Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Within fifteen minutes, Zhou Yang and Zhou Quan had rushed to the mine where the incident had occurred.
Dozens of miners had already gathered outside the mine, looking greatly terrified. They didn’t even have much of a reaction when they saw the immortal cultivators, Zhou Yang and Zhou Quan coming over.
Zhou Yang couldn’t help but frown.
Although they were mortal miners, these people were, after all, members of the Zhou clan. They had grown up listening to the stories of immortal cultivators and demon beasts; that Zhou clan cultivators would bring all kinds of demon beast corpses every few years to give the mortals insight and courage. In addition, the mortal school teachers and heads of villages and towns would often teach their people about the various low-level demon beasts in the desert. So how could they be so frightened by a mere demon beast now?
Moreover, this wasn’t the first time Zhou Yang had been to the mine to eliminate demons over the past few years he had been stationed at Qingping Mountain. Although the miners were frightened then, they weren’t stunned like today – everyone was so terrified that they forgot to salute him when he arrived.
He looked over the crowds and noticed that the manager from earlier wasn’t around. Zhou Yang started to become angry.
“What’s going on? What kind of demon beast attacked the mine? Where’s your manager?” asked Zhou Yang with a clear voice as he felt that something was off and started to circulate his mana to radiate the aura of an immortal cultivator.
The mortal miners immediately fell to their knees when they felt the aura. This was exactly what Zhou Yang wanted. The mortal miners quickly recovered from their fear and noticed the
“Master Immortal Cultivator is here!”
“Master Immortal Cultivator, save us! A demon beast is here! The demon beast is killing people!”
“Save my child! Master Immortal Cultivator, please save my child! He is still in the mine!”
It was as if the miners had awoken from a dream as they begged Zhou Yang.
The Zhou Yang who had just arrived at Qingping Mountain would not have been used to seeing dozens of people kneeling in front of him. However, now that he had been there for a few years, such a scene did not faze him as he calmly faced the miners. He did not even let them get up, because he knew that for these mortals, kneeling and talking to immortal cultivators would make them feel at ease.
He slightly mobilized some mana to cast a Grade-1 auxiliary spell, Sound of Confusion Technique, to transmit his voice with a special effect. “Don’t panic. I will get rid of the demon beast. Now, answer me honestly. Where is your manager? What does the demon beast look like?”
As mere mortals, the miners could simply succumb to the effects of the sound and Zhou Yang quickly got the information he wanted.
“The manager had been eaten by the demon beast after he sent out a cry for help. We heard his screams and escaped. No one alive has seen the demon beast. Anyone who did is dead!”
Zhou Yang turned to look at Zhou Quan. The latter knew what he meant with just a glance but simply said, “I’m only here to help. You’re the cultivator in charge here, so we will follow your word.”
Zhou Yang knew what he meant. The message was clear. This was Zhou Yang’s job and Zhou Quan would only intervene if the former couldn’t handle it.
“I understand. Then I’ll need your help to escort these miners back. I’ll go down to the mines to eliminate the demon beast now.” Zhou Yang cupped his hands in respect to Zhou Quan as he announced his plans.
However, he did not expect Zhou Quan to turn bitter. “What? Do you think that I’m too old and useless? Do you think that I will be a burden if I follow you to the mines?”
“Third Grandfather, you’ve misunderstood me. I didn’t mean it that way. I’m just worried-”
“What are you worried about?! I may be old but ten of you are no match for me in terms of fighting experience. Instead of worrying about me, you should worry about yourself. If anything happens to you, how will I be able to face the clan head? Do you want me to become a sinner of the entire clan?”
Although Zhou Quan was more than a hundred years old, his temper was as strong as ever. He was grateful for Zhou Yang’s good intentions, but he was not happy about the young cultivator’s plan. It made him so angry that he pointed at and scolded Zhou Yang on the spot.
Zhou Yang was stunned speechless. He could only admit his mistake with a bitter smile on his face, “Third Grandfather, please calm down. I know I’ve made a mistake, so let’s go to the mines and get rid of the demon beast together.”
“That’s more like it!”
Zhou Quan’s anger slowly subsided, as if he had accepted Zhou Yang’s apology.
Therefore, the two of them took out their magical artifacts from their storage bags and simultaneously cast the Grade-2 defensive spell, Golden Light Protection Technique to cover themselves in a layer of golden light. Then, they entered the mine.
The refined iron vein in Qingping Mountain had been mined for decades. After many years of expansion and reinforcements, the tunnel of the mine was large enough to accommodate two people entering and exiting at the same time.
Zhou Yang and Zhou Quan followed the tunnel straight into the mine. Their eyes darted around, shooting off a golden glow after being blessed with the Heavenly Eye Technique. The dark environment in the cave did not affect their vision at all.
