Chapter 407: One After Another (I)

Chapter 407: One After Another (I)

Li Hao even saw a Solar level monster spirit soar overhead at one point. His timely evasion prevented trouble from developing. He wasn’t afraid of Solars, but this was just the outskirts of the mountain.

If there were Solar monster spirits here... wouldn’t it be more dangerous further in?

Liu Long also sensed some dangerous presences and walked up to Li Hao, keeping his voice down. “Let’s keep to the fringes as we head east. We should avoid penetrating the mountains. According to some Silver City elders, Ash Mountain is made of nine mountains and eighteen layers—nine enormous mountain ranges have become what we know as Ash Mountain.”

There would be trouble if they went further in and entered the second mountain.

Li Hao nodded and determined their direction, then shifted slightly to the side. He hadn’t followed the foot of the first mountain because that was too obvious and made it impossible to cover their tracks. But now that he sensed the dangers within, he wasn’t in the mood to court death.

After a while, the young man exhaled heavily and changed direction. When Liu Long looked at him, he transmitted, “There’s a Solar monster spirit ahead. We should walk in another direction.”

Liu Long was likewise resigned. Were Solars everywhere in this blasted place? Why did it seem so terrifying?

They proceeded another span of the path before Li Hao scratched his head. He was beginning to sweat as he adjusted their direction again, prompting another glance from Liu Long.

“There’s another Solar ahead!”

“......” Liu Long was dumbfounded. He was from Silver City and the mountain was right next to them. When had it become so dangerous? If the monster spirits residing in Ash Mountain liked to take walks in the plains, then wouldn’t Silver City have been destroyed long ago?

The young man didn’t say a word. They continued forward; there were no monster spirits on this path. Li Hao heaved a sigh, there was finally a normal route they could take.

He wasn’t familiar with monster spirits or the habits of major monster spirits. Records regarding these creatures had long disappeared. The ancient tomes that Yuan Shuo taught from rarely spoke of them. Therefore, it wasn’t just Li Hao, but the entire modern world that lacked understanding of monster spirits. Whether it was supernatural, martial masters, or others, very few knew that these kinds of creatures did not congregate in packs. The major monster spirits went a step further and oversaw their own territory.

If there was an empty clearing devoid of monster spirits found amid several major spirits, those of the ancient civilization would warn to not proceed there! That emptiness represented there were even stronger spirits inside. These were so strong that the minor spirits nearby didn’t dare approach.

Such was the experience of the ancients. Apart from central region powerhouses possessing some understanding of major spirits, modern superhumans were completely ignorant. They just knew that monster spirits were strong and occasionally appeared with some treasure.

......

No monster spirits appeared along the way. Li Hao and the Demon Hunters were able to make quick time. Seeing that dawn was at hand, Li Hao decided to rest. He bade the team to stop.

“I’ll find a safe place for shelter. We’ll rest up and travel at night again,” he transmitted.

It was September 20. He was counting the days and trying to estimate if they would make it past the mountain before the 28th and enter the east side of Rift Canyon. There were eight more days left. Based on their current progress, there would be a bit of difficulty. However, it wouldn’t be a big problem if they picked up speed. Accelerating progress was possible once they shook off their pursuers or killed them.

A flower?

Li Hao blinked. Were those monster spirits waiting for that flower? To eat it?

Forget it, it’s not important. Although he was fearless, he didn’t wish to meet his end. Just one Hou Xiaochen alone would be his doom. Four Hou Xiaochens... he would die a very grisly death!

......

As Li Hao ran off.

Within the valley.

Four major monster spirits lifted their heads at almost the same time. They were just taking a look. The ape looked at the golden eagle, the eagle looked at the snake, the snake looked at the tiger...

Someone’s there!

The four monster spirits shared the same look in their eyes. You go take a look! Someone’s come, go take a look! You’re looking at me and I’m looking at you... C’mon, go look!

In the end, no one moved. They weren’t going. Whoever did was an idiot. There was nothing to fear about a human on the scene; there was much to fear that the golden lotus would appear as soon as they left. There would be nothing remaining for the one who moved, which would be the greatest loss of all.

They’d kill the human if it really entered the valley, but it didn’t—an obvious sign that it wasn’t that strong. Although there was no hint of presence, the disturbance it caused was still there. It wasn’t a very strong existence.

In that case... who was afraid of the human robbing them?

As Li Hao rejoiced that he hadn’t been discovered, he remained blithely unaware that he was alive because he’d seen four monster spirits. If he’d seen only one... he’d be dead on the spot. None of the four were willing to leave because they awaited the maturation of the golden lotus.

In the middle of the lake, the lotus flower petals were gradually turning golden. If one looked carefully, there were eight petals and golden seeds in the middle that bore a hint of green. The golden color kept spreading, however. It would be soon.

The four monster spirits lazily stood guard, no one shifting a muscle. They knew that humans had come to Ash Mountain. Some minor spirits were harassing them to interfere with their travels. It wasn’t that the monster spirits were afraid of the trespassers, they just didn’t want the humans to arrive too quickly and interfere with the Sky Golden Lotus.

Who would’ve thought that one of them would find the valley regardless?

A martial master?

Probably.

The major monster spirits turned over the possibilities. One of them suddenly recalled a scene from long ago. The crouching tiger remembered a human who pinned it to the ground for a thorough beating. Those days were the most humiliating of the tiger’s life. Some bastard wanted it to roar, go berserk, or even go into heat so that the human could comprehend a so-called aura of the Five Styles... He beat the tiger if it didn’t cooperate!