Having found the black eagle fledglings, Ling Xiao didn’t stop his search.
Currently, he only had one type of medicinal herb and one type of demonic beast, which was clearly not enough.
“Star Flower, one of the ingredients for refining Breakthrough Pills!”
“Double-Winged Snake, its gall is a key material for refining Heart-Protecting Pills; as an adult, it’s a peak first-level demonic beast with deadly venom!”
“Qi-Transforming Fruit, the main ingredient for refining Breakthrough Pills!”
“Diamond Wolf, its bones can be used to refine Diamond Pills; as an adult, it’s a common third-level demonic beast!”
…
While searching for herbs and demonic beasts, Ling Xiao also began attempting to cultivate two intermediate movement techniques simultaneously. Three days later, both techniques had reached perfection.
Ling Xiao directly activated the second stage of “Soaring Cloud Steps”.
Then he continued practising.
After reaching the second stage, the speed of “Soaring Cloud Steps” far surpassed that of martial artists of the same level. Even peak third-stage martial vein warriors couldn’t match his speed.
If he used the “Explosive Qi Technique”, he could easily escape even from a fourth-stage martial vein warrior.
As for the “Hundred-Step Flying Sword Technique”, he frequently used it while hunting demonic beasts. Over these three days, he had nearly mastered it to the point of perfection.
He could wield it freely, locking onto targets with greater precision.
If he encountered that black eagle again, he wouldn’t miss its vital points like the first time—he’d definitely kill it with one strike.
Over these three days of continuously training his movement techniques and the “Hundred-Step Flying Sword Technique”, he had to keep activating the “Red Sun Technique”. As a result, his progress in the “Red Sun Technique” surged, reaching the ninth layer and nearing perfection.
Of course, beyond the increase in strength, his other gains were substantial too.
Aside from the demonic beasts he’d hunted, which could be worth twenty to thirty thousand taels of silver, his Mountain and River Map now contained ten types of plant-based medicinal materials and three kinds of demonic beast cubs.
If it weren’t for the limited number of farmers and herdsmen, who couldn’t manage more, he would have chosen to stay here a few more days.
But now it was time to head back. He’d gathered most of the materials he needed, and the next step was to use them to refine pills.
After all, the key was to raise his strength to the third martial vein stage, which was crucial for the annual competition happening in just a few days.
If there was any regret, it was that he hadn’t encountered a single peak third-level demonic beast in these few days.
There was no helping it—he didn’t dare venture alone into the depths of the Fulong Mountain Range. That would be far too dangerous, and if he lost his life, it really wouldn’t be worth it.
“Howl—!”
Just as Ling Xiao was about to leave, a massive red dot suddenly appeared on his Mountain and River Map.
Then came a howl so powerful it made his blood and qi tremble.
“Fourth-level demonic beast—Moon-Howling Wolf!”
Ling Xiao clicked on the big red dot and jolted in shock.
Time to run! He could handle a peak third-level beast, but a fourth-level one? No chance—that was beyond what a peak second-stage martial vein warrior like him could face.
“Get lost! We lured this Moon-Howling Wolf out from the mountains!”
Just as he turned to leave, a group of youths surrounded him. A rough count put them at twelve or thirteen, all fairly strong.
The strongest among them was likely on par with Ling Yixue—both peak third-stage martial vein warriors.
“Get lost? I wasn’t planning to steal this bloody thing from you in the first place. Can’t you speak properly?”
Ling Xiao frowned.
“I’m Li Xingyun. My junior brother was rude just now—please forgive him. May I know your name?”
This guy’s attitude wasn’t bad. Li Xingyun?
Right, wasn’t he the genius disciple from the Li family of Tianfeng City?
“I’m Ling Xiao! No worries, I was about to leave anyway.”
Ling Xiao had been a bit annoyed, but since Li Xingyun was polite, he let it slide.
“So you’re from the Ling family. Meeting here must be fate. This Moon-Howling Wolf is formidable—why not join us to take it down? You’ll naturally get a share of the spoils afterward,” Li Xingyun said with a smile.
“No thanks, I’m afraid of dying!”
Ling Xiao waved his hand, turned, and walked off without the slightest hesitation.
“Hmph, coward!”
“I’ve never even heard of this Ling Xiao—he’s probably just some ordinary disciple. Senior Brother Xingyun, why bother wasting words on him? If it were Ling Feng, Ling Tieshou, or Ling Yixue helping, that’d be worth it.”
“Enough, stop talking. The Moon-Howling Wolf is coming—set up the traps and prepare to attack!”
Li Xingyun waved a hand. Though only fifteen or sixteen, he already carried the air of a seasoned expert.
After walking about two or three hundred metres away, Ling Xiao stopped. He was curious to see how the Li family—one of the four great clans of Tianfeng City—would deal with this Moon-Howling Wolf.
A fourth-level demonic beast was equivalent to a fourth-stage martial vein warrior, capable of wielding gang qi.
The Li family disciples set up their traps, leaving only Li Xingyun as bait while the others hid, ready to strike once the Moon-Howling Wolf fell into the ambush.
But they had clearly underestimated its strength.
“Howl!”
As the Moon-Howling Wolf charged, it let out a roar, and blade-like gang qi shot from its mouth, tearing up the ground and destroying all the traps they’d prepared.
“Not good—this thing’s too strong and cunning. We’re no match for it—retreat!”
Li Xingyun had only wanted to test how his peak third-stage cultivation would fare against a fourth-level beast, but he clearly hadn’t expected it to be this powerful.
It was completely beyond his expectations.
He could block a few attacks, but anyone else would’ve been sliced apart by that blade-like gang qi on the spot.
“Ah—!”
Just as he spoke, someone was cleaved in half at the waist.
That person was a peak second-stage martial vein warrior hiding behind a tree. Who’d have thought the tree would be cut down, taking him with it?
Now the Li family disciples panicked, scattering in all directions. Some even tripped over tree roots in their haste.
“This is the terror of a fourth-level demonic beast!”
Hidden in the shadows, Ling Xiao didn’t mock the Li disciples. Against a beast of this level, he’d be fleeing just as desperately, just as pathetically.
“Don’t panic, everyone! I’ll hold it off—get out of here!”
In the critical moment, Li Xingyun proved his worth. Instead of turning to run, he brandished his longsword and faced the Moon-Howling Wolf.
He’d managed to deflect the blade-like gang qi aimed at him earlier with his sword.
This also made him realise the gap between himself and a fourth-level beast.
Victory was impossible!
But he might be able to hold it off for a while!
Ling Xiao couldn’t help but admire Li Xingyun a bit. This guy was far superior to the likes of Ling Fei, Ling Chong, or Ling Feng.
Perhaps only Ling Yixue could compare to him.
“Gale Sword!”
Li Xingyun shouted, stomping the ground and leaping forward, his longsword aimed straight at the Moon-Howling Wolf’s throat.
No matter the beast, the throat was always the weakest point—something Li Xingyun clearly understood.
Gale Sword?
That must be an advanced sword technique. This Li Xingyun was indeed a genius of the Li family, granted an advanced technique—clearly a key figure they were grooming.
“Go, Senior Brother Xingyun!”
“Kill that monster!”
Seeing Li Xingyun attack, the previously panicked Li disciples stopped fleeing and started cheering.
“What a bunch of idiots. They’re not running at a time like this? Li Xingyun must be fuming—he’s not dying because of them yet!”
Ling Xiao watched in utter disbelief.
He knew full well that while Li Xingyun was impressive, he could only delay the Moon-Howling Wolf’s assault—buying time for the other Li disciples to escape.
But these fools—absolute pig-brains!
