Yu Lie pondered repeatedly in the hidden cave.
He surveyed the chamber where the Stone Yin Tai Sui was located and realized that this place was also an excellent spot for secluded cultivation.
The cave was not only well-hidden, but after some exploration, he also discovered a crack leading to the outside.
With a bit of effort, he could create another exit for escape.
This way, not only would the outer entrance serve as a decoy, making it difficult for others to find the hidden cave, but with an additional exit, he would have two safe havens, just like a cunning rabbit with two burrows.
Thus, Yu Lie quickly made up his mind.
He decided to complete his Bone Marrow Cleansing transformation right here in this hidden cave.
This realization made him sigh inwardly, thinking:
"Venturing out for training is indeed risky and unstable, but it also brings opportunities! If I were still in the town, how could I have obtained treasures like the Bell and Cauldron Technique, the Tiger and Leopard Thunder Formation, and the Stone Yin Tai Sui?"
However, after staying in the cave for just one night, he sealed the hidden cave again, carefully tidied up, and left, continuing his journey toward the Black River.
He now had the ritual altar and the Winged Tiger, but he still needed one or two Black Serpent Fish Kings!
Yu Lie had to return to the Black River to continue his role as a fisherman.
As he traveled further away from Blackwater Town, the wild beasts, demons, and fellow Daoists he encountered in the mountains and forests became more frequent.
Especially when he reached a river section about a hundred miles away, he waited for several days but failed to catch a second Black Serpent Fish King.
He had no choice but to continue along the riverbank, venturing deeper into the wilderness.
Over the course of about ten days, Yu Lie frequently encountered Daoist disciples from Greenwood Town.
At first, he was quite wary, but after careful observation, he confirmed that they were not traveling in large groups as before but were instead scattered individuals.
These Greenwood Town disciples carried bags and hopped around the mountains and riverbanks like monkeys.
This made Yu Lie realize that he had encountered Greenwood Town disciples out gathering herbs and training.
He had reached the border area between Greenwood Town and Blackwater Town.
Fortunately, the disciples out gathering herbs and training were mostly mid to low-level disciples, and Yu Lie, being one of the top mid-level disciples, was not afraid of them.
However, he didn’t stir up trouble.
Instead, he patiently searched along the long riverbank for a suitable fishing spot.
Once he found a secluded canyon entrance, he settled down and waited quietly.
For several days, Yu Lie skillfully prepared bait and set up fishing spots.
Finally, on the fourth day, one of his fishing spots showed signs of activity.
A massive creature stirred in the river, violently slapping the cliff walls.
Yu Lie was delighted.
"It's here."
Judging by the commotion, the creature was likely a big one, no less impressive than the one from Blackwater Town! Instead of rushing to catch it, Yu Lie spent most of the day reinforcing his fishing rod and hooks, setting up traps, and then approached the riverbank to engage in a battle of strength with the giant creature in the water.
Boom!
A loud slapping sound echoed through the canyon where Yu Lie was.
A massive creature with pitch-black scales, as if cast from iron, emerged from the turbulent Black River.
It followed the traps Yu Lie had meticulously set, gradually moving away from the riverbank and falling into a pit.
Whoosh! Flames erupted!
The pit didn’t contain sharp spikes, as ordinary stone spikes or steel blades wouldn’t be enough to pierce the Black Serpent Fish King’s tough skin.
Instead, the pit was filled with layers of white, snow-like gunpowder.
As it ignited, the pit turned into a fiery trap, tightly ensnaring the fish king.
At this moment, Yu Lie appeared above the pit, looking down at the furious fish king with satisfaction.
Drawing from his previous hunting experiences, he decided not to use the Fire Dragon Medicine this time.
Instead, he would rely on the Flying Snow White Sand Balls and ordinary Divine Fire Crows to kill the fish king.
This would not only conserve his trump cards but also minimize the commotion, reducing the chances of attracting nearby disciples.
