txolops Chapter 82 Tempting Lei Peng
Chapter 82 Tempting Lei Peng
The long street of Kui Xing Island was bustling with activity. It was the eve of the Double Saints Festival, and the market was teeming with people. Han Li suppressed his cultivation to the Foundation Establishment stage and walked calmly through the crowd, pondering how to sell the resources he had.
Although his younger brother Han Xiaoliu had given him a batch of rare materials and also gathered many spiritual herbs in the Dreamlike Minor Realm, he knew that the path of the Great Dao was solitary, and that more protection meant more chances of survival. He was thinking of going to the Liulian Palace's shop to try his luck again.
"Brother Han! Brother Han, please wait!"
A slightly hurried voice came from behind.
Han Li paused slightly, turned around, and saw a man in a blue robe dressed as a steward of the Six Halls walking quickly towards him; it was Wen Qiang.
"So it's Brother Wen." Han Li cupped his hands in greeting, his expression calm.
Wen Qiang wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, a warm smile spreading across his face: "Brother Han, are you also here to join in the fun of the Double Saints Festival? Perfect timing, I'm also a bit free, how about we take a walk together?"
The two walked side by side. Wen Qiang pointed to the towering Demon-Suppressing Platform in the distance and lowered his voice, saying, "Brother Han, you've come at the right time. This year's Demon-Suppressing Ceremony is on a larger scale than in previous years. It's set up to commemorate the achievements of the Two Saints in suppressing demonic beasts and opening up the Inner Sea, but..." Wen Qiang sighed, his tone tinged with regret, "That place is no peaceful place. Countless cultivators die there every year. It's called a grand ceremony, but in reality, it's a life-or-death struggle."
Han Li's gaze swept over the towering building, a slight thought stirring within him, but his expression remained impassive: "Since Brother Wen says it's a life-or-death struggle, the reward must be extremely generous?"
"That's natural." Wen Qiang nodded. "The winner will not only gain the Star Palace's favor, but also the Dust-Reducing Pill, which helps with Core Formation. However, Brother Li, your cultivation has improved significantly, and with the rare and precious materials your brother sent, you probably aren't too envious of this reward. It's wise of you not to join in the fun."
Han Li smiled slightly but did not respond, merely acknowledging Wen Qiang's statement.
He doesn't lack the necessary materials for Core Formation now, so there's no need for him to risk going to a place where he's at risk of death.
Seeing Han Li remain silent, Wen Qiang assumed he had guessed his thoughts and continued, "I heard that this year, the Six-Linked Palace has prepared an extremely rare demonic beast—the Infant Carp Beast—to add to the festivities. This beast is a peak fifth-tier being, possessing formidable supernatural abilities, especially its 'Water-Solid Divine Thunder' technique, which is incredibly domineering. I wonder how many cultivators will perish at its hands this year!"
"Water Divine Thunder?" Han Li suddenly stopped in his tracks, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
"Yes," Wen Qiang gestured, still shaken, "that wasn't ordinary lightning. It was formed by the infant carp beast absorbing and exhaling a massive amount of water vapor, combined with its own demonic power. This lightning was azure in color and carried extremely heavy water elemental energy. Once it struck a person, not only would their physical body be blasted to pieces, but even their protective aura could be instantly pierced. It was extremely vicious."
Han Li's heart skipped a beat. Although his cultivation of the Five Thunder Spell from Fangcun Mountain was quite powerful, he had always struggled to improve its grade due to a lack of high-level thunder seeds.
If one could refine the Infant Carp Beast's innate divine ability, "Water Divine Thunder," and integrate it into one's own thunder spell, the power of the Five Thunder Spell would likely increase exponentially!
Han Li, who had originally intended to stay out of it, suddenly became intense-looking.
He stopped and turned to look at Wen Qiang, his tone becoming more serious: "Brother Wen, I wonder if it's still too late for me to register for the Demon-Suppressing Ceremony?"
Wen Qiang was taken aback, then earnestly advised, "Brother Han, don't be impulsive! That's a fifth-tier demonic beast, equivalent to a Core Formation stage cultivator in humans, and it's incredibly tough and difficult to deal with. Although you have the skills, it's really not worth risking your life for a single spot!"
Han Li patted the storage pouch at his waist, a confident smile playing on his lips, and said softly, "Brother Wen, I appreciate your kindness. However, since I dare to go, I naturally have some confidence in my ability to survive. Besides..." He paused, a sly glint in his eyes, "Demon beasts that can use lightning magic are hard to find. Now that I've encountered one, I should go and see for myself. Brother Wen, just lead the way."
Seeing that Han Li was determined and his words were filled with unwavering resolve, Wen Qiang could only shake his head helplessly: "Since Brother Han insists, then I will take you to the registration office. Just remember, once you get there, be careful in everything you do."
"That's natural." Han Li smiled faintly, but his gaze had already passed over the crowd and locked onto the Demon-Suppressing Platform, which was about to unleash a bloody storm.
Beneath the Demon-Suppressing Platform on Kuixing Island, in the dark and damp underground sealed space, a musty demonic aura permeated the air.
