According to the intelligence, the Four-Eyed Demon Moth was a common low-rank demonic creature in the Drifting Clouds World. In its larval stage, its cultivation base was roughly equivalent to the third level of Qi Refinement. Once mature, it would generally be at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, with further distinctions based on the color of its wings.
Grey wings were the weakest, while the strength of white wings approached the fifth level of Qi Refinement. If it transformed to have red wings, it would be at the sixth level of Qi Refinement. The one in Zhao Chun's mission was the most common type, a four-eyed, grey-winged demon moth.
It was only meant as a trial for disciples and would not be overly powerful. Furthermore, with Tu Cenzhen, who was also at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, accompanying her, it would not be a difficult task for the two of them to work together and slay the demon moth.
Zhao Chun relaxed slightly and took out the second volume of the Sympathetic Resonance True Perception Dharma Scripture to continue reading. She had not slacked off in her cultivation during the journey and had already deciphered the cultivation heart incantation for the middle stage of Qi Refinement. She finally learned that humans have an upper and a lower dantian.
The Spiritual Root was located in the lower dantian, while the upper dantian was at the yintang. The fourth level of Qi Refinement involved gathering and storing spiritual qi in the lower dantian. When the lower dantian was full, one would break through to the fifth level of Qi Refinement and then open the upper dantian.
When both the upper and lower dantian were full, one would reach the sixth level of Qi Refinement. Then, by connecting the two dantian with spiritual qi until they were like one, one could reach the seventh level of Qi Refinement and step into the late stage.
Every time Zhao Chun cultivated, her lower dantian was like a whale swallowing water. If she didn't control it, it would drain all the spiritual qi from her body. The strange thing was, only a portion of this spiritual qi was stored in her dantian; the other part was actually devoured by the Spiritual Root itself.
Although she felt something was amiss, she did not stop her cultivation. Fortunately, this strange mutation had not caused her any harm, so Zhao Chun decided to let it be for now and see what changes might occur. After finishing a day of cultivation, the full moon day that Tu Cenzhen had mentioned arrived.
Inky clouds, soft as gauze, did not obscure the pale moon in the slightest. Zhao Chun grasped the Red-Edged Dagger in her hand and walked into the mountain forest alongside Tu Cenzhen. Perhaps because the moonlight was so bright, the overlapping layers of leaves could not completely block the light.
The pure white moonlight dappled the forest floor. The deeper they went, the more they felt gusts of eerie wind. Zhao Chun's palms grew slightly sweaty.
This would be her first time facing a demon from a ghost tale, and beyond the nervousness, it also stirred a bit of excitement.
"We're here."
Tu Cenzhen deliberately lowered his voice. He already had a hoarse voice, which now sounded even more hair-raising. Zhao Chun focused her mind and saw a cave entrance ahead, concealed by layers of withered branches.
A faint light shone from within. This must be the place.
"This Tu has been here before and knows the way. I'll trouble Fellow Daoist to follow behind me."
He took out a small banner from his sleeve, gestured to Zhao Chun, and then stepped inside. Zhao Chun followed closely behind him into the cave. The inside was quite strange.
It was called a mountain cave, but the four walls were not made of rock. Zhao Chun moved closer to look. They were uneven, made of small, granular soil.
The earthen walls were not thick, and many round holes of varying sizes had been chiseled into the ceiling, allowing moonlight to enter. The two of them walked more and more quietly, their footsteps replaced by an unfamiliar, strange sound, like the beating of wings. Zhao Chun's breathing hitched slightly, and she raised the dagger to her chest.
"This Tu will cast a slowing technique on the demon moth. Fellow Daoist, seize the opportunity and try to cut off its right limb first."
After speaking, the two exchanged a look and simultaneously strode forward. Zhao Chun finally laid eyes on the demon moth's true form. It was as large as a water buffalo, with four crimson eyes and two thick limbs.
Two pairs of large, serrated wings grew from its back, wrapping around its round, plump, tube-shaped abdomen. Before the demon moth could react, Tu Cenzhen raised his hand. The small banner waved in his hand, producing a white light.
