Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 356 - 268 News_1

Chapter 356: 268 News_1

In a secluded courtyard with green tile roofs, Shen Long sat beside a cyan stone table, while Song He stood to one side, saying something to Shen Long.

"Senior Shen, you had us gather the demon cores of Hundred Eyes Cicadas. Here are two third-rank, late-stage Hundred Eyes Cicadas’ demon cores, as well as some Spiritual Medicine."

Song He took out a golden jade box and a cyan Storage Bag and handed them to Shen Long.

When Shen Long opened the jade box, he saw two golden demon cores inside. His Divine Sense swept over the Storage Bag, finding over a hundred stalks of Spiritual Medicine, mostly five to six hundred years old.

"Decades have passed, how have you and your siblings fared?"

Shen Long asked casually.

"Thanks to the Healing Pills you gave us, Senior Shen, we would have died otherwise."

Song He expressed his gratitude.

Before Shen Long left the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm, he sold two bottles of Gold Ganoderma Pills to Song He. Over the years, Song He and his siblings had hunted Monster Beasts, suffering serious injuries numerous times. After taking Gold Ganoderma Pills and resting for some time, they recovered.

"By the way, do you have any news about a fourth-rank Flood Dragon?"

Shen Long inquired.

"No, but junior knows of a fourth-rank Gold-Winged Thunder Eagle’s nest."

Song He replied.

"A fourth-rank Gold-Winged Thunder Eagle!"

An interested expression appeared on Shen Long’s face.

During his last trip to the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm, Shen Long obtained a third-rank Absorbing Thunder Pearl and a third-rank Leading Thunder Pearl. He had Chu Buyu refine them into Taiji Thunder Beads, which proved to be quite helpful to Shen Long.

"This is the Gold-Winged Thunder Eagle’s nest. Junior intended to sell the information to the Ximen Family, but if Senior Shen is interested, junior won’t notify the Ximen Family."

Song He took out a cyan beast hide and handed it to Shen Long.

The cyan beast hide was an Ocean Chart depicting many islands.

"How did you discover the fourth-rank Gold-Winged Thunder Eagle, and how did you manage to escape?"

Shen Long asked with curiosity.

"Junior and siblings were hunting Monster Beasts in a certain sea area when we chanced upon a Gold-Winged Thunder Eagle fighting a Green Wind Falcon high in the sky. We immediately retreated, and later, junior and the others frequently spotted the Gold-Winged Thunder Eagle near a desolate island. We hid beneath the sea, a good distance from the island, so the Gold-Winged Thunder Eagle did not discover us."

Song He narrated the events.

Shen Long asked about the sea area where the Gold-Winged Thunder Eagle was seen, and Song He told him truthfully.

"Here’s a bottle of Water Moon Pills for you; consider it payment for buying your information. Keep an eye out for news on fourth-rank Flood Dragon Essence Blood. Should you find any, I will reward you handsomely."

Shen Long took out a blue porcelain bottle and handed it to Song He.

Song He thanked him and took the blue porcelain bottle with both hands.

After some small talk, Shen Long took his leave.

He wandered the marketplace, purchasing some Spiritual Medicine, demon cores, and metal ores.

Two hours later, as the sky grew dark, the streets became even more crowded.

Shen Long stood at the entrance of a two-story tall golden pavilion. The gilded signboard read "Golden Cicada Pavilion" in three large silver characters.

Shen Long took out a golden square token, channeled Mana into it, and a beam of golden light shot out, entering the doors of the Golden Cicada Pavilion, which opened automatically. He walked in.

He took out a red Messaging Plate, input a spell, and ordered, "Friend Sun, I’m staying at the Golden Cicada Pavilion. Come over; I have something to ask you."

"Yes, Senior Shen."

The voice of Sun Yiyue resounded.

Shen Long put away the Messaging Plate, took out a golden jade box, opened it and inside were two golden demon cores.

His gold Spirit Beast bag at his waist twitched, and with a light pat on it, a cheerful cicada chirp was heard as the Hundred Eyes Cicada flew out.

It chirped merrily, its gaze fixated on the demon cores in the jade box.

Shen Long picked up a demon core and fed it to the Hundred Eyes Cicada, whose cicada wings fluttered lightly as its body shone brightly with gold.

He could feel that the Hundred Eyes Cicada was very happy.

"Come back now!"

With a pat on the gold Spirit Beast bag, the Hundred Eyes Cicada turned into a beam of golden light and flew back into the bag.

Before long, a Sound Transmission Talisman flew in. Shen Long opened the door and saw Sun Yiyue, Song Sen, and Song Yan standing at the entrance.

Song Yan was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, which was quite good.

"Come inside and talk!"

Shen Long instructed and took a seat at the head of the room.

Song Sen and the others entered, with Song Yan closing the door.

"Tell me about your situation over the years; have you heard any valuable information?"

Shen Long ordered.

Song Sen responded with a nod and briefly reported their situation over the years.

Thanks to the patronage of the Coral Five, Sun’s Artifact Refining Shop did well in business and they were not bullied by any high-level cultivators. With their weak cultivation, they could not gather any high-value information.

"Senior Shen, this junior happened to come across an Inheritance Law Bead, which is said to contain the legacy of Xuanguang Reverend’s Zouhua Cave. I haven’t had the chance to seek the treasure and would like to offer it to Senior."

