The Immortal Clan begins with deductive intelligence.

In late spring, willow catkins, like snowflakes, dance in the air.

On Cangwu Island, the hemostatic grass in the ten acres of medicinal fields has already grown to about half a foot tall, with thick leaves.

A gentle breeze carries the fragrance of herbs, and it's almost harvest time.

Inside the quiet room, the aroma of medicine mingled with the smell of burning.

The fire in the bronze cauldron gradually died down.

"The medicinal power of this Five Organs Forging Essence Soup has reached its limit; using it further would only be a waste of spiritual materials."

Xu Changqing looked down at himself, his newly grown skin gleaming with a subtle sheen.

With a slight clench of the fist, a faint sound of a taut bowstring could be heard emanating from beneath the skin.

"It's a pity that there is no orthodox body cultivation lineage in the clan. I wonder if this body has entered the body refinement realm."

He only knew that his current body was far more resilient than before, and in terms of blood and qi alone, it was probably no less powerful than those mid-stage first-order water demons.

"That's enough. It's enough to withstand a few more backlashes from the palm lightning."

Xu Changqing did not dwell on this. He got up and dressed, and with every move he made, a natural and unassuming strength was revealed.

Just then, a clear and melodious hum came from the depths of his mind.

Xu Changqing's mind stirred slightly, and the Tongtian Mirror, which had been silent for ten days, finally stirred.

[The simulation is complete]

[Details of the opportunity: In the western market of Liuyun Immortal City, at midnight on the third day of the third lunar month, a one-armed old cultivator was selling miscellaneous items unearthed from an ancient battlefield. Among them was a 'Blood Fiend Bead'.]

This bead is a rare and unorthodox treasure, capable of devouring surrounding blood and evil energy, condensing it into a protective blood aura.

"Blood Fiend Bead, protective blood energy..."

When heading to the Black Wind Pass, a place of certain death, the most feared thing is not the powerful demon kings, but the endless tide of low-level demons.

Human strength has its limits; once spiritual energy is exhausted, even a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator will perish on the spot.

This Blood Fiend Pearl, nourished by battle and transformed into a fierce force by blood, is least afraid of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Xu Changqing chuckled, feeling that his chances of winning this trip had increased even further.

He pushed open the door and went straight to the backyard of the ancestral hall, his gaze falling on the purple-veined golden peach tree.

After bearing that spiritual fruit several dozen days ago, the peach tree's essence was depleted, and its branches and leaves began to show signs of withering and turning yellow.

However, thanks to the blood mud that had been stored up before, the peach tree has regained some vitality, but the blood mud is almost exhausted again.

"This can't go on forever."

Xu Changqing shook his head and reached out to rub the dry, cracked soil.

In a few days, it will be time to leave the island, and we need to prepare enough food for this money tree before then.

"Going out to hunt aquatic beasts one by one is too inefficient."

His gaze passed over the peach tree and landed on the island-protecting array in the front yard, where wisps of smoke were billowing. A bold idea suddenly arose in his mind.

Xu Changqing turned around in the front hall and called out in a deep voice, "Uncle Dayou."

A moment later, Xu Dayou strode into the hall. Seeing Xu Changqing's cold and stern expression, his heart tightened: "Clan leader, are we about to depart?"

"A few more days."

Xu Changqing walked into the hall and his gaze fell on Xu Dayou.

"Uncle Dayou, after I leave the island, the safety of Cangwu Island will depend entirely on you. The 'Eight Gates Golden Lock Cloud and Smoke Formation' and the Xuanjia Warriors are good, but without actual combat, they are ultimately just theoretical."

Upon hearing this, Xu Dayou's white beard twitched: "What does the clan leader mean...?"

"I'm going to unleash a beast tide on Cangwu Island."

"A beast...a beast tide?!"

Xu Dayou was so frightened that he waved his hands repeatedly.

"Chieftain, you mustn't! Once that demonic beast goes berserk, it will swarm and overwhelm us. What if our great formation can't hold it off..."

"It's alright, it's just a small beast tide, mostly low-grade first-tier water beasts."

Xu Changqing raised his hand and pressed down lightly, stopping the old man's panic.

"With me in the shadows to cover you, you'll be safe. You just need to hold the array plate, manipulate the array to annihilate them, and then order your clansmen to cooperate with the Xuanjia warriors to clean up any remaining fish."

This battle was not only to collect the flesh and blood of demonic beasts, but also to test the family's defenses.

If it is feasible, then after Xu Changqing leaves, the matter of the blood mud from the peach tree will be left to Xu Dayou.

