Chapter 108, Eight Antlers Deer and Thunder King Whitey

Translator: Raznick

 

Mist Province’s Southeast, Green Mist Pond.

 

Green Mist Pond was a vast swamp in the southeast of Mist Province, extending eastward even into the uninhabited wilderness beyond Jing Kingdom.

 

This place was also a treasure-hunting ground for many rogue cultivators in Mist Province, where various special herbs that were difficult to find elsewhere were grown.

 

On this day, led by Fourth Elder Zhou Jiacheng of the Zhou Clan, Zhou Chun, Zhou Jiacheng, Zhou Fei, Zhou Zhengjing, and Zhou Zhengtao, a total of eight Zhou Clan cultivators, rode Horned Goats to a grassy area on the northwestern shore of Green Mist Pond.

 

They came here with such a large retinue because of a discovery made by Zhou Jiacheng.

 

It turned out that after Zhou Jiacheng failed to break through to Foundation Establishment after taking a Foundation Establishment Pill, he felt ashamed to face the clan and the other members of the clan.

 

Therefore, he took the initiative to take on the task of finding rare birds and beasts for the Zhou Clan, long-term exploration in the mountains and lakes where demon beasts were rampant.

 

Half a month ago, he and two rogue cultivators went on an expedition to Green Mist Pond and discovered a rare demon beast, the Eight Antlers Deer, and a whole herd of them on a small island deep within Green Mist Pond.

 

The Eight Antlers Deer was an amphibious demon beast that lived on both water and land, with a huge body, much larger than an ordinary water buffalo, and four branches opening on each of its two antlers, capable of crossing mountains and seas.

 

In terms of being a spirit beast for riding, the Eight Antlers Deer was even more suitable for cultivators than the Black Scaled Steed.

 

Therefore, after discovering the herd, Zhou Jiacheng quickly found an excuse to end the expedition plan and returned to the Zhou Clan to report the matter.

 

After Zhou Daoyi learned about this, he also attached great importance to it and discussed with several elders to formulate a capture plan.

 

This was how Zhou Chun and others appeared outside the Green Mist Pond.

 

At this moment, as the members of the Zhou Clan dismounted from the Horned Goats and stood by the green pond, they gazed at the water ahead.

 

It appeared that this expanse of water seemed to have no end in sight, with plentiful reeds and other aquatic plants growing within, and in the distance, one could even see towering trees, suggesting the existence of small islands.

 

Further away, it was a hazy expanse, enveloped in mist.

 

Besides Zhou Jiacheng, everyone else was here for the first time.

 

Therefore, as everyone else scrutinized the pond, Zhou Jiacheng explained beside them, “The Green Mist Pond often has thick fog, and the islands where the Eight Antlers Deer reside are also deep within the pond. Usually, rogue cultivators who venture into the pond do so by boat.”

 

“The boat is too slow and becomes an easy target.”

 

Zhou Jiarui shook his head, rejecting the plan to enter by boat.

 

Then, he turned his gaze to Zhou Chun and said, “Zhengchun, your Silver Thunder Python should also be able to swim, right? Can you have it lead the way for us?”

 

“We can try.”

 

Zhou Chun considered for a moment before nodding slightly.

 

The original Silver Thunder Python likely was not very adept in water.

 

But now, after the Flood Dragon bloodline’s initial strengthening, its water affinity should have improved.

 

Immediately, he reached out and slapped his waist storage bag, releasing the Silver Thunder Python.

 

When the silver-white giant python, over fifteen meters long and covered with dragon scales, appeared before Zhou Chun on the grassy area, the other cultivators from the Zhou Clan present all displayed wonder in their eyes, unable to suppress expressions of envy.

 

Silver Thunder Python, an average demon beast, was still a rare thunder demon beast and possessed the Flood Dragon bloodline.

 

This level of spirit pet was something that the Zhou Clan, aside from the Grand Elder’s Fire Spirit Jackal and the Clan Leader’s Sky Cloud Python, had no equal to.

 

Even the Third Elder Zhou Daoquan’s two spirit pets, cultivated to second-grade, were inferior in comparison.

 

“Thirteenth Brother is truly blessed with good fortune. I heard that this Silver Thunder Python was originally given to him by the Mu Clan. They must be filled with regret by now.”

 

Zhou Zhengtao looked at the Silver Thunder Python with an envious expression, his words full of sourness.

 

How could he not be?

 

Back then, they both participated in the joint martial competition activity of the five major cultivating clans, together made it to the top ten in the youth group, and were rewarded by the clan together.

 

At that time, Zhou Chun did not appear to have much difference from him, other than that his cultivation was one level lower, and he was a little younger.

 

But since then, although he has made significant progress, his cultivation has steadily improved.

 

However, compared with Zhou Chun, there was undoubtedly a world of difference.

