88: Chapter 88 Winged Dragons Encircle and Slay! Spiderwebs Form an Array, Blazing Flames Scorch the Sky!

The first thing Shen Ji did before entering the Green Mist Mountain Range was to adjust his traits.

On the light screen, the spiritual energy flow paths on the system panel flickered on and off.

He stared at the six trait slots, tapping his fingers on the armrest three times.

[Name: Shen Ji]

[Cultivation: Foundation Building Stage 4]

[Current Luck Value: 145]

[Equipped Traits 6/6: Wealth Returns After Being Spent (Gold), Phantom Raid (Purple), Sword Mastery (Blue), Array Formation Beginner (Green), Supreme Sword Bone (Gold), Greased Soles (White)]

" 'Wealth Returns After Being Spent' goes without saying, it is the lifeline of luck."

"Phantom Raid is a life-saving measure, it cannot be removed."

"Sword Mastery guarantees the minimum output."

"Array Formation Beginner is the core of this mission—none of these can be touched."

The Supreme Sword Bone goes without saying, it is the absolute core now.

"Greased Soles—"

"Used for saving one's life. The Green Mist Mountain Range is full of demon beasts; if the array fails, running fast is the real skill."

The six traits each performed their duties; this was exactly the combination he felt was most suitable.

The light screen continued to advance.

[30 years old, February 14th. Afternoon. Outskirts of the Green Mist Mountain Range.]

[Six rays of escape light landed on the mountain ridge.]

[Before the eyes were rolling green-black mountains, with mist surging between them and an extremely high concentration of spiritual energy.]

[The ground was covered in patches of second-grade spiritual herbs, and claw marks of demon beasts were visible everywhere.]

[Huo Quji retracted his sword and landed, raising his hand to signal to slow down.]

["From here on, proceed at low altitude, do not fly above the tree canopy line. The Green Mist Mountain Range appears quiet, but there are demon beasts on the ground and in the air; startling one will attract a whole group."]

[A Foundation Establishment Level 7 disciple from Fire Cloud Hall named Han Shuo walked in front, turning his head to glance at you.]

["Junior Brother Shen, if we encounter demon beasts later, you retreat directly. Your task is to conserve spiritual energy and set up the array when we reach the Winged Jiao nest."]

[You did not speak.]

[The six switched to low-altitude flight, skimming along the dense forest canopy, advancing toward the Winged Jiao nest.]

[Huo Quji walked alongside you, lowering his voice.]

["There are three types of demon beasts in the Green Mist Mountain Range that are the most troublesome. On the ground, there are Rock-Armored Lizards, thick-skinned and fleshy. In the air, there are Winged Jiao. Under the forest, there are also hidden demon spiders."]

[You nodded: "Have you scouted this place before?"]

["We have been here twice, and the activity range of the Winged Jiao is basically figured out." Huo Quji patted the long sword at his waist. "The problem is that this thing is too fast, and it ran away both of the previous times. This time, with your trap array, it is stable."]

[Before he finished speaking.]

[A dull sound of breaking soil came from under the forest on the right.]

[A Rock-Armored Lizard two zhang long burst out, opening its giant mouth full of fangs, crashing straight toward Huo Quji's flank.]

[Foundation Establishment Level 5. Extremely fast speed, specifically targeting the most difficult-to-defend side during escape light movement.]

["Careful!" Han Shuo shouted sharply.]

[Huo Quji blocked horizontally with his long sword, the impact force of the Rock-Armored Lizard was extremely fierce, shaking him back two zhang.]

[You moved.]

[Greased Soles activated.]

[Your figure flashed three zhang laterally in mid-air, appearing directly above the Rock-Armored Lizard.]

[The jinhong sword was unsheathed.]

[First Rainbow Sword Intent slashed down.]

[The Sword Intent formed a rainbow, instantly piercing through the skull of the Rock-Armored Lizard and exiting from its abdomen.]

