The place Liu Zixuan was going was naturally the mountain stream in Huanyun Mountain where he originally obtained the Profound Thunder Needle and had the chance encounter with Little Blue.

He wanted to understand why Little Blue suddenly went on a hunger strike, disappeared for a day and night, and returned with injuries. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Saying Little Blue was lovesick was purely a joke. Such a peculiar creature, every movement could lead to significant discoveries; Liu Zixuan would not miss this opportunity.

Skirting past the neighboring village, he was pleased to find the cable car leading to the depths of the ravine still there.

Watching Liu Zixuan fiddle with the cable car, Huang Youcai mumbled, "Isn’t this the haunted mountain you mentioned before, Brother Xuan?"

"That’s what they said before, but you should know that I’ve been there before," Liu Zixuan replied.

Huang Youcai nodded, "Of course, I know you’ve been here before, but when we were constructing the village, we tried to come in too. However..."

"However what?" Liu Zixuan asked.

"At first, the pathfinder who came in mysteriously died halfway, and his body wasn’t found. Another one was scared to death by something on the way back, contracted a serious disease, and is now insane," Huang Youcai said nervously. "These are true stories. Should we not go in?"

"Scared to death by something?" Liu Zixuan murmured suspiciously. "When I came in, I only found Little Blue frightening; nothing else."

Liu Zixuan didn’t tell Huang Youcai about the Profound Thunder Needle because there was no need to. The place was called a haunted mountain because people often heard sounds like ghosts wailing and wolves howling.

Liu Zixuan had found the source of these sounds— the cave where the Profound Thunder Needle was placed. The combination of thunder and the unique cave environment made the sounds resemble wailing.

At present, the Profound Thunder Needle was gone, and the sounds naturally disappeared. Apart from those wailing sounds and Little Blue, there shouldn’t be anything else frightening.

Huang Youcai’s story piqued Liu Zixuan’s curiosity. Coupled with Little Blue’s disappearance for a day and night, he was even more eager to take a look inside.

He then said, "We haven’t gone far yet. I’ll drop you off here; you can walk out, and I’ll go in alone."

Huang Youcai glanced at the dense rocks and shrubs below the cable car and pursed his lips, "I’d better go in with you. You’re so capable; you should be able to handle anything."

It wasn’t that Huang Youcai had much confidence in Liu Zixuan; he simply didn’t dare return alone.

On arriving by cable car at the ravine’s entrance, Liu Zixuan and Huang Youcai, along with Little Blue, stepped down.

"If you’re scared, stay on the cable car," Liu Zixuan reassured Huang Youcai.

Huang Youcai shook his head immediately, "I think staying with you is safer."

Liu Zixuan patted Little Blue’s head regardingly, "Little Blue, I know you understand my words. You should know why I’ve come here, lead the way."

Little Blue turned its head to look at Liu Zixuan, shook its large head twice as if displeased with the name, stood in place for a second or two, and slowly walked towards the cave where the Profound Thunder Needle had been placed.

"This leopard is incredibly divine," Huang Youcai marveled.

Liu Zixuan grinned; he had a feeling that Little Blue was definitely not an ordinary leopard. Besides being unusual, it might undergo other changes in the future.

Liu Zixuan was not randomly speculating; martial artists have uniquely uncanny perception abilities.

Little Blue led them to the cave entrance and halted, suddenly lying flat with ears on the ground as if listening intently.

"What’s he doing..."

"Shh!" Before Huang Youcai could finish speaking, Liu Zixuan gestured to silence him.

The perception from the peak of the Imperial Realm made him faintly aware of something dangerous lurking around.

After a moment, Little Blue suddenly stood, its fur bristling while shielding Liu Zixuan and Huang Youcai, vigilantly watching the left front direction, emitting deep growling sounds.

Faced with this sight, Huang Youcai was trembling with fear, tightly grasping his clothing and not daring to make a sound.

Liu Zixuan frowned slightly. As the rustling sounds grew louder from the left front, he grabbed Huang Youcai’s shoulder and flung him towards the cave.

He then shouted, "Hide in the cave, don’t come out!"

Without further ado, Huang Youcai steadied himself and sprinted into the cave entrance.

At Liu Zixuan’s command, Little Blue suddenly lunged forward.

Suddenly, from their left front, a gigantic snake, entirely red and approximately two to three meters long, emerged from thin air!

No, to be precise, it was no longer a snake!

But a Flood Dragon!

Covered in red scales, unlike ordinary serpents or pythons, it had a bifurcated tail and a flattened head with revolting bumps, and a forked tongue flicking in and out, emitting scorching heat.

"Oh hell, Blood Luminous Flood Dragon!"

Faced with this colossal creature, Liu Zixuan suddenly burst out a name.

According to the Holy Medical Scripture, the Blood Luminous Flood Dragon is mentioned as ordinarily transformed from snakes and pythons over centuries, but this luminous flood dragon is born as a flood dragon, hideous in appearance though entirely precious.

The scales are incredibly hard, making them akin to bulletproof vests, an impenetrable defense.

As it dwells in hot regions, its blood possesses a remarkably high temperature, making it ideal for alchemy, significantly speeding up the process with added blood.

Its meat and bones serve as potent supplements. It’s said consuming just an ounce could empower a man overnight; that is, you could engage with ten beauties without defeat.

In short, every part of the Blood Luminous Flood Dragon is valuable.

However, these beasts typically devour live prey, possessing highly aggressive natures. Residing in scorching areas, their bodies can feel like volcanic lava, melting upon contact.

To defeat it... is extremely difficult!

This species is scarce nowadays but was plentiful in ancient times. Ancients extracted drug ingredients from it to boost men’s strength.

Moreover, this huge creature is known as Hook Snake in the Classic of Mountains and Seas - Central Mountain Scripture and ranks among the ancient ferocious beasts, exhibiting its ferocity!

Confronted by the Blood Luminous Flood Dragon, Liu Zixuan found himself uncertain whether to advance or retreat...