Chapter 77: Crossing the Mountain Range
Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Crossing the Mountain Range
This time, Lu Zhao did not step back. He calmly accepted Hu Ming’s bow and gave a nod.
"I can still hold off a single Late-stage Tier One Demon Beast." Seeing Lu Zhao agree, Hu Ming breathed a sigh of relief.
Lu Zhao had his own reasons for agreeing. It wouldn’t be difficult for him to simply hold off one Late-stage Tier One Demon Beast.
As long as he didn’t face three or more Late-stage Tier One Demon Beasts attacking him at once, he had nothing to fear.
Even if a large number of Late-stage Tier One Demon Beasts did appear, breaking out on his own wouldn’t be difficult given his strength. Besides, they were already halfway to Bixia Marketplace, and the rest of the journey was supposed to be easier.
Moreover, that was a worst-case scenario, and the chances of it actually happening were very slim.
After all, Lu Zhao didn’t want to travel alone. Staying with the caravan was indeed much more convenient for many things.
Seeing Lu Zhao agree, Hu Ming exchanged a few more pleasantries before walking back toward his team’s campfire.
「The next morning.」
Lu Zhao opened his eyes, ending his meditation, and saw that everyone was nearly ready. He stood up and stretched a little, his bones letting out a series of CRACKLES.
Half a quarter hour later, everyone was ready. Hu Ming once again took the lead, walking at the very front. However, Lu Zhao saw him turn to scan the group before quickly facing forward again.
Lu Zhao could tell that Hu Ming was still somewhat worried. But at this moment, Lu Zhao felt a growing sense of approval for the man.
From what Lu Zhao had observed, Hu Ming’s team, including himself, had two Late-stage Qi Cultivators. Of the other eight members, all but Chen Yao and another man were at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer.
To be honest, with that kind of strength, they wouldn’t have much to fear even if they encountered three or four Late-stage Tier One Demon Beasts.
As long as they didn’t run into five or more, Lu Zhao estimated that it shouldn’t be too difficult to keep the entire team alive, no matter what happened.
And Hu Ming’s current worry was likely not just for his own team, but also for the many Wanderers in the group.
Whether Hu Ming was being true to his duty or just thinking of the Spirit Stones, it showed the man had some principles. He wasn’t the completely selfish type.
Lu Zhao secretly decided that if he had the chance, he would befriend this man. He also preferred people with principles and kept his distance from those who were completely selfish.
The journey through the Celestial Ridge Mountain Range would take five days at the very least. This was the conclusion Lu Zhao reached based on his map and by asking other prepared Wanderers.
For the first two days, aside from a few reckless Tier One Middle Stage Demon Beasts that attacked, there were no other incidents.
Seeing that they were only Tier One Middle Stage Demon Beasts, the Wanderers were overjoyed. They all took out their Magical Artifacts, eager to beat the beasts while they were down.
Even Lu Zhao made a move, using his Dao Ice Condensation Technique. An eerie blue Ice Cone materialized and, in an instant, plunged directly into the eye socket of a Tier One Middle Stage Demon Beast. The beast had no time to struggle as the Ice Cone traveled through the socket and roamed within its body.
In just a moment, the beast’s insides were riddled with holes by the Ice Cone. It collapsed stiffly without even letting out a cry.
When the Wanderers saw Lu Zhao instantly kill a Tier One Middle Stage Demon Beast with a single Ice Cone Technique, they were all stunned. The gazes they directed at him were no longer just wary, but now held a trace of reverence.
Even Hu Ming was rather surprised. He could also kill a Tier One Middle Stage Demon Beast in one blow, but he definitely couldn’t do it with such ease.
’As expected, someone who can cross multiple counties alone is no small talent,’ Hu Ming thought to himself.
Lu Zhao himself didn’t think much of it. The strength he had just displayed was merely the tip of the iceberg.
After another day of travel, Hu Ming, who was leading at the front, suddenly stopped. Lu Zhao sensed something was wrong and looked up to see Hu Ming’s expression had turned grim.
He had the other Cultivators rest while he, the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer cultivator from his team, and Lu Zhao moved off to a corner.
Once the three of them were alone, Hu Ming spoke up. "Mr. Chen, I’ve discovered traces of a Black Scale Beast pack."
Lu Zhao was a little confused. "Black Scale Beast?"
Seeing his confusion, Hu Ming began to explain about the Black Scale Beast. "This beast is a Tier One bloodline Demon Beast. After reaching adulthood, even the weakest among them are at the Tier One Middle Stage. They are ill-tempered and easily angered, and since they are pack animals, they’re very difficult to deal with..."
"What’s the strongest a Black Scale Beast can be?" Lu Zhao asked once Hu Ming had finished.
The man who had been standing beside Hu Ming spoke up. "Their leader is at least Tier One Late Stage. Anything weaker couldn’t possibly keep a pack of those brutes in line."
"As for the other Black Scale Beasts," he continued after a moment of thought, "if a pack has over thirty members, it can support multiple Late-stage Tier One Demon Beasts."
Lu Zhao then turned back to Hu Ming. "When it comes to Demon Beasts, you are the experts. Fellow Daoist Hu, what’s your estimate for the size of this pack?"
After mulling it over for a moment, Hu Ming offered his initial conclusion: "At least forty, but no more than eighty."
"Then how many Late-stage Tier One Demon Beasts do you estimate there are?" Lu Zhao asked.
Hu Ming and the man beside him exchanged a glance and spoke in unison: "No fewer than three."
Seeing Hu Ming speak, the other man fell silent. After saying this, Hu Ming thought for a moment more. "But five at the most."
"Fellow Daoist Hu, what do you plan to do? Will you try to go around, or..." Lu Zhao’s eyes narrowed. "Risk a fight?"
"We can’t go around," Hu Ming said, shaking his head slightly. "If we tried, we’d have to travel through completely unfamiliar territory. There’s no telling what’s out there. If we ran into something..." He trailed off, but his meaning was perfectly clear.
"How do you want to handle this?" Lu Zhao asked.
"How about this? I’ll hold off the Black Scale Beast leader. Sun Yu—that’s the other man—will hold off one of the Late-stage beasts. You hold off another, and Old Qian and Old Li should be able to handle one together."
"What if there’s a fifth?" Lu Zhao asked.
"Then we’ll kill one first. If you and I team up, can we kill one within ten breaths?" Hu Ming’s tone seemed to be asking, yet also affirming. A cold glint appeared in his eyes.
Lu Zhao nodded. "It will be dead within ten breaths!" This was not a boast, but a statement of confidence. If Lu Zhao weren’t trying to hide his full strength, it was questionable whether a mere Late-stage Tier One Demon Beast could even survive three breaths against his full power.
Hearing Lu Zhao’s words, the other two men were taken aback. ’I didn’t expect him to be so confident. But judging by his performance so far, he doesn’t seem like someone who makes empty boasts.’
’His strength must be extraordinary,’ the same thought occurred to both of them.
"Fellow Daoist, your strength is extraordinary. We’ll be counting on you!" Hu Ming gave a deep bow. He was also celebrating internally. ’Thank heavens he’s here. Thank heavens I didn’t refuse to let him join back then.’
"Then let’s go make our preparations. It’s time to inform the other fellow Daoists as well," Hu Ming added.
Lu Zhao nodded and turned to leave.