Chapter 51

Lin Tian didn't think much and decided to take on the task. He needed the Moon Drops to create the Wind Pattern. Completing this task would earn him eight Moon Drops, which would save him a lot of trouble. If he didn't take it now, and someone else completed it later, he would have to run thirty ordinary tasks.

These Moon Drops are something that money can't buy.

"Have you taken it?"

Mifi asked.

"Yep."

Lin Tian nodded.

Mifi took out a scroll from behind the counter and handed it to Lin Tian, saying, "This scroll contains some geographical information about the Dark Forest and introductions to the beasts there. I hope it will be useful to you." After a pause, Mifi added, "By the way, sir, a formation master has already taken this task. You'd better act quickly."

Lin Tian was puzzled, "Someone has already taken it? Then why is it still on the task board?"

"Because many tasks require a significant amount of the target item, so they generally don't limit the number of people who can take the task. After the guild receives enough of the target item, the task will be automatically removed from the board," Mifi explained. "Now, only one Yin Soul Flower is needed."

Lin Tian frowned. Only one more?

He indeed needed to speed up.

Nodding, Lin Tian put away the scroll Mifi handed him.

"Thank you. I'll be off then."

Lin Tian said to Mifi.

Mifi, with a respectful look, escorted Lin Tian to the guild's entrance, "Sir, please walk slowly. I wish you success in obtaining the Yin Soul Flower."

Lin Tian nodded and pushed the door open, walking out.

After returning to the Wu Mansion, Lin Tian packed some things and then found Su Shu, telling her that he had something to do and would be away for a few days. He asked Su Shu to keep Lin Xi company during this time. Of course, he also told Lin Xi about his departure.

On that day, Lin Tian left the Wu Mansion and headed toward the Dark Forest.

The Dark Forest is located on the westernmost edge of Fengjian City, a more dangerous haven for beasts than Qingfeng Ridge. After leaving the Nine Yang Wu Mansion, Lin Tian walked for four hours before reaching the edge of the Dark Forest. Looking out, the Dark Forest was vast and boundless, with ancient trees that were both thick and sturdy.

It was a scorching summer day, and after arriving at the Dark Forest, Lin Tian took off his black robe and changed into a white long robe, feeling much more refreshed. This was the Dark Forest, and here, he wasn't worried about the Mo family or the Xiao family setting any traps. Those two families would only set traps here if they were bored.

At this moment, many figures were gathered at the edge of the Dark Forest, and the sound of shouting could be heard. A middle-aged man was calling out to the lone martial artists around him.

"Friends, come together! More people mean more strength!"

The middle-aged man shouted.

The Dark Forest could be considered a treasure trove, with many precious herbs. Therefore, many people entered the Dark Forest daily. It was known that the Dark Forest was filled with beasts, and the fur, blood, and flesh of these beasts could be sold for money. Moreover, if one could pick a miraculous herb, it would be extremely lucky.

Of course, because of the numerous beasts, the Dark Forest was very dangerous. Many lone individuals would form teams outside the Dark Forest with other lone individuals. Once the team grew in size, their combat power would greatly increase, and ordinary beasts wouldn't dare to attack easily, thus providing more safety.

Lin Tian casually scanned the area and found that most of the people outside the Dark Forest were middle-aged, with cultivation levels generally ranging from the sixth to the eighth level of the Body Tempering stage. Lin Tian wasn't surprised by this. Although most people could only cultivate to the fifth level of the Body Tempering stage without cultivation techniques, who knew if these middle-aged people had practiced in the Wu Mansion in their youth or had been dismissed from the imperial army. This was all very normal.

Most importantly, Lin Tian didn't want to think too much about it.

"According to the scroll, the Yin Soul Flower should be about two thousand zhang from the edge of the Dark Forest, where third-level beasts are mainly found."

Lin Tian thought to himself.

Ignoring the people around him, Lin Tian entered the Dark Forest and walked forward. As soon as he entered, he felt a sense of desolation, giving a bleak feeling. The air in this old forest was thick with beastly aura, even carrying a hint of blood.

Clearly, many people had died in the Dark Forest.

Lin Tian, carrying the Guiyuan Sword, walked step by step through the old forest, his steps steady but cautious.

Soon, he had walked a hundred zhang into the Dark Forest.

At this moment, a fierce roar sounded, and a large snake with ice-like light around its body darted out.

Lin Tian's eyes narrowed, "A first-level beast, the Crimson Ice Snake."

At the Formation Master Guild, Mifi had given him a scroll with introductions to most of the beasts in the Dark Forest. On the way, Lin Tian had skimmed through it, so he naturally knew the name of this beast.

He raised his right hand and slapped it.

The Crimson Ice Snake, though large, as a first-level beast, could only match a third-level Body Tempering cultivator. It was no match for Lin Tian, who was at the seventh level of the Body Tempering stage. It was directly slapped to the ground and died on the spot. Shaking his head, Lin Tian took out the beast's core and left without caring about its corpse.

