Starry Sky Professional

Trailing behind him were Elder Long, Mi Wei Dao, and Su Ye, three cultivators who had reached the pinnacle of Qi Refinement.

Elder Long glanced at Han Qingyun's back, his lips moving slightly as he used secret sound transmission to ask Su Ye, "Can this man be trusted? This mission is crucial. If my friend could give prior notice, I actually know some renowned demon hunters…"

Su Ye blinked his bright eyes, also using his spiritual power to transmit sound, "This Han Qingyun had some previous dealings in spirit herbs with Qingdan Workshop and seemed somewhat reliable… After discovering Zeng Yi's betrayal, I don't trust those well-known demon hunters anymore, so I thought we would be better off picking a random one. At least his cultivation is low…"

Low cultivation means easier to manipulate!

Once they reach their destination and he is of no further use, they could easily immobilize him with a single talisman, rendering him deaf and blind.

If they were ruthless, they could even eliminate him without much trouble.

Ahead, Han Qingyun was still earnestly leading the way, seemingly unaware of any of these intentions. Yet Mi Wei Dao's eyes flickered with a hint of coldness.

…

"The show is about to begin…"

After soaking in a hot spring, Fang Xing leisurely got up, dressed, and strapped the Green Rainbow Sword on his back.

Based on the route of those four, he dispatched a drone for reconnaissance and discovered the habitat of a second-tier demon beast.

After confirming their likely destination, he decided to personally head over for the spectacle.

After all, it was unrealistic to expect an ordinary drone to snatch victory from the jaws of cultivators with extraordinary spiritual perception at the peak of Qi Refinement.

"I'll just take a look… If there's no opportunity, I'll treat it as a show."

"Merely approaching to better manage the situation."

Clad in a blue robe, Fang Xing stepped out of the marketplace, leaped forward, and disappeared into the forest…

…

Flying Stone Ravine.

Here, no blade of grass grew for miles, with only jagged rocks prevalent, and a cold spring running through the middle, giving the place an eerie appearance.

Deep within the ravine stood a massive stone mountain.

The mountain was hollow, with a cave soaring more than ten meters high on the outside. Standing before it, one could feel utterly insignificant.

All around the cave lay scattered bones, accumulating in a thick layer, giving an intense sense of danger.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is where the Azure Rock Bull resides."

In the distance, Han Qingyun nervously held a talisman in his hand. "This beast likes to hunt for food in the evening, so it's still within its lair now... The wounds it has are of a yang nature, making it most irritable around noon each day..."

"Impressive, truly attentive, and meticulous!"

Mi Wei Dao praised, raising a finger.

Whoosh!

A cyan sword light, sharp beyond measure, sliced Han Qingyun clean in two.

Thud!

The body fell to the ground, blood pooling out.

"What are you doing?"

Elder Long was stunned, quickly looking towards the cave entrance. "Second-tier demon beasts have keen senses of smell; they can easily detect the scent of blood..."

"Don't worry, I have already set up a formation around us..."

Mi Wei Dao revealed a small cyan flag in his hand, then turned to Su Ye. "Hunting a second-tier demon beast is of utmost importance... We can't risk exposure due to a mere unaffiliated cultivator."

Although these lowly ants could be crushed easily even if there were ten of them, during a crucial encounter with a second-tier demon beast, such matters were uncertain.

"With things as they are, there's nothing more I can say,"

Su Ye sighed helplessly. "But acting as you have, you put me in a dishonorable position... The reputation of Qingdan Pavilion is now tarnished."

"Haha, should you successfully establish your foundation, you can open ten more Qingdan Pavilions in the future,"

Mi Wei Dao remained unconcerned, glancing at the sky. "It's noon, let's set up the 'Geng Metal Three Talent Formation,' and I'll lead the charge!"

"With your sword skills, particularly the 'Great Geng Metal Sword Technique,' unmatched in Qi cultivation, you are best suited to be at the forefront. We should have Daoist Long set things to lure the beast out..."

Su Ye nodded repeatedly, discussing the plan further, with no one sparing another glance at the corpse on the ground.

...

"Moo!"

It wasn't long before a menacing roar echoed, as a terrifying beast charged out from the cave: the formidable second-tier demon beast, the Azure Rock Bull!

This bull towered seven to eight meters high, its body clad in a blue hue, adorned with peculiar rocky armor on its back, resembling a moving mountain.

Each step it took caused the ground to tremble, as if stirring a small earthquake.

More concerning were the three claw marks on its rocky back, edged with a touch of gold, as if countless golden insects gnawed at the surrounding area, causing the wounds to expand relentlessly.

At this moment, the Azure Rock Bull's eyes gleamed red as it charged towards Elder Long.

Elder Long hastily retreated, seeking refuge within the Geng Metal Three Talents Formation.

"Well done!"

Mi Wei Dao laughed heartily. The mystical energy of the two other cultivators in the Qi Perfection realm surged through the formation, enhancing and purifying his own power, pushing the boundaries of Qi cultivation, nearing a breakthrough into a new realm!

"Great Geng Metal Sword Art, strike!"

He commanded with a flick of his sword, unleashing an immense sword aura tinged with a bluish hue and specks of golden light, slashing across the Azure Rock Bull.

"Moo! Moo!"

The bull bellowed in agony as the azure-gold sword energy struck its back, dislodging countless rocks.

