Chapter 1349: Soul-Seizing Golden Bead

"Your formation flags..."

With a sweep of his hand, a pile of formation flags flew toward Bi Hongyin.

"Keep them with you. In your hands, they're far more useful than with me..."

Bi Hongyin waved her hand.

Having witnessed his mastery over formations, she knew these items would serve a greater purpose in his possession.

"Thank you!"

Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

These formation flags were indeed quite useful to him.

If his current strength could only kill a Half-Step Void Realm expert, with these, if he set them up while the opponent was off guard, even Saint Domain Seventh Layer initial or mid-stage experts would suffer greatly!

Continuing forward, they encountered a swarm of poisonous bees, and everyone became more cautious.

They walked for two consecutive hours.

During this time, they encountered several small-scale ambushes by sacred beasts, but with Zhang Xuan's concealment formation and their own formidable strength, they resolved them without much trouble.

"The Void Cauldron Gourd is in that cave ahead..."

Having ventured deep into the valley, Luo Xuanqing stopped behind a massive rock and pointed forward.

Following the valley's contours, they saw a small cave appear before them, surrounded by vines that covered the entrance, leaving only a narrow gap—barely noticeable without careful observation.

"This place... doesn't seem any different from elsewhere?"

Bi Hongyin, visiting for the first time, found it hard to believe.

The cave before them appeared utterly unremarkable, with neither dense energy nor spiritual qi gathering, no different from an ordinary crack in the rock.

Could a treasure like the Void Cauldron Gourd really be inside?

"It's precisely because there's a formation here that isolates aura that it seems so ordinary. Otherwise, the Void Cauldron Gourd would have been picked long ago!"

Luo Xuanqing said.

Everyone understood.

True. If spiritual qi gathered and energy was abundant, even without humans discovering it, the sacred beasts here would have long since rushed in to search.

With more and more master teachers and humanity growing stronger, it was clear that this was no longer the ancient era where treasures were everywhere.

"Let's go in. What are we waiting here for?"

Yun Lianhai's eyes gleamed.

As a treasure seeker, hearing that a treasure was right before him made his blood boil.

"We can't go yet. We have to wait until nightfall!"

Luo Xuanqing lowered his voice gravely.

"Why?"

Yun Lianhai was puzzled.

Everyone else was also confused. Staying here longer only increased the danger, so why wait until dark?

"This cave is home to an Infernal Azure Dragon Beast!" Luo Xuanqing transmitted.

"Infernal Azure Dragon Beast?" Everyone's pupils constricted.

"Is it formidable?"

Seeing their expressions change, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask.

His beast taming level was only six-star, and although he had read many books and knew many powerful sacred beasts, many rare ones were still unknown to him.

"The Infernal Azure Dragon Beast is a sacred beast with dragon bloodline. Once mature, it possesses strength comparable to a Saint Domain Eighth Layer expert!"

Yuan Xiao said solemnly.

"Saint Domain Eighth Layer?"

Zhang Xuan's expression turned serious.

To be honest, he had never even seen a sacred beast of that level.

If he could tame one, even going to the Zhang family to reclaim his bride would be much more certain.

"Indeed. I hope we don't disturb this creature, or else even all of us combined won't be a match!"

Luo Xuanqing exhaled.

A Saint Domain Eighth Layer sacred beast, relying on its innate talents, was naturally stronger than a Saint Domain Eighth Layer human expert. Although they were juniors from major powers with many tricks, facing one would be extremely difficult.

"A sacred beast of this level is extremely powerful. It will notice even the slightest disturbance. Waiting until nightfall shouldn't make much difference, should it?"

Zhang Xuan looked over.

Once a sacred beast reached Saint Domain Second Layer, it could develop divine sense and ignore the effects of night. For one with Saint Domain Eighth Layer strength, a pinnacle of the continent, what difference did day and night make?

"It's because of this treasure!"

Luo Xuanqing flipped his wrist, and a jade box appeared in his palm. He opened it gently, and a dazzling light flickered continuously.

It was a golden bead, forged from unknown materials, extremely bright, emitting a special radiance.

"What is this?"

Everyone was curious, and even Zhang Xuan couldn't figure it out.

"This is a [Soul-Seizing Golden Bead] I had specially made!" Luo Xuanqing nodded.

"Soul-Seizing Golden Bead?"

Everyone was puzzled.

"The Infernal Azure Dragon Beast has dragon bloodline and is naturally sensitive to shiny golden objects. So I crafted this. Once thrown, it easily attracts its attention... Inside are specially carved array patterns and formations. If it stares too long, it will be hypnotized and fall into a stupor!"

Luo Xuanqing explained. "However, during the day, sunlight is too strong, making it hard to attract it. The effect is greatest at night!"

Everyone understood.

That dragon-blooded beasts liked shiny objects was no secret. Used properly, it could indeed be effective.

Once it fell asleep, they could sneak in without much danger.