[The Foundation Establishment Level 5 Rock-Armored Lizard's body stiffened in mid-air, then fell straight to the ground, smashing up a cloud of dust.]

[One-hit kill.]

[The forest was quiet for two breaths.]

[Han Shuo lowered his hand that was reaching for his sword hilt, and the look in his eyes when he looked at you changed.]

[The two Foundation Building Stage 4 disciples from Fire Cloud Hall kept their eyes on the lizard corpse on the ground, and no one spoke.]

[Huo Quji steadied his figure, swept a glance at the corpse cut into two, and turned his head to look at you.]

["You call this Foundation Building Stage 4?"]

["Supreme Sword Bone bonus." You sheathed your sword.]

[Huo Quji looked at you for a moment, then grinned.]

["Fine, I believe you." He put away the sense of proportion he had when leading a junior. "Brother, thanks for just now."]

["Just a casual action."]

[The group continued forward.]

[Han Shuo walked in front to clear the way, without turning back to say any extra words.]

[On the way, they encountered two foundation establishment level 3 spirit apes, which the Fire Cloud Hall members neatly dealt with. You did not make another move throughout the process.]

[You only did one thing—conserve spiritual energy.]

[Arrived at the hour of Shen.]

[Deep in the Green Mist Mountain Range. Outside the Winged Jiao nest.]

[Under a cliff, a huge cave was embedded in the middle section of the precipice.]

[The cave entrance was scattered with the bones of demon beasts.]

[Huo Quji squatted behind the bushes on the cliff top.]

["The Winged Jiao is inside the cave. According to the pattern, it leaves the cave at dusk to forage. We will set up the array on the outskirts of the cave entrance in advance, and wait for it to come out—trap it, and kill it."]

[He turned his head to look at you.]

["Shen Ji, how large an area can the Spider Web Array cover?"]

["A ten-zhang three-dimensional web, three layers."]

["That is enough." Huo Quji drew the standing positions on the ground. "Shen Ji will set up the array in the center, Han Shuo and I will be on the left and right wings. You three seal the top and the escape routes on both sides."]

[Everyone took their positions.]

[You walked to a giant rock opposite the cliff, and sat cross-legged.]

[Adjusting your breath.]

[Half an hour later, dusk arrived.]

[A dull breathing sound came from deep within the cave.]

[A sharp howl exploded.]

[A Winged Jiao covered in green-black scales with wings spanning five zhang rushed out of the cave entrance.]

[You stood up.]

[You started setting up the array.]

[Thirty-six nodes were anchored simultaneously.]

[Spiritual energy threads quickly precipitated from your fingertips, one, five, ten, thirty-six.]

[The threads were hidden in the twilight light, almost transparent.]

[The moment the Winged Jiao rushed out of the cave, it sensed the abnormality, its wings flapped violently, and it charged straight toward the sky.]

[The web had already been spread.]

[Twenty-five threads quickly closed in around it.]

["Roar!"]

[The Winged Jiao was furious. Foundation Establishment Level 9 demon power erupted, and its wings flapped violently.]

[The front silk web was forcefully crashed into a two-zhang-wide gap.]

[Five threads snapped.]

[Your fingers felt a sharp pain.]

["Fill the gap!" you shouted.]

[Huo Quji's red-gold long sword turned into fire rays, slashing horizontally at the gap, and the fire-type spiritual energy built up a barrier.]

[The Winged Jiao was forced back.]

[You took the opportunity to re-guide the threads, filling the broken layer, and wrapping the Winged Jiao back within ten zhang.]

[The Winged Jiao's vertical pupils swept across the surroundings.]

[Its wings retracted slightly, its body plummeted, and it lunged toward the left wing.]

[A feint.]

[Two Foundation Building Stage 4 Fire Cloud Hall disciples were standing there.]

[The Winged Jiao dived extremely fast, its scaled tail swept across, instantly shattering the protective spiritual light of one of them.]

