Forming Alliances

"There are Furred Beast Slaves collecting Fierce Beast essence blood all over the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. I don't know the exact numbers. I only recognize people from a few nearby areas; I haven't been in contact with anyone from further away." Hagon could tell Yuan Ming had helped him just now because he wanted to gather some information from him, so he didn't mind.

Yuan Ming nodded slowly and asked Hagon a few more questions about the Furred Beast Slaves, receiving satisfactory answers.

"Brother Hagon, I have another question. I've been practicing the Fur Transformation Technique for several months now. A few days ago, when I used it, a sudden urge for bloodlust and slaughter surged from within me, nearly controlling my will. Do you know what's going on?" Yuan Ming asked about the matter that concerned him the most.

"It's normal, it's the backlash from using the Fur Transformation Technique," Hagon said calmly.

"Backlash?" Yuan Ming's expression tightened as he immediately pressed for details.

"The Fur Transformation Technique is a unique secret art of the Jade Luo Cave. It allows for the fusion of specially prepared beast hides with those who have just begun their path of cultivation, granting them power sufficient to contend with demonic beasts. It is indeed a potent spell, but this power is not cultivated by ourselves, and it comes with a strong side effect," Hagon sighed and said.

"The side effect, is that the backlash you just mentioned?" Yuan Ming quickly asked.

"The beast hides we carry were refined by the Jade Luo Cave using secret methods from the hides of Fierce Beasts found in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. These hides contain the primal demonic energy and malevolent aura of the Fierce Beasts, which will gradually erode our bodies. When it reaches a certain level, backlash will occur, and eventually, our bodies will completely merge with the beast hides, turning us into monsters that only know how to kill," Hagon's voice held a hint of bitterness.

"Is there any way to avoid the backlash of the Fur Transformation Technique?" Yuan Ming asked.

"No. As long as you use the Fur Transformation Technique, the fierce energy within the beast hides will continuously erode our bodies. The more you use the Fur Transformation Technique, the greater the risk of backlash. In the end, you will completely become a bloodthirsty monster. This is a path of no return; no one can escape it," a flicker of pain crossed Hagon's eyes.

"Then, how long can we Furred Beast Slaves usually last?" Yuan Ming's expression turned grave as he asked.

"If a Beast Slave hunts only five beasts per month and avoids using the Fur Transformation Technique as much as possible, they can last for four or five years, or even longer. But if the Fur Transformation Technique is used frequently, many people go completely mad within one or two years," Hagon said.

"The Jade Luo Cave just lets this happen?" Yuan Ming's heart sank, and after a moment of silence, he said.

"Why would the Jade Luo Cave care about the lives of us Furred Beast Slaves? Oh, right, if one can collect a thousand portions of essence blood before going completely mad, they might be accepted as registered disciples, and then they can stop using the Fur Transformation Technique." After saying this, a self-mocking smile appeared on Hagon's lips.

"Did you also accept this task?" Yuan Ming asked.

"Heh heh, as long as those who perform well in the first few months, the elders managing us will privately offer this task, urging us to collect as much essence blood as possible in a short period." Hagon chuckled and glanced sideways at Yuan Ming.

"If it's as you said, I fear we'll go mad before we can even gather enough beast blood," Yuan Ming said with a wry smile.

"Not necessarily. There are those with exceptional talent. If they haven't lost their minds, it means their willpower is strong and firm. The Jade Luo Cave likely wouldn't refuse such people," Hagon replied noncommittally.

Yuan Ming nodded silently. Just as he was about to ask something else, his brows suddenly shot up, and he looked towards the dense forest behind him. Simultaneously, he used the Fur Transformation Technique and transformed into a White Ape.

Hagon suddenly turned around, his form shifting into that of a Green Wolf.

Five figures darted out from the dense forest. They were all Furred Beast Slaves, encircling Yuan Ming and Hagon in a fan formation, their movements extremely agile.

The encirclement was formed almost immediately after Yuan Ming and the other had completed their transformations.

Yuan Ming frowned. He hadn't expected it to be so difficult to find a single Furred Beast Slave earlier, but now, after only venturing into the forest for a short while, he had encountered six.

However, these five people clearly meant trouble.

"It's you!" Hagon said leisurely, clearly recognizing them.

"Brother Hagon, we meet again. I saw the carcass of a Bloodline Crocodile over there just now. You hunted it, right? It seems your strength has improved again. Impressive, truly impressive," a Red Tiger Beast Slave stepped forward, glanced at Yuan Ming, and then said to Hagon with a smile.

This person was huge, even larger than Hagon's Green Wolf form. His muscles were bulging, filled with power, clearly indicating he was the leader of this group.

"Zan Bai, you've become even more hypocritical since joining the Green Wolf Gang. Speak, what do you want?" Hagon snorted.

"Hagon, you stole my prey last time. This time, I'll make you pay tenfold!" another Gray Wolf Beast Slave stared intently at Hagon, gritting his teeth.

"Wu Li, we discovered that spotted leopard at the same time, didn't we? You couldn't kill it, so are you not allowed to let others make a move?" Hagon chuckled as he looked at the Gray Wolf Beast Slave.

