104: Opportunity, Qingmu Immortal Vine

Two months later.

"Thunder Ripple!"

In the forest, a sharp cry was heard, followed by a bolt of lightning as thick as an arm, which shot out rapidly and hit a fleeing Demonic Beast.

The latter's body stiffened, and its agile movements came to a halt.

A figure chased from behind, throwing out a bolt of lightning plasma that struck the Demonic Beast's head.

Boom!

Its head exploded, sending flesh and blood flying.

A light green Demonic Core appeared from within.

Lin Xiu reached out and grabbed it, a look of joy on his face, "A Fourth-tier Wind-type Demonic Core, finally in my hands!"

The air was filled with the scent of blood, and Lin Xiu did not linger, quickly moving away with nimble steps.

Finding a mountain cave, Lin Xiu sat down, took out the Demonic Core, and began to absorb it.

Fourth-tier Demonic Beasts are equivalent in strength to human Dou Ling; compared to ordinary Demonic Beasts, they possess more intelligence, knowing to seek advantage and avoid harm, and to flee when encountering danger.

Lin Xiu originally thought collecting seven Fourth-tier Demonic Cores would not be difficult, but unexpectedly, it still took him a considerable amount of time going back and forth.

Especially the Wind and Thunder Demonic Cores; both types of Demonic Beasts have an advantage in speed, and once they fall into a disadvantage, they will flee.

Lin Xiu had chased the Wind Howl Sky Wolf from earlier for nearly a week.

Dou Qi circulated, enveloping his body and covering Lin Xiu's palm; the Wind-type Demonic Core gradually melted into water, disappearing beneath his skin.

Within his Dantian, the Wind-attribute Yuan Acupoint contracted, then gradually expanded and grew, repeating several times until it finally stabilized within a certain range.

"Let's keep my strength at Seven-Star Da Dou Shi for now." With a thought, Lin Xiu's aura continuously dropped from Two-Star Dou Ling.

"There are still six months left. My Breakthrough from Seven-Star Da Dou Shi to One-Star Dou Ling should be normal, and the Academy probably won't prevent me from participating in the Fire Energy Hunting Competition."

Lin Xiu pondered.

"Thunder Ripple also seems to be maxed out. I can fuse some Fighting Skills later. I've collected quite a few Demonic Cores these past two months. I'll go back and exchange them for Fire Energy, then go into seclusion in the Tower.

The Fire Energy Hunting Competition is six months from now. I need to go to Black Seal City a month in advance to stake out a spot.

During this time, my goal is to Breakthrough to Dou Wang; otherwise, facing Xiao Yan and Yao Lao, it will be quite difficult to snatch things from them."

Lin Xiu stroked his chin, thoughts flashing, as he fused Wind Roll Strike, Nine Heavens Thunder Slash, and Thunder Ripple.

[You consumed 1 attribute point and obtained the Low-tier Earth Rank Fighting Skill "Myriad Thunder Attraction."]

A flood of information poured into his mind.

After a brief period of digestion, Lin Xiu was delighted. This area-of-effect Fighting Skill would be perfect for the Fire Energy Hunting Competition.

"It's a pity I haven't found a suitable Beast Flame. Flame Soul Separation Technique is still stuck at Low-tier Yellow Rank and unable to Breakthrough."

Lin Xiu glanced at his panel.

[Name: Lin Xiu]

[Age: 20]

[Realm: Two-Star Dou Ling (9w / 12w)]

[Physique: 78]

[Spirit: 60]

[Aptitude: 40]

[Abilities:

Intermediate Earth Rank Cultivation Technique: Hun Yuan Skill lv11 (Max)

Intermediate Earth Rank Fighting Skill: Starlight Body Tempering Art lv11 (Max)

Low-tier Earth Rank Fighting Skill: Overturning Waves lv2 (120 / 200)

Low-tier Earth Rank Fighting Skill: Myriad Thunder Attraction lv1 (1 / 100)

Low-tier Earth Rank Secret Art: Guiyuan Art lv10 (Max)

Intermediate Profound Rank Fighting Skill: Ben Lei Palm lv8 (Max)

Intermediate Profound Rank Fighting Skill: Wind Shadow Sword Art lv8 (Max)

Intermediate Profound Rank Movement Technique: Light Cloud Dragon Step lv8 (Max)

Low-tier Profound Rank Secret Art: Wind and Thunder Realm Breaking lv6 (20 / 600)

Low-tier Yellow Rank Fighting Skill: Flame Soul Separation Technique lv4 (Max)

...]

[Attribute Points: 25]

"Spirit can be enhanced, but my current perception range is sufficient, so I won't waste points for now. As for Aptitude, a portion of Fifth-tier Demonic Beast blood—isn't that making things difficult for me?"

Glancing at his Aptitude, Lin Xiu's face showed difficulty. A Fifth-tier Demonic Beast is equivalent to a human Dou Wang.

How could a mere Dou Ling like him hope to contend with that?

"I'll save the attribute points for now."

