106: Cooperation benefits both sides

The Disciples of the Fentian Sect were indeed skilled in fire-type Spells. Several red-robed Cultivators were continuously tossing out glittering fire beads. As the firelight bloomed, it transformed into a layer of crimson fire shields, protecting the nearby Cultivators within.

Just now, a Loose Cultivator was accidentally struck by a fireball from a Two-headed dog. Although the fire shield rippled, it stubbornly blocked the attack, leaving the Cultivator completely unscathed.

Even if a companion was occasionally sent flying by the flaming charge of a Two-headed dog, they would at most suffer minor injuries.

However, the powerful Physical Body of the Hellfire Two-headed Hounds made everyone increasingly cautious.

Su Ling nodded inwardly at this scene and glanced at the fire shield on his body. It seemed his Golden Light Body Protection Talisman wouldn't be needed for the time being. It would be better to concentrate his Spiritual Qi on the thunder shadow sword and slay a few more demons.

His gaze finally fell upon Luo Xuanxiao.

The performance of this lightning Cultivator was nothing short of stunning.

The pale violet Purple Cloud Divine Thunder coiled around him like a living thing. With every wave of his hand, several arcs of lightning shot toward that Peak Rank Three lead hound.

Although that lead hound was thick-skinned and could withstand fire attacks, it twitched continuously under the Zixiao Thunder. The mane on its body was scorched black by the lightning arcs, and it let out pained howls.

Looking at this momentum, Luo Xuanxiao would be able to kill it within moments.

"Zixiao Thunder Technique..."

After Cultivating the Azure Heaven Thunder Treasure Talisman, Su Ling had gained some knowledge of lightning techniques.

Lightning techniques in the cultivation world were generally divided into two major systems: 'Five Elements Thunder' and 'Nine Heavens Thunder'.

The silver-white Metal Thunder excelled at breaking defenses, the water-blue Water Thunder could freeze Spiritual Qi, and the dark-red Fire Thunder carried a burning effect; these all belonged to the superficial Five Elements Thunder.

The Nine Heavens Thunder, however, was a higher level of existence. Among them, the Purple Cloud Thunder was best at exorcising evil and repelling demons, possessing a restraining power over sinister and ghostly demons that far exceeded ordinary lightning techniques.

If it could be cultivated to a deep purple, its power would increase at least tenfold, and even an ordinary Peak Core Formation Cultivator might not be able to withstand a single strike.

"My Azure Heaven Thunder belongs to the Nine Heavens Thunder derived from Wood Thunder, possessing both the power to suppress evil and heal. But I've only just started; the lightning is still green, and its power is quite a bit weaker than the Purple Cloud Thunder."

Su Ling made his calculations, but his gaze did not leave the battlefield.

Strong as Luo Xuanxiao was, he had also drawn the attention of another Peak Rank Three lead hound.

That lead hound was hiding in the hound tide, quietly pouncing toward Luo Xuanxiao's back. Its two heads opened, and a dark red stream of flame was already condensing in its mouths.

"Watch out!"

Su Ling raised his left hand, and the gilded coiling dragon bell suddenly flew out, expanding to several feet in size to block Luo Xuanxiao's rear.

"Boom!"

The flame stream sprayed onto the bell, and a circle of golden ripples appeared on its surface as it was knocked into the air by the blast.

Luo Xuanxiao's Divine Sense covered the surroundings. Hearing the sound, he didn't even look back, though a hint of warmth flashed in his eyes. "Thanks!"

Immediately, the power of the Zixiao Thunder surged, and two bucket-thick pillars of lightning crashed down.

A breath later, the lead hound was shockingly transformed into two single-headed hounds.

But a moment later, they were struck into charcoal by the Purple Cloud Divine Thunder.

Meanwhile, the other Two-headed dog, which was still in good condition, fled frantically under the pursuit of the divine thunder.

Luo Xuanxiao had actually noticed that lead hound's movements long ago and was prepared to fight two enemies at once.

But 'Han Yu' stepping in to block a strike for him gave him ample time to deal with the enemy in front of him.

He still accepted this favor.

Su Ling nodded silently and continued to use his thunder sword to slay the surrounding Two-headed dogs.

This battle against the hound tide was both a scramble for merits and a contest of tacit understanding and strength among the Cultivators.

