Chapter 38: Chapter 38: A Desperate Situation
The Qingyun mountain range is vast, a stretch of green as far as the eye can see, paired with an endless forest and one peak after another.
But as to how vast it really is, no one knows for sure.
All that is known is that the demonic beasts of Qingyun mountain range cannot be completely eradicated.
There are rumors that even Golden Core Demon Kings reside deep within the range, deterring anyone from daring to measure its full extent.
Lin Shiming gazed toward the north; he knew that was where the Huang Family was attacking the Earth Rampage Bears, aiming to take over an inferior grade third rank Spirit Vein.
Beside his ear, the Great Elder and the others were still plotting how to capture a cultivator from the Huang Family to perform a soul search.
But Lin Shiming was aware the Huang Family wouldn't give them the opportunity.
Unless the old Family Head came over, with his peak middle stage Foundation Establishment strength, then it might be possible.
Suddenly, Lin Shiming remembered he had a Golden Luan Eagle spirit beast.
Even though the Golden Luan Eagle was not yet mature, merely a second rank inferior grade demonic beast, its flight was entirely unimpaired, and the Huang Family at present would not concern themselves with a bird flying high in the sky.
Most importantly, he just needed to put on a show for the elders of the Lin Family.
"Great-grandfather, I have a Golden Luan Eagle spirit beast that's extremely sensitive and has excellent vision, surely it can help us probe the strength and weakness of the Huang Family?" Lin Shiming had an idea and stepped forward to suggest to Lin Yuqing.
He then released the Golden Luan Eagle from the Spirit Beast Bag.
At once, the Red-haired Demon Monkey also in the Spirit Beast Bag began to show signs of excitement, clearly wanting to come out for some air, but Lin Shiming sternly warned it with his divine sense.
"Shiming, you've also raised a Golden Luan Eagle? I thought you only had a mantis spirit pet," Lin Yuqing said with some surprise as he examined the eagle.
A cultivator flying on a sword, or traversing over land, could be detected by the divine sense of other immortal cultivators and subsequently attacked.
However, a Golden Luan Eagle flying high in the sky would not catch the attention of the Huang Family.
Besides, it is known that the high skies over the Qingyun mountain range are the domain of demonic birds, and there may even be Great Demons from the Purple Mansion up there.
Cultivators from the Huang Family wouldn't go out of their way to fly high into the sky to kill an insignificant second rank inferior grade demonic beast.
"It was the Seventh Great-Uncle who bought it for me!" Lin Shiming stroked the head of the Golden Luan Eagle while smiling in response.
Then he took out a Jade Bottle, gave the Golden Luan Eagle a sip of Spirit Water, and with a pat on its wings, let the eagle spread its wings and rise with a loud call.
With a Spirit Contract in place, Lin Shiming could simply order the Golden Luan Eagle to fly high into the sky, then toward the north.
The Golden Luan Eagle flew higher and higher until it vanished into the clouds.
The Golden Luan Eagle had disappeared, but Lin Shiming's heart was still not at ease. However, there was no other method at the moment,
After about a quarter of an hour, while everyone anxiously waited, a streak of golden light broke through the clouds, revealing a golden eagle's head that swooped down.
It landed on Lin Shiming's shoulder, calling out "gua gua gua" as it perched.
Lin Shiming took out a bottle of Spirit Water for the Golden Luan Eagle to drink.
Then, with a look of urgency, he said,
"Great-grandfather, there's trouble. The Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Huang Family are present, and they're in the midst of securing a place where the spiritual energy is extremely dense!"
"Moreover, according to the spiritual fluctuations transmitted by the Golden Luan Eagle, the concentration of spiritual energy is not much less than that of Fangmu Mountain!"
Lin Shiming's last statement deeply shocked the Great Elder and the Sixth Elder.
Although Lin Shiming was being vague, they instantly thought of the Spirit Vein and realized that the Huang Family had been planning to find a wild Spirit Vein for a Spirit Vein upgrade.
This matter must have started years ago, otherwise why would they have also found Peach Blossom Valley back then, and as expected, brought along two Foundation Establishment Cultivators?
