Their exclamations and wide-eyed astonishment were shocking for the rest of the group. They had all seen first-hand the ease Vouno had when scaling up the Solitary Blades Clan’s mountain slopes; a challenge even for the clan’s senior disciples. And thus, they didn’t think it odd that Vouno could achieve such a high grading until Jim casually revealed his previous cultivation. Who, in all of Saint Empire’s history, could win a fight with an enemy six major stages higher with a month’s training?

The commotion had signs of getting out of control, and they are starting the draw the attention of the other adventurers around.

“Shhh, keep it down! You forgot our pretence,” the vice-captain, Alan, whispered urgently while smacking Jim for his loud-mouth. However, silence is hard to maintain when their curiosity is so overwhelming. The idea of breaking through in a blink from I rank to Entry C combat strength is utterly unheard of, and they must know how.

“I didn’t truly breakthrough that many ranks to Entry C. It’s just that… I have an advantage over the spirit in the combat room.”

Vouno’s natural constitution is a nightmare for the Elemental. In fact, if he wanted, he wouldn’t stop at just C rank. Even so, it did nothing to dampen their excitement.

One has to understand that for a practitioner of Vouno’s age should no longer be able to raise their rankings as quickly. Yet Vouno’s speed in cultivation far surpassed these youngsters who should be in the period of their growth spurts.

“Is it possible for us to become strong faster?” John asked, gripping the table in anxiousness until his fingers turned white. The other three team, captains, Silvers, Long, and Sasha, also sat at the edge of their chairs. It was a difficult thing to watch the gap between them and Kairos’ group get wider by the day, and slowly feeling themselves turn into burdens in battle. And somehow, their feelings were transmitted clearly to Kairos. He looked at them with a gentle smile, and then he nodded his head.

Hope blossomed like a small flower within them and caused an irrepressible cheer to erupt at their table. Before they could ask the method, Kairos said, “I will create a new cultivation method for each of you. Because it will take some time, I won’t be able to do it now.”

A verbal promise was all they needed to hear. What these children lacked right now, are high-level cultivation techniques, and such things are guarded secrets among the great clans and families, causing them who are without it to be always a step behind their peers. In their hearts, they know that it is hard to say if they could even graduate from Saint Cadets Academy in their current state.

The group began planning their operation for the next few days with great cheer.

In the Adventurers Guild, the missions are separated into monster subjugation, bounty hunting, resource collection, information gathering, treasure hunting, and the miscellaneous categories. To either post, a request or to register for a mission would cost them only a small fee. In this place, it is prevalent for adventurers to find a team to work with, and this presented the group an opportunity to mingle with strangers and gather information.

Silvers immediately suggested to post a request about Jones, but they soon discovered that there are several such missions posted by the Solitary Blades dated two months ago, and they had to discard that option.

Being two months late, the hope of finding Jones or even any clues will be minuscule. The party separated into smaller groups, hoping to take as many missions as they could to increase the search net, but because of their low ranking, most chose heavy labour or apprentice jobs that allowed them access to people or places they otherwise could not. A few brave souls registered for resource gathering missions where they enter the monster-infested wilderness to pick up herbs or hunt for game just for a chance they might pick up Jones’ tracks.

“This one looks interesting,” Kairos pointed out a Mid C rank subjugating mission, the most dangerous category among all types.

“Mission Location: The Black Forest. Mission type: Monster subjugation. Information: Black Wind Wolves have been terrorising the region, please bring their numbers down. Note: Individual wolves are of little threat, but their pack leader is said to be Mid C ranking. Adventurers interested in this mission and of the same cultivation stage are advised to travel in a party of five at least. The Guild will not be responsible for any loss in items or lives in the mission process.”

“Looks like a job for us. The Black Forest is another one of those locations that Jones might have gone through.”

Those powerful wolves have been coming close to human settlements, becoming more fearless by the day. Because their species is capable of travelling quickly over long distances, they had escape each time before the practitioners could rally against them

In a short while, everyone registered for their mission, and they gathered once again. The registration fees are, of course, fully subsidised by the Solitary Blades clan. The token that Yi De gave them could be used for most stuff within the boundary of Saint Empire. Having a first-rate sect supporting them from behind is an exciting thing.

