Eternal Life from Talisman Painting-Chapter 68: Hunting Demon Beasts

Two months later.

Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

In the dim and damp forest, amidst the silent surroundings, a silhouette gradually emerged.

It was Lin Chang’an, undoing his Invisibility Technique.

"No one would have thought that having just broken through to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, I would venture alone deep into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range."

Nodding to himself, Lin Chang’an acknowledged that there were too many cultivators in Celestial Profound City preparing for Foundation Establishment, and some might secretly be watching, waiting to take advantage.

Should he wait until he reached Qi Refining Ninth Level Great Perfection, even more would be eyeing him, thus he feigned retreat under the guise of seclusion for cultivation.

This was his best opportunity.

No one would expect him to venture out right after his breakthrough.

The confidence bolstering Lin Chang’an stemmed from his array formations, magical artifacts, and ample spirit stones.

The Cloud Mist Mountain Range, with its multitude of demon beasts, was especially attractive to them due to the spiritual energy emitted by the spirit veins of Celestial Profound City.

"Finding Tier Two demon beasts requires skill; thankfully, I didn’t waste my time with the Demon Hunting Squad back then."

With a leap, he appeared on the trunk of an ancient tree, calmly observing ahead.

Initially, as he ventured deeper into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, traces of human cultivators appeared, mostly in demon hunting squads of three to five, but after advancing further, he hadn’t seen any human cultivators for ten consecutive days.

"Powerful demon beasts have their own territories, and strong territorial instincts. Given my current strength, choosing a Tier Two demon beast is best found if it’s weaker from battles over territory."

At this moment, Lin Chang’an raised his head, quietly gazing into the distance, until a chorus of insect chirps echoed, bringing a smile to his face.

"This season, after waiting for a month, wasn’t in vain."

In the distant forest, a pair of Iron-Backed Mantis beasts were mating, with the male emitting a series of chirps.

These were exotic insect-type demon beasts, more terrifying in strength than ordinary demon beasts.

The female mantis was more robust, in both power and size, the male Iron-Backed Mantis couldn’t compare to the female.

...

Boom!

As a large tree toppled, a male Iron-Backed Demon Mantis, the size of a yellow cow, fled in panic, slashing down countless ancient trees with its sharp forelimbs along the way.

At this point, compared to when it entered the female Iron-Backed Demon Mantis’ territory, its belly had shrunken, one forelimb was missing, and two of its hind legs were gone.

Seeing this scene from afar, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but show a look of joy.

"This time, luck is on my side, all that waiting wasn’t in vain, this male Iron-Backed Demon Mantis managed to escape."

During mating, the female Iron-Backed Demon Mantis, driven by hunger and instinct, would devour the male, though this wasn’t always the case.

Sometimes, powerful female mantises with access to energy replenishing spirit fruits and spirit grasses in their territory wouldn’t see this occur.

But usually, the male Iron-Backed Demon Mantis would sever its limbs for the female to consume and replenish energy, thus ensuring its own survival.

Put simply, it pays a hefty price to walk out alive.

"Seems like this one’s well-fed, letting the male escape."

From afar, seeing the panicking Iron-Backed Demon Mantis, Lin Chang’an gripped his Cyan Bamboo Sword solemnly, as the area was littered with the corpses of low-tier demon beasts.

The scent of blood hung in the air, piquing the Iron-Backed Demon Mantis, which had just escaped a fierce battle and urgently needed replenishment, prompting it to fly swiftly towards this spot.

"Clumsy beast, this time it’s up to you to lure this Iron-Backed Demon Mantis in."

With a tap on the Spirit Beast Bag, a Cyan-Horned Bull appeared, its beastly instincts sensing the terror from the distant demon beast, causing its enormous eyes to widen in fear and grievance.

The bulging eyes vividly displayed fear and a look of injustice.

Lin Chang’an tapped the bull’s head, chiding, "You clumsy creature, raising you these few years has cost me countless spirit stones, I’m not sending you to your death."

Using the Beast Taming Token, Lin Chang’an conveyed his intentions continuously, although the Cyan-Horned Bull understood the meaning, its four hooves trembled unceasingly.

