Chapter 84: Third-stage Demon Beast?

Wood Soul Essence.

A special demon beast born from gathering yin and cold qi.

"Ang!!!"

Dodging the Wood Soul Essence's claw attack, Yunhe unhesitatingly unleashed a "Thunder Sound Technique".

This thunder sound was not the same as the one used earlier against that first-stage-late python; he held nothing back, and the thunder sound mixed with the oppressive demon sense froze the Wood Soul Essence in place.

"Opportunity!"

Yunhe struck out with a fierce claw.

Bang!!

With a "whoosh," the Wood Soul Essence that had fallen in front of it shot backward at great speed.

However, Yunhe, who had just thrown out his claw, furrowed his brow.

He could clearly feel that, although the claw had struck solidly, the Wood Soul Essence's seemingly petite body gave him an extremely hard sensation.

That claw was not enough to be fatal.

Indeed, that was the case.

The Wood Soul Essence slammed hard into the rock wall, where branches like dense shrubs sprouted from its back, dissipating most of the impact force.

Its eyes were blood-red, and its vicious expression was not concealed at all.

"Wah!!"

Then one saw its ugly, fang-filled mouth open again.

The piercing sound accompanied by a heart‑trembling call echoed in the cave.

It was actually an attack specifically targeting demon sense and demon soul!

No wonder he felt dazed.

If Yunhe's demon sense weren't strong enough, that initial cry could have killed the vast majority of second-stage‑early demon beasts.

But this time.

The Wood Soul Essence that had just shouted widened its eyes, and its vicious gaze filled with disbelief.

In its sight, the large turtle, under its unstoppable call, merely trembled slightly before striding forward with heavy, swift steps to reach its face.

Its claws, covered in black scales, seized its mouth and held down its head.

Only a light shout was heard.

"Move Mountain!!"

Boom!!

The tangled roots behind the Wood Soul Essence instantly snapped into fragments.

The rock wall behind it also showed cracks like a spiderweb.

Its mouth was directly crushed, spewing out green juice.

Its body was also pressed firmly into the rock wall.

The Wood Soul Essence's appearance became extremely miserable, with streaks of dark green blood seeping from its body and its head sunken nearly halfway.

Yet even so, it had not died!

Even through the gaps in Yunhe's claws, its scarlet eyes filled with intense hatred, as black mist seeped from the hole beneath the round stone and wrapped around its body.

Its wounds were actually healing at a visible speed!

Yunhe showed a hint of surprise, but did not panic; merely as the turtle's mouth opened and closed, a stream of warm water flowed out.

Upon seeing this mass of water, the Wood Soul Essence's eyes finally filled with uncontrollable fear.

It could sense the threat of the water flow, especially its scorching heat.

Three Yang Heavy Water!

Hiss!!

As the "Three Yang Heavy Water" fell, the Wood Soul Essence convulsed all over.

Accompanied by a "hissing" sound, large amounts of black mist rose.

It was like pouring a splash of water onto burning firewood.

Actually, Yunhe had been searching for something to counter evil spirits, forgetting that his own "Three Yang Heavy Water" was made by refining the lesser yang water of dawn, the pure yang water of noon, and the ultimate yang water of sunset, gathering all yang into yang, making it truly the bane of evil spirits!

And this Wood Soul Essence, a special demon beast born from gathered yin and cold qi, fears nothing more than this vigorous yang attack.

Moreover, the "Three Yang Heavy Water" itself has the effect of corroding flesh and grinding bone; in just three breaths, the Wood Soul Essence, held immobile by Yunhe, turned into a pool of black viscous liquid under the water.

"A bit disgusting."

Yunhe retracted the "Three Yang Heavy Water", shook his claws, and muttered inwardly.

However, from the viscous substance the Wood Soul Essence had turned into, he grabbed a small, jet‑black, irregular crystal‑like object.

"Yin Wood Essence?"

Just placing it in his palm, he felt a wisp of cold seep through his scales into his body.

This thing would be very attractive to those who practice demonic path cultivation, especially cultivators of yin‑evil arts.

But it was useless to him.

