Chapter 248 - 214: News of a Tier 2 Demon Beast, Venturing Deep into the Wilderness
Chapter 248: Chapter 214: News of a Tier 2 Demon Beast, Venturing Deep into the Wilderness
Lu Zhao probed it with his Divine Sense, and Zhao Xiaoshu’s voice immediately rang out in his Sea of Consciousness:
"Senior, I have a report: Three days ago, one of the exploration teams that ventured deep into the Wilderness returned with all members accounted for!"
"The journey was exceptionally perilous. Fortunately, the team suffered no losses and brought back intelligence. They found traces of a Tier Two Demon Beast deep in the Wilderness and even returned with some scale fragments. I did not dare to act on this information on my own, so I am reporting it via this slip."
The message was brief, but it filled Lu Zhao with delight!
’Traces of a Tier Two Demon Beast? They found them this quickly?’ A sharp light burst from Lu Zhao’s eyes.
He had originally thought that given the efficiency of these Qi Cultivation teams and the unpredictable dangers deep in the Wilderness, it would take at least a few years to get any definite news. He never expected the first team to bring back a lead in less than half a year.
At this, Lu Zhao lost all mood to continue cultivating. He rose to his feet, deactivated the Cave Mansion Array with a wave of his hand, and with a flicker of his Divine Thought, summoned Zhao Xiaoshu, who was guarding outside.
"Little Shu, where is the team that returned from the Wilderness? Bring them here," Lu Zhao said, his voice flat.
"Yes, Senior!" Zhao Xiaoshu bowed in response. Without a moment’s hesitation, he turned and hurried away.
An hour later, Zhao Xiaoshu led five Cultivators to Lu Zhao’s cave mansion.
The five had varying cultivation levels. Their leader was an elderly man at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, and the other four were all in the Mid-stage Qi Cultivation.
The moment they stepped into the cave mansion, which was dense with Spiritual Qi, they felt an invisible pressure. Their faces a mixture of awe and nervousness, they bowed in unison and chorused, "We pay our respects to the Lord Commander!"
Lu Zhao’s electric gaze swept over the five, taking in their condition at a glance.
They were exhausted and filled with lingering fear, but deep in their eyes also lay a trace of the relief and anticipation that came with completing their mission.
He gave a slight nod and, forgoing any pleasantries, cut straight to the point. "Mm, which one of you will explain the situation?"
The five exchanged glances, and finally, the elder surnamed Han, the one with the highest cultivation in the group, stepped forward. He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "Reporting to you, Senior. Allow me to be the one to explain."
Lu Zhao nodded, gesturing for him to begin.
The elder surnamed Han composed himself and began to speak slowly. "Senior, we acted on your command, venturing deep into the Wilderness to investigate traces of a Tier Two Demon Beast."
"Our journey lasted for a total of one hundred and thirty-seven days, and we headed northwest from Broken River Castle."
"Along the way, we were attacked several times by Tier One High-Grade demon beasts. Thanks to the Talismans and Magical Artifacts bestowed by the clan, coupled with our own caution, we managed to survive."
He paused, a look of lingering fear on his face. "At the edge of the Black Water Marsh, we discovered an extremely abnormal patch of forest."
"The trees there were withered and scorched black, and the air was filled with a pungent stench and a faint, sickly-sweet odor—it was definitely not an ordinary miasma."
"The soil was an eerie dark green, and it was wet, slippery, and viscous underfoot. Most importantly, we found a large number of corroded beast bones there, as well as this."
As he spoke, he took a bundle carefully wrapped in oilskin from within his robes and presented it with both hands.
Zhao Xiaoshu stepped forward and took it. Inside were several palm-sized, sharp-edged scale fragments of a dark green that was almost black, emitting a nauseating stench.
"So this is it?"
Lu Zhao made a grasping gesture, and a fragment of a scale flew into his palm.
It was cold and slick to the touch, and highly corrosive. If not for the Protective Spiritual Light of his Foundation Establishment Stage, an ordinary Qi Cultivator would likely be poisoned by prolonged contact.
A faint light glowed at his fingertip as he probed the scale with a wisp of Magical Power, sensing the potent poison and immense Demon Power contained within.
"Yes, Senior," the elder surnamed Han quickly nodded. "We didn’t dare venture deep into that Poisonous Forest, so we only investigated its perimeter."
"These scale fragments were scattered by a marsh just outside the forest, seemingly shed by a large, serpentine demon beast or lost during a battle."
"Based on the residual aura and the size of the scales, it must be at least a Tier Two Demon Beast, and one that is extremely venomous. Its poison is incredibly fierce."
He swallowed and continued, "We had intended to get closer to confirm the exact location of the demon beast’s lair, but the forest was filled with a poisonous mist that blocked our Divine Sense and obscured our vision."
"Furthermore, I faintly sensed more than one powerful aura lying dormant within the forest. One was cold and tyrannical, far surpassing the Tier One realm. It was very likely the owner of that scale."
"I was worried about alerting the beast, and even more fearful that our entire team would be wiped out. I didn’t dare to press deeper, so I recorded the location, collected the scale, and we retreated immediately."
By the time the elder finished his uninterrupted report, half an hour had passed.
Lu Zhao listened in silence, rubbing the dark green scale between his fingers. He felt the cold, corrosive sensation on his skin, a thoughtful expression in his eyes.
"So, you’re saying," Lu Zhao said, raising his eyes. His gaze landed on the elder surnamed Han with tangible weight. "You didn’t actually see the Tier Two Demon Beast with your own eyes? You only inferred its existence from environmental clues, the remaining scale, and the aura you perceived, and you couldn’t confirm its specific type or condition?"
