Chapter 24: Camping in the Blackwater Mountains (Third Update)

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It had been no easy feat to deal with the horned rhinobeast. Xu Wen was thoroughly exhausted; after extracting the magic core from the corpse, he immediately sat cross-legged, seizing every moment to restore his mental strength.

The recent battle had nearly depleted all the magic within him. If a magical beast were to appear now—regardless of its rank—he’d have no hope of resisting.

During his rest, Xu Wen made a silent vow: never again would he risk his life so recklessly...

This was no game world; anything could happen. If some mishap occurred at the decisive moment of battle, there would be no place to resurrect!

Nevertheless.

The fight just now had also made him keenly aware of the gulf between himself and a two-star magical beast.

The rhinobeast he had just faced, though thick-skinned and tough, was actually the easiest among the high-tier two-star beasts to handle...

Its ranged combat abilities posed no threat, and its movement speed was even inferior to some high-tier one-star beasts; the initiative had always remained with him. Were it another type of beast, the chain of death traps would never have been so effective! Nor would he have been able to dominate the battlefield so smoothly.

In short, in a one-on-one fight without external aid, he could not defeat a high-tier two-star magical beast with his current strength.

Recognizing this clearly, Xu Wen took a porcelain vial from his storage bag, poured out a pill, crushed it, and smeared it beneath his nose...

The sharp, spicy stimulus rushed straight to his mind!

Even with prior experience, Xu Wen couldn’t help but furrow his brows!

Once he gradually acclimated to the pungent scent and his spirit recovered, Xu Wen set out once more:

“I’ve seen enough of the strength of two-star beasts. It’s time to collect their magic cores...”

Though dusk was falling and visibility in the forest was dwindling, Xu Wen had no intention of leaving the Blackwater Mountains.

Before long, a sleek blue-patterned leopard entered his sight...

Its streamlined body was flawless, eyes cold and proud—a striking creature, especially with blue lightning crackling along its hide, its aura clearly surpassing that of the Wind Fox and the Rhinobeast.

Two-star, ninth-tier magical beast—the Blue Lightning Leopard.

A beast famed for its speed and lightning magic, a true terror for two-star fire magicians!

Yet!

The Blue Lightning Leopard barely managed to unleash a flash of lightning before, as if struck by vertigo, it collapsed before Xu Wen, succumbing to a heavy slumber under powerful inertia.

What followed held no suspense...

A small portion of fire phosphorus powder poured into the leopard’s mouth was ignited by Xu Wen’s blazing fireball spell! Assaulted inside and out, the unfortunate Blue Lightning Leopard met a grisly end.

And so, another two-star magic core was added to Xu Wen’s collection.

Relying on his peerless “Drunken Breeze” against beasts below three stars, Xu Wen swiftly brought down four more high-tier two-star magical beasts, ushering in nightfall upon the Blackwater Mountains.

Night in the Blackwater Mountains was exceedingly dangerous for a lone fire magician!

Even with an illumination crystal, visibility was pitifully low. Darkness enveloped him, and the oppressive atmosphere was intense; every sound made his heart leap, as if some beast was sneaking up on him.

Spending his first night in the Blackwater Mountains, even Xu Wen felt a measure of anxiety...

He dared not linger in the territory of high-tier two-star beasts, cautiously retraced his steps to the domain of low-tier two-star beasts, and unceremoniously claimed the burrow of a particularly bold “Azure Flame Rat.” Only after permanently turning its former owner into fertilizer for the mountains did he feel a bit more at ease—at least for now, he needn’t worry about other beasts disturbing him.

Not long after.

The magic within the illumination crystal was exhausted, its faint glow fading away.

In moments, Xu Wen became one with the darkness.

He did not replenish the crystal’s magic, but instead, held his breath as darkness descended, slowly adjusting to his surroundings until shapes began to emerge once more...

After some time, the insects’ chorus resumed around him. Clearly, they too had adapted to Xu Wen’s presence, and began their nocturnal serenade in the tranquil forest.

Everything was unusually quiet!

Amidst the insects’ calls, Xu Wen suddenly felt like a beast lurking in the jungle... every movement around him, every subtle change, was keenly sensed, including some distant, irregular noises—barely audible footsteps, like an animal stealthily approaching its prey.

The intruder moved with great skill!

But the insects, ever sensitive, suddenly fell silent; the gentle unease and danger in the air grew palpable.

“Who’s there?”

Xu Wen had been quietly gathering magic, but seeing a humanoid silhouette several dozen meters away changed his mind. He called out, exposing the stranger.

“Rescue team, Sang Long.”

The figure paused, declared his identity, summoned a fireball, and revealed a familiar face—Senior Sang Long, the man Xu Wen had seen at the entrance.

“Senior Sang Long?”

Xu Wen rose, not surprised by his arrival. He was well aware that the Hortonklin family would have their ways of tracking him, though he kept this knowledge from his face.

