Chapter 17. Li Ming.

Li Chen rose early the next day; it was finally time for his first hunt. But before he could set out, he had to prepare himself.

First, Li Chen completed his daily quest. He anticipated spending a considerable amount of time today in Verdant Veil Forest hunting and wouldn't have time later. And since he had no desire to be struck by lightning, he made sure to finish his quest before commencing his hunt.

After fulfilling his daily quest, Li Chen freshened up, changed into fresh clothes, and ate his breakfast. His meal was the Demonic Inferno Stir-Fry Delight, the same dish he had been enjoying since yesterday.

Finishing his meal, Li Chen left his room and started toward Verdant Veil Forest. Many disciples were also up and moving in the same direction.

Eventually, Li Chen reached the entrance to Verdant Veil Forest. Numerous disciples were either entering or simply standing outside, seemingly waiting for someone.

Li Chen understood they were waiting for their partners; hunting in groups tended to boost efficiency and strength.

As Li Chen approached the forest entrance, a disciple spotted him and exclaimed, "Isn't that the trash, or am I seeing things?"

Hearing this, everyone turned to look in Li Chen's direction, their expressions mirroring the young man's surprise.

"What's he doing here?" a girl muttered with a hint of disgust.

"Has he grown so tired of living that he's come here to die by the claws of a wild beast?"

"What? Do you think a wild beast would bother to eat such trash? Even the hungriest creature would prefer grass over him. I bet he'd taste terrible," another sneered.

Laughter erupted from the crowd.

Li Chen heard their taunts but chose to ignore them; he had more important concerns than the pointless words of these foolish youths.

Without giving their comments a second thought, he continued toward the forest entrance. But just as Li Chen was about to enter, a voice called out from behind.

"Oh, isn't it my dear brother?" a familiar voice said.

"Oh, isn't it my equally dear brother," Li Chen replied without emotion as he turned to face a handsome young man who bore a slight resemblance to Li Wei.

The young man was Li Ming, with a handsome countenance marred by a scar on his forehead, likely from a sword injury. His black hair was tied back in a ponytail, and he wore golden robes, exuding a majestic aura.

Li Ming's smile widened at Li Chen's words. "Brother Li Chen, what brings you to such a perilous place? This hardly seems like a playground for children," he said mockingly.

Li Chen offered a smile in response, but internally, he did not share the sentiment.

While Li Ming did not physically bully him as Li Wei did, Li Chen would still prefer Li Wei's company. Li Ming was a sly fox; where Li Wei was open and aggressive, Li Ming was cool and calculating—a type Li Chen found far more detestable.

"Nothing much, I'm actually here for a bit of sightseeing," Li Chen replied with a smile, taking in a deep breath. "I've heard the scenery and the air inside Verdant Veil Forest are quite enchanting. I wanted to see it for myself," Li Chen explained, astonishing everyone around.

"Wait! What? Sightseeing within Verdant Veil Forest? Has he lost his mind?" one of the disciples couldn't help but exclaim in shock.

"Calling him crazy is an understatement. He's courting death," another one added.

Not only the disciples but even Li Ming was taken aback by this. It was not the kind of response he had anticipated from Li Chen.

"Brother Li Chen, you might be mistaken. This is Verdant Veil Forest, and I'm afraid it's not a place for sightseeing," Li Ming tried to clarify.

"I know exactly where I am," Li Chen replied.

"And you think this is somewhere you can do some sightseeing?" Li Ming asked, amused by what he perceived as Li Chen's foolishness.

"Well, what can I say, the views are indeed beautiful," Li Chen remarked. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some sightseeing to get on with," he said as he turned to leave.

"Wait, Brother Li Chen," Li Ming called out, stopping Li Chen in his tracks.

"I'm about to go hunting. Why don't you join me? That way, I can ensure your safety, and you can enjoy all the sightseeing you desire," Li Ming suggested.

"No, thank you," Li Chen politely declined, then turned once more and entered Verdant Veil Forest. This time, Li Ming did not attempt to stop him but watched Li Chen's back with a cunning smile.

Verdant Veil Forest was divided into two sections: the outer and the inner parts. The outer section contained lesser spirit herbs and weaker wild beasts, while the inner section boasted more spirit herbs and stronger wild beasts.

With his current strength, Li Chen wouldn't last even a few minutes in the inner section of Verdant Veil Forest. He planned to stay at the edge of the outer part, hunting weaker wild beasts he might encounter.

Upon entering Verdant Veil Forest, Li Chen was greeted by towering trees with expansive branches that nearly obscured the sun.

Li Chen wasn't lying earlier when he said Verdant Veil Forest was beautiful and had fresh air. Apart from the deadly beasts that roamed it, the forest would indeed be a pleasant place to relax and enjoy some solitude.

After venturing further into Verdant Veil Forest, Li Chen reached a spot lush with greenery. Without hesitation, he stopped and changed into a new set of clothes—a black robe. Then, he drew a sword and fastened it at his waist. With a piece of black cloth, he covered his face. Now, he was ready to begin his hunt.

There were many disciples from the Li clan in Verdant Veil Forest at that moment. To avoid recognition, he needed to conceal his identity.

Once ready, Li Chen stored his previous clothes in his spatial ring and set off on his hunt. He had a specific location and a type of beast in mind—the Scorpion-tailed Wild Bull, which tended to dwell in swampy areas thick with poison. Li Chen knew just where to find one not too far from his current position.