Yun Ran watched the small insects covering the entire ground, with the Little Paperman taking the most credit among them.
She wasn’t a stingy host, and immediately rewarded them with some Merit Golden Light.
The Little Papermen quickly opened their mouths and swallowed the Merit Golden Light, their eyes smiling: "Thank you, Master~"
As growth-type magic artifacts, Merit Golden Light is very useful to the Little Papermen.
Originally, Fang Yu thought that if he could afford to raise a Little Paperman by bankrupting himself, it would be quite worthwhile.
Seeing Yun Ran actually using Merit Golden Light to feed them, his eyes dimmed; he realized he couldn’t afford it, alas.
Xin Fu put away the exhausted Flame Gun, looking at the sticky fluid on everyone’s bodies from the insects.
Couldn’t help but say, "There’s a small river up ahead where we can clean this sticky stuff off."
Normally, everyone would instantly respond, as having this stuff on you is extremely discomforting.
However, with so much happening in such a short time, they instinctively became wary.
"Let’s first check if that small river is safe."
They were genuinely scared; who knows what could be near that river? Rather than face unknown trouble again, they were willing to endure the sticky mess.
"Alright, let’s be careful!"
As Xin Fu intended to head toward the small river ditch, only hoping nothing strange would happen.
Though Yun Ran and Ginsengfruit were clean, they still followed to take a look.
If something were really there, they could take care of it immediately.
Fortunately, their luck wasn’t bad; the area by the small river seemed normal with nothing odd about it.
Cautiously, everyone washed away the sticky fluid before finding a slightly flat area to rest.
Ginsengfruit carried a small pot exclusive to Yun Ran and cooked a bowl of noodles for her. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel[f]ire.net
"Host, make do with this."
Yun Ran ate her exclusive noodles, glancing at others munching on dry food; indeed, happiness is found in comparison.
Looking at her pot of noodles, Yun Ran suddenly felt this was quite a rare delicacy.
Ginsengfruit brought out a map, made a few simple marks, and took out the sketch Yun Ran drew earlier of the twelve persons’ locations.
Comparing both, he said: "Host, according to our previous journey, we’ll reach the first location in at most an hour."
Yun Ran nodded, inwardly certain these twelve were not just a simple research team.
They had been attacked several times along the way, and a research team couldn’t have gone so far.
Along with the earlier detected aura, Yun Ran could almost confirm it.
She had truly encountered the rebellious plants mentioned in Qingfeng Temple’s predecessors’ insights.
Unsure if those plants naturally existed in Death Mountain or were brought in by someone.
As they moved forward again, everyone’s vigilance reached its peak.
The Little Paperman scouting ahead quickly returned, "Master, we’ve arrived~"
As long as Yun Ran wished, they were mind-connected with her, easily finding the location she calculated.
Members of the Sihui Sect heard the Little Paperman’s announcement and their spirits soared.
As if they’d completed an impossible small goal.
Smiles appeared on every face, and they took out their phones to start taking pictures.
Previously thinking these folks were cunningly gaining experience with the Host, turns out? Just naive like fools.
Then, Ginsengfruit also whipped out his phone to take photos while making notes on the map.
At this moment, they were standing in what seemed like a small gorge with only one visible entrance.
Du Jun couldn’t help but say, "Knowing this place is so dangerous and strange, yet seeing this small gorge and still going inside, who wouldn’t get caught?"
Said that gentlemen avoid danger; the gorge’s entrance alone looked perilous.
The Little Papermen weren’t afraid of anything inside planning against them; they flew in smoothly.
At the same time, their connection with Yun Ran activated; whatever they saw inside, Yun Ran could see from outside.
Everyone from the Sihui Sect envied deeply; if they had such artifacts like the Little Papermen to explore anywhere boldly, they wouldn’t have to worry about training.
No wonder Yun Temple Master seemed so young yet dared to venture anywhere.
Ah, another day envying others~
As the Little Papermen flew into the small gorge, Yun Ran clearly ’saw’ the toxic haze swirling inside.
Fortunately, the Little Papermen weren’t flesh and blood; otherwise, such a place filled with toxic haze would surely trouble those entering.
The Little Papermen quickly found the first person; however, contrary to expected, this person wasn’t harmed by others but sacrificed himself willingly.
The Little Papermen immediately halted their actions, hovered, waiting for Yun Ran’s next command.
"Check around for other people or things!"
Upon hearing Yun Ran, the Little Papermen dispersed to search.
If others entered, inspecting such a haze-filled area quickly would be indeed tough.
"Master, found some damaged magic artifacts!"
One Little Paperman picked up a small broken flag from the ground and some fragments evidently fallen from magic artifacts.
Exiting the gorge, they presented the damaged artifacts in front of Yun Ran.
Yun Ran looked at the artifacts, felt slightly embarrassed.
She couldn’t recognize whose they were, nor identify their original shapes.
"This flag seems familiar."
At this point, Du Jun’s advantage of middle-aged experience came into play.
When hearing this, everyone’s gaze immediately focused on him.
Yun Ran gestured the Little Paperman to place the small flag before Du Jun: "Look closely, sure you’ve seen it?"
In that gorge, surely someone entered, but inside, apart from the self-sacrificer, not even a hair was found.
Xuanmen people, if their magic artifacts are destroyed, even if not lifebound, they would be severely wounded, leaving traces.
Yet inside, there was nothing, obviously very odd.