The elder surnamed Han’s heart clenched at these words, and fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. He braced himself and said, "Reporting to you, Senior, that is correct."
"A Tier Two Demon Beast is far too dangerous, and that Poisonous Forest is bizarre and unpredictable. I simply couldn’t dare to gamble the lives of the entire team on a slim chance of confirmation."
"Once we found this scale fragment and confirmed the beast’s existence and approximate location, we decided to return first to ensure everyone’s safety." His voice was tinged with sincerity and helplessness.
Lu Zhao fell silent for a moment, and the atmosphere in the cave mansion grew tense.
The five felt their hearts pound with anxiety, terrified that the Lord Commander would think they had been ineffective and had returned without accomplishing their mission.
After a moment, Lu Zhao’s expression remained unreadable as he said coolly, "You ventured deep into the Wilderness and brought back this scale and this news. That is a meritorious act. But because the information is not fully confirmed, the merit is halved."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the five. "In addition to the standard Minor Merits per head, for the service of bringing back this lead, the Mid-stage Qi Cultivation members will receive an extra eighty Minor Merits. The Late-stage Qi Cultivation member will receive an extra one hundred and fifty Minor Merits. If this intelligence is later verified and the demon beast is slain, there will be a separate, greater reward."
He turned to Zhao Xiaoshu. "Little Shu, make a note of this. Take them to redeem their merits for any Cultivation Techniques, Magic, Magical Artifacts, Pills, Talismans, or Spirit Stones they need."
"Yes, Senior!" Zhao Xiaoshu replied respectfully.
Hearing this, relieved smiles broke out on the faces of the five, which quickly morphed into elation!
Although they hadn’t received full credit, this reward far exceeded their expectations! The additional Minor Merits, if converted to Spirit Stones, were equivalent to what they would earn from seven or eight years of hard toil! And that wasn’t even mentioning the greater reward if the demon beast was eventually slain.
The five hurriedly bowed, their voices trembling with excitement. "Thank you for your generous reward, Lord Commander!"
Lu Zhao gave a slight nod, his gaze falling upon the five once more. His tone was as level as ever. "This matter is settled. However, I need one of you to guide me back to that Poisonous Forest. Who is willing?"
The moment he spoke, the smiles on the faces of the five, who had just been basking in joy, froze solid. Return to that deathtrap, filled with unknown horrors and a suspected Tier Two Demon Beast? That...
A subconscious aversion and fear welled up in their hearts. They had just escaped mortal danger; who would want to go back? The four of them exchanged glances, their eyes darting about. For a moment, no one spoke, and the air once again grew silent and hesitant.
In the brief silence, a relatively young voice broke the deadlock:
"I, Xu Wei, am willing to serve you, Senior! I will guide you into the Wilderness and find the trail of that demon beast!"
Everyone followed the voice with their eyes. A young cultivator from the team, who looked to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight with a resolute expression and a cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, had stepped forward. He cupped his fist in a salute to Lu Zhao, his tone resolute.
Lu Zhao’s gaze fell upon the young man named Xu Wei. His aura was stable, and his eyes were clear and determined. Though nervous, he showed little fear, which made him stand out among the other cowed cultivators.
"Good." A flicker of imperceptible approval flashed in Lu Zhao’s eyes. "Then you will guide me. You will be well-rewarded."
At these words, the other four were instantly flooded with intense regret, especially the elder surnamed Han, who was beside himself with vexation.
’With the Lord Commander, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, personally leading the way, the danger would plummet!’
’This was a heaven-sent opportunity! Not only would he earn another handsome reward, but he’d also get to make an impression on the Lord Commander. If he performed well, wouldn’t he gain a powerful backer in the Broken River Plains? A meteoric rise would be just around the corner!’
However, opportunity is fleeting. Now that Lu Zhao had chosen Xu Wei, he would not change his mind.
"You are dismissed," Lu Zhao said to the other four with a wave of his hand.
"Yes, Lord Commander." Though the four were reluctant, they dared not say another word. With complicated feelings, they bowed once more before exiting the cave mansion.
Only Lu Zhao, Zhao Xiaoshu, and Xu Wei remained in the cave mansion.
"Little Shu," Lu Zhao instructed, "I am going out. If any other exploration teams return with news, just record it for now. All decisions will wait until I return."
"I understand!" Zhao Xiaoshu replied with a solemn expression.
"Let’s go." Without further delay, Lu Zhao spoke to Xu Wei and led the way out of the cave mansion.
Xu Wei took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement and nervousness in his heart, and quickly followed.
Arriving at an open area outside the castle, Lu Zhao slapped the Storage Bag at his waist. A golden light flashed, and with a clear, resonant cry, the Golden Feather Bird appeared in the clearing. It had a wingspan of nearly twenty feet, feathers like spun gold, and a majestic, otherworldly air.
Its Tier One Peak Spiritual Pressure radiated outward, making Xu Wei’s breath catch in his throat.
"Get on," Lu Zhao said succinctly. With a flicker, he had already landed steadily on the Golden Feather Bird’s broad back.
Xu Wei didn’t dare dally. He scrambled up, found a relatively stable spot on the Golden Feather Bird’s smooth plumage, and tightly gripped a few of the sturdy feathers.
"Point the way," came Lu Zhao’s voice.
"Yes, Senior! Head northwest!" Xu Wei steadied himself and pointed toward the vast mountain range northwest of Broken River Castle.
"KREEE!"
The Golden Feather Bird let out a shriek that could pierce metal and shatter stone. With a mighty flap of its wings, it kicked up a powerful gale. Its enormous body shot into the sky, transforming into a brilliant streak of golden light that tore across the heavens and sped toward the depths of the Wilderness.