Chapter 82 Striking Out Again

Chapter 82: Striking Out Again

"That still won't be enough!" Lei Liheng, being the highest in cultivation here, essentially commanded everyone's attention, and they all looked to him.

Lei Liheng pondered for a moment before saying, "Let's hold out for three more days, let the demon beasts wear themselves down a bit more. If they still don't retreat, we'll see if we can try taking the initiative and strike out once!"

"Take the initiative? Fellow Daoist Lei, can you hold off that Kui Wood Wolf?" Li Yaozu asked.

"I certainly can't do it alone, but if Fellow Daoist Li and Fellow Daoist Cheng lend a hand, holding it off for a short while shouldn't be difficult!" The Lei Family's foundation was in artifact forging, and they possessed quite a few treasures. He had the confidence to make such a bold claim.

"But the remaining second-rank demon beasts are more than the other Fellow Daoists can handle!"

Lei Liheng's gaze sharpened. "That's why in the coming days, everyone must not hold back. Kill more second-rank demon beasts. That way, our future pressure will be lighter!"

Everyone nodded repeatedly.

Currently, there were fewer than a hundred second-rank demon beasts left, and they had nineteen Foundation Establishment cultivators. Killing more over these three days could reduce their numbers to around sixty or seventy. That number was still somewhat high.

Thus, Wang Hao suggested, "I have a Flying Cloud Boat that can quietly carry Foundation Establishment cultivators out to secretly eliminate a portion of the demon beasts. The only fear is running into that Kui Wood Wolf; after all, it's a third-rank demon beast!"

Wang Longyou immediately followed up, "The reason my Wang Family could reinforce so quickly was also by using this boat to defeat a group of demon beasts along the way." He then recounted what happened at Ling Lake.

Lei Liheng's eyes lit up. "That's an excellent method. The demon beasts are spread out on two sides of Green Bull Market, and there's distance between different species. This is our opportunity. As for the Kui Wood Wolf, I'll accompany you on this operation, young friend. If it discovers us, I'll hold it off for a moment!"

The others also thought this plan was good. Right now was when the beast horde was resting and their vigilance was weakest. For Foundation Establishment cultivators to strike out, fight, and then run, the success rate was very high.

Although the Kui Wood Wolf was third-rank, it wasn't a flying-type demon beast, so its escape speed wasn't that fast, giving everyone room to maneuver.

It was finally decided that ten Foundation Establishment cultivators would strike out while the rest remained to defend. Moreover, most of those striking out were mid or late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators; only Wang Hao was at the early stage. He was primarily responsible for operating the Flying Cloud Boat.

For their first target, everyone chose a herd of Unicorn Sheep—about two hundred first-rank demon beasts with five second-rank ones among them, the highest being only mid-grade second-rank. Dealing with such a small group would be far too easy for ten people.

Choosing them had another reason: most demon beasts were carnivores, while Unicorn Sheep were herbivores and prey for many of them. Therefore, their chosen resting ground was somewhat distant from other demon beasts, giving Wang Hao and the others an opportunity.

Without waiting for full darkness—just as the sun was setting in the west—Wang Hao concealed the Flying Cloud Boat within the clouds and quietly set off with everyone. Lei Liheng even took out a Spirit-Concealing Umbrella to hide the spiritual energy fluctuations emitted by the group.

As the distance closed, everyone held their breath. The Lei Family truly lived up to being an artifact forging family; the Spirit-Concealing Umbrella's effect was excellent. They flew right above the Unicorn Sheep without being detected; the sheep were resting on the ground in groups of two or three.

"Attack now! Remember, be quick and decisive!"

At Lei Liheng's command, he took out two small spheres crackling with lightning from his hand and hurled them fiercely at the herd, initiating the assault.

Boom!

The two spheres exploded with a roar, releasing streaks of lightning that struck down at the Unicorn Sheep. A group of first-rank sheep perished instantly; even two second-rank ones that didn't react in time were severely wounded.

The others didn't waste words either, each controlling their magical instruments to attack. Those five second-rank Unicorn Sheep died without even making a sound, drowned in the onslaught. More than half of the first-rank sheep were also killed or injured.

"Retreat quickly! Don't linger in battle!" Lei Liheng returned to the flying boat and urgently called out.

