The Lingxi River is revered as the mother river of Lingxi State.
Originating from the Snowfield Plateau at the northernmost tip of Lingxi State, the Lingxi River flows southward, almost traversing the entire Lingxi State, nourishing the billions of creatures in the state, thus naming the region after it as Lingxi State.
Within Lingxi State, many powerful sects, cultivation families, and even the Dynasty Imperial Capital have established settlements along its banks, creating prosperity and wealth on both sides of the Lingxi River.
It's worth mentioning that Lingxi State belongs to the Water and Wood Continent, and the territory is rich in water and wood veins, thus nurturing numerous vast forests and plains, with countless lakes and rivers scattered throughout.
The largest primitive forest within Lingxi State, known as the Southern Wilderness, is actually a product of these two water and wood veins.
It is rich in Jia Wood Crystal and Ren Water Crystal, rare heavenly and earthly treasures that can aid Foundation Establishment Cultivators in breaking through to the Crystallization Stage.
A group of people, weather-beaten and weary, crossed the turbulent tributary of the Lingxi River, then continued to travel more than one hundred ninety miles eastward over the next two days, resting a few times along the way, before quickly glimpsing the outline of Little Stone Town in the distance.
Upon reaching the outskirts of Little Stone Town, the villagers laboring in the fields outside the town turned their heads, captivated by the sight of Lu Zhiwei and her entourage, who exuded the demeanor of cultivators, finding it very novel.
It had been a long time since they had seen any Immortal Master in Little Stone Town, which made them feel unusual, and they immediately started discussing whether the Immortal Masters had come to eradicate the group of demonic foxes in the forest.
Otherwise, why would they come to such a remote place as Little Stone Town?
Ignoring the villagers outside the town, Song Minghui, following the map's guidance, pointed to the forests east of Little Stone Town.
"Elder Lu, according to the map, over there is the green forest outside Little Stone Town where the Tree Cave Foxes should be located."
"Hmm, lead the way."
Lu Zhiwei gave a simple directive.
The group followed closely behind Song Minghui, descending into the forest to begin their adjustment.
This green forest is vast, its size less than a tenth of that of Little Stone Town. The forest is filled with common animals such as wild boars and wild monkeys, as well as some low-tier spirit insects.
If not for the purpose of hunting, gathering herbs, or chopping wood to maintain their livelihood, the townsfolk wouldn't set foot in this forest.
Scattered across the green forest, it took about two days for the group to finally locate the den of the Tree Cave Foxes.
They spent another half day observing and formulating a plan on how to quickly and effectively slay the Tree Cave Foxes without any escaping, and after discussion, they finally made a decision.
That afternoon, they were well-prepared and arrived at the lair of the Tree Cave Foxes.
Over twenty towering trees were uprooted, each as large as four or five people could embrace. These giant trees should have continued to thrive, but they were withered and decayed due to the devastation caused by the Tree Cave Foxes, appearing dilapidated and unsightly.
All along the vast tree trunks, large and small holes were visible everywhere.
These interlocking holes linked within the tree trunks, hollowing out the interior of the trees, a handiwork of the Tree Cave Foxes for nesting.
A Tree Cave Fox, hearing some commotion and sensing the presence of human cultivators, immediately peered out from the tree hole.
Upon glimpsing Lu Zhiwei and her entourage, it immediately let out a raspy cry, exposing its figure from the tree hole.
It was over half a meter long, sizable, with its scarlet fur shimmering like satin, reflecting radiance.
Shush shush shush.
Hearing their companion's cry, the other Tree Cave Foxes within the holes also began to move, poking their heads out one after another.
"Action!"
Seeing the stir among the Tree Cave Foxes and anticipating a great battle, Lu Zhiwei immediately commanded, "Be cautious with your strikes, preserve their pelts."
During the adjustment period, she had already instructed the disciples that while it was acceptable to slay the demonic foxes, they should strive to keep the pelts intact, so as not to damage them and affect their sale.
The pelts of the Tree Cave Foxes could be exchanged for Spirit Stones at the market.
What the sect needed most right now were Spirit Stones.
To put it bluntly, while subjugating the demons was crucial for this mission, it was equally important to seek some gain for the sect along the way.
"Understood."
"Rest assured, Elder!"
Song Minghui and the others nodded in unison.
Having been cooped up in the sect for years with little opportunity for combat, facing a group of weakly cultivated Tree Cave Foxes instantly ignited an itch for battle among them, with each one eager and primed for action.
A group of cultivators, all at least Third-Layer Qi Cultivation or above, facing these Tree Cave Foxes with uneven cultivation levels, at most reaching Second-Layer Qi Cultivation, the outcome was inevitable.
Moreover, they came fully prepared. Upon hearing it was a mission to exterminate demons, each brought their best Spiritual Artifact and available gear.
It is worth mentioning that Song Minghui had brought along the Tier One Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact, the 'Black Gold Celestial Net', to facilitate the capture of Tree Cave Foxes.
Rumble.
A Fourth-Layer Qi Cultivation disciple led the charge, performing a seal technique, launching a yellow-brown seal from the palm, which in no time transformed to the size of a water vat and fiercely blasted the nearby Tree Cave Fox lair.
Amidst the roaring, interspersed with the disorderly, raspy cries of the Tree Cave Foxes, the scene appeared chaotic.
This attack naturally wasn't intended to solely rely on the spiritual artifact to smash all the Tree Cave Foxes to death.
What they needed to do was to enrage the Tree Cave Foxes and lure them all out for the next course of action.
The lair being destroyed, the Tree Cave Foxes were instantly thrown into disarray, each one darting out of the tree holes like ants disturbed in their nest, revealing their figures all around.
A few larger Tree Cave Foxes, at Second-Layer Qi Cultivation, watched their lair being destroyed by human cultivators, eyes turning red with rage, anger burning within.
They bared their fangs, one after another pouncing on the nearest cultivators, incredibly fast, their sharp claws aiming for the throats of the group.
If struck, it would surely be painful, and they could easily lose their heads.
The cultivators dared not be careless, quickly urging their spiritual artifacts or casting spell techniques, striving to counterattack.
The outcome was inevitable.
The five Tree Cave Foxes that leapt forward were without exception, subdued immediately.
They were either pierced by a sword or struck down by a spell, collapsing to the ground wailing, soon falling silent.
Obviously, in front of Song Minghui and the others, these demonic foxes couldn't withstand a single blow. Slaying them was truly a breeze.
The surrounding Tree Cave Foxes, seeing their companions counter-attacked yet hadn't even scratched before being slain, lost any remaining inclination to attack.
They possessed some intelligence and understood they were no match, each emitting a piercing cry and fleeing in all directions.
"Know you can't win and want to run, not so easy!"
"None shall escape today."
Zhang Nianchuan shouted, nodding to his companions scattered around, giving a meaningful glance.
Song Minghui and the other cultivators understood the cue, taking loose positions and setting formations.
Seeing the panic-stricken Tree Cave Foxes fleeing, they immediately implemented the plan discussed previously, coordinating to drive the creatures towards the center for a thorough capture.
The Tree Cave Foxes are only Tier One Demon Beasts. As cunning as they are, how could they be a match for Lu Zhiwei and her group?
Human society is far more treacherous than the society of demon beasts.
The group began to drive and encircle. Instantly, the forest was filled with surging spiritual power, sword qi slicing through the air.
Six or seven flying swords roamed and herded above, soon rendering the Tree Cave Foxes into a predicament with no escape, forcing them to flee towards the center in search of refuge.