Making Friends

Yuan Ming dug a pit by the lake and buried the body. Standing before the somewhat desolate small mound, he remained in a daze for a long time.

"You should have already reincarnated. In your next life, I hope you are no longer a beast slave. This path of cultivation is too cruel; it's better to be a carefree mortal."

"Today, I am here to bury your remains. If something happens to me in the future, who will collect my body?"

"Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; it's the law of the jungle. If I cannot escape the identity of a beast slave and join Jade Luo Cave through my own efforts, my fate in the future might be worse than yours."

Yuan Ming muttered a few words to the small mound, as if reminding himself of the harsh reality and simultaneously strengthening his resolve to return to the Central Plains.

He did not transform into the White Ape and continued to move forward, quickly leaving the lake area and entering a dense forest.

On the branch of a large tree not far away, a silver shadow was crouched. It was the Silver Cat from before, its slender pupils fixed on Yuan Ming's retreating back.

The surrounding light was dim, and Yuan Ming began to slow his pace, walking very cautiously.

Suddenly, he stopped and half-crouched.

He had discovered another set of footprints on the ground. Judging by their size, they belonged to the person he had been tracking earlier.

Yuan Ming slowly followed the footprints. Not long after, the sounds of a struggle drifted from ahead, mixed with the roars of Fierce Beasts.

Yuan Ming's eyebrows rose, and he quickened his pace, soon reaching the source of the sounds.

It was an open clearing in the forest. Two towering Exotic Beasts were locked in a desperate battle. Several large trees had fallen, and dust and smoke continuously billowed within the clearing.

One of the combatants was a Green Wolf Beast Slave, standing upright. It was a full ten feet tall, with thick limbs that exuded an oppressive aura, its might even surpassing that of the White Ape Yuan Ming had transformed into.

The wolf beast had narrow eyes, its pale green pupils filled with coldness, but more so with calmness. It was clearly a Furred Beast Slave.

The other Exotic Beast was a Black Crocodile, lying low to the ground. It was about thirty feet long, its entire body covered in thick scales. Its yellow eyes radiated hunger and ferocity.

This crocodile was not only enormous but also possessed extraordinary strength. Its thick, long tail whipped like a black steel whip, leaving deep gouges in the ground with every swing. Its powerful jaws could easily snap trees as thick as barrels, making it significantly more formidable than the brown bear encountered previously.

The Green Wolf Beast Slave was clearly no match for the Black Crocodile in terms of strength but excelled in its exceptional agility and astonishing leaping ability. It continuously dodged the black crocodile's attacks, seizing opportunities to strike with its four sickle-like claws.

However, the black crocodile's scales were exceptionally tough. The green wolf's claws could only leave shallow scratches, with no blood even seeping out. The battle had reached a stalemate.

"This Green Wolf Beast Slave is quite powerful. Its cultivation should be above mine." Yuan Ming, who had initially intended to hide and observe, transformed into the White Ape and openly revealed himself after a moment's thought.

The Green Wolf Beast Slave immediately noticed Yuan Ming's presence, its cold eyes sweeping over him.

Although the Furred Beast Slaves in this mountain forest were all collecting vital essence for Jade Luo Cave, their relationships were far from harmonious. Open strife and hidden struggles, even murder for possessions, occurred frequently. Jade Luo Cave paid no attention to these matters, allowing them to unfold.

Now, a White Ape Beast Slave suddenly appearing to spy clearly intended to wait until it and the Black Crocodile Fierce Beast were both weakened before reaping the benefits.

However, the Green Wolf Beast Slave found it somewhat strange. For such underhanded tactics, one would typically ambush from the side, waiting for an opportunity to strike. What was the White Ape Beast Slave's intention in appearing so openly?

The Black Crocodile seized the moment of the Green Wolf Beast Slave's distraction and spat.

A stream of water, as bright as a blade, shot from the Black Crocodile Fierce Beast's mouth like an arrow, slicing towards the Green Wolf Beast Slave's legs with a speed that almost left afterimages.

