Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans...

Chapter 124 Don't Cry, Ox
Deep in the misty mountains.

Even the blazing sun could not pierce through the deep clouds and mist; some miasma even emitted a green or purple halo under the scorching sun.

"The talismans are well prepared, the two spiritual artifacts he carries far surpass those of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, and there are also pills..."

In the jungle, Lin Chang'an, dressed in black and masked, gazed solemnly at the perilous Cloud Mist Mountains in the distance, secretly calculating everything he had prepared.

"There are also several maps of the Cloud and Mist Mountains that I bought in the market."

He bought one of each of the following: the Duobaolou in Xuanyin Pavilion, the Wanbaolou in Tianxuan City, and a map from a street vendor.

After comparing them, the divisions of some of the more dangerous outer areas are quite similar.

【Fierce Yuan Sword Technique (Proficiency 856/1000)】

Seeing the progress of this demonic secret technique, Lin Chang'an felt a little comforted.

Other cultivators usually avoid places with dense miasma, but Lin Chang'an does the opposite.

Heading directly into an area teeming with miasma would be tantamount to suicide if others found out.

Even if a Foundation Establishment cultivator can withstand the poisoning with antidote pills, the denser the miasma, the greater the damage to themselves. Moreover, in places with dense miasma, there are more poisonous insects and monsters.

However, as Lin Chang'an ventured deeper, the extremely poisonous miasma filled him with a sense of comfort.

"I feel quite at home."

Surrounded by miasma, Lin Chang'an was surprised to find that his body felt refreshed after coming into contact with it.

Thinking about this, Lin Chang'an had some guesses in his mind.

It's probably because of my own natal spiritual plant that I'm not afraid of ordinary poisons.

The strength and future potential of this ancient cultivation technique depend more than half on the natal spiritual plant.

The stronger the natal spiritual plant, the stronger its ability to provide feedback.

However, after going deeper into the area, Lin Chang'an was secretly alarmed.

"Even at the outer perimeter, their spiritual senses are already difficult to fathom."

Although he is immune to the poison of the miasma, the miasma has another ability: it can block divine sense from detecting, making it impossible for cultivators to discern directions.

Divine sense is almost like a cultivator's eyes. Once divine sense is restricted, one is like a blind person, unable to see anything whether it is fighting or guarding against danger.

【Spiritual Eye (Grandmaster 232/5000)】

However, the next moment, after Lin Chang'an activated his spiritual eye, the miasma around him instantly became as if it were nothing, and he could see it clearly.

The ability of the Spirit Eye to see through fog and stone played a crucial role at this moment.

"Sure enough, my years of cultivating the Spirit Eye have finally come in handy."

Lin Chang'an had achieved great success on several occasions before, and this time he smiled even more, proving that his years of cultivation with spiritual liquid had not been in vain.

Having been accustomed to using his divine sense for so many years, the sudden loss of it, leaving him to rely solely on his eyes, still felt somewhat strange to him.

It's like losing a sense of self.

"This feeling is like going back to when I first entered the world of cultivation and joined the demon-hunting team."

Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

When he first started cultivating, he relied more on his experience in ordinary martial arts.

I never expected that this method of being able to hear and see in all directions would be used again.

"However, we cannot be careless."

After getting used to the almost forgotten techniques for a while, Lin Chang'an cautiously headed deeper into the mountains.

At the same time, he also took out a clean animal hide map and recorded the detailed map he had figured out on it.

After all, ordinary cultivators would avoid places with dense miasma, but he did the opposite.

……

half a month later.

Deep within the rarely visited Cloud and Mist Mountains, all was silent except for the sudden chirping of insects—the sounds of hunting.

Before Lin Chang'an's spiritual eyes, which could see through fog and stone, nothing could hide from him; everything was clearly visible.

"Indeed extremely dangerous. Even some ordinary insects and ants are extremely poisonous, and ordinary Qi Refining cultivators cannot withstand them."

Along the way, relying on his supreme-level concealment and invisibility techniques, he witnessed the dangers deep within the Cloud Mist Mountains.

Despite not being particularly strong, a single bite from these insects can poison and kill its prey.

Along the way, he also encountered human cultivators and experienced demon-hunting teams.

In this long-term cooperative team model, some people are responsible for guarding the surrounding area, while others cooperate to hunt down monsters.

He also encountered scenes of human cultivators fighting and plundering treasures out of greed or pure mortal desire.

This journey has given Lin Chang'an the feeling of returning to when he first entered the world of cultivation.

"No matter how dangerous the Cloud Mist Mountains may be, cultivators will always find a way to overcome them, but the bloodshed caused by greed can never be overcome."

Lin Chang'an shook his head, having mostly observed the journey with a cold eye.