Seeing the three ambushed Qi cultivators, the Azure Rock Bull suddenly emitted a massive aura of earthen yellow light.

The earth trembled as earthen yellow spears emerged from the ground, their sharp tips exuding treasures’ light, laced with a terrifying demonic aura.

Thud! Thud!

The spears impacted the golden shield of the Geng Metal Three Talents Formation, producing a sound akin to raindrops on a plantain leaf.

"Move!"

Mi Wei Dao commanded softly, moving with his sword as the formation shifted seamlessly with him. This was the 'Geng Metal Three Talents Formation's' greatest advantage; it was not a static formation, but a living, mobile one!

The formation was more akin to a battle array and could move alongside its cultivators!

"Cycle of the Three Talents, Command!"

As Su Ye held a strange talisman that swiftly burned away, it endowed the three of them with incredible speed.

The massive Geng Metal Three Talents Formation moved with extraordinary agility, with Elder Long in charge of defense and Mi Wei Dao taking the lead in attack.

Elder Long held a pitch-black shield with various grooves on its back, now containing three medium-grade spirit stones.

As time passed, the light within the grooves of the spirit stones gradually faded and finally vanished with a thunderous crash.

"Gaze!"

A layer of blood-red light appeared above the Azure Rock Bull's horns as it fiercely charged forward.

Elder Long's face turned pale, spitting out a mouthful of vital blood: "I can't hold on much longer…"

"Don't worry!"

Mi Wei Dao quickly formed a seal with his hands, and a drop of blood swiftly merged into the flying sword.

His flying sword let out a sudden dragon's roar, transforming into a pure golden light that streaked across the Azure Rock Bull's throat.

"Gaze!!!"

The Azure Rock Bull reared its head and roared, but was unable to resist as blood poured down its neck like a waterfall.

Moments later, it collapsed, dead from a slit throat!

"Haha... A second-tier demon beast, yet still it becomes a specter beneath my blade!"

Mi Wei Dao laughed heartily as he saw the pool of bull's blood forming a small lake.

"I must thank you both for your assistance."

Su Ye coughed twice, her eyes shining brightly as she controlled a flying hairpin artifact to cut open the Azure Rock Bull's belly, her gaze searching intently for something.

Seeing this, Elder Long wiped the blood from his beard, deep in thought.

Splat!

It didn't take long before the stomach of the bull demon was sliced open, releasing a nauseating stench that filled the air. Among the contents were numerous half-digested remains of demonic creatures, and even fragments of cultivators and warriors...

Su Ye's expression remained unchanged as she continued her search, cutting open another stomach.

Suddenly, her eyes brightened. With a swift motion, she pointed her finger, preparing to guide out something enveloped in a clear glow, "This is..."

Boom!

In the next instant, a flash of lightning appeared behind her, the endless bolts transforming into a sea of electric light, swallowing both her and Mi Wei Dao in an instant.

Mi Wei Dao attempted to speak, but his form was engulfed by the lightning, disappearing completely...

At this critical moment, a multicolored radiance emanated from Su Ye's garments. An inner armor materialized, resembling a black hole, absorbing all the nearby lightning.

Even so, Su Ye's face turned pale, and blood stained her veil. "Long, how dare you?" she spat.

Elder Long paid no heed, transforming into a dark shadow that darted into the bull demon's belly, seizing the object Su Ye had discovered, "Ahahaha... I’ve long suspected you were up to something. A mere Ding Zhen Pill is nothing compared to a tier two inferior grade demon beast that might birth a demon core... huh? What is this?"

He gazed at the half-dissolved remains of a cultivator in his grasp, a look of obvious surprise and confusion on his face.

Demon cores are the essence nurtured within tier three great demons, possessing great power.

However, the wonders of creation are such that a very few tier two demon beasts might also nurture a demon core!

Such tier two demon cores are exceptionally rare, with one of their primary uses being as the main ingredient to concoct the Foundation Establishment Pill!

"... Zeng Yi is your man!"

It seemed Su Ye suddenly realized something, "There was never any Black Tiger remnant, it was you!"

"Correct. With a tier two demon core, should I refine it into a Foundation Establishment Pill, even I might attain Foundation Establishment," Elder Long admitted with a furrowed brow.

"Heh... Not to mention how hard it is to find other auxiliary materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill, do you think you'll find another alchemist willing to concoct it for you?"

There was a touch of mockery in Su Ye's words.

"Success relies on human effort as much as destiny, and after all, isn't there an alchemist right before me? I’ve known you inherited the 'Thunder Deflection Armor'; no mere tier two inferior grade 'Ren Water Divine Thunder' could kill you..."

Elder Long's face softened as he said, "Given the relationship between our families, as long as you, my niece, sign this spirit contract and obediently refine the pill for me, I’ll spare your life!"

He held in his hand a contract made of white paper, its inscriptions glowing with extraordinary brilliance.

"I commend you for your efforts, finding even a second-tier spirit contract..." Su Ye sighed. "As cultivators at the Qi Refinement stage, violating a first-tier spirit contract might only cost us some penalty to erase the repercussions... but a second-tier spirit contract? Even Foundation Establishment cultivators would face severe restrictions... However, did you ever consider that the information you received was a ploy by me to deceive Zeng Yi?

This Azure Rock Bull has nothing special in terms of talent or demonic bloodlines; there really isn't a demon core!"

]

(End of Chapter)