Chapter 477: Picking Up a Bargain

Two years later, in a vast, cerulean sea where waves surged.

On an oval-shaped island, Wang Changsheng and three others were besieging over a dozen giant, entirely white crabs.

The white crabs varied in size; the largest were three to four *zhang* (approximately 9-12 meters) tall, while the smallest were only about one *zhang* (approximately 3 meters). They exhaled plumes of white frigid air from their mouths, and their eyes could shoot beams of white light. When these light beams struck the puppet beasts, the puppets quickly froze, turning into ice sculptures.

Although it was called a siege, only Wang Ruyan and the two others were actively attacking the white crabs. Wang Ruyan held a cyan pipa, her jade fingers constantly plucking its strings. Low pipa melodies resonated, and colossal wind blades shot forth, striking the white crabs with a dull thud, like metal colliding.

Wang Qingjun controlled a red gourd, which spewed forth rolling flames, engulfing the dozen or so white crabs. However, soon, a dazzling white light emanated from within the crimson sea of fire, and the flames quickly dissipated. The dozen or so white crabs were now covered in a thick layer of frost, emanating a bone-chilling cold.

Hundreds of cyan flying swords encircled them, vaguely forming a sword formation.

“Attack!” Wang Qingshan uttered a cold shout, changing his incantation. The hundreds of cyan flying swords shimmered continuously, each emitting a crisp hum. A vast expanse of cyan sword energy flew out, striking the dozen or so white crabs from all directions.

Clanging sounds of metal colliding echoed incessantly as countless cyan sword energies continuously struck the white crabs. Although the white crabs had powerful defenses, they could not withstand the assault of so many cyan sword energies.

The largest white crab let out a strange cry, as a large cloud of white frigid air emanated from its body and a white armor appeared on its shell. It then rapidly charged towards the sword formation. Wang Qingshan gave a light hum, changing his incantation. The countless cyan sword energies coalesced, transforming into a single cyan sword energy over ten *zhang* long, imbued with an astonishing sword intent, and struck this white crab. With a mournful shriek, this white crab was sliced into two by the cyan sword energy.

Wang Qingjun and Wang Ruyan intensified their attacks, and soon after, all dozen or so white crabs were slain. Wang Changsheng conjured his Soul-Gathering Bottle to collect the beast souls, while Wang Ruyan, Wang Qingshan, and Wang Qingjun processed the monster materials. They had been hunting monsters in the Coral Sea for over two years, and their coordination was highly skilled. After finishing with the monster materials, Wang Changsheng released a blue flying boat, carrying them high into the sky.

They hadn't flown far when Wang Changsheng frowned slightly. He formed an incantation, and the blue flying boat halted. A red light appeared on the horizon, moving at an extremely fast speed, heading directly towards Wang Changsheng and the two others. Wang Changsheng narrowed his eyes, clearly discerning the true form of the red light: a colossal two-headed vulture. Judging by its aura, it was a low-grade third-tier demonic bird. Many of its feathers had fallen off, and its right foot had been severed by a sharp weapon.

“A third-tier demonic bird!” Wang Qingshan's expression changed slightly as he exclaimed in surprise. They had roamed the Coral Sea for two years but had never encountered a third-tier monster before.

Wang Changsheng felt a surge of secret delight. Without a word, he conjured a palm-sized yellow gourd and cast an incantation upon it. The yellow gourd spun, its size rapidly increasing, emitting a loud whistling sound. Countless sparkling yellow fine sands flew out from it—it was precisely the Nine-Curved Divine Sand. Wang Changsheng formed an incantation, and the yellow fine sands spun, transforming into hundreds of yellow earthen arrows that assailed the two-headed vulture in an overwhelming barrage.

The two-headed vulture let out a strange cry, fiercely flapped its massive wings, and a hundred crimson fireballs instantly appeared. “Boom!” The hundred crimson fireballs collided with the yellow earthen arrows, unleashing a tremendous roar that pulverized the earthen arrows.

Hundreds of sparkling golden bracelets flew towards the two-headed vulture. The two-headed vulture fiercely flapped its wings, swiftly ascending to a higher position, evading the hundreds of golden bracelets.

