Laying Down Traps

I have added this story to my Patreon. You can support me and read the latest chapters there. It also fed and motivate me to write more chapters!

Link: Patreon.com/NineClouds69

--- Chapter 66 ---

After getting spirit rings for Han Yue, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling, the group continued their journey to the Burning Mountain Range. Nevertheless, the night came, so they set camp to rest before continuing their journey.

Everyone sat around a bonfire, and Han Yuan suddenly pulled three spirit bones from his storage tool. Surprisingly, he actually wanted to give them away.

"Auntie Xuelan, this left arm spirit bone from a 35,000-year-old Diamond Clam is for you. It will enhance your defensive and survival ability in the upcoming hunting of 100,000-year-old spirit beasts." Han Yuan passed the purple-colored bone to Ye Xualan.

Han Yuan moved to Dugu Xin and handed him a silky blue-colored spirit bone, "Uncle Xin, this left arm spirit bone from a 27,000-year-old Left Slasher King Crab is for you."

"Although the age is a bit lower than Auntie Xuelan's spirit bone, its quality is actually higher because Left Slasher King Crab is the king of its kind, which would also cover your weakness of not having strong-attacking ability." 

Han Yuan gave a white-colored spirit bone with countless blue marks all over it to Dugu Bo, "Lastly, Senior Dugu, this right arm spirit bone from the 45,000-year-old Tyrant Dragon is for you. I've infused Immortal Pill with dragon's essence into this spirit bone, making it compatible with your Jade Phosphorus Snake Emperor." 

"This is the first preparation for your martial soul's evolution." 

"And, don't bother to reject. The next fight is going to be tougher than the shore fight." Han Yuan smiled at the three of them. 

"I will reluctantly accept it..." Dugu Xin replied first. Even then, he had a smile on his face.

"Thank you, Xiao Yuan." Ye Xuelan replied gratefully, caressing the spirit bone like a priceless treasure.

"Haha, following the Young Master is right, after all." Dugu Bo laughed and began absorbing the spirit bone without hesitation. He could serve Han Yuan better if he got stronger.

"What about me? What about my spirit bones?" Liu Erlong raised her voice indignantly. 

Han Yuan rolled his eyes, "A 100,000-year-old spirit beast will always drop a spirit bone. On top of that, a pair of a spirit bone and a spirit ring from a 100,000-year-old spirit beast will provide four spirit skills."

"That's more spirit skills than these spirit bones could give you." 

Han Yuan calmly added, "Aside from the Tyrant Dragon's spirit bone I gave to Senior Dugu, the other spirit bones I have in hand are from the oceanic spirit beast, which is yin and water-type in attribute. It's not compatible with your Magma Armored Dragon." 

"Is that so..." Liu Erlong mumbled. "Wait a minute, you don't want the spirit bone from the 100,000-year-old Dragon-Blooded Crimson Pangolin?" 

Han Yuan smiled helplessly, "Remember my Purple Silver Grass?" 

"Ah, right, compatibility." Liu Erlong nodded slowly.

Han Yuan shook his head gently and glanced at Han Yue, Dugu Yan, and Ye Ling, "Sisters, you won't be joining us tomorrow in the fight, so I want you to stay far away." 

"However, keep enough distance for us to react if there is an unexpected situation." 

"We understand, Xiao Yuan." Han Yue replied seriously. Although Han Yue has broken into Spirit Ancestor, she knows her strength is nowhere near enough to face a 100,000-year-old spirit beast.

She's not like a 'certain' protagonist who bravely chased after a 100,000-year-old spirit beast, knowing he had no chance to defeat nor kill it.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling similarly nodded, "Yeah, we will stay away from the fight. Fighting many 10,000-year-old spirit beasts today made us realize Spirit Elder is just the beginning of cultivation." 

"We can't handle that... More so, the 100,000-year-old spirit beasts."

"Hmph, that's just courting death." Dugu Yan added with crossed arms. 

"Yeah..." Ye Lingling lamented. After all, she's only a support-system spirit master.

Han Yuan clapped his hand, "Well, go to sleep, everyone. Tomorrow is going to be a long day." 

Ye Xuelan, Dugu Xin, and Dugu Bo meditated to absorb the spirit bones, and Han Yuan and others were ready to rest. Of course, Han Yuan and Liu Erlong are always half-asleep and alert because one can never be too safe in the wilderness.

