160: Plan before you act

Boom!!!

A duller and more terrifying boom than the one from the previous hunt for the Dragon Turtle exploded!

Iron Pincer and ten Demon Soldiers struck together. The Formation's light dimmed sharply, but it did not collapse, holding firm against this ferocious impact!

The Alligator Dragon's head was dazed by the counter-shock, and it stood frozen in place.

Now!

Gao De, who had been hiding in the shadows, moved!

He did not choose to attack the shell or the head. Instead, he highly compressed the power of the Prison Suppressing Thunder Domain into his right claw. Like a streak of twisted Purple Lightning, he used Lightning Evasion to appear instantly at the slightly raised, relatively weak throat of the Turtle-Backed Alligator Dragon!

"Thunder Prison · Void-Breaking Cone!"

The point of extreme purple-black lightning at his claw tip was no longer scattered armor-piercing energy, but was condensed into a spiral cone. Carrying the unique spatial stagnation and suppression effects of the Prison Suppressing Thunder Domain, it pierced in fiercely!

"Puchi—!"

This time, the sound carried the sticky sensation of muscle and cartilage being forcibly torn!

The highly compressed Thunder Essence exploded instantly, destroying the structural tissues of the throat and eroding into the skull and chest!

"Roar—!!!"

Still in a dazed state, the Turtle-Backed Alligator Dragon let out an unprecedented scream of agony and deathbed madness!

It jerked its head violently, biting wildly as its limbs flailed. The entire platform shook under its death struggle, and rocks cracked!

"Suppress it with all your strength! Attack the wound!" Gao De succeeded in one strike and did not stay. He left the finishing blow to his Demon Soldiers, retreating while shouting orders.

Green Edge and the Demon Soldiers closed the Formation again, their attacks falling like rain on the bloody throat wound.

Iron Pincer also accumulated Demonic Power, tightly entangling the Alligator Dragon's most violently struggling limbs and head to limit its movement.

Gao De stood in the air to assist, his claws waving. Chains of Purple Lightning emerged from the Void Realm, wrapping around the neck wound like living things, strangling inward and injecting destructive Thunder Essence to prevent self-healing and a final counterattack.

The Turtle-Backed Alligator Dragon's struggle weakened, and blood stained a large area of the water.

Its proud, ferocious back shell was useless now, failing to protect its most fatal weakness.

When the last trace of life vanished, Gao De stepped forward again to devour its soul essence and the Origin of its Turtle-Dragon mixed blood.

This time, the incoming power was more violent and hot, carrying the heaviness of turtles and the ferocity of dragons. It collided and fused with the Purple Lightning Flood Dragon Bloodline in his body, bringing a more obvious sense of growth.

"Bloodline concentration increased by about 3%... Mastery over the body and understanding of the Dragon Clan Legacy have deepened," Gao De noted silently.

The Blood Essence concentration of this Alligator Dragon was indeed not low, increasing his power by so much at once.

Quickly cleaning the battlefield and processing the Alligator Dragon's corpse, the team withdrew quietly again.

Soon after returning to Qianjiao Cliff, Turtle Three Thousand's new intelligence arrived.

"Master, I have investigated clearly!" Turtle Three Thousand's voice was heavy and urgent.

"The chaotic battle at Cold Crystal Pool has temporarily subsided, but the situation was tragic. According to various sources, a team of Demon Soldiers under the Heavenly Demon Cult and the Thunder Tiger Demon King targeted the Silver-Scaled Gyarados King almost simultaneously. They encountered each other outside Cold Crystal Pool and fought fiercely.

That Silver-Scaled Gyarados King is cunning and fierce. While the two sides were fighting, it suddenly charged out from the depths of the cold pool, using a powerful 'Silver Shuttle Water-Splitting Piercer' Divine Ability, severely wounding several Third-Rank experts on both sides.

In the end, it was a three-way melee with heavy casualties. The Heavenly Demon Cult seemed to suffer a bit, retreating in disarray.

The Thunder Tiger Demon King did not come personally, but his Demon Soldiers suffered losses and have temporarily retreated to the outskirts to monitor. Although the Silver-Scaled Gyarados King is injured, it successfully repelled the enemies. Its ferocity is even greater, and it is currently hiding in the core area of Cold Crystal Pool, licking its wounds."

