The Endless Promise

31. Lured

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A few hours later, Xu Haoyuan's group ran into the first wave of dangerous beasts, which was a mixed bunch of different creatures.

Some resembled wolves, some were boar-like, there were several large bears, cats, and a few snakes, which was odd as these creatures were not known to band together.

There were about twenty beasts in this wave, but the beasts themselves were low-level... Mostly level one or two, and by the next day, they had already cleared seven waves of the beasts.

Xu Haoyuan's group had twenty disciples, with Xu Haoyuan himself, Xu Min, and four others above Profound Rank Four, and the rest, excluding Luoyin, were at least Profound Rank three.

This meant they could easily sweep through these lowly monsters, handling them swiftly, and then the beast cores were claimed by those who made the direct kill.

Beast Cores were a powerful source of cultivation when absorbed, and it was customary for cultivators to go on hunts to acquire them.

A hunting mission like this was even better than personal hunts, as there would be multiple beasts of the cultivator's level, and they would still get paid for it! And even if they didn't need the cores, they could also sell them!

But Luoyin ignored the beasts.

He could easily hunt these low-level creatures, but their cores weren't worth revealing any of his strengths...

As someone identified as 'Trash', it would be odd to suddenly show power, so he couldn't be careless!

Besides, he had only come out on this mission for Sect Leader Xu, and with the hope that Zhang Cheng would be here as well. But as of the time Xu Haoyuan's group left, Zhang Cheng was still nowhere in sight.

So whenever a 'dangerous' beast approached him, Luoyin shamelessly went, "Ah, Xu Min, there's one here!", and then he would dive behind Xu Min, who didn't hesitate to 'protect' him.

"2nd Disciple Zhang, are you really that shameless?!" One of the disciples yelled the third time he did this.

"How can you call yourself a disciple?!"

"Yes! Why are you even here?" Another demanded.

"You're Burdening 2nd Disciple Xu!"

But Xu Min stepped before Luoyin. "Zhang Yin has his reasons for being here, so don't mind others' business!" He turned to Luoyin.

"Zhang Yin, just let me know what kind of beast cores you need. I'll help you get them!"

'Such a good fellow!' Luoyin decided Xu Min was a worthy friend!

Most of the time, Luoyin concerned himself with admiring the brilliant scenery of the forest.

Yueyan mountain was lush, and in the height of autumn, the trees and shrubs were rife with colours, with a crisp air, and many adorable critters and birds, flying through branches, or diving amidst the shrubs.

This wasn't as beautiful as his home on Caoyang, but it was the most beautiful place he had seen since he awakened!

It continued that way for the first day, but by the next day, Luoyin became suspicious.

With all the years spent with Yinying, he would be a fool to assume this was simply some monotonous hunt.

Beasts simply didn't rampage in droves like this. Not without a reason.

It was either they were fleeing from a powerful foe, which forced them to group against a common danger, or something was controlling them.

The first option might have been the case after the first three waves.