From MC's Perspective:
Silent Forest,
After finding the new scent, the black snake didn't leave the spot. Rather it circles around. The new scent can be only found at this spot and also end at this spot. So it's not going anywhere.
Inside the Gregor Mansion,
After confirming the cliff marked area, I started to look at other information. Deep inside the inner area. There is a small mountain range. Which is also a stopping point for the wizards from big forces and adventurers.
But before reaching that mountain range they had to face many death trials. 9 out of 10 people died in between.
This is not a place for average high level wizards. Their strength might be at level-6 stage. But they can't contend against simple 6th order gloomy tree monsters.
From there each step involves countless dangers.
Looking at the small mountain range, my eyes gleamed with a twinkle.
"The mountain range doesn't look simple," I said in my heart. If my guess is right there might be treasure herbs growing on this mountain range.
Suddenly,
I couldn't help but think about Senior Sister Carolina. Last time, she must have consumed a super special relic to evolve her magic.
It might help her to advance to the Peak of the high ranks. But to reach level-8 and above. She needs fortuitous encounters.
If this mountain range has something to improve her blood sucking vine magic. Then I should collect it.
Outside,
A group made up of rogue wizards and adventurers reached the cliff.
There are 8 people in this group. The group is a mix of level-6 and level-7 wizards. When they started their journey. The total number of people is 20.
All the weak and average wizards became cannon fodders. They were killed by the monsters hiding in the forest. Those who are alive are strong and ruthless people.
Some of them are regular visitors. They had reached the small mountain range before.
"How come no one is here?"
"We have seen the beautiful carriage parked at the entrance," a crooked fatty wizard asked. He is a level-7 rogue wizard.
From his appearance, people can say that he has killed many people. Everyone turned towards him.
Seeing that he revealed a smile in response. But his smile is not friendly.
Everyone mistook the black smoke for a magic spell.
Shortly after,
They have realized it's not a magic spell but a poison.
"Damn it!"
"What is it?"
"It's a poison"
Everyone realized it's a poison. But it was too late to do anything.
"Argh!"
Everyone rolled over the ground in pain. The poison smoke of the 7th order monster was not a good thing. The Black snake is cunning. It's watching everything from the shadows.
The first one to die are the level-6 wizards. The poison instantly corroded their mana core. In the blink of an eye the vitality in their body ended. They died unwillingly.
The fatty and remaining 3 wizards are rolling over the ground. The skin color turned black due to poisoning. Because of their level, they are slowly dying.
After a few minutes, the 3 of them stopped struggling. The deadly poison took their life. Right after, the black snake emerged from the cliff shadows.
It opened its huge wide mouth to swallow the corpse one by one. The monstrous snake body has enough space to swallow the 8 corpses.
After swallowing the corpse the black snake monster returned back to the cliff.
This was all over within a few minutes. The rogue wizards and the adventurers wouldn't have imagined that they would become food for the monster.
Inside the Gregor Mansion,
My first instinct was to get away from this place. I'm not afraid of high level wizards and monsters. But the problem is the venom is deadly. I don't have an antidote.
I'm sure that forest has herbs to neutralize the poison. But I don't have knowledge about apothecary. Shaking my head, I decided to leave early in the morning.
I don't know what unknown monsters are hiding inside the vicinity.
The following day,
I woke up early. Then I started doing my morning routine. Fortunately, I had filled the stocks inside the Gregor Mansion. There is enough water storage for personal use.
30 minutes later,
I started doing meditation.