Shocking Change

Seeing Chen Jing fully equipped in his leather armor, Zhuang Huan finally spoke: "Xiao Jing, although you are now a Second Blood Martial Artist, this is only your second time hunting, so you are still considered a novice."

"This time we are heading into the heart of Cold Mountain, where the dangers far exceed the habitat of the Green-skinned Horned Pig we encountered last time. Therefore, the rules remain the same: follow the arrangements made by myself and Zhuang Tao throughout the entire trip. No acting on your own initiative. Do you understand?"

"I understand."

Chen Jing nodded immediately in agreement.

Chen Jing had never been the type of person to become complacent after achieving a small measure of success.

He understood that hunting was the specialty of Zhuang Huan and the other hunters; acting rashly would not only potentially delay their progress but could also implicate the entire team.

Therefore, professional matters should be left to the professionals, and following orders was the most reliable choice.

Seeing Chen Jing so steady and sensible, without a trace of the arrogance often seen in young martial artists after a breakthrough, Zhuang Huan felt a sudden sense of relief.

He had previously worried that Chen Jing might be like other young martial artists who, once they broke through a realm, would become so arrogant that they would disregard the words of others.

Now it seemed his worries were unfounded.

After the group rested briefly and checked their weapons, equipment, dry rations, and water, Zhuang Huan led the way. The hunting party of over a dozen people filed out of the Zhuang Family gates, marching in a grand procession toward the south city gate.

During the journey, Zhuang Tao deliberately slowed his pace to walk beside Chen Jing, patiently explaining the situation at Cold Mountain as they went. From the terrain and topography to the exotic beasts they might encounter, he detailed everything, helping Chen Jing familiarize himself with the hunting environment in advance.

Chen Jing listened intently, but suddenly a question occurred to him, and he asked: "By the way, Senior Brother Zhuang, we martial artists have clear divisions of realms, but do exotic beasts have similar classification standards?"

"Naturally, they do."

Zhuang Tao nodded in response: "However, our current understanding of exotic beasts is not yet comprehensive, so we can only roughly divide them into grades."

"Take the Green-skinned Horned Pig we hunted last time; it belongs to the most basic category of common exotic beasts. The blood energy contained within its body is only useful to ordinary people or a First Blood Martial Artist; for a Second Blood Martial Artist, the nourishing effect is already negligible."

"The Three-Eyed White Snake that provided the leather armor you are wearing, as well as the Spotted Flower Fox meat that Master previously rewarded you with, both belong to rare exotic beasts."

"The blood energy of such exotic beasts is pure and potent. Not only does it have an excellent nourishing effect on a Second Blood Martial Artist, but even a Third Blood Martial Artist can benefit from consuming it."

Zhuang Tao paused, then added: "However, the grade of these exotic beasts cannot be determined by their appearance alone. Many exotic beasts look unremarkable but actually possess immense blood energy; others look fierce and menacing, yet are hollow inside."

"Only by hunting and tasting them yourself, and feeling how their blood energy aids your cultivation, can you accurately distinguish their grade. Therefore, most of the information about exotic beasts currently in circulation is based on the experience of the older generation of hunters."

"But there is a simple way to judge."

Zhuang Tao changed the subject, his tone becoming more colloquial: "Generally speaking, the more strange and peculiar an exotic beast's body is—for example, having extra eyes or scales—the more abundant the blood energy it contains, and the rarer it is."

After listening to Zhuang Tao's detailed explanation, Chen Jing felt a sudden sense of clarity.

His previous understanding of exotic beasts had been limited to scattered impressions, but now it had been organized into a clear framework. Even if it was only a rough classification, it was enough to make judgments while hunting and avoid blindly walking into a fatal trap.

The two talked in low voices as they traveled.

Before they knew it, the surrounding scenery had quietly changed.

The official road beneath their feet gradually disappeared, and the terrain became undulating and uneven.

The farmland and villages that were once visible had long been left behind. In their field of vision, there was nothing left but vast stretches of withered yellow grass and scattered, jagged rocks, with an air of desolation rushing toward them.

Not long after, the group arrived at the outskirts of Cold Mountain.

Chen Jing scanned the area and immediately recognized the familiar path ahead; it was the same direction they had taken when hunting the Green-skinned Horned Pig last time.

Only this time, the team did not turn onto the old path but continued deeper into the heart of Cold Mountain.

Along the way, they relied on the beast-repellent powder that Zhuang Huan had prepared in advance.

The grayish-white powder was sprinkled around the team from time to time, mixing with a pungent odor that slowly diffused into the air, driving away those low-level exotic beasts with keen senses.

As a result, the journey was surprisingly smooth, and they did not encounter a single significant disturbance.

Without realizing it, the sky began to darken, and Chen Jing and his party had arrived at the edge of the heart of Cold Mountain.

As the sun set, the golden afterglow spilled over the rolling mountains of Cold Mountain.

Zhuang Huan looked up at the sky, his brows furrowing slightly.

He immediately raised his hand to signal the team to stop: "It is getting late. We will set up camp here and rest, then head deeper into the heart of the mountain tomorrow."

"Understood!"

The hunters responded in unison and immediately dispersed to find a suitable location to set up camp.

Soon, an open space with slightly higher ground and sparse, low-lying shrubs was selected.