They moved quickly and in just a short while, they arrived at the initial site of the incident. They found the clothes and traces of blood of the dead miners. The duo followed the traces of blood on the ground and the demonic aura radiated by the demon beast. Eventually, they found the demon beast gnawing on the miners’ bodies in another mining cave.
It was a huge rat that was as big as a wolf-dog. Its fur was as sharp and cold-looking as steel needles. The skin under its fur faintly reflected the luster of metal.
“Be careful, it’s a Grade-2 advanced-tier demon beast, the Metal-Eating Rat!”
In addition to being a Qi Refinement cultivator, Zhou Quan was also the only Grade-2 beast tamer in the Zhou family. Therefore, he was able to quickly identify the demon beast and warn Zhou Yang.
Zhou Quan quickly briefed Zhou Yang on the strengths and weaknesses of the demon beast. “The Metal-Eating Rat gained its name due to its propensity to consume all kinds of metals. When it reaches adulthood, it will become a Grade-2 advanced-tier demon beast. It mainly attacks with its teeth and claws which can even take out a Grade-2 magical weapon. When it feels threatened, it will shoot out its fur with an attack strength equivalent to the Grade-2 lower-tier magical weapon, the Flying Needle. In addition, this beast is proficient in the Burrow Escape Technique and likes to sneak back attacks.
“Since the Metal-Eating Rat can devour all kinds of metals, its skin, fur, and bones are extremely tough. Only a Grade-2 advanced-tier magical artifact or true fire can injure it. Its only weak point is its eyes.”
The Metal-Eating Rat had been alerted by their presence as Zhou Quan informed Zhou Yang. It stopped eating the corpse and its pair of scarlet beast eyes looked at the two of them with a cold killing intent.
Zhou Quan immediately forgot about how he had allowed Zhou Yang to be in-charge as the former instructed the latter. “The clan leader told me that he gave you the Silver Shield. Activate it with your mana to protect yourself. I happen to have a Grade-2 advanced-tier Mountain Quaking Hammer with me. So, leave this demon beast to me.”
Zhou Yang did not try to put on a brave front. He immediately nodded and replied, “I understand. Third Grandfather, you have to be careful too. If things don’t work out, we can retreat first and gather reinforcements later to deal with this demon beast!”
Zhou Yang then took out his Silver Shield and turned it several times larger to form a dome-shaped barrier around him that could defend against attacks from any direction at any time.
Zhou Quan heaved a sigh of relief, thankful that Zhou Yang was obedient. He had been afraid that Zhou Yang would try to act tough due to his young age. If the young cultivator decided to rebel, it would really give him a bad headache.
With nothing to worry about, he immediately waved his hand and released a small greenish-black shield to surround and protect himself. Then, he reached into his storage bag and took out his gourd hammer to strike the Metal-Eating Rat.
With a loud boom, the entire mine rumbled violently.
Zhou Yang looked over and saw that the gourd hammer had left a huge ten-foot-diameter pit where the Metal-Eating Rat had stood. However, not a single trace of blood could be seen.
“Be careful, it’s coming for you!” Zhou Quan quickly shouted at Zhou Yang who was still distracted by the size of the pit.
Before Zhou Yang could react, a black shadow pounced out from the cave wall beside him and slammed into the Silver Shield’s barrier.
The Silver Shield was indeed a high-quality magical armor refined by the clan leader, Zhou Minghan. Although it had yet to receive the command from its master, Zhou Yang, to unleash its full potential, the shield was able to sturdily defend the attack from the Metal-Eating Rat.
However, the amount of power needed to hold that defense against the demon beast’s attack had exhausted the mana Zhou Yang supplied to activate the shield. As such, the barrier collapsed soon after.
“Damn it!” Zhou Yang cursed. He quickly turned alert and hurriedly used his spiritual sense to establish a connection with the magical armor. He then injected his mana into it to activate the barrier again.
The Metal-Eating Rat, on the other hand, had burrowed into the ground after its previous attack missed.
Zhou Quan had witnessed everything and shook his head as he thought, ‘He’s still too young.’ But he did not blame Zhou Yang.
After all, when Zhou Quan was at Zhou Yang’s age, the former’s reaction wasn’t as good as the latter’s when facing a demon beast. Rather than panic and scream like most others, Zhou Yang was able to remain calm and clear-minded enough to buy himself enough time to reform his defenses.
Once Zhou Yang’s Silver Shield barrier had been put up, Zhou Quan said, “Zhou Yang, be careful. When it comes out again, I will use the Earth to Steel spell to prevent it from using its Burrow Escape Technique. You must remain alert until that moment to prevent it from jumping over the wall in desperation!”
“Don’t worry, Third Grandfather. I will definitely not make the same mistake again!” Zhou Yang nodded with a bashful look on his face. He was already on full alert..