CHAPTER 349: CHAPTER 349: BATTLE AGAINST THE RED THUNDER DEER

Although enveloped in pollution with wisps of ominous black aura, the Red Thunder Deer still showcased its stunning foundation.

The vibrant fiery red fur paired with the flickering lightning beneath its hooves reminded Jiang Yuan of the beautiful and magnificent Nine-Colored Deer from the cartoons of his childhood.

It had massive antlers, branching out like a little tree, occasionally bursting with lightning before extinguishing, briefly illuminating the dark cave and outlining the Red Thunder Deer’s agile body.

"It’s a pity it’s polluted. It’s so beautiful. If only I could have a mount like this..." Just as this thought surfaced in his mind, he heard an ethereal voice, "Humans, you’re not polluted, and you remain conscious, right?"

What?! It speaks human language!

Jiang Yuan was even more intrigued, tightly gripping his blade and nodding, "Yes, you seem different from the other creatures in the Misty Miasma Ridge. They’ve all been driven insane by the poisonous miasma and cannot communicate. How are you able to?"

He thought since the other party could be reasoned with, perhaps he could gain a new mount.

"It’s because when disaster struck, to protect the Earth Seal from being destroyed, I swallowed it," the Red Thunder Deer explained patiently. "The Earth Seal allows me to remain conscious despite the pollution. It needs an unpolluted being to help restore this land.

Since you entered here, I sensed it.

I saw you chop down every tree emanating poisonous miasma, clear away the swampy mud grounds, eliminate the polluted creatures spreading toxins, and clean up all the filth, leaving only the poisonous soil within a radius, perfect for the Earth Seal to activate."

Jiang Yuan felt a little regretful; having swallowed the seal meant he would likely have to pass its challenge to obtain it.

Sure enough, the Red Thunder Deer stepped forward and continued, "If you acquire the Earth Seal, you can become the master of this land. Given time, it will flourish again, and you will be richly rewarded.

But the seal is within me; you must overcome my challenge first, or I would rather perish with it!"

"What challenge?" He thought to himself, thankfully well-prepared with the Black Flame Storm held in reserve. Unleashing a critical strike should shave off at least a third of its formidable health bar.

"I have the ability to tell if you’re lying," the Red Thunder Deer said instead of attacking, "If you obtain the Earth Seal, will you protect this land from the vile aura of pollution?"

"Of course, once it’s purified, I’ll protect it," Jiang Yuan thought once he cleared this instance, the attached fragment would become a separate secret realm in the system, posing no threats.

The Red Thunder Deer’s scarlet eyes blinked; it determined he wasn’t lying, so it asked further, "The Misty Miasma Ridge will provide you with endless resources, yet as the keeper of the land, you must consider the beings living here, even fight for them when necessary. Can you accept such a bargain?"

"Yes, meaning this land is mine, and I am to ensure the prosperity of flora and fauna here. It’s a mutually beneficial good deal. As the master, of course, I must protect them for long-term development," Jiang Yuan thought, isn’t this all expected?

Going through all the effort for a piece of land, not letting it grow Ancient Wood Elixirs and recover for resources would be a waste!

"Good." Seeing his honesty, the Red Thunder Deer let out a breath of relief, "I was born here and grew up here, but when disaster struck, all I could do was protect the Earth Seal, giving it a chance to revive someday.

Luckily, you are not the greedy type to exploit everything.

However, I still cannot hand over the seal to you. Protecting this land requires strength; you need to prove you have power besides compassion, or I will wait for another challenger."

Jiang Yuan: ...

So, after all that, it still comes down to a fight.

He had a mind to equip the "exoskeleton" suit but thought better, considering how the Red Thunder Deer despises evil pollution; it’d be wise to avoid irritating it at such a crucial moment lest the Earth Seal gets destroyed.

"Black Flame Storm!"

Opening with a powerful move, critical strike -40000!

The health bar above the opponent’s head dropped by nearly a third. The Red Thunder Deer was taken aback by the human cultivator’s sudden attack without any warning or gesture, "I’ve cultivated to the peak of the Transformation Realm and never witnessed such bizarre techniques.

No spiritual power fluctuations; it’s impossible to predict your attack. No wonder you had the capability to journey here unscathed by miasma; indeed, you have real skills."

Jiang Yuan thought, isn’t that obvious?

If I didn’t have a few tricks, I’d have been flattened by the Yu Hu warriors by now!

"Zzz~"

Even as the Red Thunder Deer spoke, a layer of electric arcs emerged on its body.

Feeling things were going south, Jiang Yuan immediately clicked the Instant Teleportation Technique, disappearing from his spot and reappearing behind the Red Thunder Deer.

However, as soon as he landed, he felt a numbness underfoot!

[Hit by lightning attack, HP -100]

Before him, the space turned dazzlingly white, and the spot he’d stood just moments ago became the center of a ten-meter-radius circle filled with leaping arcs, leaving a smoky crater in the stone ground from the most intense attack point.

Fortunately, he moved fast enough!

Jiang Yuan was immensely grateful for his quick reflexes honed by numerous battles; otherwise, being grazed by the group attack skills’ range, a mere -100 HP would’ve been nothing compared to taking a direct thunder cannon, which would likely empty his health bar!

Deep in thought, his hands continued without pause.

"Vast Mountains and Rivers!"

"Instant Teleportation Technique!"

"Vast Mountains and Rivers!"

The safest combo clicked through smoothly, with his blade merely serving as a gesture—primarily because stabbing wouldn’t cause much HP loss but close proximity risks electric attack, so he abandoned it altogether.

This time, he wisely teleported further away, aiming for the edges of the opponent’s electric net release; thus, even if hit, HP loss would remain minimal.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

The ineffective electric net prompted the Red Thunder Deer to alter its battle strategy, launching arrow-like arcs at Jiang Yuan, accompanying a gathering lightning from its antlers, and in the next moment, the entire cave filled with an overwhelming electric net descending like an inescapable trap!

"Oh shoot! Worthy of being a big boss!" Jiang Yuan felt his scalp tingle, witnessing the cloven hooves spreading an electric grid across the ground; the raised antlers extending a net from above.

The simultaneous bursts from both fronts quickly interlinked, forming an inescapable electric cage centered around the Red Thunder Deer.

"Vast Mountains and Rivers!"

Jiang Yuan had no choice but to aim a skill at his intended teleportation site, swallowing the encircling arcs to create a round gap; in the next second, he teleported there, dodging the lightning assault and once again hurled the Vast Mountains and Rivers skill at the Red Thunder Deer.

"Boom!" The mighty demon cultivator at the Transformation Realm had its spiritual power finally wane under the continuous big moves and had all surrounding energy aura forcibly devoured by Vast Mountains and Rivers, failing to release skills, and for the first time, being completely controlled.

HP -3000!

Certainly not one to miss such an opportunity, Jiang Yuan executed another seamless combo, restraining the Red Thunder Deer from condensing electric arcs and deftly wearing down its health bar.

Moments later, the powerless-to-counter Red Thunder Deer’s health bar was depleted, and a shining square seal floated out from it, landing in Jiang Yuan’s hand.

[Dungeon Task 1, find the lost seal in the current region: Completed, Reward: Building Upgrade Card has been issued]

[Dungeon Task 2: Find the lost seal in the next region. Reward: Random Intermediate Weapon Blueprint +1]

[Do you wish to bind the Earth Seal and purify the current area?]