Chapter 5 : Dogged It All the Way to the Check-In Point
Chapter 5: Dogged It All the Way to the Check-In Point
Long Tao took out the Beast-Repelling Powder he had prepared long ago.
According to what that senior brother who sold it to him had said, this Beast-Repelling Powder did have some issues, but dealing with small demon beasts was still more than sufficient.
However, he did not rush to use it in the open ground.
The miasma here was relatively dense, and the effect of the Beast-Repelling Powder would be greatly reduced, possibly even allowing several scorpions to quickly adapt to it—using the terminology from his previous life, that would be developing drug resistance too early.
After risking his life to dash across this open area, Long Tao entered another stretch of dense forest at the other end.
The miasma here was noticeably thicker than in the previous forest.
It would be fine for a short while, but if he had to spend the whole night stuck here, the trouble would be serious.
Of course… the three scorpions behind him followed along right on schedule.
This time, Long Tao did not hesitate.
He grabbed a handful of Beast-Repelling Powder, turned around, and threw it.
A sky-full of red mist exploded in the windless forest, the pungency of the powder instantly overwhelming the stench of decay.
The three scorpions were struck as if by lightning, their jointed limbs scraping against the moss with piercing sounds.
They actually shoved against one another as they retreated to the edge of the forest, restlessly pacing back and forth in the moonlit clearing.
“Ha… ha…” Long Tao leaned against a tree trunk, gasping for breath, cold sweat soaking through his robe and clinging tightly to his back.
The spiritual power of the Light-Body Art receded like a tide.
His legs suddenly went weak, and his knees slammed heavily into the tree roots.
He once again experienced just how weak he was.
A technique like the Light-Body Art—something that, in the novels of his previous life, would not even be considered profound in a martial arts world, let alone a cultivation world—was enough to temporarily drain all the strength from his legs.
He looked up to check the position of the moon and confirmed that there was still quite some time before the Zi hour, so he did not rush onward.
He found a tree, climbed up, and began to rest.
After shooing away those two fist-sized spiders from his cloak for the fifth time, his legs finally recovered quite a bit.
Although it was difficult to use the Light-Body Art a second time, normal running and jumping were no longer a problem.
Just as he was about to continue forward following the System’s guidance, a thunderous roar echoed across the entire mountain cliff.
This sonic attack had outstanding effect! The insect swarm that had just been holding a full-on concert collectively went silent for three seconds, then immediately scattered in chaos like firecrackers being set off during the New Year.
Beneath the tree, things were even livelier—wild boars, porcupines, and even toads that he had not seen before all came scurrying out one by one.
There was no need to think too much.
That roar was most likely from the Foundation Establishment Third Layer demon beast the System had mentioned.
Judging from the sound, it should be a wolf.
And just his luck—the direction the sound came from was exactly the direction indicated by the System’s arrow.
Sure enough… this task had never intended for him to make it back alive.
Moreover, not to mention the distance, even the surroundings were now filled with more than a dozen wild beasts of various sizes—big cats, big dogs, big rats, big pigs, everything imaginable.
Combined with the countless insects on the ground, it made one feel an overwhelming urge to cast an AOE skill and wipe everything out.
But unfortunately, at Qi-Refining Fifth Layer, there were no high-damage area skills to speak of.
Even if he did use one, it would be nothing more than a tickle.
The current situation was already completely out of control.
If he rashly went down there, his sudden appearance as an outsider would very likely cause the beast horde to treat him as an enemy and swarm him.
He recalled that wolf howl from earlier again.
Although it sounded terrifying, it was ultimately just a Foundation Establishment Third Layer small boss.
The distance should not be too far.
If he charged again… there was a chance he could make it through in one go.
He lowered his head to look at the restless beasts beneath the tree once more.
Long Tao made up his mind again and took out the bottle of Qi-Recovering Pills he had just bought during the day, swallowing one.
“Hm?”
Based on his previous experience, after swallowing it, he began circulating his qi, only to find that there was no effect.
He swallowed another… still no real feeling, though it seemed like there might be a tiny bit.
So he simply swallowed all six pills in the bottle in one go.
Only then did he finally feel the circulation of spiritual energy and meridians begin to recover.
“Damn it! Cheap stuff really is never good. They lied to me, saying it only contained a bit of impurities and had half the normal effect. This is bullshit… I had to eat six just to get the effect of a normal one. I got completely ripped off!”
Long Tao swore to himself that if he made it back alive this time, he would absolutely never buy any defective pills refined by inner sect disciples again.
Eating Qi-Recovering Pills… the qi had not even recovered yet, and his stomach was already about to be full!
But this was no time for him to be picky.
Long Tao took out the three Light-Body Talismans he had bought together earlier in the day.
