38: Chapter 38 A Lucky Break: A Counterattack to Seize the Treasure

[That pure earth-element Spiritual Qi fluctuation, although it flashed and vanished, was precisely captured by your powerful perception, which had been enhanced by Divine Sense Double.]

[It was right below this Great Earth Rift Valley, in a certain cave about a thousand zhang deep.]

["nine heavens breathing soil... it must be it!"]

[Your breathing became somewhat rapid.]

[But you quickly calmed down.]

[The more it is a moment like this, the less you can be impulsive. Beside such a Heaven And Earth Treasure, there is a one hundred percent chance of a powerful Yao Beast guarding it. Moreover, who knows if there are others in the shadows, also eyeing this treasure.]

["Senior Sister Su, there seems to be something down below." You pointed downwards, feigning "surprise," and said to Su Qinghan, "I felt a very strong Spiritual Qi fluctuation just now."]

[Upon hearing this, Su Qinghan immediately probed down with her Divine Sense.]

[A moment later, a hint of surprise appeared on her cold face.]

["What pure earth-element Spiritual Qi! There must be a treasure below!"]

[The others in the team, hearing this, also became excited.]

["Let's go, let's go down and take a look!" A male Disciple with an impatient temperament was already unable to wait.]

["Wait." Su Qinghan stopped him, "The situation below is unclear; going down rashly is too dangerous. We will use a rope first and slowly explore downwards."]

[From her Storage Pouch, she took out a silver rope shimmering with Spiritual light; this was a High Grade Magical Artifact, the "Dragon Binding Rope," which was incomparably tough.]

[She fixed one end of the rope to the rock on the edge of the cliff, then said to everyone: "I will go down to scout the path first, and you all will provide support from above. Tang Xun, your cultivation is the lowest, so stay at the very back and be responsible for guarding the rope."]

[This arrangement of hers was reasonable.]

[But inside, you were overjoyed.]

["Great, great, this task is good, safe and easy, I like it the most." You agreed immediately, a simple and honest smile appearing on your face.]

[The other few male Disciples in the team all cast disdainful looks at you.]

["Trash, only knowing how to hide behind a woman."]

[You pretended not to hear, but inside you were sneering: "Idiots, in a moment you will know who the real hunter is."]

[Su Qinghan took the others and, following the rope, carefully slid into the depths of the rift valley.]

[You remained on the cliff, pretending to diligently watch the rope while driving your Divine Sense to the limit, like an invisible spider web, shrouding the entire area below the rift valley.]

["Let me see, exactly how many little cuties are waiting for us?"]

[In your Divine Sense perception, Su Qinghan and the others went down all the way without encountering any danger.]

[Soon, they descended to a depth of about a thousand zhang and found the cave emitting the Spiritual Qi fluctuations.]

[The cave was large, filled with stalactites, and in the deepest part of the cave, on a stone platform in the middle of a pool, a plant that was entirely earthy yellow and resembled ginseng was growing quietly.]

[At the top of the plant, there were three fist-sized fruits, resembling potatoes, which were emitting enticing earth-element Spiritual Qi.]

["thick earth spirit ginseng! And it's a three-thousand-year specimen!"]

[A knowledgeable Disciple in the team exclaimed.]

["This... this is one of the main ingredients for refining the foundation establishment pill! This single plant is worth at least ten thousand Spirit Stones!"]

[Everyone's eyes turned red.]

[However, just as they were preparing to step forward to pick it, the calm pool suddenly began to bubble "gurgle, gurgle."]

["Roar—!"]

[A deafening roar rang out from the pool.]

[A giant python, ten zhang long, covered in earthy yellow scales with a single horn on its head, suddenly lunged out of the pool, opening its blood-red maw and biting towards the closest Disciple.]

["It's a peak Second-Stage Yao Beast, the Single-Horned Earth Dragon Python!"]

[Su Qinghan's expression changed, and she shouted sharply: "Form up!"]

[Everyone reacted quickly, immediately taking their positions according to the Formation they had practiced before, and various Magical Artifacts and Spells were blasted towards the giant python.]

[A great battle erupted instantly.]

[You sat on the cliff, watching the "live broadcast" through your Divine Sense, finding it quite interesting.]

["Fight, fight, the more intense the better. This Earth Dragon Python's strength is roughly equivalent to a Cultivator at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage; that will be enough for them to handle."]

[While watching the show, you continued to carefully probe the surroundings with your Divine Sense.]

[Sure enough, not long after, you discovered something amiss.]

[On the other side of the rift valley, about five hundred zhang away in another hidden cave, three figures were lurking.]

[They were wearing the attire of the Beast Taming Manor, their auras restrained, watching the battlefield below with greedy gazes.]

[Leading them was a youth with a hooked nose, whose cultivation was at the Middle Foundation Establishment Stage. Beside him lay a pitch-black Yao Beast, resembling a leopard, flicking its tongue, its eyes flashing with cold, fierce light.]

