Cultivation: I can solidify equipment attributes

The next morning, the four continued their journey deeper into Lingxi Valley.

The deeper one ventures, the higher the concentration of spiritual energy becomes, and the greater the number and strength of the demonic beasts. The stream widens, and the cliffs on both sides become steeper, with spiritual herbs and vines densely covering the rock faces.

Li Ze'an led the way, clearly familiar with the terrain of Lingxi Valley, and didn't hesitate at every fork in the road.

They cleared out several first-tier demonic beasts along the way, but they were nothing special and were dealt with in a spell or two.

When they reached a narrow canyon passage, Li Ze'an stopped.

"The target area is just ahead." He lowered his voice. "During our previous reconnaissance, we discovered a mid-tier second-order demonic beast lurking in this area. We couldn't identify the specific species, but its aura was very strong."

The four slowed their pace and carefully proceeded along the canyon passage.

At the end of the passage was a much more open valley, twice the size of the one cleared yesterday. In the center of the valley was a shallow wetland, with large patches of spirit lotus leaves floating on the surface, and something could be vaguely seen swimming in the water beneath the leaves.

There were numerous traces on the muddy ground at the edge of the wetland. Hoofprints, claw marks, and drag marks were haphazardly intertwined.

Li Yuan's keen senses were the first to detect the aura.

Deep in the wetlands, below the water's surface.

Second-tier, mid-grade. His aura was calm and deep, carrying obvious water attribute fluctuations.

Meanwhile, in the grass at the edge of the wetland, there was a very faint scent. It was a low-grade, first-tier scent, almost negligible.

"One large and one small," Li Yuan said. "The second-tier mid-grade is underwater, and the first-tier low-grade is in the grass on the shore."

Li Ze'an and the female cultivator surnamed Zhao simultaneously probed with their divine senses.

"Take care of the smaller ones first," Li Ze'an said.

The female cultivator surnamed Zhao drew her short sword, and a sword aura cleaved into the grass.

A small, three-foot-long, bluish snake darted out of the grass. Its scales were wet and slippery, and it moved nimbly. After being grazed by the sword energy on its tail, it desperately fled towards the wetlands.

Tier 1, low-grade, not worth mentioning. Li Yuan casually killed the little snake with a fireball.

But the little snake let out a sharp hiss before it died.

The surface of the wetland exploded instantly.

A massive figure burst forth from the water, sending a jet of water flying several meters high.

It was almost twice the size of yesterday's blue-scaled water lizard, its entire body covered in deep blue scales with a cold, silvery sheen at the edges. It had a slender body, strong limbs, and much wider webbing between its toes than the blue-scaled water lizard.

Its head was held high, and its vertical pupils revealed a chilling killing intent. Its mouth split open, revealing two rows of jagged fangs, and a low roar welled up from the depths of its throat.

Azure-scaled Dragon Lizard. A mid-grade, second-tier water-type monster.

Its gaze swept over the four people on the shore, and then landed on the small snake that had been killed.

The murderous intent in his vertical pupils suddenly surged.

The Azure-Scaled Dragon Lizard opened its mouth, and a thick jet of water shot out from it at great speed, heading straight for Li Yuan.

The water column was far more powerful than yesterday's water-based spirit energy ball from the Azure-Scaled Water Lizard. The density of the second-tier mid-grade spirit energy made the destructive power of this water column approach that of a full-force attack from a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Li Yuan dodged to the side, the water jet grazing past him before crashing into the cliff behind him, shattering rocks and sending fragments flying.

The female cultivator surnamed Zhao attacked from the side, thrusting five times with her short sword. The sword energy rained down on the side of the Azure Scaled Dragon Lizard.

The scales were hard, and the sword energy only left a few white marks on the surface, without breaking through the defenses.

Second-tier mid-grade defense is a level higher than low-grade defense.

Li Yuan raised his right hand and activated the Condensing Yuan Technique.

Fire Python Technique.

The fire serpent, empowered by the Condensing Yuan Technique, was as thick as an arm, its crimson spiritual energy surging across its body. The fire serpent, trailing a scorching wave of heat, slammed head-on into the chest of the Azure Scaled Dragon Lizard.

boom.

A patch of charred black appeared on the surface of the scales, and cracks spread an inch outward from the point of impact.

The Azure-Scaled Dragon Lizard staggered back two steps in pain, but was not seriously injured. Its tail suddenly swept horizontally, carrying heavy water-based spiritual energy, and lashed out towards the female cultivator surnamed Zhao.

The female cultivator surnamed Zhao dodged backward, her tail sweeping away dirt and creating a half-foot-deep trench in the ground.

Li Ze'an made his move from behind. A fiery red spiritual energy shot out from his palm. The aim wasn't great, but it struck the hind leg of the Azure Scaled Dragon Lizard, causing it to pause for a moment.

Taking advantage of this opening, Li Yuan unleashed three consecutive fireballs at the same spot on the Azure Scaled Dragon Lizard's chest.

The first shot widens the crack, the second shot shatters the scales, and the third shot penetrates the muscle layer beneath the scales.

The Azure-Scaled Dragon Lizard let out a deafening roar and lunged towards the water's surface.

