Chapter 3: Fallen Desolate Forest

Huang Longtian!

Young Miss Leng was taken aback. What an arrogant name! His parents must have had some great aspirations for him; what a pity he's only a mortal.

She wasn't the only one that was surprised by Huang Longtian's name; her bodyguards were equally surprised, specifically Yu, whose mocking grin could almost reach the Heavens itself.

She nodded her head slightly in acknowledgment, her demeanor cool and composed. "My name is Leng Huangnu," she said, her voice like a crisp winter breeze. "We are currently traveling to participate in the High Heaven Thundercloud Sect's disciple selection. It's a well-known sect in the Eastern Domain; you should know about it."

'Sect disciple selection? High Heaven Thundercloud Sect? Eastern Domain? I probably knew about it? ' Huang Longtian had a strange expression on his face. He was puzzled.

He didn't know what she was talking about. He knew from his experience reading cultivation novels that if he said that he didn't know about it in this situation, it would probably cause them to look at him disdainfully. 

Nevertheless, if Leng Huangnu was a good person, she wouldn't probably care about it, although it would make him lose some face he didn't care. Right now the most important thing was gathering some information about the world that he had been transferred to by the Primordial Origin Library. 

He couldn't care less about some face, a thing that he probably didn't have.

Huang Longtian nodded and scratched his head awkwardly. It was really difficult to talk to someone he didn't know previously as an introvert. Though he knew her name, it didn't make him socially at ease. "Miss Leng, could you tell me exactly where we are right now? I think I've hit my head and can't remember some basic things."

"Hmph! bumpkin," disdain could be seen in Yu's eyes and he was not the only one; the other bodyguards also showed some disdain for Huang Longtian.

"Where did this countryside boy come from?" a man with a scar on his left eye sneered. Even with the scar on his left eye, he looked strangely attractive.

A voluptuous lady added sarcastically, "Just ignore him, poor him. He came to the Fallen Desolate Forest for some fruitful encounters but only to hit his head."

"Young Miss, Yu is right, we shouldn't involve ourselves with a person like him," said another handsome man wearing black clothes. "Especially the Young Miss. It would be an offense to your superior status."

"Hm," Yu's eyes gleamed with an approving light when looking at the man. His name was Lu Bing; he was a subordinate of Yu's family.

Huang Longtian looked at them expressionless. How dumb and superficial these people were? They started throwing insults at him even though they had any enmity. And this guy named Yu—could it be that he had a crush on Leng Huangnu? He could tell just from Leng Huangnu's mannerisms, her expensive-looking clothes, and how these guys treated them, that she had an incredible background.

'Ah… the cliché servant that had possessive feelings towards his master and would eventually betray his master or plan to r*pe his master if his plan didn't go the way he wanted,' Huang Longtian as he looked at Yu and his compadres calmly.

"Enough," said Leng Huangnu in a chilling tone, "I don't care if he's a bumpkin or not. Right now he's my guest, so be polite to him, or else…"

Though Leng Huangnu didn't finish her phrase, the message behind it was audible. Yu snorted coldly while looking at Huang Longtian as if wanting to devour him, whereas the others just shut their mouths at Leng Huangnu's threat.

Leng Huangnu's gaze shifted briefly to the dense forest surrounding them before returning to Huang Longtian. "We are currently in the Fallen Desolate Forest, a dangerous place in the Eastern Domain. This forest is known for its numerous spirit beasts and hazardous terrain."

Huang Longtian's brows furrowed slightly as he processed the information. Just by the name alone, he could tell that it was an extremely dangerous place, but why did the Primordial Origin Library send him to such a dangerous place? 

"Despite its dangers, the Fallen Desolate Forest is a place of immense allure for us cultivators. It is said that an ancient cultivator's essence still lingers within the forest, hidden within itself. Multiple powerhouses who dared to venture into the depths of the forest to seek the ancient cultivator's essence had died without a burial. So it became a famous forbidden place that none dares to venture into without protection…"

Leng Huangnu paused slightly, her beautiful eyes looking at Huang Longtian deeply. Noticing her stare, Huang Longtian had a calm expression on his face, but his heart was racing. Could be…

Then she continued: "So could you imagine my shock when a mortal with no cultivation appeared out of nowhere claiming that he was lost? Additionally, that he had hit his head and forgot some things about the world?"

