Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery
Chapter 74: Midnight Hunting

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Midnight Hunting

Chen Li emerged from Zhang Yan’s home

with a thick stack of talismans in hand.

Featherweight Talismans.

Arrow-Evasion Talismans.

The current market price for Featherweight Talismans was four low-grade Spirit Stones each, and Arrow-Evasion Talismans were two low-grade Spirit Stones each.

Selling them all, even after deducting Zhao Lin’s share, he should gain income equivalent to two mid-grade Spirit Stones.

This amount of money wasn’t insignificant to someone who was in dire need of cash.

"Still, it’s not enough," Chen Li sighed in his heart.

Mid-grade magical instruments were much harder to sell than low-grade ones.

Over the past couple of months,

he had managed to sell a mere four.

Although each fetched a high price, averaging three mid-grade Spirit Stones, adding up they totaled only twelve mid-grade Spirit Stones. His savings, combined with the bits and pieces he earned during this period, amounted to about sixteen mid-grade Spirit Stones on hand.

And his reserve of Qi Replenishing Pills and Blood Qi Elixirs was rapidly diminishing.

At best, they would last another ten days or so.

Thinking about the exorbitant prices of these pills, Chen Li couldn’t help but curse resentfully,

"Damn these pill peddlers!"

...

That evening, Chen Li, adopting the guise of a meat seller, hastened to Zhao Lin’s house to hand over some of the talismans for him to sell.

As the saying goes, a rat has its path, and a snake has its trail.

Perhaps because Zhao Lin was an adventurer, he was always cautious in his actions. For such a long time, he had never encountered trouble.

However, Chen Li was well aware that despite the other party’s submissive and honest demeanor in front of him,

with another person, he might show a completely different face.

After all, how could someone who dared to venture out at night, approach someone carrying Demon Beast Meat, recognize him, and then size up the situation with boldness and meticulousness, possibly be an honest person?

In truth, how many real good people could there be surviving in this slum?

There were many Loose Cultivators who seemed harmless and cheerful to everyone but could turn into bloodthirsty bandits at the sight of opportunity.

But only children dichotomize between good and bad people.

For Chen Li, as long as someone could be of use to him, that was enough.

...

Four days later,

Chen Li’s Traction Skill finally reached the expert level.

The radius of his spell domain broke through to twenty meters, showing even greater power.

Compared to when he first reached the proficient level, the traction force had increased fivefold, and his consciousness drove it even more sensitively, to the point that even his subconscious could trigger reactions within the spell domain.

He felt more and more as though he was mastering a domain.

Moreover, in his spare time, Chen Li’s research in the ’Hemostasis Healing Skill’ had officially begun.

As he grasped more and more spells,

his understanding of spells deepened gradually. Learning by analogy, his research into the ’Hemostasis Healing Skill’ took less than thirty hours in total to make a breakthrough, much faster than the time it took him to learn the Traction Skill.

As a Second Order level six spell, its effect was extraordinary.

Chen Li had once experimented on himself.

Any wound

would be instantly stanched by a single spell, then rapidly heal, leaving only a shallow mark after about fifteen minutes, and the effect of this spell lasted an exceptionally long time, nearly an hour.

Whether before or after casting, as long as there were wounds, they could heal quickly.

This discovery made Chen Li pay a bit more attention to this spell.

If he cast the ’Hemostasis Healing Skill’ on himself before a fight, his ability to survive would undoubtedly greatly increase.

Of course, at this stage, it was just wishful thinking.

Casting a Second Order level six spell would consume a third of his current spiritual power. Rather than increasing his ability to survive, it was more like courting death. Perhaps when his realm increased a bit more, this idea might be feasible.

Subsequently, Chen Li continued his seclusion for a few more days,

practicing the ’Hemostasis Healing Skill.’

Seeing his supply of pills nearing depletion, he could no longer contain himself.

He prepared to hunt another Demon Beast.

...

One spring and summer,

was enough to bring about many changes.

The weeds on the wasteland bordering the shantytown had grown over half a person’s height, lush and flourishing.

This place was almost entirely the territory of Demon Beasts now, with humans treading here less and less. The paths once frequented by Loose Cultivators through the forests could no longer be found, replaced by various "beast trails."

One could spot traces and footprints of various creatures large and small having passed through these trails, with numerous beast paths crisscrossing each other, seemingly fragmenting the entire wasteland.

