The trio and the crowd didn't have to wait for too long for the three young leaders and their group to embark to the Chaotic Forest.
The Chaotic Forest is not your average typical forest. Compared to normal forests, the danger is exponentially increased by a 100 times and that is putting it lightly.
Here, everything and anything can be a hidden and fatal danger to the cultivators. The naked eye reveals only so much that the cultivators have to rely on their knowledge of the Chaotic Forest and especially, their instincts.
The Chaotic Forest is divided into three regions, regions specified by humankind to divide the dangers. They are the Outer Region, Inner Region and the Forbidden Region.
The large group of cultivators headed towards the Chaotic Forest will mostly roam around the Outer Region. Why? Because even Shattering Sea Realm cultivators will have their lives forfeit in the Outer Region if they aren't careful.
Beasts, the true rulers of the Chaotic Forest, pose a massive threat to the cultivators. It is said on the same cultivation level, the beasts pose a natural in-born physical advantage; on the contrary, it depends on the type of beasts and their bloodlines. Some may have the advantage and some may not.
Regardless, one cannot deny the ferociousness and the bloodthirsty nature of the beasts.
The ancient trees stretched across the border of the Chaotic Forest posing quite a magnificent and a mighty scene.
Trees of different shades of colour decorated the Outer Region, signifying its beautifying nature and a dangerous desire to draw people in. The sound of rustling trees and the clacketing branches made itself known in the otherwise eerily quiet forest.
Today, the peace of the Outer Region of the Chaotic Forest was shattered by the arrival of a large group of cultivators.
The three clans didn't have any obligations to protect the others. So, when they enter the forest, the other unaffiliated cultivators will be left to fend for themselves.
Some of the unaffiliated cultivators have already left the group in different directions. Even so, some have decided to stay within an acceptable range of the three clans.
The trio, meanwhile, were deciding what to do since they just wanted to use the clans to lead the way to the Chaotic Forest.
"I think it's better if we don't follow them." Bryan said.
"Bryan's right. They might use us as bait or cannon fodders. Anyways, we can't risk it." Ray agreed with Bryan.
Ash shrugged, "Alright, whatever you guys say."
The three sneaked their way out of the group and made their way into the forest. No one had noticed their departure apart from the keen eyes of Villie Storm.
The forest was exotic as it could get but the trio didn't let this affect their composure. They knew they couldn't believe anything of face value.
The three scoured their way through the forest in search of herbs that looked unordinary to the naked eye. Of course, they wouldn't mind an occasional bout with a beast.
"System, can you help us identify any herbs if we find one?" Ash asked the system.
[Ding]
[Request received.]
[The system will help identify the herbs, if found, for your knowledge.]
"Great, that makes our life in the forest easier." Ash rubbed his hand in excitement.
*Shashashasha*
The three instantly raised their heads and formed a combat stance with their backs behind each other. They darted their eyes in search of any unusual activity.
"What was that?" Bryan muttered in a low voice.
"I don't know…" Ray whispered back.
They were currently in a small open area, surrounded with trees and bushes. It was hard for them to see through the dense bushes so whatever made that noise was most likely creeping in the bushes.
*Shashashasha*
Ash heard the sound and he immediately pounced on the bush in front of him using Mirage Flow. The bush scattered away and what he saw weirded him out.
It was a rattling scaled end of a tail that was bobbing up and about.
Ray widened his eyes and shouted, "IT'S A TRAP!"
*WHIP*
A sharp and swift red whip tore through the wind, whipping its way towards Ash.
Luckily, Ash reacted in time and dodged the whip.
*Crash*
The whip cracked the ground, displaying its powerful might.
"Tch!"
A low seductive voice grunted in annoyance as a promiscuous woman descended her way down from a nearby tree.
"It's their luck, Mistress!"
Another voice came out from behind the tree as two more women joined in the fray. It was clear to Ray that the three intruders were in cahoots.
They were skimpily dressed and they exuded a seductive charm as they chuckled amongst themselves, ignoring the three young men.
*Sigh*
"Fucking bitches!" Ash said in disgust.
They heard what Ash had said and stopped chuckling. The woman with the whip seemed to be the leader as she walked a few steps forward.
"Kneel down and obediently become our slaves." The 'Mistress' licked her lips as she enjoyed gazing at the three handsome young men in front of her.
