20 Seizing from the Tiger

Ling Xiao frowned slightly.

A Scarlet Toad was a bizarre demonic beast as their cultivation process was extremely slow. For instance, this Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad right here was only an early third stage demonic beast. 

Nonetheless, the spirit beast Scarlet Toad was highly skilled in hunting for treasures. They could probe deep into earth's highest mountain and vastest ocean to look for spiritual stones, ore veins, varieties of gems, and ancient tombs; they were miraculous. Apart from that, they could move with such great agility that even a master of Grandmaster Boundary could hardly get his hands on an early third stage Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad. 

It was obvious that the Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad was in possession of the Diversified Golden Lotus Fire. The Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad cultivated by swallowing then spitting out Diversified Golden Lotus Fire's pure power. If they were inadvertently-alarmed, they would escape and it would be near impossible to capture it again.

"It will surely take some effort for me to catch this Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad!"

Ling Xiao's eyes twinkled with brilliance as he retreated from the valley. 

"Soul Calming Grass, Wilt Disease Fruit, Bewildering Flower…"

Just around the valley, Ling Xiao effortlessly found a few of the spiritual herbs he needed. 

Those aforementioned spiritual herbs were fancied by the Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad, as it needed them to live up to five hundred years. So, these spiritual herbs were usually found around Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad's habitat.

Ling Xiao had discovered a small marsh not far from the valley. After spending a long time laying out a trap, he then restored the marshland to its original state. 

Lastly, Ling Xiao utilized a special method to mix those spiritual herbs into a thick concoction, and subsequently turned it into several dark golden incense sticks.

"Everything's ready. All I need now is for the Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad to get into the boiling pot!"

Ling Xiao exhaled deeply. His eyes revealed a hint of excitement. 

These dark golden colored incense sticks that were uniquely made by Ling Xiao were called Golden Dragon Saliva. The Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad was highly attracted to these incense.

If all went well, the Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad would enter the marsh and Ling Xiao could capture it alive. 

The marshland was situated about 500 meters away from the valley. Along the way, Ling Xiao had planted a few of those Golden Dragon Saliva before he ignited them later. 

The Golden Dragon Saliva released a faint scent that smelled slightly sweet and refreshing.

Then, Ling Xiao hid next to the marsh, with his gaze fixed on the Golden Dragon Saliva. 

This time, not only did he want to obtain the Diversified Golden Lotus Fire, but he was also determined to capture this Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad!

At last, around half an hour later, something happened.

In the distance, that Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad finally appeared. It resembled a flash of scarlet-colored lightning as it devoured one Golden Dragon Saliva within seconds. Its blood-red eyes even revealed a human-like infatuated expression. 

Finally, it stared at the Golden Dragon Saliva that was positioned in the marsh. 

That incense was releasing a special fragrance. Glistening in the sunlight, it appeared really enticing to the Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad.

'Here it comes!' Ling Xiao thought to himself. He still did not dare to blink his eyes.

Swish!

At the flash of a silhouette, the Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad suddenly appeared in the middle of the marshland. It flicked its long tongue, wanting to engulf the last Golden Dragon Saliva. 

Right at that moment, a transformation took place unexpectedly.

Boom!

The Golden Dragon Saliva suddenly exploded. Black sludge splashed in the air and onto the Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad.

As a result, it began to quiver and tried to escape.

However, it was too late.

There seemed to be numerous tiny threads in the mud that twisted tightly around the toad. More so, the threads wrapped around it tighter as it struggled to break free. 

Boom!

The Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad looked irritated. After a golden flame burst from its mouth, the surrounding sludge began to slide. The tiny threads also looked as if they were beginning to melt.

'The Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad really does live up to its name. Its monstrous fire-breathing power is terrifying!' the awe-struck Ling Xiao thought to himself, but he remained calm. 

Just then, a black rattan net fell from the sky and trapped the Scarlet Toad in the middle of the marsh.

Boom!

The Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad was utterly enraged. A golden lotus spewed from its mouth, towards the surrounding rattan net and it began to burn. Although Ling Xiao had made this rattan net using a specifically sturdy, fire-retardant spiritual wood, it began to burn rapidly in the flame set off by the Diversified Golden Lotus Fire.

'There's nowhere you can go now!'

A laugh escaped his mouth. Only one final step and both the Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad and Diversified Golden Lotus Fire would be his.

Swoosh!

Several more black rattan nets shot up from within the mud. They fell over the Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad and wrapped around it as if it was a dumpling.

Ling Xiao sparked a divine light on the tip of his finger. As if there were numerous sparkling talismans, it instantaneously began to draw the Diversified Golden Lotus Fire towards his direction.

He had just performed the Accumulate Seal from the Sky Devouring Secret Technique. Within seconds, he was able to collect the Diversified Golden Lotus Fire from Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad.

"Croak…"

The Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad was frustrated to see that Diversified Golden Lotus Fire had fallen into Ling Xiao's palm. With that, it croaked loudly and fixed a deathly gaze at him. Both its eyes were filled with extreme exasperation.

However, the bind became tighter the more it struggled. Without the Diversified Golden Lotus Fire, there was no way it could break free from the black rattan with only a normal flame.

"Obey me, and there won't be any more pain!" Ling Xiao said softly, but his eyes turned cold.

As if the Thousand-Year Scarlet Toad understood his words, the hatred in its eyes grew more intense and it would not stop croaking.

"Hmm? Universal spiritual fire? Today's my lucky day!"

Right at this moment, an air-piercing sound rang out. 

Afar in the dense forest came several people. The leader was a handsome but arrogant looking young man in his late teens. He was staring directly at the Diversified Golden Lotus Fire in Ling Xiao's hand as his eyes glowed with excitement. 

"Hey kid, hand over that universal spiritual fire obediently, then kneel down and cut off your arm, and I'll spare your life!"

The young man lingered his gaze on the Diversified Golden Lotus Fire for a long time before he reluctantly shifted his attention towards Ling Xiao.

"Who are you? You're here to seize my treasure, huh?" Ling Xiao scoffed. He had put in all these efforts trying to obtain the Diversified Golden Lotus Fire, but now someone else was here to claim it.

"Kid, our young master Ma Jun is the son of Indulgence Sect's Seventh Elder. You better do as you're told and quickly hand it over. Otherwise, you'll infuriate our young master and you'll not live to see another day!"

The other young man who was huddled beside their leader also shouted at Ling Xiao in a haughty manner.

They realized Ling Xiao had only attained Pulse Unsealing Boundary, whereas they were all disciples of Indulgence Sect that were at True Qi Boundary. Ma Jun was especially the genius of Indulgence Sect. He was at the ninth tier of True Qi Boundary, looking for the chance to advance into Spiritualization Boundary.

If Ma Jun refined this Diversified Golden Lotus Fire, perhaps he could advance into Spiritualized Boundary and be promoted to a legacy disciple!

His insatiable hunger grew even more at the thought of this. 

"Disciples of Indulgence Sect?"

Ling Xiao looked a little dazed. Indulgence Sect, Heavenly Demons Hall, and Longevity Sect were the three most prominent sects within the perimeter of a thousand miles. Indulgence Sect and Heavenly Demons Hall was of friendly relationship. However, both the sects enjoyed suppressing Longevity Sect by killing many of their disciples. 

When disciples of these two sects met face-to-face, it almost always ended up in killings. Lately, it had become even more common and aggressive. 

Truth was, the strength and power of Longevity Sect were the weakest of all three. Many of their disciples had died in the hands of Indulgence Sect's disciples.

Thinking that Ling Xiao's surprise came out of fear, it fostered those Indulgence Sect's disciples pride even more.

"Ha, kid, now you're afraid! Judging by your manner, you're not from the Heavenly Demons Hall. Is it possible that you're from Longevity Sect? Hehe, young master, why don't we take this kid in and make him a medicine slave like the rest of our captures from the Longevity Sect? The Elderlies will love it!"

Those disciples laughed mischievously.