44 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

Due to the snake-lizard creatures possibly lurking beneath the swamp in the Black River, the six members of the Chu Qin Sect spaced themselves out along a pre-planned route, forming a fan-like formation. They flew close to the ground at a slow pace. Each person had a bamboo whistle in their mouth, blowing it occasionally to produce a strange hissing sound. This noise, though negligible to the cultivators, could startle the beasts hiding in the swamp. Zhang Shishi, with the highest cultivation level among them, took the lead position. He also brought along his companion artifact, a mid-grade first-tier magical item called the "Qingling Stone Mat," positioning the heavy stone mat in front of him to guard against sudden beast attacks. Yu Denuo, being there to assist, wasn’t put through the same rigorous tasks as the Chu Qin Sect members. Qi Xiu asked him to control his flying sword, remaining in the high sky at a safe distance to monitor the group and provide watches for any sudden incidents. Seeking a definitive solution, Qi Xiu gave strict orders this time to not miss a single spot. The Chu Qin Sect members flew slowly, searching carefully, soon uncovering many ordinary animals along their path. This was an excellent opportunity for them to test the results of their recent intense cultivation practice, each person showcasing their signature move. "Got it." A glistening ice spike pinned a gray lizard, still carrying enough force to deeply embed itself into a nearby black eerie vine with a dull thud. "The fifteenth one!" He Yu whispered excitedly to himself, "It seems the practical skills and precision of Dao techniques really improve quickly through actual combat. I feel my mastery of the 'Ice Sting' has advanced further!" Not far away, Qi Xiu wielded a black spiritual banner, summoning a black wind to trap an unknown small beast. With a flick of the banner, sharp wind blades appeared within the gust, slicing the creature into fragments, turning it into a rain of blood. The spirit monkey he had purchased had now thoroughly 'betrayed' him, clinging to Gu Ji daily, and Qi Xiu, tired of managing it, decided not to bring it along. Since he lacked offensive methods, he had no choice but to use the "Black Wind Banner," which was specifically meant for navigating through black mist, for the time being. Zhang Shishi, upon seeing any living creature, simply hurled the stone mat at it, crushing it into a bloody smear regardless of what it was. This violent method contrasted sharply with his constant low chanting of sutras for the deceased. "Hey! Look over there! What a massive lizard!" Huang He shouted in alarm, prompting everyone to look in the direction he pointed. Ahead, in the swamp, lay a black giant lizard several zhang long. Its four limbs were very robust, with layers of spines running along its body edges and back. The head was narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, with a duck-like flattened snout. The giant lizard appeared to have been just awakened from sleep, its vertical pupils glinting green as they slowly opened, casting its gaze toward the airborne members of Chu Qin Sect. "What is this? Not good! Ascend higher!" Upon matching the giant lizard’s appearance with the records in his memory, Qi Xiu immediately sensed danger and shouted a warning. Startled, everyone ascended rapidly. The lizard opened its mouth, ejecting a foul-smelling black liquid that nearly grazed the bottom of Huang He’s spiritual boat. A sharp whistling pierced the air from above. Yu Denuo, observing from high altitude, noticed the disturbance below and unleashed a gold-attribute spiritual energy sword shadow downwards, aiming for the lizard’s back. It clanged off with a sound like striking metal, the spiritual energy dispersing, leaving the giant lizard unharmed. Now thoroughly enraged, the giant lizard hissed—a sound more akin to a serpent. Its back arched like a drawn bow, releasing seven bone spikes that targeted the seven members with such precision and speed, forcing them to ascend even higher. Yu Jing, failing to dodge in time, got struck beneath his spiritual boat. Not only did it puncture a large hole, but the edges also began eroding, sizzling and emitting a foul green smoke. The spiritual boat trembled like a small craft in a storm, teetering as if about to fall at any moment. "This isn’t working, fall back quickly." Seeing Yu Jing’s condition, Qi Xiu also became panicked. No disciple could be allowed to die here! Urgently, he shouted, "We need to retreat, now, quickly!" The members of Chu Qin Sect, though Daoist cultivators capable of handling ordinary beasts, had never encountered such a terrifying spirit beast in Qiyun. With Qi Xiu's alarmed demeanor, they were terrified like frightened dogs, frantically retreating. The giant lizard seemed disinterested in pursuit, following for a few steps before stopping, growling triumphantly at their retreating figures. After escaping several li away, Yu Jing was the first to land, as his spiritual boat was no longer usable. Its wooden body had been corroded through, the damage spreading further, risking a crash if continued. Yu Denuo examined the smoking hole, his expression becoming grim and silent after a thorough look. "Brother Sect Leader, this..." Zhang Shishi landed beside Qi Xiu, his face filled with lingering fear. The others followed, each bearing an expression of shock and confusion. Once Qi Xiu confirmed that Yu Jing was unharmed, he exhaled in relief, saying, "Who could have guessed that the first spirit beast we encounter would be one of the strongest in the Black River—a first-tier spirit beast known as the Black River Lizard. It’s fortunate no one was harmed." Yu Denuo, from the White Mountain rogue cultivator background, maintained his composure, frowning as he said, "I’ve traveled for years without encountering such a lizard. Its back spines are incredibly accurate, with strong corrosive capabilities—not easy to deal with." Hearing even a late-stage Qi Condensation cultivator speak so, the despair among the disciples deepened. Zhang Shishi, in despondence, said, "What are we going to do about it?" Unexpectedly, Qi Xiu noted that not even Yu Denuo was familiar with this lizard. His information came from the jade slip provided by the Southern Chu Sect. Pondering this, he realized that the "Black River Lizard" might be exceedingly rare, with only local sects like the Southern Chu Sect having records on it. He surveyed everyone, saying slowly, "Since the 'Black River Lizard' is classified as a first-tier spirit beast, defeating it shouldn’t be impossible with our numbers. We just need to plan well, play to our strengths, and target its weaknesses to kill it." Yu Denuo cast a curious glance at Qi Xiu. This being Qi Xiu's first time in the black mist, it was puzzling how he knew about a rare spirit beast he hadn’t encountered in over a decade. However, he bit back his questions. Qi Xiu certainly wouldn’t share anything about the jade slip with outsiders. Ignoring Yu Denuo's curious gaze, he laid out the information from the jade slip about the "Black River Lizard": "Its primary attack methods include the back spines and the venomous liquid it spews, which can corrode and contaminate water and wooden elements but are ineffective against metal and earth elements. Apart from these, it relies on sheer physical strength and its robust body for attacks. Its back is as hard as iron, but its underbelly is soft, and its bite isn’t very powerful due to its flat mouth. The tail is relatively long and used for sweeping attacks. The biggest weakness is its slow speed. Let’s collaborate to devise a comprehensive plan to hunt it down." "Though slow, its projectile spines are incredibly fast, effectively making up for its speed disadvantage!" He Yu was the first to regain composure, even before Zhang Shishi, pondering for a moment before speaking up. "It seems the underbelly is the sole targetable area, but with its short, stout legs, it’s tough to expose the belly to us, requiring close proximity for accuracy," Yu Denuo stroked his silver white beard, contemplating with concern. "I might have an idea..." "Yes, we could do this and that." As the disciples gradually put aside their fear, they began to exchange ideas back and forth. (To be continued)