With this thought in mind, Yu Ci methodically lifted the corpse's hands. As he had expected, there was a ring on the left index finger of the deceased, which had already slid to the first knuckle. If he had arrived a bit later, this ring would probably have become a trophy for these herb gatherers.
Yu Ci removed it. There were no special markings on it, but its style and feel were very familiar. Indeed, it was identical to the Storage Ring he wore.
"Ah, as expected, he was a Cultivator."
He tossed the ring lightly, intending to explain to the herb gatherers behind him. However, seeing his actions, they thought that he was going to silence them by killing them. They collectively let out a shout and scattered in all directions.
The ring still in his hand, Yu Ci found himself left alone.
Stunned for a moment, Yu Ci let out a wry laugh. In the end, did it look like he was robbing them?
Regardless of how he appeared in others' eyes, he calmed his mind and focused his attention on the ring. He wanted to see what was inside it, whether there were any items that could prove the identity of the deceased.
With a thought, an invisible "little hammer" struck down.
A "clang" seemed to sound in his mind. The "outer barrier" of the ring was surprisingly unbroken! Yu Ci was taken aback. He tightened his grip and tried again, only to achieve the same result.
"Is it fake? It doesn't seem like it!" Yu Ci could clearly feel that there was another space within this ring. It was not comparable to ordinary objects. However, on its outer layer, it seemed to be wrapped in a layer of thin mist, blocking his Divine Sense and making it difficult for him to penetrate.
"It must be under some kind of restriction."
The so-called restriction is a kind of passive trigger mechanism attached to objects. Yu Ci was not entirely unfamiliar with this method. When he was in Twin Immortal Sect, he had seen Purple Thunder and Red Yin using this method on their secret chambers and important items. He had also seen unfortunate souls who unknowingly triggered these restrictions and met with unspeakable deaths.
He had a deep impression of this magical technique.
At present, the restriction on the Storage Ring did not seem as dangerous as those set up by the Twin Immortals, but for the time being, Yu Ci could not find a way to unlock it.
"I might as well keep it for now." Yu Ci decided to put away the ring temporarily. To his surprise, the Storage Ring could not enter a similar space and he had to place it separately.
Having done all this, he followed the trajectory of the body's flight and the residual scent of fierce beasts, slowly walking deeper into the forest. Before long, he arrived at the battlefield inside.
The sight before him made him involuntarily widen his eyes because what presented itself to him was an expanse of scorched earth.
This was real scorched earth. On an area spanning several acres, no signs of life remained. All that was left were ashes, still warm to the touch, and the half-exposed rocks on the ground seemed to have been burned to a crisp. With a light touch, they crumbled into pieces. At the center of the scorched earth was a hemispherical depression. It wasn't deep, but around its edge, hundreds of thin cracks radiated outwards. The longest of these cracks extended beyond the scorched earth and into the forest.
This was the source of the strong burnt smell outside.
Yu Ci walked over, first marveling at what kind of power it would take to leave such a mark on the ground. What was more strange was that the impact that caused this situation did not make any noise. How could he not have heard anything on the mountain before?
However, he soon found his gaze fixed and unwavering. On the ground at the edge of the depression, he spotted a pattern structure that was strikingly familiar. Although it had been torn apart by countless cracks, he was certain, absolutely certain, that it was the Rune Patterns. Moreover, it was one of the Monster and Ghost Scripts he knew.
The ground was not only covered with Monster and Ghost Scripts. Upon careful examination, Yu Ci discovered that within a radius of about ten feet from the center of the depression, the three major Rune Patterns systems described in the "Shangqing Star Secret Talisman Book" - Cloud Thunder Script, Dragon Phoenix Scripts, and Monster and Ghost Scripts - could all be found scattered around. From this perspective, it looked as though a colossal Jade Talisman had been laid flat on the ground.
Yu Ci looked at the remnants of the Rune Patterns on the ground, holding his breath involuntarily.
