Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 66: Terrifying Creatures, Heart Racing!

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Terrifying Creatures, Heart Racing!

Zhao Xing sent the Reconnaissance Grassman ahead while examining the recently acquired Lingzhi.

"A Low-grade Spiritual Treasure, not sure if it adds to lifespan or vitality."

The spiritual energy emitted a refreshing fragrance. He tried a bite and quickly learned the name and effects of the Lingzhi.

[You have consumed the Low-grade Spiritual Treasure ’Purple Lightning Ganoderma’. Lifespan increased by 2 months, vitality increased by 100 points, lightning spell proficiency increased by 150 points.]

"Hmm? Why did it also increase lightning spell insight?" Zhao Xing felt a current moving through his body.

After taking a bite, he discovered that the Purple Lightning Ganoderma added to his lifespan, vitality, and lightning spell insight.

"It seems that this Lingzhi is not far from being a Medium-grade Spiritual Treasure. If given a little more time, it might indeed reach that level."

As for why it added lightning spell insight, it wasn’t random.

Zhao Xing had observed that the piece of wood was broken by a lightning strike.

The Purple Lightning Ganoderma, which grew from the Thunderstruck Wood, naturally enhanced related lightning spell insight.

After consuming all the Lingzhi, Zhao Xing glanced at his panel.

[Name: Zhao Xing]

[Realm: Unranked]

[Fortune: Yan 2]

[Gathering Essence: Sixth Rank (1156/10000)]

[Additional Lifespan: 35 years]

[Spell: Basic Cultivation (Max Level)]

[Lightning Strike (Beginner): Seventh Turn (7784/9999)]

[Summon Lightning (Intermediate): First Turn (1955/9999)]

After completely consuming the Purple Lightning Ganoderma, his lifespan increased by 2 years, nearly a thousand points in vitality, and over seven hundred points in lightning spell insight.

Since it increased lightning spell insight, the spells "Lightning Strike" and "Summon Lightning" both benefited.

Lightning Strike is nearing the eighth turn of the spell, and Summon Lightning is approaching the second turn of the spell.

"Only added two years to my lifespan, but it’s still a pleasant surprise."

After all, defeating Qin Feng was like a free gain; any addition was welcome.

"Thump~"

His heart suddenly leaped.

Since reaching the Sixth Rank of Gathering Essence, it only took him 15 minutes to absorb the Lingzhi.

Zhao Xing noticed that the Reconnaissance Grassman had neared the entrance of the cave.

"It seems like there’s nothing unusual. Did the fierce beast go out?"

Controlling the Grassman to look left and right, finding no sign of the beast, Zhao Xing grew bolder.

"Swish~"

The Grassman no longer lingered and quickly dashed into the cave.

Since the Reconnaissance Grassman didn’t inherit Zhao Xing’s Bright Eyes Technique, its vision darkened sharply as it rushed into the cave.

"Using a first-grade East Lake Pearl as eyes is not quite sufficient. It struggles in complex environments like this."

"Next time, consider using a Luminous Pearl or other treasures that enhance vision in darkness."

Fortunately, the cave was quite large and had decent natural light, allowing for barely adequate visibility.

The cave was not humid and was well-ventilated.

The Grassman had just moved five meters inside when, due to the reduced visibility, it stepped on a twig, making a crackling sound.

Zhao Xing controlled the Grassman to look down, only to discover that what was beneath its foot was not a twig, but a bone as thick as an arm!

"This cave is quite deep."

Zhao Xing continued forward and moved safely for another ten meters, still unable to see the end. Inside, it was pitch black, with the slope descending further, and the cave’s height increasing more than seven or eight meters.

"This cave is enormous, what kind of fierce beast lives here?"

An enormity of such a cave inevitably led one to speculate about the size of the beast.

Plus, the bones on the ground were getting increasingly larger.

Initially, they appeared to be from small rabbits, wild chickens, and similar animals.

But gradually, bones from large predator animals appeared.

By the time the Reconnaissance Grassman ventured twenty meters inside, it saw ahead of it a complete skeleton over five meters tall!

