“Who knows if this map is real,” Mu Ji muttered.
“No need to worry about that. My map may be expensive, but its quality is absolutely guaranteed,” the pockmarked man said, patting his chest.
“Let’s each chip in and buy it. Demon hunting is dangerous, and having a map is a good thing,” Captain Zhou Bocheng said.
Each of them contributed twenty thousand Haoyue Crystals, and they bought the map.
“Gentlemen, we also offer bodyguard services. As long as the price is right, you can even hire a Tongtian Realm expert to protect you,” the pockmarked man continued, smiling.
“How much to hire a Tongtian Realm expert?” Lin Yun asked casually.
Since the man brought it up, it wouldn’t hurt to ask.
“It depends on the level of demon beast you’re hunting. Hiring a Tongtian Realm expert starts at five million Haoyue Crystals, with additional fees for each demon beast they help kill, based on the beast’s strength,” the pockmarked man said.
“Five million just for the hiring fee? And extra for each kill? That’s outrageous,” Lin Yun exclaimed.
This was practically robbery.
“Demon hunting is extremely dangerous. Getting a Tongtian Realm expert to risk their life isn’t cheap,” the pockmarked man said, smiling.
“Alright, Lin Yun, let’s go,” Captain Zhou Bocheng urged.
They definitely couldn’t afford a Tongtian Realm expert with their funds.
After wandering the city a bit longer, the five left Demon Warding City and headed straight for the border.
Their purpose, after all, was to hunt demons.
Now, they were truly heading into battle.
The Motian Mountain Range, a vast natural barrier between the demon and human territories, marked the border.
Spanning endlessly, the range was home to both demon beasts and human hunting teams.
Each side saw the other as prey.
Also called the Border Mountains or jokingly the Hell Mountains, countless human cultivators had perished here.
Lin Yun and his team reached the foot of the Motian Mountain Range.
Looking up, Lin Yun saw the peaks towering into the clouds.
“Let’s enter the mountains. From the moment we step in, everyone must stay fully alert,” Captain Zhou Bocheng instructed.
The five officially entered the Motian Mountain Range.
Frequent hunting teams had worn a path into the mountains.
Tall trees blocked out the sun along the path, dimming the light considerably.
Once fully inside, Lin Yun released his divine sense to start scanning the area.
From here, countless paths led to different parts of the range.
The team had studied the map and memorised the most dangerous areas.
On the first day, they proceeded cautiously but encountered no demon beasts.
Perhaps they were still too close to the edge.
They did pass another team, but both groups only glanced at each other from a distance before going their separate ways.
…
Day Five.
It had been five days since entering the range, and the team had picked up their pace, moving beyond the outskirts.
“It’s the fifth day, and we still haven’t seen a demon,” Gan Yu said, smacking his lips.
“No rush. The past few days were for travel. According to the map, from today onward, we’re in an area where demon beasts could appear at any time,” Captain Zhou Bocheng said.
“Lin Yun, you’re the only one who volunteered for this. I hear demons are brutal. When you see one and danger hits, I bet you’ll panic and regret coming,” Zhong Hongkai said, laughing.
Mu Ji added, “Lin Yun, you’re at the Initial Mysterious Realm, like me, the weakest in the team. And since you’re from another star realm with less cultivation time, you’re likely the weakest of all. If we encounter a demon, don’t drag us down.”
Over the past five days in the Motian Mountains, with little danger, the team had chatted, learning that Lin Yun hadn’t been with Tianhuo Temple for long.
“Don’t worry, I won’t hold you back,” Lin Yun said, shrugging.
“Speaking of which, our team’s strength lies with Captain Zhou, Zhong Hongkai, and Gan Yu,” Mu Ji said, smiling at the three.
Over these five days, Mu Ji had been warm toward Zhou Bocheng, Zhong Hongkai, and Gan Yu.
The reason was simple: they were Mysterious Saints, while she and Lin Yun were only Initial Saints.
She naturally wanted to build good relations with the three stronger members, hoping they’d help her more if danger arose.
Though they were teammates, whether teammates would risk their lives to help in a crisis was uncertain.
That’s why she made the effort, hoping to gain their support.
As for Lin Yun, the weakest in realm, she hadn’t bothered with him.
Buzz!
Suddenly, from the nearby jungle, a pitch-black creature leapt out, its eyes glowing red, standing five or six metres tall, shrouded in black mist, giving off an eerie vibe.
“It’s a demon! A demon! A demon!” Zhong Hongkai shouted in panic upon seeing it.
The others were startled too.
Though they had mentally prepared, they’d never seen a demon in person. This was their first time feeling a demon’s aura directly.
And since the demon appeared so suddenly, their shock was understandable.
“Finally, here it is,” Lin Yun said, licking his lips with an excited look.
“Roar!”
“You’ll be my lunch today!”
The demon let out a low, piercing roar, its massive palm instantly forming a black-and-red energy orb, radiating a destructive aura.
Whoosh!
The orb shot toward Lin Yun’s group.
Seeing this, Lin Yun quickly drew his sword, inner energy surging, and struck with a powerful slash.
Boom!
The sword light, entwined with a golden dragon, collided with the orb, exploding with a powerful shockwave that spread outward.
Lin Yun was forced back several steps.
“What are you all standing there for? Attack!” Lin Yun shouted at his four teammates.