The Green Wolf Beast Slave seemed to have anticipated this. It leaped upwards, its massive body rising three feet, easily evading the water stream.

It landed shortly after. Whether by chance or design, it landed on the Black Crocodile's back and immediately moved its right leg.

Its claw transformed into a green afterimage, slashing towards the Black Crocodile's eyes.

The Black Crocodile was greatly alarmed and hastily turned its head to dodge.

But the Green Wolf Beast Slave's strike was too swift. The Black Crocodile couldn't completely avoid it, and its nose was scratched.

The crocodile's body was covered in scales, but its nose was relatively vulnerable. It immediately sustained five long wounds, bleeding profusely.

The Black Crocodile let out a furious roar, its massive body rolling on the spot, kicking up dust and smoke.

The Green Wolf Beast Slave, wary of the Black Crocodile's brute strength, quickly leaped away.

"Roar!"

The Black Crocodile's yellow eyes fixed on the Green Wolf Beast Slave, a hint of blood appearing in them. Its originally black crocodile skin began to show strange blood-red patterns, and its body continued to swell.

"What kind of ability is this?" Yuan Ming, seeing this from afar, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"It's a Bloodline Crocodile!" the Green Wolf Beast Slave exclaimed, its voice laced with surprise.

The Black Crocodile's physical transformation was completed in an instant. It had grown by thirty percent, its scales now adorned with numerous blood-red patterns, and the wounds on its nose had stopped bleeding.

It slammed its four claws onto the ground, and its massive body, carrying a gust of foul wind, lunged towards the Green Wolf Beast Slave. The airflow within several yards roared.

Seeing the crocodile's imposing presence, the Green Wolf Beast Slave dared not confront it directly and dodged to the side.

However, the Black Crocodile's reaction speed had greatly improved after its transformation. It slammed its tail on the ground, instantly changing direction and continuing its pursuit of the Green Wolf Beast Slave. Its speed not only did not diminish but actually increased, catching up to the other in the blink of an eye.

Its jaws flashed like lightning, almost leaving afterimages, and bit down on the Green Wolf Beast Slave's left arm. One of its thick forelegs pressed down on the Green Wolf Beast Slave's body, threatening to topple it.

At that very moment, a green shadow shot out from a distance, heading straight for the Black Crocodile's left eye.

Although engaged in battle, the Black Crocodile had not lost its composure. It slightly tilted its head, and the green shadow struck the scales near its left eye. It was a green bamboo tube.

Bang!

The bamboo tube burst, and a pale purple liquid splashed out, drenching the Black Crocodile's head and dripping into its eyes.

The Black Crocodile's eyes throbbed with pain, rapidly turning black and rotting. It let out a pained scream, and its jaws immediately opened.

The Green Wolf Beast Slave quickly pulled its left arm free, breaking out in a cold sweat.

However, this creature was extremely fierce. Not only did it not retreat, but it seized the opportunity to lunge at the Black Crocodile, extending its right claw.

A flash of blood-red light appeared!

The Green Wolf Beast Slave's right hand had pierced into the Black Crocodile's right eye, tearing out its eyeball.

The Black Crocodile let out a world-shattering roar, its massive body thrashing violently. Its tail whipped around wildly, smashing several nearby trees as if they were twigs, its power terrifying.

The Green Wolf Beast Slave had already leaped away, unaffected by the Black Crocodile's frenzied attack. It looked towards Yuan Ming in the distance.

It could see clearly that the bamboo tube had been thrown by Yuan Ming.

Yuan Ming nodded at the Green Wolf Beast Slave, remaining where he stood, showing no intention of approaching.

The Black Crocodile rampaged furiously for a while, the bloodlines on its body rapidly receding, and its size returning to normal.

"So this mutation has a time limit," Yuan Ming thought to himself.

As the Black Crocodile's body recovered, so did its sanity. Its four limbs moved like lightning, pounding the ground and making it tremble as it fled into the distance.

With both eyes gone, it was no match for the Green Wolf Beast Slave; staying would only mean certain death.

