Chapter 8: Wits Over Strength

Zhou Yan was both angry and astonished, and she involuntarily stepped forward, wanting to investigate what was happening. As she took her third step, a loud snap echoed, as if she had triggered some mechanism, and a large net fell from above, enveloping her.

The incident occurred suddenly, and Zhou Yan was taken aback. She quickly formed a hand seal, attempting to break free from the fishing net. However, at that moment, an ice projectile shot up from the ground where Lin Xuan had just submerged, accurately striking a rope tied to a large tree.

Unable to escape the opponent's grasp, pleading for mercy is certainly futile; the only way out for oneself is to fight desperately. Only by eliminating the opponent can one have a chance to survive. At first glance, this seems like an impossible task, as the disparity in strength between the two sides is vast. To be honest, even a hundred Lin Xuan would not stand a chance against Zhou Yan.

The so-called crystal stone refers to stones that contain abundant spiritual energy from heaven and earth. Cultivators can directly absorb this energy through their practice. Based on the varying amounts and purity of the contained spiritual energy, they are classified into four grades: inferior, medium, superior, and exceptional.

From the moment Lin Xuan was discovered, he pondered how to resolve the crisis. Simply fleeing was certainly not an option. This canyon was several miles away from the sect, and before he could escape back, he would be caught and killed by Zhou Yan. He only knew the Lightness Technique, while she, as a master at the Great Perfection stage of the Spirit Movement period, was capable of using a more advanced Wind Control Technique. Their speeds were not comparable.

Indeed, it is easy to speak of clever strategies, but if it were not for someone like Lin Xuan, who possesses a calm mind and meticulous thoughts, encountering such a situation would have left anyone else in a state of panic, with no thought of finding a solution

Zhou Yan was taken aback, her venomous voice turned fearful. What followed was a scream; she was ensnared by the fishing net, leaving her with nowhere to hide. The bamboo pierced through her chest. Until her last breath, Zhou Yan could not comprehend how she had inexplicably ended up hanging here

The rope snapped, and with the help of its elasticity, a bamboo pole, the thickness of a bowl's mouth, with both ends sharpened, flew towards Zhou Yan.

Although this battle did not consume much magical power and did not last long, it was mentally exhausting, requiring meticulous planning and consideration. Lin Xuan also felt somewhat fatigued and sat down to rest.

Lin Xuan has already calculated that, given Zhou Yan's vicious character, she will definitely attack as soon as they meet. Her strikes are swift, and he cannot evade them. However, if he stands in front of the trap, he can simply take a step back to fall into it, thereby dodging the attack

"Got it." Lin Xuan exclaimed softly, his face filled with joy, as he held two gleaming stones in his hand

To achieve victory through wisdom, one must first analyze the circumstances that are advantageous to oneself. Although his skills are far inferior to those of his opponent, Lin Xuan's only advantage lies in his familiarity with the terrain. He has been aware of this canyon for two years; while he cannot recall every detail, it is indeed quite similar to his own backyard.

Lin Xuan cast a cold glance at Zhou Yan's corpse, then walked over and removed a crystal-clear green bracelet from her hand. This was not merely an ornament; it was an item used by cultivators to store belongings, containing a separate space within. Lin Xuan extended his consciousness inside and began to take out the items one by one.

From the very beginning, Lin Xuan took advantage of this point, navigating in a winding manner, avoiding straight paths, and striving to gain as much time as possible

He gritted his teeth, did not dodge, but instead took a step back.

To facilitate hunting, he had previously set up some traps in the canyon. Just now, he was feeling around on the ground to check whether the traps had been disturbed. This time, luck was on his side; both traps had not been triggered and remained intact

From the analysis of the situation just observed, it is evident that Zhou Yan has inadvertently landed in this place, and the terrain of the canyon is unfamiliar to her

At every step, Lin Xuan had calculated everything meticulously, with each link interconnected. He considered how to lure the enemy and how Zhou Yan would react. Although the situation at that time was extremely perilous, Lin Xuan remained calm and contemplated his strategies

If it were not for careful calculations, it should be oneself lying on the ground now

With a gaze filled with unwillingness, still tightly clutching the treasure seized from her master, Zhou Yan's soul departed to the underworld. Two minutes later, Lin Xuan crawled out of the pit in the ground. Looking at Zhou Yan's corpse, he let out a sigh of relief, feeling that it was a narrow escape.

Ultimately, his plan succeeded not through strength, but by using intellect and composure to overcome his opponent

In other words, this trap is lethal

As long as Zhou Yan is lured to step on it, the trap will be activated. If one is prepared, such a trap designed to capture ferocious beasts would naturally be ineffective against cultivators. However, under completely unexpected circumstances, it can yield surprisingly effective results

One strike, certain kill

Upon encountering such a situation, Zhou Yan would undoubtedly be taken aback and approach to investigate. At this moment, another trap could come into play. Unlike the pit she fell into, this trap is designed to capture large animals, such as lions and tigers. It not only features fishing nets but also sharpened bamboo stakes.

With a whoosh, the flying sword missed its target and struck the mountain wall behind, causing a thunderous sound as countless fragments fell. Zhou Yan was left in utter astonishment; she could never have imagined that a novice in the early stages of spiritual movement could evade her attack. Strangely, Lin Xuan did not merely dodge; at the moment the flying sword was about to hit him, he suddenly sank into the ground. What on earth is happening

Clothing, food, and women's cosmetics—Lin Xuan did not even glance at them before tossing them aside

Jing Shi, having spent three years in the Floating Cloud Valley, Lin Xuan had heard his elders mention it countless times. It is a treasure comparable to elixirs and magical artifacts, yet this is the first time he has come into such close contact with it

Whether it is for practicing skills, crafting tools, or engaging in combat, the role of crystal stones is irreplaceable, and they are used by cultivators as a medium of exchange

There are a total of two traps, one of which is for Lin Xuan's personal use. This is a standard pit trap designed to capture animals of relatively small size. The ground is covered with wild grass, and stepping on it will cause Lin Xuan to fall into the pit.

No ... ...

But now he has no other choice; moreover, he cannot match strength, yet he can still rely on his wits to outsmart them

The next crucial step is the second one. In the canyon, apart from occasionally discovering rare flowers and plants, there are also numerous animals, ranging from wild rabbits to bears and tigers. Lin Xuan has designated this place as his private territory and occasionally hunts to enjoy some game.

Lin Xuan's expression darkened, as the opponent's attack was more ruthless than anticipated