He took out a jade box, placed it inside, and stored it in his storage bag.

The Wood Soul Essence, a second‑stage‑mid demon beast, was thus easily slain by him.

"Having the countering effect of 'Three Yang Heavy Water' doesn't offer much reference value."

"The 'Three Yang Heavy Water' already being prepared for a third refinement is quite effective against evil spirits."

"But the 'Three Yang Heavy Water' of the cultivator body has only been refined once; it seems that, in the absence of a suitable spiritual artifact, one could consider focusing on the 'Three Yang Heavy Water'."

"Right, there's also that gold stone."

Yunhe recalled that small golden stone.

Even the "Yin Wood Essence" could only seep a chill into his palm, but that golden stone actually melted his scales, showing it was more valuable than the Yin Wood Essence.

"Let's search the Qingzong Sect's classics again; we might find it."

Rustle—

However, when Yunhe came again near that hole, he heard a rustling sound from below.

Moreover, this time it wasn't just one!

Yunhe's expression changed slightly.

But once he knew what the attacking creature was, he wasn't nervous either.

He again unleashed the "Three Yang Heavy Water".

He stood guard before the hole.

As the yin qi seeping from the hole grew denser, Yunhe's Demon Sense also caught those few silhouettes.

"Here they come!"

The "Three Yang Heavy Water" took the shape of a fist.

When the first silhouette rushed out,

He slammed a punch down hard!

Boom!!

Amid the intertwined "hissing" sounds, the first Wood Sprite that rushed out hadn't even time to react before being directly smashed away.

And the "Three Yang Heavy Water" clung to it like a bone‑deep ulcer.

Immediately after,

Yunhe clenched his claws into a fist.

When the second Wood Sprite came up, first a "thunder boom" shook its soul, then he unleashed a "Moving Mountain" punch that blasted it straight away.

But when the third Wood Sprite appeared in his Demon Sense, Yunhe couldn't help but frown.

It was actually a late‑Second‑Stage Wood Sprite!

Moreover, the other side seemed more intelligent, realizing Yunhe was guarding the exit, and a "wa" cry came from the hole.

Shape not yet arrived, sound already came!

Taking advantage of Yunhe's slight daze, the opponent burst out of the hole, swinging its claws and lunging forward.

"Could it be that we've stirred up the Wood Sprites' nest?"

A mid‑Second‑Stage was bad enough, but now a late‑Second‑Stage has come out as well.

Who knows if a third‑stage Wood Sprite might rush out next?

Ding!!

But this late‑Second‑Stage Wood Sprite's claws failed to land on Yunhe.

It was blocked by a ring shaped like a bracelet.

Xuanwu Bracelet!

Oh!

In a low, faint Black Tortoise hum, the Xuanwu Bracelet buzzed and rapidly enlarged.

A large amount of water condensed out of thin air.

It formed a huge, fluttering giant turtle.

While blocking the Wood Sprite's claw attack, it pressed down on it.

And under Yunhe's control, the "Three Yang Heavy Water" returned and dove into the Xuanwu Bracelet.

In an instant.

The formed giant turtle seemed to become a bit more alive.

It overturned a Wood Sprite, and strands of black mist kept rising in the water's impact, accompanied by the Wood Sprite's sharp cries of pain.

Yunhe's eyes glinted slightly, and a stern aura suddenly appeared.

The giant turtle's illusory shadow retracted, and the Xuanwu Bracelet, wrapped in a water ring, shot out at high speed.

Bang!!

The late‑Second‑Stage Wood Sprite that had been forced back, just as it tried to approach, was struck by the "Xuanwu Bracelet".

Wood‑grain‑like cracks appeared on its double arms.

The splashing water droplets that fell on it instantly corroded into holes.

The other two Wood Sprites, frightened, glanced at the dancing Xuanwu Bracelet, also realized its danger, and tried to flee back into the hole.

Yet they were each struck by the Xuanwu Bracelet in succession, "bang bang" turning into two puddles of black water.

On the contrary, that late‑Second‑Stage Wood Sprite seized the chance, carrying its injury, dove headfirst into the hole, leaving Yunhe only an extremely vicious glare.

