Chapter 240: Chapter 209: Wilderness Monster Hunt, Leveraging a Local Boss

The net of light was not static. It slowly spun and flowed like water, and within it, nine ethereal "chains" could be faintly seen, linked head to tail in an endless cycle.

This was the Nine Bends Lock River Formation!

With the Array Formation complete, Lu Zhao nodded in satisfaction. His figure flickered as he executed the Breath Concealment and Shapeshifting Skill. His aura instantly became faint and indistinct as he silently retreated behind a massive boulder on a high slope outside the array, lying in wait.

Next came the most common tactic used by Demon Hunters: luring the snake out of its hole.

He took out a broken Feather tinged with the scent of a Red-Feathered Black-Footed Bird. With a flick of his finger, a tiny flame ignited it.

A strange scent, a mixture of blood and burnt notes, drifted on the forest breeze deep into the Shadowy Forest.

At the same time, he directed a Red Fire Spirit Bird to sneak silently to the edge of the wolf pack’s territory. He had it deliberately make a little noise and release a provocative aura.

"AWOO!"

Soon, a howl full of savagery and warning echoed from the depths of the forest! It was followed by a chorus of howls rising one after another. The sound of dense, frantic running grew closer, and the vegetation shook violently.

The first to burst out were several dozen Tier One Demon Wolves. They were powerfully built with bared fangs and gray-black fur. Their eyes were crimson, and they grew frantic and agitated upon smelling the unfamiliar, provocative scent.

Then, the pack parted like a tide, and a giant wolf, clearly a full size larger and nearly ten feet tall at the shoulder, walked out slowly.

This wolf’s entire body was covered in a deep, glossy ink-green fur. Only its eyes were different; a faint, jade-green light glowed from the depths of its pupils—cold, cruel, and with a hint of cunning. This was the Cyan-Eyed Green-Heart Wolf!

Its jade-green eyes swept over the restless pack, finally locking onto the provocative scent from the hollow and the Red Fire Spirit Bird that was strutting around on the outskirts.

"AWOO!"

The Cyan-Eyed Green-Heart Wolf let out a majestic roar. The pack, like an army that had just received its orders, howled and charged toward the Red Fire Spirit Bird!

The Red Fire Spirit Bird turned and fled at incredible speed, making a beeline for the hollow where the Nine Bends Lock River Formation was laid. The pack gave chase relentlessly. The Cyan-Eyed Green-Heart Wolf also began to move, following unhurriedly behind, a hunter’s mockery in its jade-green eyes.

The moment most of the wolf pack and the Cyan-Eyed Green-Heart Wolf stepped into the hollow—

VMMM!

The once-calm hollow suddenly erupted in brilliant light! The nine ethereal Water Essence Lock Chains instantly solidified, resembling nine true river Flood Dragons. Carrying an irresistible binding force, they crashed down!

THUD! THUD!

The dozens of Tier One Demon Wolves at the front, as if they had run into an invisible bog, abruptly slowed! They discovered in terror that their limbs felt bound by unseen ropes. Every step became incredibly heavy. Some were even crushed to the ground by the immense Water Essence Force Field, unable to move!

"ROAR!" The Cyan-Eyed Green-Heart Wolf’s jade eyes narrowed. Instantly realizing something was wrong, it let out a low growl. A bright cyan light flared around its body as it tried to break free from the restraints.

It was a Tier Two Demon Beast, after all, its power far exceeding that of its peers. As it struggled fiercely, the cyan light on its body clashed violently with the blue chains, producing a SZZZing sound. It was actually able to move slowly within the array, albeit with great difficulty.

However, would Lu Zhao give it that chance?

"Thousand Waters Hundred Spirits Skill!"

Lu Zhao’s figure appeared like a phantom atop a large rock outside the array. He pointed his fingers like a sword and aimed at the struggling Cyan-Eyed Green-Heart Wolf within the formation!

The Hundred Waters Magic Disc blazed with blue light! A deep blue Water Blade, condensed to its absolute limit with edges that shimmered with a piercing cold glint, materialized from thin air. It tore through the atmosphere, carrying an all-rending Sharpness and immense water pressure. In an instant, it crossed dozens of yards and viciously slashed toward the vital area of the Cyan-Eyed Green-Heart Wolf’s abdomen!

"AWOOO—!" The Cyan-Eyed Green-Heart Wolf sensed the mortal threat. A hint of madness flashed in its jade eyes as it opened its mouth and spat out a condensed cyan Wind Blade, attempting to intercept the attack.

However, under the powerful restraints of the Nine Bends Lock River Formation, its movements were ultimately half a beat too slow!

SCHLICK!

The deep blue Water Blade shattered the hastily formed Wind Blade with crushing force. Its momentum undiminished, it sliced viciously into the Cyan-Eyed Green-Heart Wolf’s abdomen! The beast’s tenacious hide and Protective Demon Light were torn apart instantly. A horrifying wound appeared, and blood gushed out like a fountain!

