Slowly and very carefully, Cain, Kali, and Amber traversed through the Demonic Area. Each of them made sure to watch their steps, not even wanting to step on a small twig.
At this speed, finding some sort of civilization would be tough. But getting caught by powerful Vicious Beasts would be irreversibly perilous.
While on this walk, the worry of the black robe man coming back around here did enter Cain's mind. And he was prepared to immediately take Kali and Amber into another large bush to wait it out.
Under this constant threat of danger, one opportunity did appear for the trio.
This would be the perfect time to forge their mental state and strengthen their Martial Hearts.
Skirting on the edge of death was natural for any cultivator. And how one acts during this given situation can tell a lot about their future journey.
Kali and Amber weren't actively aware of this. The girls were simply trying their absolute best to remain calm. It wasn't easy at all to do, no matter how normally calm there are.
Death was frightening for anyone. Nobody wants to prematurely end a potentially long life filled with glory.
Still, Kali and Amber pushed through their fears, staying determinedly close to Cain.
At the same time, Cain was nearly the same as the girls, but he actively tried to link with his Martial Heart. However, he immediately ran into a problem.
His Soul's Core was severely lacking in Soul Energy!
Because he performed a desperate escape, he used more Soul Energy than he should for Chaos teleportation. If he were to link with his Martial Heart, then he'll use even more Soul Energy.
And Cain was hesitant to do so. If he does, then if they run into a situation where they need to teleport, everything would be done for them.
While it was a good opportunity to train, Cain simply had to go the slower route in forging his mental state and Marital Heart.
Like this, the trio cautiously walked, making somewhat decent progress. Their Spirit Sense constantly expands to their extreme limits, detecting anything that comes just near their border range.
Towards any Vicious Beast, no matter how powerful, the trio would cover their forms by strolling behind large trees that were filled with branches.
With each beast they perceived, the more danger the trio felt.
Amber wasn't exaggerating at all. Every Vicious Beast was at least at the Tier 3 level, the equivalent to the Profond Soul Realm. Moreover, most beasts were equal to Mid-Stage Profound Soul Realm!
The danger was immense, but Cain, Kali, and Amber had no options but to continue forward.
For a short while, nothing of notice happened.
But as the trio were several hundred meters away from a seemingly common tree, their Spirit Senses suddenly frantically flared up!
Their instincts shrieked with danger!
Three powerful Auras billowed of from that tree-like crashing tidal waves, recklessly spreading out in the area and soaring straight towards Cain's group.
At that moment, Cain, Kali, and Amber's pupils heavily contracted. Their worst nightmares had come true.
A Vicious beast proficient in hiding was now making its attack!
Their Spirit Senses may be excellent, but it wasn't all-powerful. Against beings the same or even slightly stronger than them, Aura hiding tricks like this would be highly effective.
No words were shared between the trio.
Within a single split second, Cain, Kali, and Amber hastily revolved their Qi energy to their limit and blasted forward!
As they took off, three powerful energy signatures tightly locked down on them.
The combined might of three powerful Profound Soul beasts slowed the trio down. Their melded Auras were far more powerful than Amber's.
Under this might, their Qi Energy was heavily suppressed.
And as they slowed down, that same common-looking tree suddenly shook. Branches fell off as three massive Vicious Beasts soared out the tree, barreling straight down towards the trio.
Whistling sounds whirled all around from their breakneck speeds, and the chaotic storms of winds recklessly tore around the area.
"Tch." Cain clicked his teeth.
Under his slower speed, his head subconsciously whipped around to see just who was attacking them.
Upon doing so, his gaze was met with three enormous demonic pythons beasts. Each python had a slimy blue coat of skin, and subtle sparks of electricity sparsely flashed from their skins.
Perceiving these beasts Auras, two were at Mid-Stage while the last one was at Late-Stage Profound Soul Realm!
Cain's eyebrows tightened. At their distance, the pythons' beasts will inevitably come up to them.
And once that happens, a fight would break out. A fight that Cain desperately wants to avoid at all cost.
"Three Lightning Pythons beast!" Amber had also swirled around to see their pursuers.
As she did so, Kali similarly turned to look, her expression also worsening by the second.
At this point, merely only a few hundred meters separated them. And Cain, Kali, and Amber's speed were cut by 70%.
In this situation, the Lightning Pythons will catch up to them within ten seconds or more!
Thinking of this, Amber's gaze snapped back over to Cain and quickly suggested, "Cain, can you teleport us away again? No way we can fight these bea-"
Suddenly, Amber was caught off by a bright blue flash.
A massive wave of power engulfed the entire atmosphere, drowning Cain, Kali, and Amber in it!
"Shit!" The trio simultaneously cursed.
Their eyes widened to near saucers sizes as they saw the Late-Stage Lightning Python beast spewed out a stream of sizzling blue acid!
The power emitting from the blue acid stream was immense. Its Aura billowed like a crashing tidal wave, filling the whole area.