As they ventured deeper, they no longer saw any cultivators.

The dense miasma had become his natural protective weapon. Relying on its ability to block divine sense, he had even managed to protect himself from a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator who was more powerful than him.

He watched the other person from afar, but the other person only felt as if they were being watched by some kind of prey, and simply fled in panic without noticing him.

"The Concealing Breath Technique combined with the miasma environment is simply a perfect match."

When a cultivator loses his most relied-upon divine sense, his concealment technique becomes his most powerful weapon. In this environment, even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator cannot detect him.

"However, we cannot be careless. The greatest strength of human cultivators is their ability to use various methods."

Lin Chang'an nodded secretly. Along the way, he had also seen some cultivators using some kind of banner-like spiritual artifact to temporarily dispel miasma.

Provide the monster-hunting team with a suitable combat environment.

Others possess accompanying perception barriers; it can be said that every cultivator who dares to venture deep into the Cloud Mist Mountains has their own methods.

"Finally found."

Deep into the Cloud Mist Mountains, specifically venturing into areas teeming with miasma, Lin Chang'an finally discovered a second-tier early-stage demonic beast.

It wasn't that he hadn't seen them before, but after realizing from afar that they lived in groups, he turned around decisively without any hesitation.

There are also some territories adjacent to each other with similar demonic beasts, or distant areas with groups of cultivators.

In the distance, within the rotten, damp, and dark forest, a dark green centipede, two or three zhang long, suddenly clamped down on its prey.

With the injection of venom, the prey struggled briefly before losing its life in less than a breath.

Lin Chang'an, who witnessed this scene from the shadows, was cautious and did not disturb the other party from enjoying their prey. Instead, he quietly observed the surroundings first.

Only after discovering that there were no other demonic beasts or human cultivators did they begin preparations.

After a while.

As the giant second-tier spirit insect centipede was enjoying its prey, a magical array barrier suddenly appeared around it.

Driven by instinct, the centipede immediately became alert, instantly releasing its prey and swiftly coiling itself around and climbing up a huge ancient tree.

The dark environment was filled with endless danger.

Suddenly, a chill swept over from the darkness.

【Frost Talisman】

In an instant, the ice talisman exploded behind the second-tier poisonous centipede, freezing most of the ancient tree as well.

Before the poisonous insects could even hiss, a wild, powerful moo echoed within the barrier.

"Moo!"

A blue-horned bull, its nostrils flaring white steam and its eyes bloodshot, charged out with immense force as it roared.

With a thunderous leap!
"Crack!" The sound of the hard shell of the second-tier poisonous centipede shattering, and the ancient tree being directly broken off and then crashing to the ground.

The venomous insect also became extremely ferocious. Its body, pierced by the bull's horn, twisted and coiled wildly around the head of the green-horned bull, spraying out green blood and venom.

After the Green Horned Ox landed with a thud, it roared and lowered its head, pinning the other's body beneath it, and plowed out a deep ravine with a thunderous roar.

Meanwhile, despite the centipede's venom injection, the Green Horned Ox showed no signs of poisoning.

"Moo!"

Seeing this overwhelming power, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but praise it.

Sure enough, after losing its most powerful weapon, poison, the venomous insect's strength decreased significantly.

However, he wouldn't sit idly by and watch the Green Horned Ox and the Poisonous Insects fight. After all, the longer the battle dragged on, the more unpredictable things might happen here.

"Try this sword's edge!"

With Lin Chang'an's cold shout, several sword beams suddenly appeared from the miasma, directly slicing the centipede into several pieces.

"Moo!"

The Green Horned Ox roared madly and tried to trample the poisonous insect, but Lin Chang'an stopped it.

These are all spirit stones; they can't be wasted.

However, considering the terrifying vitality of poisonous insects, Lin Chang'an still released several fireballs until the opponent was thoroughly roasted.

"Well done, it seems you really did raise this bull for nothing."

Looking at the menacing Green Horned Ox beside him, it was no longer the obsequious creature that had been fawning over others for spiritual herbs; it had become a ferocious demon beast.

Lin Chang'an nodded in satisfaction; he had witnessed the power of the Green Horned Ox today.

As long as he can create a head-on confrontation, few demonic beasts can withstand the savage charge of the Green Horned Bull.

"But this centipede's shell is really hard."

While inspecting the spoils, Lin Chang'an noticed sword marks on the centipede's shell, which secretly alarmed him.

If the Green Horned Ox hadn't pierced through the centipede directly, allowing him to seize the opportunity to attack from its weakest point with his sword, he might not have been able to cut the poisonous insect so easily.

It seems that even early-stage second-tier monsters were killed so easily, but in reality, there are many factors at play.

One is Lin Chang'an, whose attack power is already comparable to that of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator thanks to his sword techniques. The second is that the Green Horned Ox is best known for its strength.