Being a knowledgeable man, although his Cultivation Level limited his achievements in Talisman for now, he had studied Talisman books for many years and had a discerning eye. Judging by the precision of the Rune Patterns structure seen so far, implemented in the confirmed ground area, what a complex, mysterious, and even unimaginable Talisman it would be!
In the "Shangqing Star Secret Talisman Book", there were also some very complicated high-level Talismans that made one dizzy just by looking at them. They were crowned with the name "Immortal Talisman". Compared to this piece on the ground, they might be even more complex. However, Yu Ci had some mental preparation and directly regarded those few Talismans as something only legendary immortals would use, without any extravagant hopes. But surely this one in front of him wasn't created by an immortal too?
He stood on the edge of the pit, observing the ground around him, feeling that something was amiss.
His gaze extended from his feet to the periphery and then returned. Yu Ci thought for a moment, jumped directly into the shallow pit, squatted down, and looked again at the edge of the scorched earth.
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The clash between the fierce beast and Cultivator was so intense that apart from the obvious mark of the depression, the nearby ground was also lower than the periphery due to the residual force. Initially being too close to the depression, he didn't notice it as it was like darkness under a lamp. But from this perspective, it was much more apparent. With the depression at its center, the ground gradually sloped upwards. The difference between the highest and lowest points was at least a foot.
When carving Drawing Talismans patterns, he believed in making deep impressions. But what kind of technique would leave remnants when scraping a foot off the ground?
Obviously, this Talisman wasn't carved. If it wasn't carved, then…
Yu Ci didn't stand up but pressed his hand onto the soil at the bottom of the pit. There were still some claw marks left by the fierce beast here. They were half a foot deep and clearly distinguishable. Yu Ci gently stroked them with his fingertips, then shifted slightly to let the midday sun shine directly, squinting his eyes and looking through the middle of the claw marks.
Beneath the cracks, a glimmer of light flashed. It was a luster distinct from that of earth and stone.
Yu Ci swiftly cut through the layers of earth, uncovering something akin to a metal plate. Its surface was uneven, lending it a distinctive character.
This was it!
While digging, he had already discerned the structure of the soil. If his conjecture was correct, those Rune Patterns must have emanated from this plate, piercing through the soil strata and leaving such profound traces in the mud.
Just as he was about to examine it more closely, a gust of wind blew over, carrying with it an unfamiliar scent distinct from the jungle's aroma.
In that instant, his mind went blank. With a swift roll, he slid out from the edge of the pit, simultaneously stowing the metal plate into his Storage Ring. A fraction of a second later, a whistling sound abruptly rose, striking the scorched earth and stirring up a cloud of dust.
Without any hesitation, he performed several consecutive flashes, darting left and right unpredictably. He finally managed to confound the assailant behind him. Realizing that Yu Ci was no fledgling, the attacker's momentum faltered.
Seizing the opportunity, Yu Ci abruptly rolled over, escaping from his passive position. His gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, fixed on the face of his attacker. Naturally, he was angered by this sneak attack. However, after taking a closer look, he raised an eyebrow in surprise.
The attacker was lean with a large gray robe draped over his body. His bald and serene face resembled that of a monk. However, the pair of dull yellow eyes set in slender sockets on his narrow face made him look more like a venomous snake. Especially that surprise attack just now - it was as if a venomous snake had suddenly bared its fangs and spat venom from within the grass, utterly treacherous.
But his appearance and behavior were secondary. As Yu Ci observed this man, he sensed something:
This snake-like monk was likely a Nature-Connecting Cultivator, wasn't he?
The sensation originated from his Divine Soul. At this distance, the other's aura seemed to stimulate his Divine Soul. The previously hidden "lamp" spontaneously surged to the top of his head, casting its "beam" onto the monk. Simultaneously, he felt a heat envelop him, similar to when he was targeted by Yan Daoist's Sword Energy from afar.
The monk on the other side let out a surprised sound but soon followed it with a cold sneer. "Whose brat are you? If you want to pocket the Shooting Star Plate, you need to see if this Buddha agrees..."
