Beast Taming Immortal Clan

Chapter 169 Zhou Chun's Conditions [Please Subscribe]

The rat infestation in Cangzhou actually has a long history.

This place is mountainous and rich in minerals, making it a paradise for gold-eating rats.

Every few years, a rat infestation occurs.

Historically, there have even been instances of a Tier 3 Rat King leading hundreds of thousands of Gold-Eating Rats to conquer a mine.

That time, over 100,000 gold-eating rats took only a few days to dig away most of the spirit gold ore from a mine.

Because that third-tier rat king was extremely sensitive to danger and was proficient in earth and metal escape techniques, even if several Golden Core cultivators personally took action, they could not harm a single hair on its head.

Later, it was only after a Nascent Soul cultivator personally intervened and used his great supernatural powers to suppress and kill the third-tier rat king and several second-tier rat demons that the rat infestation was quelled.

Compared to that major event, the appearance of the second-tier mutated Gold-Eating Rat King this time is nothing, and it is not enough to alarm a Nascent Soul cultivator.

After listening to Hu Changyou's words, Zhou Chun pondered for a moment, then looked at him and said, "Asking me to exterminate the rats is not a problem, but how should the reward be calculated?"

Upon hearing this, Hu Changyou immediately replied, "The reward is easy to arrange. As long as Fellow Daoist Zhou can kill that second-tier mutated Gold-Eating Rat King, he will receive a reward of two thousand spirit coins. The remaining Gold-Eating Rats will also be paid in the same way as the previous rat-killing tasks."

Upon hearing his answer, Zhou Chun immediately shook his head repeatedly, saying, "No, this reward is too low! That's a second-tier mutated Gold-Eating Rat King; its corpse alone is worth hundreds of spirit coins!"

"Fellow Daoist Zhou has misunderstood. If you can kill that mutated Gold-Eating Rat King, its corpse will also belong to you."

Hu Changyou quickly offered an explanation.

But Zhou Chun still shook his head and said, "That won't do either. I have no interest in doing something where the risks and rewards are not commensurate."

Before Hu Changyou could persuade him further, he continued, "Besides, Fellow Daoist Hu must already know my true identity. Two thousand spirit coins are not a huge sum for me."

Hu Changyou fell silent after hearing his words.

He had been investigating the market for the past few days and had gained a basic understanding of the Zhou family's situation.

Naturally, they knew that Zhou Chun's current identity was the deputy patriarch of the Zhou family, and a powerful figure who truly lived up to his title.

Judging from Zhou Chun's words, he was clearly dissatisfied with the compensation offered by Cangzhou and wanted higher compensation.

He could only nod and say, "Alright, then I'll go back and convey Fellow Daoist Zhou's message. Is there anything else Fellow Daoist Zhou would like me to convey?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chun pondered for a moment and then said in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist Hu may say that I am not short of spirit coins, but rather lack some spirit items that can help spirit pets advance to the second tier. If you can provide spirit items such as Earth Spirit Milk, Fifth-Rank Earth Spirit Mushroom, Earth Dragon Fruit, or related information, I will come immediately."

"Alright, I've kept your words in mind, Fellow Daoist Zhou. I'll take my leave now."

After Hu Changyou finished speaking, he gave Zhou Chun a deep look, then turned and left.

"Goodbye, Daoist Hu."

Zhou Chun replied and quickly returned to the family's mountain gate.

He wasn't in a hurry; if rat infestations were so easy to eliminate, they wouldn't be rat infestations.

Once rats start to reproduce, their numbers can be quite astonishing.

The condition that restricts the reproduction of this organism is often food.

If the Gold-Eating Rat were allowed to reproduce freely, it could easily have two litters a year.

Therefore, if the rat infestation is not eliminated in time, as the rat population grows larger, they will inevitably have to steal and consume the spirit gold ore in the mine in order to survive.

The losses at that time would be many times greater than the compensation Zhou Chun is currently demanding.

Sure enough, less than a month after Zhou Chun and Hu Changyou parted ways, Hu Changyou returned to Lanzhou and headed straight for Jiufeng Ridge.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou's request has been agreed to. As long as Fellow Daoist Zhou can eliminate the rat infestation, they will give you a bowl of Earth Spirit Stone Milk."

On Pagoda Peak, after the two met again, Hu Changyou directly explained his purpose.

"Just a bowl of Earth Spirit Stone Milk?"

Zhou Chun frowned, seemingly somewhat dissatisfied with the reward.

Seeing this, Hu Changyou explained, "One bowl is already quite a lot. Generally, a stone that produces Earth Spirit Stone Milk can only produce about one basin in a hundred years, which is less than ten bowls' worth!"

"Moreover, this item has a wide range of uses and is generally readily available, making it difficult to find easily."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chun's brows relaxed.