Yu Lie frowned slightly as he observed the fish king in the pit.
His earlier estimation was correct—this third Black Serpent Fish King was indeed larger than the one from Blackwater Town.
To burn such a massive fish king to death, he would likely use up all the Flying Snow White Sand Balls in his possession.
But this was actually a good problem to have.
With such a large fish king, killing this one would be enough for his needs, sparing him the trouble of catching a fourth.
Yu Lie happily circled the pit, adding more fuel and gunpowder.
Every time the fish king tried to leap out of the pit, Yu Lie would "add insult to injury," preventing it from escaping.
After about half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Black Serpent Fish King, being a creature of the water, weakened significantly on land.
With Yu Lie, a wealthy Daoist, coveting its life, it gradually lost strength and lay in the pit, emitting a charred aroma.
The Black Serpent Fish King had been roasted alive by the gunpowder.
Seeing this, Yu Lie’s joy surfaced.
After a brief test, he prepared to jump into the pit and claim his prize.
But at that moment, a figure suddenly descended from the cliff like a ghostly night cat, swift and silent.
The figure extended a foot, aiming to crush Yu Lie’s skull!
Yu Lie, with his back turned, seemed oblivious and on the verge of having his head smashed.
However, as the figure descended and was mid-air, unable to gain leverage, Yu Lie suddenly rolled to the ground.
Without looking up, he swiftly flung three fireballs from his sleeve, directly at his attacker.
A surprised voice exclaimed, "You!"
The attacker hadn’t expected Yu Lie to react so quickly.
Caught mid-air, they couldn’t dodge and were hit by all three fireballs.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three Caltrop Fireballs exploded in mid-air, scattering sharp spikes across several feet and releasing a thick orange smoke that enveloped the area, as if Yu Lie had fired a poisonous smoke arrow.
On the other side, Yu Lie, who had not only dodged in time but also counterattacked, looked at the orange smoke with a cold smile.
Although he had chosen a secluded spot for fishing and tried to minimize the commotion, he hadn’t forgotten to stay vigilant.
While Yu Lie was busy roasting the fish king, his pet myna hadn’t shown itself and had even made a few dove-like calls.
This had alerted Yu Lie to the presence of someone lurking nearby and their approximate location.
As expected, the moment he feigned vulnerability, the attacker had pounced, eager to take his life.
Successfully, Yu Lie had countered with three fireballs.
The three Caltrop Fireballs, hitting simultaneously, had a combined force that would severely injure even someone with a protective talisman, leaving them temporarily immobilized.
But the next moment, just as Yu Lie nocked an arrow, preparing to finish the job once the smoke cleared, a sharp voice rang out:
"You little brat, how dare you scheme against me!"
Yu Lie’s expression tightened.
His eyelids twitched as he watched the smoke, ready to fire an arrow immediately.
But a series of silver bell-like sounds suddenly echoed from all directions, making it impossible for Yu Lie to pinpoint the source of the voice.
Whoosh!
A ghostly figure stepped out of the smoke.
Yu Lie quickly fired an arrow, but it missed, grazing past the figure.
Now, Yu Lie could see the attacker clearly.
She wore a silver hat and was a young woman, seemingly around sixteen, with delicate features.
Despite her furious expression, she was quite attractive.
However, after being hit by three Caltrop Fireballs, her clothes were disheveled, her body covered in patches of white and gray, and a few strands of her hair were singed, making her look pitiful.
But Yu Lie’s pupils contracted.
Far from feeling sympathy, he grew even more tense:
"She can still move freely, and there’s no glow of a protective talisman... She didn’t use one? Is she a high-level Daoist disciple?!"
The attacker was none other than Miao Mu, a high-level Daoist disciple from Greenwood Town!
When Yu Lie had caught the second fish king, he had left in time and hadn’t encountered this woman.
But now, while catching the third fish king, he had somehow run into her.
(End of Chapter)