Cultivation begins with ice harvesters

Chapter 33: Blue-striped Seals

When the toad spotted the departing cultivator, it was too late to catch up effectively. Although the toad was troublesome, its own rank was only mid-grade of the first rank.

After a stick of incense had burned, Tong Bingfeng chose a brand new ice area and restarted the search function of the two pairs of four large fangs in an attempt to locate the traces of other monsters.

"Hopefully, we can find a suitable demon beast this time. In a sense, this rented Azure Water Sword has yet to truly show its sharpness in battle."

During the battle with the Red Willow Leech, the Azure Water Sword only had the advantage of surprise attacks. The entanglement lasted for a short time, and there was no direct confrontation. This was not a qualified battle at all.

Big Teeth did not disappoint the cultivators' expectations. The second search was also successful. Amidst the ice-attribute spiritual energy coming from all directions, it locked onto the scent of a demon beast.

However, the distance between the cultivators and the demon beasts was not close this time. After traveling at high speed for half an hour, they finally discovered their true target.

Ahead of us was a seal, about 1.2 to 1.5 meters long and weighing 150 to 200 kilograms. It was thick, round, and spindle-shaped, more robust and shorter than an ordinary seal. Its body was thick and its muscles were taut. It had light blue sap under its skin, and its sides and back were covered with irregular sky blue/sapphire blue patterns, resembling water ripples and ice patterns, which shimmered slightly when it swam.

It has a round head, a short and wide snout, no external ears, small and closed ear openings, large and round eyes that are deep blue to almost black, strong night vision and adaptability to water pressure, long, hard, and white barbels that can sense water flow and spiritual energy fluctuations, and fine, two rows of sharp teeth that can crush the hard shell of spirit fish.

It has five toes on its flippers, thick webs, and short, bluish-black claws. It crawls slowly on land but is extremely fast in water. Its large, backward-spreading hind fin is its primary propulsion organ.

It has a short, flat, bluish-gray, hairless tail and a stable stance.

"A blue-striped seal! It's a blue-striped seal!"

After confirming the type of monster several times, Tong Bingfeng showed unprecedented excitement, and waves of uncontrollable crimson appeared on his face.

Compared to the toad that was abandoned after comprehensive comparison, the blue-striped seal in front of them was in a completely opposite state.

Blue-striped seals are quite large, and their combat strength is also quite excellent among mid-grade first-tier seals. However, they have a lot of fat inside their bodies, which can be refined into a large amount of seal spirit oil after being purified by earth fire.

These seal spirit oils have a wide range of uses. Adding a small amount during the crafting process can effectively increase the success rate of crafting. Adding them when making spirit ink can also effectively improve the quality of the spirit ink. In the rather unpopular lamp-shaped magical artifacts, they are an indispensable consumable.

In addition, the blue-striped seal's pelt also has a considerable defensive effect. Although it cannot be used as the main material for a first-tier mid-grade defensive magic weapon or magic robe, it is more than enough to refine a first-tier low-grade defensive magic weapon or magic robe.

If Tong Bingfeng could successfully hunt down the blue-striped seal, the opportunity would be a truly valuable one.

After selling it, the spirit stones obtained can be used to buy a brand new storage bag, as well as to replenish some other urgently needed spirit items.

"While blue-striped seals are equally troublesome, forcibly hunting one with only a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivation level would involve considerable risk. However, compared to the substantial spoils, it's all worthwhile. Fortune favors the bold; how can peaceful cultivation possibly break through our current predicament?"

Tong Bingfeng's eyes flashed with a resolute and unwavering light called ambition, and the Azure Water Sword on his back responded with a series of pulsations after sensing its master's intense emotional fluctuations.

In the blink of an eye, in the icy area ahead, the blue-striped seal was lazily paddling the ice. Its entire body was covered with short, deep-sea blue-gray fur, and its back and sides were crisscrossed with sky-blue spirit patterns. As it swam, the water shimmered, making it a mid-grade first-tier demon beast.

Suddenly, upon sensing the unfamiliar aura of the cultivator, the blue-striped seal instantly flew into a rage. It raised its head sharply, its large, deep blue eyes flashing with ferocity. Its massive body swung across the smooth ice surface, kicking up tiny ice shards, and charged straight at Tong Bingfeng.

Faced with such a formidable foe, Tong Bingfeng naturally dared not be careless. He lightly touched the ice surface with his feet and sidestepped. The blue-striped seal grazed his side and crashed into a protruding block of ice. The hard ice was smashed into pieces, demonstrating the brute force beneath the beast's hide.

Before it could even turn around, Tong Bingfeng had already drawn his sword—the Azure Water Sword was only three feet long, its blade gleaming with a faint aquamarine light. Though not a high-quality magic weapon, it was still sharp and solid. With a flick of his wrist, the sword moved with him, stabbing straight at the seal's soft belly.

The demonic beast reacted with lightning speed, its thick fins slamming against the ice, instantly creating a solid ice barrier in front of it. The Azure Water Sword struck the ice barrier with a muffled thud, its spiritual light flickering slightly, as if most of its force had been dissipated. Tong Bingfeng's heart tightened; he knew that a direct confrontation was not the best strategy. He immediately sheathed his sword and retreated, forming a hand seal and whispering a prayer:

"Water Blade Slash!"

A mid-grade first-tier water-based spell was unleashed. A half-foot-long, willow-leaf-thin, azure-blue blade of energy shot from his fingertip, whistling through the air, aiming straight for the densest part of the seal's neck where the spiritual patterns were most concentrated. The blue-striped seal roared in pain, its massive body swung violently, and the water blade only managed to cut a shallow gash in its fur before being blocked by its thick flesh and spiritual energy. The blood that had just seeped out was immediately encased by the surrounding ice shards, and the signs of healing were faintly visible.

As genuine indigenous life forms of the icy northern frontier, there is no doubt that monsters are more adapted to the harsh weather here.

Furthermore, in the process of generation after generation of monsters breeding and evolving, the survival of the fittest comes from changes in bloodline inheritance, allowing them to survive faster and better.

The shallow wounds inflicted by the Azure Water Sword were nothing more than minor cuts and bruises for the blue-striped seal, which is known for its thick skin and vigorous vitality.

Witnessing this scene firsthand, Tong Bingfeng remained unfazed, knowing full well that in battles between rogue cultivators, the key wasn't the power of magical artifacts, but rather patience and timing. He ceased his direct assault, instead using the ice surface to maneuver and dodge, his Azure Water Sword sometimes thrusting, sometimes slashing, constantly harassing and restraining the seal, forcing it to charge back and forth across the ice.

Each time the old force was exhausted and the new force had not yet been generated, he would make a hand seal and unleash another water blade slash, precisely hitting the same wound and gradually wearing down its defense.

The blue-striped seal was enraged, repeatedly thrashing its body against the ice, sending chunks of ice of varying sizes hurtling towards Tong Bingfeng. He stomped his feet, ducking to dodge; his rough Taoist robe was already tattered, making him look even more disheveled, and his breathing was slightly rapid, yet he refused to retreat even half a step. At the fourth level of Qi Refining, his spiritual energy was already not abundant, and this continuous depletion was causing his once plentiful dantian mana to begin to wane.

Seizing the moment when the blue-striped seal faltered after its charge, Tong Bingfeng's eyes flashed with a cold light. He poured all his remaining magic power into the Azure Water Sword. The sword's spiritual light surged, its aquamarine glow intensifying. He held back, closing in with a flick of his wrist, the sword moving with him. Using the momentum of his charge, he plunged the sword deep into the wound repeatedly slashed and abraded by the water blades, inflicting a critical and fatal blow!