"Understood, I'll go and gather the able-bodied men of the clan right away!"

......

Half an hour later, clouds and mist suddenly rose above Cangwu Island.

The once clear sky was shrouded in a thick layer of white fog, making the scenery on the island appear and disappear, and a sense of dread quietly permeated the fog.

The Xu family cultivators were all in place. Although they were apprehensive, they dared not disobey the clan leader's strict orders.

Xu Changqing stood alone on the pier outside the island, waves lapping against the wooden stakes beneath his feet.

He took a sealed earthenware jar from his storage bag and peeled off the seal.

An extremely strong, strangely sweet smell of blood wafted along the river breeze.

This is a specially concocted "Demon-Attracting Incense" made from the fermented internal organs of several high-level demon beasts, supplemented with the juice of a plant called "Drunken Fish Grass," which has a deadly allure for aquatic demon beasts.

Xu Changqing tilted the earthenware jar, and the dark red, viscous liquid dripped into the river water through the gaps in the pier.

"Splash—"

Countless fish and shrimp leaped out of the water, vying for the bloody food that had entered the water.

But this is just an appetizer.

As the exotic fragrance spread rapidly along the water, roars of beasts and the sound of water breaking began to echo from the distant reeds.

One mile, three miles...

In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The once calm river surface instantly boiled over, as red-eyed snakes, iron-backed alligator turtles, and even scaly blue pythons surged in from all directions, drawn by the bloody scent that drove them into a frenzy.

Xu Changqing remained calm, his eyes slightly narrowed as he watched the rapidly approaching water lines in the distance.

"Charge!"

At the main point of the formation, Xu Dayou was operating the formation plate in his hand.

"Boom!"

The thin layer of white smoke instantly surged and rolled like a raging tide, transforming into countless visible blades of energy.

The red-chained snake, which was at the forefront, plunged into the mist and let out a shrill scream as its body was twisted into a bloody mess.

The horde of demonic beasts behind them, however, were driven mad by the alluring incense and, utterly fearless, charged into the formation, stepping over the corpses of their own kind.

In an instant, the area around Cangwu Island was filled with flying blood and flesh, and screams shook the heavens.

Xu Changqing stood with his hands behind his back on the eaves of the building, observing coldly.

"Uncle Dayou, let one in."

Xu Dayou did as instructed and removed one corner of the defense.

A first-tier mid-grade "Black Scale Giant Lizard" with bloodlust seized the opportunity to break through the clouds and smoke, dragging its wounded body and roaring as it charged ashore.

It had barely landed and hadn't even had a chance to wreak havoc.

"Thump!"

A deep, muffled thud was heard, and the earth trembled slightly.

A tall, dark shadow descended from the sky, blocking its path like an iron tower.

It was that armored warrior.

It was expressionless, holding its heavy sword high, and without any fancy moves, it brought it down on the head.

"Pfft!"

The black-scaled giant lizard was cleaved in two from head to tail by this powerful sword strike, its foul-smelling internal organs spilling onto the ground.

Without pausing, the armored warrior swept his sword across, severing another water wolf that was attempting to ambush him in half.

Although the movements were somewhat stiff, the strength was terrifying, and there was no fear of pain.

No matter how much the low-level demonic beasts tore at its crimson copper armor, they could only leave white marks.

Xu Changqing nodded.

Although this puppet is not as agile as a living person, its brute force is more than enough to defend the house.

This small beast tide lasted for a full hour, until Xu Changqing's jar of demon-attracting incense was completely exhausted and the smell of blood was diluted by the river water, and the mindless beasts gradually dispersed.

At this time, the area around Cangwu Island was littered with corpses.

Xu Dayou withdrew the killing formation, and the clouds and mist dissipated.

"Stop standing there, everyone get out and get to work."

He gave instructions to the tribesmen behind him who were already staring in disbelief.

"Keep the skin and bones intact, cut off the meat and marinate it, and collect all the essence and blood; don't waste a single drop."

As if waking from a dream, everyone's faces lit up with joy. They grabbed their boning knives and buckets and waded into the muddy beach.

How could a man who makes a living by the edge of this great marshland possibly faint at the sight of blood?

The group's technique was extremely skillful. In no time, the blades flashed up and down, peeling off the scales and armor remaining in the minced meat piece by piece, removing bones and skin with fluid movements.

Jars of dark red, viscous demonic blood were carefully sealed and piled up on one side of the pier.

"The formation was strict and the warriors were fierce and brave."

Xu Changqing looked down at the enthusiastic crowd below, his expression one of relief.

With this, all worries are gone, and everything is fine.