Volume One: Storms in the Small Town Chapter 54: The Six-Legged Divine Crocodile

Zhang Heng chuckled and said to Du Gu Bai, “Senior, do you think I have only a few secrets?”

Du Gu Bai laughed heartily, “That’s true. You’re a strange one, boy. There’s no end to the secrets you carry, and I’ve grown too lazy to ask anymore.”

Zhang Heng continued, “Senior, now is not the time to probe the mysteries I hold. The spatial turbulence in the Dragon Burial Abyss has vanished, and you’ve broken through to the Tribulation Stage. There are so many treasures and rare items waiting for you in the War Burial Abyss. Why waste time here with me? If the opportunity arises in the future, I’ll naturally share my secrets with you.”

Du Gu Bai sighed, then, taking Yan Xueqing with him, strode off into the distance.

Now only Qian Muyun and Zhang Heng remained.

Qian Muyun spoke, “Little brother, Du Gu Bai is so cold and wooden, you’re right not to speak to him. But I’m different. Tell me, and I promise I won’t share it with anyone else.”

Seeing Zhang Heng ignore her, Qian Muyun added, “Tell me, and I’ll give you something good!” With that, she tugged at her long skirt provocatively.

Zhang Heng was already immune to such gestures and urged, “Sister Muyun, your adorable disciple is bathing over there. If you’re late and another cultivator happens to see her, it would be quite unfortunate.”

At his words, Qian Muyun glared fiercely at Zhang Heng, then flew off in the direction where Murong Qingxue was located.

Now, both Qian Muyun and Du Gu Bai had broken through to the Tribulation Stage. With them guarding Yan Xueqing and Murong Qingxue, the two sisters should be safe from harm.

As for Zhang Heng, he had matters of his own to attend to.

Even Du Gu Bai couldn’t sense his presence, so those lesser cultivators certainly wouldn’t be able to track him.

“Here I come,” Zhang Heng sneered, heading off in another direction.

When the others arrived, they found only the aftermath of a thunderstorm: scorched veins, countless deep craters, charred woods, and mountains flattened to the ground. Each scene told of a tribulation far from ordinary.

Some began to hesitate. They had assumed it was merely a standard first-level thunder tribulation, but judging by the destruction, it was anything but. Even though the one who underwent the tribulation was likely weakened, they feared they could not handle such a powerful foe.

The group dispersed, continuing their treasure hunt, leaving only a few unwilling to give up, searching the spot.

In another corner of the Dragon Burial Abyss, beneath a towering tree, Prince Yuan Yi of the Yuan Kingdom rested with two elders at the Nascent Soul Stage and a group of guards.

At this moment, Yuan Yi’s face was filled with gloom. Wasn’t it said that the Dragon Burial Abyss was overflowing with treasures and rare items? Why, after such a long journey, had he only found some low-level herbs? High-grade medicinal plants were virtually nonexistent.

He had two Nascent Soul protectors, so compared with other treasure hunters, he had ventured quite deep into the abyss.

On the way, he encountered few high-grade herbs but plenty of high-level spirit beasts, which puzzled Yuan Yi greatly.

Unable to make sense of it, Yuan Yi led his people to rest for a while.

He was unaware that a pair of eyes watched him from nearby.

Following the system’s hint, Zhang Heng quickly located Yuan Yi.

Zhang Heng was one who never let grievances go unanswered. Not only had Yuan Yi caused the death of his parents, but on the day the Zhang family was besieged, Yuan Yi had repeatedly insulted him. Zhang Heng would never let this arrogant prince of Yuan Kingdom off.

This was Zhang Heng’s territory. To deal with these people would be simple.

Of course, Zhang Heng would never confront Yuan Yi directly at this moment. He wanted to, but without powerful allies at his side, a direct challenge would mean capture and torture until death. To deal with them, he had to use cunning.

After resting briefly, Yuan Yi prepared to set off again. Though the abyss had few high-level herbs, even the low-level ones were valuable resources. If he lingered, others might find more than he did.

Yuan Yi could have waited at the exit to ambush those emerging with treasures, but besides rare items, the abyss also hid opportunities unknown to the world—perhaps the legacy of a peerless powerhouse. Such things he had to find himself.

Zhang Heng followed Yuan Yi at a distance. He couldn’t get too close. The Mirage Stone blocked his aura, but if he got near, those two Nascent Soul elders would spot him instantly, rendering his concealment useless.

All along the way, Zhang Heng pondered carefully, searching for his chance.

Finally, when Yuan Yi’s group passed through a marshland, Zhang Heng made his move.

This marshland was the territory of a seventh-tier divine beast, the Six-Legged Divine Crocodile.

A seventh-tier divine beast possessed the combat strength of the Nascent Soul Stage and was a ruler within the abyss. Those two worn-out elders beside Yuan Yi could barely manage Nascent Soul power, so they would be no match.

If the Six-Legged Divine Crocodile attacked, Yuan Yi would suffer greatly, even if he survived.

But how to attract the beast’s attention?

Right—“Fleetfoot Fruit.”

Fleetfoot Fruit was precisely what the Six-Legged Divine Crocodile needed. For it to evolve to eight legs, it required the fruit’s assistance.

Due to the spatial turbulence throughout the abyss, even seventh-tier beasts dared not act recklessly, so the crocodile had been desperately searching for Fleetfoot Fruit but never found it.

As luck would have it, Zhang Heng happened to have one—not because he foresaw needing the beast’s help, but because he never passed up any high-level spirit herbs.

While Yuan Yi and his companions searched the marsh, Zhang Heng quietly took out the Fleetfoot Fruit.

Yuan Yi and his group noticed nothing unusual, but the Six-Legged Divine Crocodile was naturally highly sensitive to the fruit.

The moment Zhang Heng took it out, the beast sensed it.

Within the marsh, a massive creature approached silently, while Yuan Yi and his companions remained oblivious, continuing their search for spirit herbs.

Seeing that the timing was right, Zhang Heng hurled the Fleetfoot Fruit toward them.

As Yuan Yi scoured the marsh, he suddenly saw something flying toward him.

He grabbed it and, upon closer inspection, realized it was a Fleetfoot Fruit aged three thousand years.

“I’ve struck it rich! My luck is extraordinary!” Yuan Yi cried out, unaware that danger was now imminent.

Indeed, when fortune comes, even rare fruits seem to fall into one’s hands while walking.

The two Nascent Soul elders noticed something amiss but said nothing, confident in their own strength.

With Nascent Soul power, they might not dominate the abyss, but they could at least guarantee their safety, so they paid no heed to any schemes.

Seeing Yuan Yi with the Fleetfoot Fruit in hand, Zhang Heng sneered, then retreated quietly.

As a mere first-tier body cultivator, he had no place in a battle between Nascent Soul masters—just the aftershocks would be more than he could withstand.