Daily Intelligence: From Miner to Dao Ancestor of Alchemy and Talismans

The cultivation world is never short of unexpected events, so even with intelligence to back you up, you must never let your guard down.

He didn't encounter many people on the road, only a few rogue cultivators who had gotten up early to gather herbs in the mountains. They glanced at him from afar and then hurried away.

When we arrived at Black Wind Valley, it was just dawn.

The morning mist hadn't yet dissipated, and the entire valley was shrouded in a white fog, with visibility less than three meters. The wind whistled through the trees, making a mournful sound like ghostly wails, sending chills down one's spine.

Xu Yuan did not go directly to the Zhao family's medicinal herb field. Instead, he took a long detour and climbed up the mountain via a hidden path on the west side of the valley entrance, quietly reaching the outer edge of the dense forest west of the medicinal herb field.

The intelligence report said that three cultivators would be lying in ambush here.

He crouched behind a thick tree, held his breath, and carefully observed for the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn.

The forest wasn't large, only a few dozen feet in circumference. The trees were dense, the bushes were thick, and the ground was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves and dead branches, obstructing visibility. It was indeed an excellent spot for an ambush.

The intelligence only stated that the Jiexiu would set up an ambush here, but didn't specify when they would arrive. If they arrived before he set the trap, it wouldn't be him fishing, but rather him offering himself up as bait.

Xu Yuan thought for a moment, then took out an ordinary blade talisman from his pocket, stuck it to his palm, and then crouched down and silently walked around the edge of the dense forest.

no one.

The dense forest was quiet, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves. There was no trace of any cultivators or any signs of human intervention.

He waited for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, making sure the surroundings were absolutely safe, before silently slipping into the dense forest like a raccoon.

Setting the trap took him a full hour.

Xu Yuan chose a relatively open clearing in the middle of the dense forest. It was surrounded by huge trees that could be embraced by a man, and thick bushes. There were only two small paths worn into the ground leading to and from the clearing.

If the cultivators were to set up an ambush, they would definitely choose this open space. From here, they could clearly see the movements in the direction of the spirit herb field, and also perfectly conceal themselves. When the cultivators passed by, they could instantly rush out and block all escape routes.

What Xu Yuan wanted to do was turn this ambush site they had chosen into their grave.

He first affixed three trapping talismans to the backs of the three large trees, covering them completely with withered branches and fallen leaves. He then connected the spiritual energy nodes of the three talismans together with extremely fine spiritual silkworm silk, forming a stable triangle that perfectly enveloped the entire open space.

He also tampered with the triggering method.

Using spirit silkworm silk, three almost invisible fine lines were laid out on the open ground. One end of each line was firmly tied to the trapping talisman. As soon as someone stepped on the line, the three trapping talismans would activate simultaneously, instantly forming an indestructible spiritual energy barrier that would trap the person inside.

This technique was something he learned from an old rogue monk in the market years ago. It was a cheap trick, but it was incredibly effective.

With the trap set up, the next move is the killing blow.

Xu Yuan buried two Explosive Flame Talismans in each of the four corners of the open space, a total of eight talismans, strung together in pairs with a connecting talisman. As long as he crushed the main connecting talisman in his hand, all eight Explosive Flame Talismans would explode simultaneously, instantly turning an area within a radius of three zhang into a sea of ​​fire.

He also had four high-quality Blazing Flame Talismans, which he didn't bury but kept close to his body.

This is the last card we have.

If the trapping formation fails to hold them back, and ordinary Explosive Flame Talismans cannot kill them, these four premium Explosive Flame Talismans will personally send them on their way.

By the time all the traps were laid, it was already broad daylight, and most of the morning mist had dissipated.

Xu Yuan silently retreated to the edge of the dense forest, found the largest tree with the most lush foliage, and climbed up using both hands and feet, hiding deep within the canopy.

The view from here is expansive, allowing one to see clearly the movement across the entire open space, and with the branches and leaves providing cover, those below would never be able to spot him.

Next, all we have to do is wait.

Xu Yuan leaned against the thick tree trunk, held his breath, and suppressed his aura, remaining motionless like a stone growing on the tree.

He has plenty of patience.

We've endured ten years, what's a few hours?

Three poles in the sun.

Finally, people arrived at the spirit herb field. Two guards from the Zhao family, both at the third level of Qi Refining, rode their spirit beasts, circled the field, counted the number of spirit herbs, wrote a note, stuck it on the wooden stake at the edge of the field, and then rode away on their spirit beasts.

Xu Yuan could see it clearly from the tree.

After the two guards left, the medicinal herb field was completely empty, with not even a farmer guarding it.

About half an hour later, rustling sounds finally came from deep within the dense forest.

coming.

Xu Yuan's body tensed instantly, he held his breath, and his whole body was like a fully drawn bow, his fingertips already gripping the main talisman in his arms.

He peered down through the gaps in the leaves.

Three figures emerged from the depths of the dense forest.

The leader was a bald, burly man, eight feet tall, with broad shoulders and a thick waist. He wore a short coat of animal skins and carried a large ghost-headed sword on his back. His spiritual energy was powerful, indicating that he was at the fifth level of Qi Refining.

Following behind him were a tall, thin man holding a long sword and a short, stout man carrying a copper hammer; both were at the fourth level of Qi Refining.

The three men walked slowly and very quietly, making almost no sound. Their eyes constantly scanned their surroundings, showing a high level of vigilance. They were clearly seasoned veterans who had fought for many years.

Xu Yuan, watching from the tree, felt a sinking feeling in his heart.

Three were at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, one at the fifth level, and two at the fourth level. They were fully armed and experienced.

If he hadn't laid a trap beforehand, and had run into it head-on, he wouldn't have lasted a single breath and would have certainly died.

But now, he set the trap, and they are the prey.

The bald, burly man walked to the edge of the dense forest, stopped, glanced in the direction of the medicinal herb field, and spat.

"Damn it, that old bastard Li Qinghe, didn't he say that kid would come early this morning? It's almost noon and we haven't seen a single person." His voice was rough and hoarse, carrying a fierce aura.

The tall, thin man frowned. "Brother, that old man isn't playing a trick on us, is he?"

"Trying to fool us? He wouldn't dare." The bald, burly man sneered, patting the ghost-headed knife on his back. "We still have the evidence that he embezzled the Zhao family's spirit stones. Besides, killing a newly promoted Qi Refining Level 4 cultivator for twenty spirit stones, plus taking his belongings, is a rare find."

The short, fat man chuckled twice, his face full of greed: "Big brother is right. After we kill that brat, all the spirit stones and pills on him are ours. As for that old bastard Li Qinghe, we'll take his twenty spirit stones."

"Shut up." The bald, burly man glared at him, his eyes sinister. "Keep your mouth shut when you're doing something. That's the rule. Find a place to hide first, so that kid doesn't come and find out something's wrong."

The three people exchanged a glance and, without prior arrangement, walked towards the clearing in the middle of the dense forest.

Just as Xu Yuan predicted, it was exactly the same.

The tall, thin man walked in front, followed by the short, fat man, while the bald, burly man lagged slightly behind, bringing up the rear.

The moment the tall, thin man stepped into the open space.

A soft click.

His foot landed precisely on the silkworm threads laid out by Xu Yuan.

hum! ! !

The three trapping talismans were activated simultaneously.