Chapter Sixteen: Abduction and Counter-Kill

  ……

  After the crowd rested for half a day and had a delicious snake meat meal, they carefully searched along the valley. In less than half a day's work, they found the sect token indicated in the task, but the demon beast mentioned in the task prompt was nowhere to be seen. It was clear that the giant snake was the guardian of the task. What was strange was why the demon beast would leave the task point and run seven or eight miles away?

  After confirming that the task was completed, the three of them began to ponder. Wasn't there something that attracted that giant snake? After all, monsters have a stronger sense of heaven and earth spirits than humans. With this speculation, they went back to the original battlefield to search for it anyway, as it wouldn't take much time.

  After spending more than half a day, Lei Dong was lucky enough to find a Lingzhi in a hidden and humid area at the bottom of a ditch. Because Lei Dong often reads various records, he carefully identified it for a while and confirmed that this Lingzhi should be nearly 100 years old. Of course, the so-called 100-year-old fire is not representative of how long the Lingzhi has grown, but rather a classification of the fire level of some spiritual grasses and objects. If in an area with abundant spiritual energy, it will grow faster, and maybe in just a few decades, it can reach this level. If it's a bit worse, it may not even reach the fire level after 200 years.

  But anyway, this lingzhi has not yet reached the hundred-year fire. Perhaps the giant snake left its post and came here to guard this lingzhi that has not yet reached the fire. Because spiritual objects that have reached a certain stage of fire have effects that far surpass those that have not yet reached the fire. For example, this lingzhi may be just one line away, but it is precisely this line that makes the price difference perhaps ten times, or even several dozen times.

  As a result, the three of them were hesitant after their initial excitement. If they picked it now, they might each get a few spirit stones. But what if the lingzhi matured in just a few days? It was indeed everyone's good fortune to encounter such a high-grade lingzhi in this wilderness. However, good fortune wasn't something that could be relied upon to come again and again. Who knew how long they would have to wait for another opportunity like this?

  "Just pick it. Wei Hua also suggested with a heartache: 'Heaven knows how many years this guy will take to mature? We can't guard here all day, and who knows if someone else discovers it and picks it up. This time, let's just be shortsighted once and put it in the bag for safety.'"

  "Alright, then let's just harvest it." Chen Ge also gritted his teeth and said, why did they encounter this lingzhi when it wasn't yet ripe? It had to torture people like this.

  "Wait." Lei Dong stopped him, "I seem to have read somewhere that if you encounter immature wild spiritual grass in the wild, you can transplant it back and cultivate it. Although there's a possibility of damaging it during transplantation, it's still better than killing it for its eggs. Maybe after raising it for a few days or at most one or two years, it'll be worth over a hundred spirit stones."

  "Transplant?" Chen Ge and Wei Hua, apparently didn't have the leisure to think about those miscellaneous books. Unconsciously, they felt both surprised and suspicious. Over a hundred Spirit Stones, with three people sharing equally, each person would get several tens, which was indeed very tempting.

  Fortunately, Chen Wei and the others, although calm in nature, were also heavily addicted to gambling. The benefits that differed by ten times immediately made them agree with Lei Dong's words. Lei Dong had previously received their benefits and decided to go back first to review the data and prepare the transplant tools. As for Chen Wei and the others, they hid nearby to guard the Lingzhi.

  More than 300 miles away, it's also a bit of a hassle without a horse-drawn carriage.

  Although Lei Dong had already washed and shaved, he ran very fast. But even so, it took him several days to make a round trip.

  Chen Wei and the others, who had been waiting anxiously, were thrilled to see Lei Dong. They had been guarding the desolate mountain forest for several days, which was also a bit depressing. However, Lei Dong did not dare let them participate in the excavation, after all, he had read some materials. These two guys basically didn't understand anything. He let the two of them keep watch while he himself jumped down into the ditch and took out a jade box and jade shovel that he had exchanged for with a spirit stone. With great care, he transplanted the lingzhi mushroom.

