Chapter 5: Marginal OB

Sounds of fighting came from ahead.

The sounds of battle were drawing closer to his direction.

Danger!

Hide.

Zheng Tuo skillfully found an old tree and climbed up to hide.

At the same time, just to be safe, he took out ten concealment talismans and stuck them onto his body.

He held his breath.

He watched the battle approaching from afar.

"Everyone, don't panic! Surround the demon wolf and look for openings to attack!"

Li Jun, with a slender build and holding a silvery-white immortal sword, looked like a peerless expert as he commanded a dozen people to surround a demon wolf.

"Awoo..."

The demon wolf was incredibly fierce, possessing at least the strength of a Tier 2 demon beast.

Amidst the crowd, it was like an ancient divine beast, unstoppable.

Fortunately, Li Jun was no weakling; he was at the second stage of Qi Refining. With the assistance of those around him, he was locked in a fierce struggle with the demon wolf.

Demon beasts are naturally powerful.

A demon beast of the same level can arguably crush a human cultivator.

Both sides were fighting with extreme ferocity.

Many of the group had already been wounded, blood flowing like water, making Zheng Tuo wince just watching.

Too reckless, far too reckless.

Even with Li Jun leading the attack and others assisting, a Tier 2 demon wolf is still a Tier 2 demon wolf.

Is that really something you people can handle?

If it were him, he would have run away long ago.

If you win, you get a meal of meat at best; if you lose, you lose your life.

If they don't even understand such a simple principle, why bother cultivating? They might as well go home and raise pigs.

Zheng Tuo complained inwardly.

Of course, besides being unable to help himself, the bigger reason was that they were bringing danger right to his doorstep.

As someone who cherished his life so much, how could he ever put himself in such a dangerous situation?

Fortunately, the battle did not last long.

Li Jun unleashed his trump card, forcibly using two Tier 3 attack talismans to finish off the demon wolf.

Using a Tier 3 talisman with Tier 2 Qi Refining strength was a significant burden for Li Jun.

At the same time, it also showed that this guy had extremely high talent.

One must know that rashly using talismans beyond one's own level, especially attack-type talismans, easily leads to a backlash.

The light cases result in severe injury, the heavy cases in femoral head necrosis, and the terminal stage is becoming a vegetable.

Unless, of course, you are exceptionally gifted.

Like Li Jun.

Using a Tier 3 talisman with Tier 2 strength only consumed a portion of his stamina and essence.

With the demon wolf dead, the danger was resolved.

Li Jun held a silver-white dagger and approached the demon wolf's corpse.

In a few quick motions, he extracted a demon core from the wolf's belly.

The demon core is the foundation of a demon beast's cultivation, much like a human's Golden Core, storing all the essence of the beast.

Therefore, demon cores are extremely precious cultivation resources.

A single Tier 2 demon core is likely enough to exchange for hundreds of low-grade spirit stones.

Of course, exchanging them for spirit stones is the worst possible strategy.

One must know that demon cores are of great help in refining pills, creating talismans, researching puppets, and even refining magic treasures.

It can be said to be one of the most versatile spiritual items, second only to spirit stones.

Everyone looked at the demon core in Li Jun's hand with longing in their eyes.

Clearly, they all knew the benefits and uses of a demon core.

A Tier 2 demon core could save them at least a year or two of cultivation.

At the beginner stage, saving a year or two of cultivation is enough to widen the gap between peers, thereby obtaining more sect resources for cultivation.

Seemingly sensing the greedy gazes around him, Li Jun held the demon core high, signaling everyone to look.

Even Zheng Tuo raised his eyes to look, showing a hint of interest.

"Everyone, this demon core is the result of our joint battle and a testament to our friendship. Tell me your names; once I exchange this demon core for spirit stones, I will split them equally among you all to enjoy."

Only after these words were spoken did the greed in everyone's eyes subside.

"Senior Brother Li Jun, if it weren't for you, we would have been eliminated long ago on this journey. If you ask me, you should keep the demon core as a protection fee, hahaha..."

Some of Li Jun's lackeys secretly fanned the flames, trying to help their boss keep the demon core.

"Exactly, exactly! Senior Brother Li is a good person and strong, too. Once we all enter the Falling Immortal Sect, we will definitely have to support each other. With Senior Brother Li's protection, we certainly won't be bullied."

