The 48th year of Longyou, fourth day of June
Shortly after nightfall, about five kilometers deep into Long Mountain.
A blue Thorny Wolf, riddled with Iron Arrows, collapsed to the ground. Li Hu, with five others including Xue Ping, leaped down from the tree, faces full of excitement.
"Tonight went smoothly, we just came out and already hunted a Thorny Wolf."
Hearing Xue Ping’s exclamation, Li Hu smiled without speaking, quickly walking to the Thorny Wolf’s side and asked, "Ah Zhong, are you hurt?"
"Cough, cough... I should be fine."
A coughing sound came from under the Thorny Wolf’s corpse, Xue Ping quickly lifted the wolf’s body, and Li Hu timely stepped forward to help Yang Zhong up.
It was only then that everyone noticed Yang Zhong’s left leg was bleeding.
"Zhong Bro, you’re hurt again?"
Hearing Xue Ping’s words, Li Hu, without another word, tore a piece of cloth to bandage the bleeding spot on Yang Zhong’s left leg, eyelashes slightly twitching, and he asked quietly, "How is it, can we continue?"
"It’s an old injury from two days ago that reopened, nothing serious, I can continue!"
Noticing the weakness in Yang Zhong’s voice, Xue Ping was full of worry and said, "If I had known, we should have rested for a night. The wound reopened last night, and again tonight, at this rate, it might never heal."
"It’s okay, no worries about me, let’s go, keep moving!"
Yang Zhong forced himself to stand up but walked with a noticeable limp.
Li Hu frowned and said directly, "That’s enough, I can’t let you continue, just like last night, you stay here and rest, the six of us will go in, and find you after the hunt."
Seeing Yang Zhong’s troubled expression, Xue Ping immediately added, "The captain is right, Zhong Bro, you can’t push yourself any further, if the leg injury leaves a persistent problem, it will be a big issue in the future. Like the past two days, stay here to heal, and we’ll find you after the hunt."
The other three in the team said nothing, Yang Yue twitched the corner of his mouth, seemingly wanting to mock a bit, but seeing Yang Zhong’s bloody left leg held back.
"Alright, I’ll watch over the prey here, you guys go on."
Yang Zhong was finally persuaded and nodded.
Everyone helped Yang Zhong hang the prey on the tree branches, then cleared a space for him on the tree, and continued to move deeper.
Before leaving, Li Hu exchanged a subtle glance with Yang Zhong.
Once everyone went far, Yang Zhong immediately stood up, ripped off the cloth tied around his left leg, and a sharp glint appeared in his eyes.
His left leg had no injury at all, just a small cut, and the amount of blood flowing out wasn’t as terrifying as it looked.
He jumped down from the tree and began exploring in the Snow Forest, his legs moving freely without the slightest sign of injury.
In no time, he reached a slope, felt around for a while and skillfully found the entrance to a small cave.
Yang Zhong was very cautious, not entering the cave directly, but first looking around to make sure no one was following, before walking in, and as soon as he was inside, he used wood to seal the cave entrance.
Inside the cave, Yang Zhong lit a small campfire, then went to the depths of the cave and soon took out an iron pot, five pieces of reddish Beast Meat, a jar, and a porcelain bottle.
"When can I cultivate without being so sneaky, it’s the third day now, if I can’t break through soon, there’ll be no time left."
Yang Zhong began boiling the meat and quickly swallowed a Beast Spirit Pill and started cultivating.
This cave was the stash site for him and Li Hu’s materials.
The injury was just a ruse he and Li Hu staged, to get away from Yang Yue’s watchful eyes and cultivate in peace.
The vigilance from Li Yuanqing and Yang Gan was far too tight. Since returning from the Great Xia, he and Li Hu had been using this method to secretly use the cultivation materials given by Xia Chuan.
Initially, the two would alternate every one or two days, but the provocation from Li Yuanqing and Yang Gan three days ago made them feel pressured, and with Li Hu already breaching the Earth-digging Realm limit, he gave the cultivation opportunities to Yang Zhong for the past three days.
"Only two hundred more pounds to go, with one more Beast Spirit Pill, and ten pounds of intermediate Beast Meat cooked with refined salt, breaking through tonight should not be a problem." Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on noveⅼfire.net
Once the Beast Meat was cooked, Yang Zhong began stuffing it into his mouth, utilizing the auxiliary effect of the Beast Spirit Pill, the energy within the Beast Meat rapidly dispersed throughout his body.
He quickly started punching to release energy, increasing strength and muscle density.
With the medicinal power assisting, steam rose from his body continuously, and each punch was stronger than the last, his physique clearly strengthening rapidly.
This cultivation speed, five to six times faster than usual, though not new to him, still amazed Yang Zhong as he felt his rapidly increasing Basic Strength at that moment:
"The Beast Essence Pill from earlier was already powerful, but this Beast Spirit Pill is at least ten times more effective than Long Mountain’s Power Concentration Powder; and the refined salt, it not only makes the Beast Meat delicious but also aids in absorbing the meat’s energy. If the Great Xia can provide such divine items with ease, their strength is extraordinary, who knows what even more miraculous things might be in their base!"
Even Long Mountain had items that could accelerate cultivation speed, but compared to what the Great Xia offered, they were worthless.
"I and Hu Zi haven’t even broken through yet, and the Minister was willing to give out 200 pounds of Beast Blood, so many Spirit Pills and refined salt, just imagine what it would be after we break through. If we can provide more valuable intelligence to the Great Xia, Hu Zi and I will have no shortage of cultivation resources."