Chapter 233 Guardian Beast, Abyssal Crocodile King
Hearing Xiao Ling's words, Zi Yan nodded seriously, with excitement flashing in her eyes: "It's finally here, don't worry, I will definitely do my best."
Immediately, Xiao Ling took the three of them and rushed towards the lake deep in the valley.
As they went deeper, the monsters on the grass gradually became scarcer and the surrounding environment became more and more peaceful.
Soon, Xiao Ling and the other two stopped a hundred meters away from the lake that they had observed from a distance. The air here seemed to be fresher, with the unique moist scent of lake water.
Gradually, Xiao Ling's pace slowed down, and finally stopped a hundred meters away from the lake. As Xiao Ling, who was leading the group, stopped, the three women behind him also stopped.
In Xiao Ling's perception, there was a powerful aura hidden in the lake. It was a magical beast with strength reaching the peak of Douhuang. Such an existence was extremely rare even in the core area of the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
Before Xiao Ling could open his mouth to remind her, Zi Yan's eyes sparkled with curiosity. She pointed to the lake with great interest and whispered, "Look, there's a little crocodile in the lake."
Xiao Ling didn't show much surprise when he heard this. Zi Yan, as the royal blood of the ancient Taixu dragon, had an extraordinary perception of magic beasts. It was reasonable for her to sense the sixth-level magic beast hidden in the lake. If she didn't notice it, it would be a real surprise.
Zi Yan's reminder made the originally relaxed atmosphere suddenly become a little more solemn. Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin stopped talking and laughing, and their expressions became serious.
Little Medical Fairy looked carefully over the lake, trying to catch any trace of underwater monsters, while Qinglin released several snake pets to surround the four of them, ready to deal with any possible conflicts at any time.
Xiao Ling touched his chin. He currently didn't know the underwater monster's attitude towards them. If it showed hostility, a battle would be unavoidable.
He whispered to everyone, "From my perception, there should be a magical beast that has reached the peak of the sixth level living in this lake. But don't worry too much. With my strength, it won't be difficult for me to deal with it."
Their eyes were all focused on the calm lake. Under the sun, the lake water sparkled, as if hiding unknown secrets. The surrounding flowers, plants and trees swayed gently in the breeze, making rustling sounds, adding a bit of vividness to this mysterious scene.
Not long after Xiao Ling finished speaking, the tranquility on the lake surface was broken by a sudden wave. In Xiao Ling's perception, a hidden power was awakening under the water surface, and it was slowly rising, as if a giant beast in the deep sea was about to reveal its true appearance.
The water surface was rippled, and then a huge black shadow loomed in the clear water. Then, there was a roar, and water splashed like a rainstorm. A huge body suddenly broke out of the water, and the leaping figure drew a magnificent arc in the air.
With a shocking noise, the huge body fell heavily on the edge of the lake, and the dust and water droplets stirred up spread out. The surrounding flowers and plants bent down before this force, and the whole place was in a mess.
Xiao Ling and the other three fixed their eyes on the newly appeared monster. This was a huge crocodile monster, its skin was a deep dark blue, like the water of the abyss, and its surface was covered with strange water patterns, which flashed a faint blue light under the sunlight.
Its eyes were like two huge sapphires, cold and deep, revealing a frighteningly sharp light. In its huge mouth, a row of sharp teeth stood like scimitars, flashing cold light, and each tooth contained the corrosive power of water, threatening any creature that dared to approach.
The sharp claws on its sturdy limbs sparkled in the sun. They were not only the beast's sharp weapon in the water, but also its strong support on land. The long tail behind it was covered with hard scales, and every swing was full of power, as if it could easily stir up huge waves and smash rocks.
After the crocodile monster landed, it opened its sapphire eyes and stared at Xiao Ling and his group. It obviously realized that Xiao Ling and his group were not ordinary people, and a trace of vigilance and thinking flashed in its eyes, but it did not launch an attack directly.