Sun Yiyue took out a blue sphere the size of a pigeon’s egg and handed it to Shen Long.

"An Inheritance Law Bead! Xuanguang Reverend? How did you come by this bead?"

Shen Long’s face showed an interested expression.

"Xuanguang Reverend was a Core Formation Cultivator and has been missing for many years. Song Yan went out to sea to hunt Monster Beasts and found it inside a Monster Beast’s body; she discovered the location of the Zouhua Cave but couldn’t breach its strong restrictions," explained Sun Yiyue.

"After consulting many texts, this junior concluded that the restriction is a third-tier formation, likely from a Core Formation Cultivator’s Zouhua Cave," added Song Yan.

After Shen Long asked about the exact location of the Zouhua Cave, he took out a golden porcelain bottle and handed it to Sun Yiyue, saying, "Here is a bottle of Golden Elixir Jade Liquid for you. Whether you can advance to the Core Formation Stage is up to you."

Foundation Establishment Cultivators don’t come into contact with any important information and seldom obtain valuable items; only if Song Yan advances to the Core Formation Stage could she be of help to Shen Long.

"Thank you, Senior Shen. Thank you, Senior Shen. Thank you, Senior Shen," repeated Sun Yiyue, her expression excited.

"I will not treat my own people unfairly. I am collecting these items; keep an eye out for me, and notify me immediately if you hear anything. Cultivation is the foundation; I hope you can advance to the Core Formation Stage," said Shen Long as he handed a green jade slip to Sun Yiyue.

Sun Yiyue immediately agreed and took the green jade slip.

Shen Long gave some instructions and then let them leave.

Once out of the marketplace, Shen Long stomped his right foot on the ground, transforming into a beam of Escape Light that broke through the air and disappeared into the horizon.

Seven days later, Shen Long appeared above a desolate island over a hundred miles in size, its vegetation lush and dense.

According to Song Yan’s guidance, Xuanguang Reverend’s Zouhua Cave was located on this desolate island.

Shen Long’s Divine Sense expanded, meticulously searching the island. As it swept over the northwest corner, he faintly detected a weak magical fluctuation, almost imperceptible if not for his strong Divine Sense.

He released the Hundred Eyes Cicada, whose eyes emitted a blinding golden light.

The Hundred Eyes Cicada made a cheerful chirping sound as its wings fluttered lightly.

There indeed was an ancient Cultivator’s Cave on the island; it was just unsure whose Zouhua Cave it was.

Shen Long summoned the Leading Thunder Pearl, channeling a spell into it. The pearl radiated blinding silver light, and a two-zhang-wide silver thunder column tore through the sky, heading straight for a steep peak.

With a thunderous boom, a blinding silver thunderlight shot up into the sky, the ground trembled slightly, and dust billowed.

A huge, crimson blade light swept over and plunged into the midst of thunderlight, slicing the peak in two and creating a long, thick crack in the ground. Two beams of Escape Light flew out from within the smoke and dust.

Shen Long furrowed his brow and said, "Core Formation Cultivators, an ambush!"

It turned out that two Core Formation Cultivators were hiding here; they had been concealed within the formation, undetected by Shen Long.

The Escape Light gathered, revealing a portly black-robed old man and a burly golden-shirted man, both with Core Formation Middle Stage cultivation, their expressions panicked.

They had set a trap with the intention of luring and killing Core Formation Cultivators, but had unexpectedly attracted a Nascent Soul Cultivator instead.

Both fugitives radiated intense Spiritual Light as they fled in different directions.

A sharp, ear-piercing screech sounded, and their speeds slowed.

A gust of wind blew through, and the Gold-Winged Windroc appeared, hovering just above the black-robed old man’s head.

The black-robed old man had no time to dodge as the Windroc’s wings twitched slightly, sending out numerous giant Wind Blades that successively hit the protective Spirit Light surrounding the old man, causing it to dim immediately.

A pair of talons reached down, piercing through the old man’s protective light with ease and penetrating his skull.

Meanwhile, the golden-shirted man was entangled by dense Green Vines; before he could break free, a deafening dragon roar sounded, and a red sonic wave rolled towards him, reaching him instantly.

The Red sonic wave struck the man’s protective Spirit Light, causing it to dim and shatter quickly. He was sent flying backward, vomiting a mouthful of Essence Blood.

Shen Long flew over as the golden-shirted man spat out a golden, shimmering flying dagger, aimed directly at Shen Long.

Shen Long’s right hand shone brightly with red light, transforming into a red dragon claw, which he thrust forward.

The red dragon claw collided with the golden flying dagger, the sound of metal clashing could be heard, and the golden flying dagger was sent flying back.

The golden-shirted man was about to use another technique when a mass of Green Vines formed into a giant green hand, grabbed him, and presented him before Shen Long.

Shen Long’s left hand radiated with red light as he grabbed the man’s head, ready to perform a Soul Search.

The golden-shirted man let out a scream, frothed at the mouth, and fainted.

"So it was a setup to lure and kill cultivators!"

An expression of realization crossed Shen Long’s face.

When Song Yan came to break the restriction, the Evil Cultivators didn’t act, aiming to catch a bigger fish by playing a long game.