191 Chapter 1349: Soulbinding Golden Bead (1/2)
”These are your formation flags.” With a wave of his hand, Zhang Xuan passed the pile of formation flags back to Bi Hongyin.
”You can keep them for the time being. They are much better off with you than with me,” Bi Hongyin replied.
After witnessing the other party's proficiency in formations, she knew that the formation flags would be put to much better use in the other party's hands.
Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up. ”Thank you.”
These formation flags were indeed of much use to him.
If he could only kill a Half-Phantasmal Space expert with his current strength, with these formation flags in hand, as long as he could catch the enemy off-guard, even a Phantasmal Space realm intermediate stage expert could be cornered by him!
After their previous encounter with the Crimsontail Wasps, the group was far more careful than before.
They continued advancing deeper into the valley for four hours straight.
Within those four hours, they got into several small skirmishes with saint beasts, but thanks to Zhang Xuan's formations and the superior fighting prowess of the group, it did not take them too much effort to resolve those situations.
At some point in time, Luo Xuanqing suddenly stopped behind a massive boulder and gestured to the area ahead of him. ”The Dongxu Gourd is located in the cavern just ahead.”
Tracing the trajectory of the valley, the others soon saw an average-sized cavern appearing before their eyes. Due to the lush vines that grew along the cliff, the entrance was concealed to the point that only small slits could be seen. If one did not pay close attention, one would have overlooked the presence of the cavern easily.
”This place… doesn't seem to be any different from the other areas though,” Bi Hongyin said with a confused frown.
In her view, there was nothing unique about the cavern. There was no astoundingly powerful aura or concentration of spiritual energy. It felt no different from the other parts of the mountain range.
Would something as valuable as the Dongxu Gourd really be inside?
”That's because there's an Aura Isolation Formation around his cavern. Otherwise, someone else would have long harvested the Dongxu Gourd,” Luo Xuanqing said.
The others also nodded in agreement after hearing these words.
Indeed. If the cavern emanated a powerful aura or had a high concentration of spiritual energy, even the saint beasts would have charged in upon noticing it to dig out the treasure within.
”Let's head in then. Why are we waiting out here?” Yun Lianhai urged excitedly.
As a qualified treasure hunter, his blood raced in exhilaration upon hearing that the treasure was right before them.
”We can't head in right now. We have to wait till nighttime,” Luo Xuanqing informed the group through zhenqi telepathy.
”Nighttime? Why?” Yun Lianhai was baffled by Luo Xuanqing's words.
The others also could not understand why Luo Xuanqing wanted to wait till nighttime before making a move. One must know that they were currently in the midst of a valley where Saint 8-dan beasts lurked. Every additional second there put them in greater danger.
”A Netherworld Azure Dragon Beast lives in the cavern,” Luo Xuanqing explained.
”Netherworld Azure Dragon Beast?”
Bi Hongyin and the others narrowed their eyes in astonishment.
Noting the changes in the expressions of those around him, Zhang Xuan could not help but ask, ”Is it a really formidable saint beast?”
So far, his knowledge of beast taming had only reached 6-star. While he had read quite a variety of books and come to learn of some of the more formidable saint beasts, he still was not too well-versed with the rarer and more elusive saint beasts.
”The Netherworld Azure Dragon Beast is a saint beast that possesses the bloodline of the Dragon Tribe. Just by reaching maturity, they would already achieve a strength on par with Saint 8-dan experts,” Yuan Xiao explained grimly.
”Saint 8-dan?” Zhang Xuan's expression turned grave.
To be honest, he had never seen a saint beast of that tier before.
If he could just tame one of those, he would stand a much better chance in the struggle against the Zhang Clan for Luo Ruoxin.
”Indeed. Even with all of our strengths combined, we won't be a match for that fellow, so it would be best for us to wait till nighttime so as to not draw its attention,” Luo Xuanqing said grimly.
Due to their innate talents and superior physical prowess, Saint 8-dan beasts tended to wield fighting prowess far stronger than Saint 8-dan cultivators. Even though they were offspring of powerful clans and organizations, possessing multiple means up their sleeves, they were still insufficient to deal with the Netherworld Azure Dragon Beast.
”Saint beasts of that tier should possess a keen awareness of their surroundings and be able to perceive even the slightest disturbance in their surroundings. Is there any difference between entering now and at nighttime?” Zhang Xuan asked.
Saint beasts would also unlock their Spiritual Perception at Saint 2-dan, allowing them to be impervious to the reduced visibility of nighttime. At Saint 8-dan, the Netherworld Azure Dragon Beast could be considered one of the strongest saint beasts in the world, so what difference would day and night make to it?
”It's because I have this artifact.” Luo Xuanqing flicked his wrist, and a jade container appeared in his palm. He pried it open lightly, and a ray of brilliant light flickered out.
Sitting at the center of the jade container was a golden bead. It was made of a material that Zhang Xuan could not recognize, but its radiance was amazing.
”What is it?” Bi Hongyin asked.
It seemed like Zhang Xuan was not the only one who did not recognize what the golden bead was.
”This is a Soulbinding Golden Bead that I had someone specially craft for me,” Luo Xuanqing replied.
”Soulbinding Golden Bead?”
”The Netherworld Azure Dragon Beast possesses the Dragon Bloodline, and due to that, it's particularly sensitive to golden, shiny objects. So, I specially had this artifact forged so as to capture its attention. Look at the formation marks inscribed on top of it. It's carved in a way to induce drowsiness if one stares at it for an extended period of time,” Luo Xuanqing explained.
”However, in the day, sunlight would compromise the effectiveness of the Soulbinding Golden Bead, making it harder to draw the Netherworld Azure Dragon Beast's attention. So, it would be best to wait till nighttime.”
The crowd nodded in realization.
It was no secret that those of the Dragon Bloodline possessed a crazed fancy for objects that were particularly shiny or dazzling. As long as they used the Soulbinding Golden Bead well, it could indeed lead to exceptional results.
Once they lulled the Netherworld Azure Dragon Beast to sleep, they would be able to bypass it safely as long as they proceeded carefully.