Chapter 55: Chapter 53: Flowing Moon Adventurer Squad
The central region of the Moonlight Forest was an absolutely perilous place for young Spirit Cultivators. They would never set foot there unless it was absolutely necessary.
However, once news spread that the Ice Dragon Flower had appeared in Ice Dragon Valley, the young geniuses from various Sects and Noble Families began rushing recklessly toward the heart of the Moonlight Forest. They followed behind their Sect and family Elders, their sights set directly on Ice Dragon Valley.
The central Moonlight Forest, peaceful for many years, was now bustling with activity.
Ice Dragon Valley was located within a vast mountain range at the edge of the central Moonlight Forest. The range seemed endless, stretching deep into the forest’s interior.
This mountain range was covered in towering ancient trees, brimming with vitality. Spirit Beasts were numerous, Upper-grade Spirit Medicines could be found everywhere, and it was incredibly rich in rare and exotic treasures—a true treasure trove within the Moonlight Forest.
In the past, no one dared to set foot in this place. It was home to an incredibly powerful and terrifying Spirit Beast, and this entire mountain range was its domain.
But now, scouts had discovered that the Grandmaster-level Spirit Beast was gone.
Once this news got out, people swarmed toward the mountain range with even greater fervor.
Jiang Jichen, following the trail of Hex Feng’s aura, had also arrived at this mountain range.
He overheard others’ discussions, learning about the Ice Spirit Flower and that this mountain range was called Red Fire Mountain.
The mountain lived up to its name. The plants and Spirit Beasts on its peaks carried the aura of a Fire Spirit, and one could even see small volcanoes erupting from time to time. The deeper one ventured into the range, the higher the temperature rose, the denser the fire-attribute Spiritual Power became, and the more lushly the fire-attribute plants grew.
The one constant here, however, was the Moonlight Grass, which managed to grow tenaciously even on Red Fire Mountain.
’This fire-spirit aura on Red Fire Mountain feels a bit familiar. I’ve encountered it before!’
’Could this be the territory of the Red Fire Ape King who was slain by that mysterious Swordsman?’
Jiang Jichen suddenly recalled the Red Fire Ape King that had been slain by the mysterious Grey-clothed Swordsman at the edge of the central Moonlight Forest. The beast had apparently gone berserk and was cut down by the mysterious Swordsman in a single strike. It was a shocking scene, one Jiang Jichen would not forget.
A beast as powerful as the Red Fire Ape King must have come from the depths of the central Moonlight Forest and would have had its own exclusive territory.
Evidently, this Red Fire Mountain was the Red Fire Ape King’s territory.
Jiang Jichen didn’t know the exact location of Ice Dragon Valley, but that wasn’t a problem. Many teams were flocking to the area every day.
Besides the teams from various Sects and Noble Families, there were also many teams of commoner Martial Cultivators participating in the Moonlight Forest trials. On top of that, there were adventurer squads formed by Independent Cultivators.
Of course, the adventurer squads weren’t composed entirely of Loose Cultivators. Many geniuses from noble families and Sects also joined them to gain experience.
In short, an adventurer squad was an organization that was both free and complex!
Jiang Jichen, posing as a Loose Cultivator and hunter, joined a group called the Flowing Moon Adventurer Squad.
The Flowing Moon Adventurer Squad had thirteen members. Its leader was a large man in his thirties named Houu Han, who also had the highest cultivation in the group at the Innate Second Realm Perfect Realm.
Five others, also in their thirties, were seasoned adventurers, but their cultivation ranged from the Ninth Level Mortal Realm to the Innate First Realm.
The remaining members were all young adults in their twenties. The weakest among them was at the Eighth-level Mortal Initial Realm. None were novices and had likely participated in several missions before.
The most eye-catching person on the team was undoubtedly a female adventurer.
Su Fei. She was the squad’s deputy leader, appeared to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight, and had a devilishly curvy figure beneath her leather battle armor. Her features were also stunningly beautiful.
But beyond her looks, no one dared to overlook her cultivation at the early-stage Innate Second Layer!
Aside from Su Fei, there was another young man in the team, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, named Song Zian. He possessed a cultivation at the Innate First Realm Perfect Realm. His background was a mystery, and he was clearly an extraordinary individual.
Jiang Jichen had been able to join their team because he told Su Fei he could help them avoid the Fire Ape Spirit Fiends!
In the Red Fire Mountain Range, though the Red Fire Ape King was dead, the fur it had shed had been transformed by the Earth Fire Spirit Poison into monstrous Fire Ape Spirit Fiends, which had already killed many people.
Moreover, the deeper one ventured into the Red Fire Mountain Range, the more numerous and powerful the Fire Ape Spirit Fiends became. Even experts at the Innate Third Layer preferred to avoid them if at all possible.
"A mere Seventh-level Mortal Warrior, the weakest person on the team... I don’t believe this kid has the ability to avoid the Fire Ape Spirit Fiends!"
A young adventurer next to Song Zian spoke coldly as Jiang Jichen led the way at the front of the group.
It wasn’t just this young adventurer; the others didn’t believe him either.
After all, even their strongest member, Captain Houu Han, couldn’t detect the Fire Ape Spirit Fiends in advance. They had been ambushed several times; the squad originally had sixteen people, but three had died, reducing their number to the current thirteen.
The Fire Ape Spirit Fiends they had encountered so far weren’t exceptionally strong, but they burst from the ground to attack without warning, making them impossible to guard against. Even an expert like Houu Han, at the Innate Second Realm Perfect Realm, couldn’t react in time to save his comrades.
This was why Su Fei had agreed to let him join when she heard Jiang Jichen could guide them past the Fire Ape Spirit Fiends. She had even promised him a share of whatever the squad acquired.
Of course, if she discovered Jiang Jichen was lying, Su Fei would kill him without a moment’s hesitation. This was also why she was walking right beside him.
’Besides, the boy is only at the Seventh-level Mortal Warrior Realm. How could he possibly dare to deceive us?’
’If the boy really was deceiving them, she could annihilate him with a flick of her finger.’
The gulf between the Seventh-level Mortal Warrior Realm and the Innate Second Realm was as vast and insurmountable as that between heaven and earth.
"Little Brother Jiang, if you can really guide us past the Fire Ape Spirit Fiends’ attacks, I’ll guarantee your safety. You’ll get your share of the team’s spoils, and your big sister here might even have an extra reward for you!"
Su Fei murmured, leaning close to Jiang Jichen’s ear.
Jiang Jichen knew that this woman, for all her open and carefree airs, was far from simple. A cold intent lay hidden in the depths of her eyes.
He gathered himself and gave a bashful smile. "For Sister Su Fei’s sake, I won’t let the Fire Ape Spirit Fiends get anywhere near us."
Hearing his words, Su Fei laughed with delight. She reached out and pinched his smooth, pale cheek. "Keep it up, Little Jiang!"
Faced with the mercurial Su Fei, Jiang Jichen was left speechless. He could only circulate his Divine Sense to scan their surroundings and silently lead the way.
Behind them, Song Zian watched the apparent intimacy between Jiang Jichen and Su Fei, and a vicious killing intent flashed in his eyes.
