They arrived at a place filled with rolling hills, and the horizon was dominated by the mountains. A river wove through the landscape, creating a vast lake that shimmered like a jewel under the sun's caress.
Su Kang's gaze swept over the serene lake, his sharp eyes searching for any signs of the treasures, but he encountered only some beasts.
Su Kang utilized his spiritual perception to examine the vicinity. The region comprised of mountain ranges, bodies of water, and dense forestry, inhabited by a number of first-level beasts.
He didn't find anything else. He created a cave in one of the mountains with a flat surface. He took out an array plate and activated it to hide from the spiritual sense of the other people.
"Xi'er, there is nothing here. But let's stay here for now."
"We need to proceed northward, where the river splits into two branches," she responded.
"That place is just a few kilometers away from this. Let's start searching from this place."
From this place they can gaze around the lake and river; she, perched beside him, taking out the travel journal of the cultivators.
The flickering lantern cast dancing shadows, highlighting the delicate concentration on her face.
She sensed in her heart that this place harbored some treasure. Although uncertain of how, she felt a strong desire to assist Su Kang.
As night approached, Su Kang felt a presence in the lake. He went alone to see it clearly.
It was large, easily the size of a warhorse, with scales that shimmered with an oily black sheen. Spikes, sharp as obsidian shards, ran along its spine, and its jaws were lined with teeth like jagged knives.
The air around it crackled with an energy. The density of the spiritual energy radiating from it was akin to a foundation-building cultivator, if not stronger.
This was a lizard beast that had undergone a mutation. Su Kang concealed his presence and observed the creature.
The beast took out a white silver orb and placed it in between the stones. The orb was shining and absorbing the energy of the moonlight.
"This is a type of Yin treasure," Su Kang considered. Although he lacked precise knowledge, he could detect the moonlight and Yin energy emanating from it.
"This orb is collecting energy from the moon and storing it. However, this lizard is not suited for such energy," he thought.
Su Kang watched this for the whole night. As the sky began to glow with the sun's rays, the lizard took the orb into its mouth and retreated.
Su Kang followed it into the river; half an hour later, he saw a lizard entering an underwater cave.
As he followed him, Su Kang felt a sudden increase of the spiritual qi in the surroundings. When he entered the cave, he sensed the array formation at the end of the tunnel. At the end of the tunnel it was an open-air chamber.
Before him lay a third-level array. Although he could discern no visible anomalies, his spiritual sense was obstructed. He paused and attempted to identify an opening within the formation.
But it ended in failure. He left the cave through the tunnel and decided to wait for an opportunity.
He returned to the cave in the mountain and saw Bai Yunxi sitting there. He told her about the lizard beast.
"Don't worry, I can easily handle it."
Su Kang and Bai Yunxi waited for the night, but the lizard didn't come out.
They waited for two days before the beast came out again.
Bai Yunxi stayed inside the cave as Su Kang went out. The beast took out the orb again. Su Kang waited again, hiding his aura and presence.
As the night was fading out, the beast started to leave. Su Kang followed it again this time, and he used heart and mind illusion skills to trap the beast.
The beast succumbed to confusion, its eyes reflecting the chaos. Su Kang managed to overpower the creature, despite its natural instincts resisting his control.
The creature's instincts battled against the control, but its cultivation and soul power were inferior to Su Kang's.
Su Kang proceeded to interrogate the beast. While it lacked the ability to speak, it comprehended his language.
"Take me to your hideout." Su Kang ordered the beast.
The beast led him to an underwater river. They soon entered the cave, arriving at an open space within.
The lizard took out a token and opened the array formation. He took the token from the lizard and put it into the deep sleep.
Since the lizard told him everything that he asked, he is not afraid. After entering the formation, he can feel the dense spiritual energy in the space.
The cave system was vast and complex, with tunnels branching off in every direction.
He moved ahead into the chamber. After walking for tens of minutes, he felt a presence inside the chamber.
As he progressed further, an awe-inspiring sight unfolded before him: a colossal moonlight butterfly, its wings unfurled like the night sky, shimmering with shades of silver and blue.
It fluttered gracefully, casting a spell of tranquility over the cave. Yet, Su Kang felt this was no ordinary creature but a peak second-level spiritual beast.
He activated the Five Swords mansion technique. Five ethereal blades took shape around him, sparkling like stars woven into the fabric of the universe. They surged towards the butterfly in a breathtaking display of light and accuracy.
He also used Heart and Mind Illusion skills to confuse and attack the soul of the beast.
He could easily kill the beast, but he wants to capture it. Moonlight Butterfly has a low earth-level bloodline. It has potential to break through the third level in the future.
Although the Moonlight Butterfly experienced torment in its soul, it specializes in soul attacks.
Su Kang had not practiced heart and mind illusion techniques extensively, which allowed the Moonlight Butterfly to quickly recover from his assault.
However, five ethereal sword energies soon targeted the butterfly, with one sword piercing its body and subsequently exploding.
The force of the explosion propelled the Moonlight Butterfly, pulverizing the rock beneath it. Four additional swords remained encircling its body.
"I don't want to kill you. If you move, I will kill you instantly." Su Kang declared.
He was already holding back; otherwise, Moonlight Butterfly would have already died.
He wants to capture it alive instead of killing it.
"If you serve me for ten years, then I will let you go."
"If you refused, then I have to kill you."
He said his thoughts. Ten years is a small amount of time for such a breast.
Typically, their lifespans far exceed that of human cultivators. He did not wish for the Moonlight Butterfly to perceive its situation as enslavement.
Otherwise it might self-explode its body. Su Kang wanted to ask some questions, and Moonlight Butterfly would not answer him until it had fully surrendered.
The Moonlight Butterfly remained silent. After some contemplation, Su Kang continued,
"If you serve me for fifteen years, I will assist you in advancing to the next level."
His remaining four swords began to tremble, poised for another strike.
The Moonlight Butterfly recognized his intent. Realizing that its opponent was a core formation cultivator, it recognized its inability to defeat him.
Since he is here, the lizard is likely either captured or deceased at the hands of this human, the Moonlight Butterfly surmised.
The moonlight butterfly is just a few years away from its breakthrough. He has waited many years for it, and he didn't want to die now.
Moonlight Butterfly is just few years away from its breakthrough. It had waited many years for this moment and did not wish to perish now.
"You must swear a Heart oath." Su Kang received a message through spiritual transmission.
He understood that the beast had taken the bait. He promptly agreed and swore an oath to assist the Moonlight Butterfly in reaching the third level if it served him loyally for fifteen years.
The Moonlight Butterfly acquiesced to the surrender. Su Kang instructed the beast to open its spiritual consciousness and implanted his spiritual qi near the beast's consciousness.
If the beast tried to rebel, then Su Kang would kill him. If Su Kang broke his oath, then he would fail to advance to the next realm