Just then, a gigantic lightning orb the size of a house shot forth, moving at extreme speed. Its surface was brimming with numerous blue electric arcs. The gigantic lightning orb was incredibly fast, appearing before the two-headed vulture in a flash.

The two-headed vulture's two heads simultaneously opened their mouths, each spewing a thick crimson flame towards the gigantic lightning orb. A thunderous roar erupted as the two crimson flames shattered the gigantic lightning orb. Blue electric arcs and crimson flames intertwined, and a powerful wave of air swept outwards.

A golden light suddenly appeared above the two-headed vulture's head, revealing a colossal golden bracelet. “Seize!” As Wang Changsheng's command fell, the golden bracelet swiftly descended, encircling both of the two-headed vulture's heads. Countless runes lit up on the bracelet's surface, and it rapidly shrank, binding the vulture's two heads. Another gigantic lightning orb the size of a house struck, unleashing a deafening roar, and a large expanse of blue electric arcs engulfed the two-headed vulture's form. Wang Changsheng formed an incantation, and the yellow fine sands spun, transforming into a hundred yellow flying knives that vanished instantly into the blue electric arcs.

The two-headed vulture plummeted from the blue electric arcs, falling rapidly towards the sea. Its abdomen was bleeding profusely, and its two heads had been severed; its body and heads were separated, utterly dead. Wang Changsheng was able to slay this low-grade third-tier demonic bird for two reasons: firstly, the demon was already injured and had little demonic energy left; and secondly, he possessed the Nine-Curved Divine Sand artifact. Of course, even without the Divine Sand, Wang Changsheng could have defeated it by employing spiritual techniques.

Wang Ruyan conjured a white net, covering the two-headed vulture's corpse to prevent it from falling into the sea. Wang Changsheng conjured his Soul-Gathering Bottle and collected the demon's soul.

He seemed to sense something, narrowing his eyes as he gazed into the distance. A cyan light and a red light flew from the distant horizon, moving at extremely high speed.

“Core Formation cultivators! Be on guard.” Wang Changsheng frowned, his expression turning somewhat grave. If his guess was correct, the approaching parties had been hunting the two-headed vulture, and he had simply reaped an unexpected benefit—such situations were not uncommon. If the opponents' cultivation levels were too high, Wang Changsheng wouldn't mind handing over the two-headed vulture's corpse. With a single gesture, he retrieved his two artifacts.

Not long after, the two streaks of light halted. The cyan light was a tall, thin middle-aged man, and the red light was a voluptuous young woman in a red dress. Both of their auras seemed slightly weakened, indicating they had clearly been in a struggle. The young woman in the red dress held a short red blade, its edge stained with some blood. The middle-aged man was a third-layer Core Formation cultivator, and the young woman in the red dress was a first-layer Core Formation cultivator.

“Oh, Fellow Daoist Chen, long time no see.” Wang Changsheng's eyes flickered with surprise when he saw the middle-aged man, and he greeted him with a smile. The middle-aged man was none other than Chen Yilong, the sect master of the Wooden Dragon Pavilion. Wang Changsheng had previously hunted a third-tier monster with Chen Yilong.

“So it’s Fellow Daoist Wang, long time no see indeed.” Chen Yilong said with a smile. His lips moved slightly, and the young woman in the red dress's expression softened. She forced a smile and said to Wang Changsheng, “So you are Fellow Daoist Wang, whom my husband often speaks of. I am Sun Hongyu. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Fellow Daoist Wang.”

“Madam Chen, you flatter me,” Wang Changsheng replied. “You were pursuing this demonic bird, weren't you? I intervened and slew it, and I've collected its soul. Nothing else has been touched. Wife, please return the two-headed vulture's corpse to Fellow Daoist Chen.” Wang Changsheng was only a first-layer Core Formation cultivator, and he was with Wang Ruyan and two others. If a fight broke out, he wouldn't gain any advantage. Wang Ruyan flicked her wrist, and the white net flew towards Chen Yilong.

A flicker of surprise passed through Chen Yilong’s eyes, and he said with a smile, “Fellow Daoist Wang, you jest. You slew this demon; I cannot accept it.”