Chen Li was motionless, lurking in the thick grass.

His breathing was soft and prolonged; he pricked up his ears, listening carefully to all the subtle sounds coming from around him.

The night was still young, not yet the latter half.

Chen Li was in no rush.

Quietly waiting.

He knew that soon this place would become a thoroughfare.

Not long after, a faint tremor came from the ground, and he poked his head out of the bushes.

Unfortunately, tonight’s moonlight was obscured by dark clouds, making the light dim. He looked around for a long time but did not spot any trace.

Clearly, the distance was too great.

Chen Li thought about it and gave up on the idea of pursuing.

No hurry!

He waited quietly for another hour.

Then another demon beast passed by, this time much closer.

Through the dim light, Chen Li could vaguely see its pitch-black enormous silhouette.

This time he would not let it escape.

Lowering his body, using the cover of the bushes, his feet rapidly crisscrossed, reducing his own noise as much as possible while quickly closing in.

In fact, in the wilderness at deep night, such movement hardly attracted any attention, it was nothing out of the ordinary.

The wild beasts darting through the bushes like sharp swords, the noisy chorus of insects and frogs, and the heavy footsteps of the demon beast itself.

Amid these sounds, Chen Li’s movements did not alert the demon beast at all.

Soon, they drew closer and closer.

When they were a hundred meters apart,

Chen Li stopped again and carefully observed.

It was a demon beast with a body covered in blue scales and a black exoskeleton protecting its back. Sharp horns protruded from its head, and strong limbs supported its body, whose length of over ten meters was filled with formidable power.

As it walked, a tail almost as long as its body swung slightly in the air. Besides the noise of the breaking grass and twigs, even the sounds of the insects had disappeared.

He watched for a while.

Finally, he determined it was a First Order demon beast.

In fact, it was quite simple to determine.

That was the absence of the oppressive feeling brought about by a Second Order demon beast.

Chen Li could no longer contain himself.

He silently recited a spell, his hands quickly forming seals.

Once the magic field was formed,

he smacked himself with an amulet before leaping forward, sword in hand, at the speed of an arrow released from its bow, charging straight at the demon beast.

As he ran, he again recited the incantations for Palm Thunder.

The fluctuations of mana finally caught the demon beast’s attention.

It first cocked its head as if puzzled, then abruptly turned around.

What greeted it was a Palm Thunder.

A fine bolt of lightning crossed several dozen meters in an instant, striking its chest.

"Crack!"

A flash of electricity erupted.

Yet the demon beast’s body barely stiffened imperceptibly under the scales, leaving only a black mark before it was moving freely again. It shook itself, growled lowly, and its eyes looked mockingly and bloodthirstily at the approaching human.

This demon beast had consumed too many humans and had long lost its fear of them.

Seeing its food coming straight to it,

it even remained still, its thick scales and bone armor evidently giving it considerable confidence.

Coldness flickered in Chen Li’s eyes, but he didn’t stop his footsteps.

He suddenly drew his sword, and in a few strides closed the distance, bringing the demon beast within range of the Traction Skill.

Gradually,

the demon beast became agitated and enraged.

It frantically lunged and bit, as its enormous tail, like a long whip, swept continuously, creating explosion-like sounds, tossing up numerous weeds and pebbles.

Chen Li, however, moved with exceptional agility, now forward, now back, sometimes stepping in the air, sometimes rolling on the ground. Like an unpredictable shadow, his sharply honed Second Order magic sword carried a terrifying gleam, repeatedly striking the demon beast leaving several wounds.

The thick scales, comparable to a Low-grade Magical Instrument, were hardly more effective than tofu against the Second Order magic sword and the force of the Traction Skill.

He did not even dare to aim for its vitals, mostly hacking at the fleshier parts.

Fearful of ending the battle too swiftly.

Each battle with a demon beast was a valuable practical experience for him, requiring careful comprehension.

The more the demon beast fought, the more desperate it became, howling incessantly, nearly driven mad.

Vaguely, an obscure wave of mana descended.

Was it preparing to use a mighty move?

A shiver went through Chen Li’s heart, no longer daring to delay.

He began another incantation.

The Scolding Skill was unleashed instantly.

While its body stiffened, Chen Li’s sword surged with sharp energy, stepping on floating debris, he took several steps in succession and fiercely struck down at its head with his sword.

Chen Li landed on the ground.

At the same time, a massive head fell behind him.