Chapter 679 - 274: Zhangshui Dragon Kingdom! (Part 2)
Shen Can began to retreat, retracing his steps along the path he had come. As he passed a small hill by the water, he suddenly shivered.
He directed streams of black light into the hill, embedding them at different points.
Black Witch Runes appeared at the corner of the hill.
Unlike other Witch Runes which would glow, these were dark and dim, blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment.
The Witch Runes manifested an area about ten feet in size, then quickly concealed themselves, as if nothing had happened.
Shen Can darted in, his entire being vanishing within the hill.
Seeing this, Red Fire Luwu’s eyes lit up. Though it didn’t understand, it felt impressive and swiftly followed Shen Can into the light shell, simultaneously vanishing.
Since leaving the Earth Cave last time, Shen Can had been contemplating effective ways to conceal and protect himself within the cave.
This was a Breath Concealment Array, which could utilize the terrain to hide one’s form.
Compared to the Turtle Shell Array, the Breath Concealment Array was more compact and could harness the power of mountains and vegetation, making it difficult for creatures to perceive.
Swish!
On the tranquil Black Water River, suddenly ripples of water surged up as a fish fin about ten feet in size emerged from the dark water.
The fin was sharp like a knife, slicing through the water, soon revealing dense black scales.
This was a spirit monster over two hundred feet in size, with a flood dragon head and fish body, its aura causing the eerie mist around to condense midair, while its dark red eyes were filled with chaos, ferocity, and bloodlust.
The terrifying aura made the spirit monsters on both sides of the river bow and tremble, even the Tier Five ones on the bank lay flat to show their submission.
The flood dragon-headed spirit monster emitted a low hum, opening its mouth, absorbing Yin Qi from a radius of hundreds of miles as if it had found an outlet.
Though the cave was filled with mist, the Yin Qi in the mist, akin to the Source Power in the void outside the cave, was all thin and scattered.
As it devoured the Yin Qi, the enormous body of the flood dragon-headed spirit monster lifted half from the black water.
There, on its dorsal fin, more than ten feet down, a white jade antler-like branch was deeply embedded.
The spot where the branch entered the spirit monster was filled with dense Yin Qi, and under the soaking of black blood, black lines appeared on the branch.
Yet the branch’s own immense dragon power seemed to echo with a dragon’s roar.
This was no branch; it was clearly a dragon horn.
Dragon power surged from the horn into the spirit monster’s body, clashing violently with the Yin Qi within.
Each collision set off waves of terror.
The flood dragon-headed spirit monster absorbed Yin Qi, its massive body emanating a halo from head and tail, rapidly flowing towards the white jade dragon horn.
Wave after wave advanced towards the horn like tides, attempting to suppress the dragon power within.
Half a month later, the flood dragon-headed spirit monster submerged again in the water, continuing to advance along the river.
The residual oppressive aura lingered for days after its departure, making the spirit monsters on both banks unable to move an inch.
Those spirit monsters didn’t move, and naturally, the hidden Shen Can didn’t dare to move either.
Previously, the monsters occupied their own positions, but now they appeared on both sides of the river; moving now would surely be detected.
Days later, other Tier Five spirit monsters first hid, then those below Tier Five began to react, some dropping to the ground to sleep, others sensing the lack of Yin Qi starting to depart.
...
"At least a late-stage Tier Five Great Spirit Monster."
Both ears of Red Fire Luwu flattened backward, the pressure from a powerful creature eliciting a natural response, regardless of how fearless one claimed to be.
Shen Can saw clearer than Red Fire Luwu; this monster absorbed Yin Qi to refine the dragon power within the white jade dragon horn.
Manifesting a flood dragon-like skull surely resulted from refining part of the dragon power from the horn, spurring its transformation.
For a dragon horn beneficial to a late-stage Tier Five Great Spirit Monster, its original form could hardly be an ordinary dragon.
In their battle, the defeated left the dragon horn behind.
Even though the flood dragon-headed spirit monster had been gone for several days, Shen Can did not rush to open the Breath Concealment Array.
A mere late-stage Tier Five spirit monster alone could be escaped, but here, the influence of a late-stage Tier Five Great Spirit Monster could easily destroy him.
He had no intention of becoming mere fodder.
After waiting patiently in the Breath Concealment Array for more than two months, Shen Can finally quietly withdrew the array.
The earth cave is really too dangerous.