The remaining first-rank Unicorn Sheep didn't need attention; without second-rank leaders, they would only become food for other carnivorous demon beasts.

Once everyone returned to the flying boat, Wang Hao promptly activated it. The Flying Cloud Boat transformed into a long rainbow streak, flying back toward the great formation.

The Kui Wood Wolf noticed the commotion and came out to investigate but could only roar at their retreating backs.

With one successful strike, everyone's confidence greatly increased.

After briefly scouting the situation that same night, they struck out continuously again, eliminating seventeen second-rank demon beasts until the Kui Wood Wolf grew vigilant and summoned all demon beasts together. Only then did they lose further opportunities to continue their assaults.

"Hahaha! This success is entirely thanks to young friend's flying boat! The beast horde now has only over seventy second-rank demon beasts left; they pose little threat to Green Bull Market anymore!"

Sitting in a high seat, Lei Liheng laughed heartily while raising his wine cup. "Come now! Young Friend Wang! This old man offers you a toast!"

Wang Hao raised his cup in response and said modestly, "Senior praises me too highly! This junior merely operated the flying boat; it was you Seniors who eliminated the enemies! How dare I claim credit?"

That's what he said, but no one dared question his contribution. Because of this, the Wang Family also received five second-rank demon beast corpses—the same number as the Lei Family—while each of the other three families only got four.

"Fellow Daoist Wang need not be modest! Without your flying boat and without you providing spirit fruits to restore our Qi reserves," Li Yaozu laughed, "how could we have slain so many demon beasts overnight? It's just too bad that Kui Wood Wolf is too vigilant! From now on we can only continue passive defense!"

"Hmph! With only over seventy second-rank demon beasts and eight thousand first-ranks left," Lei Liheng snorted, "and our Green Bull Market having over fifteen thousand cultivators—if that Kui Wood Wolf doesn't wisely retreat—this old man will definitely make it stay here forever!"

Having fought all night and made a fool of the Kui Wood Wolf repeatedly made him speak with newfound boldness.

Actually, Wang Hao also had designs on the Kui Wood Wolf himself. After everyone dispersed, he found Wang Longyou.

"Granduncle, if we could obtain the Kui Wood Wolf's demon core, our Wang Family could produce several more Foundation Establishment Pills—we cannot miss this opportunity!"

Their family also possessed pill formulas using demon cores for refining Foundation Establishment Pills. Although not as effective as the Essence Condensing Fruit, they still produced Foundation Establishment Pills, didn't they? Even if only refining three pills, they could likely cultivate two Foundation Establishment cultivators anyway!

Of course, Wang Longyou felt tempted but still shook his head soberly. "But how can our strength handle a third-rank demon beast? Don't risk your life because of greed!"

"Granduncle, look what this is?" Wang Hao took out that talisman inscribed with golden small swords.

"This..." Wang Longyou took it, carefully examining it before saying, "This is a Talisman Treasure! Where did you get it?"

Wang Hao roughly explained about being ambushed. "Granduncle, most likely the Qingyuan Sect leaked my whereabouts. They already guard against us now—in the future, they probably won't sell us Foundation Establishment Pills anymore! If we don't seize this chance, our family must wait fifty years until the Essence Condensing Fruit ripens again—too long!"

Actually, his farm's Essence Condensing Fruit tree had been planted over two years ago; in another four years, it could produce fruit. But farm items' origins were hard to explain clearly—only after he advanced to a high-grade second-rank alchemist later could he refine them himself. Once his cultivation was higher, he could naturally find ways to conceal things.

But time didn't allow—since planning to seek resources overseas, accompanying clansmen who were stronger was naturally safer. The Kui Wood Wolf's demon core was the perfect opportunity!

Wang Longyou sat silently tapping the table rhythmically with his fingers before finally speaking with concern, "But even a Talisman Treasure does not offer much certainty against a full-strength Kui Wood Wolf. At most, it would severely injure it, but if it wants to escape, we cannot stop it."

Wang Hao chuckled lowly. "Aren't there other Fellow Daoists too? That Kui Wood Wolf doesn't seem the type to endure humiliation and retreat quietly. From the start, it never personally attacked. Even if leaving, it will probably deal Green Bull Market a heavy blow first! If it fights the other Fellow Daoists and both are mutually wounded, isn't that our chance?"