Chapter 125 The Infant Carp Beast!
In the main hall of Lingmu Peak Cave, the morning light shines through specially made crystal window frames, casting dappled, warm shadows on the ground.
The air was filled with a faint, calming sandalwood scent, mixed with the steam rising from the tea.
Zhou Ding and Xin Ruyin sat facing each other on either side of a large jade table.
On the jade table, instead of tea sets, lay an enormous array diagram painted with special animal hides, its lines intricate and profound to the extreme.
On the array diagram, countless nodes flickered with light, representing different paths of spiritual energy flow and nested restrictions. This was a prototype of a composite array that Xin Ruyin had recently attempted to deduce based on the "Tian Yuan Array Canon," combining the "Five Elements Absolute Kill Array" with "Small Space Shift."
Xin Ruyin was dressed in a light blue home Taoist robe, her black hair was simply tied up with a wooden hairpin, and a few strands of hair fell down her cheeks, which made her skin look as smooth as jade, and her expression was focused.
A faint silver light gathered at her fingertips as she lightly touched a key nested node in the array diagram. Her voice, clear and melodious as a spring, analyzed the situation meticulously: "Zhou Lang, look, if we use the 'Void Stone' as the core to construct a miniature spatial anchor point at the transition hub between the 'Xun' and 'Li' positions, and then supplement it with the 'Yi Wood Life-Generating Array' to provide continuous spiritual power support, could we still maintain a brief spatial lock on a specific target at the moment the killing array is activated and space becomes chaotic? Could we even achieve a small-scale forced relocation, placing it into the core of the killing array?"
As she explained, her delicate hands traced lines in the air, the pale silver lines of spiritual light intertwining and evolving into exquisite array patterns, with Daoist charm subtly appearing.
Zhou Ding listened intently, his gaze following the movement of her fingertips, and he was filled with admiration.
After Xin Ruyin formed her core, not only did her magical power improve, but her understanding of the rules of heaven and earth, especially the laws of space, the five elements, and other laws closely related to the Dao of Arrays, seemed to have undergone a qualitative leap.
Her ideas became increasingly imaginative, yet they were always grounded in the profound foundation of the "Tian Yuan Array Manual." Each of her proposed ideas gave Zhou Ding a sense of sudden enlightenment.
Discussing formations with her was no longer just about him guiding her; it was more about mutual inspiration and joint improvement.
"wonderful!"
A look of understanding flashed in Zhou Ding's eyes, and he clapped his hands in praise: "Using the Void Stone to stabilize the spatial nodes and the Wood Array to provide a continuous flow of spiritual energy can indeed solve the problem of locking failure caused by spatial disorder when the Killing Array is activated. Even... perhaps we can try to simulate some of the spiritual patterns of the 'Sealing Light' with array patterns and inscribe them around the Void Stone, so that while shifting space, a trace of magical power delay effect can be applied, making it even more difficult for the target to break free."
"The spirit runes of the Sealing Light..." Xin Ruyin's beautiful eyes lit up as she fell into deep thought, her fingertips unconsciously tracing patterns in the air, exploring the possibilities of this idea.
Following this line of thought, the two discussed it in depth for a long time, creating a harmonious atmosphere filled with sparks of wisdom.
Just then, Zhou Ding's expression shifted slightly as he sensed a familiar fluctuation emanating from the array outside the cave.
He separated a wisp of his divine consciousness to receive a transmission talisman flying from the direction of Tiandu Street.
Feng Sanniang's respectful yet urgent voice echoed in his mind: "Elder Zhou, I have an important matter to report. It is of great importance. I humbly request that you come to Baishui Tower for a discussion."
Zhou Ding raised an eyebrow slightly. Feng San Niang was always reliable in her work; she wouldn't use this tone to send a message unless it was truly urgent.
He looked up at Xin Ruyin, who was still deep in thought and deducing, and said gently, "Ruyin, there are some matters at Baishui Tower. I'll be right back. You can continue your deductions slowly and don't overexert yourself."
