Chapter 40: Seeking Wealth Amid Peril

In the Qian Kun Realm, demonic beasts, like human cultivators, are also divided into nine major realms!

Rogue Demon, Demon Soldier, Demon General, Demon King, Demon Emperor, Demon Sage, Demon Emperor, Demon God, Demon Ancestor!

Within each major realm, just like human cultivators, there are ten grades from lowest to highest!

Once a demonic beast reaches the Demon General rank, it will possess its own territory.

They do not allow any outsiders to invade their territory!

Any invader is hunted down without exception!

Seeing the scattered piles of severed limbs and arms among the bushes ahead, it already serves as an unspoken warning to Li Mu.

If he goes further, he will likely enter the hunting range of this demonic beast.

"Now I just don't know what grade the Demon General in this territory is,"

"With my current strength, after employing the Seven Kill Grand Form, Break Pot and Sink Ship, reverse‑opening the Eight Gates Scripture, and many other trump cards, dealing with Demon Generals below the third grade is already at my limit."

"If I truly encounter a great demon, there's a chance I could be overturned."

"However…"

"According to the intelligence Yao Mengzhen gave me, the Yunshan Secret Realm is frequently swept by powerful cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Realm, so there probably won't be any great demons."

Li Mu pondered in his heart whether he should continue deeper.

Suddenly, a strong wind blew through the mountain stream.

With that, the dense smell of blood in the valley was blown away considerably.

Immediately after, a strange fragrance, as if it had grown wings, darted into Li Mu's nostrils.

It made him feel a sweet, refreshing sensation between his mouth and nose.

It gave an indescribable feeling of clarity and freshness.

Faintly.

Li Mu felt the true Qi stored in his dantian being stirred, becoming restless.

"Heavenly Treasure?!"

Li Mu's eyes lit up!

This Yunshan Secret Realm was originally opened by powerful cultivators of the Ziyang Sect, and it contains many Heavenly Treasures.

For a cultivator, this is definitely a great providence!

If one can obtain the Heavenly Treasures, one's cultivation will surge, and breaking through the Ninth-Grade Refining Qi Realm will become a breeze!

Thinking of this, the scales in Li Mu's heart inevitably began to tip to one side.

"I still have the soldier‑dispelling talisman Yao Mengzhen gave me."

"Even if I truly encounter a great demon I can't handle, I can simply use the talisman to escape underground."

Having made up his mind, Li Mu suppressed his own aura as much as possible and cautiously approached the mountain stream.

But just after moving a short distance, a sudden foul wind surged from behind.

The foul wind blew past, followed immediately by the 'crack!' sound of snapping branches!

Li Mu was instantly startled!

He dared not hesitate at all; he immediately lay down, hiding his whole body within the dense thicket.

Hidden in the thicket, Li Mu held his breath and focused his mind, silently observing the surroundings.

The next moment, his heart jumped hard.

He saw.

A massive red silhouette slipped out of the dense forest with a rustling sound.

This…

It turned out to be a giant snake covered entirely in black scales!

Li Mu glanced.

Roughly estimating, the black‑scaled giant snake was at least eleven or twelve meters long and as thick as a water bucket.

It slithered in, like a raging wind passing through, crushing countless nearby shrubs and trees as it barreled forward.

Obviously.

Clearly, it wasn't just Li Mu; even this central giant snake was drawn by the strange fragrance in the stream, which led it here.

Throughout the whole process, Li Mu held his breath, widened his eyes, and watched the black‑scaled giant snake without blinking!

The scales on this black‑scaled giant snake seemed forged from dark iron, reflecting metallic glints in the sunlight.

Between its crimson breaths, a pungent killing aura exuded.

This is a black‑scaled demon python; the terrifying pattern on its scales makes it obvious.

This giant snake must have cultivated for at least a full 60‑year cycle, possessing the terrifying power of at least a first‑grade Demon General!

Because the black‑scaled demon python is immensely powerful and covered in dark‑iron scales, a Concentration Realm cultivator of the same level would likely struggle even to break its fleshly defenses.

At least a Second‑tier Concentration Realm cultivator would be qualified to face it in battle!

Fortunately, the black‑scaled demon python did not notice Li Mu and passed straight through the thicket where he was hidden.