  This thing is worth hundreds of spirit coins and can be exchanged for dozens of second-level spiritual beasts, which also makes Lei Dong not dare to be careless. After spending nearly half a time, he finally put the lingzhi into the jade box without any damage. The biggest function of the jade box is to keep the spirituality of the lingzhi from dispersing outward. However, it still needs to be transplanted to a suitable environment as soon as possible.

  Just as Lei Dong was about to catch his breath and climb up, he heard a commotion from above the ditch. Especially loud was Wei Hua's voice, who sounded extremely angry as he shouted: "We just arrived here too, we haven't seen any second-level demonic beasts or sect treasures either! You're just a Qi Refining Second Layer, and two of you are only Qi Refining First Layer, don't think you can bully us!"

  Lei Dong hastily stopped his actions, and Wei Hua's words were clearly shouted at him. Silently, Lei Dong summoned his beloved Ghost General, slowly climbing up the ditch. Taking a sneak peek, he indeed saw three men and women wearing the uniform of the third generation disciples of the Yin Xie Sect, facing off against Chen Wei and the others.

  Of course, these three are obviously not from the Wan Gui Cave. Otherwise, even if they were not familiar with each other, at least they would have recognized one another. As expected, the first of them, a second-layer Qi Refining cultivator, spoke in an arrogant and cold tone: "You seem to be people from the Wan Gui Cave? I'm afraid we've been bullying you. What do you say? If you're sensible, hand it over; otherwise, after breaking your limbs and searching you, it would be a waste of spiritual energy." As he spoke, he raised his hand, revealing a fiery red flying sword that was clearly far superior in quality to the dark green small swords wielded by Lei Dong and the others.

  It turned out that the extremely yin cave was a person, although everyone was a disciple of the Yin Evil Sect, but they also divided into different schools and mountain heads. Among them, there would naturally be discord and competition. It is said that the extreme yin old ancestor of the Wan Gui Ku had always been at odds with his own Wan Gui old ancestor. Thinking of this, Lei Dong couldn't help but have some ideas. He drove the ghost soldiers to detour far away, circled a big circle, and then slowly approached that second-layer arrogant guy with extreme caution.

  The three of them couldn't see, but Lei Dong deliberately let Chen Guo Hua see the ghostly guards. These two guys were not old in years, but due to their family background, they were both cunning and treacherous. They put on a vicious and ferocious appearance and shouted: "What do you want to do? Don't mess around! We are all fellow disciples of the same sect, if you dare to mess around, we will report it to the Ancestor of the Ten Thousand Ghosts and make you pay the price."

  "Haha." The young man who had reached the second layer of Qi refinement saw Chen Ge and the others' timid appearance, and guessed that they were afraid. After laughing loudly, he sneered: "The world of cultivation is one where the strong prey on the weak. If you're not capable, don't blame others for bullying you. Reporting to the authorities? That's laughable. Don't even mention that you're not core disciples of the Wan Gui Cavern, even if you were, the Old Ancestor of Wan Gui wouldn't be able to help you."

  "You're talking nonsense! Our ancestors' divine skills are unparalleled in the world, and no one can match them. If you dare to make a move, he will definitely help us take revenge!" Wei Hua also shouted loudly.

  The thunder was a bit strange, but it just made these two guys attract each other's attention. But what's the point of loudly flattering the old ancestor of Wan Gui? However, doubts aside, he still drove the ghostly soldiers to sneak up behind that arrogant guy.

  "Whatever, your Wan Gui Ku is always ranked below our Ji Yin Dong. I'm a core disciple of Ji Yin Dong, killing you few ants is nothing. That old man Wan Gui wouldn't dare to confront my ancestor for the sake of you ordinary disciples, would he? Even if he did, I'm not afraid, my Ji Yin ancestor isn't afraid of your Wan Gui either." The guy became more and more pleased with himself, his mouth started to mutter incantations, a sinister smile spreading across his face: "Looks like you're obstinately ignorant, then let you taste the flavor of my Huo Yun Sword."

  He had barely finished speaking, and before he could even react to the flying sword, his face suddenly changed color. He felt a chill on his back and turned around in confusion. Just then, he heard a faint rustling sound, and saw a bright red, fully armored ghost soldier with a ferocious grin, charging towards him with its blade already sweeping across his neck.

  Blood rained down.