Chapter 65 - 64: County Dignitary’s Invitation! Young Martial Artists Feast! (Please Follow)

Chapter 65: Chapter 64: County Dignitary’s Invitation! Young Martial Artists Feast! (Please Follow)"Sorry." Qi Yuan’s voice was somewhat low. He really hadn’t expected this trip into the mountains to be so fraught with difficulties. It was one thing to spend days without a trace of the Mutant Beast. But when they finally encountered it today, they almost fell into a life-and-death situation. In this dense fog, what use were they, Martial Artists who could only rely on their fists and feet to capture their prey? "Once we get back, I’ll ask Master how to train my eyesight better. In these mountains, insufficient eyesight is a big disadvantage." "I need to practice with weapons too. If my eyesight and archery skills were superior, and I could hit that red-haired creature with one arrow, together we should have been able to take it down." Summarizing the gains and losses of this expedition, Qi Yuan spoke again. "We’re still too weak." Jiang Shu murmured. This was the first time he felt powerless since solving the mystery in his mother’s womb. Living in the Xia Country, he may not have had the best life, but at the very least, he truly enjoyed peace. And in Pingling County, despite the three giants—the county government, the prominent families, and the gangs—oppression was prevalent, yet as long as you swallowed your humiliation, you could still scrape by. But it’s different in these mountains. If you’re not strong enough, death is the only outcome. He couldn’t even handle a small Mutant Beast. What about a larger Mutant Beast? The Red Armored Tiger he had been eating for this period, what kind of existence was it? Clear Strength. Leather Realm. Still insufficient. Far from enough! Stripping the iron skin from his iron staff bit by bit, Jiang Shu sat on a rock, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke again, "If the thick fog clears a bit by tomorrow morning, we’ll try tracking that red-haired creature again." "A crafty rabbit has three burrows. Not to mention, this is a Mutant," Qi Yuan shook his head. "Let’s search the vicinity tomorrow. If the fog is still as thick, we’d better descend the mountain early. I always felt that this dense fog appeared quite strange." "We may be close to the deep mountains, but we surely haven’t stepped foot into their depths. Hunters brave enough to venture into the perimeter have been known to come here, but I’ve never heard of the fog being so heavy." "Hmm." There were no more words that night. 「The next day.」 The forest was shrouded in fog. Half a step away, only a boundless expanse of white could be seen. Qi Yuan strapped his bow and arrows to his back, along with a long knife. He and Jiang Shu quietly left the cave. Ordinary beasts they indeed had killed in plenty. But when faced with real Mutant Beasts, their experience was simply too lacking. The two walked very slowly, spending two hours just to descend the mountain. By now, many hunters were also returning to Sanling Town. "With the fog this thick, I couldn’t even catch a rabbit today, PAH." "Exactly, I went around the same path several times today and almost couldn’t find my way out. If the fog stays this thick, I won’t go up the mountain this year; we’ve saved up enough food at home over the past two years to last us." "Ah, I was hoping to bag some fine pelts to sell in the county city." "Forget it, let’s go drink instead." The voices of the hunters clearly reached the two, indicating that even the experienced hunters living at the foot of the mountain had never seen such a phenomenon. The dense fog closed off the mountain. Perhaps, this time, it really wasn’t the right moment for them to come. "Let’s head back first." Without lingering in Sanling Town, Qi Yuan and Jiang Shu hurried back to Pingling County with swift steps. At this moment, Pingling County was as tranquil as the ripples on a small pond. The refugees outside the city had become accustomed to the exploitation of gangs, contributing enough Copper Coins every month. The commoners within the city were also engaged in their small businesses, and those with surplus wealth sent their children to martial arts schools to learn combat. Qi Yuan returned to his small courtyard and closed his doors, not venturing out. All one could hear was the incessant sound of punching and kicking, day and night. Jiang Shu also resumed his usual routine after briefly resting at home, though his visits to the Hungry Tiger Martial Arts School became even more frequent. He often sought out Master Qiu to listen to some Martial Arts teachings. Before entering the mountains, he had a fair amount of confidence in his own strength. He always felt that Mutant Beasts, no matter what, were simply wild animals with more strength and speed. But now it seemed that each Mutant Beast probably had its own Talents. Just like the red-haired creature he had encountered. Its vision could penetrate dense fog, and it moved extremely fast. Its fangs were sharp, even more so than common jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards. Such a creature looked like a rabbit? Damn it! "If it were a one-on-one battle on the platform, Martial Artists might not necessarily lose to a Mutant Beast. But in the depths of the mountains, these Mutant Beasts have the advantage of the terrain, just like fighting on their home ground. Without absolute power to dominate, one simply isn’t a match." "No wonder one needs to reach the Bone Forging Realm to have the qualifications to cross this mountain." "Of course, one could choose to take a detour. It’s just that... in doing so, the time required would be tens of times longer." Jiang Shu crouched like a tiger, breathing like a tiger. His Pile Breathing techniques, with his day and night diligent practice, were about to break the limit. Snake Step had also been practiced to small success, marching towards Great Success. Compared to when he descended the mountain, his strength had advanced another step. In terms of qi and blood, he should be able to suppress an average Stone Skin Realm Martial Artist. Once his Pile Breathing techniques break the limit and his skin membrane is refined for the second time, that would be the true day he steps into the Stone Skin Realm. "I wonder if Brother Qi has adjusted his state." Jiang Shu murmured to himself. This trip to the mountains had brought him many gains after all. His strength had improved, and he discovered the potential to break his Martial Arts limits. But for Qi Yuan, it was purely a suppression. No matter how much one hears about Mutant Beasts, it’s never the same as facing one personally. While he was reminiscing about that day, a knocking sound suddenly arose. "Brother Jiang, Brother Jiang." A familiar voice called out. Jiang Shu opened the courtyard door to see Zhou Yang’s round face beaming with a smile; in his hand was an invitation, and he said excitedly, "Brother Jiang, Brother Jiang, this is great news!" "Today at the Hungry Tiger Martial Arts School, Master Qiu asked me to give you this invitation. He said it was issued by the county magistrate himself and that a banquet for young Martial Artists is to be held! Every Martial Artist under thirty can participate!" "As long as you make an impressive display at the banquet, you can obtain a Martial Arts manual in the county government!" "Brother Jiang, you must take this opportunity to show your skills. If you catch the eye of the county magistrate, that would be a real step to the sky!" "The county magistrate is in the Refining Internal Realm!" "A true Martial Arts powerhouse!" Zhou Yang was so excited he was almost incoherent, as if he were the one participating. But Jiang Shu’s eyebrows slightly furrowed. He was no longer the rookie who had just arrived. If the banquet for young Martial Artists was an annual event or even held every few years, he wouldn’t find it odd. But it was so sudden. Those who perform impressively could even directly obtain a Martial Arts technique. Even among ordinary people, there’s a saying: unsolicited favor is a sign of scheming. Not to mention the sudden generosity from those above. Jiang Shu took the invitation, his fingers brushed over it as his eyes narrowed contemplatively.