8: Poaching

“No… no need!”

“Many thanks for Senior apprentice-brother's rescue!”

The long-faced young cultivator swallowed his saliva and spoke, then quickly expressed his thanks.

The other gentler young cultivator, as well as the fair-skinned and petite female Disciple, also reacted: “Many thanks for Senior apprentice-brother's assistance.”

Lu Chen glanced regretfully at the Demon Tiger trapped by Earth Elemental Spell before waving his hand and saying, “Disciples of the same Sect should naturally help each other.”

A Spirit Transformation Realm Demon Tiger!

Perhaps he could raise Copper Armor Dao Soldiers, but unfortunately, the remaining one was already targeted by the three fellow Disciples, so he couldn't make a move.

But it was still good; at least he had already killed one, which belonged to him.

After introductions, Lu Chen learned the names of the three: the long-faced young man was Ma Qi, the gentler one was Lu Bozhong, and the fair-skinned and petite female Disciple was Yu Xiaoxuan.

“Lu Chen?” Ma Qi watched Lu Chen's receding back as he continued to ascend higher, finally unable to hold back the doubt that felt like it would explode from his heart at any moment: “What exactly is going on? How can he, a middle Qi Condensation stage cultivator, kill a Spirit Transformation Realm Black-striped Demon Tiger like a dog?”

Heaven knows the shock and confusion in his heart when he saw those stone figures emerge from the ground and casually beat the Black-striped Demon Tiger to death!

Killing demon beasts across Realms was not uncommon; they had seen it many times!

But he had never seen someone like Lu Chen, who could kill demon beasts across a major Realm so easily, without even needing to personally act.

He was completely stunned!

What kind of divine technique was this? It was simply outrageous!

Even more outrageous was that Lu Chen's cultivation was even lower than theirs, only at the peak of the middle Qi Condensation stage. What would happen if he entered the Nerve-Gathering Later Stage?!

Lu Bozhong frowned in thought: “Peak of middle Qi Condensation stage, capable of killing a Spirit Transformation Realm Black-striped Demon Tiger…”

“Were those stone figures that emerged from the ground just now the ‘Gathering Earth to Form Soldiers’ technique from Earth Elemental Spell?”

He looked towards the fair-skinned and petite Yu Xiaoxuan.

Yu Xiaoxuan was the only one among the three of them who cultivated Earth Elemental Spell.

“That Lu Senior Brother should have comprehended the Earth Element True Intent!” Yu Xiaoxuan said thoughtfully, adding another explanation: “Only by comprehending the Earth Element True Intent can one cast the ‘Gathering Earth to Form Soldiers’ technique!”

But, was ‘Gathering Earth to Form Soldiers’ that powerful?

Yu Xiaoxuan's mind was a bit muddled!

She had never heard that the ‘Gathering Earth to Form Soldiers’ technique was this powerful!

It seemed that from now on, she should put more effort into this technique. When she cultivated this technique in the future, why would she need to group up with others? She could simply go alone and challenge all the demon beasts on Twilight Mountain!

…

How long does it take to kill from the foot of the mountain to the summit?

Not long, because Lu Chen was already at the summit.

Before him was a Blood-maned Rhino over three meters long and more than one and a half meters tall, whose strength had clearly entered the Spirit Transformation Realm.

Ten Iron Armor Dao Soldiers moved in unison, dragging the Blood-maned Rhino alive into the ground, and two more Iron Armor Dao Soldiers emerged, fiercely hammering the Blood-maned Rhino's head. It didn't take long for it to be over.

In Lu Chen's immortal coffin, he harvested the corpse of a Spirit Transformation Realm demon beast for the sixth time.

Steward Hu did not exaggerate; this Twilight Mountain was indeed not a place where ordinary middle Qi Condensation stage cultivators could come and go freely, because there were Spirit Transformation Realm demon beasts. If one was not careful, they could truly die in the mouth of a demon beast.

But Lu Chen was not in that category.

Easily, the task was completed, and work was done.

He changed direction and killed from the summit back to the foot of the mountain, still pushing through everything.

Although Blood-maned Rhinos have a habit of living in groups, most do not exceed ten, at least Lu Chen had not encountered any, so he proceeded unimpeded.

Returning to the foot of the mountain, the ten Iron Armor Dao Soldiers burrowed underground and disappeared without a trace. Just as Lu Chen was about to burrow away as well, he suddenly heard a stern voice from not far away.

“How bold, you dare to enter the territory of my Dongming Sect to hunt demon beasts when you are not a Disciple of my Dongming Sect!”

Listening to the voice, it seemed to be Ma Qi, whom he had encountered earlier.

“So it is a Senior Cultivator of the Dongming Sect in person, please do not be offended, please do not be offended!”

