Chapter 929 - 695: Deep into the Heartland
He is the one among them whose strength is second only to the patriarch, Liu Minglin.
Positioned at the front of the team, he can be the first to engage in battle and protect the entire Liu Family team in case of danger.
...
The sky gradually darkened.
Herb approached Shen Xuan’s side and, at his glance, took out the dark silver puppet eagle from the storage pouch.
Under her control,
the puppet eagle’s eyes glowed with a faint red light, its wings fluttered lightly, and it silently rose into the sky, swiftly flying forward and circling for reconnaissance.
This action made many of the surrounding Liu Family cultivators show looks of surprise.
How could an ordinary little maid control such a puppet?
Most people only assumed it was an ordinary Tier One scouting puppet and didn’t think much of it.
However, a few experienced Liu Family clan elders’ eyes slightly narrowed.
They realized that the puppet eagle was made of extraordinary materials, had a sophisticated structure, and its flight trajectory was far more dynamic than ordinary Tier One scouting puppets.
But due to Shen Xuan’s presence, they did not ask further questions and kept their surprise to themselves.
Soon, Herb’s cold and clear voice rang out, clearly reaching everyone’s ears.
"Master, four miles ahead, within a deep ditch, there’s a lurking wolf demon suspected to be Tier Two."
"Hmm."
Shen Xuan responded calmly.
The five cultivators in the Golden Body Realm leading the way became alert upon hearing this, slowing their steps and subtly raising their weapons.
Before long, the team reached a deep ravine.
"Howl!"
A silver shadow shot out from the ditch bottom, carrying a foul wind!
It was a robust silver lightning wolf demon with exposed fangs.
Liu Zhicheng had been ready, roaring as he swung his battle axe down with the momentum of splitting a mountain!
Almost simultaneously, the other four Golden Body cultivators surrounded it from both sides, attacking with a black iron staff, a wolf tooth club, a spirit flood whip, and a shadow leopard hook claw.
The wolf demon, leaping into the air, was struck head-on, receiving multiple heavy blows from the weapons.
It only managed to let out a piercing howl before crashing hard onto the ground, its bones shattered to an unknown extent.
Liu Yiyun, quick-eyed and quick-handed, swiftly wrapped her spirit flood whip around its throat like a viper emerging from its hole, exerting sudden force.
With a crisp "crack," the wolf demon’s limbs twitched a few times before falling silent.
She retrieved the long whip, casting a complex glance at Herb by Shen Xuan’s side.
Only then did she realize.
The master’s attention to this personal maid seemed far deeper than it appeared.
The team continued to advance.
Herb’s report sounded from time to time.
"Five miles ahead, behind a rock, there’s a hiding iron-backed bobcat, suspected to be Tier Two."
"Three miles ahead, in the low woods, three venomous toxic jackals are lurking, suspected to be Tier One Upper Grade."
"Ahead on a gentle slope, there are tracks of stone-armored lizard activity."
...
Each alert was precise and accurate.
The Liu Family team adjusted their formation according to these warnings, sometimes setting ambushes, sometimes launching strong attacks, effortlessly slaying seven demon beasts while remaining unscathed.
These consecutive successes eased the previously tense atmosphere in the team.
However, just then, Herb’s voice suddenly changed and became noticeably urgent.
"Master! Ten miles ahead, there’s a large pack of wolf demons rapidly approaching us!"
In fact, even without her warning, Shen Xuan had already sensed it.
Even with his Ice Technique Golden Core sealed, Shen Xuan’s divine soul strength and divine sense coverage far exceeded typical Core Formation True Masters.
With the enhancement of talents like [Insight], [Smell and Taste], [Ears Listening in All Directions], and [Sharp-eyed], he had already perceived the foul wind and dense hoofbeats ten miles away.
"Retrieve the eagle, move behind me."
"Yes!"
Herb hesitated not at all, her mind stirred, and the distant circling silver dot swiftly returned.
She retrieved it and quickly moved behind Shen Xuan.
The Liu Family cultivators felt a chill in their hearts, the lightness vanishing from their expressions as they halted.
Blades and swords were unsheathed, formations changed, instantly entering battle readiness.
The five Golden Body Realm cultivators at the front spread out with coordination, forming an arc at the front line.
The numerous Qi Cultivation disciples at the back stood orderly according to the Five Elements attributes of earth, fire, gold, wood, and water.
Spiritual Power faintly linked among them, forming a simple battle array.
Shen Xuan nodded slightly.
Such response and coordination were indeed unlike the disorganized loose cultivators.
From this, it could be deduced.
Even if the cultivators had similar strength.
The battle strength exerted by a cultivation clan team was often several times that of loose cultivators.
And sect elites were even above family teams.
Clan leader Liu Minglin flew over to Shen Xuan’s side, and the two exchanged a few swift words.
Liu Minglin then issued several instructions, making slight adjustments to the defense line.
In half the time of a stick of incense.
"They’re coming!"
Liu Minglin said in a deep voice.
Silver lights flickered in confusion in the forest up ahead, shadows moving vaguely, as countless silver lightning wolf demons surged forth like a tide, their speed astonishing!
A rough glance revealed three to four hundred in total.
Fortunately, most were Tier One demon beasts.
Shen Xuan’s gaze was sharp, instantly locking onto the center of the wolf herd.
A particularly robust male wolf stood proudly, standing over two meters tall, its silver-gray fur gleaming with a metallic hardness, its aura reaching Tier Two Upper Grade.
Surrounding it were over ten equally fierce elite demon wolves, all Tier Two.
It’s no wonder they dared to confront the entire Liu Family team directly.
However, Shen Xuan’s gaze fell on a slightly smaller silver wolf to the side and rear of the so-called "wolf king."
It looked ordinary, even somewhat cowering.
Yet Shen Xuan’s divine sense keenly captured the deliberately hidden aura of demon power on it.
Tier Two Top Grade!
Just a step away from the Tier Three Demon King.
This was the true wolf king!
Cunning, patient, hiding behind the apparent "king."
Shen Xuan, feeling a sense, looked up to the sky.
A patch of "dark clouds" rapidly approached from afar.
It was a flock of over a hundred black-winged cold ravens, their wings like iron, beaks and talons sharp.
Among the raven flock, a giant raven with nearly a meter-long wingspan exuded demon qi skyward, also Tier Two Upper Grade.