33: Chapter 33 Surrounded by Cultivators

He knew that the reason these people hadn't acted yet wasn't simply because they were wary of each other.

For so many arrogant Loose Cultivators to hesitate, there must be an extremely terrifying existence guarding this deep pool.

"Gurgle... gurgle..."

The calm pool water suddenly began to bubble up with a series of huge air bubbles.

A fierce and wild aura slowly rose from the bottom of the pool.

Immediately after, a massive head emerged from the black pool water.

It was a monster that resembled a giant turtle but had a ferocious Flood Dragon head.

Its turtle shell was as black as ink, covered with profound patterns. On its Flood Dragon head, a single horn stood out prominently, and its two lantern-sized eyes gleamed with a cruel and cold Ghost Light.

A first-grade top-tier Yao Beast, the Dark Water Flood Dragon Turtle!

Converted to human Cultivator Realm, it was equivalent to Peak Tenth Layer Qi Refining.

This Yao Beast merely extended its head, and the powerful pressure made the surrounding air feel viscous.

Many Loose Cultivators with weaker cultivation already had pale faces and difficulty breathing.

The Dark Water Flood Dragon Turtle's cold gaze swept over the crowd by the pool, letting out a low roar, as if warning all coveters.

Then, it submerged back into the water, leaving only its eyes exposed on the surface, staring intently at the nine-leaf dragon ganoderma grass on the stone platform.

Su Chengyuan gasped.

This beast's strength was probably even stronger than Lu Ya, whom he had encountered before.

Its Physical Body defense was so formidable that ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators might not even be able to break through it.

To snatch the Spirit Medicine from under its nose would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

What's more, there were dozens of other Cultivators eyeing it greedily.

This was not just a battle between humans and beasts, but also a struggle between humans.

Su Chengyuan estimated that with his disguised Eighth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation, he probably wouldn't even get a sip of the soup in such a chaotic battle.

Unless he exposed his full strength, but that would make him a target again.

Just as he was pondering a countermeasure, a gaunt old man quietly approached him from behind.

"Fellow Daoist, alone?" The old man's voice was hoarse, and his small eyes gleamed with cunning.

Su Chengyuan's heart tightened, but his expression remained calm as he nodded.

He had already sensed the other party's approach.

"Hehe, I am Liu San, Early Stage Eighth Layer of Qi Refining." The old man introduced himself, pointing to a rock not far away. "We have two other brothers over there, both Qi Refining Seventh Layer, one Middle Stage and one Peak. Seeing that Fellow Daoist is also an expert at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, why don't we temporarily team up? It would be good to have each other's backs when the fighting starts. If we succeed, we'll convert the Spirit Medicine into Spirit Stones and divide them equally per person. What do you think?"

Su Chengyuan's gaze swept in the direction the old man indicated, and sure enough, two Cultivators were looking this way.

He understood that the other party valued his "Eighth Layer of Qi Refining" cultivation and wanted to recruit him to increase their chances of victory.

Such a temporary team was as fragile as paper, liable to backstab each other for profit at any moment.

However, he then thought that being alone would indeed be too conspicuous.

Joining a team would allow him to better conceal himself and wait for an opportunity.

"Alright." Su Chengyuan agreed without much hesitation.

"Fellow Daoist is straightforward!" Liu San's face broke into an unpleasant smile, and he led Su Chengyuan over.

Thus, Su Chengyuan temporarily joined a four-person Treasure-Hunting Team, quietly waiting for the opportune moment.

Everyone knew that the calm by the pool would soon be shattered by greed and blood.

Time slowly passed in the oppressive standoff, and the atmosphere by the pool grew increasingly heavy.

Every Cultivator's nerves were stretched to the limit, and their hands unconsciously rested on their Magical Artifacts or Storage Pouches.

The sun was obscured by thick clouds, adding a touch of gloom to this desolate place.

The Dark Water Flood Dragon Turtle also seemed to sense the increasing greedy gazes by the pool, becoming somewhat irritable, occasionally emitting low growls of threat from its throat, stirring the pool water into ripples.

