Longevity: Starting with an infant's innate growth potential

Chapter 52 New Talent [Beast Intimidation] (Please read further with monthly votes and recommendations)

Before we knew it, the sun was already high in the sky.

Sunlight filters through the jungle, casting fleeting, flickering shadows among the grass.

[Wolves are fighting ahead; crisis response +1]

Zhou Ling, who was walking through the jungle, suddenly stopped, feeling a chill run down his spine.

They immediately changed direction and bypassed the jungle in front of them.

Now that they have gradually entered the inner mountain area, he dares not be careless in the slightest, whether it is a place where monsters appear or a place where there are traces of other medicine seekers and monster hunters.

He tried his best to avoid them.

Within a radius of thirty or forty miles from the camp, one might occasionally encounter other medicine seekers.

However, as they delved deeper, they encountered fewer and fewer independent cultivators.

Crisis response is also frequently observed.

Although it constantly depletes one's spiritual energy, it's all worthwhile because it allows one to avoid risks.

Awooo! Awooo!
Not long after Zhou Ling left, two blood wolves, each the size of a tiger or leopard, galloped through the jungle and were tearing each other apart.

The Blood Wolf was massive in size, brimming with blood energy, and possessed an astonishing aura.

[Growth Talent, Demonic Beast Intimidation: Able to condense a powerful spiritual imprint within the soul of a demonic beast, causing it to willingly submit. Requirement: Kill ten demonic beasts.]

Hearing the terrifying howls of wolves, Zhou Ling quickened his pace to leave the dangerous area.

During the process, he vaguely heard system notifications, but he didn't have time to check them.

He didn't stop until the [crisis response] subsided, and he looked at the panel, slightly out of breath.

"A new talent: [Beastly Intimidation]!"

Zhou Ling was overjoyed.

Regardless of their profession, cultivators, from minor medicine seekers and demon hunters to major alchemists and rune masters, all have to deal with demonic beasts.

Alchemists need the cores of demonic beasts to refine pills.

Runemasters need monster hides to craft runes.

Therefore, this [demonic beast pressure] will undoubtedly be of great use to Zhou Ling in the future.

"However, you need to kill ten demonic beasts to achieve this!"

Zhou Ling frowned slightly.

With the [Crisis Response] ability, he had been doing his best to avoid monsters along the way.

"Does this mean we have to actively kill the monster to achieve the [Monster's Intimidation] effect?"

Zhou Ling couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive.

But thinking about it, I'm already at the fourth level of Qi Refining, and the Great Yang Fist has even reached the first level of perfection.

There is also the Azure Gang Sword Technique.

Their overall strength is already quite high, but it seems they have no practical combat experience so far.

I've spent my whole life in the same few places: home, the Taoist temple, and the workshop.

We didn't encounter any danger.

But now, alone in the desolate mountains, although the [crisis response] allows him to avoid danger.

But it's impossible to avoid it every time.

When you really encounter a monster, you'll have to put up your fighting spirit and fight it out!

You can't rely on crisis response to avoid danger your whole life.

Now that this [Demonic Beast Pressure] has been activated, the threat will be greatly reduced even if we face demonic beasts head-on in the future.

Moreover, he only needs to target ordinary or early-stage Tier 1 monsters, whose strength is far inferior to his own.

After much thought, Zhou Ling mustered his courage and continued walking forward.

······.

In the air, an unidentified bird with black feathers seemed to spot its prey swooping down from the grass.

However, it hadn't yet landed in the grass.

next moment.

A faint red streak of light flashed across its body like lightning.

Then the red light swirled and returned to Zhou Ling's hand, which was lurking in the grass.

[You are currently wielding the Azure罡 Sword. Sword Control +1, Azure罡 Sword Technique Proficiency +1]

[You are currently wielding the Azure Gang Sword. Precision Control +1, Azure Gang Sword Technique Proficiency +1]

[You have killed a Black Feathered Eagle, Beast Intimidation +1]

"Phew!" Zhou Ling carefully crouched down and walked along the grass to where the black-feathered eagle's body had fallen. He only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that the black-feathered eagle was dead.