*Crackle*
Ray honestly didn't care what she had to say. He dashed forwards with speed unimaginable to the Mistress and grabbed her head. He didn't stop going forward and smashed her head into the other girl's head.
The collision dazed their minds as they felt their skulls were being cracked in half. The girl behind the Mistress had it the worst. Her nose was broken, and her lips was cracked with blood, looking far off from her previous state of beauty.
*BAM*
The Mistress and the other girl were wedged into a tree, glaring at Ray with angry expressions. They wished to tear him a new hole but they couldn't do anything to him.
Ray ignored the two and coldly said to the other terrified girl who was rooted on the spot, "Take your Mistress away before I change my mind."
With that, the three experienced a random encounter and left the scene.
"It was kinda weird for us to not notice them despite their weak cultivation realms." Ray spoke up.
"Maybe they cultivated a special skill…" Bryan mused.
"You should have extorted them and sucked them dry!" Ash angrily grumbled.
Ray and Bryan chuckled at his anger.
"But damn, they were so lewdly dressed. It kinda distracted me…" Ash immediately switched his mood.
"…"
"…"
After a few minutes of roaming deep into the Outer Region, the system interrupted them with a message.
[Rare herb detected.]
[5-Leaf Clover
Description: Grown from consuming the natural energy and the luck aura from the world. It can be used as an ingredient for Top-Grade Pills and Elite-Grade Pills. Only those who possess luck greater than the 5-Leaf Clover can encounter a chance with the herb.]
Ahead of the trio, there was a singular plant on top of an unsuspecting stone. The plant was covered in a rainbow-like aura and gently waved in response to the wind.
It was the rare herb, the 5-Leaf Clover.
"Ash, give all the Earth-Grade Natural Gems to Bryan. I will give it to him as well so we can have three empty inventory slots." Ray spoke up.
"Sure." Ash nodded.
The two gave their Earth-Grade Natural Gems to Bryan and now, they had three free inventory slots.
Ray approached the rare herb and touched it. The 5-Leaf Clover automatically disappeared and appeared in his empty inventory slot.
Ray nodded and informed the other two, "It's in my inventory."
"Sweet."
*ROOOAAAAARRRRRRR*
Suddenly, a majestic and loud roar reverberated through the forest. The ground repeatedly shook after the roar and the sound of rumbling increased in close proximity.
"Run!" Bryan instantly said. The other two gladly complied and booked it, away from the scene.
Their hearts thumped in slight fear and adrenaline as they dashed through the forest with their quickest speed.
They were sure the beast who roared was no ordinary beast and was mostly likely way out of their league.
In another part of the forest, the three clans were plowing their way through the forest. They faced a few dangerous encounters which resulted in a few casualties but they didn't care because the casualties were of the unaffiliated cultivators.
They stopped in their tracks as they heard the sound of an ear-piercing roar enveloping almost the entirety of the Outer Region.
Yorak scoffed in derision, "Which idiot dared to provoke the overlord?"
Nathe shook his head as he knew the overlord of the region was angry and whoever was its target wouldn't meet a good end.
"Let's get on our way. The fruits are waiting for us." Yorak said.
Nathe frowned and wanted to say something but refrained in the end.
Villie who was on the side, had a complicated look on her face as she was internally pondering about something.
On a roughly tall mountain, the trio hastily climbed their way to the top in hopes of scuttering away from the presence of the unknown mighty beast.
*Pant*
"F-Fuck…" Ash put his hands on his knees.
"We ran all the way here." Bryan sat down and adjusted his breathing.
"We should be safe." Ash said between breaths.
"Hopefully!" Ray looked down at the base of the mountain.
"We ran away so fast so there's no way the beast would have caught up t-"
Ash was frozen in shock as a majestic 4-metre-tall lion-like beast stopped at the base of the mountain. Its fur was coated with a blue hue and its mane shone bright in white. Its piercing dark shadowy eyes glared at the three young men at the top of the mountain. Its protruding canines were sharp enough to tear someone into mere shreds.
Not to mention its humongous size, the sheer intimidating aura the beast was exuding was enough to instill fear into anyone.
It had found the intruding targets.
"…"
"…"
Ray and Bryan were speechless.
Ash muttered in astonishment at the timing.
"Fuck me…"