Chapter 85: Summoning Demons

The cave was not large, and before long, the six people entered a huge grotto. In the upper left corner of the grotto, five or six small black flowers, about half a foot tall, were growing. On the ground lay the mangled bodies of five cultivators, along with two decapitated azure leopards. Not far from them was another azure leopard, about two zhang long, covered in wounds and its aura significantly weakened.

It appeared there were three demonic beasts in this cave, seemingly a family. Two of them had already been killed by the cultivators, who in turn had been slain by the low-grade second-tier demonic beast. Several spiritual artifacts were scattered on the ground, along with several large craters. These five cultivators were clearly at the Qi Condensation stage.

Seeing Wang Yaohuan and the others, the azure leopard leaped up and pounced towards Wang Yaohuan. As the saying goes, "a starved camel is still bigger than a horse." Although the azure leopard was covered in wounds, it was still a low-grade second-tier demonic beast, so Wang Yaohuan dared not be careless. He flipped his hand and pulled out a shimmering yellow talisman, which instantly vanished into the ground.

The next moment, more than ten thick yellow ropes burst out from underground, quickly coiling around the azure leopard. It was a second-tier Earth Restraint Talisman, capable of releasing the intermediate-level spell, Earth Restraint Technique. The azure leopard was heavily wounded, and its reactions were no longer as agile as before. Its four limbs became entangled by the yellow ropes, rendering it immobile.

Wang Mingzhan conjured a circular yellow shield, holding it in front of himself.

"Let's attack together, aim for its head," Wang Yaohuan commanded, conjuring a short azure sword about a foot long, and struck towards the azure leopard. Wang Mingzhan and the others likewise conjured their spiritual artifacts, attacking the azure leopard.

The azure leopard was, after all, a second-tier demonic beast with thick skin and tough flesh. The spiritual artifacts failed to inflict much damage on it; instead, it managed to tear two of the yellow ropes apart. Wang Changsheng flicked his ten fingers rapidly, and numerous blue light spots appeared out of thin air, swiftly transforming into a huge water ball the size of a water vat, enveloping the azure leopard's head. Wang Changsheng changed his incantation and flicked his ten fingers rapidly again. Several white lights shot out and instantly disappeared into the huge water ball. The huge water ball froze at a visible speed, turning into a massive ice ball that emitted a bone-chilling cold.

Seizing this opportunity, Wang Yaohuan and the other five members rapidly manipulated their spiritual artifacts to attack the azure leopard's abdomen. The azure leopard was already heavily wounded, its head frozen, and unable to react further. No matter how strong its physical body, it couldn't withstand the attacks of several spiritual artifacts, especially when its most vulnerable abdomen was being targeted. Soon after, the azure leopard's abdomen was pierced by several spiritual artifacts, and it bled to death.

After slaying this second-tier demonic beast, Wang Yaohuan let out a long sigh of relief and instructed Wang Changsheng and the others to collect materials. The demonic beasts' bodies were of utmost importance. Those five cultivators were indeed Qi Condensation cultivators and didn't have a single magical artifact, but their storage bags contained the bodies of more than ten mid-grade first-tier spiritual beasts.

"This is quite a haul! We're really lucky," Wang Mingxiao said with a smile.

"If it weren't for Changsheng's spirit mouse detecting something unusual, we might not have found this place," Wang Yaohuan said, nodding in approval. "Just now, he used the Water Ball Technique and Freezing Technique to freeze the demonic beast's head. That's how we managed to slay this second-tier demonic beast."

"Uncle Twelfth, you flatter me," Wang Changsheng said humbly. "This is what your grandson should do." During the demonic beast siege, Wang Changsheng had become even more proficient in using spells.

Wang Mingxiao smiled slightly and said, "Judging by Changsheng's casting speed, he has already cultivated these two elementary spells to perfection."

Wang Mingzhan's gaze shifted, and he suggested, "Uncle Twelfth, I have an idea. Changsheng's spirit mouse has an extremely keen sense of smell. These Black Moon Flowers are nearly a hundred years old, and where there are spiritual medicines, there are bound to be demonic beasts. We can let Changsheng's spirit mouse lead us to find spiritual medicines, and by doing so, find demonic beasts. This could save us a lot of time."

"That's a good idea," Wang Yaohuan responded, "However, it might lead to Changsheng's spirit mouse dying. After all, it's only a mid-grade first-tier spiritual beast; if it encounters a second-tier spiritual beast, it's a dead end."

"That fellow is very timid," Wang Mingzhan added. "It stopped outside the cave just now because it's very afraid of death, so there shouldn't be much danger."