Not long after, Lin Tian had already walked a thousand zhang into the Dark Forest. During this time, he encountered several beast attacks, but they were mostly second-level beasts, which were no challenge to him.

"About a thousand zhang more."

Lin Tian muttered to himself.

At this moment, a panicked cry came from not far away. Lin Tian leaped up and landed on a thick branch of an old tree, looking in the direction of the sound. He saw a fierce beast about a zhang tall standing in front of a large old tree. This beast had fangs about two inches long, and most importantly, it had wings on its back.

"Flame-Winged Tiger."

Lin Tian whispered.

The Flame-Winged Tiger was a third-level initial beast, comparable to a seventh-level Body Tempering cultivator.

At this moment, the Flame-Winged Tiger's mouth was dripping with saliva, its eyes fixed on something below, taking steps forward as if it were stalking prey. Lowering his head slightly, Lin Tian noticed a little girl in front of the Flame-Winged Tiger. This little girl, about eleven years old, was trembling against an old tree.

With a roar, the Flame-Winged Tiger opened its mouth and lunged at the little girl.

One bite, and the little girl would surely die.

"Beast!"

Lin Tian didn't have time to think. With a low shout, the Guiyuan Sword was unsheathed, and a sharp sword beam slashed out, landing directly on the Flame-Winged Tiger's abdomen.

The Flame-Winged Tiger let out a惨叫，踉跄着后退，轰然倒地。

但只是瞬间，这头野兽又挣扎着站了起来。

毕竟是三级野兽，生命力顽强，没那么容易被杀死。

“哼！”

林天闪身，因为距离不算太远，几乎只是一晃眼就来到近前，手中长剑再次落下。这一次，他手中的归元剑直接贯入了焰翼虎的头颅，当场结束了对方的性命。

轻轻落地，林天来到小女孩面前。

小女孩的衣衫还算完整，只是沾染了不少泥土，望着她，林天有些奇怪，微微皱眉。这里可是黑暗森林，这样一个小女孩怎么会出现在这里？按理说，就算是亲人带她来历练，也不可能把这么小的女孩子一起带进来吧？

小女孩靠着老树，也在打量着林天，不过显得很拘谨。

“小妹妹，你怎么会在这里？”

沉默片刻，最终还是林天开口。

小女孩黑发如瀑，已经垂到了腰间，望着林天，茫然地摇了摇头。

“有人带你进来吗？”

林天继续问道。

可惜，小女孩依旧摇头。

接下来，林天连续问了几个问题，但小女孩都是一副很茫然的表情，要么摇头，要么纯粹盯着林天看，好像林天脸上长了花似的。

林天扶额：“那……你叫什么名字，总记得吧。”

小女孩望着林天，大眼睛眨了眨，虽然还是有些茫然，但似乎想到了什么，张了张口，半晌后才发出声音：“紫……紫精灵。”

林天松了一口气，总算这小女孩还知道自己的名字。

“紫精灵。”

这名字听起来还挺不错。

不过接下来，林天又有些无奈了，小女孩除了知道自己的名字外，不知道自己的家在哪里，不知道自己的亲人是谁，总之就是什么都不知道。

想了想，林天叹了口气：“小紫，暂时跟着大哥哥，怎么样。”

小女孩和林夕差不多大，既然在这里遇见了，他自然不能放任不管。

这样一个小女孩，独自呆在黑暗森林中，根本就毫无生机，随时都有可能被野兽吞食。

“嗯！”

小女孩点点头，显得有些开心。

“行，走吧。”

林天拉起小女孩，拍掉小女孩身上的尘土，朝着黑暗森林深处走去。

黑暗森林内的空间显得有些昏暗，和其名字倒是挺贴切，不久后，林天感觉有一阵阵剧烈的真元波动从前方传来。走出去数十丈远，林天放眼望去，只见远处有十数人正在合力围攻一头三级野兽，这野兽通体火焰，生有两颗头颅。

“双头炎火龙。”

林天微微惊讶。

双头炎火龙，这可是三级巅峰野兽，足以堪比九重体修强者了。

扫过围攻双头炎火龙的十数身影，林天发现这些人中的最强者处在八重体修，这样的实力想猎杀双头炎火龙，实在有些勉强。目光微移，他发现战场外还有一个青袍老者，这老者胸口竟佩戴着阵法师徽章，徽章下绣有一条金杠。

“一阶阵法师。”

林天低语。

前方，双头炎火龙咆哮，周身火焰交织，十数身影中顿时有人被火焰吞没，发出凄厉的惨叫，片刻间就被烧成了一截焦炭。

小女孩拉着林天的衣角，似乎被吓到了。

“没事。”

林天笑道。

没有在意这些人，林天转身，继续朝着黑暗森林深处走去。算起来，还有大约五百丈距离就能达到阴魂花的生长之地了。

“那边的小子，过来帮忙！”

就在这时，一道声音响起，那青袍老者朝着林天喝道。