by Feng Yise
After all, these were three middle-stage Spirit Condensation Realm martial artists. No matter how strong this demonic beast's defense was, it dared not let this sort of attack go unchecked.
With no alternatives, that demonic beast retracted its paw and went from attacking to defending.
But at this time, Chang One grabbed hold of the opportunity and pulverized that demonic beast's eye into mincemeat.
Seeing the situation, the four people were euphoric. A series of attacks raided on the demonic beast again, directly sending it flying out.
That demonic beast received heavy injuries. Not only did it not retreat, but it also went berserk.
"Roar!"
The lion type demonic beast gave a heavy roar and attacked the four people frenziedly.
"Be careful! This is its death throes! Don't fight it head-on! Let's hit and run to slowly expend its strength. It can't hold on much longer!" the youth instructed.
"Yes, Young Master."
In reality, these three people were veterans. They also knew what to do without the young man's instructions.
Before long, that lion type demonic beast collapsed on the ground. The four people let out a long sigh of relief.
When the demonic beast died, the four slumped on the ground panting non-stop. They all suffered injuries which were not light.
"Damn it! Being delayed by this demonic beast, we are getting further away from Ye Yuan!" The young man swallowed a medicinal pill as he gnashed in teeth in hatred.
This youth was precisely Su Yishan who was planning to kill off Ye Yuan during the Endless Trials, while the other three were the Su Family's retainers, the Chang trio brothers.
There were many people when they just entered the forest, so they naturally could not make a move on Ye Yuan then.
But who would have thought that Ye Yuan and Feng Zhirou walked faster and faster. They were actually unable to catch up.
It was not that their speed was slow, but because there were demonic beasts continuously harassing them along the way.
This demonic beast just now was the most powerful one they have encountered. Just the delay cost them a whole two hours!
"Relax, Young Master. My Enchanted Shadow Bug has been following them this whole time. We'll catch up to them eventually." Chang One said.
Su Yishan was aware of Chang One's tracking capabilities. It was just that he was feeling very annoyed. "I'm just wondering why the demonic beasts only attack us when Ye Yuan also walked through here."
"This . . . Maybe it's also because we're unlucky," Chang One said uncertainly.
Even with Chang One's rich experience, he could not think of a reason.
"Luck? Isn't their luck way too good? We tracked all the way here, and the places they walked through didn't show any traces of fighting at all! That's to say that they didn't even go through a single battle while we have been through over a dozen big and small fights?"
The more Su Yishan said, the angrier he got. Finally, a punch smashed heavily on the ground sending dirt flying.
"Truly quite sinister! The road the two of them walked is basically a straight line as if they were running straight towards someplace. But in the Endless Forest, nobody had ever dared to journey like that. There are plenty of high-rank Tier 2 demonic beasts' territories along the way. If they accidentally startled them, they would lose a layer of skin even if they didn't die." Chang one also felt very depressed.
"That's right! Don't tell me that those demonic beasts are all blind and deaf and simply couldn't sense them at all? At this rate, we will be exhausted to death by these demonic beasts before finding them!" Su Yishan said with fervent hatred.
Initially, he thought that killing Ye Yuan in the Endless Forest was a very simple matter. He did not think that it would be riddled with troubles now.
The further in they went, the stronger the demonic beasts got! Continuing in a straight line like this was definitely out of the question. They must avoid the territories of those powerful demonic beasts and go forward in a roundabout manner.
But this way, when could they manage to find Ye Yuan and co?
Before coming, Su Yubai already told him that the Endless Forest was the best as well as the final chance to eliminate Ye Yuan.
If Ye Yuan left the Endless Forest, the Su Family would welcome never-ending troubles!
Chang One also realized that the matter was rather troublesome now. Before coming out this time, the family head had already issued the death command. They must kill Ye Yuan!
If the mission was not completed, then carry their own heads back!
The family head had never issued such a command before. One could see just how great Ye Yuan's threat to the Su Family was!
Chang One s.u.c.k.e.d in a deep breath and took out an Endless Forest map from his storage ring. Opening it, he placed it in front of Su Yishan.
