"Hmm?"
"Xiaobai sensed a spirit object in the valley beneath that mountain peak?"
At this moment, Qin Wang received a message from the Spirit-Seeking Rat hidden in his backpack, indicating that the valley under the tall mountain was saturated with spiritual energy.
"While other places are covered in grass, this valley has Celestial Blue Fruits and Earth Dragon Beasts."
"It seems there's something beneath this valley!"
Standing among more than a hundred observing cultivators, Qin Wang's eyes showed a thoughtful expression. The surrounding cultivators ranged from the eighth to the twelfth level of the Qi Refining stage, and surely, some of them had noticed the peculiarity of this place! Wait for others to leave and then grab the item beneath?
Impossible.
Qin Wang observed the valley, which was about 300 feet in circumference, nestled between two 500-foot peaks, filled with dense spiritual energy forming a misty veil.
In the middle of the valley stood an ancient Celestial Blue Fruit tree over ten feet tall, bearing more than ten fist-sized fruits. Beside this ancient tree grew various other spiritual herbs, all flourishing vigorously.
"Everywhere else is overgrown with weeds over ten feet tall, yet this valley contains so many spiritual herbs and the Celestial Blue Fruit needed for refining Foundation Establishment Pills! This valley is certainly extraordinary!"
"Indeed! The spiritual energy here is extremely dense, even allowing the Earth Dragon Beasts to grow so large. There must be something unusual under this valley!"
"The two fellow cultivators make a valid point!!"
"..."
More and more cultivators gathered around the valley, engaging in fervent discussions.
At this moment.
Three cultivators at the eleventh level of the Qi Refining stage, each holding a magical sword in their right hand and a magical tool in their left, cautiously approached the valley. With a flick of their wrists, they sent long spider silk magical tools toward the Celestial Blue Fruit tree, attempting to pluck a few fruits from a distance.
"Screech!~~~"
"Screech!!!"
Suddenly, three ten-foot-long, barrel-thick, fiery red Earth Dragon Beasts erupted from the ground near the three cultivators, flinging dirt everywhere as they charged at the cultivators at lightning speed!
The three cultivators, caught off guard, hastily retreated and each activated talismans, creating protective shields, but it was already too late.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three loud explosions rang out as the three eleventh-level Qi Refining cultivators were blasted away by the Earth Dragon Beasts, spraying blood in mid-air and crashing heavily ten feet away, barely clinging to life. One of them had even lost a leg, with blood gushing from the stump, clearly beyond saving.
The three Earth Dragon Beasts, writhing their bodies, did not continue their attack. Instead, they turned and burrowed back into the ground, vanishing from sight.
"These Earth Dragon Beasts can attack from underground without warning. It's terrifying!"
"How many such powerful Earth Dragon Beasts are there in this valley?!"
"Let's retreat a bit; if one of these beasts emerges from the ground, we're done for!"
"..."
Witnessing the grim fate of the three eleventh-level Qi Refining cultivators who failed to steal the Celestial Blue Fruits, the nearly two hundred observing cultivators retreated several hundred feet, eyes filled with caution!
"This valley must be harboring many Earth Dragon Beasts. Snatching the Celestial Blue Fruits might be harder than reaching the heavens."
Qin Wang, more cautious than the retreating cultivators, moved back another eight hundred feet, warily scanning his surroundings.
He had seen firsthand how the three eleventh-level Qi Refining cultivators were rendered helpless by the Earth Dragon Beasts' ambush.
At his current level, the eleventh in the Qi Refining stage, he was on par with those three.
If he were to be ambushed by an Earth Dragon Beast, he would not fare any better!
Better to be cautious.
"These Earth Dragon Beasts have immense vitality. If I could absorb their vitality, how powerful would my body become?"
At this moment.
On a rock three hundred feet away from Qin Wang, Yanhong Hao, a tall figure with long hair and a magical sword in hand, gazed at the Earth Dragon Beasts repeatedly emerging from the valley, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Furthermore.
Yanhong Hao was well aware that the valley's dense spiritual energy had strengthened the Earth Dragon Beasts. Whatever was beneath must be extraordinary.
Although.
