94: Chapter 94 Fishing in Black Wind Ravine and the First Victory

After accepting the mission to exterminate the Demonic Cultivators in Black Wind Ravine, the nine members of the Family did not delay and departed immediately.

Black Wind Ravine was about a hundred miles away from the Sector B7 Stronghold. It was a mountain ravine with slightly complex terrain, dense vegetation, and crisscrossing streams, making it indeed suitable for a small group of people to hide.

Upon arriving at the outskirts of Black Wind Ravine, the Clan Leader, Lin Yaozong, signaled everyone to stop.

"Clan Leader, Third Elder, I have an idea." Lin Cangchen leaned forward, his eyes darting around, clearly up to no good. "If we all go in together, our auras will be mixed, and those slippery Demonic Cultivators might notice us from afar and just slip away. Why don't we... try some fishing enforcement?"

"Fishing enforcement?" The Third Elder raised an eyebrow, quite interested in this fresh term. "Explain in detail."

Lin Cangchen chuckled and pointed to a relatively open, well-sighted, and water-adjacent flat ground not far away: "See that? We can start there. I will quietly set up the second rank low grade Concealment Formation, keeping the range to a minimum, just enough to hide five or six people. Then, Clan Leader, Grand Elder, Second Elder, Third Elder, and Uncle Lingfeng, you five can hide in the Formation."

He paused and continued: "Then, I, along with Uncle Lingshi, Uncle Lingtu, and Uncle Ling Jin—the four of us with 'lowly' cultivation (I will use the Spirit Concealment Art to adjust our cultivation to the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining)—will 'diligently' search for the traces of the Demonic Cultivators in the vicinity of the Formation. The four of us, three at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining and one 'Fourth Layer of Qi Refining' kid—this combination looks like a fat sheep no matter how you look at it... ah no, it looks like a team with insufficient strength that has to come out to complete the mission. When those Demonic Cultivators see us, they will likely think we are meat delivered to their mouths and will very likely take the initiative to attack!"

"At that time, you five big shots will rush out from the Formation and give them a surprise! Kill as many as you can quickly, and leave the rest for us to practice!" After Lin Cangchen finished speaking, he looked at his Elders with anticipation.

The Elders and Lin Lingfeng looked at each other, and then all revealed meaningful smiles.

"Good boy! This idea is devious enough... no, it's ingenious enough!" The Second Elder clapped his hands and laughed, clearly very satisfied with this "fishing" plan.

The Clan Leader also had a smile in his eyes and nodded: "This plan is feasible. It can lower the vigilance of the Demonic Cultivators to ensure they show themselves, and it can also train you, Lingshi, and the others. Let's do it!"

With the plan decided, everyone acted immediately.

Lin Cangchen selected that open space and pretended to investigate everywhere, while actually setting up the Formation silently. He took out the core Formation Plate of the second rank low grade mobile Concealment Formation and several key Formation Flags. Although he could not fully exert its power, by following the pattern, he could barely manage to set up a minimum range (about the size of a room) concealment effect. It was just that the consumption made his heart ache—in order to drive this shrunken version of the second rank Formation, he stuffed in double the amount of Low-Grade Spirit Stones!

With the last flash of concealment spiritual light, the Formation was quietly formed. From the outside, that open space had no abnormalities, and even a trace of spiritual power fluctuation was extremely difficult to detect. The five people, including the Clan Leader, quickly entered the Formation, and their figures disappeared as if they had merged into the air.

"Done!" Lin Cangchen clapped his hands, quite satisfied with his craft. He operated the Spirit Concealment Art to suppress his own spiritual power fluctuations to the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining level, and then gave a wink to Lin Lingshi, Lin Lingtu, and Lin Lingjin.

The three uncles of the "Ling" generation took a deep breath, tightened the Magical Artifacts in their hands, with a bit of nervousness on their faces, but more of an excitement to try. They knew this was an opportunity created by the Family for them!

Thus, the four-person team began to "diligently" "search" on the outskirts of Black Wind Ravine. They deliberately made some small noises, such as using Magical Artifacts to push aside dense bushes, and loudly (but controlled within a certain range) discussing topics like "where are the Demonic Cultivators hiding" and "this mission is really hard to complete." Lin Cangchen fully utilized his advantage as a "twelve-year-old boy," occasionally "accidentally" tripping over vines or showing a "curious" look at some ordinary flowers and plants, vividly portraying the image of a Family disciple who was performing a mission for the first time and lacked experience.

Time passed bit by bit, just when Lin Lingshi and the other two were a bit suspicious about whether this method worked—

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Several sounds of breaking through the air suddenly sounded from the dense forest on the front side! Immediately after, six figures dressed in black, exuding cold Evil Qi, rushed out and instantly semi-surrounded Lin Cangchen and the others.

The leader was a man with a gloomy face, whose cultivation was at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining. His gaze greedily swept over Lin Cangchen and the others, especially when he saw Lin Cangchen's "tender" face and "Fourth Layer of Qi Refining" cultivation, his mouth split into a cruel smile: "Heh! Good luck! Four lone fat sheep! And one tender one, it's a pity to slaughter it, but... who told you to bump into us!"

Behind him, two Demonic Cultivators at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining and three at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining also grinned, as if they had already decided to eat these four people.

Lin Cangchen secretly laughed in his heart: "The fish has taken the bait!" But on his face, he cooperatively showed a "terrified" expression and shrank behind Lin Lingshi: "Who... who are you?!"

Lin Lingshi and the other two also had good acting skills. They immediately stood back-to-back to form a simple defensive Formation and shouted with feigned strength: "We are from the Lin Family of Qingshi Town! What do you want to do?!"

