CHAPTER 145: CHAPTER 143: MAGICAL BEASTS’ NIGHT ASSAULT! WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE_1

This Flying Boat was primarily refined from the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat, incorporating a massive accumulation of Cloud Vertical Inscriptions. Due to the artifact materials used, it couldn’t unleash its full potential.

The initially crafted Flying Boat Magic Artifact was unsatisfactory. Its flaws were too numerous: its flight speed was slow, the hull wasn’t sturdy enough, and it couldn’t fly for long durations. It couldn’t be considered a true Superior Grade Flying Artifact, only a defective product.

These issues could be solved with external items. For liftoff, it could draw inspiration from rocket launches, seeking suitable Magic Artifacts to rapidly propel the Flying Boat to high altitudes. To stabilize the Flying Boat, the Solid as Golden Soup Formation could be used. An extreme Flying Boat doesn’t require prolonged flight; it should suffice for escaping the Great Wilderness. The flight speed could be augmented with other Magic Artifacts and Talismans. Whether it could reach the anticipated altitude still awaited experimentation.

The production of the new version of the Flying Boat also posed a significant issue.

Jia Ren closed his eyes to recover his drained spiritual energy and retracted the Solid as Golden Soup Formation.

"Daoist Shi, was your Magic Artifact successfully crafted?"

Apart from the Artifact Refiners still engrossed in their work, the others gathered around. Their gazes landed on the scrapped artifact prototypes and the miniature Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat.

"A massive accumulation of Cloud Light Inscriptions? Truly an unorthodox approach."

Any Artifact Refiner who saw a Flying Boat Magic Artifact that forsook other inscriptions to focus solely on Cloud Light Inscriptions would find it peculiar.

Perhaps it really could make the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat soar higher. The problem is... wouldn’t it disintegrate mid-air?

"Who would like to test this Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat?"

All the Artifact Refiners looked at each other and instinctively stepped back a couple of paces.

This ’new-style’ Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat doesn’t seem reliable by any stretch. Let alone whether it could ascend to the heavens, it’s feared this trip might be a one-way journey... Being thousands of zhang high in the sky, if the Flying Boat were to fracture and plummet at high speed, survival would be unlikely...

One of the most critical reasons Flying Artifacts struggled to reach high altitudes was the presence of fierce astral winds above the Ninth Heaven. The higher one flew, the stronger these winds became—so powerful that even Top-grade Magic Instruments couldn’t withstand them. This was why Artifact Refiners were desperately trying to reinforce the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat.

"I’d actually like to give it a try."

Whether the Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat is feasible can only be determined through a personal trial. Knowing the hidden dangers also allows for timely rectification of its flaws.

"Daoist Shi, as an Artifact Refiner, you shouldn’t take such risks. Rest assured, the Market Master will arrange for someone to test it."

"Just wait peacefully for the results."

A satisfactory Flying Boat Magic Artifact had yet to be created, and they didn’t want a High-grade Artifact Refiner to perish needlessly.

"We can arrange for someone to test it tomorrow."

"Daoist Shi is truly a genius, creating a Flying Boat Magic Artifact on the very first day!"

After submitting several failed boat prototypes and the newly crafted Cloud-Surpassing Flying Boat, Jia Ren left the Artifact Refinement Department.

The department provided materials free of charge, but this didn’t mean one could waste them frivolously or embezzle them; all finished artifacts had to be submitted. Jia Ren wasn’t particularly concerned; he had joined the Artifact Refinement Department primarily to increase his Proficiency Level and gain experience.

Besides, if I really wanted to embezzle materials, how could they possibly stop me? Slip some Spirit Stones to the Cultivators tallying the artifact materials, and they’d turn a blind eye. The taken materials would be recorded as normal wastage.

Wherever there was profit to be made, an exchange of benefits was inevitable.

After leaving the Artifact Refinement Department and ensuring no one was following him, Jia Ren discreetly went to Talisman Master Zhang’s residence. After the strenuous Artifact Refining, he still needed to continue crafting Evil Warding Talismans.

He currently possessed over three hundred fifty-four Evil Warding Talismans: three hundred of Extraordinary Saint Level and fifty-four of Grandmaster Level. Even so, he still felt a lack of security.

It’s unclear if this many Evil Warding Talismans can withstand two attacks from the Black Blood Bizarre. The more prepared I am, the better.