"Nonsense! You clearly stole my prey," the Gray Wolf Beast Slave, Wu Li, retorted angrily.

Zan Bai shot Wu Li a sharp glance, seemingly blaming him for speaking out of turn.

Wu Li's heart skipped a beat, and he took two steps back, no longer daring to speak.

"Hagon, let's not beat around the bush. You've provoked our people multiple times. If you're not punished severely, how will others see me? Considering we both joined the Jade Luo Cave, hand over your blood storage bag, and I'll let you go," Zan Bai said calmly.

"Really?" Hagon seemed tempted.

"Of course. You should know that we of the Blackwood Tribe are the most trustworthy," Zan Bai said proudly, patting his chest with one hand.

"Alright, since I'm surrounded today, I admit defeat. Catch." Hagon took out a blood storage bag from his bosom and threw it towards Zan Bai.

Yuan Ming was slightly surprised. The bottom of this blood storage bag had a bit of bloodstain; it wasn't the one Hagon had used before. Could it be something he had taken from a defeated Furred Beast Slave?

Hagon seemed to notice Yuan Ming's gaze and looked over. He placed his left hand behind his back and pointed towards the front left.

Upon seeing this, Yuan Ming's expression became thoughtful.

Zan Bai also looked surprised. He subconsciously caught the blood storage bag and suddenly felt something was off about its texture. The bottom of the blood storage bag had a small opening, and inside, a small, dark ball was tucked away.

He looked closely, and his expression suddenly turned to shock and anger.

The black ball exploded with a "bang," and a large amount of black smoke appeared out of nowhere, instantly engulfing an area of over ten zhang by the lake.

"Go!" Hagon's form turned into a green blur as he darted towards the front left.

Although Yuan Ming couldn't see Hagon, he immediately ran in that direction, easily escaping the encirclement of the Red Tiger Beast Slave and the others.

"Haha, Zan Bai, we'll meet again!" Hagon roared with laughter, leading Yuan Ming into the forest.

The moment Yuan Ming entered the forest, he quickly took two stones from the bundle on his back and threw them to the left and right.

The two stones shot out, hitting the trees in the left and right directions, causing the leaves to rustle.

Figures flickered within the black smoke. Zan Bai and the others flew out, but Hagon and Yuan Ming were no longer by the lake. Only three swaying bushes remained, making it impossible to determine which direction they had gone.

Zan Bai's eyes were filled with fury, and he clenched his fists.

Yuan Ming followed Hagon and fled for seven or eight miles. Seeing that no one was chasing them, he finally stopped.

"Hagon, who were those people?" Yuan Ming asked, panting heavily.

"Those guys are from the Green Wolf Gang. Like us, they're also Furred Beast Slaves. Their leader is called Wu Bao, and he leads over a dozen people who've formed a gang to specifically rob others," Hagon replied, leaning against an old tree.

"They don't dare hunt Fierce Beasts themselves, but instead set their sights on others. What's the difference between that and being a bandit?" Yuan Ming said dismissively.

"Actually, there are quite a few groups like them. Most of them choose to hunt beasts together, while only a minority engage in robbery. Yuan Ming, with your skills and courage, you might as well join a group. It would be easier," Hagon sighed and said.

"And you, are you part of a group?" Yuan Ming raised an eyebrow and asked.

Hagon shook his head and said, "I joined one before, but I left later."

"Why?" Yuan Ming asked, confused.

"We have different paths and cannot plan together. Once a group is formed, there will inevitably be a leader and a hierarchy. When hunting beasts, it's true that there are greater advantages, and one can avoid casualties to a greater extent. But when it comes to sharing the spoils, it's not so harmonious. The leader and his cronies naturally get more, as for the others... hehe." Hagon didn't finish his sentence, but Yuan Ming already understood.

"So, it's better to go it alone then," Yuan Ming said with a smile.

"Regardless, surviving here is not an easy task. Let me remind you, don't trust others too easily, and don't help others too easily. When you're truly at your wit's end, people are capable of anything," Hagon said with a complex expression.

"I have my own principles for how I act," Yuan Ming nodded and said with a smile.

Hearing this, Hagon didn't say anything more.

After resting for a while, Yuan Ming suddenly spoke and asked, "Hagon, what was that thing you threw earlier that released a lot of smoke?"

"That thing is called a Smoke Bomb. It's something the registered disciples from Jade Luo Cave came up with, and it's very useful when escaping," Hagon replied.

"Smoke Bomb? Something created by Jade Luo Cave's registered disciples? How did you get it?" Yuan Ming asked, confused.

"What, you haven't been to Toad Valley yet?" Hagon asked, somewhat surprised.

"No," Yuan Ming shook his head.

"Alright, I have nothing else to do today, so I'll take you to broaden your horizons. It's a place for bartering. You can exchange items from Fierce Beasts, or even just blood food, for things you need," Hagon smiled, got up from the ground, and patted the dirt off his pants.

"Isn't that just a marketplace? There's actually a place like that here?" Yuan Ming's curiosity was greatly piqued.

"It was set up by some Jade Luo Cave disciples. They sometimes need things that people like us risk our lives to get from Fierce Beasts. Let's go, it's not far from here, we can get there in half an hour," Hagon said with a grin.