“Indeed, most of our team are lone wanderers who came to the border to hunt demons. We just happened to meet and decided to team up for mutual support. Our numbers gradually grew to the current six. Of course, we’ve lost teammates along the way, as the border is just like that. Coming here means accepting the inevitability of sacrifice,” the dark-skinned man said.
“I see,” Lin Yun replied, understanding dawning on him.
After a pause, Lin Yun continued, “But I do have a team. I just got separated from my teammates.”
“No problem at all. Our group is very relaxed. You can join or leave anytime. If you find your teammates, you’re free to go with them,” the dark-skinned man said.
Several other cultivators stepped forward.
“Fellow Daoist, the border mountains are dangerous. It’s risky to be alone. It’s really good to support each other as a group. Join us.”
“Our group doesn’t have any bad people. We kick out anyone with ill intentions. Come join us, Fellow Daoist.”
Although Lin Yun was only at the Initial Saint level, his recent performance had been impressive, so they were eager to recruit him.
After a moment of thought, Lin Yun said, “Alright, let’s go together then.”
Having a group of teammates naturally had its benefits.
“Haha, great! Welcome to our little group, Fellow Daoist. My name is Wu Shen. Thanks to the trust of my teammates, I’ve been chosen as the team leader,” the dark-skinned man said with a smile, extending his hand.
Lin Yun shook his hand, “Fellow Daoist Wu Shen, that’s a well-chosen name.”
“Haha, my father gave me this name. It’s a kind of expectation he had for me. By the way, what’s your name, Fellow Daoist?” Wu Shen asked with a smile.
“My name is Lin Yun,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
“Alright, Brother Lin Yun, let’s move on. We just had a fight here, and the commotion might attract some teams that specialise in ambushing others. It’s not safe to stay,” Wu Shen said.
“Alright,” Lin Yun nodded and followed them as they set off.
Along the way, Wu Shen introduced the other teammates to Lin Yun.
These teammates were all at the Saint level, mostly Initial Saints or Mysterious Saints.
Those below the Saint level wouldn’t come to the border mountains, as only those at or above the Saint level had a need to hunt demons.
As for higher-level cultivators, they would venture deeper into the border to hunt stronger demons and generally wouldn’t appear here.
As night fell, the team travelled a distance before darkness enveloped the border. They found a spot, set up tents, and made camp for the night.
Demons moved freely at night, so teams typically didn’t hunt at night. Instead, they rested and reorganised, hunting and travelling during the day and resting at night.
Two people kept watch outside the tents, while the others could rest or cultivate.
The night passed peacefully. At dawn, the team set off again.
…
Lin Yun stayed with the team for half a year.
During this time, the team fought many battles, both against demons and against other teams looking to ambush and rob them.
The team’s numbers kept changing. New wanderers joined, some left the border due to serious injuries, and one teammate was killed during an attack by another team.
During this period, Lin Yun also killed several human cultivators, all from teams that tried to ambush them.
As the team ventured deeper into the border, they encountered stronger human teams, more powerful demons, and increasingly dangerous situations.
The team had now grown to nine members.
Based on their current demon-hunting efficiency, Lin Yun estimated it would take him decades to reach the Mysterious Saint level.
This timeline was within Lin Yun’s expectations.
According to his plan, reaching the Mysterious Saint or Heavenly Saint level before the Skyfire Trial would be sufficient, and he still had plenty of time.
In the forest, the team pressed forward.
“Haha, that was thrilling! That group thought they could ambush us because they had slightly more people, but Brother Lin Yun, you took one down so fast it scared the rest into fleeing,” Wu Shen said with a laugh.
“Brother Lin Yun is incredible. He’s only at the Initial Saint level, yet he can make Mysterious Saints flee in terror. I bet he could even take on a Heavenly Saint,” another teammate said.
Everyone chimed in with praise.
“Don’t flatter me. That guy was a Mysterious Saint, but his defence was too weak, so I could take him down quickly,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
“Brother Lin Yun, do we even need to flatter you? Over the past six months, you’ve proven your strength time and again,” Wu Shen said with a smile, patting Lin Yun’s shoulder.
Lin Yun was undeniably the strongest in the team, a fact established through his proven strength.
“Brother Wu Shen, you’re not bad yourself. Among Mysterious Saints, you’re definitely top-tier,” Lin Yun said, patting Wu Shen’s shoulder.
Over the past six months, Lin Yun had grown very close to the team.
Having faced numerous battles together, including some life-threatening dangers, they had become comrades who shared life and death.
“By the way, Brother Wu, I’m planning to leave the team today,” Lin Yun said suddenly, his playful expression turning serious.
“Leave the team?” Wu Shen and the other teammates were stunned.
“Lin Yun, we get along so well, and we’ve even developed a great fighting synergy. Why do you suddenly want to leave?” Wu Shen asked in surprise.
A teammate named Jiang Shu also spoke up, “Brother Lin Yun, you’re still at the Initial Saint level. We agreed to stick together until we reach the Heavenly Saint level and leave the border. Why are you leaving now?”
Jiang Shu was a core member of the team, having stayed with them the entire time and developed a strong bond with Lin Yun.
“I have some personal matters to attend to, so I have to leave first,” Lin Yun said seriously.
Over the past six months, the team had been moving deeper into the border.
Lin Yun had long known the team’s route, and their current path no longer aligned with where he needed to go.
With only a little over two months until the appearance of a rare natural treasure, Lin Yun had to make his way there.