Another voice came, sounding somewhat fearful and humble.

“So it's rogue cultivators who came to Twilight Mountain to poach demon beasts!” Lu Chen suddenly understood.

Rogue cultivators have no Sect backing, their inheritances are incomplete, and they lack resource support. Facing Sect Disciples, they are naturally weaker by three points.

In places like Twilight Mountain, although there are many demon beasts, they are all controlled by the Dongming Sect to be within the Spirit Transformation Realm and Qi Condensation Realm, making it convenient for Outer Sect Disciples to practice.

But the demon beasts deep in the mountains are not like this; demon beasts exceeding the Spirit Transformation Realm are everywhere. If one is not careful, they might encounter an irresistible demon beast, and death could occur at any time, with extremely high risk.

It was understandable that rogue cultivators would take the risk of being discovered by the Dongming Sect to secretly hunt demon beasts on Twilight Mountain, but their guts were too big!

It's hard to kill demon beasts in the deep mountains, but is the Dongming Sect easy to provoke?

He couldn't figure it out!

Lu Chen only listened for a few sentences before burrowing away.

Since these rogue cultivators were discovered by Ma Qi, Yu Xiaoxuan, and the other person, the credit belonged to the three of them. If Lu Chen were to show up at this time, he would inevitably be suspected of wanting to share the credit. There was no need to cause such a misunderstanding.

…………

At the foot of the mountain, Ma Qi, Lu Bozhong, and Yu Xiaoxuan looked coldly at the four rogue cultivators at the Nerve-Gathering Later Stage before them.

These four individuals were all middle-aged, and in front of them, they appeared uneasy and fearful, having been caught red-handed.

“Stop talking nonsense. Follow us to the Dongming Sect Law Enforcement Hall!”

“We don't decide the outcome!”

Ma Qi spoke coldly.

Those who dare to poach demon beasts on the Dongming Sect's territory must be prepared to be punished by the Dongming Sect.

“Three sirs, please be lenient!” One of the middle-aged rogue cultivators spoke tremblingly, subtly handing over a qiankun bag.

Trying to bribe their way to safety?

Ma Qi, Lu Bozhong, and Yu Xiaoxuan exchanged glances, hesitated for a moment, but did not accept it.

These rogue cultivators were penniless; what good things could they have!

However, at this moment, a cold sword light flashed, suddenly cutting across Ma Qi's neck. Blood spurted, and Ma Qi's head was already sent flying.

“How dare you…”

Lu Bozhong and Yu Xiaoxuan were shocked and angry, and were about to attack.

However, someone acted faster than them.

Two more fierce sword lights flashed, and both their heads were simultaneously severed, with no room for resistance whatsoever.

The four rogue cultivators before them were not at the Nerve-Gathering Later Stage at all, but at Spirit Transformation, or perhaps even higher!

“These Dongming Sect Disciples are really stupid!”

At this moment, the four middle-aged rogue cultivators all wore expressions of mockery and disdain. Where was the earlier trembling and unease?

“Clean up the bodies and withdraw!”

Three fireballs were thrown, incinerating the bodies of Ma Qi and the other two into ashes. Even the qiankun bags on their bodies were taken.

…………

Dongming Sect, Outer Sect, Internal Affairs Hall.

“Steward Hu.” Lu Chen called out to Hu Tai, who was still writing with his brush.

“Hmm?” Hu Tai responded without raising his head, then suddenly remembered that the voice seemed somewhat familiar, so he looked up and was immediately puzzled.

“Lu Chen?”

Didn't he accept the task for Blood-maned Rhino horns this morning? Why was he here again?

Could it be that he realized the task was too difficult and wanted to find some powerful Disciples to go with him?

That was also normal. After all, Lu Chen had a great future ahead of him and didn't need to take risks. Cooperating with other Disciples was the safe way.

Very good, very good. Hu Tai not only did not look down on Lu Chen in his heart, but instead appreciated him even more.

Having already made a decision, and even boasted in front of many Disciples, the courage to personally overturn it was also a form of bravery. Ordinary Disciples who valued Face highly could not do this.

Often, it was precisely people like Lu Chen, who knew how to abandon Face, who could go further and live longer on the path of cultivation.

This thought flashed through Hu Tai's mind, then he put down the brush and ink in his hand, smiled lightly, looked up at Lu Chen, and said: “Have you changed your mind? No problem, I…”

Changed his mind?

Changed what mind?

Lu Chen had no idea how many turns Steward Hu's mind had taken. He could only proactively state his purpose: “Steward Hu, I'm here to hand in the task.”

Hu Tai, who was only halfway through speaking, his voice abruptly stopped!