His response was met with Yu Ci's fist hurtling towards his face.
The monk let out a strange cry and slid backward as if his feet weren't touching the ground, narrowly avoiding the blow. He then cursed angrily, "You insolent youth!"
Yu Ci merely sneered in response. Since this monk had initiated a sneak attack, he should be prepared for retaliation. There was no need for so much idle chatter!
With that thought in mind, he advanced quickly and threw another punch.
His successive attacks were swift and straightforward without any variation. The monk, with his profound cultivation level, quickly rolled up his sleeves. The gray fabric fluttered through the air, making a sound akin to a golden blade cutting through the air. His move was as forceful as a cleaver, but alas, it missed.
Yu Ci abruptly dropped his stance, seamlessly dodging the monk's attack. But he didn't merely evade; he also flicked out a Spirit Talisman.
The Spirit Talisman was prepared beforehand. It wasn't particularly powerful due to the haste of its creation. As it flew through the air, the faint green light of the Divine Bronze Mirror quickly peeled away, revealing the true color of the Spirit Talisman. It was like a leaping spark, and in the blink of an eye, it was right before the monk's eyes.
Monk's reaction was swift, his lean body twisting slightly to create a gap, allowing the sparks to fly past.
Unfortunately, he was still too complacent.
In the talismans Yu Ci cultivated, aside from Palm Thunder and Five-Thunder Talismans, there were hardly any that showed direct damage. Most were auxiliary, but with clever manipulation, they could exhibit remarkable effects, just like this talisman!
The sparks suddenly expanded, seeming ready to explode with a bang. Monk had held back after all, and seeing this, he dodged backward. However, his eyes were still fixed on the sparks, ready for any sudden change. At this moment, the spark, which had already grown to the size of a fist, no longer expanded but erupted into a blinding light wave!
"Great Sun Talisman", its main purpose was to eliminate all evil and dark entities, like the rising sun that brings life. At this moment, all Yu Ci wanted was its naturally emanating intense light.
Monk's reaction was already quite swift, his well-trained body reacting at least five times faster than an average person. Even so, he only had time to squint his eyes, unable to block the sword-like strong light. His pupils still in dilation were pierced, and a scream followed.
The moment the intense light burst, Yu Ci had already drawn his Nine Yang Talisman Sword and rushed forward.
"Get away!" Monk roared loudly, not caring where Yu Ci was. His robe sleeves danced wildly, and the Gang wind howled like thunder, firmly protecting him. But his demeanor clearly showed fear.
Yu Ci quickened his pace, his sound completely masked by the howling Gang wind. He passed by the flank, took advantage of the impact, and thrust forward with his sword.
The sword blade traveled through the Gang wind, emitting a piercing howl that revealed his position and attracted Monk's ash-grey claws. He didn't dodge or avoid it but continued to thrust forward, colliding with Monk's claws. A "clang" echoed like metal colliding. One side was flesh and blood while the other was a sword blade condensed from flames.
It must be said that Monk's cultivation level was definitely above Yu Ci. The Nine Yang Talisman Sword didn't feel like a human palm but a thousand-pound hammer, with the intense vibration reaching his chest. Yu Ci, however, sneered and disregarded it. He exerted force again, and during the trembling of the blazing Flame Sword Blade, he forcibly dragged it horizontally. Monk's hand, as hard as gold and stone, couldn't hold on, and there was even the sizzling sound of flesh being scorched.
Monk let out a painful howl and finally couldn't bear it anymore. He let go of his hand and retreated quickly.
Yu Ci didn't chase after him. His aggressive attack with the sword was driven by sheer determination, and having to exert force twice against Monk's claw strength had drained him considerably. He wouldn't be able to keep up if he pursued further.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, it was only then that he smiled and said, "By the way, what did you say just now?"
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Brother fish bone welcomed his new journey with a fight, and I too have to face the wee hours' rush exam. All you book friends, please support with your favorites and votes!
I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e