Chapter 4084: Strategy: Beating Dumdums Number Sixty-Seven

Taegong’s heart sank as the situation suddenly became far more dangerous than a simple encounter with a wild beast. Two of their companions had disappeared within seconds, and the first snake was still wrapped around another man’s neck.

’This is an ambush!’ He immediately reached toward his spatial storage treasure.

However, Xiao Yin had already moved.

"HISS~" The black serpent launched herself directly toward Taegong.

Her slender body streaked through the air with astonishing speed. At the same moment, Xiao Yang tightened his coils around the cultivator he had been restraining.

The man had been attempting to gather enough Immortal Qi to force the snake away, but Xiao Yang’s sudden constriction interrupted his efforts. A sharp pressure struck his neck and his vision darkened. Within moments, he lost consciousness.

’Three down!’ Xiao Yang announced excitedly as he released the unconscious cultivator and turned toward the remaining enemies.

Meanwhile, Taegong had managed to retrieve a talisman and he crushed it immediately.

WENG!

A translucent defensive barrier appeared around his body and Xiao Yin struck it an instant later.

CRACK!

The barrier shattered beneath the force of her attack.

Taegong’s eyes widened. ’Impossible!’

The talisman had been a valuable defensive treasure capable of withstanding powerful attacks. Yet the small serpent had broken through it almost effortlessly. Fortunately for him, the brief delay gave him enough time to activate a movement technique.

He twisted his body and retreated several meters and Xiao Yin passed through the space he had occupied a moment earlier.

Taegong landed heavily upon the forest floor, while his breathing had become ragged. "What kind of beasts are these!?"

The two remaining masked cultivators hurriedly moved toward him. They had finally understood the seriousness of the situation. Three of their companions had already been incapacitated.

The two serpents were clearly far stronger than their appearances suggested. And the speed they had demonstrated was extraordinary.

"Protect Elder Taegong!"

"Activate your defensive treasures!" The remaining cultivators began circulating their Immortal Qi as several protective runes appeared around their bodies.

Taegong hurriedly retrieved another talisman as he had no intention of allowing the serpents to approach him again.

’We need to escape!’ His thoughts were racing.

He could scarcely believe that they had encountered such powerful beasts while traveling through the wilderness. The situation was particularly infuriating because he had already been trying to escape another danger.

Now he was being attacked by two mysterious serpents that seemed capable of defeating his escorts with ease. Xiao Yin and Xiao Yang positioned themselves on opposite sides of the remaining cultivators as their eyes gleamed.

’They’re getting serious,’ Xiao Yang observed.

’Good,’ Xiao Yin replied. ’Brother Shrubby should be ready.’

The two serpents had deliberately avoided using their more destructive abilities. Their task had been to distract the group, incapacitate several members, and force the remaining cultivators into a position where they could be captured together.

So far, everything had gone according to plan.

Taegong glanced between the two serpents and he could sense that both possessed extraordinary strength. However, he was still a powerful Immortal cultivator, and he had no intention of surrendering.

"Attack them together!" he ordered.

The two masked cultivators prepared to unleash their techniques when something flashed between the trees.

ZAP!

A brilliant streak of white lightning erupted from the surrounding forest. The attack moved so quickly that none of the three remaining cultivators had time to react. The lightning split into several branches, striking Taegong and his two escorts almost simultaneously.

CRACKLE!

Their defensive barriers flared and for a brief instant, several protective runes attempted to resist the incoming energy. Then the lightning penetrated their defenses.

"ARGH!" Taegong’s body stiffened.

An intense numbness spread through his limbs, disrupting his Immortal Qi circulation and causing his muscles to contract uncontrollably. The other two cultivators suffered the same fate.

Their bodies convulsed as bright electrical arcs danced across their robes.

A faint scent of ozone spread through the forest as the lightning continued for several seconds. It was carefully controlled, delivering enough power to incapacitate the cultivators without causing permanent damage.

Then the brilliant glow faded and the three masked figures collapsed almost simultaneously.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Taegong struck the forest floor face-first and his limbs twitched once before becoming still. The two remaining cultivators fell beside him. All three had lost consciousness and silence returned to the forest.

A moment later, a familiar figure emerged from between the trees. Little Shrubby walked into the clearing with an expression of complete satisfaction. Faint sparks of lightning still danced across his fur before gradually disappearing.

"And done," he declared.

Xiao Yang raised his head excitedly. "That was perfect!"

Xiao Yin slithered down from a nearby branch. "Of course it was. Strategy Number Sixty-Seven always works."

Little Shrubby nodded. "We got all six."

The liger glanced toward the unconscious cultivators. His lightning had been powerful enough to overwhelm their defenses, but he had carefully controlled the amount of energy entering their bodies. As such they would remain unconscious for a while.

More importantly, they were alive, just as Lin Mu had instructed.

Xiao Yang slithered toward Taegong and examined him. "So this is the one who caused Master trouble."

Xiao Yin approached from the other side. "Yes."

She looked at the unconscious elder with considerable satisfaction. "He doesn’t look very impressive."

Xiao Yang hissed in agreement. "He was scared of us!"

Little Shrubby gave a soft chuckle. "Most people would be."

He then examined the surrounding area.

There were no obvious signs that their brief confrontation had attracted outside attention. The trees remained standing, the ground had suffered only minor damage, and the lightning had dissipated without leaving a large disturbance.

Their attack had been swift and precise, which was exactly what Lin Mu had wanted.

Little Shrubby contacted their master. ’Master! We caught him!’

Far away, outside the main Vault Division compound, Lin Mu was still listening to the High Elder’s elaborate explanations.

The message caused a pleased smile to appear upon his face. ’Good work. All six?’

’Yes! They’re all unconscious.’

’And Taegong?’

’He’s here too. Little Shrubby knocked him out!’ Xiao Yang replied proudly.

Lin Mu nodded inwardly. ’Excellent. Secure them and make sure they cannot escape when they wake up. I’ll tell you what to do next.’

’Understood, Master!’ the three beasts answered.

Little Shrubby turned toward the unconscious cultivators. "Alright. Let’s tie them up."

Xiao Yang’s eyes brightened. "Can we use the really strong bindings?"

"Yes," Little Shrubby replied. "Master wants them alive and unable to escape."

Xiao Yin gave a satisfied hiss. "Then let’s make sure they stay that way."

The three beasts immediately began securing their captives. Meanwhile, Taegong remained sprawled upon the forest floor, completely unaware that the creatures who had attacked him were Lin Mu’s companions.

He had spent the entire journey fearing that the Wild Peak might discover his whereabouts. And now, despite the Vault Division’s elaborate arrangements, he had fallen directly into the hands of the very person he had been trying to avoid.

All because three beasts had decided to employ a strategy involving a box of shiny treasures.

A strategy that Ashy had named Beating Dumdums Number Sixty-Seven.

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