The cave looked normal, even little from the outside but entering it, he could see large crystallins and the height of the cave was at least 10m.

"There is a higher energy concentration here..." In the cave, it had a strong pressure, not from an aura but from an energy concentration. But what was it ? Tang Ling could knew because the System gave him an explanation.

[Martial Artists are interchangeable; at LV 25 they advance in a higher rank namely : Houtian Disciples and this energy helps them in their cultivation : Hou. The Hou Energy is also extremely helpful to lower-tier and can help build foundations.]

Tang Ling couldn't find more informations about Houtian Disciples but he knew that this energy was good for him. He operated the continuous breath qi-absorption of the Breathing Pattern of the Body. Just as the System said, the Hou energy was helpful and the exhaustion of his body from the battles, recovered as fast speed; at least 3x normal time.

"Hou..." After a few minutes of meditation, Tang Ling ended and came back on his feet.

"This meditation was truly quick."

He then walked deeper in the cave cautiously, awaiting for any beasts to ambush him.

Indeed, just after he walked, a jaguar appeared and pounced at him. Tang Ling then took his spear from the Inventory, and stabbed the spear on the beast. He then retreated and swung the spear, slas.h.i.+ng the beast and finally an another stab on the beast before it died before it could retaliate.

[Black Jaguar LV 14 killed +80 EXP]

'Wow ! This spear is truly great !' Tang Ling thought. Without any forms or practise, he could use the spear to kill. The length of the spear was the cause; he could attack at a range where the enemy couldn't and it was why it was easy to kill the beast.

Tang Ling put away the spear and took out the sword; although the spear was great, it wasn't suitable in cave-like region where s.p.a.ce was limited and he was more proficient at the sword. His sword mastery reached {Entry} level but his spear didn't even reach {Basic}.

The cave was full of beasts lurking around... Just in 10 minutes, Tang Ling had already slayed twenty beasts; it meant a beast would appear at every 30 seconds in average. It was so repet.i.tive that Tang Ling didn't even think as an ambush !

Tang Ling finally entered a room; it was the only one in the entire cave (just full of holes). He was gobsmacked when he looked at the creature in front of him. It seemed like it was a f.u.c.king b.a.s.t.a.r.d child of a plant mixed with a human. It was not even in the normal 'level' of interaction between races. It was just...

Tang Ling really couldn't bear to see this horrible sight; this was at the level of a Mistake of Nature Itself. But with his Omni Spirit Eyes, he could see *literally* everything...

But there were a problem here... The man-plant thingy contained about tens beasts in its stomach and these beasts were lying here sleeping quietly... No.. It felt that they were drained of their energies and consciousness..

"How dare you to intrude into my territory !" the voice reverberated in the cave, it came from the giant half-plant-human. Without giving Tang Ling a chance to speak, the half-man attacked !

"DIE !" As he said this word, roots rushed to him from the ground !

With the plants attacking him, Tang Ling ducked out and sent a slash to the vines.

Pang ! No use, the attack only left a single scratch.

Tang Ling retreated to step on a proper ground to fight but he didn't have the chance to before being attacked by an another vine.

(The plant b.a.s.t.a.r.d is able to control many plants !) thought Tang Ling as he dodged and once again slashed against it. This time, it was effective and the vine was cut and died... It seemed that only the main one was indestructible; at least for his strength.

Realising this, Tang Ling immediately rushed to the main body; the main plant may be its weakness !

Just before he could reach his target, an another vine attacked him again !

With this, Tang Ling was 90% sure that it was afraid of him attacking the b.a.s.t.a.r.d human-plant. It somehow occured that he could use {Heat} from the Flame Manual (weakened).

"{Heat} !" Tang Ling shouted, his blade began to be covered with a small orange aura, and it started heating... It's probably the combination of {Heat} and {Sword Intent (0st Form)}.

The cut was deeper than before and marks of burn could be seen, the strongest vine shrieked and fled to the nearby source of water. Using this opportunity, Tang Ling took his spear and threw to the plant, piercing it and immobilizing it.

Tang Ling felt relieved that he somehow took care about this threat; it was the strongest and by immobilizing it, he could now take care of the plant-human b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

[Spear Mastery (Basic Insight) has been achieved.]