He had recently acquired two hundred portions of Rhinoceros Horn powder and had taken twenty sticks of Ning Shen Xiang, generously provided by the Meng Family. Returning to his dwelling, he began Talisman Crafting.

First, he produced the ’inferior goods’ specially supplied to the Meng Family, making one hundred in a single, continuous effort until his spiritual energy was at its limit.

Jia Ren closed his eyes, sat cross-legged, and began cultivating the Thousand Threads of Myriad Souls Technique, aided by the Ning Shen Xiang. The Spirit Concentration Incense also provided some benefit to soul cultivation, accelerating his progress and helping him reach the second layer more quickly.

HUM!

His Soul Sea vibrated; the ’spider web’ within expanded, becoming finer and more condensed.

I’ve broken through!

A fleeting image of a vast spider web flashed within Jia Ren’s eyes before completely vanishing. His spiritual sense became more acute, and his range of detection and perception increased by nearly half. He could now endure longer sessions of Talisman Crafting and Artifact Refining.

I wonder how much peaceful time I have left. I must quickly advance the Thousand Threads of Myriad Souls Technique to the peak of the second layer so I can cultivate the Insect External Incarnation! Having another external incarnation means an additional life-saving measure, increasing my chances of escaping the Great Wilderness by another fraction. Will the Black Blood Bizarre give me enough time?

Jia Ren felt his spiritual state was still at its peak. He took a deep breath, inhaling all the fragrant smoke that had gathered in the Talisman Crafting Room.

"Time to craft talismans."

Thin, descaled beast hides were laid out on the table one by one as he began crafting his personal batch of Extraordinary Saint Level Evil Warding Talismans. Ever since switching to Rhinoceros Beast hide and with his Proficiency Level increase, the quality of the Evil Warding Talismans he produced had significantly improved. Even among those of the Extraordinary Saint Level, there was nearly a twenty percent difference in quality. This twenty percent improvement was substantial, equivalent to several ordinary Evil Warding Talismans. From then on, Jia Ren decided to use beast hides for all the Evil Warding Talismans he crafted for himself.

After a long, continuous session of work, Jia Ren let out a deep sigh. With the breakthrough in his Thousand Threads of Myriad Souls Technique, his limit for crafting Evil Warding Talismans had increased once more. He could now consecutively produce one hundred Evil Warding Talismans and still maintain a decent spiritual state, unlike before when his mind would become dull and heavy.

That’s another one hundred Extraordinary Saint Level Evil Warding Talismans.

Jia Ren glanced at the dimming sky outside and put away the two types of Evil Warding Talismans. He then picked up the Hundred Solutions of Divine Arms, studying it carefully to confirm the new materials needed for the Flying Boat and the requirements for its refinement.

BOOM!

A tremendous noise erupted from outside, accompanied by the shaking of the earth and mountains.

What happened?

The sky was dark, limiting the Spirit Insects’ vision and range. Jia Ren dispatched his Spirit Insects to fly high and far, approaching the source of the commotion.

A colossal lizard had charged into the Inner City of the Market, rampaging and destroying buildings. Upon sensing human presence, it immediately rushed forward to devour Cultivators.

"Slash it!"

Many people in the Inner City were startled by the disturbance. The Cultivator Guards of the Market rushed over upon hearing the news, and all began attacking the Magical Beast. The lizard stood nearly two zhang tall, its entire body covered in dark green Scale Armor that protected its vital points. The Scale Armor was exceptionally tough; flying swords could only leave shallow marks on the lizard’s body, failing to penetrate its defenses.

This was a Second-Order Monster, comparable to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

"Quick, summon the Market Master!"

The Market Master was the only Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the Market, the only one capable of dealing with a Second-Order Monster.

Before the Market Master could arrive, wolf howls echoed from a distance. Hundreds of eerie green eyes lit up in the darkness, gradually drawing closer.

A wolf pack?

Packs of Magical Beasts were difficult to deal with. They were a tough bone to chew. Cultivators who ventured into the Great Wilderness to hunt Magical Beasts always gave packs a wide berth. Wolves, known for holding grudges, were the type of Magical Beast one least wanted to encounter; the farther one stayed away, the better.

Further off, an Ink Jade Python, several zhang long with scales as dark as ink, charged into the Market.