The Little Medical Fairy turned to Xiao Ling with some curiosity and asked softly, "Xiao Ling, what kind of magical beast is this? I don't think I've seen it in those books before."
Xiao Ling also stared at the demon beast. He shook his head slightly and replied, "I have never heard of such a demon beast. However, judging from its aura, it is obviously not a simple creature."
At this moment, Yao Chen's somewhat old voice reached the ears of the four people. "Tsk tsk, I didn't expect to encounter such a magical beast in a place like this."
Hearing this, Qinglin asked curiously, "Master, do you know what kind of monster this is?"
Zi Yan also echoed, "Yes, yes, old man Yao, what kind of magical beast is this."
Yao Chen chuckled first, then replied, "This is a magical beast called the 'Abyss Water Crocodile King'. It lives in the 'Nether Sea Abyss' of the Central Continent Beast Domain. Its number is very small and it is almost extinct. It usually devours various magical beasts that live in the water. Each one has the potential to break through to the eighth-level magical beast. I don't know why there is one in the magical beast mountain range of the Luoyan Empire."
"Moreover, the closed environment here is not very suitable for the survival of such a magical beast. Otherwise, its cultivation level would not have reached the peak of the sixth-level magical beast."
The four listened to Yao Chen's explanation and had a deeper understanding of the Abyss Water Crocodile King in front of them. They turned their eyes to the demon beast again, only to see it still staring at them with its huge eyes, watching them vigilantly, as if weighing whether to launch an attack.
At this time, a trace of curiosity flashed in Xiao Ling's eyes, and he asked Yao Chen his question: "Old Yao, if there is no special reason, how can a magical beast with such huge potential face extinction? Logically speaking, they should be able to occupy a place in the magical beast world."
Yao Chen chuckled upon hearing this, and replied approvingly: "You are indeed thoughtful and have discovered the key. That's right, there is indeed a reason why the Abyss Water Crocodile King is on the verge of extinction. When each Abyss Water Crocodile reaches the fifth level of cultivation, the energy in their bodies will automatically condense to create a treasure called 'Deep Turbulence Source Crystal'. When the previous generation of Abyss Water Crocodiles dies, the energy and life essence in their bodies will automatically gather into this crystal core. If a similar Abyss Water Crocodile can swallow such a crystal core, it can quickly improve its cultivation in a short period of time, and the Abyss Water Crocodile that swallowed the 'Deep Turbulence Source Crystal' will also have significantly enhanced physique and talent. However, based on my observation, judging from the body shape of this Abyss Water Crocodile King in front of me, I guess it should not have had such an opportunity."
After listening to Yao Chen's words, Xiao Ling pondered in his heart. The "Deep Turbulence Source Crystal" mentioned by Yao Chen seemed to Xiao Ling to be somewhat similar to the "Companion Amethyst Source" that the Amethyst Winged Lion King might produce. The effects of these two spiritual objects could bring great benefits to their offspring.
However, the "Deep Wave Source Crystal" will only form naturally after the death of the previous generation of Abyss Water Crocodile, while the "Companion Amethyst Source" will only appear with a certain probability when the Amethyst Winged Lion King cub is born.
At this point, the difference between the two is obvious. The Deep Turbulence Source Crystal is only formed after the death of the Abyss Water Crocodile, while the Companion Purple Crystal Source is even rarer, and only occasionally appears when the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King gives birth. In short, they each have their own characteristics.
But what made Xiao Ling even more curious was whether the "Deep Wave Source Crystal" could also be taken by practitioners to enhance themselves, just like the "Companion Purple Crystal Source".
After a slight pause, Yao Chen continued to explain with a hint of seriousness in his tone: "The reason why the number of this kind of magic beast is becoming increasingly scarce is that the Deep Turbulence Origin Crystal is not only effective for the Abyss Water Crocodile. Other magic beasts and even human practitioners can also benefit from it. Although the effect is not as good as being directly absorbed by the same kind, it can also enhance the practitioner's physique and improve their cultivation. Especially for water attribute practitioners, if they can refine this crystal core, it will greatly enhance their affinity with the water element, so it is highly sought after."
