Chapter 35

"Haha... So it's the disciples of West Morning Manor..."

Hidden beneath the leaves, Baishi immediately recognized these people who were currently battling the strange beasts. They wore the plain robes of West Morning Manor, each holding a dagger but no swords, indicating that they were likely all below the Cave Profound Realm.

There were about twenty of them, all roughly the same age as Baishi. They carried some animal skins on their backs, varying in number, suggesting they had been in the Daochen Mountains for some time.

Baishi knew that the number of these trophies would determine what kind of sword techniques they would receive before stepping into the Cave Profound Realm. To obtain the best sword techniques, they had to be the ones who hunted the most strange beasts during this training. Of course, such training only occurred once a year, and each disciple only had one chance!

In front of them were five long-snouted crocodiles. These strange beasts were skilled in team combat and had a significant advantage in the swamp.

Energy waves emanated from the bodies of these crocodiles, indicating that each of them was at the Cave Profound Realm.

As he scanned the area, Baishi saw a familiar figure—Lin Nan!

Lin Nan stood among the crowd, timidly retreating. The dagger in his hand trembled, clearly showing that he was well aware of the threat these crocodiles posed to the disciples.

From the mud on their clothes, it was evident that they had already engaged in a fierce battle with the crocodiles. However, they were clearly at a disadvantage.

"Haha... They must have gotten lost in the Daochen Mountains and mistakenly entered this maple forest..."

Baishi knew the strength of these disciples. If they hadn't been lost, they wouldn't have dared to enter the maple forest.

"I want to see how you, the arrogant Lin Nan, will deal with these crocodiles."

Baishi's face showed a mocking smile. He leaned against the tree trunk, took out a water bottle, and looked extremely relaxed, as if he were watching a play.

At that moment, one of the approaching crocodiles suddenly leaped up, roaring as it attacked a disciple. The disciple, suddenly terrified, retreated hastily, seemingly too afraid to face the long-snouted crocodile. He swung his dagger but ended up stepping into the swamp.

As he fell into the swamp, his face showed sheer terror. The approaching crocodile did not immediately attack but looked at him curiously, as if mocking him.

He desperately called for help, but the other disciples retreated, paying no attention.

Just then, a disciple suddenly leaped out from behind a maple tree, grabbed the disciple who had fallen into the swamp, and pulled him out. Turning around, he suddenly swung his fist, which had nine white lines on it.

"Ninth Level Foundation Establishment!" Baishi, leaning against the tree, stiffened and sat up abruptly at the sight.

"Jingjing... Why is she here?" After a moment of surprise, Baishi recognized the disciple who had suddenly leaped out.

At that moment, Baishi was no longer watching the scene with a detached attitude but was worried about whether the woman who had saved the man would be harmed.

The long-snouted crocodile, struck by Jingjing and seeing her rescue someone from under its nose, roared in a frenzy. A group of long-snouted crocodiles immediately surged forward!

"Everyone, quickly climb the trees!" Jingjing threw the man away, and he grabbed the tree trunk. However, due to exhaustion, he didn't climb for long before stopping.

As the crocodiles surged forward, the disciples desperately climbed the trees. However, the maple trees were very tall, and they could only climb halfway before losing the strength to continue.

Even so, this was enough to keep them out of the crocodiles' reach.

Unfortunately, the long-snouted crocodiles had excellent hunting patience. Although they couldn't climb trees, waiting for months at the base of the trees was not a problem. Therefore, for the disciples, their current actions were undoubtedly a death sentence.

Relatively speaking, Ouyang Jingjing seemed more relaxed. Although she hadn't catalyzed her soul, the term "Ninth Level Foundation Establishment" was not just a boast. In a few leaps, she reached the tree trunk and saw Baishi under the leaves.

Baishi gave an awkward smile, then made a shushing gesture and whispered, "Shh... Be quiet."

Seeing this, Ouyang Jingjing seemed to forget the previous danger and smiled sweetly, saying softly, "Why are you here? It's very dangerous..."

Baishi smiled bitterly. He didn't want to reveal his true strength to Jingjing and said, "I'm gathering some herbs for Uncle Master and resting here."

"No wonder. A few days ago, when I went to East Morning Manor to look for you, Uncle Master said you had entered the mountains. Oh, by the way, do you know the way out? We're lost in the Daochen Mountains." Ouyang Jingjing looked somewhat helpless.

When Baishi heard this, he felt a strange joy, but he immediately looked at the disciples on the tree trunk and said, "I do know the way, but... it looks like they can't resolve their current crisis. Didn't Master West Morning give you some backup items when you left? For example, something to deal with fierce strange beasts?"

Ouyang Jingjing pursed her lips and said, "We do have some, but we used them all up before."

Baishi smiled bitterly and feigned helplessness, "In that case... it's really a bit difficult."

Anxiety filled Ouyang Jingjing as she looked at the fellow disciples on the tree trunk, unsure of what to do.

"Senior Brother Lin Nan... Think of a way. If we keep this up, we'll eventually run out of energy and become their prey!"

"Senior Sister Jingjing, help! I can't hold on much longer!"

The situation below became increasingly chaotic, and the more they shouted, the faster they exhausted their energy.

Ouyang Jingjing's expression became even more anxious as she listened to these words. As she looked at one of the disciples, he suddenly screamed, finally losing his strength and falling.

Without hesitation, Ouyang Jingjing leaped down from the tree trunk, landing beside the disciple. She grabbed the tree trunk with one hand and the disciple with the other.

However, after a long battle, Ouyang Jingjing's strength was also waning. Although she managed to hold the disciple, she lacked the strength to pull him back up to the tree trunk.

Seeing this, Baishi was taken aback. If it weren't for Lin Nan and the others, he would have fought the strange beasts. But he didn't want to reveal his strength to so many disciples. So, he took out his storage bag, and with a light wave of his finger, the white fox emerged, emitting an intangible aura.

Only strange beasts could sense this aura. As the white fox appeared and the aura spread, the long-snouted crocodiles suddenly roared, trembling as they looked at Baishi's location. Seeing the faint white glow, they fled in panic.

Seeing the long-snouted crocodiles leave, the disciples were greatly surprised but ultimately relieved. They climbed down from the tree trunk, panting heavily, and looked at the direction the crocodiles had fled, seeing Baishi slowly descending from the tree trunk.

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