Xin Ruyin snapped out of her reverie and nodded gently: "Zhou Lang, go ahead and be careful."
Zhou Ding stood up, straightened his robes, and with a flicker of his body, transformed into a pale blue streak of light, leaving Lingmu Peak and speeding towards Baishui Tower in Tiandu Street.
……
On the top floor of Baishui Tower, in that familiar secret room, Feng Sanniang was already waiting. Upon seeing Zhou Ding enter, she immediately bowed and greeted him, "Your subordinate greets Elder!"
"No need for formalities. What's the matter that's so urgent?" Zhou Ding asked directly after taking his seat at the head of the table.
Feng Sanniang straightened up and first took out a bulging storage bag embroidered with six palaces and cloud patterns from her bosom, and presented it with both hands: "Elder, this is a list of materials from some of the resources that I have been collecting for you through various channels over the past few years. Please take a look."
Zhou Ding took it and scanned it with his divine sense. Inside, there were dozens of kinds of spiritual materials, all of superior quality. Among them were some of the uncommon auxiliary medicines he needed to refine a certain ancient pill. It seemed that Feng San Niang had indeed put in a lot of effort.
He nodded in satisfaction and put the storage bag away: "Thank you for your hard work, you did a good job."
A relieved smile appeared on Feng Sanniang's face, but her expression quickly turned serious again. She lowered her voice and said, "Elder, the main reason I urgently summoned you here is not for this. Rather… just three days ago, a patrol team dispatched by our Six-Linked Palace to the waters surrounding Kuixing Island, while conducting a routine patrol in a remote area about 1,500 li northwest of the main island, unexpectedly discovered traces of a high-level demonic beast!"
"A high-level demonic beast? What level?" Zhou Ding's expression shifted. Kui Xing Island is located near a relatively safe shipping route in the inland sea, where high-level demonic beasts are not common.
"Judging from the last images and aura transmitted back by the patrol team at the risk of their lives... it's at least a level six demonic beast!" Feng Sanniang's voice was filled with lingering fear and excitement.
"A level six monster?"
Zhou Ding looked slightly surprised and sat up straight.
The Chaotic Star Sea is vast and boundless, centered on "Tianxing City," and is roughly divided by cultivators into the "Inner Star Sea" and the "Outer Star Sea."
The Inner Star Sea is a sea area that human cultivators have lived in, managed, and explored for a long time. After countless years of clearing and development, high-level demonic beasts of level six and above are extremely rare. Most of them hide in the deep sea wilderness or certain natural danger zones and do not usually appear near regular shipping routes or islands.
The discovery of a level-six demon beast in the waters so close to Kui Xing Island in the Inner Sea is indeed a rare and significant event that cannot be ignored.
"Yes, a level six demonic beast."
Feng Sanniang affirmed, a strange glint in her eyes: "Moreover, according to the urgent reply from headquarters, combined with the analysis of the image features, this beast is very likely not an ordinary level six demon beast, but... an 'Infant Carp Beast'!"
"An infant carp beast?!"
Zhou Ding's pupils suddenly contracted, and even with his resolute will, he couldn't help but gasp.
Infant Carp Beast!
This was not the first time he had heard of this beast.
This is an extremely rare and powerful variant among water-type monsters!
It resembles a giant carp, but has the head and limbs of an infant, making it strange and ferocious.
Adult infant carp beasts are endowed with extraordinary talents, naturally possessing powerful water and lightning dual-attribute divine abilities, making them top-tier in combat power among their peers!
The level six infant carp beast's true combat strength is absolutely comparable to that of a human cultivator in the late stage of Core Formation! In particular, its innate divine ability "Water Divine Thunder" is a mutated thunder produced by the high compression and qualitative change of water-type spiritual power. It combines the long-lasting penetration of water with the violent destruction of thunder. Its power is enormous and difficult to defend against. It is a tricky method that even Nascent Soul stage cultivators need to deal with carefully.