Seemingly saying, "I’m only at the late Tier One stage, and you want me to entice a Tier Two demon beast; it’s too much."

"You silly creature, don’t worry."

Lin Chang’an jokingly chided, as he’d developed affection for it over the years of raising it, not to mention the many spirit grasses it had consumed, finally reaching the late Tier One stage, he couldn’t easily let it die.

Two high-quality Golden Light Talismans were attached to the Cyan-Horned Bull’s body, ready to save it in a critical moment.

...

In a small valley, after emitting piercing insect chirps, the Iron-Backed Mantis soon appeared overhead.

Upon spotting the carcasses of three low-tier demon beasts, the weakened Iron-Backed Mantis ignored everything else and plunged forward to feast.

Seeing this from his hidden vantage, Lin Chang’an inhaled deeply.

With the Perfect Realm of Breath Concealment Technique, his presence was thoroughly hidden, coupled with the Tier Two demon beast’s weakened and injured state, it naturally didn’t notice him.

"Moo!"

A trembling bovine bellow echoed, instantly causing the Iron-Backed Mantis to lift its head, revealing its chilling, fearsome insect gaze.

The Cyan-Horned Bull, terrified, widened its eyes and ignored everything else, bolting away on its trembling hooves.

"Moo! Moo! Moo! Moo..."

The strained bellow reverberated, and it was Lin Chang’an’s first time realizing that a bellow could be sustained without taking a breath.

Just as the fearsome Iron-Backed Mantis behind brandished its blade-like forelimbs, the premium high-quality Golden Light Talismans on the Cyan-Horned Bull flickered with golden light in an instant.

Witnessing this from his hiding place in the thicket, Lin Chang’an’s expression tightened.

"Now’s the time!"

[Wood Armor Spirit Binding Array·Start]

As Lin Chang’an smacked the hidden array disc on the ground, the other five array discs and flags concealed around the small valley instantly glowed a verdant green.

In a flash, a green light barrier array formation sealed the area completely.

At the same time, the aura of the Iron-Backed Mantis vanished completely, causing the massive female Iron-Backed Mantis in the distant forest to look up, seemingly sensing something.

Yet the next moment, its eyes turned cold, deftly and decisively turning around, and unhesitatingly heading quickly back to its territorial cave.

Their transaction was complete, the other’s value long diminished.

The coldness of insect-type demon beasts was always thus.

...

Within the Wood Armor Spirit Binding Array.

"Moo! Moo!"

In terror, the Cyan-Horned Bull cried incessantly, as if encountering a lethal beast.

Within the array, countless terrifying vines grew rapidly, entangling the Iron-Backed Mantis and causing it to emit its sharp, unpleasant insect screeches.

"Silly thing, what are you afraid of?"

Lin Chang’an eyed it, recognizing the beast’s sensitive perception and natural fear of high-level beasts, making it an ideal bait given its upbringing.

Otherwise, a normal beast, sensing the presence of a high-level demon beast, would have bolted and disappeared long ago.

The frantically shrieking Iron-Backed Mantis, bound by countless vines, wildly hacked at the tendrils entangling it.

As it spread its wings to escape, it collided with the formation barrier, producing loud thuds.

"I can’t let this creature keep ramming."

Hidden in a corner of the array, Lin Chang’an observed with a grave expression.

Though the formation remained strong, such ramming greatly drained its energy.

With a wave of his hand, five high-grade premium talismans, flickering with fiery light, were thrown out.

Instantly, the Iron-Backed Mantis became engulfed in flames, wailing in agony.

More importantly, its transparent wings, thin as cicada’s wings, burned to ashes under the high-quality fire talismans, causing the Iron-Backed Mantis to plummet from the sky.

The painful insect shrieks of the Iron-Backed Mantis echoed continuously, as its form was swiftly subsumed by the encroaching vines.

Though the Iron-Backed Mantis moved swiftly, and its forelimbs sliced through the vines like cutting grass, the seemingly endless overgrowth, coupled with occasional sneak attacks from Fire Bomb Talismans.

Freshly escaped from the clutches of the female mantis, it was extremely weak and already injured, only to be ensnared once more within the array.

Facing this ceaseless assault, its tail already wounded.

Sinister green blood splattered everywhere.