However, the Black Crocodile, having lost its eyes, couldn't judge its direction. It hadn't run far before it slammed headfirst into a giant tree as large as a millstone.

With a deafening "boom," the giant tree cracked and toppled over.

The Black Crocodile was also thrown to the ground, exposing its soft, pale belly.

The Green Wolf Beast Slave was clearly an experienced hunter. It immediately pounced forward, its wolf claws digging into the crocodile's belly and pulling with force.

Several long gashes were ripped open in the crocodile's abdomen, blood gushing out and spilling onto the ground along with its innards.

The Black Crocodile struggled madly once more, but this time, with fatal wounds, it quickly ceased all movement.

The Green Wolf Beast Slave bent down to collect the Black Crocodile's blood in a storage pouch, while also casting a wary glance at Yuan Ming, who was not far away.

Yuan Ming remained still, showing no unusual behavior. Seeing this, the Green Wolf Beast Slave's gaze softened slightly.

"Thank you for your assistance just now. I am Hagon. May I know your name, friend?" the Green Wolf Beast Slave asked, quickly finishing its task and cupping its hands towards Yuan Ming.

"I am Yuan Ming," Yuan Ming replied, returning the gesture.

"So it's Brother Yuan. This is not a place for conversation. Let's find somewhere else to talk," Hagon said.

The commotion from the recent battle had been immense, and Yuan Ming naturally agreed.

The two quickly left the area and soon arrived by a lake.

Yuan Ming's brow twitched slightly; this lake was where he had discovered the black beast hide.

Hagon, covered in dust, washed himself in the lake. He then performed a hand seal to dispel the Fur Transformation Technique, revealing his true form: a young man in his early twenties, tall, with blond hair and blue eyes – a typical appearance for someone from the Southern Border.

Yuan Ming had also removed his ape skin, revealing his own appearance.

"Brother Yuan, are you from the Central Plains?" Hagon asked, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"That's right. Due to some fortunate circumstances, I entered Jade Luo Cave and became a beast slave," Yuan Ming replied without concealment.

"I see. But Brother Yuan looks a bit unfamiliar," Hagon said with an "oh," not probing Yuan Ming's identity further.

"Indeed, I haven't been here long. I happened to be passing by and saw Brother Hagon fighting the Black Crocodile, so I stopped to watch out of curiosity. I hope Brother Hagon doesn't mind," Yuan Ming said amicably.

"Not at all. If it weren't for Brother Yuan's timely help, I would have been severely injured, if not dead. I should be the one thanking you," Hagon stated solemnly.

Seeing Hagon's sincere attitude, Yuan Ming felt even more determined to befriend him.

The two chatted further and gradually became more familiar with each other.

From their conversation, Yuan Ming learned that Hagon had been a furred beast slave for two years, making him quite experienced.

"Brother Hagon, how much do you know about the sect Jade Luo Cave?" he asked about the matter that concerned him.

"My experience is the same as Brother Yuan's. I was inexplicably captured and brought here. I don't know much about Jade Luo Cave, only that it's a major sect in the Southern Border with numerous disciples and three Cave Masters at the Core Formation Stage. They dominate the vast mountain range known as the Hundred Thousand Mountains, possessing immense power," Hagon said.

"The Hundred Thousand Mountains, does that refer to this forest we are in?" Yuan Ming asked, recalling the Southern Border script on the large stone.

"Precisely," Hagon nodded.

Yuan Ming turned to look around. Mountain ranges stretched in all directions, disappearing into the horizon. He couldn't see the end of the mountain range.

"The Hundred Thousand Mountains is one of the largest mountain ranges in the Southern Border. You won't be able to see its end from here," Hagon chuckled heartily.

Yuan Ming smiled faintly. He wasn't trying to see the end of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, but rather to reorient himself within the mountain range controlled by Jade Luo Cave.

"Brother Hagon, within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, how many furred beast slaves like us are there?" Yuan Ming asked after withdrawing his gaze.