81: A strange encounter at the bottom of the river: a fourth-tier ferocious beast!

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Above the Great River, after City Lord Zhuang Bai led the fleet to retreat, it returned to its former liveliness.

Occasionally, fishermen would salvage river fish from the Great River.

Beneath the river's surface, in a world of surging undercurrents, a new order was being established in the most primitive and bloody way.

A behemoth over eight meters long, like a moving small mountain, slowly patrolled the dark riverbed.

It was Li Qing's Earth Spirit Turtle Clone.

Ever since it withstood the fourth-tier Talisman that day and scared off the Spirit Transformation Realm City Lord, this hundred-mile stretch of water had become its hunting ground.

【evolution value: 7405/50000】

Li Qing's mind was immersed within the Clone, feeling the sense of power connected to the earth.

Although the previous battle was dangerous, it allowed him to figure out the Clone's limits.

His strength was equivalent to a Late Stage Fourth-tier Ferocious Beast.

Equivalent to a human Martial Artist at the Late Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm.

He was invincible against anyone below the Late Stage.

And he could trade lives with anyone above the Late Stage!

Of course, this "above the Late Stage" was limited to the Peak.

If it were the fifth stage of the martial path Realm.

Li Qing would also be helpless!

These past few days, he had relied on the daily feedings from his ten subordinates.

Combined with his own hunting.

His evolution value had reached over 7,400 points.

The [Earth Vein Sensing] talent activated silently, scanning the riverbed like radar.

Soon, a dense aura of life was locked onto ten miles away.

A Peak Second-tier Ferocious Beast, the Black Armored Giant Python, was entrenched in a deep-water grotto.

In the past, the Vicious Beasts in this water would have fled due to the Earth Spirit Turtle's pressure.

But this Black Armored Giant Python seemed to be a new "over-river dragon" that had occupied the territory cleared by the Earth Spirit Turtle, unaware that the ownership of this place had already changed.

The Earth Spirit Turtle made no sound, its massive body hugging the silt of the riverbed, prowling like a ghost.

When it arrived outside the grotto, the sleeping Black Armored Giant Python suddenly woke up, sensing a fatal threat.

Its massive head poked out of the cave entrance, its scarlet tongue flickering as it let out a warning hiss.

However, what responded to it was a giant claw.

"Boom!"

The entire grotto was smashed to pieces by a single claw strike, sending rocks flying.

The Black Armored Giant Python let out a shrill scream.

Before it could counterattack, an invisible force locked onto the surrounding water.

【Mystic Water Manipulation】!

The water instantly became as viscous as paste and as heavy as a mountain.

The Black Armored Giant Python's body was tightly restrained; even flicking its tail became a distant dream.

The Earth Spirit Turtle opened its massive mouth and bit down.

It died without any pain to speak of.

【Killed Middle Stage Second-tier Ferocious Beast "Black Armored Giant Python", evolution value +65】

【Obtained ferocious beast essence blood x1】

【Devoured Middle Stage Second-tier Ferocious Beast "Black Armored Giant Python" flesh, providing a total of evolution value +30】

After devouring this blind Vicious Beast, Li Qing controlled the Clone and didn't feel much satisfaction.

This bit of evolution value was a long way off from the 50,000 points needed for the next evolution.

He needed a more efficient method.

Just then, in the feedback of [Earth Vein Sensing], a faint but extremely pure energy fluctuation came from the deeper waters further downstream.

That feeling was different from any flesh-and-blood life.

It was more like... some kind of mineral, or a Heaven And Earth Treasure?

Li Qing's heart stirred, and he immediately drove the Clone to follow the direction of that energy fluctuation.

The river water became increasingly turbid, and the water pressure grew higher and higher.

Half an hour later, Li Qing reached the source of the energy fluctuation.

Here was a mess on the riverbed; half-buried in the silt was a decaying, massive shipwreck.

Judging by its style, it was an ancient relic from at least several hundred years ago.

That pure energy was emanating from deep within the cabin of this shipwreck.

Li Qing did not hesitate. The Earth Spirit Turtle's front claws lit up with an earthy yellow glow as the [Great Strength] talent activated.

"Crack—!"

The hard ancient wooden hull was easily torn open, leaving a massive gap.

The Earth Spirit Turtle's massive body squeezed inside. The cabin was pitch black and filled with the scent of decay.

Countless startled schools of fish scattered and fled.

It went straight toward the place where the energy was most concentrated.

Soon, a box reinforced with special metal appeared before it.

On the box were carved Formation runes that had long since lost their spiritual luster, clearly used for preserving precious items.

The Earth Spirit Turtle's giant claw rested on the box, and with a slight application of force...

"Bang!"

The metal box burst open.

A soft glow emanated from within, dispelling the surrounding darkness.

Inside the box lay a pile of fist-sized, crystal-clear stones, about thirty of them.

Beside the stones was a well-preserved, entirely emerald-green ginseng that looked as if it were carved from jade.

【Ding!】

【Mystic Aqua Ginseng (First-tier Spiritual Plant)】

【Contains pure water-attribute Spiritual Qi; can slightly increase evolution value and has a chance to improve Physique】

"Low-Grade Spirit Stones! And a First-tier Spiritual Plant, Mystic Aqua Ginseng!"

Li Qing exclaimed in surprise, not expecting such a benefit.

This shipwreck was likely a transport vessel for some cultivation Sect or clan from hundreds of years ago, which had sunk here for some reason.

This was simply a windfall from the heavens!

The Earth Spirit Turtle was no longer polite. It opened its mouth and inhaled like a whale, swallowing all the Spirit Stones and Mystic Aqua Ginseng in the box.

Extremely pure energy exploded within the Clone's body!

【Devoured Low-Grade Spirit Stone, evolution value +100!】

【Devoured Low-Grade Spirit Stone, evolution value +100!】

...【Devoured First-tier Spiritual Plant Mystic Aqua Ginseng, evolution value +360!】

A series of notification sounds flashed frantically in Li Qing's mind.

In just a short moment, his evolution value began to soar wildly!

【evolution value: 7505/10000】

【evolution value: 7605/10000】

...【evolution value: 10305/10000】

Over thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones, plus a Low Grade Spiritual Plant, provided a total of over 4,000 evolution value!

The ten-thousand mark has been broken!

Is fifty thousand still far off?

Li Qing's heart was surging with excitement.

He could feel his shell becoming thicker and heavier, and the strength in his limbs was also showing signs of a new Breakthrough.

More importantly, waves of pure energy were feeding back into his main body through the mysterious connection between him and the Clone.

His main body, which was currently cultivating the Giant Spirit Body Tempering Art, felt its blood and Qi surging. The originally rock-solid Middle Stage Body Refining Realm Bottleneck actually began to loosen!

"It's not enough!"

Li Qing's gaze became sharp.

Controlling the Earth Spirit Turtle, he activated [Earth Vein Sensing] once more, expanding his perception range to the limit.

This time, he was going to turn this riverbed completely upside down!

Suddenly, an energy source even more massive and more subtle than the previous Spirit Stone vein appeared at the edge of his perception.

It was hidden nearly a hundred meters beneath the riverbed silt; if not for the [Earth Vein Sensing] talent, it would have been impossible to detect.

That energy seemed to be sleeping, yet it carried a heart-palpitating pressure.

Li Qing's heart tightened.

That wasn't a dead object.

That was a living being!

Was there still a terrifying existence in this Great River?

That aura of life hidden a hundred meters beneath the riverbed was ancient and quiet, yet it carried a pressure that made even the Earth Spirit Turtle Clone feel a slight tremor.

Li Qing did not act rashly.