Cultivation: I Can Solidify Equipment Attributes

Chapter 245: Chapter 237: Water Element Beast Core

The next morning, the four of them continued their advance deeper into Lingxi Valley.

The deeper they went, the richer the concentration of Spiritual Qi became, and the number and strength of Demon Beasts increased as well. The stream widened, the cliffs on either bank grew steeper, and Spirit Grass and vines densely covered the rock faces.

Li Ze’an walked at the front, leading the way. He was clearly familiar with the terrain of Lingxi Valley, never hesitating at a single fork in the road.

Along the way, they dispatched a few Tier One Demon Beasts. They were all pushovers, taken care of with just one or two spells.

Upon reaching a narrow canyon passage, Li Ze’an stopped in his tracks.

"The target area is just ahead," he said in a low voice. "When I scouted this place before, I found a Tier Two Middle Grade Demon Beast had taken up residence here. I couldn’t make out its exact species, but its aura is very powerful."

The four of them slowed their pace and proceeded cautiously along the canyon passage.

The end of the passage opened into an expansive valley, twice the size of the one they had cleared the day before. In the center of the valley lay a shallow wetland where large Spiritual Lotus Leaves floated on the surface. Beneath them, something could be seen faintly swimming in the water.

The muddy ground at the wetland’s edge was covered in numerous tracks. Hoofprints, claw marks, and deep grooves from something being dragged crisscrossed in a chaotic mess.

Li Yuan’s keen Spiritual Sense was the first to pick up on the auras.

Deep within the wetland, beneath the water’s surface.

Tier Two Middle Grade. Its aura was calm and profound, with distinct Water Attribute fluctuations.

At the same time, there was another, extremely faint aura in the grass at the wetland’s edge. Tier One Low Grade, almost negligible.

"One large and one small," Li Yuan said. "The Tier Two Middle Grade is underwater, and the Tier One Low Grade is in the grass on the bank."

Li Ze’an and the female cultivator simultaneously extended their Divine Sense.

"Let’s deal with the small one first," Li Ze’an said.

The female cultivator’s short sword flew from its sheath, and a wave of Sword Qi slashed into the grass.

A small, three-foot-long green snake shot out from the grass. Its scales were wet and slippery, and its body was nimble. After the Sword Qi grazed its tail, it desperately fled toward the wetland.

Tier One Low Grade—beneath notice. Li Yuan casually cast a Fireball Technique, killing the small snake.

But just before it died, the small snake let out a piercing shriek.

The surface of the wetland erupted in an instant.

A massive figure burst from the water, sending a column of water splashing dozens of feet high.

It was nearly twice the size of yesterday’s green-scaled water lizard. Its entire body was covered in deep blue scales, the edges of which glinted with a cold, silver light. Its form was elongated, its limbs powerful, and the webbing between its toes was much wider than the green-scaled water lizard’s.

Its head was held high, its vertical pupils radiating an icy killing intent. Its lips curled back, revealing two rows of jagged fangs as a low roar rumbled from deep within its throat.

A Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard. A Tier Two Middle Grade Water Attribute Demon Beast.

Its gaze swept over the four humans on the bank, then fell upon the body of the slain snake.

The killing intent in its vertical pupils surged.

The Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard opened its maw, and a thick jet of water shot out, flying with extreme speed straight toward Li Yuan.

The power of the water jet far surpassed the Water Spiritual Power balls of yesterday’s green-scaled water lizard. The Spiritual Power density of a Tier Two Middle Grade beast made the jet’s destructive force nearly equivalent to a full-strength attack from a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Li Yuan dodged to the side. The jet of water grazed past him and slammed into the cliff wall behind, shattering rock and sending debris flying.

The female cultivator cut in from the side, her short sword striking five times in rapid succession as a rain of Sword Qi fell upon the Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard’s flank.

The scales were tough. The Sword Qi only left a few white marks on the surface, failing to break through its defense.

The defense of a Tier Two Middle Grade was a whole level above that of a Low Grade.

Li Yuan raised his right hand, channeling his Origin Condensation Skill.

Fire Python Skill.

The Fire Serpent, enhanced by the Origin Condensation Skill, was as thick as an arm, with crimson Spiritual Power roiling along its body. Trailing a searing heatwave, the Fire Serpent slammed directly into the Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard’s chest.

BOOM.

A patch of charred black appeared on the surface of its scales, and cracks spread an inch outward from the point of impact.

Stung by the pain, the Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard took two steps back, but it wasn’t substantially injured. Its tail suddenly swept sideways, heavy with Water Spiritual Power, lashing toward the female cultivator.

The female cultivator shot backward to evade. Mud flew where the tail swept by, and a half-foot-deep trench was gouged into the ground.

Li Ze’an attacked from the rear. A bolt of fiery red Spiritual Power shot from his palm. His aim wasn’t great, but it struck the Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard’s hind leg, causing its movements to falter for a moment.

Li Yuan seized the opening, smashing three consecutive Fireballs from the Fireball Technique into the same spot on the Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard’s chest.

The first widened the cracks, the second shattered the scale, and the third blasted into the layer of muscle beneath.

The Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard let out a deafening roar and lunged desperately toward the water.

It wanted to get back in the water.