Tang Ling then rushed to the b.a.s.t.a.r.d person and swiftly cut every plants that tried to stop him.

Just after 10 seconds, Tang Ling arrived to the controller and stabbed his hilt to the human-shaped monster which was connected to the 'tree'.

His guess was right, the attack went through the man and cut him.

"ARGH!!!" The human-plant screamed; this attack was effective !

Tang Ling then swung again his blade against the plant and the human alternatively. This caused huge pain (and damage) to the monster. The vines were useless against him as he cut them like b.u.t.ter and after a few minutes of torture, he finally killed it.

[Plant-Human b.a.s.t.a.r.d Variant LV 19 killed +5000 EXP]

[New Information Acquired ! Half-Vine-spike]

[Half-Vine-spike : The creature that is born from the conscious of a plant bread with an another species. Half-Vine-spikes are born in the mother belly; its birth kills its mother. They gain the ability of a vine-spike and some abilities (weakened) from their mothers. As they are ugly and half-half, they are rejected from every societies. They also have a mindset of killing or doing bad things that affect karma.]

[You have killed a Variant (Mutated)! Left alone, it would kill a hundred people before being subjugated by pugilists. By eliminating a future threat, you have gained some karma from heaven.]

[You have obtained Jugun Core (Purified)]

[Level UP (12 to 14)!]

Karma ! He gained karma from killing a murderer, and now gained karma from subduing a mistake from nature... With this, he knew that by killing someone evil would gain him karma but he still didn't understand what was karma...

"Thank you adventurer, I'm grateful of your help." A giant lion came out from nowhere and spoke these words.

"Huh ? How could you..." Tang Ling was extremely surprised, how could a beast speak human language ?

"Speak ? No, my species tongue is not compatible to human tongue. I am a spiritual beast; different to normal ones. Spiritual beasts are way more stronger than normal one and can understand human language. I'm now speaking in your mind."

"Telepathy ? Then what do you want ?" Tang Ling was surprised but soon regained composure and cautiously asked.

"Good, you're quite the brave and strong one here. I am the Spiritual Guardian of this area; Herculean Heart Lion. I thanked you because you liberated from the Half Vine-spike grasps. You see, I am always sleeping and this low-tier plant managed to grip me in and absorbed my energy; without you, I would be devoured of my cultivation without knowing why."

"Oh ?" Tang Ling now understood why it mutated into a strong monster, it was absorbing this lion's strength.

[Herculean Heart Lion (BOSS) LV 35

HP : 500 000?

Qi : 1000/1000?

Attack : 500-1500? Def : 500 ?

Skills : ????

The Beast Guardian of the area. He rules the beasts and control the beasts so that they aren't exterminated.]

Strong ! This beast could kill him in a single hit and he can't deal a single damage to the lion ! It wasn't in the same level anymore.

"As a reward to have subdued this monster, I shall give you a reward. Come here." The lion extended his paws.

Tang Ling approached it, and Herculean Heart Lion gave him a jade.

"This is a Disaster Guard Jade. It is used as to protect an area from natural disasters. Often used by chiefs or town mayors, it can help them reduce the damage that a natural occurrence do. But it's best to give it to this small one." The lion pointed to the Jugun Core (Purified). "I don't have any needs about this, this item can give enough energy to this spiritual beast."

'Spiritual Beast ?'

Two descriptions appeared on his view :

[Disaster Guard Jade (Rare-Special) No Level Restriction.

Guard against human disasters and weak natural phenomena. It can be used to awaken spiritual beasts.]

[Jugun Core (Purified)(???) No Level Restriction

The core of a Half Vine-spike, purified by fire and impressed by the valor of his slayer. It advanced into a new specie. If a cataclysm happen, it will become a pet to the first one he see. Waiting Time : 48h.]

"Well, I am now taking my leave." The Herculean Heart Lion looked at him and then roared to some beasts and went out the cave.

Tang Ling then decided to put the jade into the core and waited for the hatch.

After going out of the cave, he could see dawn. He then waited; the 16 hours was up.

"Ding ! Host will now disconnect in 3...2....1..."