As they entered the outskirts of the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, casting dappled light and shadow on the ground. A breeze carrying the raw scent of vegetation and a faint trace of magical beasts brushed their faces. Shiheng, Huohe, and the others-seven in all-stepped forward together, formally entering the mountain range's outer region.
The moment they set foot there, a powerful, primeval aura swept over them, heavy and oppressive. The dense forest around them was deep and secluded, the terrain uneven. Every patch of grass and every gully concealed unpredictable dangers. The unknown and the peril surrounding them made everyone instinctively tense, their entire bearing turning wary.
Among the group, the burly Huohe knitted his brows and surveyed the seemingly endless mountain forests. With a note of concern in his voice, he broke the silence:
"We'll probably be stuck in these mountains for quite a while this time. I reckon we won't be able to withdraw until the higher-ups decide who gets that Level Nine Magical Beast cub. Our immediate priority is to sort out food, water, and shelter. Without a stable base behind us, there's no way we can carry out the clearing mission."
Every word was practical, pinpointing their most pressing concern. The other six nodded in complete agreement. In the danger-ridden Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, if they could not even secure basic shelter and sustenance, there was no question of fulfilling their important duties of clearing out magical beasts and guarding against the Shadow Alliance.
Having reached an agreement, they wasted no more time, quickly dividing the work and each taking on their assigned duties.
As level-five warriors, Huohe and Xifaman had the greatest fighting strength and volunteered to scout the distribution of magical beasts nearby. Weapons in hand, they cautiously ventured into the nearby dense forest, carefully checking for signs of potential magical beasts in the surrounding area;
Relying on their keen perception as mages, the sisters Nalan Ruoshui and Nalan Jingyu searched around the camp for level ground that would be easy to defend, difficult to attack, and convenient to keep watch over, settling on a temporary place to stay;
Shiheng took the young water mage Kelin Xiaoman to a supply point near the camp at the edge of the mountain range to buy food, dry rations, cookware, and other daily necessities, also picking up essential items such as healing potions and fire starters.
The panic and uncertainty they had felt upon first entering the forest vanished in moments. Everyone understood their responsibilities and threw themselves wholeheartedly into the work, moving briskly and methodically. Before long, their initial preparations were in good order, and a simple temporary camp had begun to take shape.
By dusk, darkness shrouded the entire mountain forest. Insect calls and beast roars rose and fell among the trees, lending it an added air of menace.
The seven sat around the campfire at their temporary camp, the flickering flames lighting their faces. The day's work had come to an end, but there was not a trace of ease on anyone's face. Instead, they all looked grave-for the clearing operation ahead, they first had to identify the greatest threats around them.
After a brief silence, Nalan Jingyu spoke first. She put aside her usual playfulness, her expression utterly solemn. Beside her, Nalan Ruoshui also nodded slightly. The two exchanged a glance, and Nalan Jingyu laid out the deadly dangers in this area one by one.
"My sister and I have been to this outer region before, and we know something about the surrounding three hundred li. There are four places here that pose a deadly threat to us. We absolutely cannot take them lightly."
At her words, everyone beside the campfire instantly focused, turning toward her together and listening quietly.
"The first is Wind Wolf Canyon to the west. Fifty Wind Wolves occupy the canyon, most of them level-three or level-four magical beasts. They're swift and adept at surrounding and killing their prey in packs. The most troublesome part is that there are five level-five Wind Wolf leaders among them, each as strong as the level-five warriors in our group. Together, the pack has tremendous fighting power."
"The second is the level-six black bear in the northern mountain forest. It's the king of the magical beasts throughout this outer region, with immense strength and a thick, tough hide. Its individual strength far exceeds that of any one of us here. If we face it head-on, we have no chance of winning."
"The third is the Tattoo Bee Nest to the south. Individually, these bees are extremely weak, mostly only level-one or level-two magical beasts, but their advantage is their enormous numbers-over a thousand in all. If they swarm us, there's no way our small group can hold them off, and their venom is even more troublesome."
"The last is the seven Man Snakes in the eastern marshes: three at level four and four at level five. Their strength is on par with ours. But magical beasts already have bodies far stronger than humans, and Man Snakes are skilled at constriction and venom attacks. We won't gain the slightest advantage in a head-on fight."
When she finished, a deathly silence fell around the campfire, broken only by the crackling of burning wood.
Each of the four dangerous locations held its own perils: powerful pack attacks, overwhelming individual strength, or terrifying numbers. Everyone present keenly felt the difficulty of this mission, their expressions growing graver still.
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