Because the Flood Dragon-headed Spirit Monster swam down from upstream, coincidentally following the same route as Shen Can’s return, they had to be extra cautious on their way back.
Originally, when a certain area of Yin Qi is absorbed, the Yin Qi from surrounding areas would naturally converge again, gradually thinning out the overall Yin Qi density in the region.
But the swallowing ability of the Flood Dragon-headed Spirit Monster is too potent, and relying solely on Yin Qi drifting over is clearly not enough to sustain its cultivation.
The Flood Dragon-headed Spirit Monster embarked on this ’wandering’ cultivation, while touring and continuously absorbing the Yin Qi from the riverbanks.
On the way back, passing by a treasure medicine area guarded by Spirit Monsters, Shen Can saw that the treasure medicines not picked before were now gone.
"All gone, taken by that Great Spirit Monster."
Red Fire Luwu was a bit unwilling, initially thinking to take them upon returning, but now they’re just gone.
Under the pressure of the Tier Five Great Spirit Monster, the ordinary Tier Five Spirit Monster guarding the treasure medicine directly offered it up.
As Red Fire Luwu spoke, Shen Can once again set up the Breath Concealment Array at the pre-observed spot and hid inside by pulling the tiger tail.
Three hundred li away, the Tier Five Great Spirit Monster that had swallowed the treasure medicine swam on the water’s surface, its aura gushing towards the White Jade Dragon Horn.
At this moment, the Dragon Power on the White Jade Dragon Horn shines ever brighter, it surges forth a roaring Flood Dragon.
Upstream of the great river, a Flood Dragon three feet in size, wrapped in a layer of mist, darted around the mountains and forests at the riverbank, dodging to the left and right.
Its dragon claws under its belly had three dragon toes, and two dragon whiskers fluttered under its chin.
It walked while capturing the Dragon Power aura.
Just like this, chasing and chasing, it saw the Tier Five Great Spirit Monster absorbing Yin Qi.
Huangmiao’s eyes locked onto the White Jade Dragon Horn on the Spirit Monster’s back, drooling instinctively with dragon saliva.
A Spirit Monster acquiring a Dragon General’s dragon horn can transform into the form of a Flood Dragon.
If it can seize it, after refining it, there’s a chance to advance to Tier Five Late Stage and establish its own Water Mansion.
In the Zhangshui Dragon Kingdom, dragon species are numerous, and there are even eight Dragon Crown Princes if you throw a stone.
If you don’t establish your own Water Mansion, you can only become someone’s vassal or food.
Seize it and leave!
Huangmiao composed itself, then struck with its claws.
The three-foot-long dragon body stirred up the surrounding mist.
Its scales shone with twilight amidst the dark black, radiating infinite light.
Gale, torrential rain, thunder gathered beneath its dragon claws, transforming into swift Witch Runes of wind and lightning rushing towards the White Jade Dragon Horn.
The dragon claw filled with Witch Runes grabbed onto the White Jade Dragon Horn.
Seeing this, Huangmiao rejoiced.
However, subsequently, the White Jade Dragon Horn grabbed by its claw cracked inch by inch into fragments.
Suddenly, Huangmiao was surprised; the Witch Runes hanging on the dragon claw quickly exploded, turning into a storm of wind and lightning, it expanded in size to five hundred zhang, slapping down in a single stroke.
Boom!
The Flood Dragon-headed Spirit Monster spewed a beam of black light, scattering the suppressed wind and lightning.
The collision sound was earth-shattering, an explosion of dazzling divine light centered around them, violent energy turned into a hurricane, sweeping in all directions.
Thud thud! Thud thud thud!
The Black Water surged with giant waves, and the Spirit Monsters crawling on the banks were instantly turned into energy by the energy impact.
An ordinary Tier Five Spirit Monster tried to run, but was sent flying by the energy impact, producing crackling sounds in mid-air, crashing hundreds of li away, its body beaten and bones fractured.
The Flood Dragon-headed Spirit Monster was flung down by the energy into the Black Water’s giant waves, Huangmiao’s abdomen opened into a bloody hole, also sent flying.
Crack!
Three hundred li away, the violent energy swept in like a hurricane, with a crack, it shattered Shen Can’s Breath Concealment Array, exploding in a burst of light.
"Oh my, run!"
Kui Spirit was so frightened it shrank into the Kui Drum.
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