Raven King's speed was greatly diminished. Dozens of red flying daggers pierced its body, and its head was severed, sending its corpse rapidly plummeting to the ground.

Once the Fire Raven King died, the other fire ravens scattered and fled. Wang Changsheng and his two companions took advantage of the situation, mercilessly pursuing and killing several first-tier fire ravens.

Wang Changsheng formed a hand seal, and the Ice Flood Dragon Banner quickly flew to him, landing in his hand.

The Ice Flood Dragon Banner's light was dim, with several small holes on its surface and fine cracks on its flagpole. The damage was quite severe, and it was uncertain if it could be repaired.

At this moment, Xiao Tianzheng put away his innate magical artifact and walked over.

He clasped his fists at Wang Changsheng and his two companions and politely said, "I am Xiao Tianzheng. Thank you, fellow Daoists, for saving my life. May I ask your names?"

Wang Changsheng and his two companions did not conceal anything and truthfully stated their names.

Xiao Tianzheng and Zhao Wuji had high cultivation levels; befriending them might prove beneficial to Wang Mingren.

Seeing the Ice Flood Dragon Banner in Wang Changsheng's hand, Xiao Tianzheng said seriously, "Fellow Daoist Wang, may I borrow this artifact to examine it?"

Wang Changsheng nodded and handed the Ice Flood Dragon Banner to Xiao Tianzheng.

After Xiao Tianzheng carefully examined the Ice Flood Dragon Banner, he said solemnly, "If it weren't for saving me, Fellow Daoist Wang's artifact would not have been damaged this severely. If you trust me, Fellow Daoist Wang, I am willing to find someone to repair this Ice Flood Dragon Banner. If it cannot be repaired, I can have someone refine a high-grade ice-element artifact for you, also infused with the spirit of a second-tier high-grade demonic beast. What do you think, Fellow Daoist Wang?"

Xiao Tianzheng's words filled Wang Changsheng with respect.

"No need," Wang Changsheng replied. "I am an artifact refiner myself and can repair it, so I won't trouble you, Fellow Daoist Xiao."

"Fellow Daoist Wang, you are also a second-tier high-grade artifact refiner?" Xiao Tianzheng asked, surprised. He thought for a moment, then took off his storage bag and poured out its contents, saying earnestly, "Fellow Daoist Wang, since you can repair it yourself, I won't insist. However, I must cover the repair costs. I don't have that many spirit stones on me right now. If you find any of these items useful, please take them. If you refuse to take anything, my conscience will not be at ease."

Xiao Tianzheng's storage bag contained numerous items, including common cultivation resources such as spirit herbs, magical artifacts, and demonic beast materials.

At this moment, Zhao Wuji walked over and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Wang, don't be modest with Junior Brother Xiao. He's always like this; he insists on repaying kindness. If you take too little, he'll think you look down on him. Don't be polite with him; just take whatever catches your eye. Wealth is external; these items are nothing compared to Junior Brother Xiao's life."

Hearing this, Wang Changsheng didn't stand on ceremony. He squatted down and began to examine the items carefully.

"Hmm, what's in here?"

Wang Changsheng picked up a palm-sized blue porcelain bottle, feeling a chill emanating from it.

"Inside is over twenty catties of diluted Profound Ice Cold Water," Xiao Tianzheng explained. "It can be used for alchemy or artifact refining. If you like it, Fellow Daoist Wang, please take it. And pick a few more items; my life is far more valuable than this bottle of Profound Ice Cold Water."

Wang Changsheng's heart stirred. He asked Xiao Tianzheng, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, if I may be so bold, where did you obtain this Profound Ice Cold Water?"

"I exchanged it at the Hall of Deacons," Xiao Tianzheng replied. "Adding this spiritual water to the refinement of several second-tier healing pills increases the success rate."

Hearing this, Wang Changsheng felt a surge of secret delight. He picked up the blue porcelain bottle and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, I'll just take this bottle of Profound Ice Cold Water; please put the other items away. Don't rush, I am currently refining a certain ice-attribute artifact and urgently need Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water. If you can help me acquire some, that would be repayment for saving your life. If you can't, then it's fine; we'll just be friends. My uncle is also a disciple of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, so you're actually fellow disciples!"

"Fellow Daoist Wang, may I know your uncle's name and which peak he is from?"