Han Xiaoliu stood with his hands behind his back in front of a barrier of light that shimmered with a pale golden glow. His gaze pierced through the layers of array patterns, directly targeting the old figure sitting cross-legged deep within.
"Senior Lei Peng," Han Xiaoliu cut to the chase, his voice echoing through the empty underground, "Stop meditating! That demon king who wants your life, Feng hope, has already arrived at Kui Xing Island!"
Deep within the light curtain, the level ten transformed demon who once dominated the chaotic star sea slowly opened his eyes.
Although he had been suppressed for hundreds of years, his cultivation had fallen to the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and he was emaciated, his eyes still exuded a chilling aura of power.
Lei Peng scoffed, his withered fingers tapping lightly on his knee. "So what if it's here? If it wants my life, it'll have to see if its claws are sharp enough! A mere junior, just here to die?"
"Alright! Since you're so confident, then may you rest in peace!"
Han Xiaoliu remained expressionless and stepped forward: "Senior, what have you thought about what I told you last time?"
Lei Peng narrowed his eyes, his turbid gaze sweeping over Han Xiaoliu as if assessing the value of a piece of merchandise. After a long while, he slowly said, "Not good at all, not considering it! I've lived for so long, I've seen all kinds of storms, it's not your place to tell me what to do."
"Sigh..." Han Xiaoliu sighed, a helpless expression of "I knew it" on his face. "I knew it would be like this! The old man is just stubborn."
He suddenly raised his head, his eyes blazing, and said, word by word, "Then, senior, I'm about to make my move!"
Upon hearing this, Lei Peng not only didn't get angry, but instead threw his head back and laughed loudly, causing pebbles to fall from above: "Make a move? Hahahaha! If you could break through the restrictions set up by the two Star Palace Saints, would you need to waste your breath on me? You're just dreaming!"
Han Xiaoliu's lips curled up slightly, revealing a mysterious smile: "Breaking the formation is out of the question, but it's still possible to broaden your horizons, senior."
Having said that, he flicked his sleeve, and two beams of spiritual light flashed. Two spiritual creatures, their bodies radiating strange fluctuations, appeared out of thin air.
On the left is a creature clad in heavy armor, wielding a pumpkin-shaped iron hammer, and resembling a giant shrimp; on the right is a creature with a human body and a fish tail, a ferocious face, and holding two scythes, the weapons swirling with faint arcs of lightning.
"Senior, please look," Han Xiaoliu said, pointing to the two creatures, "These are the 'Summoning Spirits' I've nurtured. This shrimp soldier was born from the bloodline of the Ironclad Conehead Shrimp; this shark general was born from the bloodline of the Infant Carp Beast. If you sense their aura carefully, doesn't it feel strangely familiar?"
Lei Peng's previously nonchalant expression suddenly froze when his gaze fell upon the lightning arcs on the Mermaid General's body.
He took a deep breath, his nostrils flared, and then his pupils contracted sharply.
It wasn't just the aura of a demonic beast; it also carried a very subtle yet incredibly familiar primal power.
That is the Yin Lightning power unique to the Infant Carp Beast clan!
"As expected..." Lei Peng stared intently at Han Xiaoliu, his voice becoming hoarse and low, "The aura on these two summoned spirits is the same as yours! Human-like, demon-like, yet neither human nor demon! Kid, what exactly are you?"
Upon hearing this, Han Xiaoliu frowned, his face full of displeasure: "You old monster, how dare you speak like that? What do you mean by 'neither human nor demon'? That's a personal attack! I'm a human, don't you understand?"
He paused, his tone softening slightly, and coaxed, "Well, do you believe me now? I don't want your essence blood for any bad purposes. I just feel that with your unparalleled supernatural powers, it would be a pity if the lineage were to end. I just want to leave you an heir to continue the glory of the Feather Clan!"
Lei Peng was deeply shaken; the surge of emotion made him almost want to agree immediately.
But he was, after all, an old fox who had lived for countless years and knew all too well the treacherous nature of people in the cultivation world.
He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, his eyes hardening again, and snorted coldly: "I don't believe you! Sweet talk, I won't fall for that."
"Hey, you old fool, you're really stubborn, aren't you!" Han Xiaoliu suddenly panicked, his feigned composure crumbling instantly. He rolled up his sleeves and cursed, "You believe I'll find a way to get in here and give you a good beating! You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences!"
"Hahahaha!" Lei Peng laughed so hard he almost fell over, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. "Take me down? Are you kidding me? I must say, you succeeded! I'd like to see how a mere Core Formation stage cultivator like you will break through this restriction to get in!"
Seeing Lei Peng's arrogant look, as if he was certain that he couldn't do anything to him, Han Xiaoliu was so angry that he gritted his teeth.
He cursed inwardly: This old bastard, he won't give up until he's dead! If he doesn't get this essence blood today, when that bastard Feng hope comes, this old bird will tear off his wings, and then the Peng bird clan in the human realm will really have nothing to do with each other!
"Fine, fine, you just wait!" Han Xiaoliu gritted his teeth, pointing at Lei Peng. "Today I will definitely take your essence blood, you'll regret it!"
After saying that, he took out a shovel from his storage bag and activated the magic weapon's power in the space in front of the array restriction.