The spirit core dropped by the lion spirit was different in attribute from that of the leopard spirit and likewise could not be preserved for long.
Jiang Kai, without hesitation, gave this spirit core to Ruan Yu.
"Captain Kai, the beast types here are different, so the spirit cores dropped have different attributes too," Hu Yan said.
Jiang Kai nodded, "Possibly. Anyway, we have plenty of time, let's try to clear all the beasts here. Since the spirit cores can't be brought back in time, then whoever suits them best will consume them."
...
In the blink of an eye, the Vulcan Squad had already been in the Immortal Trace Valley for a month.
After the black leopard spirit and the lion spirit, they had also discovered a white tiger spirit.
The premium and supreme spirit cores fused from the white tiger spirit core enhanced wind element control, and were undoubtedly given to Hu Yan.
During this time, they also obtained a large amount of materials from the elite-level beasts' treasure chests, four artifact tools, and four scroll fragments.
The elite treasure chests here had never dropped equipment, perhaps because no one had been here before. All the artifact tools were qi-type jade treasures; each member of the Vulcan Squad had one, and there was even one extra.
They had also figured out the patterns of the Immortal Trace Valley.
Ordinary beasts, once killed, would respawn three days later. However, each time they respawned, the chance of dropping spirit cores would decrease.
The first time they cleared the area, every beast dropped a spirit core. When they came back three days later, the drop rate became about sixty percent. The third time, it was only forty percent…
Moreover, the probability of mutated beasts appearing would also gradually decrease, and the yield from elite treasure chests would sharply drop.
"The first wave of a hidden map gives the best returns, and it gets worse afterwards," Jiang Kai said, looking at the twelve black leopard spirit corpses before him. This time, killing them only yielded three spirit cores.
Right now, what Jiang Kai hoped most was for Ruan Yu to synthesize a higher-quality fused spirit core to boost his flame intensity by another ten points.
But Ruan Yu's luck was mediocre. Plus, obtaining spirit cores was becoming harder and harder, and he still hadn't fused a higher-quality spirit core.
Ruan Yu fused these three spirit cores and obtained one twenty-year spirit core. He then fused it with three other twenty-year spirit cores and got one over-thirty-year spirit core.
"Captain Kai, still missing one more over-thirty-year spirit core. Are the black leopard spirits all cleared?"
"If we don't hurry, I'll have to fuse with just three spirit cores."
Jiang Kai frowned. If even four spirit cores couldn't produce a supreme one, let alone three…
"Let's go kill the war general level ahead," Hu Yan suggested. "Thirty-year spirit cores are hard to come by. Not fusing them would be a waste. Besides, the yield from below-elite black leopard spirits is getting lower and lower."
Jiang Kai thought for a moment, "We all have qi-type jade stones now. You two have also leveled up quite a bit. We should be able to fight a war general level."
After the three agreed, they stealthily moved toward the center of the Immortal Trace Valley.
After sneaking for over ten minutes, they saw a giant golden leopard spirit lying on a rock, resting.
This war general level beast was also a mutated leopard spirit!
Around it, there were about seventy to eighty black leopard spirits gathered, including two normal elites and three mutated elites. One of the three elites had dark red hair, one was white, and one golden. They stood out clearly among the leopard group.
Even the ordinary black leopard spirits were significantly larger than those on the outskirts.
Jiang Kai and the others had never been here before. These black leopard spirits were the first wave of beasts, so it was certain each one would drop a spirit core!
Ordinary black leopard spirits were already extremely fast. Elites could even resist Lao Hu's "Ghost Cry Wolf Howl." Taking down this huge group of leopards would be no small feat.
"There are too many black leopards here. I may not be able to take care of both of you," Jiang Kai looked back at Hu Yan and Ruan Yu. "Can you protect yourselves?"
Hu Yan nodded, "Captain Kai, after consuming the white tiger spirit core, my wind element control improved a lot. I can lift two people at once. Also, I'm now level 7 in tier 3. My stats have jumped significantly. Much stronger than before!"
Ruan Yu: "Same here!"
Jiang Kai nodded, "Good, then take care of yourselves!"
"Get ready to start clearing!"
A fierce wind howled. The entire forest was swept by a hurricane, the vegetation leaning sharply.
Two whirlwinds lifted Hu Yan and Ruan Yu a dozen meters into the air.
Hu Yan's clothes and hair fluttered as he shouted lowly, "Ghost Cry Wolf Howl!"
