Time flew by, and three days passed.
Near Xiao Liang Mountain, three middle-aged male cultivators with similar appearances were ambushing in a hidden spot on the hillside, discussing how to 'hunt'.
After two days of reconnaissance and preparation, the Lei Brothers Three had already gathered intelligence on their target.
"Boss, that guy sells a lot of Spirit Talismans every day and has accumulated a considerable fortune. Why should we follow Bao's instructions to kill him? Maybe we can gather enough Spirit Stones to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill!" Lei Laosan, the youngest, holding a hunting crossbow, said with a sinister expression.
"That's right! Boss, that guy is only at Qi Refining Seventh Level. As long as we handle it properly and leave no obvious traces, Qingxuan Sect won't bother investigating the death of a Utility Disciple!" Lei Laoer said in agreement.
Lei Laoda frowned deeply, pondering the pros and cons.
"Boss, what's there to think about? That guy is just a Utility Disciple with no background. Otherwise, why would he be stuck farming in this godforsaken place? Let's do it! Buy the Foundation Establishment Pill for you to Foundation Establishment, and then you can help us Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, we'll have no hope in this life!" Lei Laosan continued to instigate.
"Boss, let's do it! We've checked Xiao Liang Mountain; there are only traces of him living alone. Bao's intelligence was inaccurate. That little fellow is all alone, with no support from his elders. We can quickly deal with him, and no one will be the wiser." Lei Laoer said, eager to try.
"Exactly, if the three of us strike together, it's a sure thing. What's more, he's in the open, and we're in the dark." Lei Laosan was determined, growing more excited as he spoke.
"That's right, only earning a few hundred lower spirit stones, I'm truly unwilling. Boss, you don't even need to make a move; the two of us can handle it!" Lei Laoer finally said impatiently.
Being constantly persuaded by his two younger brothers, Lei Laoda grew annoyed and replied grumpily, "Alright, alright, follow the second hunting plan. Don't mess around!"
"Got it!"
Lei Laosan and Lei Laoer responded joyfully and quickly took action, setting traps, poisoning the water, and using every means possible.
While the Lei Brothers Three were busy, they didn't notice that their every move was being monitored by a Puppet spider hidden in the weeds.
In the evening, Li Mu, as usual, finished his stall and flew towards Xiao Liang Mountain on his sword.
However, just as Li Mu flew to Xiao Liang Mountain and was about to descend, he received a warning feedback from the sentry spider Puppet, and Li Mu's heart immediately tightened.
Previously, the sentry spider Puppet's warning had allowed him to avoid an attack from a Second-Order demonic bear. This time, Li Mu took the warning with high importance. A Second-Order Golden Armor Talisman was quickly taken out of his Storage Pouch and held in his hand. His Divine Sense connected to the sentry spider Puppet that had issued the warning.
Soon, the Lei Brothers Three, disguised and ambushed in the shadows, appeared in Li Mu's mind.
Robber cultivators!
Li Mu's face turned incredibly ugly.
However, Li Mu then felt relieved. He had been a bit careless recently. With such good business at the stall, he was bound to be targeted.
Fortunately, the sentry spider Puppet discovered them; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"Not good, we've been discovered! Attack!" Lei Laoda, seeing Li Mu hesitate, immediately called out.
The next second, Lei Laoda flew up on his sword and charged towards Li Mu.
Upon receiving the order, Lei Laosan and Lei Laoer aimed at their "prey" and fired their hunting crossbows.
With a simultaneous "whoosh," two sharp crossbow bolts pierced through the air.
Li Mu snorted coldly, gathering spiritual power in his hand and activating the Second-Order Golden Armor Talisman. At the same time, his Divine Sense locked onto the enemy flying on his sword, and another Spirit Talisman—a Second-Order Golden Sword Talisman—appeared out of thin air in his hand, into which he injected spiritual power.
Golden light shone, and the Second-Order Golden Armor Talisman transformed into a ball of golden light, forming a golden shield around Li Mu.
Immediately after, the other Golden Sword Talisman transformed into countless golden spiritual lights, instantly condensing into a golden longsword. With a long golden tail flame, it shot towards the enemy like lightning, sharp and swift.
Lei Laoda's eyes widened. He watched helplessly as the golden longsword directly pierced through his body, and his consciousness plunged into darkness.
With a crisp "crack," the two crossbow bolts fiercely struck the Golden Armor shield and snapped.
Lei Laoer and Lei Laosan on the ground were terrified. They watched with their own eyes as their 'prey' activated two Spirit Talismans: one condensed into a golden shield protecting his entire body, blocking the two fatal crossbow bolts, and the other Spirit Talisman condensed into a golden longsword, instantly dealing with their boss.
The golden longsword pierced through their boss's body and plunged fiercely into the ground, with a loud "boom" that shattered a large area of broken trees and rocks.
Second-Order Spirit Talisman!
This was the power only a Second-Order Spirit Talisman possessed.
Lei Laosan and Lei Laoer were filled with disbelief, looking at the 'prey' flying towards them. Only then did they realize that the 'little lamb' prey in their eyes had now turned into a 'fierce tiger' that was about to pounce and 'devour' them!
"Laosan, run!" Lei Laoer stepped forward, drawing several flying daggers from his waist to block the enemy.
"Let's fight him!" Lei Laosan's face was ferocious. He pulled out a long saber from his Storage Pouch and flew towards the enemy to kill.
"Bang, bang..." Flying daggers shot at the golden shield, one by one bouncing off, unable to shake it even slightly.
With a loud "boom," Lei Laosan's saber heavily struck the Golden Armor shield. The immense recoil force caused his tiger's mouth to split open and his body to stiffen.
Just then, a sword light flashed across Lei Laosan's neck, and his head flew high, a large gush of blood spurting from his headless body like a fountain.
With a sudden upward shift in his vision, Lei Laosan 'watched' as the 'prey' used the recoil force to pounce on his second brother, and then his consciousness plunged into darkness.
"That guy let him chop him on purpose. Second brother, it's over!" This thought flashed through Lei Laosan's mind just before he died.
"Laosan!" Seeing Lei Laosan's tragic state, Lei Laoer cried out in grief. Immediately after, he was met by the enemy's longsword.
Lei Laoer barely managed to fend off a few attacks. However, the opponent, relying on the golden shield for protection, was not afraid of trading blows. Before long, he was pierced through the heart by a single sword strike.
In less than ten breaths, the battle was over.
Looking at the enemies with wide-open eyes, unwilling to close them even in death, Li Mu quickly calmed his emotions.
In this battle of 'you die or I die,' Li Mu felt no guilt towards the enemies. He bent down and began collecting the spoils of war.
In his original world, Li Mu, educated in modern civilization, had never even killed chickens or ducks, let alone people.
However, in this cruel world, Li Mu had no choice but to fight for his own safety. The first time he killed a malevolent spirit, the second time he used a demon to kill, and this time he quickly counterattacked, personally beheading the enemies, anticipating the enemy's moves, and achieving good results with the help of the Second-Order Spirit Talisman.
Li Mu was rapidly adapting to this cruel world where strength was revered.
Li Mu was quick and efficient. With the help of his Heavenly Talent - Identifying Myriad Spirits, he finished collecting the spoils of war in less than fifteen minutes.
As for the bodies of the three, there was no need for special treatment. By nightfall, the wild beasts, mountain ghosts, and venomous insects in the mountain would naturally decompose their bodies, leaving no bones behind.