Then, looking at him, she said, "Fellow Daoist Hu, please tell us first, which company is the employer this time?"

Upon hearing this, Hu Changyou immediately replied, "The main source of this rat infestation is the mine owned by the Zhao family in Cangzhou. It is a valuable gold and copper mine. They spent a lot of money to acquire this mine back then, so they can't just sit by and watch those gold-eating rats ruin it."

"The Zhao family of Cangzhou, I remember they have a Golden Core cultivator, right? Even their family's Golden Core cultivator couldn't capture that mutated Gold-Eating Rat King?"

Zhou Chun's expression changed, and he couldn't help but show surprise.

Although everyone has their own area of ​​expertise, even a Golden Core cultivator isn't someone who knows everything.

However, with the abilities of a Golden Core cultivator, finding a rat's nest or splitting the earth and opening mountains would not be too easy for them.

"This is the most troublesome part. The nests of those gold-eating rats are built right on the ley line nodes near the Radiant Gold Iron Mine."

"If a Golden Core cultivator were to use earth-shattering and mountain-opening supernatural powers to destroy the rat's nest, it would inevitably damage the earth's veins. The impact on the mineral veins would then be no less than the losses caused by the rampage of the gold-eating rats."

"If it is impossible to split the earth and open the mountains, even a Purple Mansion stage cultivator who has mastered the art of earth escape would not be able to escape to the depth of the rat nests hidden two or three hundred feet underground."

With a helpless expression, Hu Changyou revealed the truth.

For a power with a Golden Core cultivator, unless they happen to encounter a situation where even high-level cultivators can't get involved, why would they be willing to set aside their pride and ask others for help?

After hearing his explanation, Zhou Chun nodded in understanding and said, "I see, I understand now."

Then, he cupped his hands to Hu Changyou and said, "Then please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist Hu. I will go and explain the situation to the clan's Supreme Elder and hand over clan affairs to the clan leader."

"Of course, Fellow Daoist Zhou may go."

Hu Changyou responded and waited in the reception hall.

After Zhou Chun met with the Supreme Elder Zhou Mingde and learned about the situation, Zhou Mingde did not object to his trip.

He simply looked at him and said, "Since the Zhao family of Cangzhou is a Golden Core clan, I imagine you won't encounter any trouble on this trip. But just in case, you should still bring the Fire God Jackal for protection!"

"Yes, this junior thanks the Supreme Elder for his kindness."

Zhou Chun thanked him and then settled the matter.

Then he and Hu Changyou headed to Cangzhou.

Because he needed to take care of Hu Changyou on the way, Zhou Chun had to slow down and fly with him, stopping frequently to rest and meditate in several places where cultivators gathered to recover their magical power.

The two flew for five or six days before finally arriving in Cangzhou.

Following Hu Changyou's lead, Zhou Chun flew for more than a day within Cangzhou before finally arriving at the location of the Zhao family's Yaojin Iron Mine.

The two then quickly met the Purple Mansion cultivator from the Zhao family who was in charge of dealing with the rat infestation.

"Senior Zhao, I have already invited Fellow Daoist Zhou Zhengchun."

Inside a stone house, Hu Changyou entered and immediately bowed to an elderly man in blue sitting at the head of the table, introducing Zhou Chun, who was sitting beside him, as his identity.

Then he extended his hand and introduced Zhou Chun, saying, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, this is Senior Zhao Deyan of the Zhao family!"

Upon seeing this, Zhou Chun immediately bowed to the old man in blue and said, "Junior Zhou Zhengchun greets Senior Zhao."

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, you're too kind. You two must be tired from your journey. Please sit down and have some tea."

The old man in blue waved his hand, gesturing for the two to sit down.

"Thank you, senior."

Hu Changyou and Zhou Chun thanked them again before sitting down at the lower end of the table.

After the two politely took a sip of tea, the old man in blue turned to Zhou Chun and said, "Fellow Daoist Hu should have already explained the situation to Fellow Daoist Zhou. How confident are you in your ability to eliminate this rat infestation?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chun immediately replied, "If the mutated Gold-Eating Rat King's cultivation is truly only at the second-tier low level, I would be about 60-70% confident. If its cultivation is higher, then I would only be about 20-30% confident."

Under the same cultivation level, no matter how strong the mutated Gold-Eating Rat King is, it cannot withstand a few moves from Bai Bai, and it will be difficult to escape.

However, if its cultivation level is higher, its earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a technique that allows it to escape, and Bai Bai might not be able to stop it in time.)

Therefore, Zhou Chun didn't dare to speak too definitively.

But his answer already surprised Zhao Deyan quite a bit.

He quickly replied, "The mutated Gold-Eating Rat King is a second-tier low-grade demonic beast; I can vouch for that."