Wang Mingjiang smiled slightly and said, "My younger brother is Wang Mingren. He joined less than a year ago and became a disciple of Senior Xu Zihua."

Zhao Wuji and Xiao Tianzheng exchanged glances. They knew Xu Zihua, but they were unaware he had taken on another disciple.

"Exchanging Profound Ice Cold Water requires a significant amount of contribution points," Xiao Tianzheng explained. "Fellow Daoist Wang, I can't guarantee I can get much. You should still pick a few more items!"

Wang Changsheng shook his head and said earnestly, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, I'm not just being polite. I only need the Profound Ice Cold Water; any amount is fine. Let's just consider it making a friend."

"Well... alright!" Xiao Tianzheng conceded. "I'll do my best."

Zhao Wuji took out the Fire Raven King's corpse and a black porcelain bottle, handed them to Wang Changsheng, and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Wang, the amount of Profound Ice Cold Water is limited, and we truly cannot guarantee we can obtain it. So, I'm giving you this second-tier high-grade Fire Raven King's corpse and spirit as my thanks for saving Junior Brother Xiao. Please don't decline. I've already taken the most valuable inner core. The value of the corpse and spirit is less than the inner core, and besides your artifact, the puppet beasts you released also suffered damage. If you don't accept it, Junior Brother Xiao and I will feel truly bad."

"In that case, I shall accept it without further ceremony," Wang Changsheng replied.

Wang Changsheng did not decline again and accepted the Fire Raven King's corpse and its spirit.

"This is not the place to talk," Zhao Wuji suggested. "Let's return to the market town and find a place to have a few good drinks."

Wang Changsheng and his two companions did not decline either. Zhao Wuji and Xiao Tianzheng were upright individuals who repaid kindness, making them worthy of friendship.

Many fire raven corpses were scattered on the ground. Zhao Wuji divided them into two portions, and Wang Changsheng and his two companions received one.

More than half a day later, the five of them returned to Taiyuan Market Town.

Ruyi Restaurant was a famous establishment in the market town. Zhao Wuji hosted, treating Wang Changsheng and his two companions to a banquet there.

They clinked cups, talked, and laughed.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, I didn't expect both you brothers to be second-tier artifact refiners," Zhao Wuji said, taking a sip of spirit wine. "Especially Fellow Daoist Wang, despite your young age, you are actually a second-tier high-grade artifact refiner."

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, you flatter us," Wang Changsheng replied modestly. "We've only learned a superficial amount and cannot compare to the artifact refiners of your esteemed sect."

"Fellow Daoist Wang," Xiao Tianzheng asked curiously, "with your abilities, you could easily open an artifact shop. Why bother hunting demonic beasts? If we hadn't been unable to learn a skill, we wouldn't be hunting demonic beasts either. If we hadn't encountered you this time, I wouldn't have made it back."

"You have the nerve to say that!" Zhao Wuji complained, his tone serious. "Didn't I tell you not to hunt demonic beasts before I came out of seclusion? You just wouldn't listen, and you almost didn't make it back."

Xiao Tianzheng explained with a wry smile, "Senior Brother Zhao, you were in seclusion for ten years. We don't have special skills; if we just sat around and ate, we'd run out of resources. What else could we do but hunt demonic beasts? I wonder how Junior Brother Li and the others are doing. I hope they return safely!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a hurried sound emanated from his robe. He quickly took out a communication plate and cast a spell on it. A sorrowful female voice suddenly rang out: "Senior Brother Xiao, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Xiao Tianzheng replied. "Three fellow Daoists happened to pass by and saved me. Senior Brother Zhao has also come out of seclusion. Junior Sister Chen, are you all right? We are in a private room on the third floor of Ruyi Restaurant. Come over!"

"Senior Brother Xiao," the woman's voice replied, "Senior Brother Chen and Senior Brother Li had an accident. On our way back to the market town, we encountered Bloodthirsty Mosquitoes. They died at their hands while covering my escape."

Hearing this, the smile vanished from Zhao Wuji's face. He clasped his fists at Wang Changsheng and his two companions and said politely, "Fellow Daoist Wang, we have important matters to attend to. Let's meet another day."

Wang Changsheng agreed, informed them of his address, and then the three of them excused themselves and left.