"I'm still too nervous."

Zhou Ling then realized that his palms were covered in sweat. He stuck the Fire Pattern Sword into the grass and wiped his palms on his sleeve.

He then put the Black Feather Eagle's corpse into his storage bag. Although it was an ordinary demon beast, its flesh and blood contained a lot of blood essence.

Take it back to replenish your father's blood and energy.

Feeling that less than 10% of his spiritual energy had been depleted, Zhou Ling picked up the Fire Pattern Sword and continued cautiously forward.

"puff!"

A monstrous beast, resembling both a leopard and a cat, was lurking in the giant tree, its head suddenly bursting open.

He fell from the tree!
[You are currently using the Azure Sword Technique. Sword Control +1, Azure Sword Technique Proficiency +1]

[You are currently wielding the Azure Gang Sword. Precision Control +1, Azure Gang Sword Technique Proficiency +1]

[You have killed a Fire-Patterned Leopard, Beast Intimidation +1]

"puff!"

A black-scaled snake, its tongue flicking out, was cut in two while it was in the grass.

[You have killed a Black-Scaled Serpent, Beast Intimidation +1]

"puff!"

A fanged rat, drawn by the smell of blood, rushed to devour the snake meat, only to be pierced directly by the Fire Pattern Sword.

[You have killed a fanged rat, increasing your monster aura by 1]

······.

The Azure Gang Sword Technique, which incorporates the [Sword Control] talent, now has a destructive power of about five zhang.

It moves at incredible speed, making it impossible for ordinary monsters to avoid.

With the aid of [Precise Control], Zhou Ling's control over spiritual energy is extremely precise and subtle, not only fast, accurate, and ruthless, but also without any waste.

Within a five-zhang radius, he could move his sword at will, striking wherever he wanted, and his sword never missed its mark.

With the help of the strength of the [Crisis Response], Zhou Ling now has the experience to judge the approximate strength of the monsters he encounters.

Even early-stage first-tier demonic beasts, he chose to avoid them.

In the mid-stage of the first tier, they simply took a detour.

Along the way, he had quietly killed quite a few monsters.

Only when he felt that half of his spiritual energy had been consumed did he cautiously find a secluded place, take out the Fire Cloud Grass, and circulate the Spirit Flame Technique to absorb and refine its medicinal power.

[Your Spirit Flame absorbs the essence of spiritual herbs, Spirit Flame Consumption +1, Spirit Flame Grade +1]

[You are absorbing Fireweed, resilience +1, Spiritual Energy +3]

[You are absorbing Fireweed Grass. Herbal Stress +1, Fireweed Grass Power +1]

······.

Once the spiritual energy within my body has almost recovered.

He continued forward, holding the Fire Pattern Sword in one hand and the Thunderfire Pearl in the other.

They continued traveling for another half hour.

Thanks to the [Crisis Response], even after entering the inner mountain area, Zhou Ling did not encounter any mid-stage first-tier monsters.

They only killed a few ordinary monsters.

[You killed a Black Claw Gopher, Monster Intimidation +1]

[Effect: Kill 10 monsters]

[Cumulative Monster Kills: 10/100]

"We're less than ten miles from Nine Leaf Valley now, but it's already noon. Even if we enter the valley, there won't be time to search for spiritual herbs!"

"Moreover, spending the night in the wilderness greatly increases the danger!"

Zhou Ling looked at the jungle ahead; beyond that lay the inner mountain area.

There wasn't enough time today. Remembering Chu Xing's instructions, I knew I had to get back to camp tonight no matter what.

He didn't think much of it and decided to go back the way he came.

This is the second time I've tried to find my way.

The basic route to Nine Leaf Valley has been determined.

It also triggered the [Beast Intimidation] talent and provided a lot more practical combat experience.

There were also some medicinal herbs, so the harvest was already quite plentiful.

(End of this chapter)