Chapter Fourteen: Encountering Danger

  "This time I didn't follow Hei Kōmei's intentions, after entering the door, go to his place to report, and in the future, it's inevitable that he will come to me for trouble, so I must find enough demon cores as soon as possible to cultivate my inner breath, otherwise..."

  The next morning, just as the sky was getting light, he got up early under the cover of a huge rock. Although only 14 years old, his heart had been oppressed for many years, and he always felt a sense of crisis at every moment.

  Although Hei Kōmei always said that as long as Rei Shin was in the inner circle, he would still go to his place as a servant disciple, and the cultivation resources he needed in daily life were absolutely more than what he got when he was an outer circle member.

  But since childhood has been bullied, used to being looked down upon, and had enough of living under someone else's roof and doing things based on others' facial expressions, Li Chen did not want to go back.

  He picked up his leather pouch, looked up to determine the direction, and then set off towards the depths.

  It is said that deep within this ancient mountain range, which stretches for countless tens of thousands of miles, lies the renowned adventure holy land of Tongming Prefecture.

  Don't look at Luohuang City sitting on the edge of the ancient Cangshan Mountains, it seems to have a geographical advantage, but it's just an inconspicuous small city.

  A truly omnipresent and powerful city with immense resource allocation power is in the hands of sects like the Xuan Yun Sect.

  So-called outer circles have an extremely wide range, from first-class demon beasts to third-class demon beasts, and there are countless numbers.

  Wherever Lei Chen went, it was just the periphery of the periphery.

  Time flies like water, and more than half a day has passed in constant searching.

  Although he had internal energy to support him, the intense exercise made Li Chen, this incredibly resilient 'monster', unable to bear his hunger. He took out the leftover fox meat from last night in his backpack and devoured it in big mouthfuls.

  Suddenly, Li Chen's ears trembled as he crouched under the ancient tree. Without hesitation, he swiftly leapt onto the tree, stuffed the fox meat into his backpack, and through the dense foliage, a pair of bright eyes cautiously scanned the surroundings.

  Wow!

  Several faintly discernible figures cautiously darted into a nearby thicket, peeking out to look ahead.

  One of them had nostrils that kept flaring, and a few cold glints flashed in his narrow eyes.

  "Go!"

  He glanced around a few times, nodded at the two people beside him, and led the way forward.

  Watching the three people's steady pace, they basically left no marks on the ground as they walked, and their bodies emitted a faintly discernible aura of bravery and tight-fitting attire, obviously experienced adventurers.

  After a dozen breaths, the three adventurers arrived under the ancient tree where Licheng was hiding, and examined the place where he had just sat down to eat. They then began to search around.

  Seeing this scene, Li Chen's heart suddenly tightened.

  When Old Master Li was still alive, he once told him that when adventuring for treasure in the ancient Cangshan Mountains, the greatest danger wasn't the ubiquitous demonic beasts, but rather fellow adventurers.

  It's clear that these three adventurers have been tracking their own footprints to get here.

  If it weren't for Li Chen's exceptionally strong physical body and sharp six senses, he would have been ambushed and surrounded by these three not-so-weak adventurers.

  Just at dawn, three adventurers searched around the ancient tree separately, but ultimately found nothing.

  "Big brother, I think we can't find that person anymore, let's go!"

  That adventurer with a mouse-like face looked gloomy.

  "Second brother, I..."

  Another young adventurer was somewhat unwilling at once.

  "Alright Lao San, let's go! Your second brother said he can't find it anymore!"

  The leader grabbed one of the robust men and, without giving him a chance to explain, the three of them headed towards a distant place and instantly disappeared into the dense forest.

  Wow!

  His sleeves fluttering, a gentle breeze blowing by, Li Chen's figure leaped down from the ancient tree, his mouth corner twitching as he swept a glance in the direction of the three people who had gone far away, and then took out the leftover fox meat from his backpack to enjoy once again.

  Before long, the fox meat was eaten, and after drinking a few mouthfuls of cold water, he clapped his hands, shook his limbs, and was ready to continue on his way.

  Whoosh!

  Suddenly, a strong gust of wind rose, and a fierce black light shot out at an unbelievable speed.

  "What kind of thing is this?"

  In an instant, Li Chen's hair stood on end, and he rolled over on the ground.

  Hmph!

  The sound of tearing silk rose, and Li Chen only felt a burning sensation on his back, while another coolness surged up to his forehead.

  Having been beaten for years like him, he naturally knew what it felt like to be injured and bleeding.

  He immediately forgot about everything else, turned around and hid behind an old tree, carefully poking his head out to see who was sneaking up on him.

  Halt!

  Just a slight gap, a dull and aching sound was heard, Li Chen only felt the ancient tree shake, what a precise archery.

  "Old Three, did you hit it?"

  A somewhat gloomy voice sounded, and it was the old second with a rat's head and mouse eyes from before.

  "Second brother, aren't you clear about my archery skills yet?"

  Arrogant and proud, but it's just Lao San.

  "I see that little guy is agile and was even able to detect us in advance, hiding on the tree. Better be careful!"

  The most steady and reliable is indeed the big brother's release.

  "Boss, I guarantee that this kid has been hit by the arrow. Now, the effect of the Soft Bone Dissolving Pill is probably taking hold. Even if he's strong, he can't be a Cultivated True Realm warrior, right?"

  Three figures carefully made their way through the thicket, with Lao San's face full of pride, holding a crossbow about a foot long in his hand.

  When the three of them saw that on the ancient tree trunk, two arrow shafts were stuck, with a piece of tattered cloth attached to it, and there were faint bloodstains on it, their faces finally relaxed.

  As Old Three said, if the other party is indeed a Cultivated True Boundary warrior, how could they avoid a mere arrow?

  As they thought of this, the three people's expressions were relaxed and calm as they bypassed the ancient tree, but as adventurers who had been tempered by years of living on the edge of their swords, their habitual vigilance still kept them several zhang away from the ancient tree, in case of any unexpected event.

  Under the ancient tree at dawn, his face was pale with pain, his whole body trembling, and he looked disheveled.

  "Haha, didn't I tell you, boss? This little scoundrel is as cunning as a fox, but he still fell into the trap set by us old hunters!"

  Lao San proudly slung his crossbow over his back and walked straight to the old tree, probing with one foot, kicking Li Chen to the ground.

  Rattle!

  Lichen, who was weak all over, let out a low groan and rolled out several meters, his body covered in grass clippings, looking disheveled, with his backpack falling to the ground.

  Lao San walked up and grabbed his backpack, rummaging through it casually.

  "What a young whelp, daring to come to the ancient Cangshan Mountains for adventure, truly a thing that doesn't know life from death!"

  The boss coldly swept his gaze over Li Chen's thin and frail body.

  "Big brother, look at his attire, it seems like he's an outer sect disciple of the Xuan Yun Sect!"

  Lao Er's narrow and long eyes flashed, showing a hint of surprise.

  "What's there to fear? This is a desolate and remote place, we can kill him, dig a hole and bury him, who would know it was us?"

  The boss was taken aback and said with a nonchalant tone.

  The second elder nodded immediately upon hearing this.

  "Boss, Second Brother, this kid is quite something, he's found so many first-grade spiritual herbs and their quality isn't bad either!"

  Lao San is checking his backpack with a surprised look on his face.

  "Let me see?"

  The boss's eyes lit up, grabbed the backpack and searched it for a while, then burst out laughing, "Considering this kid sent us so many spiritual medicines, let's give him a quick death!"

  "Alright, boss, let me do it!"

  Lao San stealthily pulled out a shiny dagger from his waist and stabbed it towards Li Chen's chest.