The National War had just begun, making it a good time to build mutual trust.

Everyone had already felt firsthand what it meant for cooperation to benefit both sides!

By forming Formations and casting Spells, even Peak Rank Three Demon Species were instantly annihilated.

In a scattered attack, facing a swarm of opponents, individual strength was incredibly insignificant.

Even though Wen Qingzhu and the others were strong enough, they still had to put in some effort.

If not for the support of other teammates, they would have had to spend most of their energy guarding against sudden attacks from other Two-headed dogs.

The duration of the battle would have been stretched indefinitely... An hour later, the battlefield, permeated with the smell of scorched flesh, finally fell silent.

Of the original overwhelming tide of over a thousand Hellfire Two-headed Hounds, only a few dozen remnants remained, fleeing toward the western wilderness with their tails between their legs and their wounded bodies, having lost even the courage to turn back and howl.

"Clean up the battlefield and rest on the spot for fifteen minutes."

Wen Qingzhu raised his hand and recalled the fire ring Magic Treasure floating in mid-air. As soon as the ring, which was surrounded by intense flame patterns, entered his sleeve, all its pressure vanished.

His voice spread clearly to every corner of the battlefield, allowing the Cultivators, who had been tense for a long time, to breathe a sigh of relief.

This area covered in blood and scorched earth had actually expanded to several miles in radius.

The mangled corpses of Two-headed dogs lay scattered on the ground. The scorching heat had not yet completely dissipated, and ashes from the burning still floated in the air.

Three Fentian Sect Disciples immediately stepped forward, took out several ownerless storage bracelets, and began systematically collecting the corpses scattered across the ground.

They were skilled in their movements, counting the numbers after each batch was collected, and then distributing the spoils one by one based on the amount of effort everyone had put into the battle just now.

These Hellfire Two-headed Hounds were no ordinary creatures; their bodies were filled with thick blood and Qi, and their fur and bones, covered in dark red patterns, were excellent Materials for Artifact Refining.

Although such Demonic Beasts did not have beast cores, any individual above Rank Three would breed a magic core rich in Demonic Energy within its body.

Demonic Energy was inherently a type of heaven and earth energy, but compared to the Spiritual Qi that Cultivators normally absorbed, it was a bit more violent and frenzied.

However, after several Cultivators skilled in Artifact Refining dissected a few magic cores on the spot to examine them, they all showed looks of pleasant surprise.

Inside these crystal-clear magic cores was extremely pure energy. Not only could it be used for Artifact Refining and Alchemy, but it could even serve as a charging Spirit Stone for Formations, its use being almost identical to a Spirit Stone.

This discovery spread like a gust of wind, and many Cultivators' faces showed ill-concealed joy.

No one had expected that, in addition to participating in this dangerous National War, there would be such an unexpected harvest. If their luck was good, they might even make a fortune from it.

One must know that when Loose Cultivators went out to hunt beasts in the past, they would at most travel in groups of three to five. Not only did they have to be constantly on guard against sudden attacks from Yao Beasts, but their gains were also extremely limited.

It was nothing like now, where dozens or even hundreds of people fought side by side. Even when facing swarms of Demon Species, they could sweep them away through tacit cooperation.

Such operations not only significantly improved safety, but the spoils obtained were several times greater. It was an unprecedented opportunity.

Su Ling looked at the harvest distributed to him: a total of twenty-three Two-headed dog corpses.

Thirty percent of them were Rank Three or higher, and there were even two at the Late Stage of Rank Three.

He was slightly stunned, his face showing a look of surprise.

During the battle just now, he had deliberately hidden his true abilities, always controlling his strength and not going all out to slaughter in every direction.

Thinking back carefully, the number of Rank Three Two-headed dogs he had personally killed was actually only four or five, yet the amount he received now far exceeded his expectations.

He glanced not far away and saw that the corpses of those Peak Rank Three Two-headed dogs had indeed gone to the ten or so Peak Core Formation Cultivators who had been the first to break the Formation, and he understood.

It seemed that Wen Qingzhu, as the leader, was indeed doing his best to ensure a fair distribution, neither mistreating the strong who put in the most effort nor letting the ordinary Cultivators lose out.

This fairness earned Su Ling's approval for this Fentian Sect Cultivator.