Yu's eyes narrowed. I knew he was suspicious, but why did the Young Miss accept this suspicious man traveling with us? Could it be that he had something special? He didn't know what the young miss was thinking in her mind. 

Huang Longtian frowned. Just as he imagined, she was indeed suspicious of him. Leng Huangnu looked at him deeply and smiled beautifully, "Don't worry, I won't pry into your secrets. Just don't do something that would compromise our safety." 

Huang Longtian looked at her and noticed that she was incredibly beautiful. But it wasn't the most important thing that she had in her repertory. Unlike the female leads in these cliché cultivation novels, she had beauty and brains; just from these small details, she had deduced that he was lying, but this could also be attributed to his lack of knowledge about this world. If he had known that he was in the infamous Fallen Desolate Forest, he wouldn't have made that mistake.

"Then let's continue." Leng Huangnu didn't wait for his answer as she turned around and continued walking.

As they continued their journey, the group moved with a practiced efficiency. Huang Longtian observed the guards, noting their disciplined movements and the way they constantly scanned their surroundings for threats. 

Specifically, the one named Yu, though he was a foolish and snobbish man, he was a highly competent and serious man when doing his work, extremely serious about his duty as if nothing could escape his eyes. It was clear that they were well-trained and accustomed to protecting Leng Huangnu.

Grrrruuuu… Grrrruuuu… Grrrruuuu… Grrrruuuu…

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted as hurling sounds could be heard. 

The guards tensed, their senses heightened. 

Huang Longtian followed their gazes and saw shadows moving through the trees, accompanied by faint rustling sounds. 

Whoosh…. Whoosh….

His eyes shone with a pleased light; danger was approaching.

"Prepare yourselves," Leng Huangnu commanded, her voice cold and calm. The guards unsheathed their weapons, forming a protective circle around her.

They deliberately left Huang Longtian out as their job was to protect their young miss.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Out of the underbrush emerged several spirit beasts, their eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger. 

These creatures were larger than any beast Huang Longtian had seen, their forms exuding a palpable aura of power. 

He quickly recognized them as Spirit Beasts—beasts that could cultivate the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth!

Whoosh!

The guards moved into action, their weapons flashing in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees.

Huang Longtian watched, his eyes keenly observing their movements. 

He could discern the cultivation levels of the guards now that they had unleashed their aura—Spiritual Foundation Realm!

Cultivation revolved around harnessing the natural energies of the world, such as the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth, to empower the essence, body, and soul.

It included the process of improving health, increasing longevity, and growing powerful. 

In cultivation novels, this was accomplished by cultivating Spiritual Qi and training in martial arts. Usually, the ultimate goal of cultivation was to become an Immortal or attain godhood.

One guard, in particular, caught his eye. Yu, the aggressive and foolish man from earlier, wielded a massive sword with deadly grace. 

Bang! Bang!

His strikes were powerful, his movements fluid. It was evident that he had reached significant mastery of his weapon; he couldn't be underestimated.

Clang! Boom!

The Spirit Beasts fought back fiercely, their claws and fangs flashing dangerously. 

Huang Longtian looked at them with shiny eyes, his mouth almost drooling—their bones, skin, and meat were highly important for their uses in alchemy, making powerful talisman papers, and crafting powerful artifacts. 

That's why, contrary to Leng Huangnu and the others, he was excited to encounter some Spirit Beasts—free material, so how could he not be excited!

Leng Huangnu stood at the center of the battle, her expression serene but alert. 

She did not move to join the fight, as the Spirit Beasts were stronger than her—5th Rank Spirit Beasts equivalent to strong cultivators at the Spiritual Foundation Realm. 

However, at the same realm, Spirit Beasts were innately stronger than human cultivators!

Roooooaaaar!

Suddenly, one of the Spirit Beasts broke through the line of guards, lunging toward Leng Huangnu with a fierce growl!