Chapter 243 - 242: Precious Land, Giant Valley Worm

It has to be said, in terms of environmental perception, monsters are far more sensitive than humans.

It was only when he arrived in the area directly above the valley, where Yulian had sensed something odd, that Li Jing felt an apparent heat.

If it had not been for Yulian’s warning, he might have completely missed it.

Hovering above the valley, Li Jing looked down at it with a slight frown.

At first glance,

The valley merely seemed to have less vegetation, a bit bare, nothing unusual.

However, the difference in temperature inside and outside the valley was very marked.

The mountain seemed like a barrier, separating the interior and exterior of the valley into two worlds, with the burning heat inside the valley not seeping out even a little.

As he was still trying to find something noteworthy from above the valley, Yulian beside him wrinkled her cute nose and whispered.

"Be careful, there is something odd about this place."

With that, she began to explain quietly.

"We just circulated around the entrance of the Secret Realm, and I memorized the smells of many different species, but I haven’t smelled any of them here. The creatures in the Secret Realm are spiritually gifted beasts naturally, and even a temperature difference wouldn’t affect them. Moreover, places like this, with the natural gathering of attributed spiritual Qi, should attract specific spiritual beasts that like such attributed spiritual Qi."

Upon hearing this from Yulian, Li Jing paused and looked more intently at what lay below.

Upon arriving above the valley, he was so focused on finding the source of the fire-attributed Spiritual Qi that he hadn’t taken much notice of anything else.

Only after being reminded by Yulian did he realize there were no visible signs of beasts or birds within the sparse woods in the valley, no trace of life at all.

This...

Indeed seemed unusual.

As Yulian said,

The creatures in the Secret Realm are naturally spiritual beasts, and even a significant temperature difference wouldn’t affect them much; they certainly wouldn’t let a "treasure ground" like this go.

Spiritual beasts are naturally gifted and have a higher level of Spirituality, they understand the nature more than the monsters that mostly have to transform and evolve.

Understanding the nature better is a nice way to put it.

To put it bluntly, spiritual beasts just know how to take it easy.

Now, I should explain another fundamental difference between monsters and spiritual beasts other than the nature of their powers.

Most spiritual beasts, do not cultivate.

They don’t cultivate not because they do not understand cultivation but because they are too lazy to ...

As long as they are alive, their bodies will continuously accumulate spiritual Qi and become stronger.

Why strive when you can just lay back?

Those monsters have the same ability too.

A monster will gradually become powerful over years.

The difference is, the transformation of monsters inevitably requires them to comprehend the universe. Otherwise, they can’t even activate their basic Spiritual Intelligence.

Even those monsters born inherently, they find it hard to grow without comprehending the universe.

In the process of comprehending the universe, monsters are always cultivating.

Spiritual beasts, who are naturally highly intelligent, don’t do it that way. Their Spiritual Intelligence naturally matures over the course of their lives. Compared to comprehending the universe, they prefer to lay back comfortably for natural growth.

In other words, they are just coasting along.

Take Stinky Tofu for instance.

When Li Jing saw it six months ago, it was at the initial stage of Three Realm.

Six months later, it was still at the initial stage of Three Realm.

It had made some progress,

But that was not the result of cultivation, but because Chen Yuran usually fed it special food made specifically for spiritual pets.

The fact that this silly dog could be raised to the initial stage of Three Realm in just seventeen years is all thanks to its owner, Chen Yuran.

The reason for Stinky Tofu’s slow progress now is mainly because its realm is higher, and the special food for spiritual pets can’t provide much of a boost.

For spiritual beasts like Stinky Tofu that are raised by humans, the most comfortable way to take it easy is to eat and drink with their owners.

As for the spiritual beasts in the Secret Realm-

If they want to take it easy, they have to find a place that suits their growth better.

Like where the Spirit Veins are, where certain rare and precious herbs grow, or like this valley with specific attributed spiritual Qi gathering.

There are spiritual beasts everywhere in the Secret Realm, but there isn’t a single one in this valley, which is like a feng shui treasure land for some spiritual beasts.