 

Now, when the Zhou Clan cultivator mentioned Zhou Chun, who didn’t praise him? Who didn’t applaud?

 

Even many Jia generation seniors also praised this junior and admired him very much.

 

This was an honor that even the former genius cultivator of the Zhou Clan, Zhou Zhengkang, did not possess.

 

If they were to say who among the Zheng generation had the most hope to reach Foundation Establishment, it would undoubtedly be Zhou Chun.

 

As for him, Zhou Zhengtao, he was just a relatively talented junior in the eyes of the seniors, far from being comparable to Zhou Chun.

 

While facing Zhou Zhengtao’s taunts, Zhou Chun merely blinked and said lightly, “Eighth Brother exaggerates; I am unworthy of the praise.”

 

Then he ignored the other person and had the Silver Thunder Python swim towards the front waters.

 

Only mediocrity was free of envy.

 

Ever since Zhou Chun was designated aide to Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi, he knew he would be envied by some peers and even seniors.

 

Therefore, over the years, he had been constantly striving to show himself, demonstrating his strength and abilities in all aspects, in order to gain the recognition of the clan’s elders and most senior.

 

Now he could be considered to have the momentum on his side, having already gained the recognition and support of the clan’s elders and many seniors, and the foundation was already solid.

 

In this situation, people like Zhou Zhengtao, even if they envied his status and treatment within the clan, would find it difficult to affect him in the slightest.

 

If someone dared to do anything excessive, they wouldn’t even need him to act; the clan rules would naturally punish them.

 

Zhou Zhengtao clearly knew this point.

 

Therefore, seeing Zhou Chun merely dismiss him with a few words and ignore him, although he felt a little displeasure in his heart, he knew to back off and immediately closed his mouth.

 

This scene, seen by the other Zhou clan members, also left each person with their own feelings.

 

Next, Zhou Chun tried it and discovered that although the Silver Thunder Python found carrying eight people somewhat strenuous, with the buoyancy of the water, it was barely manageable.

 

So the eight of them boarded the back of the Silver Thunder Python, which carried them swiftly across the water.

 

One could see a silver dart swiftly traversing the emerald green water, upon which were eight Zhou Clan cultivators of varying heights.

 

And because the Silver Thunder Python was now a superior first-grade demon beast, no foolhardy demon beast dared to attack Zhou Chun and the others on this journey.

 

The occasional treasure-hunting rogue cultivators in Green Mist Pond would occasionally glimpse this strange group of people, but they would quickly be left behind due to their slower speed.

 

With Zhou Jiacheng leading the way, the Silver Thunder Python carried its passengers for over a hundred and fifty miles through the water, finally arriving at a misty island.

 

“This is the place. There’s a large grassland north of this island, where lush, tender green sprouts grow. Those Eight Antlers deer should have made it their regular feeding ground.”

 

Upon landing on the island, the eight people observed the surrounding environment, and Zhou Jiacheng nodded, confirming that they hadn’t taken a wrong turn.

 

Hearing his words, Zhou Jiarui immediately said, “I’ll go check it out. You all rest here in the meantime.”

 

Everyone naturally had no objections.

 

Thus, they watched as Zhou Jiarui used the Cicada Forest Blending Breath to conceal his aura and headed towards the island’s north.

 

After waiting almost an hour, Zhou Jiarui returned.

 

Then, looking at the expectant faces, he said, “I saw the grassland that Seventeenth Brother mentioned. There were indeed Eight Antlers Deer hoof prints there, but there are no deer herds now, so it seems they haven’t arrived yet. We may have to wait a while.”

 

This result was also within expectation.

 

Therefore, although everyone was a little disappointed, they weren’t discouraged.

 

Immediately, they all ventured deeper into the island, hiding in a high-lying area and quietly awaiting the arrival of the Eight Antlers Deers.

 

During the wait, rain began to fall on the island. To avoid revealing their presence and alarming any potential Eight Antlers Deer, Zhou Chun and the others simply endured the downpour, all becoming drenched.

 

Fortunately, they were all cultivators, so enduring the rain wasn’t a big deal and wouldn’t cause illness.

 

After the heavy rain subsided, Zhou Jiarui, the strongest cultivator present, perked up and softly said, “They’re here!”

 

Hearing his words, everyone quickly opened their eyes and looked towards the green meadow a mile ahead.

 

Amidst the hazy mist, over a dozen enormous deer, large and small, with blue-brown fur, silently emerged from the water’s edge and landed on the island.

 

Then, a glint flashed in the leading male’s eyes. It raised its front legs high, stood up, and scanned the surroundings. It then quivered its ears and listened carefully for any sounds on the island.

 

After confirming that nothing was amiss, it let out a low bleat signaling that everything was normal and it was safe to eat.