"The Lin Family? Never heard of it!" The Sixth Level of Qi Refining Demonic Cultivator leader sneered, "What do we want to do? Send you on your way! Do it!"

At his command, the six Demonic Cultivators pounced simultaneously! The two at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining went straight for the seemingly strongest Lin Lingshi and Lin Lingtu, while the Demonic Cultivator leader grinned and grabbed at the "weakest" Lin Cangchen, and the other three at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining besieged Lin Lingjin.

However, just as they moved—

A sudden change occurred!

Five powerful auras burst out from the nearby open space without warning! Sword light, pill fire, sharp finger wind... poured down like a rainstorm!

"Not good! Ambush!" The Demonic Cultivator leader's face changed in horror, but it was too late!

Pfft! Pfft!

The two Fifth Layer of Qi Refining Demonic Cultivators who were closest and rushed the fastest could not react at all. They were instantly pierced through their vital points by the Clan Leader's finger energy and the Third Elder's sword light. They fell to the ground without even groaning, losing all signs of life.

The five people, including the Clan Leader, appeared like gods descending from heaven, instantly solving the enemy's two strongest combat forces!

"Retreat!" The Demonic Cultivator leader was terrified and turned to run.

But would the Clan Leader let him have his way? He, the three Elders, and Lin Lingfeng did not continue to attack, but flashed their figures, occupying key positions around, faintly forming a circle to prevent the remaining four Demonic Cultivators from escaping.

"The rest is up to you!" The Clan Leader said in a deep voice, "Lingshi, Ling Tu, Ling Jin, leave that Sixth Level of Qi Refining one to Cangchen, you three deal with those three at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining! Quick battle, quick decision!"

"Yes!" Lin Cangchen and the other three responded in unison, their Battle Intent soaring instantly!

Seeing that there was no hope of escape, and that he had been designated to be dealt with by a "Fourth Layer of Qi Refining" brat, the Demonic Cultivator leader felt a great humiliation. He roared, waving a ghost head saber, carrying a fishy wind, and slashed at Lin Cangchen: "Little bastard, you are courting death!"

Lin Cangchen was not panicked at all. His Wind Chasing Steps had reached Major Achievement, his figure was ghostly and elusive, and he easily avoided the blade. At the same time, his proficiency in Geng Metal Finger was activated, and several sharp golden finger winds made a hissing sound, accurately shooting at the opponent's vital points.

"Petty tricks!" The Demonic Cultivator leader waved his saber to block, his saber technique was quite fierce. But he soon discovered that this kid's movement technique was slippery beyond belief, and the finger winds were extremely tricky, making him unable to do anything for a while. What shocked him even more was that the opponent's eyes were terrifyingly calm, not like a child at all!

On the other side, Lin Lingshi and the other three also fought with the three Demonic Cultivators of the same rank. At first, they were a bit flustered, after all, they had mostly hunted Yao Beasts before and lacked experience in life-and-death struggles with Cultivators. But with Lin Cangchen occasionally using Green Vine Art to interfere from the side, and their tacit cooperation, they gradually stabilized their footing, fighting more and more smoothly, and their use of sword techniques and Spells became more and more proficient. Although they added a few small wounds, their eyes became brighter and brighter!

Half an hour later, the battle ended.

Lin Cangchen relying on his superb movement technique and the gradually familiar Geng Metal Finger, finally seized a flaw in his opponent and pierced the Demonic Cultivator leader's throat with one finger.

And Lin Lingshi and the other three also cooperated with each other to successfully kill the three Fourth Layer of Qi Refining Demonic Cultivators!

Although the three of them were slightly injured and panting, their faces were filled with excitement and a reborn radiance. This real life-and-death struggle improved their mindset and practical combat ability far beyond their usual hard practice!

"Well done!" The Clan Leader and others walked forward with appreciative expressions on their faces.

Lin Cangchen immediately started "looting the corpses." He scanned the six corpses and silently recited: "System, extract!"

A faint fluctuation that only he could perceive flashed by.

【 Obtained 'faint spiritual energy card' x3 】

【 Obtained 'low-grade spirit stone card' (containing 13 Low-Grade Spirit Stones) x2 】

【 Obtained 'First Grade, Low Rank Lightness Talisman' x1 】

"Ugh... today's luck is average." Lin Cangchen looked at the three shimmering spiritual energy cards (which could increase a small amount of cultivation after use), two cards with Spirit Stone patterns, and one Talisman card that appeared in his Sea of Consciousness, and curled his lips. It seems that these Demonic Cultivators were indeed quite poor, or rather, his "non-chief" attribute had exerted its power again outside the Secret Realm.

He did not use the three spiritual energy cards immediately. Having just broken through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining, his Foundation needed to be consolidated, and this small amount of spiritual energy would not have much effect. It was better to keep it; maybe it would have other uses in the future (such as quickly replenishing spiritual power at a critical moment? Or feeding some special spiritual plants?).

Everyone quickly cleaned up the battlefield, collected the valuable items on the Demonic Cultivators (a few shabby Storage Pouches, a few Magical Artifacts), and then disposed of the bodies.

"First victory!" The Clan Leader was in a good mood, "Go back and hand in the mission, see how much merit we get. Then, we can consider accepting a slightly more difficult B-level mission."

"That's right!" Lin Cangchen stroked the (virtual) cards he had just obtained. Although the quality was average, mosquito legs are meat too! He looked towards the depths of Black Wind Ravine and then at the mission Jade Slip, his eyes flashing with brighter light.

"Next 'dungeon', let's go!"