A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Chapter 55: Chapter 54: Beast Hunting

The rock cave was too narrow, so Lü Zhong decided against going inside.

Otherwise, if his sneak attack failed, he would be the one in danger, and the potential reward wasn’t worth the risk.

He might as well toss a few rounds of the Fire Rain Technique in first and blast the beast until it was seeing stars.

Aided by his Concealing Breath and Concealing Trace Techniques, he crept to the mouth of the cave. After a sly chuckle, he pulled out a dozen Cleaning Talismans.

Using the Talisman Summoning Technique, the twelve Cleaning Talismans shot forth like sharp arrows.

This was no wasted effort. Like common wild boars, the Steel-maned Boar had a habit of rolling in mud and rubbing against tree trunks to scratch itself. As a result, its body was coated in a hard shell formed from a mixture of mud and tree resin.

Over time, this hard shell built up layer by layer, becoming tough enough to repel blades and swords.

The purpose of the Cleaning Talismans was to give it a bath first and wash away that outer shell.

Otherwise, with both its tough hide and a hard outer shell, the Steel-maned Boar would be extremely difficult to deal with.

After launching the dozen Cleaning Talismans inside, Lü Zhong began forming hand seals and chanting an incantation without the slightest pause.

The benefits of switching to the Four Spirits Technique were immediately apparent. The number of Fireball Bullets he conjured this time reached twenty-two, an increase of almost fifty percent compared to when he was cultivating the Water and Wood Sword Mantra.

With a continuous WHOOSH, the Fireball Bullets rained down, pouring furiously into the rock cave.

A moment later, flashes of fire erupted from the cave, and a roar mingled with the sound of rolling explosions.

’Still have the energy to roar? Then here’s another one for you!’

The advantage of having far more Spiritual Power than his peers was that he could cast Magic Skills without feeling the pinch. Lü Zhong skillfully formed another hand seal and unleashed another Qingyang Fire Rain Technique, sending a continuous stream of Fireball Bullets into the cave once more.

But this time, the sound of the explosions was off; they seemed to be getting closer and closer.

’As expected of a thick-skinned Demon Beast. It can still move after taking two hits from the Fire Rain Technique!’ Lü Zhong was astonished.

Had it been a Qi Refining cultivator—even a disciple from a Sect or a prominent family—they would have had no hope of survival after being hit unexpectedly by two Secret Skills.

’Perfect timing. This is a great chance for some close-quarters combat.’

Lü Zhong formed a Sword Gesture. The Green Frost Sword flared with a layer of Spiritual Light and immediately let out a sharp cry.

Just as a charred figure charged out of the cave, the waiting Green Frost Sword slashed straight down, aiming directly for its left eye.

Instantly, a spray of blood shot into the air as the Steel-maned Boar let out a series of pained squeals.

But that wasn’t all. He formed a Hand Seal with his left hand and muttered an incantation. The next moment, a phantom-blue longsword condensed from Spiritual Power appeared in his right hand.

He leaped across the moss-covered stones, closing in on the ten-foot-tall Demon Beast in just a few bounds.

One slash... two slashes... six slashes!

The sharpness of the Late Sun Magic Sword was in no way inferior to that of the Green Frost Sword.

After six slashes, the Steel-maned Boar’s thick left foreleg was brutally severed at the joint.

Lü Zhong had done this intentionally to cripple its mobility.

”ROAR!” came an enraged bellow.

The Steel-maned Boar’s savage nature erupted, its round eyes turning a terrifying crimson.

With a violent shake of its neck, hundreds, even thousands, of steel-hard quills shot out, a scene no different from a volley of crossbow bolts.

Anyone hit by those quills would be riddled with holes like a sieve.

But Lü Zhong had long been prepared for this move and immediately slapped a Golden Light Talisman on himself.

A Golden Light Shield instantly formed, centered on the activated talisman. It enveloped him completely, leaving no gaps, and blocked every last one of the incoming quills.

’Worthy of a Tier One High-grade Talisman,’ Lü Zhong couldn’t help but marvel. ’To think that taking a direct hit from a Tier One Demon Beast only depleted one-fifth of its power! This talisman truly is a Talisman Maker’s key to survival.’

’As long as I can master the method for making the Golden Light Talisman, I probably won’t have to worry about my livelihood anymore.’

Bringing his attention back to the present, he saw the Steel-maned Boar. It had already taken a heavy blow from two Qingyang Fire Rain Techniques, and after unleashing its counterattack, it went completely limp, with no strength left to resist. With a thunderous CRASH, it collapsed to the ground. Its breaths were shallow, more air leaving its massive nostrils than entering, and purplish-black blood gushed out.

Lü Zhong hadn’t expected to take down his target so quickly; he could hardly believe it.

But after prodding it cautiously for a moment, he had to accept the fact.

There was nothing more to be said. He put it out of its misery.

Then it was time to collect his spoils. The hide and tusks were a given, but Lü Zhong even extracted the tendons. Other things, like the pizzle, were also on his list.

Limited by the capacity of his Storage Bag, he couldn’t take all the meat. He could only select the more valuable parts—those with a higher concentration of Spiritual Qi.

After he was done, he didn’t forget to go inside the cave and check it out.

He had hoped to find Spirit Medicines or Spirit Ores, but his search came up empty.

”Right, how could I possibly get so lucky all at once,” Lü Zhong said with a self-deprecating smile, then backed out of the still-warm cave.

After this third trial, he was certain he now possessed the ability to survive in the wilds. With that confirmed, his plan to travel to the Yanling Mountain Market could finally be set in motion.

After glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he turned and disappeared into the night.

...

It was nearly dawn when Lü Zhong finally returned to Qingliu Square.

As he passed through the main gate, he keenly sensed that security was much tighter than before.

Previously, one only had to present their Identity Token to prove they were a resident of Qingliu Square to pass through the Workshop Market with ease.

But now, he was actually being questioned.

Moreover, the Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator leading the guards was a new face he had never seen before, likely a disciple sent from the Five Spirits Sect as reinforcements.

”It’s confirmed. He’s Talisman Master Lü, a minor celebrity here in the square.”

”A Talisman Master?” The sullen-faced young man glanced at Lü Zhong, a flicker of doubt in his mind.

’This Loose Cultivator, a Talisman Master, has the strength to be out all night?’

Forget about Loose Cultivators; even the Talisman Masters from the Five Spirits Sect were mostly unskilled in combat. After all, a person’s time and energy are limited. If they invested too much in Talisman Making, they would have no time left to attend to other areas.

”Are you sure you’re not mistaken?” the sullen-faced young man asked, double-checking.

”That’s right. Some of the Arrow Avoidance Talismans we used last night came from the hand of this very Talisman Master,” a cultivator in the Five Spirits Sect’s attire said with absolute certainty.

The memory of that Secret Talisman was still fresh in the sullen-faced young man’s mind.

Although its effects were nowhere near as good as the Golden Light Talisman, this talisman, called the Seven Profound Arrow Avoidance Talisman, was an excellent choice for deflecting stray arrows or the aftershocks of Magic Skills.

It was effective and cheap; even he had used several of them, saving a great deal of Spiritual Power in the process.

”In that case, let him through,” the sullen-faced young man said with a wave of his hand, deciding to grant him entry.

A Loose Cultivator who was a Talisman Master was still a Talisman Master and naturally deserved special treatment. While not as revered as Alchemists or Artifact Refiners, they were still people who should be treated with courtesy.

Since his identity was confirmed, any minor suspicions about him could be overlooked.

After all... who didn’t have a few secrets?