How could Yunhe tolerate that?

If this thing were as vengeful as that horned viper, taking advantage of when his awareness lingered in the Cultivator Body to come knocking, his reaction wouldn't be so quick.

Immediately he lay before the hole, his demon power surging, ripples rising on the inner elixir in his qi sea dantian.

The next second.

Boom!!

A three‑foot‑wide blue‑purple intertwined thunderbolt suddenly spewed forth.

Lightning flashed!

The pitch‑black passage instantly became as bright as daylight, fully illuminated.

The late‑Second‑Stage Wood Sprite that had burrowed into the hole stared in shock, then was instantly engulfed by the lightning.

When the thunder and lightning dispersed, his figure had already disappeared.

Accumulated for a year and a half, its power is not bad.

Amidst the flashing lightning, Yunhe also barely managed to make out this passage.

About 123 zhang deep, at its bottom seemed to lie piles of white bones, with extremely heavy yin qi.

And the movement of the thunder and lightning seemed to have startled the terrifying creature lurking below.

Roar!!!

A startled angry roar.

Carrying a mighty momentum.

Yunhe's pupils contracted sharply, and he instinctively stepped back two steps.

"Third Stage?!"

He immediately dared not linger, retracting the Black Tortoise Bracelet, rolling up the several scattered 'Yin Wood Essence' and that unknown metal stone.

He ran toward the outside of the cave.

However, the monster beast below seemed not inclined to chase out; as he left the cave, he heard no further sound from behind.

"Is he unwilling to chase, or unable to leave?"

Returning to that icy, turbulent river, Yunhe couldn't help but speculate.

In a short time, he no longer had the desire to investigate further.

Facing a late-phase Second Stage wood soul essence, he could rely on the restraining effect of the Three Yang Heavy Water and, using the power of the Xuanwu Bracelet, give it a try.

However, against a third-stage demon beast, even if it too is restrained by the Three Yang Heavy Water, he tells himself he is no match.

He surfaced.

He turned his head and gazed at this bottomless abyss.

The feeling was somewhat different from when he came.

At this moment he felt this was not merely an abyss, but a gigantic maw with a rift torn open, as if it would devour everything.

He shook his head.

He quelled the trembling in his heart.

He hurriedly climbed up.

Resources in the demon beast world are abundant, but the degree to which demon beasts develop and utilize them is far inferior to that of cultivators.

But similarly, such places that have not been deeply excavated often come with great danger.

This abyss is like that, and the riverbed beneath the lake last time was the same.

Unlike in the cultivation world, where although it's hard to encounter any fortuitous chance, and finding precious spiritual herbs and materials is difficult, one also does not encounter too many unknown risks, as most have been dug up, explored, and developed to a similar extent.

"'Just like one is the Dharma-ending age, the other is the Dharma-beginning age. However, such a formation at the lake bottom is hard to explain.'"

"'Undeniably, the cultivation world has a higher utilization rate of resources, and can make maximal use of the materials obtained from the demon beast world.'"

He returned to Huanhu Dao.

Yunhe took a piece of animal hide and daubed and drew on it.

If one looks closely, one can see that this is a map centered on Huanhu Dao.

Although this map is not drawn very delicately, it is sufficient as long as it can be understood.

Yunhe marked his position in the lake and the position of the abyss with two question marks.

At the same time, he drew several routes at other locations, representing the directions he could explore next.

After doing that, he then took out that piece of metal stone from his storage bag, which still flickered with lightning; if not for the round stone fragments containing it, even jade would probably have melted.

"'What exactly is this metal stone?'"

He reckons he would have to go to the cultivation world to have any chance of finding out.

However.

"'If the horned viper can absorb it, then I should be able to as well.'"

With that thought, Yunhe entered meditation, and the demonic power within his body began to circulate according to the Carrying Mountain Technique.

The rich spiritual energy condensed from the Gathering Spirit Pearl was gradually absorbed into his body along its scales.

Accompanying it were faint golden arcs of lightning, so subtle they were almost invisible.

(End of chapter)