"Young Master, continuing like this is indeed out of the question. Since they are hurrying towards a certain place, why don't we find that place and then lie in ambush there?" Chang One suggested.
Hearing this, Su Yishan immediately calmed down. He nodded and said, "What you said is right! Share your idea!"
Chang One reached out with his finger and pointed on the map. "Look here, Young Master. Ever since they entered the Endless Forest, they didn't stop for a moment as they went along this straight line towards the North-West direction. With their strength, it's impossible to go somewhere too deep. It must be within an area of a thousand miles! Then, inside this thousand miles, where is the place they are most likely to go to?"
"Crimson Summit Ridge!" Su Yishan blurted out.
Chang One's finger started from the entrance and kept extending until a thousand miles in the North-West direction. That place impressively marked Crimson Summit Ridge!
"Sii . . . Is Ye Yuan insane? To actually go to such a dangerous place like Crimson Summit Ridge!" Su Yishan s.u.c.k.e.d in a cold breath.
Chang One shook his head and said, "Based on common sense, him going to the Crimson Summit Ridge naturally saves us from striking. But looking at the current situation, this Ye Yuan's methods are really hard to conjecture. Ignoring other things, just based on him being able to not alarm these high-rank demonic beasts along the way is already an incredible ability! And according to my estimation, it's highly likely that he's going to the Crimson Summit Ridge to find some medicinal herbs for that little maidservant of his!"
Chang One's analysis struck deeply, practically exactly the same as the truth!
Since they came to gang up and kill Ye Yuan, Chang One naturally did sufficient homework. He understood Ye Yuan very thoroughly. Even a minute detail like Lu-er was noticed.
Su Yishan was forcefully shocked awake and could not help shooting a surprised gaze at Chang One, seeing him in a completely new light.
No wonder Father sent him to siege Ye Yuan. This guy could not be underestimated!
Very clearly, Chang One's analysis basically had no flaws. This was also the most logical explanation!
Initially, Su Yishan was still worried about whether or not Ye Yuan would take part in this Endless Trials. Finally, his concern was proven to be superfluous.
Ye Yuan was not foolish enough to think that he could spare him. But he still came. That meant that he had a reason to come no matter what!
And this reason was exactly Lu-er!
Chapter 132 - Swaggering In!
"Then, what do you say we do now, Chang One?" Su Yishan actually sought for Chang One's opinion.
Chang One also appeared to be rather surprised. He understood this Young Lord a little.
Su Yishan had an ingrained pride and generally looked down on the Su Family's retainers like them.
But today, he actually sought out his opinion.
It looked like Su Yishan m.a.t.u.r.ed quite a bit during this period of time!
Only such a Su Yishan was worthy of being the Su Family successor.
Chang One no longer hesitated and stated his thought
s, "Regardless whether or not they went to the Crimson Summit Ridge, there is definitely a destination. And I'm afraid that it isn't going to be so easy for them to get that medicinal herb. We just have to chase after according to the direction the Enchanted Shadow Bug is pointing to and set up an ambush in advance. I figure he wouldn't be able to escape anyway! Let's keep heading towards this direction while avoiding some of the powerful demonic beasts' territories later on. This way, even if we detoured a little, it would at most be around half a day's time. We can definitely still make it!"
Su Yishan ruminated for some time and felt that what Chang One said made sense.
They were unaware of Ye Yuan's goal at the beginning, so they just blindly chased. In the end, the time delay from being impeded by demonic beasts increased instead.
Since they have the direction now, they naturally need not fear them escaping. Circling around the powerful demonic beasts' territories might even be slightly faster.
"Okay, we'll do as you said! Recuperate a while first and then set off!" Su Yishan instructed.
. . . . . .
Ye Yuan had settled things with Feng Zhirou. The pair swallowed another Breath Concealing Pill each and rushed over to the Crimson Summit Ridge.
"Ye Yuan, were those four people all killed by you? You're actually already this powerful!"
Feng Zhirou was still rather astonished by Ye Yuan's power. Those were four Spirit Condensation Realm martial artists, and they actually all died in Ye Yuan's hands!