That’s illogical.

Given the situation, there are two possibilities.

One, this place is highly dangerous, so much so that the easygoing spiritual beasts are afraid to set foot here.

Two, a powerful spiritual beast has taken this place as its territory, and other spiritual beasts dare not invade it half a step.

The first possibility is unlikely.

Spiritual beasts are adept at pursuing good fortune and avoiding disaster.

Only an exceedingly perilous environment can deter the intrusion of Spiritual Beasts.

Among Spiritual Beasts, there’s no shortage of such dim-witted entities.

These entities aren’t necessarily unintelligent but rather, they’re just a few fries short of a Happy Meal.

Which brings us back to Stinky Tofu...

Even with the knowledge that it’ll be reprimanded by Chen Yuran, it would still act recklessly when it feels like it.

Upon careful consideration, the answer becomes clear.

In this valley, there lurks a powerful and selfish Spiritual Beast.

After staring at the valley below for a moment, Li Jing squints his eyes and signals the Linglong Tower lingering in the distance to come to him.

"Xiaoyu, go inside the tower."

?

Yulian.

"There’s likely a Spiritual Beast hidden in this valley. Its species group must be unique, not like the ones often found near the entrances of Secret Realms."

Li Jing explains.

"At present, as far as our naked eyes can see, there are no signs of beasts or birds in the valley. It’s highly probable that the Spiritual Beast hiding in the valley is underneath the ground. It’s normal if you can’t detect any scent if it is deep underground."

After contemplating Li Jing’s words, Yulian finds this possibility plausible and says,

"If there truly is a Spiritual Beast here, its existence is undoubtedly extraordinary. Dominating such a treasure land alone, I fear its temper isn’t that pleasant either. Be careful when you act alone."

Having said that, she turns around and enters the Linglong Tower.

Seeing this, Li Jing shifts his thoughts subtly and commands the Linglong Tower to distance itself again.

Monsters do not represent evil.

Similarly, Spiritual Beasts do not represent good.

Just as Yulian just said.

A Spiritual Beast capable of monopolizing this treasure land will undoubtedly be not kind.

A fight is sure to break out once it’s provoked.

No one can secure the actual strength of the Spiritual Beast in this area.

Perhaps once it reveals itself, all that is left for him to do is run.

For safety’s sake, it’s better to keep the Linglong Tower at a distance, it’d be more convenient to escape later.

After the Linglong Tower has moved to the outskirts of the valley and comes to a halt in the distance, Li Jing withdraws his gaze. The blue Wind King Mysterious Clothing quietly cloaks his body while he, in turn, makes several hand seals to reactivate his Heavenly Eye.

The vertical eye on his forehead opens.

Under the scrutiny of the Heavenly Eye, the valley beneath is ablaze in scarlet light.

The dense Fire-attributed Spiritual Energy pervades the area.

In the heart of the valley, there’s no concentration of energy from animals and birds, these kinds of beings.

There’re plenty of other creatures like insects and small animals, but generally, they’re weak and pathetic.

With the complete view of the valley through his Heavenly Eye, Li Jing quickly locks his gaze on the area in the valley where the Fire-attributed Spiritual Energy is the heaviest.

The five thousand Spirit Soldiers silently appear behind him.

Principally speaking, Li Jing wouldn’t want to provoke or disturb the native Spiritual Beasts of the Secret Realm.

But this one is an exception.

With dense Fire-attributed Spiritual Energy condensing in the valley, there must be fire-attributed treasures or resources present.

Regardless, he at least needs to check it out.

If he were to avoid it just because there’s a Spiritual Beast present, there would be no point in exploring this Secret Realm.

As for how to find the treasures hidden underground, Li Jing has experience.

With a wave of his hand, the five thousand Spirit Soldiers behind him rush out, all hitting the spot he has targeted.

"Explode."

"Boom boom boom!"

The five thousand Spirit Soldiers simultaneously explode.

The Spiritual Qi surges wildly, causing the ground to shake and the mountains to tremble.