Wang Yaohuan nodded and said, "Alright then, let the Dual-Pupil Rat lead us to find spiritual medicines."

After leaving the cave, Wang Changsheng released the Dual-Pupil Rat and fed it some high-grade first-tier spiritual grain. The Dual-Pupil Rat could only detect the scent of spiritual medicine within a certain range. Wang Changsheng had it perch on his shoulder, letting it lead the way only after it smelled spiritual medicine.

Two days later, Wang Changsheng and the other five appeared on a high mountain covered in dense vegetation. During these two days, they did not encounter any other demonic beasts, but they did find more than ten spiritual medicines that were fifty to sixty years old. Many demonic beasts had died during the siege on the city, leaving some demonic beast lairs empty. This was why they found spiritual medicine without demonic beasts guarding them.

Having tasted the benefits, Wang Mingzhan even suggested returning to buy and train a batch of Dual-Pupil Rats for future spiritual medicine hunting. The Dual-Pupil Rat led Wang Changsheng and the other five to many spiritual medicines and was much favored by them. Wang Yaohuan even fed it two ten-year-old spiritual grasses. In its delight, the Dual-Pupil Rat continuously wagged its tail, making squeaking sounds from its mouth, as if showing off its achievements.

Just as they reached halfway up the mountain, the Dual-Pupil Rat on Wang Changsheng's shoulder suddenly became excited, making squeaking sounds and wagging its tail furiously. Based on previous experience, the Dual-Pupil Rat would only react this way when it found spiritual medicine. The louder it squeaked, the older the spiritual medicine. The Dual-Pupil Rat leaped from Wang Changsheng's shoulder and dashed quickly forward. Seeing this, Wang Changsheng and the other five quickly followed.

Before long, the Dual-Pupil Rat stopped outside an area of weeds taller than a person. As per usual procedure, Wang Mingxiao cast the Earth Escape Technique, burrowing underground to inspect the cave. Not long after, Wang Mingxiao returned.

"Inside here is a snake den," he reported. "There are two low-grade second-tier Fire Flame Pythons and a Fire Snake Fruit tree."

Wang Yaohuan's brow furrowed slightly. He had a set of second-tier formation talismans, and while dealing with one second-tier Fire Flame Python might not be an issue, two would be difficult.

"Uncle Second," Wang Changsheng suggested, "I have a method. We can dig a large pit outside the cave, fill it with clear water, and lure the two Fire Flame Pythons out. Ideally, we'll make them fall into the water, then conjure several freezing talismans to temporarily freeze them. After that, I'll conjure the Yellow Mountain Seal and smash them to death. What do you think?"

After the four major sects issued the proclamation, Wang Changsheng began preparing to enter the mountains. He had purchased several items to deal with demonic beasts. The Yellow Mountain Seal was a high-grade spiritual artifact, which he had bought for four hundred spirit stones; it was a heavy-type magical artifact. He had earned merits defending the city and received a reward of three hundred spirit stones.

"That's a good idea," Wang Yaohuan considered. "But who will lure out those two Fire Flame Pythons? One misstep, and they could easily be killed by both Fire Flame Pythons."

Wang Mingxiao volunteered, "I'll go! The Earth Separation Art I cultivate is renowned for its defensive capabilities."

"No, I'll go instead!" said Wang Mingfeng, who rarely spoke. "I've cultivated the Wind Manipulation Art to perfection, so my speed is very fast. As long as I'm careful, the Fire Flame Pythons might not be able to catch me."

"No, I'll go!" Wang Mingzhan said confidently. "I have a high-grade defensive spiritual artifact; I can lure out both Fire Flame Pythons."

"Uncle Six, stop arguing. Let me do it!" Wang Changsheng said earnestly. "I can control puppet beasts, and it won't matter if they are destroyed. If any of you are even a step too slow, you might be burned to death by the Fire Flame Pythons." He had refined two low-grade first-tier dog puppets whose running speed was extremely fast.

"No, Ninth Brother, you can't risk it," Wang Yaohuan said. "Let me go!" After careful consideration, Wang Yaohuan decided to let Wang Mingfeng lure out the Fire Flame Pythons.

To be safe, Wang Changsheng handed the two dog puppets to Wang Mingfeng, teaching him how to control them. Only when Wang Mingfeng could skillfully control the puppet beasts did he enter the cave. Wang Mingxiao dug a huge circular pit, five zhang in diameter, outside the cave. He filled it with clear water and placed a long wooden plank across the pit.