The water was its home ground, where both its defense and attack would be greatly enhanced.

Just as the Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard lunged for the water, the female cultivator’s short sword sent a fierce wave of Sword Qi slashing into the joint of its foreleg. Though the Sword Qi didn’t sever the limb, it made the beast falter for half a breath.

Li Yuan raised his right hand again.

Origin Condensation Skill. Fire Python Skill.

This Fire Serpent was thicker and longer than the last, its Spiritual Power density pushed to the limit. The serpent bypassed the Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard’s flank and drilled directly into the wound already blasted open on its chest.

The Fire Serpent exploded inside its body.

Scorching flames erupted from every crevice between its scales. The Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard’s body arched violently, its limbs spasmed, and its massive frame crashed to the ground.

Its tail twitched a few times, then fell still.

Its aura dissipated.

The four of them stood in place, each steadying their breath.

The battle against the Tier Two Middle Grade Demon Beast had been much more intense than yesterday’s fight with the Tier Two Low Grade beast. The Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard’s defense and attack were a whole level above the green-scaled water lizard’s. If not for the combined assault of four Foundation Establishment Cultivators, fighting it one-on-one would have been a grueling struggle.

Li Ze’an walked over to the corpse of the Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard and crouched down to inspect it.

"A Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard, Tier Two Middle Grade. Its scales, bones, and Beast Core are all valuable materials."

Harvesting the materials took the better part of an hour. The Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard’s scales were exceptionally tough, requiring the Golden Blade Skill to cut them off one by one. The Beast Core was located deep within the abdominal cavity; it was deep blue and shimmered with the unique, cold luster of the Water Attribute.

Combined with the materials from the green-scaled water lizard slain yesterday, they had amassed a large pile from two Tier Two Water-Attribute Demon Beasts.

The spoils were divided up that evening.

Li Ze’an laid out the materials and Beast Cores on the ground, distributing them according to contribution.

Li Yuan and the female cultivator were the primary damage dealers, so they each received a large share. The Array Master and Li Ze’an were mainly responsible for support and the subsequent array construction, so they received smaller portions.

Li Yuan’s share of the spoils included one Tier Two Low Grade Beast Core of the Water Element, from the green-scaled water lizard killed yesterday. He also received a batch of scales and bones from the Jade-scaled Flood Dragon Lizard.

A Water Element Beast Core.

Tier Two Low Grade, Water Attribute.

Li Yuan placed the Beast Core in his palm and sensed it. ’No attribute fluctuations.’

Once the distribution was complete, the Array Master, a Senior Brother Zhou, began to lay out an array in the valley.

Li Ze’an stood to the side and explained the Li family’s plan.

"We plan to develop this area into a place for raising Spirit Beasts. The array system is split into two parts: first, a Defensive Array to prevent outside Demon Beasts from breaking in. Second, a Cultivation Array to regulate the area’s Spiritual Qi concentration and water quality, making it suitable for the growth of Spirit Beasts."

The Array Master surveyed the valley, determined the positions for the Array Foundation Stones, and then began to set up the array.

The process of laying the array took the better part of the day. Li Yuan watched for a while. The Array Master’s technique was as meticulous as when he had set up the Gathering Evil Array in the marketplace, but the type of array was different this time, focusing on Water Element Gathering Spirit and defense.

During a break in his work, they all sat at the edge of the valley to rest.

The female cultivator remained silent and reserved, sitting a short distance away to cultivate by herself. Li Ze’an and the Array Master discussed a few details about the array before the topic shifted to the current situation at the marketplace.

"Your marketplace is developing very quickly, Li Dao You," the Array Master said. "The last time I was there to set up the Gathering Evil Array, there were only a dozen or so stone houses. Now I hear there are dozens of shops."

"It’s a good location," Li Ze’an added. "It’s at the crossroads of Ghost Mist Forest, Lingxi Valley, and the Dry River Shoals. A geographical advantage like that is hard to come by."

He glanced at Li Yuan.

"The Li family’s operations in Lingxi Valley also need a nearby supply point, and your marketplace is perfectly situated. Once those ten shops are handed over, the Li family will arrange to have people stationed there long-term."

Li Yuan nodded.

The Array Master buried the final Array Foundation Stone in its position, finished laying the Conductive Spirit Sand, and poured in Spiritual Power to activate it.

The Defensive Array and the Cultivation Array activated simultaneously. The distribution of Spiritual Qi in the valley began to shift, and the concentration of Spiritual Qi around the pond started to rise slowly.

"The arrays are set," the Array Master said, clapping the dust from his hands. "The Li family can arrange for their own people to handle the subsequent maintenance."

The group packed their things and returned the way they came.

By evening, the four of them had returned to the marketplace.

Li Ze’an and the female cultivator said their goodbyes and departed, and the Array Master left as well.

Li Yuan returned to his stone house and put away his spoils.

The Tier Two Low Grade Water Element Beast Core was placed by itself in a separate compartment of his storage bag.

Water Element.

The condition to make *Baichuan Guihai* permanent was to consume two Tier Two pills of conflicting attributes. He already had the Fire Attribute Red Flame Condensing Essence Pill; he just didn’t know if this Beast Core could satisfy the requirement.

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