...

...

The next day, Dugu Bo led them to the Burning Mountain Range. Everyone is in their top condition, ready to face the 100,000-year-old spirit beast.

They arrived at the foot of Burning Mountain Range and felt the extreme heat immediately. The humidity of this place is alarming.

"What an uncomfortable place to live in..." Liu Erlong commented. Yes, even someone with the 'Magma Armored Dragon' felt uncomfortable staying in the Burning Mountain Range.

Thankfully, everyone here has built up immunity to ice and fire thanks to Han Yuan's Immortal Pills. They have their interpretation of Ice and Fire Alchemy Body.

Han Yuan blew the air and watched the vapor roll, "Hmm, Senior Dugu, it seems we are going to use Plan B."

"Plan B? That's fine, too." Dugu Bo nodded in understanding.

Their initial plan was to surround the Dragon-Blooded Crimson Pangolin's nest with poison miasma, possibly weakening it to a bearable level. But the humidity of Burning Mountain Range won't allow that. 

So, their next-best plan is to lure the Dragon-Blooded Crimson Pangolin out and let Dugu Bo launch one decisive attack with a poison concocted by Sky Poison Pearl, which will render the spirit beast weak enough for even Spirit Sage to kill it.

Dugu Bo is not good at frontal assault as he focuses more on poison. So, he couldn't kill a 100,000-year-old super spirit beast with a pure dragon bloodline himself. That's just a pipe dream.

Even Dugu Bo admitted his weakness. He's weak one-on-one, but he could kill a 'massive' amount of enemies with his poison.

That's why not many people dare to offend Dugu Bo. They have to think twice about making this notorious poisoner their enemy.

"Okay, let's set a trap first." Han Yuan said with a wicked smile.

"Dean, follow me." 

"As for the Uncle and Auntie, you must protect others first." 

The group split into three as Han Yuan led Liu Erlong to the western part of the Burning Mountain Range, which connected to the seashore with a strong-waved estuary.

Han Yuan looked around before choosing a valley between two mountains and letting the blue silver grass grow to the extreme and weaken the soil and rock. He also set several poison arrays, starting from neurotoxin and many others on the path to the valley.

"Top the valley with molten rocks. Make sure it is strong but thin enough for a heavy thing to break it." Han Yuan ordered Liu Erlong. 

"Okay." Liu Erlong nodded, possessing her Magma Armored Dragon and covering the area with molten rocks. She disguised the traps and valley, making it look like a level ground.

Han Yuan tested the ground and tapped it firmly with his foot, smiling as if it was perfect. "Good, let's regroup and wait for Senior Dugu's signal." 

Han Yuan and Liu Erlong returned to the group and saw Dugu Xin and Ye Xuelan leading the girls to the safe mountain peak. They constructed an observing base out of a cave.

"Here is the plan. When Senior Dugu successfully lured the spirit beast out and weakened it with poison, Dean, Uncle, Auntie, and I will reveal ourselves and escort to the designated trap hole." 

"Pangolins have poor vision but strong smelling sense." 

"Uncle Dugu, you will be the first to get chased because your scent is identical to Senior Dugu."

"Maintain your speed, and don't ever look back!" 

"Then, Dean, you will run alongside Uncle Xin when the target reaches the second mountain peak." 

"Lastly, Auntie Xuelan and I will wait at the third mountain peak and trigger the traps." 

"This..." Dugu Xin raised his hand. "I don't think I can outrun a 100,000-year-old spirit beast." 

Han Yuan smiled, "Don't worry, Uncle. While the Dragon-Blooded Crimson Pangolin is a 100,000-year-old spirit beast, its main ability is strength, defense, earth, and fire." 

"Its major weakness is speed." 

"You can outrun it with proper usage of Flash Step." 

"Flash Step? Then, it's manageable." Although Dugu Xin only trained this movement skill for a month, he has mastered it enough to be faster than some agility-system spirit masters.

"When the target falls to the last trap, the dean will deal a last attack with my killing poison tool." Han Yuan finished his explanation.

Liu Erlong excitedly brought out a black tube-shaped object from her storage tool, "Hehe, I can finally use this thing!" 

...