[That disciple flew backward, his chest cut open with a long bloody wound.]

[The Winged Jiao opened its mouth, intending to finish him off.]

[Phantom Raid.]

[You disappeared from where you were.]

[The next instant, you appeared in the Winged Jiao's right blind spot, less than one zhang away.]

[The jinhong sword stabbed out.]

[First Rainbow Sword Intent condensed at the tip of the sword, precisely stabbing into the gap where the Winged Jiao's wing root connected to its body.]

["Hiss—"]

[The Winged Jiao felt the pain, instinctively retreated, and gave up the chase.]

[You retreated accordingly, your ten fingers moving to maintain the operation of the silk web.]

[The broken threads closed in again, locking it tightly.]

[A quarter of an hour.]

[Spiritual energy was consumed rapidly.]

[Your fingertips bled, your meridians swelled purple, and the Array Formation Beginner trait supported the control precision.]

[The Winged Jiao's wing root bled continuously, and its flight speed dropped sharply.]

["Shen Ji! Hold on for ten more seconds!" Huo Quji roared.]

[You gritted your teeth, pouring all your spiritual energy into the nodes.]

[The silk web suddenly contracted by three feet.]

[Huo Quji held his sword with both hands, his fire-type spiritual energy surging.]

["Burning Heaven Slash!"]

[A three-zhang-wide crimson sword energy descended from the sky, carrying extremely high-temperature flames, slashing into the center of the silk web.]

[The Winged Jiao had nowhere to hide.]

[The flame sword energy hit it head-on.]

[The Winged Jiao wailed miserably, its green-black scales cracked under the high temperature, its wing membranes were burned through, and it rolled violently in the silk web.]

[Han Shuo complemented the attack with his sword.]

[The other two disciples attacked from both sides.]

[You retracted the Spider Web Array.]

[The Winged Jiao, covered in blazing flames, fell from mid-air to the ground, its bones shattered and scales cracked.]

[Its breath returned to zero.]

[Under the cliff, everyone was out of breath.]

[Huo Quji dissected the Winged Jiao's abdomen and took out a dark blue inner core.]

["It's done."]

[He put the inner core away and walked toward you.]

[You sat on the giant rock, with both hands resting on your knees. Your fingertips were bleeding, and the veins on the back of your hands were bulging, but you sat very steadily.]

[Han Shuo walked over and bowed with cupped hands.]

["Junior Brother Shen, thank you for saving my life just now."]

[The injured disciple behind him struggled to get up and bowed deeply: "The grace of saving my life, I will never forget."]

["It is my duty." You said.]

[Huo Quji walked in front of you and glanced at your bleeding fingers.]

["People from the Formation Hall are really ruthless in their actions." He grinned, "And ruthless to themselves too."]

[He reached out his hand and pulled you up.]

["Shen Ji, after returning to the sect, come to Fire Cloud Hall for a feast." Huo Quji hugged your shoulder, "The inner core is worth three thousand spirit stones, the food and drink today are on me. Whoever doesn't come is a coward!"]

[You looked at his profile.]

[The afterglow of dusk hit him, overlapping with the scene of fighting side by side in the previous life.]

[This life has just begun.]

[You nodded: "Fine."]

Shen Ji leaned back in the chair, looking at Huo Quji's smiling face on the light screen.

The jinhong sword quieted down.

He lowered his eyelids.

"In this life, I won't let you carry it alone anymore."

New text appeared on the light screen—

[You returned to the Tianxuan Sect with Huo Quji's group.]

[While sitting in the front hall of the Fire Cloud Hall, you noticed a portrait hanging on the opposite wall.]

[The person in the painting wore red-gold battle armor and held a crimson long spear.]

[There was a line of small text at the bottom of the portrait.]

[Founding Patriarch of Fire Cloud Hall: Portrait of Chi Yang Zhenren in his youth.]