Braised Dragon with Soy Sauce

After the balloon successfully ascended into the clouds, all the elders in the canyon were in high spirits and went all out to capture the fire dolphin.

Among them, several old men with profound Xuan Gong cultivation, led by Dugu Xian and Li Mubai, even went to the depths of the Monster Valley in the mangrove forest to capture them.

In the days that followed, Mo Yuming was not idle either, and conducted several more experiments using the experimental balloon.

Because balloons have limited lift, they can only carry small objects, such as minerals, stones, and magic crystals, in cargo-carrying experiments.

These items, carefully packaged with insulating materials by Mo Yuming, successfully entered the clouds.

However, the experiment of sending living organisms into space did not go so smoothly.

The first experiment used a harbinger dog puppy. As soon as the harbinger dog entered the clouds, it attracted a lightning strike, and the puppy, which was in a suitcase, was instantly charred.

The spectacular sight of lightning and thunder was unforgettable for Mo Yuming. He truly witnessed what it meant to be struck by lightning, and for a long time afterward, he was still filled with lingering fear.

When the group saw that the creatures could not enter the clouds, they began to lose heart.

Some even assert that the magic arrays set up by our ancestors possess spiritual power and can recognize objects.

No one can pass through unless they find the core of the formation and destroy it with profound martial arts skills.

You can't get away with it by being clever.

Mo Yuming naturally wouldn't believe these baseless claims; he firmly believed that his reasoning was correct.

However, due to the distance, the specific situation at that time could not be clearly seen.

Fortunately, after careful consideration, he hung the small box containing the objects at a distance from the hot air balloon. The lightning only struck the box, and the hot air balloon was not affected.

Mo Yuming pondered for a long time but still couldn't find the reason. Finally, he followed Li Mubai's advice and changed to a small earth-attribute magical beast for the experiment to see if it was because of the magic attribute.

But it still didn't work, and the little monster was still killed by lightning.

Mo Yuming was not discouraged and continued to conduct experiments on several small animals with different attributes, but the results were still unsuccessful.

Because the experiment was conducted in the clouds hundreds of feet high, due to the limited conditions, there was no effective way to observe the cause up close. Therefore, each experiment could only be observed from a distance on the ground. After each failure, the cause could only be summarized based on intuition, and there was never any substantial progress.

Just when the experiment was nearing its end and Mo Yuming felt he was about to give up, a miracle occurred. This time, the box contained a level three magical beast with water-attribute magic, a "Green-eyed Dragon" cub.

Surprisingly, it did not trigger a lightning tribulation after passing through the clouds, which greatly surprised everyone.

I've tried with water-attribute monsters before, even those of lower level, and they still got struck and killed by lightning.

Why were they unharmed this time? After learning what had happened, everyone gathered around to find out.

The box was opened in full view of everyone, and the magical beast lay lazily in the box, fast asleep, as if nothing had happened.

Seeing this scene, Mo Yuming had a flash of inspiration and felt that he had grasped something key. So he hurriedly ordered someone to catch another wicked dog and told everyone to get ready to board the hot air balloon again and take off.

After Mo Yuming repeatedly confirmed that all procedures were correct, he ordered the fire to be lit.

As the hot air balloon slowly rose into the sky again, the crowd discussed it amongst themselves in small groups.

Most people were skeptical, believing that it would definitely not succeed.

Some people are hopeful about the experiment, but for a rather unusual reason. They believe that Mo Yuming has been conducting experiments every day, and that the lightning in the clouds may have been used up, so the lightning array has lost its effectiveness.

This argument has gained the approval of many people. Although it is somewhat far-fetched, they feel it is still plausible because even the most powerful formation has its limits, and once those limits are exceeded, the formation can be broken.

But no one dares to confirm that such a powerful magic array only has this much energy.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the hot air balloon once again disappeared into the clouds, followed closely by the wooden box hanging below.

Everyone watching held their breath, waiting for the thunderclap.

But just like last time, the wooden box did not exhibit any unusual behavior after entering the clouds, and the lightning in the clouds was not triggered.

The bolt from the blue didn't strike directly at everyone.

The results came out quickly: the experiment was successful again. The evil dog in the box did not trigger the lightning tribulation. After being pulled back to the ground, the evil dog lay peacefully inside the box without any problems.

The crowd cheered, and the second-generation elders danced with joy.