When the Lin Family members considered this, they felt an overwhelming sense of fear.
It was clear that the Huang Family was in a hurry because the Spirit Vein was about to be upgraded!
"Houyong, you are the fastest, you must immediately fly at full speed to Qingyun Market, and you must tell the Seventh Great-Uncle that he must come here as soon as possible!" Lin Yuqing, not daring to delay at all, finished speaking and took out a Second Rank Superior Grade Fengxing Charm from his Storage Bag.
This Fengxing Charm could increase a Cultivator's speed of escape, and in critical moments, save a life.
But at this moment, they could no longer afford to stay; if they allowed the Huang Family to snatch the Spirit Vein first, it would be too late for everything.
Lin Houyong didn't hesitate, immediately pressed the Fengxing Charm, and it turned into a beam of Spirit Light blessing him. He rose again on his Sword Flight, feeling as if he was riding the wind, and in the blink of an eye, vanished into the sky.
"Shiming, can you get your Golden Luan Eagle to scout and find the exact location of the Huang Family? We can't just sit and wait for death!" Lin Yuqing then turned to look at Lin Shiming.
"By that time, when Seventh Great-Uncle arrives, we can catch them all in one fell swoop!" After saying that, Lin Yuqing's face also flashed a hint of ruthlessness.
As for the ambush that caused death and injury, Lin Yuqing naturally wanted to repay it a hundredfold.
"Great Grandfather, if the Huang Family hasn't used any Formations or hidden Spirit Talismans, then it's possible!" Lin Shiming nodded. The Golden Luan Eagle's scouting abilities were still dependable, but if the area was covered by a Formation, then indeed they would not be able to find it.
The Golden Luan Eagle once again took flight with a squawk, heading towards the dense forests and hills in front.
...
In a dense jungle, a Silver-horned Long Deer was leisurely strolling, occasionally sniffing the air and rotating its bright, lively eyes.
"Shhh!" Suddenly, the sound of something piercing the air came through.
The Silver-horned Long Deer hadn't even had time to react when a shiny Spirit Sword passed right through it!
The deer's head flew up with the noise, scattering a wide spray of blood.
Under the tree, a surge of Spiritual Energy fluctuated, and then several middle-aged men in yellow robes emerged from underneath the tree, collecting the deer's head.
The one leading them was a somewhat plump middle-aged man, and if Lin Shiming and the others were here, they would have recognized him as Huang Lishan, the current Family Head of the Huang Family.
Huang Lishan did not pay attention to the corpse of the Second Rank Intermediate Grade Demonic Beast, the Silver-horned Long Deer, but instead looked up into the void, a trace of puzzlement flickering in his eyes.
"Ligong, you said that eagle has appeared and gone back and forth twice now, and the Lin Family is also over there..."
After hearing this, an elderly Taoist Robe Cultivator with white whiskers pinched his beard and furrowed his brows.
The white-bearded Taoist Robe old man was named Huang Ligong, the ninth eldest of the Huang Family's generation, younger than Huang Lishan by several years, but more inclined to preserve his natural age.
"Third Brother, the Lin Family has never raised a Golden Luan Eagle, but I feel something is not right; the Lin Family's calm is too abnormal!"
"Third Brother, Ninth Brother, why hesitate any longer? We still have a Purple Mansion talisman treasure; let's just annihilate those few from the Lin Family!" The dark-faced Cultivator beside them was already irritated.
Seeing that the others from the Huang Family were all contemplating the Golden Luan Eagle, he spoke directly.
In his view, the Lin Family was only relying on the name of Zi Xuan Hermit from the Qingxuan Sect, but in this uninhabited place, even if they were to slaughter all the Cultivators of the Lin Family, no one would ever know.
The gap in strength was too vast.
"Let's deal with them! Indeed something doesn't feel right!" Huang Lishan extended his leg, stepping on the body of the Silver-horned Long Deer, and with a violent force, the deer's body burst open, the flesh and blood flying in all directions.
"Six Qi Cultivation Ninth Level and one talisman treasure, their death is certain!"