 

Two young deer, seemingly still immature, immediately gave a few joyful replies and pounced on the green meadow ahead, devouring the juicy, fresh green grass after the rain.

 

The other Eight Antlers Deer followed suit, each choosing a patch of green grass to their liking and slowly beginning to feed.

 

Only the leading stag remained unafraid to feed, its eyes fixed on the surroundings, keeping watch for the herd.

 

Zhou Chun counted the deer; including the two fawns, there were fourteen in the herd—not a large number, but not a small number either.

 

“I’ll take down the leading deer, and I can also trap a buck. You can leave the two fawns alone for now. Who of you can capture one more of the others?”

 

On the higher ground, Zhou Jiarui surveyed the herd for a moment before sending a message to the others to inquire about their progress.

 

“I can capture three.”

 

Zhou Chun’s opening startled everyone else, and they all looked at him in surprise.

 

But there was no point in saying anything more at this point.

 

Only Zhou Jiarui nodded slightly and said, “If that’s the case, then there’s no problem. Let’s each determine our own targets.”

 

The Zhou Clan cultivators watched the Eight Antlers Deer foraging in the green grass and quickly determined their own targets.

 

Zhou Jiarui gave an order, and the eight men quietly approached the deer herd.

 

They had barely reached three hundred meters outside the herd when the stag, which had been constantly vigilant, suddenly heard the commotion and let out a warning call.

 

“Attack!”

 

Seeing that their position had been exposed, Zhou Jiarui immediately shouted an order to attack, then shot up and flew straight toward the stag.

 

At the same time, several cultivators, such as Zhou Chun and Zhou Jiacheng, summoned their flying artifacts and flew toward the deer herd, while the others used Soaring Art to sprint on the ground.

 

On the deer herd’s side, after receiving the warning from the lead stag, they also immediately stopped eating and moved closer to the lead stag.

 

As Zhou Jiarui flew into the sky, he directly knocked down the lead stag with a strike and then cast Thorn Entanglement, a superior first-grade wood mystical art, to trap a stag whose cultivation was second only to the lead stag.

 

Subsequently, Zhou Chun also arrived at the battlefield, directly releasing the Rock Turtle and Silver Thunder Python.

 

The Rock Turtle cast Earth Prison to trap a deer, then displayed Gravity to render another deer unable to move, as if burdened by a thousand pounds.

 

The Silver Thunder Python opened its mouth and released a ball of silver-white lightning, transforming into a silver lightning net that enveloped a stag, instantly knocking it unconscious, causing it to foam at the mouth and collapse to the ground.

 

Furthermore, Zhou Chun himself was also not idle.

 

He waved his hand, and the Binding Golden Hoop flew out of his sleeve, snapping around the neck of a stag that had been startled and wanted to abandon the deer herd and escape, forcibly overturning it to the ground, rendering it unable to move.

 

In this way, he alone trapped four Eight Antlers Deer.

 

Seeing such bravery, the other Zhou Clan cultivators were astonished, and also unwilling to be left behind; each displayed skill to trap and intercept their targets, preventing them from having the opportunity to escape.

 

In just under a quarter of an hour, all fourteen Eight Antlers Deer, large and small, were subdued and knocked unconscious.

 

“Good, mission accomplished. Next is safely getting them back to the clan!”

 

Zhou Jiarui looked at the dozen or so Eight Antlers Deer that had fainted on the ground, lightly clapping his hands and revealing a relaxed smile on his face.

 

Then, he praised Zhou Chun, saying, “Zhengchun, you did very well this time; no wonder the Clan Leader insisted on letting you come along.”

 

Zhou Chun simply smiled and did not respond.

 

Indeed, without the Silver Thunder Python, these people might have been able to complete the mission, but not necessarily with such ease.

 

The paralyzing effect of the mystical arts of thunder was a great weapon against Eight Antlers Deer, a demon beast whose cultivation was generally at the average first-grade.

 

After being struck by lightning, they couldn’t escape.

 

Even the leading Eight Antlers Deer, which was a superior first-grade demon beast level, only needed a few more hits to knock it out.

 

And transporting the fourteen Eight Antlers Deer was neither easy nor difficult.

 

The two fawns and a few of the weaker deer could be fed with a large dose of a beast tranquilizer to keep them unconscious and be put into the spirit beast pouch to be taken away directly.

 

However, it was not possible to do the same for the leader and the other two stags.

 

Because to keep these three stags unconscious, the dose must be greatly increased, but if the dose was too large, it was easy to damage their brains or even cause heart failure.

 

Therefore, it was decided that Zhou Jiarui would first lead the unconscious Eight Antlers Deer back to the clan, and the others would wait on the island.

 

Once he returned, they would transport the three stags using a combined water and land transportation method.

 

Zhou Jiarui designated Zhou Chun to be the temporary leader of the team, and then he went back to the clan.