Chapter 14

"this time I didn't follow He Kongming's advice, and after entering the sect, I didn't report to him. He will surely cause me trouble in the future. I must quickly find enough demon cores to cultivate my inner breath, otherwise..."

The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Li Chen, taking advantage of the cover of a large rock, nimbly got up. Even though he was only fourteen, years of oppression had instilled in him a constant sense of danger.

Although He Kongming had always said that as long as Li Chen continued to serve as a servant disciple after entering the sect, the cultivation resources he would receive would be far more than what he could get in the outer sect.

But having suffered bullying since childhood, accustomed to cold stares, and tired of living under others' roofs and at their mercy, Li Chen was unwilling to go back.

After packing his belongings, he looked up to confirm the direction, then set off deeper into the mountains.

The so-called deeper areas of the ancient Cang Mountains stretched for countless miles, a famous adventure site in Tongming Province.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Luohuang City is located on the edge of the ancient Cang Mountains, seemingly having a geographical advantage; it is merely an insignificant small city.

The truly well-connected and resource-rich major cities are all under the control of sects like Xuan Yun Sect.

The outer areas, despite being vast, are home to countless first to third-stage demon beasts.

The place Li Chen reached was merely the outermost part of the outer areas.

Time passed like flowing water, and soon most of the day had gone by in constant searching.

Although supported by inner breath, the extensive movement made even Li Chen, this physically extraordinary 'monster,' feel hungry. He took out the leftover fox meat from his backpack and ate it with relish.

Suddenly, Li Chen, who was squatting under an ancient tree, twitched his ears and, without hesitation, leaped up into the tree, stuffing the fox meat back into his backpack. Through the dense leaves, his bright eyes carefully scanned the surroundings.

Whoosh!

Several barely perceptible figures cautiously approached the nearby bushes, peering forward with their heads poking out.

One of them, his nostrils flaring, his narrow eyes flashing with a cold, sinister light.

"Go!"

After scanning the area a few times, he nodded to the two beside him and took the lead.

Seeing the three men walk steadily, leaving almost no trace on the ground, and exuding a faint but fierce aura, it was clear they were experienced adventurers.

After a dozen breaths, the three adventurers arrived under the ancient tree where Li Chen had been hiding, examining the spot where he had been eating and searching the surroundings.

Seeing this, Li Chen's heart tightened.

When Old Li was still alive, he had told Li Chen that the most dangerous thing in the ancient Cang Mountains was not the omnipresent demon beasts, but the other adventurers.

Clearly, these three adventurers had tracked him down by following his trail.

If it weren't for Li Chen's incredibly strong body and keen senses, he would have been ambushed and attacked by these three not-so-weak adventurers.

As Li Chen pondered, the three adventurers searched around the ancient tree but found nothing.

"Brother, I think that person is gone. Let's go!"

The one with a weasel-like face said with a gloomy expression.

"Brother, I..."

The young adventurer was somewhat unwilling.

"Brother Three, forget it. Brother Two said he's gone. Let's go!"

The leader, a burly man, pulled him along, and the three of them walked away, quickly disappearing into the dense forest.

Whoosh!

The rustling of clothes and a gentle breeze, Li Chen leaped down from the ancient tree, his lips curling as he glanced in the direction the three had gone. He took out the leftover fox meat from his backpack and enjoyed it again.

After a short while, having finished the fox meat and taken a few sips of cold water, he patted his hands, stretched his limbs, and was about to continue on his way.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a strong wind sounded, and a dark light shot towards him at an incredible speed.

"What the hell is that?"

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

Swoosh!

A tearing sound rang out, and Li Chen felt a burning sensation in his shoulder, followed by a chill.

Having been beaten for years, he knew immediately that he was injured and bleeding.

Without hesitation, he turned and hid behind the ancient tree, cautiously peering out to see who was attacking him.

Thud!

As soon as he showed a small gap, a dull sound echoed, and Li Chen felt the ancient tree shake. What precise archery!

"Brother Three, did you hit him?"

A slightly sinister voice sounded, belonging to the weasel-faced Brother Two.

"Brother Two, do you doubt my archery skills?"

It was Brother Three, sounding smug and arrogant.

"I think that kid is agile. He sensed us earlier and hid in the tree. We should be careful."

The steady voice belonged to the leader.

"Brother, I guarantee he was hit. By now, the effects of the bone-softening powder should have kicked in. Even if he's strong, he's not a True Cultivation Realm warrior, right?"

The three figures carefully moved through the bushes. Brother Three, looking smug, held a foot-long crossbow.

When they saw the two arrows embedded in the ancient tree, with a piece of torn cloth and a trail of blood, their expressions finally relaxed.

As Brother Three said, if the opponent were a True Cultivation Realm warrior, how could he have been hit by just one arrow?

With this in mind, the three men walked around the ancient tree with a relaxed demeanor, but as experienced adventurers, they remained cautious, staying several yards away from the tree to avoid any surprises.

Li Chen, lying under the ancient tree, was pale and trembling, looking utterly miserable.

"Haha, just as I said, no matter how cunning that kid is, he still fell for our old hunter's trick!"

Brother Three, smug and confident, slung his crossbow over his back and kicked Li Chen to the ground.

Thud!

Li Chen, weak and powerless, groaned and rolled several meters, covered in grass and dirt, his backpack falling to the ground.

Brother Three walked over, picked up the backpack, and rummaged through it casually.

"Such a greenhorn, daring to adventure in the ancient Cang Mountains. What a reckless fool!"

The leader scanned Li Chen's thin body coldly.

"Brother, look at his clothes. He seems to be an outer sect disciple of Xuan Yun Sect!"

Brother Two's narrow eyes flashed with surprise.

"What's to be afraid of? Here in the wilderness, if we kill him and bury him, who would know it was us?"

The leader, surprised, then dismissed it with a wave of his hand.

Brother Two nodded in agreement.

"Brother, Brother Two, this kid is capable. He found so many first-stage spirit herbs, and they're of good quality!"

Brother Three, examining the backpack, looked delighted.

"Let me see?"

The leader's eyes lit up. He grabbed the backpack and flipped through it, then grinned widely. "Since this kid has given us so many spirit herbs, let's give him a quick death!"

"Alright, Brother, let me do it!"

Brother Three, with a sinister smile, pulled out a shiny dagger from his waist and leaned down to stab Li Chen in the chest.