Ye Yuan chuckled and said, "How can I have such capabilities? I just used some small tricks and made them kill each other for a while. That's why the results were like that."
Only now did Feng Zhirou feel relieved. "So that's the case. Gave me a fright! If you could kill those four people alone, doesn't that mean that you already have the strength to rank in the top 30 of the Martial Roll?"
Initially, the ranking everyone gave Ye Yuan was roughly around rank 50 on the Martial Roll.
It was nothing difficult for this strength to defeat several ordinary Second Level Spirit Condensation Realm martial artists.
Feng Zhirou knew that the strength of demonic beast hunters was greater than the average martial artist. Furthermore, there was a Third Level Spirit Condensation Realm martial artist among them. Ye Yuan was able to hold the four of them there. Raising another 20 places was nothing much.
Ye Yuan was only at the Ninth Level Essence Qi Realm!
Being at the Ninth Level Essence Qi Realm, he already possessed the strength of the top 30 on the Martial Roll. When he broke through to the Spirit Condensation Realm, just how terrifying would that be?
Feng Zhirou felt that it was inconceivable just thinking about it.
Luckily, Ye Yuan denied her conjecture. Otherwise, Feng Zhirou would really have felt that so many years of hard work went to waste.
"You're really full of tricks! Several veterans were actually completely toyed by you!" After Feng Zhirou felt reassured, she could not help scorning Ye Yuan.
Ye Yuan laughed and said, "Who asked this Junior Apprentice Brother, I, to be lacking in strength. If I didn't come up with some ruses, then wouldn't I be unable to even keep my life? Otherwise, Teacher Feng would not have made Senior Apprentice Sister come and protect me."
After pondering, Feng Zhirou thought the same as well, but her mouth stated otherwise, "Don't give me that. Your life is tenacious as hell. You didn't even die when challenging the Nine Heavens Road. Looks like even the heaven can't be bothered to take you in."
Ye Yuan laughed but did not reply.
What Feng Zhirou said was really true. Ye Yuan did not take the Nine Heavens Road to heart, but he was clearly already dead in the Divine Realm. But now, he was standing here perfectly fine. Ye Yuan felt that this was like a dream just thinking about it now.
. . . . . .
Around half a day later, Ye Yuan and Feng Zhirou finally arrived at the Crimson Summit Ridge.
This place was highly treacherous. Apart from the Long-arm Stone Apes, there were also quite a number of powerful demonic beasts around the Crimson Summit Ridge.
Demonic beast hunters had never dared to step foot fully into a place of such a level as the Endless Forest.
Even Crystal Formation Realm martial artists would move cautiously in this place. If they were surrounded by the Long-arm Stone Apes, the outcome would be being ganged up on and beaten to death.
The two found a safe place to hide and secretly observe the situation on the Crimson Summit Ridge.
It was fine if they did not look. But one look and Feng Zhirou freaked out.
Although the forest was very dense, the indistinct coming and going of white Long-arm Stone Apes appeared to be very glaring.
They walked around in groups of twos and threes, appearing as if they were patrolling!
"These Long-arm Stone Apes gathered and formed teams. Why does it look like they are patrolling the mountain?" Feng Zhirou looked at Ye Yuan somewhat surprised, as she transmitted her voice.
"The stone ape race have extremely high intelligence. Their awareness towards territory is already stronger than other demonic beasts. And their hierarchy is very strict, namely Ape Soldier, Ape General, and Ape King. Stone apes live in social groups and do not permit others to encroach into their terrain. The moment they discover that there's a trespasser, they would gather and attack," Ye Yuan explained.
Hearing Ye Yuan's explanation, Feng Zhirou asked in bewilderment, "No way? Since you're so familiar with the Long-arm Stone Ape's habits, aren't you courting death by coming to the Crimson Summit Ridge?"
Listening to Ye Yuan's meaning, the Long-arm Stone Apes had very strong exclusiveness and aggressiveness. Once they were discovered, they two of them would be in grave danger.
The so-called Ape Soldier, Ape General, and Ape King of the Long-arm Stone Apes, respectively corresponded to Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3.