A great sensation of suffocation covered the trio, and their speeds slowed to a crawl. The blue acid stream locked square onto Cain's group.
It was impossible to avoid this attack. They would need to tank this attack head-on!
Cain only had to second react. It was impossible for him to stimulate his Chaos Energy within just a second. He'll need to rely solely on Qi energy.
"Hah!"
But surprisingly, Amber was the first to react, releasing all of her Profound Qi within a split second! Her hands thrust forward, and a large shadow energy barrier formed right in front of her.
The shadow energy barrier expanded out just enough to also cover Cain and Kali.
At the same time, Cain and Kali had to ward off the intense pressure from the Lightning Pythons and Amber.
Gritting their teeth and pushing their bodies to the absolute limits, Cain and Kali also summoned all of their base Nascent Qi. Then, similarly thrusting their palms forward, Cain and Kali poured all of their Nascent Qi directly into Amber's shield, greatly enhancing it with powerful, dense energy!
Sparks of blue Lightning and streaks Ice suddenly flashed out of the shadow energy field. Their combined energies interwove together, significantly enhancing their defenses.
And at that moment, the Lighting Python's acid stream violently struck their combined energy barrier!
'Bang!'
Like it was up of fragile glass, their combined energy barrier shattered into tiny wisps of Shadow, Lightning, and Ice energy.
The Lightning Python's acid stream combusted entirely from the energy barrier, dispersing a significant portion of its power.
However, the weakened aftershocks still sent Cain, Kali, and Amber flying back like bullets.
Each of them puked blood, feeling violent energy recklessly tore into them, heavily damaging their internal bodies all over.
If nothing were to happen, the trio would violently crash right into some trees and further worsen their injuries.
But, before that inevitable could occur, Cain tossed all caution into the wind. He forcefully suppressed his injuries and linked with his Soul's Core, hastily pouring out 60% of all his Soul Energy within a split moment!
Uncaring of the consequences, Cain instantly seized Chaos Energy and reached out to simultaneously grab Kali and Amber.
A shocking scene then occurred.
Defying all manners of physics, Cain forcefully stopped his, Kali, and Amber's momentum!
Kali and Amber weren't able to process anything happening. All they could feel was Cain's warm hand tightly gripping their shoulders.
Right then, a familiar sensation calmed their hearts.
If it's Cain, then he'll surely get them through this. Unknowingly, the girls had the exact same line of thinking.
And at the same time, Cain had already released his Chaos Energy.
His Chaos Enhanced Soul Sense quickly identified several presences that were unmistakable human. Then, in the same moment, Chaos Energy engulfed them, and the trio teleported away in a green flash!
The pursing Lightning Pythons all suddenly froze. The time in which this all happened was just barely one and a half-second.
At such near-instantaneous speeds, these Vicious Beasts simply had no way to react.
….
At another area miles deep within the Demonic Area, a group of five young elites was currently traveling through this dangerous jungle.
This group consisted of four dashingly handsome young men and one graciously beautiful girl.
Just with their appearance alone, one can tell their backgrounds were grand. Although, their Natura Auras were far more eye-catching than their looks.
This young elite group was a mixed bag of Profound Soul and peak Nascent Formation Talents!
A powerful line-up that was perfectly suited for this level of the Demonic Area.
At this moment, the group was merrily on their own way, conversing with each other as their eyes looked around for something important.
Each of them was full of confidence without the slightest trace of fear or worry. Nothing in this Demonic Area was able to surprise them.
But suddenly, the leader of their group, a sharp-looking, battled hardened young man, froze in place.
"Hm? Wha-what is this?" His brows tightly knit together.
Completely out of nowhere, his Spirit Sense pricked with this energy he simply didn't know how to describe. It felt entirely mystical like it was from another plane.
For the first time in a long while, utter confusion plastered on his face.
"Eh? Senior Brother Tan? What's wrong?"
One of the peak Nascent Formation youth suddenly asked when noticing Tan's odd expression. The rest of his group members followed suit, cautiously stopping in place.
But before Tan could speak again, an bright green flash engulfed all of their visions!
'Chi!'
"An-an attack?!"
Everyone in Tan's group instantly got battle-ready. But contrary to their expectations, they only heard three soft thumps hit the ground. Along with this, two weak Nascent Auras and one decently strong Profound Soul Auras appeared in the range of their Spirit Senses.
Everyone in Tan's group was puzzled. But they instantly calmed down, realizing this wasn't a threat.
Then, after only a second, the green flash dispersed.
"Just what the hell….what the? Who the hell are they? Wait….Crimson Sea Academy students??"
As their vision returned to them, one of the other Profound Soul youth in Tan's group pointed to their right.
At that moment, everyone snapped their gazes over, confusing plastering their faces. Just fifty feet away from them were indeed three Crimson Sea Academy students who were all panting and kneeling on the ground.