After saying that, he personally promised, "If Fellow Daoist Zhou can truly kill this fiend, I will absolutely not shortchange you a single drop of the bowl of Earth Spirit Milk I promised you!"

"I'll do my best!"

Zhou Chun nodded, but still didn't dare to make a definitive statement.

After a short rest, Zhou Chun followed a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Zhao family to the location of the Gold-Eating Rat's nest.

Before he arrived, the Zhao family had already found the rat trail leading to the nest, but they couldn't destroy it through the narrow trail.

"This is it. We've had several cultivators who have tamed demonic beasts try it out before, including one fellow Daoist who tamed a second-tier low-grade demonic fox."

"But even that blue-eyed fire fox was injured by the mutated gold-devouring rat king after it went down, and almost didn't make it back."

In front of a rat hole nearly two feet in diameter, the Zhao family cultivator who was leading the way pointed to the rat hole and explained the situation to Zhou Chun.

Zhou Chun was not surprised at all when he heard this.

Although the Gold-Eating Rat is weak, such a weak monster can usually master some amazing magic if it can advance to the second tier.

Moreover, it was a mutated gold-devouring rat.

As a mutated monster, even its original natural enemies would mostly be no match for it.

If the Silver Lightning Python hadn't been a powerful dragon-born demon beast, and if Zhou Chun still had the trump card "Ancestral Revival" in hand, he wouldn't dare say that it could definitely defeat that mutated Gold-Eating Rat.

Especially since the battlefield is underground.

"Thank you for your information, Fellow Daoist Zhao. I will make sure my spirit pet is careful."

He responded with a word, then immediately reached into his storage pouch and released the Silver Lightning Python.

The Zhao family cultivator wasn't surprised to see him release a second-tier demonic snake.

After all, a cultivator who could be specially invited by their own Purple Mansion stage elders must have some skills.

But when he saw the Silver Lightning Python go inside, Zhou Chun was surprised as he prepared to crawl into the rat hole.

He hurriedly called out, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, what are you doing?"

"What do you mean by that, Fellow Daoist Zhao? I, Zhou, am naturally going down to slay the mutated Gold-Eating Rat King!"

Zhou Chun glanced at the other person with surprise, then answered the question as if it were a matter of course.

Upon hearing this, the Zhao family cultivator frowned and said with slight anger, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, do you realize the danger of continuing like this? There's not even enough space for you to stand up. If you're attacked by a swarm of rats, you won't be able to fight back at all, and you might even be cut off from your escape route and die inside!"

If it were feasible to enter through the rat hole and kill the mutated Gold-Eating Rat King, the Zhao family would have sent people to do it long ago.

The problem is that if the person who goes down has too high a cultivation level, the mutated Gold-Eating Rat King will immediately escape.

Those who go down are of low cultivation level, and once their retreat is cut off, they are almost certain to die.

Zhou Chun sent his spirit pet down to try it out, and of course, there was no problem.

Even if something serious happens, it's just the death of a spirit pet, and the Zhao family will only compensate him with some spirit coins at most.

However, if he were to go down there in person and die, it would be unreasonable for the Zhao family not to pay a large sum of compensation, given that he was invited by them.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chun understood what he meant.

He immediately looked at him and said, "If Fellow Daoist Zhao is worried, you can go and explain the situation to Senior Zhao Deyan. I, Zhou, am willing to sign a life-or-death waiver. Once I go down there, my life or death will have nothing to do with the Zhao family!"

Upon hearing this, the Zhao family cultivator was also surprised by his boldness.

After giving him a deep look, he nodded and said, "Alright, since Fellow Daoist Zhou has said so, then please wait a moment, I, Zhao, will go and consult the elders!"

Then I went to report the situation.

A short while later, Zhao Deyan arrived at the scene in person.

Upon arriving at the scene, Zhao Deyan first scanned the Silver Lightning Python Bai Bai with his divine sense, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes, as if he had recognized Bai Bai's background.

He then stared intently at Zhou Chun and said, "Since Fellow Daoist Zhou comes from a family of beast tamers, I imagine you understand the dangers of facing the underground rat swarm alone better than I do!"

"In that case, I, Zhao, will prepare a feast at my residence and await Fellow Daoist Zhou's good news!"

However, there was no mention whatsoever of Zhou Chun signing a waiver of life or death.

This wasn't because he believed Zhou Chun would definitely be safe.

Rather, he was confident that even if Zhou Chun didn't come back, his words would give the Zhou family an explanation, and he wasn't afraid that the Zhou family would try to extort the Zhao family.

This is the confidence of the Zhao family as a family specializing in Golden Core cultivation!

"This junior will certainly live up to Senior Zhao's expectations."

Zhou Chun clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and then, under Zhao Deyan's watchful gaze, he followed the silver lightning python Bai Bai into the rat hole.

Second update today!

(End of this chapter)