Watching the black‑scaled demon python's retreating silhouette, Li Mu furrowed his brows and felt the urge to withdraw.

Given Li Mu's current strength, if he were to gamble all his trump cards,

Even if he could win in the end, it would still be a pyrrhic victory.

Especially since Li Mu is still within this peril‑filled Yunshan Secret Realm, and there are disciples of Xuan Yue Feng such as Lin Zehong who intend to kill him inside the realm.

Therefore, a head‑on clash is definitely not a wise move.

Besides, the Yunshan Secret Realm is vast and full of countless opportunities; there's no need to grind to death in just this one spot.

Just as Li Mu was about to retreat.

But after that black‑scaled giant python entered the mountain stream, it did not head straight for the Heavenly Treasure.

Instead, when it was within a hundred meters of the stream, it no longer rampaged recklessly as before; rather, it was cautious everywhere, occasionally lifting its head to carefully scan the surroundings.

Seeing this scene.

Li Mu's face showed sudden realization, and he thought inwardly, "Could it be that this black‑scaled demon python is not the master of this mountain stream?"

Li Mu, who had originally planned to retreat, crawled forward and followed.

He intended to keep observing before deciding whether to act.

Only then,

The black‑scaled demon python ventured deeper into the stream, circled around a rock, and soon reached the end of the stream.

Li Mu looked up and saw a forest of strange stones—a sheer cliff ten thousand zhang high.

There was a pitch‑black, bottomless cavity here; he stared at it.

Li Mu could faintly see that something seemed hidden inside the cave, emitting a faint phosphorescent glow outward, and the fragrance grew ever stronger.

Seeing this,

Li Mu's heart seemed to miss a beat, and his breathing grew increasingly rapid.

Deep inside, a voice kept urging him, "Heavenly Treasure!"

"Heavenly Treasure is right inside this cave!"

While Li Mu surveyed the cave, the black‑scaled demon python's bright yellow vertical pupils also kept watching the cave, its gaze showing greed but even more caution.

After observing for a long while,

Then, the black‑scaled demon python seemed to sense danger, abruptly lifting most of its body off the ground, raising its head, and repeatedly sniffing toward the cave.

A hissing sound "sss…" came from its mouth, and its massive tail swayed side to side, rustling.

The black‑scaled demon python was actually threatening that cave!

Li Mu's eyes brightened, and he thought, "Could it be that the master of this territory is currently hidden inside the cave?"

"Roar!"

As if confirming Li Mu's suspicion, a tiger's roar suddenly echoed from the cave.

The roar traveled far, reverberating through the stream, as if even the ground beneath trembled, and fragments of rock fell from the cliff.

Seeing this, Li Mu no longer felt urgent to retreat.

One mountain cannot host two tigers.

Given the current situation, these two Demon General‑rank beasts are likely to engage in a fierce battle.

Li Mu felt a secret joy, thinking inwardly, "When the sandpiper and clam clash, the fisherman profits."

"Perhaps I can still scoop up the leftovers in the middle and claim this Heavenly Treasure."

At this thought, Li Mu's heart surged with heat.

Wealth and honor are sought in danger!

If one lacks the courage to fetch chestnuts from the fire, what kind of immortal can one cultivate?

Just stick one's neck out and wait for the people of Xuan Yue Feng to kill you!

Li Mu steeled his heart.

Using the commotion caused by the black‑scaled giant python as a cover, he silently moved to the opposite side of the stream.

From here, looking across, was exactly that cave.

And at that moment,

The black‑scaled demon python's tail swayed faster and faster, the continual rustling sounding as urgent as a death‑sign, and its two orange‑yellow vertical pupils turned blood‑red.

Li Mu understood clearly.

This was a sign that the black‑scaled demon python was about to strike!

Sure enough!

In the next instant,

The black‑scaled demon python could no longer restrain itself!

It opened its massive, blood‑filled maw, revealing sharp solitary fangs, and plunged headfirst into the cave.

Inside the cave, one could not see a hand; it was pitch black, and Li Mu could not discern anything inside.

Just as Li Mu hesitated, wondering whether to enter the cave himself,

"Roar!"

In an instant,

Another tiger roar echoed from within the cave!

The roar was filled with brutality and anger, shaking the forest!