"Brother Luo, may I take a look at your Soul-Seizing Golden Bead?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"Here!" With a flick of his hand, the golden bead, shimmering with special light, flew over.

Zhang Xuan caught it and examined it.

He had to admit it was an exquisite piece of work; the maker was likely at least an eight-star artificer.

He touched it with his finger.

A book appeared.

"Soul-Seizing Golden Bead, forged by eight-star artificer Jiang Feifei..."

The page was densely covered with text.

"Does Master Teacher Zhang also study artificer items?" Seeing him examine it closely, Luo Xuanqing asked.

"I've read some books on artificery..."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

His current artificer rank was still six-star, obtained at the Hongyuan Academy.

He was proficient in general mechanisms, but here in the Holy Son Hall, it seemed somewhat lacking.

"Oh, since you have some knowledge, could you tell me what you think of this Soul-Seizing Golden Bead?" Luo Xuanqing smiled.

Since there was still time until nightfall, and this fellow was so skilled in formations, he wondered how much he knew about artificery.

"Judging by the technique, it was forged by an eight-star artificer. It is indeed exquisite, but it also has several flaws. I'm afraid it might fall short when used against a Saint Domain Eighth Layer sacred beast..."

After a moment's hesitation, Zhang Xuan said.

This item was well designed. Hypnotizing an ordinary Saint Domain Seventh Layer sacred beast wouldn't be too hard, but an Eighth Layer... wouldn't be so easy!

"I paid a huge price to have that super genius from the inner courtyard, who excels in artificery, make it. Any sacred beast with dragon bloodline will surely be attracted to it and then be affected by the array patterns inside, falling into deep sleep..."

Luo Xuanqing said confidently.

After it was made, he had specifically shown it to elders in his clan, and they confirmed it would be highly effective against Saint Domain Eighth Layer sacred beasts. Otherwise, how would he dare come?

"This array pattern contains the mysteries of the soul and does have a hypnotic effect on humans, but I'm not sure about sacred beasts. The souls of beasts are different from humans... When you commissioned it, did you mention it was to be used against an Infernal Azure Dragon Beast?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

"Well..."

Luo Xuanqing was taken aback.

The Void Cauldron Gourd was too important, so when he had it made, he indeed didn't specify what it was for, only that it was to counter an expert with Saint Domain Eighth Layer strength!

Since it could handle that level of expert, it should work on a sacred beast too, right?

"Sacred beasts have larger bodies and stronger souls than humans. Used properly, it might still hypnotize the target, but it would likely take considerable time and wouldn't be as convenient as imagined..."

Zhang Xuan continued.

"As long as it can hypnotize, time doesn't matter!" Luo Xuanqing shook his head.

If they could knock it out, an hour more or less didn't matter.

They had been preparing for the Void Cauldron Gourd for nearly half a year; a day or two more or less was nothing.

"The longer you interact with a Saint Domain Eighth Layer sacred beast, the more troublesome it becomes... I mean, if there's another way, it's best not to use this item... I'm afraid it's not reliable enough!"

Pausing, Zhang Xuan said.

A sacred beast of that level was like a bomb, ready to explode at any moment. If it could be hypnotized to sleep, fine, but what if it didn't work?

"Replace it? Can you forge a better Soul-Seizing Golden Bead?"

Luo Xuanqing looked over.

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He had read few books on artificery and could only identify flaws, not find solutions.

"Then what's the use of saying all this? I learned about using this item against dragon-blooded sacred beasts after consulting many books! Enough, no more talk. Let's try it first. If it doesn't work, we'll have to fight head-on. Even if we can't kill it, stalling it for a few hours will be enough for us to pick the Void Cauldron Gourd!"

Luo Xuanqing said.

His goal was the Void Cauldron Gourd, not necessarily to kill the Infernal Azure Dragon Beast. Even if they couldn't knock it out, as long as they could distract it for a while, it would be a success.

"Alright!"

Seeing that he had no better solution, Zhang Xuan could only shake his head.

They continued discussing the plan for a while, each assigned their tasks. Just as they were about to rest and recover their strength for the night battle, Zhang Xuan suddenly frowned. "Someone's coming..."

"Someone?"

Everyone looked puzzled.

They were all Saint Domain Seventh Layer experts and hadn't sensed anyone. How did he know?

"I left some small formations when I arrived. If anyone passes by or touches them, they'll be triggered..."

Zhang Xuan explained.

His divine sense covered a wider range than ordinary people, which he couldn't reveal, so he made up an excuse.

"Who is it?"

Hearing this, Luo Xuanqing asked.

"I don't know either. They'll be here soon. You should be able to see from behind that rock..."

Zhang Xuan pointed.

With a flicker, Luo Xuanqing moved behind the rock and focused his gaze on the valley they had come from. Indeed, he saw several figures approaching slowly.

"It's him?"

His expression darkened.

"Who?" Yuan Xiao couldn't help asking.

Clenching his fist, Luo Xuanqing narrowed his eyes. "Zhang family, Zhang Chun!"