Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Flood Dragon

“As is well known, certain serpent-type spirit beasts, due to their bloodlines, are called flood dragons upon reaching the Zhou Tian Realm. At that point, they grow twin horns atop their heads and claws beneath their bellies. Once they reach such a stage, they are capable of overturning rivers and seas, their power boundless. The Elixir of Shedding the Mortal is intimately connected to this transformation,” the young man explained to Yang Xiao.

“Please elaborate,” Yang Xiao requested.

“Before advancing to the Zhou Tian Realm, these serpent-type spirit beasts usually undergo a molt. The Elixir of Shedding the Mortal is created when these beasts gather rare and unique treasures from heaven and earth, infusing them into a spiritual spring with their own magical power. Only by absorbing the energy from this elixir can they successfully transform into flood dragons after molting, thus entering the Zhou Tian Realm. By the same logic, since this elixir is so vital to serpent-type spirit beasts, it possesses equally astonishing effects for human cultivators. Not only can it greatly enhance one’s cultivation, it can revive the dead and restore flesh to bone, bringing immense benefits to the body. No matter how severe the injuries a cultivator suffers, immersion in the Elixir of Shedding the Mortal will swiftly restore them to their original state,” the young man explained.

“In that case, this elixir is indeed a marvelous thing. Since you’re seeking my cooperation, do you happen to have information about its whereabouts?” Yang Xiao inquired.

“Indeed, deep within the Valley of Beasts exists this elixir. I have sought you out precisely to retrieve it together,” the young man replied.

“I suspect it must be quite dangerous. Otherwise, you could acquire it yourself; why involve others? Such a fortune is not something easily shared,” Yang Xiao remarked.

“There is some danger, of course. However, the flood dragon at this stage has only just formed, making it at its weakest. Moreover, I have prepared a set of formations in advance, which will allow us to safely extract the elixir. Yet, this formation cannot be activated by a single person—it requires three or four cultivators of high skill working together to trap the flood serpent. Seeing your cultivation is not weak, I sought you out,” the young man explained.

“I see. I am quite interested in this elixir myself. If such a thing truly exists, accompanying you would not be out of the question,” Yang Xiao said.

“That is excellent! I still have some preparations to make, so I must take my leave for now. If you wish to join, simply meet me at the entrance of the Valley of Beasts tomorrow morning,” the young man said, then turned and departed.

Yang Xiao, led by Bai Sheng and Bai Xue, entered the shop.

Bai Sheng expressed his gratitude to Yang Xiao, then said, “If Young Master Yang desires this shop, I will sell it to you. After all, you’ve already given your spirit stones to my daughter; if I were to take them back, she would surely blame me.”

“I have no intention of keeping the shop. Now that matters are resolved, it shall remain under Uncle Bai’s care. I know nothing of business—if it were handed to me, I would not know how to manage it,” Yang Xiao replied.

“That won’t do. Since you’ve paid the spirit stones, the shop rightfully belongs to you. As for management, I have an idea: let my father be the manager, while you remain the owner behind the scenes,” Bai Xue said with a playful smile.

“You’re always coming up with such ideas,” Bai Sheng scolded Bai Xue gently.

“That wouldn’t be proper either. I rarely have time to oversee a shop, and even as an owner I would hardly be qualified. So, let the ten thousand spirit stones count as my share—I’ll be half-owner of the shop, while Uncle Bai continues to manage it,” Yang Xiao suggested.

“That works as well. I can take this opportunity to expand the shop’s scale. Rest assured, Young Master Yang, you need not be involved in management; each year, I’ll see that your share of the profits is delivered to you on time,” Bai Sheng promised.

Bai Xue, seeing this arrangement, nodded in agreement and handed Yang Xiao’s ten thousand spirit stones to Bai Sheng.

Yang Xiao cared little for such matters; his mind lingered on the Elixir of Shedding the Mortal. He had heard of it before—a substance of great benefit even to disciples at the Condensing Qi stage. Obtaining it would indeed help him advance his cultivation. Currently, Yang Xiao was at a bottleneck; he needed new methods to break through, and the elixir was a promising option, significantly increasing his chances of advancement.

Still, Yang Xiao harbored some suspicion towards the unfamiliar young man. Though the other seemed earnest enough, caution was always necessary. Fortunately, Yang Xiao’s cultivation was no longer weak; whatever tricks the other might attempt, they would pose little threat.

After spending some time at Bai Sheng’s shop, Yang Xiao returned to his old residence and rested for the night. The next morning, he arrived punctually at the entrance to the Valley of Beasts.

The unfamiliar young man was already waiting, accompanied by two others. Seeing Yang Xiao, he greeted him with delight: “Let me introduce myself. I am Qin Feng, and these two at my side are Zhuo Fan and Xia Yu. Their skills are formidable, and most importantly, their spiritual power stands out even among peers. Thus, with the four of us, we can set up the formation, trap the flood dragon, and acquire the Elixir of Shedding the Mortal. Our cultivation will soar—there’s no doubt about it.”

The two companions beside Qin Feng were equally elated, clearly dreaming of obtaining the elixir and greatly advancing their cultivation.

Yang Xiao introduced himself as well, and sized up the other three. They were all evidently at the peak of the Spiritual Awareness realm, their spiritual power strong and palpable. Each bore significant fluctuations of energy—a reason for their confidence.

Among them, Qin Feng’s cultivation was undoubtedly the best, even giving Yang Xiao a faint sense of hidden strength; his spiritual power was nearly on par with Yang Xiao’s. The other two also had means of concealing their cultivation, but Yang Xiao’s divine sense allowed him to estimate their level. Compared to himself, they were far inferior, but still much stronger than ordinary cultivators.

“Now that everyone is here, let us set out,” Qin Feng said to the group.

The others naturally followed Qin Feng’s lead, entering the Valley of Beasts together.

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