The remaining spiritual energy had to be saved for a more critical moment to preserve his life.
He planned to use up these unstable inferior goods first.
He pulled out one of the inferior Light-Body Talismans.
The runes on the yellow paper were crooked and uneven, and the cinnabar at the key nodes had clumped together into a mess.
It was probably the practice result of some prodigal descendant of a great family who used genuine materials directly.
Ordinary people would definitely practice the strokes until they were proficient before drawing talismans on precious talisman paper.
Damn rich bastards.
“Forget it, I’ll gamble!” He infused spiritual power into the talisman and slapped it onto his lower abdomen!
The talisman paper instantly turned to ashes.
A scorching current of energy suddenly surged from his dantian into the meridians of his legs! Long Tao felt as if his legs had been filled with boiling magma, yet also as if countless feathers were frantically tickling them.
His muscles began to twitch violently, completely out of control.
“Not bad at all!”
The effect was even stronger than when he used the Light-Body Art himself.
Without wasting time, he exerted force with both legs and stomped hard! The branch beneath his feet snapped in response.
He leapt more than ten zhang to another tree, then used the momentum to rush down to the ground.
When he looked back again, the group of wild beasts and venomous insects had already been left a considerable distance behind.
While his legs were still in an excited state, he hurriedly sprinted toward the target direction.
The beasts behind him naturally gave chase immediately.
Even with the boost of the Light-Body Talisman, a human in the forest could not possibly outrun four-legged creatures, so the distance was steadily closing.
While sprinting, Long Tao immediately locked onto a crooked-neck tree ahead.
The talisman power accumulated in his legs had not yet dissipated.
He leapt up fiercely, his toes tapping heavily against the trunk, and used the force to flip backward in midair!
While still airborne, he had already pulled out the packet of Beast-Repelling Powder that still had quite a bit left.
Using all his strength, he flung it viciously toward the surging beast horde below!
A sky-full of red mist spread out like a blood-colored curtain, accurately enveloping more than half of the pursuing beast horde! The powder lingered and refused to disperse in the windless forest.
The effect was outstanding!
The wolf- and hound-type demon beasts at the very front bore the brunt of it.
The dense powder rushed straight into their nasal cavities, instantly triggering violent reactions.
It was as if their throats had been clutched shut.
They let out miserable choking coughs and sneezes, snot and tears streaming wildly.
Their charging momentum came to an abrupt halt as they staggered in place like drunks, rolling and writhing in pain, their claws frantically scratching at their own mouths and noses.
The other wild beasts fared no better.
Wild boars maniacally scraped tree trunks with their tusks, mountain cats let out sharp, ear-piercing screeches, and the venomous insects covering the ground fell into complete chaos.
The entire pursuit formation collapsed in an instant!
The most exaggerated were several smaller canine demon beasts.
They seemed to be particularly sensitive to this stuff.
They actually went completely berserk, no longer paying any attention to Long Tao.
With bloodshot eyes, they let out howls of indeterminate meaning, tore at each other, and stumbled their way into the even deeper and darker forest nearby, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.
“That senior brother really didn’t lie to me.
This thing really does have a special effect on dogs!”
Taking advantage of the chaos in the beast horde, he did not dare to stop.
Dragging his legs, which were beginning to ache and go weak from being overdrawn by the Light-Body Talisman, he clenched his teeth and continued in the direction indicated by the System.
“Finally… I’ve endured my way here. Heaven bless me—no, the Heavenly Dao above! If this world really does have some so-called Heavenly Dao, and it gave me such a screwy System, then please… just give me a little more luck.”
Whether the prayer truly worked, or whether that wolf howl earlier came with its own “clear-the-field BUFF,” the road ahead was unexpectedly smooth.
Not to mention demon beasts—he did not even encounter a single decent venomous insect.
“Heh, looks like the Heavenly Dao is still somewhat reasonable…” Just as Long Tao leaned against a tree trunk to rest, a sharp, piercing pain suddenly shot through his butt!
He sprang up as if electrocuted and reached back with his hand.
His fingertips touched a small section of warm, damp wood splinter.
A withered branch had somehow pierced straight through his trousers!
Baring his teeth, he pulled out the splinter and was just about to point upward and start cursing, but fearing that his voice might be too loud and attract ferocious beasts, he could only silently apply some wound medicine and quietly pass through the final stretch of forest ahead.
As soon as he left the dense forest, a cliff lay ahead.
When he reached the edge, his view suddenly opened up.
Below, a clear spring shimmered with rippling light under the moon.
The spiritual energy permeating the spring water was something even he, standing on the cliff, could feel.
And the System’s arrow was pointing straight toward the spring.