Chapter 141: Clever Capture of the Third‑Tier Flying Lizard

The wind of Ghost Sorrow Cliff, carrying a faint whiff of blood, silently brushed over the stone crevice where Wang Shan was hiding.

He still leaned against the cold stone wall, eyes half‑closed, his mind fully immersed in the system's constantly refreshing information flow.

"System, scan the peripheral area, especially those valleys where demonic beasts might appear, thoroughly. Do not let any abnormal energy fluctuations slip by."

【Command Confirmation. Scanning peripheral area energy fluctuations… High‑energy reaction target detected!】

Wang Shan's spirit perked up.

【Target: Red Flame Flying Lizard King, Third Tier Demonic Beast. Status: gravely wounded, near death, breath weak, energy fluctuations extremely unstable. Currently attempting to heal in a concealed valley to the southwest. Distance: about three li.】

"Third Tier Demonic Beast? Or just gravely wounded?" Wang Shan raised an eyebrow, thinking this was a pillow sent by drowsiness.

The kid Wan Tianjue had been battling a Fourth Tier Red Flame Flying Lizard King so fiercely that many unlucky souls got caught up.

He quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind. Even a gravely wounded Third Tier Demonic Beast isn't easily taken by their small squad. Yet if they succeed, the Spirit Plant Points gained would relieve his pressing need.

"Fortune favors the daring! Let's seal the deal."

"System, I recall that within the Yushou Sect Inheritance there is a rune targeting demonic beasts' spiritual souls—what's it called again?"

【Searching… Rune matching criteria: 【Soul‑Disturbing Rune】. Can disrupt a demonic beast's Spiritual Sense, causing brief chaos.】

"That's it! Exchange a simplified crafting method for the 【Soul‑Disturbing Rune】 and the related auxiliary materials—give me the smallest possible batch." Wang Shan gritted his teeth; spending Spirit Plant Points hurt him. He had barely any left after fleeing and healing, and now it was even worse.

【Simplified crafting method for 【Soul‑Disturbing Rune】 (incomplete) exchanged. Auxiliary materials dispatched to storage. Spirit Plant Points deducted: 50 points.】

"Only fifty points? Looks like this simplified version's power is quite limited." Wang Shan muttered, but he had no time for more concerns now.

He opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Li Hu and Zhang Mei beside him.

"There's an opportunity, but it could also be a big trouble." Wang Shan lowered his voice, "About three li to the southwest, a Third Tier Red Flame Flying Lizard King was crippled by Wan Tianjue's group and is barely hanging on."

Li Hu's eyes lit up at the mention of "Third Tier Demonic Beast": "Boss, shall we take it down?"

Zhang Mei replied more calmly: "A Third Tier Demonic Beast, even gravely wounded, isn't easy to handle. We…"

Wang Shan waved his hand: "I know. That's why I said it could be trouble. However, I've just devised a rune that specifically counters demonic beasts; it might come in handy. If we can capture it, our Spirit Plant Points will be much more plentiful, Zhitao's detox pills and our subsequent plans will have footing."

He looked at the two: "The decision is yours; if you think it's too risky, we'll keep hiding."

Li Hu pounded his chest: "Boss, wherever you point, I'll strike! Fear nothing! At worst it's just a life!"

Zhang Mei also nodded: "Following the boss."

"Alright!" Wang Shan stopped hesitating, "Li Hu, you're at Body Refining Seventh Stage, tough skin and flesh; later you'll engage head‑on. Remember, don't brute‑force it—draw its attention as much as possible, survival first!"

"Don't worry, boss! Hey, my hands are itching!" Li Hu grinned, gripping his Kaishan Axe tightly.

Wang Shan turned to Zhang Mei: "Zhang Mei, use your bow to harass from afar, targeting its eyes and joints—its weak spots—to ease Li Hu's pressure. I trust your archery."

Zhang Mei drew the longbow from her back, gently caressing the bow: "Understood."

"I'll handle attacking its Spiritual Sense with the 【Soul‑Disturbing Rune】; once it falls into chaos, that's our cue for full output!" Wang Shan's eyes flashed with resolve. "Everyone clear? This mission is perilous—be careful, prioritize your own safety!"

"Clear!"

The three said no more, using the rocks for cover, they slipped silently toward the valley the system indicated.

After a short while, a small valley scented with faint sulfur and blood appeared. Inside, a creature several times larger than a normal lizard, entirely crimson, its scaled armor cracked and flayed in many places, black blood oozing, the Red Flame Flying Lizard King lay on the ground, breathing heavily, each gasp accompanied by a painful screech.

One hind leg twisted at a bizarre angle, clearly broken; several deep wounds down to bone continued to bleed, staining the ground beneath dark red.

"Indeed, it's badly wounded," Wang Shan thought, slightly reassured yet still cautious. An emaciated camel can be larger than a horse; a dying Third Tier Demonic Beast's death‑blow counterattack could be lethal.

He signaled Li Hu and Zhang Mei to spread out, then slipped back a few steps, retrieved rune paper and a few auxiliary materials from his storage bag, his fingertips channeling Spiritual Power, and began sketching the 【Soul‑Disturbing Rune】 according to the simplified method in his mind.

The rune's structure was a few steps more complex than any he'd mastered before, but being a simplified version, the Spiritual Power consumption remained within tolerable limits.

After a few breaths, a rune emitting a faint pale glow formed at his fingertips.

"Now!"