“Remember guys, you must not reveal your identities unnecessarily. Unless it is your last resort, avoid using any formation in front of others. And, prioritise on safety.”

“Roger,” the members of Snowdrifts answered sharp and crisply like well-trained soldiers.

“Okay boys, I’ll be going off on my own as well,” Vouno declared, his decision wasn’t anything surprising. As a ranger means he is already equipped with terrific tracking skills and he could cover more grounds by himself.

What is unexpected, however, is the mission he selected. A bounty hunting quest, dead or alive, for a local serial rapist. Cultivators with all sort of unthinkable techniques and family heirlooms exist meant that Saint Empire has her own share of plight when it comes to criminals.

But when Kairos thought about his father’s cultivation method, he could guess why this mission was chosen. In fact, if Vouno changed occupation, he might turn into a terrifying bounty hunter.

The boys left for their mission, but instead of going straight out of town, they went to prepare for the trip. There was a study on the danger levels of a mission, and doubtlessly bounties are way up there at the top of the chart, but except for the most dangerous criminals, it is nothing compared to entering a monster territory. The boys need to be careful and well-equipped for this.

Of course, the Adventurers Guild provides support to those on monster subjugating missions. After paying for the small registration fee, they get the right to purchase some supplies that are otherwise prohibited, along with a little booklet with all the essential information they need.

They got what they needed, including some contrabands, then went straight to the roads. As they travelled away from Tiny Town, they realised that the wild beasts have tripled of what it was in recent years. Fortunately, there are only weaker critters that dare to venture close to human settlements. The stronger creatures would be able to get a sizeable territory deep in forests, ravines, or mountains, where there are plenty of natural resources and treasured plants.

They only came near to the forest the following day, and there they beheld a frightful sight. This isn’t anything like the jungle terrain that they had gone through in training field five. The entire woods before them seemed as though the sun had never touched its soil, true to its namesake.

“Are you sure that Jones would have gone past this area?” Jim asked with a voice quivering slightly.

Edward, who is just standing beside, answered, “Well, this is the only other route to reach the Solitary Blades from our village.”

“Well, yes but who the heck with common sense would purposely go through a forest looking like that?”

“Jones.”

“..Jones.”

“Yeah... he would.”

“GAH! WHY?!” Jim almost screamed. He couldn’t put in words just how creepy the place looked, and he swears there are beady red eyes in the trees staring right back at him.

They half-dragged an unwilling Jim into the forest, but the moment they step foot into it, everyone stopped all at once. Their bravado vanished like thin air as powerful darkness consumed them and a flight of birds announced they had entered a monster territory. Not all creatures had left, however. On the tree branches all around them are crows watching them with beady red eyes.

Jim took in a sharp breath, and these black carrion birds started cawing and do not cease.

“We are being monitored, aren’t we?” Alan whispered softly by Kairos’ ears.

“We are… Do you feel that there is something off about this forest?”

The amount of Heavenly Energies in the forest is strangely thick, and it made the creatures within more powerful than usual.

Kairos could tell that while the beasts are not yet at the level of spiritual enlightenment, they have a certain amount of cunning intelligence about. These crows are undoubtedly working as scouts for the Black Winds.

For beasts, consuming another is their way of cultivating. Those still living in this forest have to prove their worth or become food for the wolves.

The five of boys walked cautiously into the woods, their Soul Perception scanning the area as they moved.

The crunching of leaves underneath their feet accompanied them. Here where the sun never touches, the air is eerily chilling with a musty smell that lingers persistently.

At this time, a pair of yellowed eyes opened from within a deep cavern, and all of them shivered.

“Do you feel that?” Edward, who was the first to notice, felt the hairs on his back stood on ends.

“I can sense some… thing… staring right at us,” Jim slowly removed his daggers from their sheaths in alarm while the rest followed suit.

Alan: “That’s odd, I’m not picking up anything within my Soul Perception.”

Tommy: “Neither I. Kairos?”

The intensity of that gaze made them all feel a great predator had found them.

Kairos: “I felt it too, I think it is the wolf king.”

Alan: “Isn’t this rather fast? We’re merely ten minutes in!”

What kind of demon have such power to sense them at the edge of forest spanning five million kilometres?