If the Market’s Formations hadn’t been damaged, their power might have been enough to hold back the invading Magical Beasts. Cultivators could use the Formations to defend their positions and fight together. But now, the Market was defenseless, allowing Magical Beasts to enter and leave as they pleased. The Cultivators were scattered across numerous small battlefields, unable to concentrate their strength. No one knew how many Magical Beasts had arrived, and many Cultivators, lacking the courage to fight, were hiding wherever they could.

"We can’t retreat! Hold the line!"

The Market Master understood that the Market could not fall; otherwise, the order he had painstakingly established would be annihilated.

The Artifact Refinement Department hasn’t yet produced a suitable Flying Boat Magic Artifact, and we still need to collaborate with the Meng Family to ensure a sufficient supply of high-quality Evil Warding Talismans... I must make an example of one to scare off the rest!

"Kunshan Seal!"

A palm-sized Jade Seal in mid-air rapidly expanded, in an instant becoming as large as two stone houses. Carrying the force of a small mountain, it smashed down towards the head of the leading Second-Order Azure Shell Poison Lizard.

The Azure Shell Poison Lizard sensed the danger and was about to dodge when the Market Master’s trusted aides made their move.

"Pitfall Technique!"

"Spider Web Technique!"

"Touch of Extreme Cold!"

The restraints were violently broken. Just as the Azure Shell Poison Lizard regained its freedom, the Kunshan Seal slammed it into the ground. Amidst the earth-shattering tremors, both Magical Beasts and Cultivators turned their gazes towards the impact site. The Kunshan Seal pulsed with spiritual light, its Inscriptions flickering erratically, as the Market Master retrieved it with a pained expression.

A zhang-deep crater remained in the ground, where the Azure Shell Poison Lizard lay sprawled. Its Scale Armor was shattered, and corrosive, poisonous blood oozed from its wounds; it was a pitiful sight. It shook its dazed head, a flicker of fear in its eyes, and hastily fled.

Truly befitting a Second-Order Monster comparable to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it had only sustained serious internal injuries despite taking a direct hit from a Top-grade Magic Instrument wielded by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Many of the other rampaging Magical Beasts showed fear in their eyes and began to retreat from the Market.

The Market Master intended to press his advantage, but a scream from the distance made him halt. Turning to look, his eyes reddened with fury. Hundreds of green wolves, led by a Second-Order Silver Moon Wolf, had broken into the Market. The Cultivators were simply unable to stop the wolf pack’s charge. No sooner had a Cultivator slain one green wolf than a fresh wave swarmed forward, tearing through Spirit Shields and Magic Artifacts, dragging them to the ground.

BOOM!

The Second-Order Ink Jade Python continued its relentless rampage. Stone houses in its path crumbled like toys, and any Cultivators hiding within were crushed to pulp.

How can we defend against this? There are no less than three Second-Order Monsters. Relying solely on me, we can’t hold back this onslaught. Not to mention the hundreds of other types of Magical Beasts.

"Meng Family! Tongfa Shop! Tianyuan Commerce Association! Are you still not going to act?!"

The Market Master was calling out the major allied powers within the Market. Although he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he couldn’t handle this alone. While the other merchant associations lacked the strength of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, they still possessed the ability to impede the Magical Beasts.

At this point, the merchant associations could no longer feign ignorance and began to take action. Compared to the Loose Cultivators fighting scattered battles or fleeing in disarray, the merchant associations were at least somewhat organized. The three associations combined their forces against the wolf pack, continually dividing the battlefield and unleashing Talismans as if they were free. With Spirit Stones fueling their efforts, the number of wolves decreased at an astonishing rate.

Seeing the tide turn, the Silver Moon Wolf led its remaining pack in retreat.

The Ink Jade Python also became a target. A deluge of ice-type Talismans and Spells rained down upon it—a highly effective tactic against serpentine Magical Beasts. Its movements slowed, and it had to endure a continuous barrage of attacks from all directions. Annoyed, the Ink Jade Python swallowed a few Cultivators before turning and leaving the Market.

"This is just the beginning! We’re all going to die here!"

"Who is spreading such alarmist nonsense?!"

The Market Master’s eyes blazed with fury. He was desperately trying to protect the Market and would not tolerate anyone sowing discord. He fixed his gaze on the Cultivator who had spoken. Before he could act, the man’s face contorted in terror, and his body exploded.

Black blood splattered everywhere.