Everyone asked why this was happening.

Seeing everyone's eager expressions, Mo Yuming smiled without saying a word. He simply ordered someone to bring another animal and put it in the box, then told Feng and Dian to launch the hot air balloon again.

Just as Mo Yuming had predicted, the magical beast in the box returned safely to the ground without any abnormalities.

While there was still time, amidst everyone's excited expressions, Mo Yuming conducted several more experiments with different magical beasts. As Mo Yuming had expected, all the magical beasts returned safely.

Everyone was getting increasingly frustrated watching Mo Yuming conduct experiments time and time again, succeeding each time, yet he wouldn't explain himself to them.

Especially Shi Potian, whose temper was particularly impatient, turned red with anger and grabbed Mo Yuming, shouting loudly:

"Are you mute, you little brat! Are you trying to drive us crazy? Tell us why! What method did you use..."

Mo Yuming deliberately kept everyone in suspense, chuckling as he said:

"It's possible that the magic circle was just an empty shell, only used to scare people, and it stopped working after being used to generate electricity a few times!"

"Get lost! You really think you can fool me, Shi Potian?! I'll beat you up!"

Shi Potian was enraged by this little rascal and raised his hand, pretending to slap Mo Yuming.

Everyone was excited and eager for an answer. They stared at Mo Yuming as anxiously as Shi Potian, almost as if they wanted to grab his mouth and force him to speak.

"Hehe, alright, I'll tell you, I'll tell you! Hehe, it's actually very simple. I just used my mystical powers to stun the monsters when I put them into the box, so that they would stay still and not move around during the experiment."

"It's that simple?"

Shi Potian stared blankly at Mo Yuming with his large, bell-like eyes.

"Really! It's that simple. As long as you don't move around recklessly after entering the clouds, don't use any mystical techniques, and don't use any spiritual power, you won't be struck by lightning!"

"How did you know?"

"This is all thanks to it!"

Mo Yuming picked up the still-sleeping Emerald Dragon and explained to everyone.

"I didn't have any clue at first, but this morning Grandpa Feng came to ask me if I was still going to do the experiment. I said it didn't matter, so Grandpa Feng picked up this little guy who loves to sleep from among the magical beasts he kept."

Unexpectedly, its laziness saved it from the lightning strike. Haha, lazybones always have good fortune!

Seeing everyone's confused looks, Mo Yuming smiled slightly and continued to explain:

"The principle is actually very simple. The activation of lightning requires a prerequisite, which is to touch it. And the prerequisite for touching it is that the object must be a conductor, that is, an object that can conduct electricity. All living things, including humans, are conductors."

The reason I sealed the experimental monsters in a leather case was to isolate them from lightning, thinking that this would prevent them from being struck by lightning.

Unexpectedly, because these magical beasts were timid, they became frightened after being taken into the air and struggled desperately in the box, releasing their magic.

Unexpectedly, the magical elements that emerged from the box could also trigger lightning, and thus, tragedy struck!

This lizard-like monster, named Emerald Eye Dragon, is naturally lazy. Once it's full, it will fall into a deep sleep and won't wake up no matter what you do. So even when you put it in a box and send it into the clouds, it didn't wake up.

At the time, I didn't know what was going on. I only realized it was still asleep when I opened the box and took it out to check on it. That's when I had this idea, and it turned out to be true!

"So, as long as we hide in a sealed box after entering the clouds and don't use any mystical arts or spiritual power, we'll be safe?"

"Yes, the logic is that simple! As long as we don't use our internal energy, don't move around recklessly, and don't release spiritual power, I guarantee we won't trigger a tribulation!"

"I still feel there's something fishy about it! The power of that lightning array is obvious; even just standing there watching it makes my heart pound!"

Hu San Niang, who was rather timid, was still a little worried.

"Although I still don't quite understand Yu Ming's method, I'm still willing to give it a try."

"Rather than die an old man in this canyon, I'd rather take the risk! Kid! Use me as an experiment tomorrow; my old bones are in your hands now!"

Shi Potian grabbed Mo Yuming's arm and said loudly and emotionally.

"Grandpa Shi, I'm afraid tomorrow won't work. This balloon is too small to carry you. We'll need to make a bigger and stronger one!"

Mo Yuming scratched the back of his head and said.

"Alright, how many more Fire Earth Pig hides do you need? I'll go get some for you tomorrow!"