["Hehe, boss, these idiots from the Azure Cloud Sect really did lure out the guardian Yao Beast for us." A skinny Disciple smiled obsequiously.]

["Wait until they fight until both sides are heavily injured, then we will go out and wipe them all out! This thick earth spirit ginseng will be ours!" Another Disciple chimed in.]

[The hooked-nose youth sneered: "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. These idiots are destined to act as wedding clothes for us."]

[Hearing their conversation, you were amused.]

["Oriole? Sorry, I am the hunter waiting to eat the oriole."]

[You did not make a sound, continuing to wait quietly.]

[The battle below had entered a white-hot stage.]

[Su Qinghan's strength was indeed formidable; her Ice Heart Sword Art caused significant trouble for the Earth Dragon Python. But the Earth Dragon Python had thick skin and dense flesh, with astonishing defensive power, and they could not deal with it for a while.]

[As for the other Disciples, they were not so lucky. Two people had already been struck by the Earth Dragon Python's tail sweep, suffering heavy injuries and losing their combat effectiveness.]

["This cannot go on!" Su Qinghan's face also became somewhat pale.]

[Just then, the hooked-nose youth felt the timing was right.]

["Now! Attack!"]

[He grinned hideously, and together with his two subordinates, like three hunting falcons, they lunged out of the cave, charging straight at the battlefield below!]

["Oh no! It's the people from the Beast Taming Manor!"]

[The Azure Cloud Sect members, who were struggling against the Earth Dragon Python, saw the enemies suddenly emerge and all showed expressions of despair.]

[With a Yao Beast in front and strong enemies behind, this time, they were truly finished!]

["Hahaha! Little girl from the Azure Cloud Sect, hand over the treasure!"]

[The hooked-nose youth laughed wildly, heading straight for the thick earth spirit ginseng.]

[However, just as his hand was about to touch the Spirit Ginseng.]

[An imperceptible, hair-thin golden Sword Qi shot out silently from behind him.]

["Puchi."]

[A soft sound.]

[The wild laughter on the hooked-nose youth's face froze.]

[He looked down in disbelief, seeing a tiny blood hole had appeared where his heart was.]

[His vitality was completely severed at this moment.]

["Who...?"]

[He struggled to spit out the last two words, then collapsed straight down.]

[This sudden scene left everyone dumbfounded.]

[The two Beast Taming Manor Disciples who had charged out with him also stopped in their tracks, looking at their leader's corpse in terror.]

[Su Qinghan and the others, who were fighting the Earth Dragon Python, were also completely bewildered.]

[What is this situation? In-fighting?]

[Just then, a lazy voice came from above the cliff.]

["Oh my, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, why are you all so slow at fighting? I was about to fall asleep."]

[Everyone looked up upon hearing the voice, only to see you leisurely sliding down the rope, with a hint of "just woken up" drowsiness on your face.]

["Tang Xun!?"]

[Su Qinghan looked at you, her cold eyes filled with shock and confusion.]

[That Sword Qi just now... was it released by you?]

[Impossible! He is only at the Early Stage Foundation Establishment; how could he possibly release such terrifying Sword Qi that could kill a Middle Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator in one strike? Moreover, she hadn't even noticed when he had made his move!]

["You... you killed our boss!?"]

[The remaining two Beast Taming Manor Disciples finally reacted, pointing at you in shock and anger.]

["Yes." You picked your ear and said with a matter-of-fact expression, "Didn't you see he was trying to snatch our treasure? This is called self-defense."]

[As you spoke, you stepped forward, walking towards the thick earth spirit ginseng.]

[The Earth Dragon Python, which was fighting Su Qinghan and the others, seemed to have sensed you as a new threat; it abandoned Su Qinghan, roared, and turned to lunge towards you.]

["Careful!" Su Qinghan exclaimed.]

[However, you couldn't even be bothered to look at it.]

[You simply extended your right hand, pressed your index and middle fingers together, and lightly tapped towards the behemoth lunging at you.]

["Noisy."]

[A Geng Metal Sword Qi, even more solid and sharp than the previous one, shot out from your fingers.]

[In the horrified gazes of everyone, that Sword Qi easily pierced through the Earth Dragon Python's hard skull, which it had been so proud of.]

["Bang!"]

[The Earth Dragon Python's massive body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.]

[A peak Second-Stage Yao Beast, was just like that... killed with a single tap?]

[The entire cave fell into a deathly silence.]

[Everyone looked at you blankly, as if they had been hit by an immobilization Spell.]

[The two Beast Taming Manor Disciples were so scared their legs went weak, and they collapsed directly onto the ground, a foul, urine-like stench coming from their crotches.]

[You ignored them and walked straight to the thick earth spirit ginseng, reaching out your hand, ready to pull it out by the roots.]

[But just as your hand was about to touch it, you suddenly stopped.]

[You suddenly turned your head, your gaze like lightning, shooting towards a patch of shadow in the depths of the cave.]

["Watched for so long, it's time to come out, right?"]

[Your voice sounded exceptionally clear in the silent cave.]