His cultivation hadn't reached the twelfth level of the Qi Refining stage, his physical strength was equivalent to that of someone at the twelfth level.
Around the valley.
More and more cultivators gathered, and by nightfall, nearly five hundred cultivators surrounded the area within a three-mile radius! Moreover.
Qin Wang noticed that the number of ten-foot-long Earth Dragon Beasts in the valley was unknown. Already, seven or eight cultivators attempting to steal the Celestial Blue Fruits had been ambushed and devoured by the Earth Dragon Beasts! By late night.
The surrounding cultivators retreated five miles but refused to leave.
"The number of people is increasing..."
Qin Wang sat cross-legged on a large rock, deeply frowning.
In the early morning hours.
Daily Information Refreshed!
Today's Information!
1: Yesterday, you witnessed mutant Earth Dragon Beasts devouring cultivators. Information acquired: These Earth Dragon Beasts mutated by absorbing underground spirit essence, growing larger with innate abilities: Concealed Breath, Burrowing, and Devouring.
2: Yesterday, you witnessed mutant Earth Dragon Beasts devouring cultivators. Information acquired: The valley contains 1,487 Earth Dragon Beasts, 28 mutant Earth Dragon Beasts, and one third-level mutant Earth Dragon Beast King.
3: Yesterday, you witnessed mutant Earth Dragon Beasts devouring cultivators. Information acquired: The mutant Earth Dragon Beast King possesses immense physical strength, comparable to the early Foundation Establishment stage.
4: Yesterday, you witnessed mutant Earth Dragon Beasts devouring cultivators. Information acquired: The three devoured cultivators were from the Spirit Herb Immortal Sect. Inner sect disciple Shi Zhongyu of the Spirit Herb Immortal Sect plans to leave at dawn after seeing his fellow disciples' tragic fate.
5: Yesterday, you sensed the valley's dense spiritual energy and suspected it was extraordinary. Information acquired: This valley was part of the Celestial Blue Fruit orchard of the Myriad Spirits Sanctuary, with a Spirit Gathering Array Disc underground.
6: Yesterday, you spotted the Eighteenth Prince Chu Ping of the Celestial Chu Dynasty. Information acquired: Chu Ping possesses five Azure Ghost Swords.
7: Yesterday, you marveled at the valley's uniqueness. Information acquired: The Spirit Gathering Array Disc beneath the valley, made from Refined Essence Iron, includes one disc and eighteen flags. It absorbs and circulates spiritual energy, but due to its age, it functions at only ten percent of its peak capacity and needs repairs to restore full power.
8: Yesterday, you were awed by the mutant Earth Dragon Beasts' eerie ferocity. Information acquired: The mutant Earth Dragon Beast King's greatest fear is Spirit Salt Garlic Powder. For detailed preparation methods, click '●'.
9: Yesterday, you explored the Myriad Spirits Sanctuary's valley and peaks. Information acquired: The underground caves and stalactites of the peaks contain millennium spirit essence, which caused the Earth Dragon Beasts to mutate. Some millennium spirit essence remains in the ground.
10: Yesterday, you glimpsed Yanhong Hao, whom you had met once. Information acquired: Yanhong Hao practices a mysterious technique that absorbs the vitality of demonic beasts to strengthen his body. His physical strength rivals the twelfth level of the Qi Refining stage. Seeing the mutant Earth Dragon Beasts, he desires to absorb them.
"This valley contains a mutant Earth Dragon Beast King?"
"Its strength is comparable to the early Foundation Establishment stage?"
"There are twenty-eight mutant Earth Dragon Beasts?"
Qin Wang, reading the first three pieces of information, widened his eyes in shock.
He instinctively glanced at the ground beneath him.
Worried about a sudden Earth Dragon Beast attack.
"Shi Zhongyu? A disciple of the Spirit Herb Immortal Sect?"
"Catching him would secure the Foundation Establishment volume of the Spirit Concealing Technique for me, wouldn't it?"
Reading the fourth piece of information, Qin Wang felt a surge of excitement.
He knew.
His current Spirit Concealing Technique for the Qi Refining stage would be detected by those in the Foundation Establishment stage. But with the Foundation Establishment volume, he would no longer have to worry about that.