Shi Potian rubbed his hands together, eager to go immediately.

"I did the math, and including the ones we caught yesterday, we probably need to catch about thirty more to count them!"

Mo Yuming pondered for a moment and then spoke.

"No problem, I, Shi Potian, will not return to Yishi Valley until I have gathered this number!"

Shi Potian waved his arm and left without looking back.

"We also need to make a separate rope for tying up the balloons, as well as a box for people to sit in, a fuel tank, and more grease for combustion, etc.!"

Mo Yuming explained all the changes he wanted to make.

"Just tell us, how much do you need? We'll take care of it!"

Several voices spoke in unison: wind, rain, thunder, and lightning.

"Old man, why don't you go and give me a few more sharp needles?"

Hu Sanniang said to Zhang Tieqiao.

"no problem!"

Zhang Tieqiao readily agreed.

"How do you tan those animal hides? What chemicals do you need? I'll help you prepare that!"

Mo Wen also volunteered.

"Then the sewing task will fall to us!"

Huang Rongrong and several other elderly women were not to be outdone.

"..."

"Brother Dugu, Brother Li, don't ask where I went. I have good news for you. When I was catching fire porpoises at the bottom of the Deadly Slope, I accidentally discovered an iron-beaked vulture."

Those guys suddenly emerged from the clouds in front of the waterfall at the bottom of Deadly Slope and rushed straight down like cannonballs, which startled me. I thought some kind of monster was attacking me.

When they were about ten feet above the ground, they suddenly spread their wings and glided close to the cliff face, and only then did I see their true forms!

The next day, Shi Potian went out early in the morning to catch the fire porpoise.

He quickly rushed back and shouted loudly at Dugu Xian and Li Mubai.

"Did you let them get away?"

Li Mubai asked anxiously.

"How could that be? Those three level-six magical beasts escaped. How could I, Shi Potian, possibly survive? With the help of Shui, Dian, and Lei, we captured two alive and killed one! I've already handed the living ones over to Shui Sheng and the others to lock up, and sent the dead one to the kitchen to be added to the dinner."

Shi Potian said proudly.

"Old Mo went to Xianghe Valley to find herbs for tanning animal hides."

They probably won't be back so soon.

Now the Homo sapiens of Xianghe Valley are at ease; thankfully, we helped them put their minds at ease before we left! We can leave in peace too!

Dugu Xian said slowly.

"It seems there really are two key points in the formation at Sacrifice Cliff and Death Slope, but we just haven't been able to find them yet!"

Li Mubai said.

"So what if we found it? Do we have the ability to break through that illusionary array?"

I carefully observed the head of the beaked eagle and found that in addition to having double eyelids, it also had a piece of fleshy skin that could tightly cover its nostrils. Moreover, its feathers were more special than those of ordinary birds, as if they were coated with a layer of oil.

They are avian magical beasts, capable of flight using wings without the need for magic. Therefore, what they can accomplish with ease is an immense challenge for us.

Unless you can hold your breath and concentrate without using spiritual power while flying!

Shi Potian said.

"Alright, that's settled then. Once the hot air balloon is ready, we'll discuss it with Yu Ming and change the exit address to the place where the Iron-beaked Vulture comes and goes."

"Isn't it better to have more security?" Dugu Xian continued.

"Brother Shi, how's the catch of the Fire-Earth Boar coming along? How many more are we missing?"

Li Mubai asked.

"These things are really hard to find! It's been half a day and we've only caught one adult one!"

Shi Potian sighed dejectedly.

"After that disaster, the number and variety of magical beasts in the Ruimu Valley area have greatly decreased."

If we want to catch enough Fire-Earth Boars, we need to go to the mangrove forest. Brother Dugu and I were just thinking of going there; why don't we go together?

Li Mubai stood up and said.

"Why don't we invite Hesheng, Alei, Adian and the others? They're used to being in the wild, and they know the situation in the mangrove forest better than we do."

"If we all go together, with our strength, as long as we don't provoke that old dragon demon, I believe we can stay inside for ten days to half a month without any problem."

Dugu Xian looked up at Shi Potian and said.

"Let's do as you say, Brother. Hesheng, you guys take some extra rations. We'll meet up at the mangrove forest!"

With a wave of his hand, Shi Potian immediately flew towards Ruimu Valley.