“I said I was chased in here by enemies, would you believe me?” Lin Yun gave a bitter laugh.
“Chasing Little Master? Where are they? Did they follow into the Demonic Beast Mountain Range? If they did, Little Monkey will go kill them right now!” Little Monkey declared confidently.
“They didn’t dare come in, but they’re still guarding outside, I probably can’t get out anytime soon,” Lin Yun said helplessly.
“If they’re outside the range, Little Monkey can’t do much, there’s an imperial army stationed out there, if I went out as a demon beast, it’d cause a huge mess, sorry, Little Master, I can’t go out to fight them for you,” Little Monkey said.
“No need to apologise, this isn’t your fault,” Lin Yun replied with a smile.
“Little Master, what’s your next plan? Staying in the range as a human is too dangerous!” Little Monkey said, worried.
“I can’t stay in the Xingwu Empire anymore, my retreat’s cut off, I can only cross the Demonic Beast Mountain Range to reach another empire,” Lin Yun shared his plan.
He had no doubts about Little Monkey’s loyalty, despite its role as a demon clan leader, their master-servant contract ensured absolute allegiance to him.
“What? Cross… cross the Demonic Beast Mountain Range?!”
Little Monkey gasped at the plan, it knew full well how insane it was for a human to attempt such a thing!
No one dared, and no one ever had!
Some bold human cultivators ventured into the range’s shallow layers for training, but never lingered long, even then, most who entered ended up buried there.
Those who survived were exceptional, with strength and experience to match.
Crossing the entire range? Pure fantasy!
“Yes, cross the range, there’s no other way,” Lin Yun confirmed.
“Since you’ve decided, Little Master, I’ll help you with all I’ve got, on your own, it’s certain death, but with me, there might be a slim chance,” Little Monkey transmitted.
Just then, a leopard demon stepped into the cave.
Little Monkey cut off its transmission to Lin Yun, turning to it, “What’s the matter?”
“Reporting to the Sacred Devil Commander, we’ve received orders from the Grand Commander, a human genius named Lin Yun has entered the range, we’re to keep an eye out, capture him alive if possible,” the leopard demon said.
Hearing this, Little Monkey’s heart jolted, the order to catch Lin Yun had come so fast?
It didn’t know how Lin Yun had fared on the continent these years.
But for the demon clan to take notice and demand him alive, he must’ve risen quickly!
It wasn’t odd the order reached here, Lin Yun entered from the Xingwu Empire border, and Little Monkey’s territory wasn’t far off.
“Sacred Devil Commander, whoever catches this Lin Yun alive will earn great merit, should we go look for him?” the leopard demon asked.
“Fine, assemble the whole team, send some out to search, I’ll go myself too,” Little Monkey stood.
The direct order to watch for Lin Yun gave it a headache.
If another demon leader caught Lin Yun, it’d be a massive problem.
With the command issued, it couldn’t just sit idle, it had to at least appear to act, ordering its subordinates to search.
“Yes, I’ll spread the word!” the leopard demon replied, hurrying out.
Once it left, Little Monkey quickly transmitted the news of the demon clan’s hunt for Lin Yun, warning him to be careful, getting caught by others would spell trouble.
After that, it headed out, planning to scout under the guise of searching, meet Lin Yun, give him a map of the range, and strategize his crossing.
…
Lin Yun received Little Monkey’s transmission and was stunned.
“The demon clan found out I entered the range so fast? They’re even after me?”
He’d never imagined the demon clan had taken notice of him.
As for Little Monkey, its help could boost his odds of crossing, but it’d put Little Monkey in grave danger.
If the demon clan learned it was aiding him, it’d be in deep trouble!
After a moment’s thought, Lin Yun decided to press forward, using his divine sense to scout, avoiding demon beasts as best he could.
…
Outside the range.
After hours of guarding, Hui Jue and the Soul Refining Sect Leader were joined by the Gu family head and the other pursuing sect leaders, arriving at top speed.
Learning Lin Yun had entered the range, they figured he’d doomed himself, but still chose to stay and wait.
Elsewhere.
The Heavenly Sword Sect Leader and others had retreated to Xingwu City, discussing next steps with the Wanderer and crew.
In a tavern’s private room.
The Sect Leader, Wanderer, and Du Yuanzi gathered, deliberating.
A Xiaoyao Tower servant pushed open the door.
“Sect Leader Xiao, Senior Wanderer, Senior Du Yuanzi, Master Hong sent me with urgent news.”
He handed over a letter.
“Thank you,” the Sect Leader took it.
After the servant left, he opened it swiftly.
“What?!”
His face paled as he read.
“Sect Leader Xiao, what’s wrong?” the Wanderer and Du Yuanzi asked urgently.
“Gentlemen, according to Master Hong’s latest intel, Lin Yun was chased all the way into the Demonic Beast Mountain Range, the Zhutian Alliance is guarding outside, cutting off his retreat,” the Sect Leader said.
“What?” the Wanderer and Du Yuanzi gasped, equally shocked.
“Entering the range is a slim chance of survival, if he goes deeper, it’s certain death!” the Wanderer’s face whitened.
“Knowing Lin Yun, he might plan to cross it,” the Sect Leader said gravely.
The Wanderer and Du Yuanzi froze—crossing the range? Madness!
The room’s atmosphere grew oppressively heavy, they felt Lin Yun would die in there.
But he was already inside, and they were powerless.
…
Inside the Demonic Beast Mountain Range.
The forest was quiet, punctuated by the crisp calls of birds.
Lin Yun had trekked forward for half a day, still in the shallow region, using his divine sense to navigate, he’d avoided major threats so far.
Half a day of caution, but crossing the entire range on foot would take months at best, at this pace, maybe years, and the real dangers lay ahead.
