Chapter 752

Chapter 752: Exchange

In the small courtyard, Wang Chen was sharpening his knife.

He was sharpening the mountain knife gifted to him by Village Chief Old Shi Wu.

This knife, three inches wide and about two feet long, boasted a classic design with a thick back, making it ideal for chopping and slashing.

In Little Stone Village, such a metal weapon was as valuable as five hundred pounds of cured meat.

This clearly demonstrated the generosity of Village Chief Old Shi Wu.

However, when the knife came into Wang Chen’s possession, its edge was somewhat dull. He had left it untouched for a while, and only today, after advancing to the Meat Refinement Stage, did he take it out to restore its edge.

Wang Chen, also known as Chen Er Gou, had often sharpened knives and arrowheads for Chen Qiao Shan, so this task was second nature to him.

Unfortunately, the two usable weapons at home had been taken away by Chen Qiao Shan, who had also disappeared.

Click! Click!

Stroke after stroke, Wang Chen focused intently on sharpening the mountain knife.

Simultaneously, he was tempering his own mindset.

Concerned for Hu Jiao Jiao’s safety, he had been somewhat restless lately. Although he had successfully advanced, this instability in his mindset was like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment!

In martial arts, one must not seek quick success!

The more he sharpened the knife, the sharper it became, and the more his heart found peace.

Clink!

Wang Chen sheathed the knife and stood up straight.

With the knife now sharp, he could no longer remain secluded at home, cultivating behind closed doors.

He packed the remaining dozen or so pounds of cured meat into a cloth bag, strapped on the mountain knife, and shouldered a simple backpack before leaving his home.

He didn’t go far; he knocked on the door of a nearby house.

“Doggie?”

The person inside was surprised, “What’s going on?”

Wang Chen replied, “Uncle Yan, I want to join the Hunting Team!”

The man before him was none other than Yan Wu, the leader of the Hunting Team in Little Stone Village, a martial artist in the Meat Refinement Stage, second only to Village Chief Old Shi Wu in strength.

Hearing Wang Chen’s words, he was taken aback: “You, you want to join the Hunting Team?”

“Exactly!”

Wang Chen nodded, patting his backpack as he said, “I’m already prepared.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

Yan Wu was at a loss for words: “You’re still so young, and to join the Hunting Team, you must be in the Meat Refinement Stage.”

“Wait a minute!”

His expression suddenly changed: “Doggie, you?”

The leader of the Hunting Team was astonished to find that the Wang Chen standing before him had not only grown taller since ten days ago but also appeared much stronger.

He no longer resembled a fifteen-year-old boy!

Most importantly, Wang Chen subtly exuded an aura that felt all too familiar.

Blood vitality!

"Uncle Yan, I’ve broken through to the Meat Refinement Stage," Wang Chen said with a smile. "I promise I won’t hold the Hunting Team back."

"What!"

Yan Wu’s mind reeled with a deafening crash. Though he had harbored suspicions earlier, hearing Wang Chen’s confirmation still left him in disbelief.

How could this be possible!?

Yan Wu blurted out, "Did you take some rare medicine?"

In the mist-shrouded wilderness, among the mountains, marshes, and lakes, grew many precious herbs. Some were said to have the power to transform one’s cultivation level entirely if consumed.

Yet, Yan Wu had only heard tales of such rare medicines; he had never laid eyes on one.

Wang Chen shook his head, avoiding a direct answer. "Uncle Yan, can I join the Hunting Team?"

"This…"

Snapping back to reality, Yan Wu found himself in a quandary. "Doggie, even if you truly are at the Meat Refinement Stage, it’s not the season for hunting. Besides, you lack experience. Let’s discuss this another time."

His mind was a tangled mess, filled with doubt and incredulity, so he instinctively resorted to delaying the matter.

"Alright then."

Wang Chen could clearly see Yan Wu’s hesitation and reluctance. Unwilling to press the issue, he politely took his leave.

However, Wang Chen did not head home. Instead, he strode purposefully toward the village outskirts.

With Yan Wu’s expectations weighing heavily and Wang Chen’s aversion to relying on others, he resolved to hunt alone.

This decision was no impulsive act for Wang Chen.

First, there was the pressing need—he was nearly out of meat. Was he to stay at home, subsisting on nothing but water?

Second, martial artists at the Meat Refinement Stage possessed the ability to protect themselves. As long as he avoided venturing into perilous areas, safety wouldn’t be a major concern.

Lastly, while Chen Er Gou might be a novice, Wang Chen was anything but!

"Doggie, where are you off to?"

A villager greeted him along the way. Wang Chen merely smiled in response, offering no direct answer.

The villager watched as Wang Chen exited the village, swiftly vanishing into the mist!

Chen Er Gou had left the village!

A shiver ran down the villager’s spine, and he hurried to inform the others.

The Chen family boy was courting disaster!

Yet, the clamor and commotion of the village could no longer reach Wang Chen as he delved deeper into the mist.

Chen Er Gou had never ventured beyond Little Stone Village, and all his knowledge of the outside world stemmed from the tales told by Chen Qiao Shan.

As a member of the Hunting Team, Chen Qiao Shan frequently ventured out and was intimately acquainted with the surrounding environment.

Now, these memories served as valuable information for Wang Chen.

He cautiously advanced toward the northwest.

Enveloped in dense fog, visibility was reduced to less than ten steps, yet he could still discern the faint outlines of nearby trees.

Every so often, Wang Chen left subtle marks on the ground and the trees beside him.

This was an effective method to prevent losing his way.

Moreover, finding direction was straightforward; he simply needed to locate the Guide Grass.

This small plant was widely distributed in the wild and had a unique characteristic: it could indicate direction, ensuring travelers did not lose their path.

On his first excursion outside the village, Wang Chen proceeded with great caution.

He soon realized that in a vast area surrounding the village, there were hardly any wild animals to be seen.

Or rather, Wild Beasts.

This was quite normal, as the village hunters had repeatedly swept through the area, and Wild Beasts, being somewhat intelligent and highly alert,

were unlikely to frequent places where their kind were continually hunted.

Thus, if Wang Chen wished to hunt Wild Beasts or even fierce beasts, he would need to venture deeper into the fog.

Walking through the fog, with the inability to see the surroundings clearly, made it easy to encounter the "Ghost Wall" phenomenon.

Unfamiliarity with the terrain would undoubtedly exacerbate the situation.

Nevertheless, Wang Chen, skilled and bold, pressed on deeper into the fog, seeking the secrets of this world.

It was said that this world was once normal, with a clear sky and green mountains, where countless human cultivators flourished.

Now, everyone huddled together in various large and small villages.

Wang Chen paused and surveyed his surroundings, observing the towering trees shrouded in fog, feeling as though he were trapped in an immense cage.

Even if he escaped from here, he would likely fall into another, larger prison!

He quelled the turmoil within and began a thorough search of the newly entered forest.

Coo!

Suddenly, a cooing sound, akin to that of a pigeon, sharply echoed.

In the next moment, Wang Chen heard the flapping of wings, as if something was rushing toward him at high speed!