Forget about the Ape Generals and Ape King, just the several tens of thousands of Ape Soldiers could drown them by rushing them.
Ye Yuan looked at Feng Zhirou and chuckled very helplessly.
Seeing Ye Yuan's laughter filled with mockery, Feng Zhirou flew into a rage again. "What are you laughing at? Did I say something wrong?"
Ye Yuan pointed at his head and said with a smile, "Why is the human race powerful? Not because we cultivate faster than the demon race nor is it because our bodies are better than the demon race, but because our intellect is way higher than the demon race! Hence, use your brain first before doing things and not just think about running or charging about recklessly, understood?"
"You mean that you have a plan? Then quickly say it! En? Hang on! Well done Ye Yuan, are you trying to say that I'm even dumber than demonic beasts?!"
Feng Zhirou reacted to it swiftly, and her rage meter shot straight up. However, she learned her lesson this time and did not make any sound, but spoke with voice transmission. Only that the expression on her face became increasingly ice-cold.
Ye Yuan sighed and said, "I say, Senior Apprentice Sister, can you not be so s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e, alright? I'm just telling you a fact, but you just had to turn around and scold yourself. Why?"
"Humph! Don't be proud of yourself! Now isn't the time. Watch how I settle the score with you after we get back!" Feng Zhiroua snorted icily.
Facing the mountain full of Long-arm Stone Apes, the proud Senior Apprentice Sister Feng finally knew how to weigh things and not blow her top easily.
There was only one Iron Paw Flying Bear, so she could still lure it away. If they alarmed the mountain full of Long-arm Stone Apes, then the pair would not even get the chance to escape.
"Haha! Many thanks for Senior Apprentice Sister Your Excellency's grace!" Ye Yuan laughed and said.
"Enough crap! What method do you have to enter, quickly say it!" Feng Zhirou pent-up a stomach full of anger and said huffily.
Ye Yuan smiled and said, "How to enter? Of course, it's by swaggering in!"
Chapter 133 - Knowled
ge Is Power
"Swaggering in? Did your brain short-circuit? There are so many stone apes. How do we swagger in?" Feng Zhirou stared wide-eyed at Ye Yuan as if she was looking at a fool.
"Senior Apprentice Sister, please don't measure others after yourself, alright? I already said just now, you got to use your brain before doing things!" Ye Yuan gave another emotional sigh.
"You!"
Feng Zhirou's brows were vertical. This fellow actually ridiculed her again!
Fine, you're ruthless! But don't you know that women bear grudges very well? We'll record down the accounts this time one by one and tally it all up after we return!
"The Long-arm Stone Apes might be powerful, but they have a weakness, which is that they have virtually zero night vision abilities! And we have the Breath Concealing Pill. They can't detect our scent. Hence, just wait until it gets dark, and we'll just swagger in!" Ye Yuan explained.
"This also works?"
Feng Zhirou was thoroughly defeated by Ye Yuan. How did this fellow know so much?
Nobody even dared to come to the Crimson Summit Ridge. Even Crystal Formation Realm martial artists dared not stop here for long, let alone they understood the habits of the Long-arm Stone Apes.
"Why can't it work?" Ye Yuan retorted with a question.
"But . . . But didn't you say that the Breath Concealing Pill is only effective for demonic beasts below Tier 3? What should we do if we bump into the Ape King?" Feng Zhirou enquired.
"I've already enquired long ago that within a thousand miles radius of the Endless Forest, the highest is only Tier 3 demonic beasts. The Crimson Summit Ridge is still within the thousand miles radius. A mountain cannot contain two tigers. Hence, this place at most has a Tier 3 Ape King. Such a large Crimson Summit Ridge, just how lucky do we have to be to encounter the Ape King?"
Now that Ye Yuan said that, Feng Zhirou felt that there really did not seem to be much danger.
Such a dangerous looking place was actually as easy as walking on flat ground to Ye Yuan!
Of course, it was only like walking on flat ground for Ye Yuan. If it were some other person, they would have no idea how to refine the Breath Concealing Pill and would only seek their doom by coming here.