"It's actually an Infant Carp Beast... No wonder..." Zhou Ding frowned. If it really is this beast, its value is indeed astonishing.
(Demon cores, essence blood, leather, and bones are all treasures.)
However, the difficulty and risk of hunting have increased exponentially.
Given the current apparent strength of the Six Palaces on Kui Xing Island, even if they succeeded in surrounding and killing a Level 6 Infant Carp Beast, they would likely pay a heavy price, and there might even be casualties.
Seeing Zhou Ding's solemn expression, Feng Sanniang assumed he was wary of the Infant Carp Beast's fearsome reputation and quickly added, "Elder, there's no need to worry too much. I have already reported this matter in detail to the Inner Sea Headquarters. The Headquarters takes this very seriously and has already sent a reply, dispatching Elder Miao Li to personally assist our Kui Xing Island branch in overseeing this demon-hunting operation. With Elder Miao, a mid-stage Core Formation expert, in charge, and with you, Madam Xin, and Vice Island Master Zhou assisting us, our chances of capturing this beast should greatly increase."
Is Miao Li coming?
Zhou Ding's heart stirred slightly. But then, a thought flashed through his mind like lightning—
and many more!
Infant Carp Beast... Six-Hall Linked... Hunting... False Core Cultivator Formation...
A series of keywords, like a key, instantly unlocked the floodgates of his long-sealed memories!
A famous scene from the original novel, about Han Li's early experiences in the Chaotic Star Sea, clearly surfaced in his mind!
In the original work, the Six-Linked Palace did indeed organize a hunt targeting a Level 6 Infant Carp Beast!
They invited five pseudo-core cultivators, including Han Li, to set up the "Six Escapes Water Wave Array," a special formation designed to restrain water-type demonic beasts, to trap and weaken the Infant Carp Beast. Two elders from the Six Linked Halls, both at the early stage of Core Formation, were stationed on the perimeter to provide cover and prepare for a fatal blow.
However, just as they had fought a fierce battle and finally severely injured the Infant Carp Beast, and were about to succeed, a sudden change occurred!
Wu Chou, the young master of Ji Yin Island, suddenly appears!
Taking advantage of the moment when the two Sixth Hall Elders and the Infant Carp Beast were locked in a fierce battle and both were severely injured and their magical power greatly depleted, he made a sudden move to seize the monster's materials and verbally coerced them!
In desperation, the two elders, in order to protect themselves, revealed that they were secret members of the "Reverse Star Alliance"!
Wu Chou also has intricate connections with the Reverse Star Alliance, and may even be here on orders to provide support or supervision!
At that time, the "Reverse Star Alliance" was still in the stage of secretly forming an alliance and accumulating strength. If the identities of its members were made public, it would inevitably attract the cruel suppression and purge of the "Star Palace", the overlord that ruled the Chaotic Star Sea!
In order to silence witnesses and protect the secrets of the Reverse Star Alliance, the two elders of the Six-Linked Hall and Wu Chou hit it off immediately and turned against each other. They joined forces to kill all the low-level cultivators who participated in the demon hunt and knew the inside story, including Han Li, leaving no one alive!
It was a bloody betrayal and counterattack.
Ultimately, thanks to the protagonist's halo and numerous trump cards, Han Li narrowly escaped death, and this incident became a major karmic debt he incurred in the Chaotic Star Sea early in his life.
"Infant Carp Beast... Ugly Black Crow... Reverse Star Alliance... Murder to silence witnesses..." Zhou Ding's heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and a chill rose from his spine, instantly spreading throughout his body!
If... if this hunt really is the same one from the original story!
If Miao Li comes, it will truly be a joint event hosted by another elder!
If Wu Chou really does appear at the crucial moment, just like in the original story!
Therefore, Zhou Ding, now an elder of the Six-Hall Kui Xing Island, will inevitably be drawn into it!
He's not one of those two minor elders in the early stages of Core Formation from the original story. He's in the middle stage of Core Formation, much stronger, and probably knows more "insider information"!
