Chapter 313 - 217: The Final Main Ingredient, Target of the Ambush
Chapter 313: Chapter 217: The Final Main Ingredient, Target of the Ambush
It was over thirty feet long, making it even larger and more ferocious, with a shocking aura.
An existence that Lin Changheng and Mo Zhaoli could not hope to match.
It only came once every five or six days.
When it did, it would either be carrying prey or holding Spirit Grass in its mouth.
It must have had another, more important lair or "stronghold," and for some unknown reason, it had arranged for the female and her cub to stay here.
During this period, Lin Changheng had only seen it twice. He had even followed it from a great distance for a while to confirm that it traveled far away before he turned back.
...
And so, Lin Changheng and Mo Zhaoli formulated their Demon Hunting plan.
After repeated discussions and deliberations, they decided to officially begin one day after the Cyan-striped Male Tiger had left.
At that time, if the female tiger went out to hunt, they would launch a surprise attack just as it was returning to its den after catching its prey.
After all, hunting would consume a certain amount of physical strength and Demonic Power. Furthermore, a creature is more likely to be complacent and relaxed when on the verge of returning home—that would be their window of opportunity.
If the male tiger brought food, they would use Lin Changheng’s Spirit Beast, the Deep Lake Spirit Clam, to occupy its territory and provoke it.
Demon Beasts were highly territorial, so the Cyan-striped Tiger would most likely emerge to drive the clam away or even fight it to the death. When it did, Lin Changheng and Mo Zhaoli would strike directly and annihilate it.
Next came the waiting. Both of them were composed and possessed more than enough patience.
...
「Time passed.」
The Tier Two Late Stage Cyan-striped Male Tiger reappeared, carrying a cyan, moon-shaped lotus in its mouth.
"Is that a Cyan Flower Moon Lotus?"
Concealed in the distant woods, Lin Changheng’s pupils contracted. The lotus in the tiger’s mouth matched the details described in the old texts perfectly.
Cool, celadon-like petals; a glow like condensed moonlight; silver-veined, serrated leaves; and a jade-like flower dusted with frost.
It was the final primary ingredient Lin Changheng needed to refine the Youthful Appearance Pill!
He had searched for it for a long time in the Floating Immortal City to no avail. ’To think I’d run into it here?!’
A flash of covetousness appeared in Lin Changheng’s eyes, but it was just a flash.
He didn’t dare make a reckless move because... ’I can’t beat it.’
He could only watch as the male tiger strode across the water, a gust of wind carrying it into the waterfall.
’I hope the Cyan Flower Moon Lotus is still there tomorrow...’
It was all Lin Changheng could hope for.
...
The next day, the Cyan-striped Male Tiger finally left. They waited patiently for another full day to ensure it was long gone.
Lin Changheng and Mo Zhaoli exchanged a glance before hiding themselves among the forest canopy.
SWISH!
The Cyan-striped Female Tiger emerged to forage. As before, it cautiously patrolled the area before disappearing into the woods.
"Li’Er, you keep watch. I’ll be right back; I’m going to set a few things up."
"Okay."
Seeing Mo Zhaoli nod, Lin Changheng immediately activated his Concealing Breath Demon Technique and moved out.
He first flashed to the edge of the deep pool below the waterfall and slapped his Spirit Beast Bag. A bluish-black Deep Lake Spirit Clam, as large as a stone millstone, appeared. It opened and closed its shell at Lin Changheng before gently falling into the pool and sinking out of sight.
At the same time, Lin Changheng’s figure flickered around the waterfall, continuously driving Array Flags into the ground and pressing Array Plates into place.
Lin Changheng had acquired this from a Tier Two Array Master who had come to him seeking a pill.
His previous Flowing Clouds Covering Moon Formation couldn’t be moved, as it needed to operate long-term to conceal his Spirit Medicine Field, so he had to acquire another one.
It had cost him four to five thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
The price for a Tier Two Array Plate and Array Flag set was comparable to a Tier Two Spiritual Artifact—both were Artifacts meant for long-term use and cost upwards of six thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
But it was well worth the price. It was called the Mirage Water Curtain Array!
Lin Changheng’s movements were practiced, his body like a bolt of lightning. As the final Main Array Flag sank into the edge of the deep pool, he formed a hand seal and barked, "Rise!"
In an instant, the space in a radius of several hundred yards around the waterfall and the Cold Pool distorted slightly. A faint, flowing, membrane-like wave of water seemed to flash past before completely vanishing.
The dense water vapor in the air seemed to grow even foggier. Light refracted minutely within the area, causing the eyes of both humans and demons to involuntarily slide away, unable to focus on the core region enveloped by the Array.
WHIRRR...
The faint hum of the Array’s self-operation was completely masked by the roar of the waterfall.
Although the Mirage Water Curtain Array was only Tier Two Lower Grade, its advantage lay in how perfectly it suited the environment. By borrowing the power of the water and mist, it could maximize its Concealment effect, enough to deceive the perception of most external Tier Two Middle Stage Demon Beasts and even Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
Even if a cataclysmic battle were to break out inside, no sound would escape.
Lin Changheng surveyed the area, nodded in satisfaction, and then shot backward, leaving the place. As he did, he formed another hand seal, deactivating the Array and halting its operation.
Viewed from the outside, the waterfall was still just a waterfall, and the deep pool was still just a deep pool. Nothing had changed.
It was as if no one had ever been there.
...
"Brother Lin, these preparations..."
Mo Zhaoli’s beautiful eyes widened as she watched everything unfold. Her red lips parted slightly as she sent a surprised voice transmission to Lin Changheng, who had returned to her side.
"Just making some minor preparations, that’s all."
Lin Changheng just smiled at her words, unconcerned.
Mo Zhaoli nodded obediently. ’Being with Brother Lin,’ she thought, ’makes me feel completely safe.’
「Over an hour later.」
The Cyan-striped Tiger finally returned, carrying a dead Wolf Demon.
Its nose twitched, but it didn’t detect any unusual scents, only the turbulent smell of water vapor.
The fleeting aura of the Deep Lake Spirit Clam had long since been washed away by the churning mist, leaving no trace behind.
...
WHOOSH!
Just as the Cyan-striped Tiger leaped, about to tread across the water and enter its cave, a silver light suddenly shot out from the dense woods behind it.
It was incredibly fast, like a venomous snake that had lain in wait for ages finally baring its fangs, striking with unerring precision at the tiger’s relatively soft waist and abdomen!
The silver light wasn’t just a simple Spiritual Artifact being thrown. In mid-flight, it split into three, forming a triangular pattern that sealed off all the Cyan-striped Tiger’s possible escape routes.
An extremely cunning move!
Mo Zhaoli had made her move.
Meanwhile, Lin Changheng formed a hand seal, and a faint, flowing membrane of water instantly rose, completely enveloping the area for several hundred yards around.
At the same time, the opening of the Spirit Beast Bag at his waist loosened, and a black turtle poked its head out before using Earth Escape to silently burrow into the ground...