Gao De's dragon eyes narrowed, tapping his finger on the Jade Slip: "Heavenly Demon Cult... it really is them. Domineering and greedy. That fellow Thunder Tiger isn't one to stay quiet either. This Silver-Scaled fellow is truly a tough nut to crack, managing to carve out a path under the greed of two parties."

"Exactly," Turtle Three Thousand added, "Furthermore, regarding the 'Cloud-Patterned Water Boa', there is a new discovery.

The scouts combined water vein fluctuations and various traces to calculate its most likely range of activity: a complex water area in the southwest of the Great Marsh called 'Thousand Illusions'.

It is covered in thick miasma and mist year-round, with ever-changing terrain where water and swamps intersect, perfect for its hiding habits.

A 'Second-Rank Phantom Jellyfish' Demon Soldier I arranged risked going deep into the edge and vaguely sensed a very obscure but high-level Dragon Bloodline aura flashing deep within the mist."

"Thousand Illusions..." Gao De pondered for a moment.

The environment there was more complex and eerie than the Undercurrent Belt and the North Abyss Rift. Divine Sense was severely restricted, and natural miasma harmed non-wood or water-attributed beings.

However, for him, who possessed Hidden Scale Concealing Scenery and Heaven-Confusing Illusionary Mist, this environment might be where he could play to his advantages.

"Master, shall we follow the original plan and turn to hunt the Cloud-Patterned Water Boa?" Turtle Three Thousand asked for instructions.

"No, the plan changes again."

A hint of greed flashed in Gao De's eyes. "The Silver-Scaled Gyarados King has just gone through a major battle and is seriously injured. This is its weakest moment, and also when its vigilance might be relatively highest.

But right now, it must also be the target of everyone. The Heavenly Demon Cult suffered a loss and won't let it go. The Thunder Tiger Demon King lost men and can't lose Face. Perhaps there are other Loose Cultivators or forces watching in the shadows."

He paused, thought for a moment, and continued: "If we go for the Silver-Scaled now, the risk is still extremely high, and it's easy to get involved in a larger conflict and expose ourselves. While the Cloud-Patterned Water Boa is hidden in the mist, finding and hunting it takes time and has many variables."

"Then what do you mean, Master?" Turtle Three Thousand was a bit confused.

"We are going to 'watch the play', and incidentally... pick up some 'scraps'."

Gao De's lips curled into a cold arc. "Notify Green Edge and Iron Pincer. The team doesn't need to return. Turn directly to the outskirts of Cold Crystal Pool and hide at the maximum distance. We won't touch the Silver Shuttle, but we'll watch those 'orioles' who are also watching the Silver Shuttle."

"Master wants to...?" Turtle Three Thousand seemed to understand something.

"Cold Crystal Pool has become the eye of the storm, and the Silver Shuttle is at the center. But around the storm, there will always be some 'small fry' who were dragged in or wanted to take advantage but lacked the strength.

For example, some lone Heavenly Demon Cultists, injured Demon Soldiers under the Thunder Tiger Demon King, or self-righteous powerful Loose Cultivators." Gao De's voice was calm but bone-chilling.

"Their Blood Essence and souls might not be as pure as Dragon-Blooded Creatures, but many drops make an ocean; they are also excellent nutrients for nurturing Demon Soldiers.

More importantly, we might get more specific intentions and intelligence about their forces' plans for this 'dragon blood Restlessness' from them. This is called 'beating the grass to catch the rabbit', killing two birds with one stone."

"Master is wise!" Turtle Three Thousand realized. This plan avoided the brunt of the conflict while gaining practical benefits and intelligence, fitting his master's consistent steady yet ruthless style.

"Additionally, regarding the Cloud-Patterned Water Boa," Gao De changed the subject, "don't stop the investigation. Have the Demon Soldiers skilled in scouting continue to analyze Thousand Illusions, map out the hydrology and miasma more precisely, and find potential safe paths and the core activity area of the Water Boa. Once the 'excitement' at Cold Crystal Pool is over, or when there's a better opportunity, we'll turn back to deal with that slippery long worm."

"Yes! I will arrange it immediately!" Turtle Three Thousand took the order and left.