Lin Xiu got up and left the Immortal Cave, heading in a certain direction towards the Academy.

Along the way, passing through a valley, Lin Xiu stopped on a treetop, his ears twitching slightly.

"There's movement, sounds like a fight. This fluctuation, it's probably Dou Wang level."

A flicker of hesitation crossed Lin Xiu's face as he looked in the direction of the commotion.

Dou Wang is the watershed between the weak and the strong.

The distinguishing factor is that Dou Wangs can manifest Dou Qi wings, no longer confined to the ground, able to soar through the sky.

Lin Xiu was concerned about this point. If he were to truly encounter a Dou Wang, and they harbored ill intentions, escaping would be very difficult.

Roar!

Suddenly, a roar shook the forest, sending countless birds and beasts fleeing.

"It's a Fifth-tier Demonic Beast!"

Lin Xiu's eyes flickered, and he heavily slapped the tree trunk, rushing towards the sound.

"I'll just observe from a distance. If there's an opportunity, I'll seize it! If I can Breakthrough my Aptitude, then my Cultivation speed in the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower can be even faster."

Light green Wind-attribute Dou Qi enveloped his legs, making Lin Xiu's movements even lighter.

He moved through the trees, both fast and silent.

But Lin Xiu did not relax his vigilance; Fifth-tier Demonic Beasts have very strong perception abilities!

Soon, Lin Xiu arrived at a treetop dozens of meters high.

Ahead was a patch of low trees, and with an unobstructed view, he could clearly see two massive Fifth-tier Demonic Beasts fighting fiercely in the distant valley.

"Fifth-tier Demonic Beasts usually have strong territorial instincts and generally don't trespass into other Demonic Beast territories without reason. Could there be some treasure nearby?"

During the year Lin Xiu trained with Huo Lan, although Huo Lan was weak, he was experienced and taught him a lot of information.

At this moment.

Lin Xiu began to analyze silently.

However, with a distance of over a hundred meters, even with Lin Xiu's keen eyesight, it was difficult to see some details clearly.

Just then, a figure suddenly entered his line of sight from a patch of grass.

"Someone!"

Lin Xiu scrutinized him, discovering that the person was also a student of Canaan Academy.

"Two Fifth-tier Demonic Beasts fighting, and someone else is secretly watching. Could he be Lin Yan?"

His thoughts raced, and Lin Xiu remembered something.

After Xiao Yan entered the Inner Academy, he made many preparations to devour the Fallen Heart Flame.

Medicinal Pills were one aspect of this.

And there was one medicinal ingredient among them, called azure wood immortal vine, which Xiao Yan bought from the Inner Academy's trading market from a vendor named Lin Yan.

According to their conversation at the time, Lin Yan revealed that he obtained the azure wood immortal vine from two Fifth-tier Demonic Beasts.

Stroking his chin, Lin Xiu couldn't be certain if this scene was what Lin Yan experienced.

"It's fine. Since I've seen it, I'll wait patiently. That person's strength also seems to be around Three-Star Dou Ling. Within the same Realm, I am invincible! If it really is the azure wood immortal vine, I will seize it."

The azure wood immortal vine wasn't of much use to Lin Xiu, but he knew Xiao Yan valued it. Perhaps he could use it to negotiate with Xiao Yan.

Although Xiao Yan wouldn't easily part with things like the Fen Jue, don't forget, Xiao Yan possessed the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python.

This was an evolved Seventh-tier Demonic Beast. Later, when his own Aptitude Breakthroughs, he would definitely need Seventh-tier Demonic Beast essence blood. So, perhaps he could try to exchange the azure wood immortal vine for it.

As for whether it would work, that depended on how Xiao Yan discussed it with Medusa.

Thoughts flashed through his mind, and Lin Xiu made a decision, squatting on the tree, silently watching the distance... "When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman benefits! If these two Fifth-tier Demonic Beasts can fight to a mutual destruction, my chance to get rich will come!"

In the grass, Lin Yan's body trembled with excitement, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the two Demonic Beasts battling fiercely ahead.

Due to a severe accumulation of fire poison in his body, he was unable to enter the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower.

To eliminate the fire poison, Lin Yan had been searching outside the Academy for medicinal ingredients or Demonic Cores to find a way to reduce it.

He had once seen an azure wood immortal vine in this place, but as it was not yet mature, he had not picked it.

He hadn't expected that upon returning, the azure wood immortal vine had indeed matured, but it had also attracted two Fifth-tier Demonic Beasts.

"Fight, fight, it's best if you both fight to a mutual destruction..." Lin Yan tightly clenched his fists, muttering in a low voice.

He was completely unaware that a gaze, subtly, was watching him.

May I humbly ask, is this pace acceptable? I won't drag things out in the Inner Academy; the Outer Academy was purely due to poor planning, which made the writing long-winded. Also, thank you to all the readers for your support. If you have recommendation tickets and monthly passes, please cast them to show your support. Thank you, good brothers and sisters.