Some young girls had hearts in their eyes, staring at Li Jun with drool flowing down, completely losing their composure.

With the two of them speaking up, the dozen or so people present began to clamor.

"Everyone, please, calm down."

Li Jun raised his hand, suppressing the noise.

"What virtue or ability do I, Li Jun, have to deserve such support from everyone? Rest assured, as long as I, Li Jun, can help in the future, I will definitely not shirk my duty. As for this demon core, please respect my wishes and respect your own hard work. Once it is exchanged for spirit stones, I will share it with everyone."

At this moment, many saw a charming radiance emanating from Li Jun.

The radiance was so dazzling that people dared not look directly at it.

Perhaps this is what they call charisma.

"An expert. This is an expert."

Zheng Tuo didn't see the light emanating from Li Jun; he only saw the birth of a problem.

He took out his blacklist, wrote down Li Jun, and marked him as an S-rank "do not approach" target.

This Li Jun was not simple; his control over the human heart had reached a state of perfection.

In his previous world, he would have been a textbook pyramid scheme leader.

One must never get close to such a person.

He might sell you out, and you'd probably still be smiling and saying "thank you."

After recording this, he put away his little notebook.

He wondered to himself when this group would leave.

But looking at the situation, the group in the distance had no intention of leaving.

Instead, they planned to spend the night by a small river not far from there.

Too reckless, far too reckless.

Zheng Tuo continued to complain.

They had just killed a demon wolf, and the smell of blood in the area was thick.

In a primeval forest like this, the smell of blood is a fuse, easily attracting more demon beasts to investigate.

Choosing to spend the night by a small river was simply courting death.

Of course, Zheng Tuo was only complaining; he had no intention of warning them.

What if they had a backup plan, waiting for demon beasts to attack so they could wipe them out and earn more demon cores?

Thinking about it carefully, if it were him, he would have set traps in the surrounding area in advance.

First, a maze formation to make the demon beasts kill each other.

Then, a set of explosive talismans to wipe out the remaining beasts in one go.

Finally, he would choose explosive bows and arrows to conduct indiscriminate long-range bombardment for half an hour.

He'd evaporate them until not even their ashes remained.

Anyway, demon cores are very sturdy and not easily destroyed.

It would also save the trouble of getting his hands dirty with a knife; he could just pick up the demon cores from the ground.

Zheng Tuo simulated what would happen later according to his own personality.

But he himself did not move.

First, he wasn't sure if any demon beasts had been attracted to the area.

What if he ran into a demon beast the moment he went down? That would be very awkward.

Second, his current position was very safe.

The top of an ancient tree, at least thirty meters from the ground.

He had twenty concealment talismans on his body.

Even so, he still felt a bit uneasy.

Especially after watching the battle between Li Jun's group and the demon wolf.

He took a bottle of beast-repellent powder from his backpack.

He sprinkled the entire bottle over himself.

Then, he reached into his backpack and took out three more bottles of beast-repellent powder.

He poured all three bottles over himself as well.

After finishing, Zheng Tuo shook his head.

Damn it!

If he had known, he would have brought more beast-repellent powder.

Three bottles were clearly not enough.

He took out his little notebook and recorded this mistake; he must bring enough supplies next time.

Night fell, and the sky turned dim.

The smell of meat, wine, and laughter drifted from the riverside.

They had worked together to kill a Tier 2 demon beast, enough for them to brag about for three to five years.

But clearly, the primeval forest was not the place for them to celebrate.

High up in the ancient tree, Zheng Tuo's eyes were as bright as the moon in the sky, with no hint of sleepiness.

He planned to stay up all night.

First, he hadn't found a truly, truly, super-safe hiding place.

Second, he hadn't set up any warning devices in the area.

With all that, how could he possibly sleep?

And after smelling the meat and wine drifting over, Zheng Tuo became even more vigilant.

In a primeval forest, lighting a fire in the middle of the night is one thing, but you're also roasting meat, drinking wine, and dancing?

Damn, you guys are really lighting a lantern in a latrine—looking for sh*t.

If I were a demon beast, I'd kill you in a minute and let you feel the wildness of the primeval forest.

As if to confirm his thoughts

"Roar..."

A low beast roar, like thunder on flat ground, came from afar.

(End of chapter)