Chapter 145: Hunting The Transcendent

Chapter 145: Hunting The Transcendent

Upon hearing the nickname "Da Zhong," Zhong Cheng was utterly taken aback. It was a fresh perspective, for no one had ever referred to his sister in such a manner before.

As for Zhong Qing, her delicate face seemed calm, betraying no emotion. However, the tight clench of her slender fingers hinted at an inner turmoil that belied her tranquil facade.

"The hollow protective gear that can be worn on the head possesses exceptional properties," Wang Xuan began, diverting from the previous topic. "I suggest you take it back to the Zhong family for research. If decoded correctly, it might lead to a significant breakthrough. In return, I would like certain scriptures..."

His sudden shift in conversation left Zhong Cheng surprised and a tad disoriented. Initially, he had assumed there was a complicated relationship between Wang Xuan and his sister. Yet, here was Wang Xuan, smoothly transitioning into a potential collaboration.

"By the way," Wang Xuan continued, pointing at the steel plate he had returned earlier, "do you have more protective gear like this, perhaps for the arms or legs?"

"I'm serious. I have no other intentions," he clarified upon seeing their expressions.

To his astonishment, Zhong Qing proceeded to remove two spiked, elongated steel plates from her arms. Zhong Cheng's eyes widened. His sister was truly extravagant!

"I'll give you some containers in exchange for these plates," Wang Xuan said, producing some of his acquired items. He explained that these were looted from the deceased and would need careful examination to determine their utility. He then affixed the elongated steel plates to his own arms.

Deep down, Wang Xuan felt the man who had jumped into the river might not have perished. After mastering the Diamond Technique, it was likely that the creatures in the water could not harm him.

If that man rejoined his group and informed them about Wang Xuan's capabilities, then their next encounter might not bring the surprise advantage of the steel plates.

"Be careful," Wang Xuan advised, turning to leave.

Zhong Cheng muttered to himself, "He's growing more confident by the day. What's he up to on his own?" He then whispered to his sister, "You seemed awfully calm when he complimented you earlier. Were you trying to play it cool?"

Infuriated, Zhong Qing felt like hitting her brother with one of the steel plates. "He was driving me insane!" she exclaimed.

Suddenly, Zhong Qing's eyes narrowed in curiosity as she held up the steel plate Wang Xuan had returned. Tilting it to catch the sunlight, she examined it closely. Blood traces! Though it had been cleaned, the sunlight revealed minute traces of blood on it, a detail that could not have come from the sting of a hornet.

"What are you looking at?" Zhong Cheng asked.

"Smell this. Does it have a particular scent?" Zhong Qing urged her brother.

"It just smells like a man. Do not tell me you're actually interested in Wang Xuan. I thought of introducing you to the older Wang. He's a young master in his early twenties, bound to achieve greatness in the future! Wait... stop!"

Thud! Thud! Thud...

......

Wang Xuan deliberately left clear footprints pointing away from the direction of the New World explorers, a trail easy for someone of his caliber to follow. Most provocatively, he dragged the bodies of the two he had killed, dropping them miles apart along his path. It was a blatant taunt, an open invitation to those tracking him to follow his route.

"Are we truly going after the mature Silkworm Serpent? It's incredibly menacing," one of them voiced his concern.

"If it remains alive," another responded, "even if we manage to harvest the rare herbs, the serpent will pursue us relentlessly, engaging us in a never-ending battle. We must neutralize it first."

Wang Xuan, having observed them from a distance, deduced their strategy against the Silkworm Serpent. The myriad vials they possessed were not for mere show. They contained elixirs to allure otherworldly beings, particularly a potion designed to attract serpents and another that would momentarily drive creatures mad. Wang Xuan's senses sharpened. This group had a profound understanding of these creatures' habits. Their familiarity hinted at an advanced and mature extraterrestrial civilization from which they hailed. Moreover, they were not strangers to this mysterious land. Their conversation alluded to prior knowledge or advice from predecessors.

At the very least, they were aware of the misty region. Their discourse frequently revisited the stern warnings from their elders about the extreme dangers within. "It's a shame," one of them sighed, "no one has ever made it through. It could be a secret pathway."

While Wang Xuan could not completely grasp their language, by tapping into his spiritual realm and capturing fragments of their thoughts, he made a startling realization. They might be discussing an arcane route linked to ancient practices. He also caught the term "passing" associated with the misty region but struggled to fathom its precise significance.

After completing their preparations, they began from the misty region and led up to where the Silkworm Serpent resided, sprinkling their potions across crucial points. Their plan was to herd the serpent into the treacherous terrain and harness the power of "passing" to destroy the supernatural entity.

Wang Xuan felt a knot of anxiety, even more than them. He had the dual challenge of guarding against the mystical creature and preempting the group's move. Any misstep could make him the first casualty. Suddenly, a loud thud resonated from afar. The group had set their plan into motion. Massive rocks, weighing hundreds of pounds, were hurled near the serpent's den. Elsewhere, wild beasts were being chased, and some captured creatures released, their screams echoing.

The Silkworm Serpent, known for its ferocity and territorial nature, swiftly darted out with a hiss and vanished into the dense woods.

"It worked! The Silkworm Serpent fell for our trap. Our potions are indeed effective!" someone exclaimed.

"Quick, let's harvest the supernatural herbs!" another urged.

One among them, a woman, moved swiftly, like a wisp of smoke through the woods, making her way to the supernatural lair. Once there, she hastily plucked two large clusters of red-purple fruits, their aroma rich and intoxicating. While several more clusters still hung from the fiery vines, her presence had roused two adolescent serpents from within the cave.

"Damn! They're not mere juveniles anymore. They possess power equivalent to grandmasters!" she exclaimed, panic evident in her voice.

She did not dare to harvest any more fruits and turned to escape. Two of her companions were in the woods, ready to back her up. Noting the direction in which the mature Silkworm Serpent was heading and confirming that it was delirious and would soon enter the misty region, they rushed to the lair.

They confronted the younger serpents, not only to prevent them from pursuing the woman but also to kill them and procure the remaining supernatural fruits. The woman, having achieved her objective, continued her sprint without looking back, deeming the trip a success with just the two fruit clusters.

Meanwhile, Wang Xuan seized his chance. He felt no remorse about ambushing those destined to be his adversaries. Instead, he was thrilled. Emerging silently from the woods, he stealthily approached from behind, unsheathing his sword and directing it at the woman.

"Damn it! That scoundrel actually followed us!" shouted the man who had previously been injured by Wang Xuan, his eyes blazing with anger. Recognizing Wang Xuan's distinctive headgear and the unique black-gold attire, his rage intensified. The others too were incensed. How dare this native provoke them in their quest? Was he seeking death?

Wang Xuan's surprise attack was initially successful. Although he did not manage to behead the woman, his sharp short sword grazed her left shoulder, causing a deep gash that sent blood spraying. The pain was unbearable, making her left arm tremble and the supernatural fruit she held dropped to the ground.

Seizing the opportunity, Wang Xuan snatched it up, successfully procuring his first cluster of supernatural fruits.

Infuriated and shocked, the woman could not fathom being ambushed at such a crucial moment and losing half of her precious harvest. In a frenzied state, she lunged at Wang Xuan, her weapon slicing through the air.

"Do not strike him on his chest or his back!" warned the man from a distance, recalling his earlier confrontation with Wang Xuan.