Chapter 48: Cavern Mystery Third Level, Searching for the Demon-Locating Insect!
A single rider left Luoxia Mountain behind.
7 days later, torrential rain poured down without mercy, the Wei River’s current running swift and turbulent, waves churning and rolling.
Along a stretch of the river’s midpoint, a small boat rocked unsteadily, one man wielding an oar with his right arm, his left hand gripping a disc as black and unfathomable as the deepest abyss.
This was the sacred grounds’ own exclusive Demon-Locating Disc.
Its range was rather limited, but more than sufficient for handling a 1st Rank demonic creature.
Though 1st Rank demons had achieved sentience, their intelligence remained quite low, still falling within the category of foolish demons.
After roughly half an hour, the Demon-Locating Disc began flickering with a faint glow, and within just 3 breaths, the glow grew increasingly intense.
Suddenly.
Crash!
An unidentified massive creature from the riverbed slammed into the boat, capsizing it entirely, the deck and cabin shattering apart piece by piece. Gu Lin leaped up from the wreckage, every aperture across his body opening at once.
The river’s water surged skyward, forming a murky waterfall, and from beneath the surface emerged a horrifying human-like face, enormous eyeballs, a mouth the size of a boot, its black skin covered in dense, wrinkled folds like a shriveled, moldering old walnut.
Utterly ghastly and unnerving!
This was the human-faced giant crocodile, its face formed through the demon core lodged within its body.
The giant crocodile stretched 2 zhang in length and 3 chi in width. With a sudden swing of its tail, it slammed directly toward Gu Lin’s body, the force behind it heavy as a thousand-jun weight, its mouth simultaneously letting out a roar as a foul, blood-tinged demonic mist spread out like fog around it.
Contact with that demonic mist would slow one’s movements considerably!
Gu Lin’s brow furrowed, the Literary Palace activating its Righteous Energy, all 6 meridians of his hand opening simultaneously.
The human-faced giant crocodile found itself trapped by the Confine Art, and though the effect lasted only a single instant, the Six Meridian Divine Sword erupted with invisible, colorless sword energy, striking directly into 6 vital points across the crocodile’s head and belly.
“Roar!”
The crocodile’s face twisted in agony, reverting back to its natural crocodilian form, blood gushing wildly from its torso as it leaped from the river’s surface at a terrifying speed, gathering its remaining strength for one final strike against its human attacker.
Darkness swept across the space before Gu Lin as he unleashed the Wave-Treading Steps at full mastery, effortlessly dodging the crocodile’s dying blow.
Boom!
The crocodile crashed back into the river, its innards completely shredded apart, organs and intestines mixing with blood to stain the river’s surface crimson, a deep crimson demon core slowly sinking beneath the surface.
Energy surged through Gu Lin’s fingertips as he reached out and seized the still-warm demon core.
Had anyone witnessed this scene, they would likely have been struck utterly speechless with shock.
Cavern Mystery First Level, effortlessly slaying a demon core-bearing giant crocodile whose strength rivaled Cavern Mystery Third Level—what kind of terrifying combat power did this represent?
Returning to the riverbank, Gu Lin pulled out a small notebook, tore off a page, his brushstrokes flowing like a darting snake across the paper. He folded the letter and tied it to the leg of a brightly plumed carrier pigeon.
Eastern Temple Blade-Bearers stationed within a hundred-li radius would naturally handle disposal of the crocodile’s remains.
As for the demon core, it belonged to him alone, of course.
A demon core couldn’t be used directly for cultivation, but it served as premium material for forging artifacts, exchangeable for Spirit Stones.
Once everything had been settled, scattered points of golden light began surfacing within Gu Lin’s mind, slowly coalescing into three large characters: “Book of Merit.”
【Slaying a Grade-B, 4th-Tier evil demon, reward: full mastery of the Inch-Sized Thunder】
【Martial Dao merit points: 2400/10000】
【Confucian Dao merit points: 359/1000】
【Arcane Dao merit points: 0/1000】
【Witchcraft Dao merit points: 0/1000】
In that instant, every aperture within his body hummed with a resonant buzz, liquefied spiritual energy within his dantian surging forth like a fountain, spreading 2 inches further. His 7 meridians and 6 channels felt as though wrapped in ten-thousand-year-old ice, and after that momentary chill passed, a deep, all-encompassing comfort spread through his entire body.
He had broken through to Cavern Mystery Third Level!
“No wonder I chose this assignment so carefully.”
Gu Lin’s smile spread wide, brilliant with satisfaction.
This particular demon-elimination outing had proven exceptionally rewarding!
“Inch-Sized Thunder.”
Gu Lin settled his breath deep in his dantian, channeling his peerless mastery to circulate inner energy through every aperture of his body, and a faint seed of thunder materialized in the palm of his hand.
Throw it, and it would explode on contact!
“Would people mistake me for someone born with an Innate Thunder Body?”
Gu Lin’s smile deepened further still.
Only someone born with an Innate Thunder Body could transform their inner energy directly into a seed of thunder!
“A thousand times more satisfying than sitting around in the Spirit-Cleansing Pool!”
Gu Lin’s spirits soared as he urged his horse onward at a brisk pace.