“What brings you here?”

“Isn’t it because of you?” Sang Long replied irritably, activating his illumination crystal as he approached, sizing Xu Wen up with some surprise. “Advancing to two-star, seventh tier is commendable, but camping alone in the Blackwater Mountains? You’re making trouble for us!”

Xu Wen was taken aback.

Sang Long sat beside him.

“Last time, Elder Ding’s grandson nearly got himself killed, and we took quite a beating for it... Now you’re being even more reckless than Ding Yushan—do you truly intend to keep us up all night?” His tone was cordial, yet truthful.

Though Ding Yushan had brought trouble upon himself, the rescue team did bear some responsibility—any youth with the potential to become a high-level fire magician was a precious asset to the Hortonklin family, not to be risked lightly. Ding Yushan’s talent and status warranted special protection.

Last time, Ding Yushan led his squad into a forbidden zone, and the rescue team only reacted when the emergency flare was launched... not a small oversight!

This time!

Xu Wen had likewise reached the two-star, seventh tier. Regardless of his status, a young high-tier fire magician was a hundred times more valuable than a mid-tier one!

If anything happened to him, the rescue team would be laughed at for a lifetime and become sinners in the Hortonklin family.

“Don’t worry, Senior. As long as I don’t get ambushed by a three-star beast, I’ll be fine.”

Xu Wen knew the rescue team would never let him spend the night here unsupervised. They were likely watching nearby, and he’d had to steel himself, ignoring the tempting corpses of two-star beasts along his path...

The fact was.

The carcasses of high-tier two-star beasts could be transformed into undead skeletons with combat power equal to low-tier two-star beasts!

The best among them was the “Blue Lightning Leopard.” Judging from its perfect body, its bones must be well-proportioned and far more agile than other undead skeletons, rivaling three-star beasts. With a little “modification” from him, a master of necromancy, its combat power could reach mid-tier two-star levels. Sadly, who knew if he’d have a chance to retrieve it?

Sang Long looked at him with a complex expression.

To linger so long in the forbidden zone of high-tier two-star beasts, Xu Wen’s strength was beyond doubt, no wonder he was so confident.

But... Sang Long still had his concerns.

The Blackwater Mountains at night were not the same as by day.

“You may not know, but high-level beasts only leave their territory to hunt at night. It’s not uncommon for three-star beasts to appear in the domains of two-star beasts after dark, so even few of our rescue team dare camp out here overnight.”

As he spoke, Sang Long searched Xu Wen’s face for surprise, but found none.

Xu Wen remained calm:

“That’s why I returned here...” The nocturnal habits of low-tier beasts were well documented, and he knew three-star beasts only hunted two-star beasts, particularly high-tier ones with two-star magic cores, not bothering with low-tier beasts or one-star creatures.

In Sang Long’s eyes, Xu Wen’s reaction was summed up in one word—stubborn!

Yet he had to admit, Xu Wen’s conduct and reasoning were impeccable, leaving no flaw. The Hortonklin family had no rule forbidding registered disciples from staying overnight in the Blackwater Mountains.

“...Tell me, what will it take for you to leave the Blackwater Mountains?” Sang Long, torn between concern for Xu Wen’s safety and not interfering with his training, was for the first time at a loss with a disciple several years his junior.

A glimmer of cunning flashed in Xu Wen’s eyes, carefully concealed, but his tone was as even as ever:

“Why should I leave? But Senior, when are you planning to depart? You’re already high-tier three-star—if you stay, no beast will dare approach...” As he spoke, he looked at Sang Long with a pitiful, childlike gaze, as if the one at fault was his senior, not himself.

“...”

Sang Long was left speechless, frustration rising.

“Want me gone? Fine! As long as you stay clear of the two-star beast territories, I don’t care where you spend the night!” Even a clay statue has a temper.

“Good!”

Xu Wen “readily” stood, heading straight for the high-tier one-star beast zone, calling out, “Senior, you must keep your word—so long as I don’t approach the two-star beast areas, you’ll leave!”

“Deal!”

Sang Long laughed, agreeing at once, “But you absolutely must not cross the boundary. I have a way of tracking you; the moment you cross, I’ll know instantly!”

Thus, the two struck a gentleman’s agreement: after nightfall, Xu Wen would not enter the territory of two-star beasts, and the rescue team would not interfere with his actions.

Sang Long escorted Xu Wen to his destination, then decisively turned and left.

Xu Wen, left behind, revealed a sly, fox-like grin that had been absent for some time:

He’d finally rid himself of the surveillance thorn. Now, all he had to do was remove the clothes with the special tracking patch, and the rescue team would lose his true location. Until dawn, the entire Blackwater Mountains belonged to him!

...Including those few high-tier two-star beast corpses, which should still be undiscovered by other creatures.