Chapter 66 - Explosive Ape's Nest

“True Martial Sixth Level?”

Lin Bai’s gaze seemed to be full of interest.

Looking closely at their cultivations, the black-faced youth who was speaking was at the True Martial Fourth Level, with the rest at True Martial Triple Level.

Lin Bai, himself, was at True Martial First Level.

However, the black-faced youth’s mention of the demon beast’s nest indeed piqued Lin Bai’s interest.

“According to our Sword Alliance’s investigation, that demon beast’s nest should be home to a True Martial Sixth Level demon beast, five True Martial Fifth Level demon beasts, and over fifty True Martial Triple and Fourth Level demon beasts.”

“This nest belongs to a group of ape-like demon beasts.”

“Known as Explosive Apes!”

“Explosive apes are violent by nature, particularly explosive-tempered, and they ruthlessly deal with those who trespass their territory!”

“Within the Spirit Sword Sect, besides the Divine Alliance, only our Sword Alliance dares to organize warriors to infiltrate the Explosive Apes’ nest.”

“How about it, want to join us?” The black-faced youth laughingly asked.

“Are you folks of the Sword Alliance?” Lin Bai asked in surprise.

Lin Bai had previously met with the Alliance Leader of the Sword Alliance, Li Qingxuan.

His impression of the Alliance Leader was not bad.

She may not have been gentle or elegant, but neither was she petty.

She was generous and heroic instead.

“Well, then I’ll go with you to check it out, but how will we distribute any beasts we manage to hunt?”

“And, you mentioned this hunting mission is organized by the Sword Alliance.

Isn’t it inappropriate for me to just barge in?” Lin Bai pondered.

“No worries.

If you perform exceptionally during this hunt, perhaps I could recommend you to join the Sword Alliance.”

“Every member of our Sword Alliance is skilled in using swords.”

“As for distributing the demon beasts, whoever kills it gets it, of course.

If you kill a beast but are not a disciple of the Alliance, you just need to pay us a commission—ten percent of the beast’s value.”

The black-faced youth chuckled, “By the way, I haven’t introduced myself.

I’m Sun Qian, Martial Art Fourth Level.”

“This is Junior Brother Zhang Yi, and this is…”

Sun Qian introduced the few warriors around him.

“If you’re coming with us, let’s get going.

We’re almost at our scheduled time.”

Sun Qian glanced at the sky and said with a slow drawl.

“Alright, I’ll come along and have a look.”

Lin Bai nodded.

The rules of the Sword Alliance seemed quite reasonable.

Whoever kills the beast owns the beast.

In the worst-case scenario, even if Lin Bai didn’t wish to join the Sword Alliance in the end, he would only need to pay ten percent of the monster’s value as a commission to the Alliance.

A True Martial Fifth Level beast is worth about 10,000 Spirit Stones, and ten percent of that is only a thousand.

The price was within Lin Bai’s budget.

Naturally, Lin Bai was quite interested in the Sword Alliance.

According to both Zhang Qing and Sun Qian, the Sword Alliance is filled with great sword masters, and Lin Bai hoped to spar with these masters to improve his cultivation rapidly.

Joining an Alliance had its benefits, such as preferential access to cultivation resources, martial techniques, and news.

And from time to time, the Alliance would organize large-scale tasks directly taken from the Task Hall.

This current mission to infiltrate the Explosive Ape nest, for instance, was given to the Sword Alliance by the Spirit Sword Sect Task Hall.

Lin Bai and Sun Qian had a brief chat, and Lin Bai got a basic understanding of the Alliances and cultivations within the Spirit Sword Sect.

Among the Alliances, the Divine Alliance dominated, followed by the Sword Alliance, the Alliance of Beasts, and other smaller Alliances.

An hour later.

Lin Bai and the others arrived at a canyon.

This canyon seemed like it had been cleaved open by a sword qi, majestic and extraordinary.

At the front of the canyon, about twenty or thirty warriors had already gathered.

These warriors each held a treasure sword in their hands, on their backs, or at their waists.

They were all Sword Alliance Warriors.

“Sun Qian, what’s taking you so long?

We’re all waiting for you.”

Even before Sun Qian and Lin Bai could get closer, a rather exasperated teenager in their group voiced out his disapproval.

“Senior Brother Huang Feng, I’m truly sorry.

We ran into a bit of trouble on the way, so we were delayed,” Sun Qian hurriedly explained.

“Huang Feng?”

Lin Bai found the name slightly familiar.

“Hmph, if you dawdle like this again, you won’t even get a sip of soup to drink,” Huang Feng grumbled.

Suddenly, Huang Feng’s eyes shifted to Lin Bai and asked, “Who is this?

He’s not from our Sword Alliance, is he?”

“His name is Lin Bai.

He indeed isn’t from the Sword Alliance, but I noticed that his Sword Art is highly advanced, so I thought about recruiting him into our Alliance.

Thus, I brought him here this time to assess his strength.”

Sun Qian gave Lin Bai a comforting pat on the shoulder, grinning as he addressed Huang Feng.

“A True Martial First Level warrior—what potential could he possibly have?”

“Never mind.

I don’t care to get involved.

Now that everyone’s here, let’s all head into the valley.”

With a wave of his arm, Huang Feng led the way.

All the warriors placed their hands on their swords, their faces set in grim determination as they ventured into the canyon.

Only then did Sun Qian explain to Lin Bai, “That was Huang Feng.

His Martial Art only reaches True Martial Sixth Level, but he has an enormous background.

His brother is Huang Fei, one of the top ten disciples of the outer sect!”

“Oh, so he’s Huang Fei’s younger brother.

I was wondering where I saw him before.”

Lin Bai wore a faint smile.

Sun Qian advised, “Brother Lin Bai, due to your low rank, I suggest you stay close behind me once we’re inside.

If you encounter an Explosive Ape that is within your ability to fight, go ahead.

I’ll protect you.”

Sun Qian grinned as he reassured Lin Bai.

“Hehe, alright, Brother Sun Qian.”

Lin Bai responded with a nod and a smile.

The group of over twenty Sword Alliance Warriors stealthily entered the canyon.

Lin Bai and Sun Qian were trailing behind.

Upon entering the valley, Lin Bai took a careful look around.

The surrounding stone walls were smooth and vines were hanging in the air.

Obviously, the canyon had long-term signs of life.

But as they almost entirely entered the canyon, there wasn’t an Explosive Ape to be seen.

“Hm?”

Lin Bai sensed something odd.

Explosive Apes, Demon Beasts that ranged from True Martial First to Ninth Level, had a fiery temperament and explosive rage.

If a typical warrior were to approach them within a hundred meters, they would attack.

Lin Bai and the others had practically invaded their lair, so how come not a single Explosive Ape had noticed them?

“Brother Sun Qian, I feel that something is not right.”

Lin Bai whispered to Sun Qian.

Sun Qian curiously inquired, “Not right?

What’s wrong?”

“Don’t you find it too quiet here?”

“Given the nature of the Explosive Apes, they should have pounced on us for a fight to the death as soon as we stepped into the canyon!”

“Yet we’ve come this far and not seen a single Explosive Ape.

Could this be normal?”

Lin Bai stared solemnly at his surroundings as he asked.

“Oh yes.” Startled, Sun Qian remembered, thanks to Lin Bai’s remarks.

Suddenly, Lin Bai felt a gaze on his back.

“Who’s there!”

Enraged, Lin Bai spun around.