The area was open, without tall obstructions, and provided an excellent view, allowing them to detect any movement at the slightest sign of trouble during the night.

At the same time, the ground was dry and level, making it convenient for building fires and keeping watch—an excellent choice for camping in the wild.

As the twilight deepened, several campfires were lit one after another.

The hunters sat around the fires, chewing on their dry rations and whispering about their experiences and observations from the hunt. Occasionally, hearty laughter broke out, easing the tense atmosphere that had persisted throughout the journey.

Unlike the unfamiliar and restrained distance of the previous hunt, this time, things were noticeably livelier around Chen Jing.

Many hunters took the initiative to approach him, their eyes filled with undisguised curiosity and envy.

After Zhuang Tao's explanation earlier, they all knew that the Chen Jing before them had already stepped into the Second Blood realm.

At such an age, with such speed, it was rare indeed—not just among hunters, but even within the various Fist Academy circles.

The group hurriedly gathered around Chen Jing, asking, "Brother Chen, how did you manage to break through from First Blood to Second Blood back then?"

"Are there any tricks to condensing your vital energy and blood?"

Questions erupted one after another.

Chen Jing did not hold back. Drawing from his own cultivation experience, he highlighted the key points one must pay attention to when condensing vital energy and blood and pushing through bottlenecks.

Chen Jing did not use flowery language, but every word hit the mark, pointing directly to the crux of cultivation. The surrounding hunters nodded repeatedly, their expressions gradually becoming serious.

Although most of the techniques Chen Jing practiced were unorthodox, his understanding of how to circulate vital energy and blood and how much the body could endure was a genuine Second Blood level of understanding. Naturally, it was more than enough to guide these hunters.

"Brother Chen reached Second Blood at such a young age; these insights are truly solid!"

A bearded hunter was the first to clap, laughing heartily, "I've been stuck at the peak of First Blood for three years. Hearing you say this, I feel like I've suddenly seen the light. I'll definitely give it a good try later!"

"That's for sure!"

A lean hunter nearby nodded repeatedly, chiming in, "If it were anyone else, once they reached a higher realm, their eyes would be fixed on the top of their heads. Who would still have the patience to guide us? With this kind of character, Brother Chen's future achievements will definitely be extraordinary!"

Everyone chimed in, one after another, praising Chen Jing incessantly.

Under the flickering light of the campfire, their faces, tanned and weathered by the elements, were filled with sincerity and admiration.

Chen Jing felt a bit uncomfortable with the praise and could only wave his hands with a smile, "You all flatter me. These are just shallow insights. If they can be of any help to everyone, then that is for the best."

Zhuang Tao sat to the side, watching this scene, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

He had known that Chen Jing was steady and reserved, but he hadn't expected him to be so natural and harmonious when dealing with these straightforward, rough men.

Unknowingly, his estimation of Chen Jing in his heart rose a few notches.

On the other side, Zhuang Huan leaned against a protruding rock, arms crossed, eyes closed to rest, appearing indifferent to everything around him.

Yet, when the sound of the group's discussion drifted to his ears from time to time, his eyelids twitched slightly. He opened them a crack, his gaze landing on Chen Jing, and after a brief pause, he closed them again.

Just then, a chilling mountain breeze swept out from the depths of the low grass without warning.

The campfire was buffeted by the wind, the flames dimming abruptly as sparks scattered and flickered uncertainly.

The laughter ceased instantly.

The hunters' expressions changed in unison. Almost instinctively, they grabbed their hunting forks and machetes, quickly closing ranks, their eyes locked on the patch of grass swallowed by the night.

"What is it?"

The bearded hunter let out a low shout, his fingers tightening. His hunting knife glinted coldly in the firelight as his eyes scanned the undulating shadows of the grass like a hawk.

The next instant, Zhuang Huan suddenly opened his eyes. His previously relaxed posture tensed abruptly, his vital energy and blood surging faintly as he shouted in a deep voice, "Alert! It's a beast!"

Before his voice had even faded, the change occurred.

A black shadow suddenly erupted from the shadows of the grass, darting out almost flush with the ground. Its speed was terrifying, like an arrow released from a bow, carrying a thick, fishy stench as it lunged straight at the crowd by the campfire!

The group felt a blur before their eyes, unable to even make out the creature's outline, when a shrill, miserable scream tore through the night.

"Ah!"

The hunter closest to it couldn't dodge in time and was struck head-on by the black shadow.

Sharp claws tore fiercely across his shoulder, and blood splattered instantly.

The hunter groaned, stumbling back a few steps, barely able to keep his footing.

In the firelight, three claw marks that reached the bone appeared on the hunter's shoulder, the flesh torn open and blood gushing out like a fountain.

"Shadow Wolf!"

Zhuang Tao's pupils shrank. He recognized the beast by the wounds at a glance and hurriedly shouted, "This beast is extremely fast! It loves to ambush those who are alone in the grass!"

"Don't scatter! Stick together!"

The Shadow Wolf had succeeded in its first strike, but it did not linger.

With a sharp, piercing hiss from its throat, its figure flickered, and it vanished back into the undulating shadows of the grass.

Seeing this, everyone stood up, weapons pointed outward, forming a circle.

The atmosphere by the campfire became tense to the breaking point. Pairs of eyes remained locked on the depths of the dark grass, and no one dared to let their guard down for even a second.