"Third Brother, waiting like this isn't a solution." In Su Chengyuan's temporary team, the Qi Refining Seventh Layer Middle Stage Cultivator with the lowest cultivation couldn't hold back, speaking in a hushed voice, "There are more and more people. If we don't act soon, when chaos erupts, our small group won't stand a chance."

"What's the rush?" The gaunt old man, called Liu San, narrowed his eyes and snorted, "Don't you understand the saying, 'The gun shoots the bird that sticks its head out'? Whoever acts first will be the Dark Water Flood Dragon Turtle's first target, and everyone else's target. What we need to do is wait."

"Wait?"

"Wait for a fool, or an arrogant madman." Liu San sneered, "Someone will eventually lose their patience."

Su Chengyuan leaned against the rock, closing his eyes to rest, as if oblivious to their conversation, but his evaluation of Liu San rose a few points in his heart.

This old fellow looked sneaky, but he was a seasoned veteran, very deep in thought.

Sure enough, no sooner had Liu San's words fallen than an unexpected change occurred!

On the opposite bank of the pool, in a team of five Cultivators, a burly bald man suddenly stood up.

He held a huge Mountain-Splitting Axe, and his cultivation was precisely Qi Refining Ninth Layer Early Stage.

"Damn it! Fortune favors the bold! If we wait any longer, the daylilies will be cold! Brothers, follow me! First, kill that beast, then we'll divide the Spirit Medicine!"

The bald man roared, his spiritual power erupting, and he stomped his foot, charging towards the stone platform in the center of the pool!

His four companions behind him also shouted in unison, unleashing their respective Magical Artifacts, following closely.

Their actions were like a lit fuse, instantly igniting the entire scene.

"Attack!"

"Don't let them get ahead!"

"Kill that beast!"

In an instant, shouts of battle shook the heavens.

Dozens of Cultivators erupted simultaneously at this moment, various colors of spiritual light shot into the sky, and a myriad of Magical Artifacts and Talismans, accompanied by sharp whistling sounds, rained down overwhelmingly towards the Dark Water Flood Dragon Turtle in the center of the pool and the team that had acted first.

The scene instantly plunged into extreme chaos.

"Roar—!"

The Dark Water Flood Dragon Turtle was enraged. It let out an earth-shattering roar, its massive Flood Dragon head suddenly opened, and a black water pillar as thick as a bucket, carrying a terrifying aura that could corrode everything, spewed forth!

The bald man, who bore the brunt of the attack, his face drastically changed. Without thinking, he held his Mountain-Splitting Axe horizontally in front of his chest, and the axe blade glowed brightly, forming a thick light shield.

However, in the face of the Dark Water Flood Dragon Turtle's furious strike, his defense was fragile and vulnerable.

"Sizzle—"

The moment the black water pillar touched the light shield, it emitted an ear-piercing corrosive sound.

The light shield only lasted for less than three breaths before it shattered with a crash.

The water pillar, its momentum undiminished, directly splashed onto the bald man's body.

"Ah—!"

A shrill, inhuman scream rang out.

To everyone's horror, the Ninth Layer Qi Refining big man, his proud and powerful Physical Body, visibly melted and decayed at a speed visible to the naked eye, turning into a puddle of black water in an instant, with not even bones remaining.

His four companions behind him were also swept by the aftershock of the water pillar, meeting the same fate of complete annihilation.

One strike, instantly killing five people, including one at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer!

The terrifying strength of this Dark Water Flood Dragon Turtle made all the hot-headed Cultivators shiver violently, and their offensive slowed.

"Now! Go!"

Liu San's hoarse voice rang in Su Chengyuan's ears.

He had abandoned his previous composure, his eyes gleaming with mad greed.

Taking advantage of the moment everyone's minds were shaken by the fierce might of the Dark Water Flood Dragon Turtle, he led the other two in his team, quietly approaching from the flank.

Su Chengyuan frowned slightly but could only follow.