After ending communication with Tico, Yang Yu led the team deeper into the forest.
This time, Yang Yu wanted to hunt a demon called the "King Mud Monster," a unique creature that only the king among Mud Monsters can evolve into.
From a classification standpoint, "Mud Monster" also counts as a kind of slime.
In some places, they're even directly called "Mud Slime," but unlike slimes with their semi-gelatinous bodies, their entire body is made of mud.
Because their bodies are made of mud, their regenerative abilities are excellent; they can even use surrounding mud to repair themselves, making them quite troublesome among demons.
Legend has it that Mud Monsters will use parts of their bodies to simulate the favorite "bait" of their prey, patiently waiting for the prey to fall into their trap.
They can even simulate humans.
Adventurers have a saying:
"If you hear a lone girl's voice in the forest at night, and you follow the sound to see a silhouette, shout three times from your spot, and if the girl doesn't respond, don't hesitate—just turn and run as far as you can.
Because you may have unknowingly entered the ambush zone of a Mud Monster.
If a Mud Monster ensnares you, you will eventually become a pool of mud."
The vast majority of adventurers are highly wary of Mud Monsters, not only because of their elusive nature but also because after going through the trouble of defeating one, it doesn't yield valuable materials.
You can't expect a pool of mud-like creature to drop endless treasures for you, can you?
The only valuable thing that can be taken from a defeated Mud Monster is its magic crystal.
But the Mud Monster that can produce a magic crystal is extremely close in strength to a King Mud Monster or is a King Mud Monster itself.
A Mud Monster's magic crystal is not better than other magic crystals, and most adventurers would not choose such a low-value prey.
Only one kind of person likes Mud Monsters, and that's someone who sincerely wants to become stronger.
Almost everyone who has defeated a Mud Monster feels a noticeable improvement in their strength.
When Yang Yu was in the army, he purposely paid attention to the changes in level and attributes of the team members.
As the killing proceeded, soldiers' attributes and levels increased, but they didn't seem to realize it.
Just like when Yang Yu hunted goblins, to most people, goblins were just ordinary prey; they thought their growth was unrelated to goblins and was due to their own efforts.
It's not their fault; after all, the higher the level, the harder it is to improve. Few people can engage in undefeated killing to level up quickly.
Even if someone knows the secret of levels and experience value and reveals it to the public, not many would believe it in the end.
After all, to the people of this world, there are more ways to improve than just killing.
In their daily training, they also gain experience value from each other and improve their level and attributes.
Yang Yu and his team couldn't gain experience from daily training for some unknown reason. Official source ıs NoveI[F]ire.net
However, the ability to share experience among them is a buggy mechanism in itself, and Yang Yu can't ask for too much.
In some way, it is a blessing given by the goddess.
According to Yang Yu's speculation, the reason why those who defeat the King Mud Monster feel a significant improvement is likely because of a rapid increase in their attributes and level within a short period.
From this, it can be concluded that "Mud Monster" is a difficult but high-experience elite monster.
Continuing through the forest, a line of footprints extended deep before Yang Yu's eyes.
Despite the harsh weather, adventurers still rushed for their livelihoods.
Yang Yu had Lotcar deliberately avoid areas with footprints to prevent disputes with them.
Before officially entering this Demon Forest, Yang Yu had inquired of people living nearby on where to easily find King Mud Monsters.
It is said that because Mud Monsters are mainly made of mud, their bodies become extremely stiff in the cold winter, making them easier to deal with. Therefore, adventurers seeking to become stronger often hunt them during winter.
But Mud Monsters aren't foolish; they've long learned to gather towards places with hot springs.
The number of Mud Monsters gathering near the hot springs is overwhelming, even S-Class adventure groups respectfully stay away from that area.
An elderly man advised Yang Yu that unless confident in his strength, he should avoid the dangerous hot springs.
Searching for Mud Monsters elsewhere seems troublesome, so Yang Yu decided not to rely on luck and headed straight for the hot springs.
If he can fight them, he will; if not... he can always run.
If it's not feasible, he can also clear the Mud Monsters around the hot springs.
As they walked, Lotcar suddenly detected a human scent in the air and immediately spoke:
"Yang Yu. I smell other humans in the air."
Yang Yu looks around; the surroundings are pure white without any footprints.
But Yang Yu knew someone had likely gotten ahead of them, targeting the Mud Monsters here.
Yang Yu said, "Track along the scent."
Lotcar nodded in response and slowed its pace while carrying Yang Yu and the others.
Before long, a tent covered in snow appeared before their eyes, with only a single path leading back and forth towards the hot springs they were seeking.
From the scent, it seems to be a lone person, most likely coming to become stronger.
Yang Yu decisively instructed Lotcar to proceed in the direction of the footprints.
Soon, they found a steaming, gently flowing Hot Spring River.
He reached out to the water, and the temperature was just right.
This was Yang Yu's first time seeing a real Hot Spring River; its soft jade color and the steam drifting above made one feel refreshed.
Has the time finally come?
Yang Yu could not miss such a great opportunity.
With such splendid hot spring water, naturally, there's only one thing to do.
Cook a hot spring egg.
Yang Yu tied a rope to a wooden stick, placed eggs in a basket, and submerged it into the river, quietly waiting for the hot spring eggs to cook.
In his original world, Yang Yu spent most of his time playing games, rarely traveling, so he had never soaked in a hot spring, which seemed classy.
Yang Yu didn't have any regrets.
In Yang Yu's view, hot springs should be similar to large public baths he used in childhood, so naturally, he wasn't interested in them.
Yang Yu wasn't like hot spring-obsessed Neon People, always wanting to soak in hot springs.
Besides, Yang Yu and his team couldn't soak in the hot spring; he was particularly afraid his freshly dyed hair might fade.
Cooking a hot spring egg was comforting.
There's no psychological burden, and there's no need to deal with any voyeuristic drama.
While Yang Yu quietly awaited the hot spring egg's maturity, a black object suddenly floated above the river.
It caught onto the rope Yang Yu had hung down, and didn't let go.
Iyas spoke, "Yang Yu, that looks like a person."
Bai Jin suggested, "How about lifting her up first?"