Gazing at the endless flying debris, where the original location with the most concentrated Fire-attributed Spiritual Energy in the valley now has a huge crater, Li Jing frowns slightly.

He doesn’t expect to find any treasure just by creating a hole.

The key point is that after causing such an explosion, why isn’t there any reaction from the valley?

Could it be that he guessed wrong?

Could it be that there isn’t actually a Spiritual Beast lurking in the valley?

Just as he is thinking this, a roar of irritation comes from afar.

?

Li Jing turned his head.

And instantly after, a gigantic log careening towards him came into view.

In the next second, a flash of sword light appeared.

The enormous log that nearly smashed him in the face was shredded into dust by the sword light, turning into lethal wooden splinters that rained down on his Wind King Mysterious Clothing and got deflected...

With a glance at Spirit Weapon Qingfeng, who once again "loyally protected its master" with a stern face, Li Jing twitched his lips in silence and looked in the direction the log had come from.

From that side.

Apart from the scattering bird and beast type spiritual beasts, there was nothing.

The gigantic log...

Who had thrown it?

Li Jing slightly furrowed his brow.

At that moment, Linglong’s thoughts transmitted through the air reached his ears.

"Master, I just saw it. A very fat worm suddenly emerged from the ground in the distant outskirts of the valley, and it’s the one who spat the log at you."

A fat worm in the outskirts of the valley underground?

Li Jing was taken aback, he looked at the valley beneath him, and then in the direction the log had come from, his realization followed.

His conjecture was correct.

However, the spiritual beast lurking beneath the valley was much smarter than he had assumed, knowing to use distraction to its advantage.

He silently extended a hand.

Spirit Weapon Qingfeng’s eyes lit up, and it swiftly handed its body to him before its spirit form faded away.

Li Jing held the sword single-handedly, and once again, five thousand spirit soldiers appeared behind him.

In the next second, the spirit soldiers fired in unison, falling into the deep pit that had been blasted in the valley moments before.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

The spirit soldiers exploded, further enlarging the deep pit.

Amidst the earth-shaking tremors, a roar of rage came from afar once again.

Li Jing looked up at the sound.

This time, the boulder that had just entered his sight was coming from a completely different direction.

Raising his hand to shatter the enormous rock mid-air with a punch, Li Jing gazed into the distance, sword in hand.

This worm, it’s tricky.

And observant too.

When the log failed, it started hurling boulders.

Such intelligence, along with its knack for deception, indicated its realm was not low, although it probably wasn’t very high either.

Otherwise, it would have charged him head-on.

Just now, Yulian was beside him. It most likely sensed her, also a beast-type, and her Six Realm cultivation level. Unwilling to give up the treasure that was the valley, it attempted to use diversion.

Making deductions in silence, Li Jing looked at the place in the distance where birds and beasts were fleeing in fear, and decisively swung his sword downwards, casting a massive green sword shadow over the valley.

Linglong didn’t describe how the worm looked, but she did distinctly mention the word ’spit’.

Indicator of sufficient size to vomit such a thick log and a boulder, it is certainly no small worm.

Moreover, it can move underground, there’s no point looking for it.

In contrast, tearing open the valley surface to check what’s beneath is the right choice!

The worm is operating underground and distracting him. For all he knows, it might be planning to relocate stealthily.

A thing marked by him, Li Jing, could escape?

"Boom!"

The green sword shadow hit the ground, tearing a large trench in the valley.

Spirit soldiers’s flying swords did have significant power.

But compared to the Flying Sword Blue Edge under the big perfection heavenly sword technique, there is simply no comparison.

After all, he is now a seventh-level spirit instrument.

The gigantic sword shadow that he had just descended nearly sliced the entire valley in half!

Amidst the flying dust and debris, extremely dense fire-attributed spiritual energy erupted from the torn chasm!

In the blink of an eye, all the wood and soil in the valley ignited, turning it into a sea of fire.

Some of the more delicate plants were burned to ashes in an instant.

The terrifying high temperature rose along with the high concentration of fire-attributed spiritual energy.

It was as if there had been a long-suppressed volcano underground that had finally found a vent to liberate the hot temperature recklessly.

