"First, identify the weak point."
Chen Ye patiently explained, pointing the iron sword at the wound on the snake’s jaw,
"This snake’s cultivation lies in its venom sacs and liver, differing from ordinary demon snakes. The weak point is the jaw. The scales here are thinnest, making it the quickest route for dissection."
The apprentice nodded earnestly, not flinching even as her mentor cut open the snake’s belly, releasing a putrid stench; she simply focused intently on observing the distribution of the organs.
Chen Ye nodded silently.
Though Zhiwei lacks an extraordinary physique, her comprehension and focus alone make her path boundless.
"Second, avoid contamination and damage. The venom sacs must be wrapped and peeled off with spiritual power to prevent tainting other materials and ward off poison..."
With Chen Ye’s concise explanation, in just a moment, the demon beast was dismantled into various materials.
"Master, back then... when you and Uncle Li were in the Three Thousand Great Mountains, did you hunt demon beasts like today and then disassemble them into different materials?"
After her master finished, Zhiwei suddenly asked.
She remembered those days vividly.
Her master would always return under the stars, bringing back various demon beast meats,
and she and Qing Jun would sometimes wonder:
What was Master doing out there? How did he hunt demon beasts? Or was he colluding with demon cultivators, planning to sell her and Qing Jun?
Only today, experiencing this perilous fight herself, did she understand the struggle her master had in those days.
It was not as simple as she and Qing Jun imagined...
Recalling her master’s care for them, the black-haired little girl quietly clenched her clothes, feeling a complex emotion.
Chen Ye nodded with a smile: "Yes, but at that time, we dared not hunt demon beasts at the late period of Qi Cultivation, only those at the early stage. My skills were taught by Gen."
Thinking back to that time, he was filled with emotion.
Though constantly striving for spirit stones, life then was somehow more peaceful than now.
During the day, he earned spirit stones, and at night he relaxed with his apprentice...
"Oh..." Zhiwei lowered her eyes and responded softly.
After finishing, Chen Ye’s gaze searched the reed marsh for blood reeds.
Initially, he thought blood reeds were everywhere in the moaning marsh, but in truth, blood reeds are spirit plants, and no matter how abundant the moaning marsh is, spirit plants couldn’t be densely everywhere.
Blood reeds look quite similar to ordinary reeds, with an additional hue of blood; only when agitated does the whole plant turn crimson.
They usually lurk in groups within the vast reed marsh.
Near the grotto heaven’s entrance, where spiritual energy is most active, a large group of blood reeds resides.
Blood reeds have great interest in his elixir.
Perhaps... he could attempt to make use of them?
Chen Ye pondered silently, soon discovering a patch of blood reeds.
He flicked out a drop of elixir with his fingers.
As the milky-white light dot sank into the marsh, the entire blood-colored reed marsh boiled like hot water!
Countless crimson roots broke through the ground, vying for the vitality aroma of the elixir.
"Not bad..."
Chen Ye rejoiced, flinging another drop of elixir towards the incomplete demon beast.
The ground nearby began to convulse violently.
"Rustle, rustle, rustle—"
Hundreds and thousands of blood-colored roots burst through the ground, frantically rushing towards the massive snake corpse!
"Hold tight!"
Chen Ye grabbed Zhiwei and retreated swiftly.
In moments, the incomplete demon beast was dragged into the marsh, leaving no trace.
"Alright, the worry is gone."
Chen Ye clapped his hands, smiling at the little fox that had long waited impatiently,
"Lead the way, we’ll be counting on you now."
The little fox proudly squeaked, took off on its four little short legs, leading the way into the reed marsh where the demon snake came from.
Living up to its native nature, it was agile, always finding the safest path through the seemingly impassable marsh and reed field.
Chen Ye finally understood,
why he couldn’t catch the little fox before.
It turned out this little guy had honed a good skill set since young!
Meanwhile, a fleeting thought in his mind dissipated.
Earlier, noticing the little fox’s extraordinary spirituality, mysterious presence, and coincidental timing,
he had briefly suspected whether the little fox... could be True Man Ye who failed a tribulation?
After all, he heard rumors that the Golden Core True Man was actually a demon beast transformed.
If he failed a tribulation, reverting to demon beast form wouldn’t be unusual.
Yet, from the little fox’s behavior, it was evidently a native of Songyang Cave Heaven!
Its intelligence just beginning, naive and ignorant.
...
Meanwhile, outside the grotto heaven.
Wei Shu and the leaders of various families stood calmly before the entrance’s light curtain, appearing relaxed.
In his hand, a completely black mother pearl floated.
On it, dozens of light spots representing the cannon fodder cultivators showed their positions within the marsh.
"Hehe, Wei Guardian, this strategy is quite brilliant."
A Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Ji Family stroked his beard and smiled,
"Using these sinful cultivators’ lives to carve a path for us, saving both time and effort, avoiding unforeseen events at the grotto heaven entrance, and conserving strength from blood reed exhaustion."
Other cultivators nodded in agreement.
Their greatest concern was not really the blood reeds.
It was the fear that unforeseen changes might occur within the grotto heaven, thus using sinful cultivators to scout was the safest choice.
"It’s just some minor tricks, please forgive me."
Wei Shu modestly waved.
Watching the mother pearl, as those light spots went out one by one, the joy in his heart grew ever stronger.
Soon enough, it would be Chen Ye’s turn!
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Wei Shu’s gaze tightened, noticing an oddly moving light spot among them.
"What’s Chen Ye... plotting?"
The light spot representing Chen Ye had actually drifted from the main group, moving in another direction by itself.