How will Wu Chou and the Reverse Star Alliance treat him?
He is no longer a member of the Reverse Star Alliance and knows nothing about its secrets.
But will Wu Chou and those two elders believe it?
Would they risk letting an "outsider," a powerful "outsider," leave alive, possibly to inform on the Star Palace?
With his current strength, plus the power of Little Gold, the Golden-backed Mantis, and even the newly mastered "Eight Gates Golden Light Mirror," he is not afraid of Wu Chou.
But the key to the problem lies not in Wu Chou himself, but in the behemoth standing behind him—the Extreme Yin Island!
And behind the Extreme Yin Island, there is an even more terrifying and colossal alliance that intends to overthrow the Star Palace—the Reverse Star Alliance!
Wu Chou is a direct descendant of the Extreme Yin Ancestor and is deeply favored.
If Wu Chou is truly killed, how could the infamous Nascent Soul stage demon "Extreme Yin Ancestor" let it go?
He will definitely spare no effort to track down the murderer! At that time, Zhou Ding will face a Nascent Soul cultivator's relentless pursuit!
This is absolutely not something he is willing to endure right now.
Even more terrifying is that once his conflict with the Reverse Star Alliance becomes public, it will be tantamount to standing firmly on the opposite side of this behemoth lurking in the shadows of the Star Sea. Behind the Reverse Star Alliance are terrifying beings like the "Myriad Laws Sect" and the "Six Paths Supreme Saint," beings even the Star Palace fears!
Once targeted by such an organization, unless he immediately flees to the outer seas or seeks refuge in a star palace, he will never have peace in the chaotic star sea!
This is a huge crisis, a trap that could drag him into an abyss of no return!
Zhou Ding's face unconsciously turned somewhat gloomy, his eyes flickered uncertainly, and his mind rapidly weighed the pros and cons and various possibilities.
Seeing that he remained silent for a long time and his expression changed, Feng Sanniang assumed that he was still worried about the strength of the Infant Carp Beast, so she comforted him, "Elder, don't worry. Elder Miao is experienced and highly skilled. With him in charge, everything will be arranged meticulously. Moreover, according to the usual practice for hunting high-level demonic beasts, in addition to the elders leading the attack, I will also recruit several pseudo-core cultivators with considerable strength to set up a restraining formation such as the 'Six Escapes Water Wave Formation' in advance to weaken the Infant Carp Beast to the greatest extent and create opportunities for the elders. In this way, the risk will be reduced considerably."
A pseudo-core cultivator?
Deploy troops?
Zhou Ding sneered inwardly; it had worked as expected.
He forced himself to calm down, forced a seemingly relaxed smile onto his face, and nodded: "Yes, with Elder Miao personally overseeing this, and with the assistance of the formation, it's certainly much safer. Let's proceed as headquarters intends. I'll leave the recruitment of pseudo-Core Formation cultivators and the preparation of formation materials to you. Make sure to select reliable individuals and ensure everything is prepared."
"Yes! Your subordinate obeys! I will do my best to handle this matter well!" Seeing that Zhou Ding seemed to be persuaded, Feng Sanniang breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed in response.
Zhou Ding gave a few more details, then got up and left the secret room.
As he stepped out of Baishui Tower and onto the escape light returning to Lingmu Peak, his expression instantly returned to its somber state, his gaze as deep and unfathomable as a cold pool.
He naturally wanted the demon core material from the Infant Carp Beast.
But compared to a potential, potentially fatal crisis, these external factors seem less important.
"To go, or not to go?" Zhou Ding pondered repeatedly.
Not going might avoid the crisis, but it would also arouse suspicion from the Six-Hall Headquarters, especially Miao Li, and would mean missing out on a precious resource like the Infant Carp Beast, as well as... the opportunity to observe and confirm the movements of the Reverse Star Alliance up close.
If you go, you will inevitably be drawn into the vortex.