"Because of this, many powerful humans do not hesitate to go deep into dangerous places to hunt down those Abyss Water Crocodile Kings who have reached the fifth level of cultivation, just to seize the Deep Turbulence Source Crystals in their bodies. Such behavior has undoubtedly accelerated the decline of the Abyss Water Crocodile population, bringing them to the brink of extinction."
After listening to Yao Chen's explanation, Xiao Ling and his companions were filled with mixed emotions. A natural ability that should have brought prosperity to the Abyss Water Crocodile Clan turned into a disaster because of the greed of the outside world. They suffered ruthless hunting because of this ability, and their numbers were decreasing day by day, and they were on the verge of extinction.
If the Abyss Crocodile did not have such talent, perhaps it would not suffer such a fate.
However, the survival rules of Douqi Continent are so cruel. In this vast and boundless land, only the strong can control their own destiny, and the weak can only become stepping stones for the strong to grow. Suddenly, the Abyss Water Crocodile King opened its huge mouth, and a deep and powerful voice came out of its mouth, shaking the air: "Human, this is not a place you should set foot on. I suggest you leave immediately, otherwise, you will not be able to leave here alive."
As the words fell, the aura of the Abyss Water Crocodile King became stronger and stronger. Its eyes became sharp and dangerous, locking tightly on Xiao Ling and the other three, as if it could launch an all-out attack at any time.
As its aura surged out, the scene suddenly became a little tense.
……
There is actually an unknown past behind this Abyss Water Crocodile King.
Many years ago, when this Abyss Water Crocodile King had just broken through to the fifth-level magical beast, it was unfortunately attacked by a human Dou Zong, who wanted to kill it and seize the Deep Wave Source Crystal in its body.
However, relying on its strong affinity to water and the assistance of its fellow creatures, it managed to escape from the deadly chase.
Despite this, the Abyss Water Crocodile King was still seriously injured and in critical condition. Just as it was dying, fate made it meet the Turtle Spirit Venerable.
Since Turtle Spirit Venerable was a fire-attributed alchemist with strange fire in his body, he had no interest in the Deep Turtle Source Crystal in the Abyss Water Crocodile King's body. He did not attack the seriously injured monster, but instead brought it back to his residence and took good care of it.
Due to the serious injuries it had received earlier, and the fact that the Turtle Spirit Venerable discovered and treated it late, the potential of the Abyss Water Crocodile King was affected to a certain extent. This unexpected disaster prevented it from choosing to recover from its injuries and rejoin the tribe.
Instead, it stayed by the side of Reverend Turtle Spirit, becoming his loyal companion and his only pet.
After exploring the Dou Sheng ruins, Gui Ling Venerable unfortunately suffered a hidden injury that was difficult to heal. As time passed, he gradually felt his vitality slipping away. Sensing that he would not have much time left, Gui Ling Venerable chose this valley as the place to place his inheritance.
In this quiet valley, he set up layers of space barriers to seal his lifelong learning and precious treasures. He hoped that his inheritance could be obtained by the right person and his will and wisdom could be passed on.
At the same time, he also left behind the Abyss Water Crocodile King as the guardian of the inheritance to ensure that only the true heir could access this precious legacy.
The Abyss Crocodile King obeyed the last wish of the Turtle Spirit Master and became the guardian of this valley.
Therefore, after countless years, even though the resources in this area are not rich and not conducive to its cultivation, the Abyss Water Crocodile King has never left this land.
Now, facing the arrival of Xiao Ling and the other three, the Abyss Water Crocodile King's warning is both the fulfillment of his mission and an instinctive reaction to unknown threats.
The Abyss Water Crocodile King keenly sensed the auras of the four people in front of him. He was unable to gauge the strength of the man in the lead, which made him a little wary.
It guessed that the man must have used some secret method to conceal his aura. After all, having once followed a powerful Dou Zun, the Abyss Water Crocodile King's vision should not be underestimated.