"What species is this? Could it be that a ranked mythical beast has died?"

With no head and many ribs missing, Zhao Xing could only determine that this was likely a ranked mythical beast.

It might even be above the Ninth Grade!

"East Lake Mountain has bred powerful ranked mythical beasts, but few have seen one alive. Generally, after the autumnal equinox when the mountain opens, the officials handle them."

"Could there be a ranked mythical beast living here?"

Zhao Xing became increasingly cautious as he controlled the Reconnaissance Grassman to carefully navigate through the skeleton.

At that moment, the East Lake Pearl flashed, and the perspective returned by the Reconnaissance Grassman brightened a bit.

Two sources of light appeared ahead.

The moment he saw the light, Zhao Xing’s heart surged, and his excitement doubled.

"Could it be a high-grade Spiritual Treasure?"

He immediately made the Reconnaissance Grassman run over, hoping to grab it and flee.

However, the two lights vanished in a flash, like lightning, moving directly towards the Reconnaissance Grassman.

"Buzz~"

The next moment, Zhao Xing lost contact with the Reconnaissance Grassman.

Following that, a roaring sound faintly came from inside the cave.

"Well, I mistook the beast’s eyes for a Spiritual Treasure," Zhao Xing realized belatedly.

What he had seen was not a treasure at all; it was very likely the eyes of the mythical beast.

Its speed was so fast that the Reconnaissance Grassman couldn’t react at all and didn’t even clearly see what happened before it was destroyed.

"If it’s a ranked mythical beast doing the guarding, this is going to be tough."

"What’s more, I now have no idea what this beast looks like or what realm it’s in," Zhao Xing pondered.

Zhou Gang and Fang Jie indeed brought him a surprise, but the surprise was so massive he wasn’t sure if he could handle it.

"Explore again!"

This time, Zhao Xing sent three Vigorous Vajras, five Entwining Grassmen, and one Reconnaissance Grassman into the cave.

The three Vigorous Vajras and five Entwining Grassmen were just there to cover for the Reconnaissance Grassman’s observation.

The purpose of the second exploration was to confirm the beast’s species and strength, so there was no need to be secretive anymore.

He let the grassmen march boldly forward.

Zhao Xing climbed onto a high branch directly facing the cave and watched from a distance.

As soon as the squad of grassmen entered the cave.

"Swish, swish, swish, swish~"

A blurry black shadow appeared, almost becoming like lightning.

Zhao Xing couldn’t clearly see the beast’s actions from his perspective.

He only observed the leading grassman at the front.

The leading Seventh Rank Vigorous Vajra was bisected at the waist in a single encounter.

The Entwining Grassmen were utterly pulverized.

In the end, the Reconnaissance Grassman only saw a blurry shadow and two dim lights.

"Buzz~"

The view was interrupted again.

A roar came from within the cave.

Zhou Gang and Fang Jie, who were recovering from injuries, shivered upon hearing it; their hearts thumped wildly, and sweat poured down their bodies.

Zhao Xing also felt as though his heart was being squeezed, unable to calm down.

"It is definitely a ranked mythical beast, either beyond the Ninth Grade or a naturally rare variety with a powerful bloodline."

Even without seeing it, Zhao Xing understood the terror of the mysterious beast inside the cave.

"Such a large body, and it moves that quickly?"

"The strength of a typical mythical beast is also linked to the treasure it guards; there must be a high-grade Spiritual Treasure inside," Zhao Xing’s eyes blazed.

The Fortune Spiritual Treasure was also something he greatly desired; the benefits brought by his Dual Spiritual Fortune were significant; the warnings from the Calendar of Evil were more accurate, he had an advantage in spell battles, and even if he just stayed at the foot of Spirit Mountain tending fields, he could stumble upon Red Fruit!

"Such a huge beast will definitely come out to hunt; it’s just dawn, and after a night, it will come out looking for food in the morning, perhaps I can also use the grassman to lure the tiger away from the mountain," Zhao Xing’s eyes shifted, beginning to plan in his heart.