Chapter 1125: Bad Intentions

“Yes, Brother Ning, that level five spirit beast is strong, but it’s only in the primary stage. We are all at the foundation establishment state, level nine, and with this rune of mine, we can subdue it.” Duan Yitai produced a level six ice shard rune.

Ye Mo nodded. A sneak attack with a level six ice shard rune could indeed injure a primary-stage level five beast. A combined assault afterward would likely succeed. However, as a nascent soul state cultivator, he could kill a level five beast with a single blow.

Yet, Ye Mo didn't refuse. He didn't know the location of the Zhou River Swamp, and Li Jilei's description suggested a vast area. Finding it alone might take considerable time; it was better to go with them.

Seeing Ye Mo's agreement, Duan Yitai and his companions were delighted and prepared to depart immediately. Ye Mo preferred speed. Mang Mountain Town was not far from Great Zhou Mountain, but the spirit chi here was arid. High-level spirit herbs were unlikely; he eagerly anticipated the herbs Li Jilei had mentioned.

Unexpectedly, upon leaving town with Duan Yitai and the others, the scar-faced female cultivator was gone. She was outside his spirit sense range—she had clearly left.

The swamp wasn't close to the town, but it wasn't far either. Ye Mo could have reached it in two hours alone, but following Duan Yitai took a day and a half.

It was a boundless swamp, occasionally emitting foul odors. It was difficult to believe this was an ancient spirit herb garden. Ye Mo's spirit sense revealed nothing; its range was limited to about 200 kilometers within the swamp. Only formations or certain regions could restrict spirit sense in this way.

“If all goes well, we should smell the herb aroma at midday. My friends and I walked fifty kilometers east from here before encountering that level five spirit beast,” Li Jilei indicated the swamp.

“This swamp possesses a powerful suction force, increasing with depth. Even with the ice shard rune, we're no match for that beast if we enter together,” Duan Yitai explained.

Monk Lu Xi said, “Brother Duan, you're resourceful. Tell us the plan.”

Duan Yitai smiled and clasped his fists. “Then I'll be direct. Inside is a Three-Horned Swamp Crocodile, easily provoked. I have a level five acceleration rune. We should send someone fast to use the rune, enraging the beast and drawing it out. Once it's at the edge, the other three ambush it.”

He added, with a feigned embarrassment, “I'm an earth-style cultivator; I'm too slow, otherwise I'd gladly take the lead.”

“I'll go. Though I'm wood element, Brother Duan's level five acceleration rune should suffice,” Lu Xi offered.

Li Jilei shook his head. “No, you're too large; even with the rune, it would be too difficult.”

Ye Mo sneered. What did size have to do with an acceleration rune? He was certain this wasn't their first trip; they were using him to lure the beast—essentially, sending him to his death.

Using a foundation establishment cultivator to draw out a level five beast was suicide! Even if he'd refused, Ye Mo knew they had other plans. He'd never intended to cooperate. Just as he was about to proceed alone, he detected a faint herbal aroma.

“It's midday. Do you all smell the herb aroma?” Li Jilei asked excitedly.

Lu Xi and Duan Yitai nodded.

This time, Ye Mo refused to wait for their machinations. “I'll go; my flying abilities are quite good.”

Ye Mo charged into the swamp without the acceleration rune. He knew the aroma lasted only fifteen minutes and dared not waste time.

The three rejoiced at Ye Mo’s departure, but before they could speak, he was already gone.

“Wait, the acceleration rune…” Duan Yitai called out, but Ye Mo was beyond reach.

“Brother Duan, what now? He didn't take the rune,” Li Jilei said, disappointed.

Lu Xi shook his head. “That man is courting death. Let’s find someone else.”

Duan Yitai sighed. “Ning Xiaoma was probably the ideal choice. He charged in without hesitation after sensing the aroma; he's clearly a greedy cultivator. A pity he didn't take our acceleration rune; even if he dies, it benefits us nothing.”

After a moment's thought, he added, “Let's wait here; we might get something unexpected.”

Ye Mo was unaware of Duan Yitai’s actions regarding the acceleration rune; even if there were any, it was irrelevant.

Ye Mo was a pill king; he had even seen the level nine spirit herb, the Nine-Colored Lotus. The aroma he detected was at least level nine or higher. Above level nine were immortal herbs—Ye Mo dared not even imagine what lay ahead. He had no time for these foundation establishment cultivators and charged forward.

Less than 200 kilometers in, he saw the level five spirit beast. Duan Yitai had clearly lied. This beast was ordinary; it had nothing to do with the herb aroma. It simply happened to be on the path to it. Killing it wouldn't reveal the herb garden.

The level five beast, sensing Ye Mo’s momentum, didn't even dare to move. Ye Mo ignored it and continued, disappearing into the swamp's depths.

The suction force increased with depth, slowing Ye Mo down. After another 500 kilometers, the herb aroma faded. Estimating his time was up, he accelerated.

With a thud, a hundred-meter-long python burst from the swamp, lunging at Ye Mo, spitting a black water arrow. Ye Mo's unhindered passage had enraged it.

Startled, Ye Mo, focused on flight, hadn't noticed the python—a level six peak-stage swamp python. It was powerful, but not level seven; otherwise, Ye Mo would have fled.

Without hesitation, Ye Mo summoned the Solo Octagonal Cauldron. Having spirit-controlled three levels of restriction, it was far easier to use. He also released Zi Xu.

The octagonal cauldron spun rapidly overhead, forming countless cauldron images that blocked the water arrow.

The python hadn't expected such an easy block. Before it could react, Zi Xu struck. Like purple fireworks, purple sword rays swept toward the python, increasing in number.

The python panicked, wildly thrashing its tail. Powerful beast cultivation essence clashed with Ye Mo's purple sword rays.

Moments later, the python was scarred, with several scales dislodged. Furious, it hissed, unleashing countless dark water arrows imbued with sharp beast essence and a foul odor. These were comparable to Ye Mo's purple sword rays.

However, the octagonal cauldron was too powerful, and with Ye Mo's formidable cultivation essence and spirit sense, the water arrows only clanged against it.