Turning his gaze to the other three women, the Abyss Water Crocodile King discovered that one of the white-haired women exuded the aura of a high-level Douhuang. The aura of the other purple-haired girl was slightly weaker, but it could sense that the purple-haired girl was actually a transformed demon beast.
Finally, its eyes fell on the little girl with green hair. The little girl's strength was only at the Dou Wang level, and according to common sense, it didn't take her seriously.
However, when the little girl summoned several snake monsters, the pupils of the Abyss Water Crocodile King shrank slightly. It realized that two of them had reached the Douhuang level, and the others also had the strength of Douwang.
But the Abyss Water Crocodile King is full of confidence in his own strength. He believes that with the means he has mastered, he can defeat them even if these four people join forces.
However, it also clearly realized that the opponent was equally powerful and could not be underestimated. If a conflict really broke out, it knew it had to be handled with caution and not be careless at all.
At this time, Xiao Ling stepped forward, looked calmly at the Abyss Water Crocodile King, and said in a calm tone: "We have no ill intentions, we just want to borrow the road to pass through this lake."
If the Abyss Water Crocodile King could understand and make way, he would naturally be willing to resolve the issue peacefully. After all, he could also infer that the appearance of the Abyss Water Crocodile King here was most likely arranged by the deceased Turtle Spirit Venerable.
After all, he was about to take advantage of others and then kill the monsters left behind to guard the entrance to the ruins, which was somewhat immoral.
Moreover, Yao Chen had told him before that the Deep Turbulence Origin Crystal was of no benefit to a fire attribute practitioner like him. If he absorbed it, it might even cause a conflict in his internal fighting spirit.
However, if the Abyss Water Crocodile King insisted on being hostile, Xiao Ling would not hesitate to take action. He had already made up his mind, and if it really came to that, he would kill it without hesitation and let his companions use the Deep Blue Source Crystal to improve their physical fitness.
As soon as Xiao Ling finished speaking, he took out an old map from his space. This map was obtained from the system space. It was a map of the ruins left by the Turtle Spirit Venerable. He held the map high to ensure that the Abyss Water Crocodile King could see it clearly.
Following Xiao Ling's movements, the Abyss Water Crocodile King's sight turned to the map in his hand. Its eyes were fixed on the map, and a complex emotion flashed in its eyes. The aura emanating from the map was both familiar and unfamiliar to it, and it could naturally recognize this aura.
After observing the reaction of the Abyss Water Crocodile King, Xiao Ling became more certain of his speculation. This Abyss Water Crocodile King was most likely the guardian beast left here by the Turtle Spirit Venerable, and had been guarding this relic for a long time.
After a while, the Abyss Water Crocodile King finally withdrew his gaze from the map in Xiao Ling's hand, and began to carefully look at the human in front of him. After a moment, the Abyss Water Crocodile King slowly spoke, his voice low and powerful: "Human, you don't have the aura of that adult. You are not his descendant, but why did you come here with this relic map?"
There was a hint of doubt and vigilance in its words. Obviously, it was because it had not sensed the blood of the Turtle Spirit Master from Xiao Ling before that the Abyss Water Crocodile King initially became hostile to them and intended to expel them.
Hearing the question from the Abyss Water Crocodile King, Xiao Ling responded calmly and made up a story without changing his expression: "This map, as far as I know, has been passed down from generation to generation in our family for countless years. As for its original origin, I don't know much about it. The legend in the family only mentioned that this map and the key to open it were left by an ancestor."
His voice was calm and confident as he continued, "I only know that after I inherited the map and the related secrets, I was able to open it according to the instructions on the map. As for whether there was such a strong man in the family, I really have no way of knowing. After all, after so many generations of inheritance, the aura of the bloodline has long been undetectable, which is also reasonable."
This explanation was logical and reasonable. Xiao Ling not only demonstrated his legal inheritance of the map, but also cleverly explained why he did not have the bloodline of Master Gui Ling.
(End of this chapter)