Wang Shan let out a low shout, snapped his finger, and the 【Soul‑Disturbing Rune】 turned into an almost invisible streak of light, piercing precisely into a wound on the Red Flame Flying Lizard King's head.

"Huh?"

The barely‑living Red Flame Flying Lizard King jolted, its massive head swaying, a flash of bewilderment and chaos in its eyes, its previously poised attack becoming stiff.

"Good chance! Li Hu!" Wang Shan gathered a second rune, shouting loudly.

"Here I come! Take this, Tiger Lord!" Li Hu, already primed, let out a roar, his massive hand gripping the Kaishan Axe like a fan, pushing off his feet, charging at the Red Flame Flying Lizard King as if a tiger descending a mountain; the axe blade whooshed, slashing fiercely at the beast's largest wound!

Puff—!

The axe blade pierced flesh, black blood spurted!

Aaa—! The Red Flame Flying Lizard King howled in pain, a deafening roar, fury blazing in its chaotic gaze, twisting its crippled body, its massive fang‑filled maw ready to bite back.

"Not a chance!" Zhang Mei's cool voice rang out, the fully drawn longbow string trembling.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three feathered arrows in a Faction Formation flew precisely toward the Red Flame Flying Lizard King's left eye and neck joint.

The Red Flame Flying Lizard King, in pain, moved even more wildly, but clearly lost accuracy; its massive claws flailed, stirring a foul wind, yet not even grazing Li Hu's cloak.

"Hahaha, big guy, haven't you eaten?" Li Hu quipped while deftly dodging, his Kaishan Axe flipping up and down, constantly adding fresh wounds to the beast's injuries.

Wang Shan showed no slack, rune after rune popping from his fingertips.

"Soul‑Disturbing!"

"Disturb again!"

One simplified 【Soul‑Disturbing Rune】 after another slammed into the Red Flame Flying Lizard King's body.

The beast's movements grew slower, the madness in its eyes giving way to deeper bewilderment; it began to spin in place, its attacks became erratic, sometimes striking nothing.

"Now, strike with full force, finish it!" Wang Shan timed it, launched another rune, then retrieved a standard long sword from his storage, channeling his limited Spiritual Power toward another vital spot of the Red Flame Flying Lizard King.

"Splitting Stele!" Li Hu seized a massive flaw, employing his signature move; the Kaishan Axe, bearing a thousand‑pound force, hammered down on the beast's skull.

"Piercing Cloud!" Zhang Mei's arrow again sliced through the air, targeting the beast's remaining right eye.

Puff! Crack!

Under the three's combined assault, the already gravely wounded Red Flame Flying Lizard King let out an extremely mournful wail, its massive body crashed to the ground, convulsed a few times, then fell silent.

"Hu… Hu…" Li Hu leaned on his axe, panting heavily, his face full of excitement, "Boss, is this… already solved? Much smoother than I imagined!"

Wang Shan also let out a sigh of relief; the effect of this Soul-Disturbing Rune indeed exceeded his expectations. It seems the Beast Taming Sect's stuff has many tricks.

【Red Flame Flying Lizard (Third Tier, dead) corpse confirmed. Recycle?】

"Recycle!"

A faint light flashed, and the massive corpse of the Red Flame Flying Lizard vanished.

【Recycle successful. Gained Spirit Plant Points: 837 points.】

"Eight hundred thirty‑seven points!" Li Hu's eyes widened, "We made it, we made it! Boss, now we're rich!"

Wang Shan also showed a faint smile; this batch of Spirit Plant Points arrived just in time.

He did not hesitate: "System, exchange three Third‑Tier Return Spring Pills and ten Second‑Tier Nourishing Spirit Pills!"

【Exchange successful, deducted Spirit Plant Points: 210 points.】

With the pills in hand, Wang Shan first took out two Return Spring Pills and handed them to the two grandchildren still sleeping on the couch, carefully having them take them, then gave one Return Spring Pill and three Nourishing Spirit Pills to Li Hu: "Yours, recover quickly, and see if you can push into the eighth layer of Body Refining."

"Thanks, Boss!" Li Hu didn't hold back, took the pills, sat cross‑legged and began refining.

Wang Shan then handed three Nourishing Spirit Pills to Zhang Mei: "Yours. Your contribution this time was considerable."

Zhang Mei took them, softly saying, "It's my duty."

Finally, Wang Shan also took a Nourishing Spirit Pill, feeling the warm current from the pill nourishing his dried Meridians; the previous depletion from forcibly using runes and battle was rapidly recovering. The Body Refinement, Ninth Stage, Early Phase state also became completely stable with this medicinal force.

He glanced at Li Hu and Zhang Mei, who were cultivating, then at the grandchildren whose complexion had eased a bit, feeling somewhat at ease.

"This hunt not only solved the urgent problem, but more importantly proved the huge potential of this Soul-Disturbing Rune in real combat," Wang Shan thought silently, "If we can study this rune thoroughly, even find higher‑grade Beast Taming Runes, then my subsequent 'Yellow Sparrow' plan will have a much greater chance."

Wan Tianjue, those mysterious Black‑clothed Persons… the waters of Ghost Sorrow Cliff are getting murkier.

However, the murkier the water, the more chance to catch a big fish.

Purple Monkey Flower, he must obtain it. Not only to detoxify Zhitao, but also to push into Foundation Establishment and gain capital to truly stand in this perilous cultivation world.

He looked toward the depths of Ghost Sorrow Cliff, where faint rumbling and powerful energy fluctuations still emanated.

"The good show has only just begun."