His other hand formed a seal in front of his chest, and the white light flashed, shooting straight toward the demon moth! A demonic creature's perception is naturally superior to a cultivator's. Seeing Tu Cenzhen make a move, it let out a sharp screech and was about to pounce on the two of them to kill!
It was fast, but the white light was faster! As the light struck the demon moth's head, its sharp screech turned into a mournful howl filled with resentment, but its movements immediately became sluggish. This was the moment!
Zhao Chun executed the Serpent Step, reaching the demon moth's side in the blink of an eye, and swung her dagger to chop at its right limb! The Red-Edged Dagger truly lived up to its name as a Yellow-grade magic tool. Its sharpness far surpassed others.
Zhao Chun only felt a slight resistance when the blade first touched the outer carapace. When she put her strength into slicing down, the resistance vanished. The demon moth's right limb was sent flying into the air, and ichor instantly splattered everywhere!
Fearing the substance was poisonous, Zhao Chun hastily turned to avoid it. Looking back, she saw the green ichor land on the ground, corroding the soil and giving off white smoke. Before she could rejoice in her quick reaction, the demon moth had already broken free from the slowing technique.
It had some intelligence and knew Zhao Chun was not to be trifled with. Wary of the sharp weapon in her hand, it turned its target to Tu Cenzhen, intending to flap its wings and fly away. Before setting out, Zhao Chun had already learned about Tu Cenzhen's previous fight with the demon moth.
She knew he was not skilled in offensive spells and could only provide support from the side, which was why he failed to kill the demon moth and instead suffered minor injuries. Zhao Chun was different from him. After cultivating the Tiger Strength Art, her power had greatly increased, and her Swift-Walk Sword Technique had also received a significant boost.
From the very beginning of her cultivation, she had intended to walk the path of offense and slaughter. There was no other reason than her unwillingness to rely on others; she only wished to be strong and independent, to carve out a sky for herself. Therefore, after becoming a cultivator, she still chose swordsmanship.
Among the hundred weapons, it specialized in slaughter, was the most ferocious, and was therefore the most suitable for a strong offense. As the only offensive role between the two, Zhao Chun would naturally not leave Tu Cenzhen to fend for himself. His slowing technique was also one of the keys to her victory and was indispensable.
She immediately changed her footwork, using her dagger as a sword, and charged toward the demon moth to kill it! Her speed was extremely fast, unmatched even by the flapping demon moth. She flipped over and landed on its back.
With a flash of the sword's light, she severed its left limb! The demon moth howled in pain and, with her on its back, rammed into the earthen wall. Zhao Chun rolled off in the nick of time, avoiding the impact.
The earthen wall was not thick, but it was extremely tough. Under the impact, it only shed some clumps of earth and did not crack. Having lost both limbs, the demon moth's strength was greatly reduced.
Its two pairs of large, crimson eyes stared at the perpetrator, filled with both anger and fear, and it dared not move recklessly. How could Zhao Chun let it go just like that? She brandished the Red-Edged Dagger and prepared to strike again!
The difference in their speeds was vast. The demon moth tried to dodge, but Zhao Chun threw the dagger straight out, turning it into a flying dagger that pinned its watermelon-sized head to the earthen wall! The Four-Eyed Demon Moth was dead on the spot!
Tu Cenzhen had not expected the battle today to be so easy. He praised in his heart, "As expected of a disciple from an Upper Sect, truly a person of outstanding talent." Zhao Chun pulled out the dagger and used spiritual qi to wash the filthy ichor from its surface before putting it away.
Just as she thought the matter was over, she noticed movement in the demon moth's abdomen. She bent down slightly and saw its tube-shaped abdomen was still pulsing, rising and falling as if breathing.
"Fellow Daoist, is something wrong?"
Tu Cenzhen asked when he saw her standing still. It was as if something inside the demon moth's abdomen was rapidly sucking the plump abdomen into a shriveled state. Zhao Chun sensed something was wrong and quickly retreated, stopping Tu Cenzhen, who was about to go forward to inspect it.
The water buffalo-sized demon moth was ultimately reduced to a dried corpse. A black shadow shot out from the abdomen, transforming into a black arc and shooting straight toward the two of them to kill.
(End of this chapter)