Puff!

In a flash of lightning, the Taowu Saber cleaved open the deceitful monster’s head, slicing through its body like a hot knife through butter.

The blade split it in half!

The true power and evil qi contained in the saber erupted simultaneously, and a dazzling blaze exploded in front of Zhang Yuan.

Instantly illuminating a vast area around him.

This deceitful monster, resembling a hellhound, was reduced to ashes and vanished!

[Source Material +2380]

In the next moment, Zhang Yuan’s field of vision was updated with a strikingly prominent information prompt.

At the same time, the deceitful monsters gathering from all directions towards the shrine seemed to sense impending doom, and they howled in agony, turning tail to escape, disappearing into the darkness in an instant.

No sounds were left.

Zhang Yuan held the saber and looked around, yet could find no target to hunt.

He couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful.

These monsters, although weak, had the advantage of numbers and could bring quite a lot of source material.

Unfortunately, they’ve all fled now.

Zhang Yuan allocated all the source material he just obtained to the Gray-toothed Lynx.

Enough to help it advance to Level 4 with ease!

At this moment, Zhang Yuan’s gaze fell upon the ground ahead.

He saw a pebble the size of a goose egg lying quietly among the ashes, emitting a scarlet glow.

It looked quite peculiar.

Zhang Yuan stepped forward and took it into his hands.

This pebble, or rather crystal stone, was incredibly smooth on the surface and was black-red throughout, as if it had just undergone fiery exposure, extremely hot to the touch.

Zhang Yuan injected true essence into his hand to avoid getting burned.

Quite interesting.

He took this trophy back into the shrine and handed it to Mo Huai’an.

To see if this Upper Scenic Celestial disciple could identify it.

It turned out Mo Huai’an indeed recognized it.

He promptly said, "This is a Fire Demon Stone, and it’s of very good quality!"

Fire Demon Stones are extraordinary treasures derived from Fire Demon’s bodies, similar to ox bezoar, dog treasure, and pig sand; they require specific conditions to be born as heavenly treasures and are very rare.

Fire Demons, being among the deceitful monsters, are already rare, making Fire Demon Stones extremely hard to find!

Fire Demon Stones belonging to the fiery sun attribute can be used for refining elixirs, magic cultivation, and as materials for certain arrays.

The value of Fire Demon Stones is closely related to their age.

Mo Huai’an estimated that the Fire Demon Stone Zhang Yuan had obtained must have been nurtured within the Fire Demon for at least a hundred years.

Its preciousness is unquestionable!

Mo Huai’an contemplated and then said, "In Upper Scenic Celestial, it can be exchanged for at least a thousand Daoist merits, but I suggest you should keep it, Brother."

Zhang Yuan asked doubtfully, "What use do I have for it?"

He neither understood alchemy nor was skilled in magic or array setup.

No matter how good Fire Demon Stone is, if it’s not useful, it’s wasted.

Mo Huai’an said seriously, "Brother, this Fire Demon Stone is very beneficial for your cultivation of the Six Harmonies Qilin Body!"

Six Harmonies Qilin Body!

Zhang Yuan suddenly realized—he really hadn’t thought of this.

The Six Harmonies Qilin Body Zhang Yuan was cultivating was already approaching the Great Success Realm, but truly breaking through the realm solely through water grinding techniques would be uncertain when it might succeed.

After all, he did not possess exceptional talent in this horizontal cultivation technique.

Previous breakthroughs largely depended on auxiliary heavenly treasures like Qilin Grass to achieve.

Thus, Zhang Yuan’s cultivation of the Six Harmonies Qilin Body depended heavily on external items.

Coincidentally, this technique is extremely important to him.

Now that he learned the Fire Demon Stone he just acquired is greatly beneficial for cultivating the Six Harmonies Qilin Body, Zhang Yuan couldn’t help but be delighted.

"Congratulations, Brother!"

Mo Huai’an smiled and said, "Such rare opportunity, this item must be meant for you!"

Zhang Yuan accepted the returned Fire Demon Stone from Mo Huai’an, silently appreciating the not-to-be-underestimated 9 luck value.

With luck, opportunities naturally follow.

Zhang Yuan’s fortune is certainly stronger than the average person.

This Fire Demon Stone serves as proof.

He heard Mo Huai’an continue, "With the appearance of the Fire Demon, the emergence of the Drought Fiend is possible, Brother, there’s likely a Drought Fiend in the confines of Yongzhou!"

Drought Fiend!

Zhang Yuan’s joy vanished instantly.

The Drought Fiend, a legendary ancient fearsome creature, usually slumbers within magma and underground flames, and once it emerges, it scorches the land for miles.

Zhang Yuan read about the Drought Fiend in many books.

It’s said that three hundred years ago, a thousand-year-old Drought Fiend appeared in the Central Province, causing drought over thousands of miles for three years, leading to countless civilian casualties.

It wasn’t until major Daoist sects, including Upper Scenic Celestial, along with powerful experts from various sects and noble families, undertook a concerted siege that came at a substantial cost.

Though the descriptions in books were very succinct and lacked details, they reflect the terror of the Drought Fiend.

Zhang Yuan solemnly said, "Junior, this is a serious matter!"

"Indeed."

Mo Huai’an’s face was quite grave: "Brother, I’m planning to send a message to the mountain gate, requesting our sect to dispatch someone to investigate; if we’re wrong, it would actually be a good thing."

If the Drought Fiend does appear, it would be a massive event threatening the nation’s core and Daoist foundation!

It must be handled carefully.

"It should be done!"

Zhang Yuan asked, "Should we still go to Yong’an?"

"Yes!" 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Mo Huai’an replied resolutely: "I want to ask Master Fang Hui whether he knows about the situation."

After pausing, this young mage added, "Before going to Yong’an, I want to look more closely at the surrounding areas."

Without investigation, there’s no right to speak; currently, Mo Huai’an is only making guesses and cannot be completely certain.

Zhang Yuan naturally did not object to his decision.

Mo Huai’an felt a bit embarrassed: "Brother, you can use this Fire Demon Stone as evidence when the time comes..."

"No worries."

Zhang Yuan waved his hand indifferently: "If the sect needs it, taking it away is no problem."

Upper Scenic Celestial definitely wouldn’t take his item without compensation; by then, whether it’s exchanged for Daoist merits or heavenly treasures, it wouldn’t be much of a loss.

Zhang Yuan doesn’t need to be a miser.

Mo Huai’an quietly exhaled, sincerely expressing: "Brother, with your strength, you should easily qualify as a Dharma Guardian War General, and if you can enter the Divine Realm, even the Dharma Guardian Divine General position is attainable!"

Though Upper Scenic Celestial is a Daoist Ancestral Court, it actually fosters many martial cultivators to eliminate demons and uphold Daoist principles.

Moreover, Upper Scenic Celestial follows a strategy of concentrating resources on a few extraordinarily talented martial artists, so the sect’s martial cultivators are all outstanding individuals.

These martial cultivators loyal to the sect are primarily divided into Dharma Guardian War Generals and Dharma Guardian Divine Generals.

The latter can only be undertaken by martial artists who reach the Divinity Transformation Realm!

These remarks by Mo Huai’an offer extremely high praise for Zhang Yuan.

However, it isn’t mere flattery.

For this young mage personally witnessed Zhang Yuan cleave the Fire Demon with a single saber.

With such strength, serving as a Dharma Guardian War General in the sect genuinely poses no issue.

The only question might merely be Zhang Yuan’s status.

After all, he wasn’t born within the mountain gate.