The result was a savage charge that pushed the limits of power.

Given their strength, attacking their weakness, it would be strange if they didn't win.

Moreover, it is completely immune to the centipede's most potent venom.

It can be said that one gains at the expense of the other.

This venomous insect was completely unable to utilize its advantages and was restrained from beginning to end.

"Moo moo."

When Lin Chang'an took out the crystal core, the Green Horned Ox couldn't help but show a fawning expression, mooing, which made him laugh.

"Considering your outstanding performance, and to help out in the future, this demon core is a reward for you."

As Lin Chang'an threw the demon core into his mouth, the Green Horned Ox excitedly raised its hoof and cheered.

For a monster to evolve, the most important supplement is actually its core.

Even if Lin Chang'an could earn spirit stones before, he couldn't afford to feed the second-tier demon cores of the Green Horned Ox. After all, he himself didn't have enough demon cores to hunt in the Cloud Mist Mountains.

"But it was all worth it."

Seeing the excited look on the Green Horned Ox's face, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

The power of the Green Horned Ox has been demonstrated; in a head-on collision, even a cultivator in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage would be sent flying.

He naturally wouldn't mind if his spirit pet was stronger.

Moreover, if you want the ox to run fast, you have to be willing to feed it demon cores.

If the cattle are well-fed, they will have the strength to fight later.

After all, it was his first time exploring, and he found himself in the miasma-filled area of ​​the Cloud and Mist Mountains, so he naturally wanted to make good use of his advantages.

"For the Green Horned Ox, the demon core is no less important than a high-grade pill for a human cultivator to enhance their cultivation."

Lin Chang'an was satisfied and disassembled and stored away the centipede's shell and venom sac.

These are all excellent materials for refining weapons. As for the meat of demonic beasts, most of the poisonous insects are inedible.

“Ox, we should continue our search for the next prey.”

The enormous green-horned ox let out a spirited moo, carrying Lin Chang'an on its back, and the figures of the man and the ox gradually disappeared into the miasma.

……

A few months later.

Deep within the poisonous miasma of the Cloud and Mist Mountains, the figures of a man and an ox slowly emerged.

"Moo!"

"You can't blame me for this. Who would have thought that this was a two-tailed venomous scorpion with a poisonous hook hidden under its belly?"

The figure that emerged from the miasma was a bull with a large bump on its head, its face full of tears of grievance.

Although the poison can be neutralized, the scorpion's barbs really hurt.

This wasn't just Qingjiao Niu being wronged; even Lin Chang'an was heartbroken.

Legend has it that even a fake alchemist couldn't help but shed tears after being stung by the barbs of this double-tailed scorpion.

Meanwhile, the Green Horned Ox had also sustained several wounds during this time, but these wounds healed themselves under Lin Chang'an's Everlasting Green Magic Power.

"Moo!"

"Alright, alright, I'll give you an extra demon core next time."

After receiving the promise Lin Chang'an made, the Green Horned Ox lowered its head in a pitiful manner and continued to move forward, though it couldn't stop its tears.

This scene made Lin Chang'an feel both sorry for him and somewhat amused.

"Although poisonous insects are also a type of demonic beast, they are quite different from ordinary demonic beasts."

During this time, Lin Chang'an has also broadened his horizons and can't help but marvel.

Some poisonous insects have extremely potent toxins; even their limp bodies are filled with venom.

However, after being directly knocked away by the Green Horned Bull and then trampled into poisonous juice, only the crystal core was valuable from his entire body.

All things considered, risking a battle with second-tier poisonous insects only to gain so little is a huge loss.

"There's no way around it. Hunting monsters is a business where you're either poor in the early morning or rich in the early morning. Sometimes a monster is worth tens of thousands of low-grade spirit stones, and sometimes it's only worth a fraction of what others are worth."

Lin Chang'an shook his head; this kind of thing was perfectly normal.

This is one of the biggest reasons why the monster-hunting team's income has been unstable for a long time.

Monsters of the same rank can sometimes have vastly different values.

"However, this trip has been quite fruitful, so it's time to go back and rest."

Even though he wasn't afraid of poison, he felt no safer in Tianxuan City, even in the perilous Cloud Mist Mountains.

Moreover, he needs to prepare for everything, whether it's alchemy, talisman drawing, cultivation, or the next time he goes to hunt monsters.

“Niu’er, it’s time to go back.”

With Lin Chang'an gently patting the Green Horned Ox's forehead, the soothing power of Evergreen, brimming with life force, seemed to alleviate the ox's pain somewhat.

Besides the Green Horned Ox consuming one demon core this time, he now has four more in his storage bag.

They returned with a full load of goodies.

(End of this chapter)