Within hundreds of meters, black mist rose from the ground, carrying mournful shrieks within the wind's whistle.
The black mist quickly formed into ghostly spirits, like a ghost army charging at the leopard horde!
The war general black leopard that had been resting on the rock saw this and stood on its hind legs. Once upright, its body reached eight meters tall!
The golden war general leopard saw Hu Yan and Ruan Yu floating in mid-air and let out a roar at the two of them.
"ROAR!"
With a thunderous roar, the golden leopard turned into a streak of golden light, leaping straight from its spot to pounce at Hu Yan and Ruan Yu, who were forty to fifty meters away!
Its jumping power and explosive strength shocked all three members of the Vulcan Squad.
However, because the distance was too far, it gave Hu Yan enough time to react.
He immediately shifted his control, moving himself and Ruan Yu to the other side.
At the same moment, Jiang Kai had already thrown out his Quenched Light Divine Dart!
There were many black leopards here, perfect for the Divine Dart's ricochet effect.
Golden light bounced quickly between the leopard group. With each hit, a burst of qi energy exploded from the leopards.
Their qi-shielding body auras could block the Divine Dart's attack, but not its flames, which spread across the leopard group.
In just over ten seconds, the leopard horde was engulfed in a sea of fire.
Flames took time to destroy their qi-shields. Including the five elite leopard spirits, over a dozen of them lunged at Jiang Kai.
"Wind Whisper Spell!" From mid-air, Hu Yan formed a sword-hand seal, pointing at one of the leopard spirits.
A hurricane instantly blew it away, creating an opening for Jiang Kai to escape.
"Thanks, Lao Hu!" Jiang Kai flashed out through the opening, then threw a dozen cold lights with a backhand flick!
Before his words faded, the golden giant shadow leaped again from the ground, lunging at the airborne Hu Yan.
This guy seemed to know Hu Yan had crowd control ability and chased him relentlessly!
Hu Yan didn't even have time to continue casting Ghost Cry Wolf Howl!
With Hu Yan held up, Jiang Kai's side had it worst.
Even initially, Ghost Cry Wolf Howl couldn't control the whole leopard group. Now, more and more leopard spirits were recovering from their fear state!
Jiang Kai had just landed when another shadow lunged from behind.
Controlling the Divine Dart's ricochet in the leopard group with one hand, he barely dodged one wave of attack but had no time to evade the next.
"Phantom Form!"
The leopard spirit's claw swiped through Jiang Kai's body directly, but did not cause any harm.
Jiang Kai quickly retreated, pulling distance.
At that moment, a red blur flashed behind him.
It was that elite dark red leopard spirit.
The successive attacks left Jiang Kai no time to react.
It slashed with its two claws from crossed arms.
Suddenly, qi energy burst from Jiang Kai, blocking the attack with the qi treasure jade's defense!
Although Jiang Kai dodged several attacks, the leopard group's counterattack was more ferocious than he had expected. If this went on, they'd be in serious danger!
The leopard horde's onslaught was abnormally fierce. Jiang Kai shouted to Hu Yan, "We can't hold on, Lao Hu, release the Ruan Ghost!"
On the other side, Ruan Yu raised the Drunken Immortal Gourd and took several big gulps, his eyes turning red, "Xiao Hu, I didn't realize your figure was so enticing. I never noticed before..."
Hu Yan glanced at Ruan Yu beside him, shivered, and quickly used wind control to put Ruan Yu on the ground.
Once on the ground, Ruan Yu laughed heartily, "Hahahaha! The Wolf King has arrived!" Then chugged several more gulps of strong wine.
His eyes grew redder, his steps more erratic.
Suddenly, Ruan Yu slightly lowered his chin, eyes locking dead-on the white elite leopard spirit ahead, "Miss, you're so fair… sorry, tonight you're mine!"
"Taiji Sword!"
Ruan Yu slashed his sword, forming a blade of sword qi in mid-air.
The elite leopard spirit's body aura appeared as a circular contour wrapped in flames. After being struck by the sword qi, it was split directly in two!
After its qi-shield was cut by Ruan Yu, the sword qi sliced open its fur, leaving a deep bloody gash!
Seeing this, Jiang Kai and Hu Yan were both stunned.
Ruan Yu's sword qi was many times stronger than before—looks like those twenty points of true qi strength were working!
"Holy crap, so strong!" Jiang Kai exclaimed, "The potential of the Drunkard class is being fully unlocked by Ruan Yu!"
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