It wanted to go back into the water.

Water is its home turf, where both its defense and attack are greatly enhanced.

The female cultivator surnamed Zhao unleashed a sharp sword aura with her short sword the instant the Azure Scaled Dragon Lizard lunged at the water's surface, slicing into its foreleg joint. Although the sword aura didn't sever the foreleg, it momentarily halted its movement.

Li Yuan raised his right hand again.

Condensing Essence Technique. Fire Python Technique.

This fire serpent was thicker and longer than the previous one, with an extreme density of spiritual energy. The fire serpent bypassed the side of the Azure Scaled Dragon Lizard and burrowed into the already blasted wound on its chest.

The fire snake exploded inside his body.

Searing flames erupted from every crevice of its scales. The Azure-Scaled Lizard's body arched violently, its limbs convulsed, and its massive form crashed to the ground.

Its tail twitched a few times, then it stopped moving.

The breath dissipated.

The four stood still, each adjusting their breathing.

The battle against the mid-grade second-tier demonic beasts was much more intense than the battle against the low-grade second-tier beasts yesterday. The Azure Scaled Flood Dragon's defense and attack were both a level higher than the Green Scaled Water Lizard. If it weren't for the combined efforts of four Foundation Establishment cultivators, a one-on-one fight would have been very difficult.

Li Ze'an walked to the body of the Azure Scaled Dragon Lizard and squatted down to examine it.

"Azure Scaled Dragon Lizard, mid-grade second tier. Its scales, bones, and beast core are all valuable."

Disassembling the materials took the better part of an hour. The scales of the Azure-Scaled Dragon Lizard were extremely hard, requiring the use of Golden Blade Technique to cut them piece by piece. The inner core was deep within the abdominal cavity, a deep blue color with a cold, water-attribute luster on its surface.

Including the Azure Scaled Water Lizard killed yesterday, the materials from the two Tier 2 Water-type monsters have piled up huge.

The distribution of spoils took place in the evening.

Li Ze'an spread the materials and beast pills on the ground and distributed them according to contribution.

Li Yuan and the female cultivator surnamed Zhao were the main damage dealers, each contributing the lion's share. The formation master and Li Ze'an were mainly responsible for support and subsequent formation setup, receiving smaller shares.

Li Yuan's spoils included: a low-grade second-tier beast core, water-type, from the Azure-Scaled Water Lizard he killed yesterday. He also received a batch of scales and bones from the Jade-Scaled Flood Dragon.

Water-based beast pills.

Second-tier, low-grade, water attribute.

Li Yuan placed the beast core in his palm and sensed it. There was no fluctuation in the attribute.

After the distribution was completed, Senior Brother Zhou, the formation master, began to set up formations in the valley.

Li Ze'an explained the Li family's plan from the side.

"This area is planned to be developed into a breeding ground for spirit beasts. The array system consists of two parts: a defensive array to prevent foreign demonic beasts from entering, and a breeding array to regulate the concentration of spiritual energy and the quality of water in the area, making it suitable for the growth of spirit beasts."

The array master surveyed the valley and, after determining the location of the array's foundation stone, began to set up the array.

The process of setting up the formation lasted for most of the day. Li Yuan observed for a while. The formation master's technique was just as meticulous as when he set up the evil-gathering formation in the market, but this time the type of formation used was different, focusing on water-based spirit gathering and defense.

During a break in the formation, the group sat around the edge of the valley to rest.

The female cultivator surnamed Zhao remained silent, cultivating alone in a slightly distant spot. Li Ze'an chatted briefly with the formation master about the details of setting up the formation, before the conversation turned to the current situation in the market.

"Fellow Daoist Li's market town is developing very quickly," the array master said. "When I last went to set up the Gathering Evil Array, there were only a dozen or so stone houses, but now I hear there are dozens of shops."

"Good location," Li Ze'an added. "The intersection of Ghost Mist Forest, Spirit Rhinoceros Valley, and Dry River Beach—this kind of geographical advantage is hard to find."

He glanced at Li Yuan.

"The Li family's layout in Lingxi Valley also requires a nearby supply point, and your market town is just right. After the ten shops are handed over, the Li family will arrange for people to be stationed there permanently."

Li Yuan nodded.

The array master buried the last array foundation stone in place, laid the conductive spirit sand, and then infused it with spiritual power to activate it.

With the defensive and nurturing formations activated simultaneously, the distribution of spiritual energy in the valley began to change, and the concentration of spiritual energy around the pool slowly increased.

"The formation is set up." The formation master dusted off his hands. "The Li family can arrange for maintenance themselves."

After packing their belongings, everyone returned along the same route.

As evening fell, the four returned to the market town.

Li Ze'an and the female cultivator surnamed Zhao bid farewell and left, and the array master also left.

Li Yuan returned to the stone house and carefully put away his spoils.

The second-tier low-grade water-type beast core was placed separately in a compartment of the storage bag.

Water system.

The condition for making the "All Rivers Flow into the Sea" effect permanent is to consume two second-tier, mutually conflicting attribute pills simultaneously. I already have the Crimson Flame Condensing Essence Pill with the fire attribute, but I don't know if this beast core will meet the requirement.