Looking for what they needed naturally required a thorough search of the area before proceeding deeper; otherwise, it would be not only inefficient but also dangerous. Therefore, the team continued forward, though not advancing directly, instead turning to the side. Unfortunately, they still found nothing.
After walking for about a quarter of an hour, the quiet of the jungle eased Mingren’s tension. He looked around curiously and whispered, “Why haven’t we encountered a single fierce beast? Isn’t it said in books that there are many here?”
Zhou Tong had avoided dangerous areas,” Li Tan said calmly, glancing ahead.
“When did that happen?
How come I didn’t know about it?”
Mingren scratched his head in confusion.
Li Tan yawned, looking at the gloomy canopy formed by leaves dripping water from time to time. “Simply put, fierce beasts have their own territories,” he explained concisely, with the general meaning as follows.
Territory refers to the area marked by fierce beasts for themselves. Unless they are hungry, they won’t easily go elsewhere to hunt.
Therefore, the reason for not encountering fierce beasts is not because there are few of them, but because Zhou Tong, with his experience, skillfully avoided the “territories” of fierce beasts. Moreover, fierce beasts do not mark their territories with ropes or similar items; rather, they spread substances like saliva, urine, or even toxins around the periphery. Without the guidance of an experienced mercenary, it is difficult to distinguish these markers, which frequently leads to attacks by powerful fierce beasts. Such attacks usually occur when inexperienced newbies are not led by veteran mercenaries.
Thus, it can be inferred in reverse that Zhou Tong has extensive experience.
After listening, Mingren said in admiration, “Brother Li, you really know a lot. I feel like I’ve wasted over a decade studying poetry.”
“They’re just some trivial things, nothing worth mentioning.”
While replying, Li Tan was also observing Mingren. He had developed a slight interest in this young man he had just met by chance.
Mingren wore white robes and appeared frail; he had to catch his breath after walking just a few steps, hardly looking like a cultivator, or rather, not a cultivator at all.
Yet he could hire an experienced mercenary like Zhou Tong, which was enough to indicate his extraordinary family background and other aspects. Therefore, it was quite strange that he had no cultivation at all.
As if noticing Li Tan’s slightly puzzled gaze, Mingren felt a bit shy and touched his head, “Brother Li, are you curious about why I don’t have any cultivation skills?”
He was actually seen through.
Li Tan nodded slightly with some surprise and didn’t bother to hide it, “Indeed, I was a bit curious. I hope it’s not inconvenient to talk about it.”
Mingren smiled, “There’s no inconvenience at all. Rather, I should feel ashamed. My father has always urged me to cultivate, but I just dislike wielding swords and spears.”
In a world where martial prowess is revered, not liking cultivation was indeed unusual.
Recalling the past, Li Tan couldn’t help but picture a white-robed young man standing against the wind, holding a book. He chuckled lightly, “I actually know someone who dislikes cultivation just like you.”
Mingren’s eyes lit up slightly, a bit excited, “There’s actually someone like me in the world. Could you introduce us?”
Li Tan shook his head gently, “His name is Mingde, and he is now very far away. It’s probably impossible for you two to meet.”
“Mingde?”
Mingren’s mouth slightly opened, as if he had heard something unexpected.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Li Tan turned his head with concern.
Mingren coughed lightly twice and shook his head, “Ha ha, nothing. I suddenly thought of something irrelevant.”
Such a reaction definitely meant something, but Li Tan did not press further, choosing instead to respect others’ secrets.
The team continued moving forward. Most of the time was quite boring. Occasionally, Li Tan would exchange a few words with Mingren, while the mercenaries remained silent, observing their surroundings with high vigilance.
Mingren brushed aside a vine blocking the way, glanced at the green canopy above occasionally dripping water, and anxiously called out, “Uncle Zhou, there’s not even the slightest trace?”
“Be quiet, young master! Don’t attract the fierce beasts!”
Zhou Tong made a shushing gesture, “Water Cloud Bamboo and Jackal Tigers are both rare items. How easy do you think they are to find? It will probably take several days.”
“Then are we going to stay overnight in here?”
Mingren asked in disappointment.
Zhou Tong shook his head, “We must leave before nightfall. Without a Xiantian-level expert to guard us, the forest is not a place we can venture into at night.”
“Oh, I see.”
Mingren sighed in disappointment and looked around trying to help, but there was no sign of bamboo at all.
Li Tan thought for a moment, “Looking again tomorrow will be too inefficient.”
If he stayed out for too long, the Lin family would probably turn upside down. Most importantly, without any cultivation skills, he couldn’t do anything too conspicuous.
Shh, shh, it sounded like the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Zhou Tong at the front of the team raised his hand to signal everyone to stop. He looked up quietly for about half an incense stick’s time before saying, “It’s safe.”
Only then did the team continue forward.
However, Li Tan did not move his feet along with them.
“Why are you stopping, Brother Li?” Mingren asked in confusion.
Li Tan replied indifferently, “There’s something ahead.”
Zhou Tong chuckled, “I’ve checked. There’s nothing here.”
Li Tan glanced at him, then pointed at the crooked tree ahead.
Zhou Tong and the other mercenaries turned to look, but after a moment, they all shook their heads in confusion. There was nothing on the crooked tree except for some vines.
Zhou Tong frowned, “Young man, there’s only a tree there.”
“A tree?”
Li Tan picked up a stone from the ground indifferently and casually threw it from a distance. Zhou Tong and the others followed the stone with their eyes.
With a crisp sound, the stone hit something, and then a rustling sound was heard. A “vine” hanging on the crooked tree twisted its body and fell down.
“Be on alert!”
Zhou Tong was greatly alarmed and ordered the mercenaries to keep their distance from the “vine” on the ground, swords and knives being drawn with a clinking sound.
Li Tan’s face remained calm as he slowly said, “This creature is called Teng Lin. It moves slowly and has weak offensive capabilities, but its ability to camouflage is extremely strong. It is highly toxic, and contact with it means certain death.”
“This is the first time I’ve heard of and seen such a creature.”
Zhou Tong was shocked and his mouth was wide open.
“It’s normal that you don’t know. This thing doesn’t belong to the category of fierce beasts. It’s a kind of low-level demonic creature.”
Li Tan explained briefly.
Mingren stared at the departing Teng Lin with lingering fear, swallowed hard, and asked, “What’s the difference between demonic beasts and fierce beasts?”
Zhou Tong, with a solemn expression, explained on his behalf, “Demonic beasts mostly reside deep within the Domain of Fallen Immortals. Unlike mindless savage beasts that charge recklessly, they possess a certain level of intelligence. The stronger their power, the longer they survive, and the more noble their bloodline, the higher their intelligence. It is said that once they reach a certain level, they can even take human form.”
Mingren was stunned, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. “Such creatures actually exist? The books never mentioned anything like this.”
“That’s why people say that bookish knowledge is of little use. Relying solely on book records inevitably makes one narrow-minded, like a frog at the bottom of a well.”
Li Tan explained indifferently.
Hearing this, Mingren fell into thought.
At this moment, a mercenary scratched his head in distress and asked, “Captain, what should we do now?”
Zhou Tong looked at the Teng Lin, his expression caught between choices.
Catching it was too risky—after all, it was a savage beast; yet letting it go would be a shame, as demonic beasts were worth ten times more than ordinary fierce beasts.
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