Immediately, the black‑scaled demon python, which had just rushed in, was flipped by a tremendous force, flying out like a torn sack.

"Boom—..."

Its massive body slammed against the rock at the cave entrance, shattering the boulder into pieces!

"Roar!"

Another tiger roar rang out, and a majestic figure with hair as crimson as blood suddenly burst from the cave.

It turned out to be a variegated fierce tiger, massive in stature, at least five meters tall, six or seven meters long, its stride awe‑inspiring, like a colossal train barreling forward.

Li Mu exclaimed, "This is the Crimson Flame Giant Tiger!"

Li Mu was, of course, familiar with this Crimson Flame Giant Tiger!

Previously, when he broke into the third layer of Gong Fa Dian, he had already encountered this beast.

However, back then he had only faced a ninth‑rank Demon Soldier, whereas the one before him now was a second‑rank peak Demon General!

The Crimson Flame Giant Tiger's fur is unusually hard, its attacks are ferocious, and its speed is extremely fast.

Its only weak point is on its back, but imagine how hard it is to get close.

Back then, when Li Mu first encountered it, he also used the narrow passageway terrain, weaving and maneuvering to grapple with it for a long time.

If it weren't for having a divine artifact like the Heavenly Dao Treasure Scroll at his side.

He could transfer his own fatigue, a negative effect, onto Qin Siwu and those sacrificial scapegoats, completely allowing him to wear the Crimson Flame Giant Tiger out without injury.

Otherwise.

Given the situation then, Li Mu wanted to kill that Crimson Flame Giant Tiger, and he would have to play a trump card at least!

Precisely because the Crimson Flame Giant Tiger is extremely hard to grapple with, even a third‑rank Concentration Realm cultivator would not dare to face it head‑on!

While Li Mu was pondering.

The Crimson Flame Giant Tiger had already launched its attack first, leaping to pounce onto the black‑scaled demon python.

It opened its gaping maw and, in a sudden snap, clamped tightly onto the black‑scaled demon python's seven‑inch.

Strike the snake at the seven‑inch!

The tiger's jaws clamped, and foul snake blood spurted out.

The black‑scaled demon python, in pain, emitted a mournful, harsh hiss, its tail thumping the ground forcefully, raising a cloud of dust.

But the black‑scaled demon python would not yield, fighting back to the death!

Its massive body coiled, wrapping around the Crimson Flame Giant Tiger like a python around a tree, the serpent's body contracting inch by inch, tightening.

The two sides stalemated like this for a full minute; even the Crimson Flame Giant Tiger's robust flesh defense was forced inward by the black‑scaled giant python's relentless tightening.

"Crack, crack, crack..."

The sound of the Crimson Flame Giant Tiger's bones shattering rang out like beans frying, making Li Mu nearby feel a sudden prickling on his scalp.

"Crack!"

Suddenly, a crisp sound echoed.

In pain, the Crimson Flame Giant Tiger went berserk, its tiger jaws tearing fiercely at the black‑scaled demon python's seven‑inch.

"Pfft!"

Fresh blood splattered everywhere!

A segment of snake bone was ripped out of its flesh by the Crimson Flame Giant Tiger.

The tiger's eyes flashed cold light, its jaws dripping with fresh blood!

That recent strike from the Crimson Flame Giant Tiger actually snapped off the black‑scaled demon python's seven‑inch!

Fresh blood gushed out like a stream, staining the ground beneath red!

After a few dying struggles, the black‑scaled demon python's head drooped weakly.

Its bright vertical pupils began to dim, its vitality fading rapidly.

But within a moment, life was completely gone!

Although the black‑scaled demon python was dead, the Crimson Flame Giant Tiger also paid an extremely heavy price!

Its body was a full fist smaller than before, pockmarked, fresh blood seeping out from its fur, and it was unclear how many bones were broken.

It could barely stay upright, forced to lie on the ground, gasping heavily.

Seizing the opportunity.

Li Mu silently reached the highest point of the mountain stream, looking down from his lofty perch toward the depths of the cave entrance.

The refreshing, exotic fragrance grew ever stronger, and the specks of phosphorescence in the cave shone even brighter now!

At that moment.

Li Mu finally saw the true form of the Heavenly Treasure, and couldn't help but exclaim.

"Zhu Yun Zi Grass!"