Chapter 773

Chapter 773: Hunting in the North Mountain (Part Two)

A bonfire blazed within the vast and deep cave.

The bright flames dispelled the darkness and mist, casting warmth over the illuminated area.

Above the fire, a massive bear paw was roasting.

The rough, thick skin had been peeled away, revealing the snow-white flesh beneath, which sizzled enticingly over the high heat. Bear oil dripped onto the flames, crackling and sputtering.

An unusual aroma filled the air.

Wang Chen couldn’t help but swallow his saliva.

Today marked the fifth day since he had entered the North Mountain.

Over the past five days, Wang Chen had been exploring the depths of the mountains, searching for suitable prey.

He was hunting for fierce beasts above the fourth level, leaving those of the first, second, or third level to the hunters of Chibi City.

As this was his first time hunting in the mountains, he was unfamiliar with the terrain and lacked extensive hunting experience.

As a result, his initial efforts had been far from smooth.

However, perseverance pays off, and in the depths of these beast-infested mountains, persistence was bound to yield rewards.

At this moment, he sat on a rock, his left hand gripping a long knife that pierced the roasted bear paw, while his right hand held a thick booklet.

Every page of the booklet was densely filled with tiny handwriting, interspersed with vivid illustrations.

One page, in particular, depicted the giant bear lying beside Wang Chen.

Gray Giant Bear!

This fifth-level fierce beast had been the master of this cave, ruling over a territory spanning dozens of miles without any rivals.

But today, it had met its unfortunate end, trapped in the cave by Wang Chen, who had stumbled upon it by chance.

Now, it had become Wang Chen’s dinner.

The Gray Giant Bear was twice the size of an ordinary black bear, immensely strong and nearly impervious to harm. Its massive paws could easily crush solid rock, and even a martial artist at the Peak of Marrow Refinement would think twice before challenging it!

Its flesh was extraordinarily thick and tough, making it difficult to penetrate even with superior weapons.

Yet, with a single strike from the long knife infused with martial arts true energy, Wang Chen had effortlessly shattered its defenses, which were comparable to heavy armor.

With just one blow, Wang Chen had ended its life!

The bear paw was now ready.

Without chopsticks or a plate, Wang Chen simply grabbed it with his hands and began to devour it.

He had brought only a pouch of fine salt with him, sprinkling a bit over the roasted bear paw, as he had no other seasonings.

Yet, the bear paw was far from gamey; its surface was golden and crisp, while the inside was tender and soft, melting in his mouth with an incredibly sweet and savory flavor.

Moreover, it was rich in vital energy, filling Wang Chen’s stomach with a warm, comforting sensation.

A ten-kilogram roasted bear paw was completely devoured by Wang Chen in less time than it took to finish a cup of tea!

Such an appetite was already astonishing, but for Wang Chen, it wasn’t even enough to fill him halfway.

He licked his lips, picked up the long knife, and cut off the second bear paw, continuing the roasting process as before.

Wang Chen felt that taking down all four bear paws was a piece of cake!

What Wang Chen did not expect was that just as the bear paw was about to be perfectly roasted, an old voice suddenly reached his ears: "Share half with me."

Wang Chen was startled!

Though he currently had no magical power, he had cultivated to the Post-natal Great Realm, giving him a perception that was more than ten times stronger than that of ordinary people.

The other person had managed to sneak up nearby without him noticing, and their power was truly terrifying.

Despite the waves of surprise in his heart, Wang Chen smiled and said, "No problem, senior. Please come in and speak."

The next moment, a figure flashed before his eyes, revealing a white-haired elder.

The elder wore a set of plain clothes, held a nondescript vine staff, and had a shiny gourd hanging from his waist. On his feet were a pair of worn-out straw sandals.

The plain-clothed elder ignored Wang Chen, who was so close, and drooled over the bear paw: "Alright, alright, if it roasts any longer, it will burn!"

Wang Chen smiled slightly and handed over the long knife he used to pierce the bear paw: "Please, senior."

Since entering the mountains, he hadn’t encountered anyone else apart from the pursuers on the first day.

The North Mountain was simply too vast, with towering peaks, dense forests, and thick mist, making it impossible to find any well-trodden paths. No matter how many people went in, they would vanish like a mud ox plunging into the sea.

This sudden appearance of the plain-clothed elder was certainly not an ordinary occurrence.

He was at least an innate martial artist, and quite possibly an Extraordinary Practitioner!

As for entry into the path cultivator, Wang Chen figured that was nearly impossible.

Even if the elder was just an innate martial artist, he was at a much higher cultivation level than Wang Chen, so it was only proper to maintain a respectful attitude.

Of course, if the elder harbored ill intentions, then Wang Chen wouldn’t hesitate to fight, even against an Extraordinary Practitioner!

"Thank you, thank you!"

The plain-clothed elder clearly meant no harm; he was merely greedy, happily accepting the long knife and eagerly chowing down.

While eating, he praised, "Not bad, not bad! This bear paw is aged well and roasted just right. What a pity there’s no honeycomb; it would have been sweeter if spread on while roasting!"

Wang Chen smiled without speaking.

The elder ate faster than Wang Chen, and in the blink of an eye, he had devoured the entire bear paw.

After finishing, he suddenly seemed to wake from a dream, scratching his greasy head and apologizing, "Ah, look at me, I’ve eaten all your bear paw. I’m so sorry!"

"It’s fine."

Wang Chen waved his hand, pointing to the bear carcass beside them: "There are still two here. I’ll roast them."

In fact, the best and most nourishing bear paws were the front ones; the taste of the hind ones was not as good.

"Let me do it!"

The plain-clothed elder immediately volunteered: "We’ll split these two, one for each of us!"

He returned the long knife to Wang Chen and took down the gourd hanging at his waist: "This wine of mine is no ordinary drink. If you let me have a couple of sips, I’ll exchange it for your bear paw. I can’t take advantage of the younger generation!"

Wang Chen accepted the long knife and gourd without hesitation, twisting open the wooden stopper of the gourd.

A rich aroma of wine instantly filled the air!

Oh?

Wang Chen was taken aback, a storm of emotions rising within him!

He had not yet tasted the wine, but he could already detect a hint of spiritual energy in the rich fragrance.

And the concentration was quite high, almost comparable to the most ordinary spiritual wine from the Haotian Realm!

He subtly took a sip, and the wine flowed into his belly, filling him with spiritual energy, silently nourishing his five organs.

At that moment, Wang Chen nearly lost control.

He felt an overwhelming urge to burst into tears!

This feeling had once been commonplace, but now it was a cherished memory, and reliving it was truly bittersweet.

Many things only become precious once they are lost!

He heard the plain-clothed elder ask, “Boy, are you from that immortal city?”

Wang Chen instinctively replied, “Qianxing Immortal City.”

As soon as he spoke, he froze.

Because the elder had just spoken the language of the celestial realm!