Seeing this, Li Jing’s spirit was stimulated, and he decisively deactivated the sky eye technique and descended to the ground.

With the large fire-attributed spiritual energy arising, using the sky eye technique had become a burden.

Looking at the surging concentration of fire-attributed spiritual energy from the ground, it resembled being chopped into a major artery. Clearly, his sword had hit the "stomach"!

Let’s figure out what’s underneath first!

As Li Jing was about to set foot on the ground, the spot where he intended to land was suddenly torn open by an enormous shadow, and a round mouth full of fangs, approximately fifty to sixty meters wide, emerged from the earth.

Upon seeing this, Li Jing felt a chill run up his spine.

He struck his sword into the valley’s "major artery". Worms being startled and trying to distract him twice wasn’t surprising.

But he had no idea that Linglong was this big... this enormous...

The fangs in this mouth below, each one is thicker than his entire body!

What the hell...

What kind of creature is this?

A spiritual beast?

Whose spiritual beast looks this unique?

Suggestion: Destroy it, Human Taoist!

Li Jing decisively halted in mid-air and aimed his sword upwards.

"Heavenly Sword."

"Clang!"

The flying sword Blue Edge emitted a joyful hum, carrying him straight up into the sky.

The gigantic worm seemed intent on swallowing him whole, despite being shaken off by the sword light in an instant, it forcefully followed him into the sky, revealing its enormous body from underground.

This, is a giant red worm at least over eight hundred meters long!

At this moment, Li Jing had achieved unity of man and sword, he was rendered senseless.

Yulian and the Heavenly King Group members who were back in Linglong Tower and protected by it, each one of them had their heart pounding in their chest. They felt a chill down their spines.

They’d been in the Secret Realm for over an hour now.

During this hour, the peaceful scenes of the Secret Realm they’d observed from inside Linglong Tower didn’t hint at any danger.

The spiritual beasts lived freely in their natural habitat.

They weren’t so foolish to think this Big Secret Realm was genuinely peaceful, but the sudden danger was frighteningly abrupt.

A worm striving to be a kilometer long!

And it looks so peculiar...

Many of the female members felt a physiological revulsion the instant they saw the worm’s true form.

This is just not too far from the entrance to the Secret Realm!

With barely a moment to react, Li Jing, led by the Flying Sword Blue Edge, transformed into a giant sword shadow nearly a hundred and fifty meters long in mid-air, disappearing in a flash.

The next second, the giant worm chasing after Li Jing exploded into pieces with a "plop", transforming into a shower of dark red flames scattering in the sky.

On the ground in the valley, Li Jing materialized, his sword in hand.

Just as he settled, an alert rang in his ear.

"Experience +5858."

Getting the alert, Li Jing couldn’t help but frown and look up.

Unity of man and sword will cause a drop in intelligence.

But he wasn’t without memory.

He had a mental image of what the giant worm looked like just before it was torn apart by the Heavenly Sword.

Such a huge worm, yet only 5858 points of experience?

Is that just at the late stage of Four Realm?

As he watched the huge worm’s corpse transform into a dark red flame shower quickly falling, Li Jing raised his hand, forming a seal to activate the Sky Eye Technique once again.

His third eye opened.

Under the observation of the Sky Eye Technique, the flame shower formed by the disintegrated flesh was neither composed of spiritual energy nor demonic qi, but of a dark brown energy...

Evil energy!?

Li Jing paused for a moment.

A worm, practicing the Evil Way?

Impossible!

Moreover, this is the Secret Realm...

Not thinking further, Li Jing raised his hand and put on the communication earpiece.

"All Heavenly King Group members listen to my command! Put out the fires! Don’t let them spread into the dense forest outside the valley! Also, send someone to collect intact flesh and blood tissues, hand them over to the Research Institute to figure out what this worm is! Yulian, Brother Jiu! Ensure the surrounding area is secured!"

With orders issued, the Heavenly King Group members situated in Linglong Tower immediately sprang into action and dispersed. Each took their swords and flew out of the tower.