If only this human-faced giant crocodile had been a human-faced giant soft-shelled turtle instead—its corpse alone would have been enough to earn him promotion to Squad Leader.
A human-faced giant soft-shelled turtle carried Royal-Grade Bloodline among demonic creatures!
Of course, he knew he was being greedy. Royal-Grade Bloodline demons were exceedingly rare and difficult to slay—otherwise, those elite sacred grounds members in their thirties wouldn’t still be stuck as lowly Braves to this very day.
***
7 days later, Gu Lin arrived at Wanzong Town, one of the border towns straddling Chu Province and Jiang Province.
Though the town fell far short of the scale its name suggested, hundreds of sects and factions mingled together within its bounds, a chaotic mix of every kind.
Gu Lin made his way toward the Wanzong Auction House.
According to the case file, this was exactly where the family-slaughtering Confucian cultivator, Shen Deyang, had exposed his whereabouts.
A resplendent, towering 6-story building stood before him, a steady stream of customers flowing in and out.
As Gu Lin stepped inside, he was stopped by an elderly man, his temples streaked with gray.
The old man’s voice came out hoarse and rough:
“One of the Wanzong Auction House’s rules—no disguises permitted.”
Gu Lin stared at him for a long moment, then let his wide sleeve slip back just enough to reveal the corner of his identification token.
The instant he caught sight of the gilded waist token, the old man’s straight, rigid posture bent low.
Gu Lin spoke coldly:
“Am I permitted to disguise myself now?”
The old man’s scalp prickled with nerves, and he spoke with utmost deference:
“My lord, please, right this way.”
Judging by the corner of the token visible, this had to be the Eastern Temple’s Xiezhi.
The old man followed closely at his heels, eager to properly attend to this Eastern Temple dignitary.
Gu Lin waved him off, choosing to browse the auction house alone.
It was precisely because disguises were forbidden here that Shen Deyang’s whereabouts had been exposed.
The auction house housed all manner of martial arts manuals, techniques, and weapons, though to Gu Lin, none of it held any real appeal—he didn’t even bother giving the sacred grounds’ own Treasure Tower a second glance, let alone the wares of an ordinary auction house.
Yet upon reaching the 6th floor, his attention was drawn by a collection of small insects.
Within a crystal-clear display case sat various nail-sized insects, some glowing green and sprouting dozens of fine, delicate antennae, others growing 5 tiny wings.
Each display case came with a detailed description.
“1st-Tier Wine Insect: Place this insect gu into wine and let it sit still for a quarter hour. The wine will become imbued with spiritual essence, and drinking it will accelerate one’s cultivation speed.”
“1st-Tier Bronze-Skin Insect: Refine and absorb this insect gu, and one’s body will become as impenetrable as a wall of solid bronze and iron.”
“1st-Tier Far-Sight Insect: Refine and absorb this insect gu, and one’s eyesight will far surpass that of ordinary people, able to clearly discern the veins of a leaf from a li away, with vision capable of piercing through solid walls.”
“1st-Tier Golden Spear Insect: Refine and absorb this insect gu, and one’s marital harmony will flourish, with unwavering vigor in the bedchamber, capable of pleasuring several partners through the night with effortless ease.”
Gu Lin’s interest was instantly piqued, and he found himself examining the Golden Spear Insect at length.
130 low-grade Spirit Stones.
He moved on, continuing to browse.
“1st-Tier Demon-Locating Insect: This insect gu can detect lurking demonic energy within a 10-li radius.”
“105 low-grade Spirit Stones.”
Gu Lin stopped in his tracks, unable to tear his eyes away.
This was exactly what he needed most!
Compared to the Demon-Locating Disc, the Demon-Locating Insect’s range was far, far greater!
Of course, only a practitioner who had opened the 1st Tier of the Witchcraft Dao could actually use a 1st-Tier insect gu—purchasing it now would leave him unable to use it for the time being.
But sooner or later, he would open the Witchcraft Dao path, and from that point forward, using the Demon-Locating Insect to hunt down demonic creatures and harvest merit would make everything so much more convenient, wouldn’t it?
Seeing Gu Lin pause, a young woman in a pale purple, floor-length dress approached slowly, asking with a smile:
“Is my lord interested?”
Gu Lin nodded:
“I’ll take the Demon-Locating Insect.”
With that, he pulled out his entire month’s stipend from his sleeve.
12 mid-grade Spirit Stones, equivalent to 120 low-grade Spirit Stones.
Since he had no need for Spirit Stones to aid his own cultivation, being able to afford the Demon-Locating Insect left him thoroughly satisfied.
If he’d had any silver left over, the Golden Spear Insect would have made for a rather interesting purchase too.
The woman opened a pouch and immediately arranged for someone to attend to him.
First, she handed Gu Lin 15 low-grade Spirit Stones in change.
Then she brought out a small, gourd-shaped vessel hanging from a cord and carefully sealed the Demon-Locating Insect inside.
Gu Lin took the vessel and secured it before heading toward the techniques hall.
Once he returned to the Eastern Temple, he would set the Demon-Locating Insect aside in his office for the time being, and once the day came that he finally opened the Witchcraft Dao path, he could refine and absorb this insect gu and put it to its full intended use.
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