The intense pain triggered the Cyan-Eyed Green-Heart Wolf’s ferocity. It ignored its injuries and roared madly, trying to command the pack to counterattack. But the Low-Tier Demon Wolves in the array, suppressed by the Ninefold Water Elemental Force Field, were already in complete disarray and couldn’t even fend for themselves. How could they possibly mount an effective attack?

Lu Zhao’s eyes were cold, and he didn’t stop. His figure moved like the wind, weaving around the outside of the array. One Ice Cone after another, like the Grim Reaper’s scythe, precisely reaped the lives of the Tier One Demon Wolves that were bound and struggling to move.

At the same time, he controlled several Red Fire Spirit Birds to continuously harass and wear down the heavily injured Cyan-Eyed Green-Heart Wolf.

A cornered beast will still fight. The Cyan-Eyed Green-Heart Wolf thrashed about inside the array, its jade eyes flashing with a savage light. Streaks of Wind Blades tore through the air, carving deep gullies into the ground.

However, the Nine Bends Lock River Formation was like a giant millstone. The nine Water Essence Lock Chains, layered one upon another, continuously wore down its strength and slowed its movements. The number of wounds on its body grew, and its aura became weaker and weaker.

Half a day later, as the last rays of the setting sun filtered through the gaps in the trees, illuminating the hollow littered with wolf corpses and devastation, the Cyan-Eyed Green-Heart Wolf finally collapsed from exhaustion. Its massive body crashed to the ground. Its jade-green eyes lost their light, leaving only resentment and despair. Its chest rose and fell faintly; it was on the verge of death.

Lu Zhao walked slowly into the formation and deactivated it. Looking at the dying giant wolf and the field of wolf corpses, a satisfied smile appeared on his face. ’This array’s power is truly impressive,’ Lu Zhao thought.

Immediately after, he flicked his finger, and a condensed Water Blade shot out, ending the Cyan-Eyed Green-Heart Wolf’s suffering.

He expertly harvested the Demon Pill and Essence Blood, then collected the Wolf King’s corpse and all the Tier One Demon Wolf corpses on the ground into his Storage Bag. The entire process was as smooth as flowing water, like that of a master butcher.

’I hope this Wolf King’s lair has a surprise for me,’ Lu Zhao murmured to himself. Following the lingering scent of the Cyan-Eyed Green-Heart Wolf, he ventured deeper into the Shadowy Forest.

A day later, Lu Zhao stood before a cold, damp cave. He looked at a jade-white orchid growing in a crevice inside, which emitted a faint, clean fragrance, and sighed softly.

’Tier Two Lower Grade, a White Jade Orchid... I suppose it’s better than nothing.’ He carefully plucked the Spirit Grass, which could be used to refine Detoxification and Clear Heart Pills, and placed it in a jade box.

Compared to the Purple Sun Jade Heart Lotus, the value of this White Jade Orchid was worlds apart. Still, in a Barbaric Land like this, any gain was hard-won. He put away the jade box and turned to leave the area.

For the next two months, Lu Zhao was like a tireless hunter, successively slaying two more Tier Two Lower Grade Demon Beasts: a Green-Scaled Poison Python skilled in concealing itself with poisonous mist, and an Earth-Splitting Mountain Bear of immense strength whose roars were like thunder.

His methods were identical in each case. He relied on the Nine Bends Lock River Formation to trap his enemies while he attacked from a distance with Magic and Puppets, minimizing his own risk.

The haul was quite good: the Green-Scaled Poison Python’s Poison Sac, Snake Gall, and skin were all High-Grade materials, and the Earth-Splitting Mountain Bear’s Demon Pill, Bear Gall, and Skeleton were also quite valuable.

However, when Lu Zhao finished taking stock of his gains and prepared to find his next target, he found himself in an awkward situation.

In the outer regions of the Broken River Plains, he had practically wiped out all known Tier Two Lower Grade Demon Beasts suitable for him to hunt!

The remaining targets were either cunning creatures whose movements were erratic and hard to track, or they were Demon Beasts entrenched in the deeper regions with strength reaching Tier Two Middle-Grade.

Tracking the former would be time-consuming and laborious. Moreover, as the Commander of Broken River Castle, he couldn’t be away from his post for long periods to venture deep into the Wilderness and try his luck.

Challenging the latter meant a sharp increase in risk! Tier Two Middle-Grade Demon Beasts were far stronger than Lower Grade ones, and their Talent Divine Abilities were astonishingly powerful. While Lu Zhao was confident he could defeat them, he had no certainty he could actually kill and secure them.

Standing on a high slope overlooking the vast Broken River Plains below, Lu Zhao’s brow furrowed slightly. The Wilderness was immense, but treasures were not just lying around for the taking. An opportunity like the Purple Sun Jade Heart Lotus was something one chanced upon, not something one could actively seek out.

’Looks like it’s time to have those local snakes pull their weight.’ Lu Zhao’s gaze slowly turned toward the Cultivator settlement outside Broken River Castle, his eyes profound.

Back when he had subdued Hann Song, Xu Kui, Wang Zhen, and the others, he had already planned to use their deep local roots and access to information.

Now was the time to put them to use.

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