So, Protector Wang stirred the Flying Boat in the Northern Direction. In time, they passed through the airspace of the Inner Region, and entered the Outer Region. As they approached the end of the Outer Region, they saw another Yellow Gate.
Protector Wang took out the token again and they were teleported out. It is confirmed that the level of Security of the Shiwan Yao Base is top notch.
Outside the Base, what stretched before their eyes was the trees and shrubs that covered several mountains.
Although it is not safe to travel by Flying Treasures in the Monsters' Mountain, to save the time needed to enter the Inner Circle/Area, they could only resort to this measure.
On the way, they encountered some flying monsters at Dantian Expansion Realm and below, which Ye Chen and Lin Qing'er dealt with easily.
And as they approached the Inner Circle, the cultivation of the monsters they encountered also slowly rose. From the initial Qi Condensation Realm, to Dantian Expansion Realm, to early stage Purple Mansion Realm.
Now, they will encounter Late stage Purple Mansion Realm monsters from time to time. Soon enough, they reached the boundary of the Inner Circle.
They let down the Flying Boat, highlighted, and started proceeding on foot.
What differentiates the Inner Circle from the Outer Circle is not just the Strength of the Monsters. The level/grade of Heaven and Earth Treasures , Medicinal Plants and Spiritual Fruits, Precious Stones and Gems, Spiritual Ores, etc, have significantly increased in the Inner Circle compared to the Outer Circle.
The few resources in the Outer Circle can be found in troves in the Inner Circle. This is not all. Some, there is no chance at all of encountering 'Stranges' in the Outer Circle. But here in the Inner Circle, the chances of encountering a 'Strange' has increased by a point.
'Stranges' are unique life forms and beings. They can be Fire, Ice, Water, Wood, Cloud, Pearls, Weapons, and even beastly creatures. Born from the World Core by the World Rules.
They are initially born in the World Core, and after a period of growth, when they have become sentient enough that they are capable of escaping from danger, they would appear in the world. When a 'Strange' makes an appearance in the world, they cause a phenomenon.
When anyone is Fated to witness this phenomenon, that 'Strange' would choose to be their companion for the rest of their lives.
The appearance of a 'Strange' is known as "Manifestation of a Strange".
It is possible to rob someone of his 'Strange'. That is if the person being robbed does not have enough Luck to keep the 'Strange', which can be considered a sad event for the 'Stranges'.
If the person being robbed has Great Luck, then no matter what, his Luck cannot be robbed. He would only become stronger the more robbery he encounters.
So, for some people, coming to the Inner Circle is a test of fate and luck. They would actively enter the Inner Circle with the hope of obtaining a 'Strange' Companion. Because one thing is Absolute. Whoever obtains a 'Strange' Companion, whether naturally or robbed, will surely become a powerhouse that guards one or more corners of the world.
…
Last time they came here, they were not fated to obtain or encounter the "Manifestation of a Strange". This time around, whether it's Ye Chen, or Lin Qing'er, or the four Protectors, or even Su Yaoren, they hope they will obtain their own 'Strange' Companion.
As they passed through the paths, Lin Qing'er asked, "Brother Chen, when we encounter that Monster this time around, can we not kill it directly? I want to torture it slowly. Let it feel despair, a despair greater than the one we faced last time"
Ye Chen looked at her strangely and felt his scalp numb. He thought, 'Look, other ladies are thinking about how to become more gentle. But here she is thinking about torture. She's really truly different from other girls'.
Not only him, the four Protectors were also shocked, 'Such a vengeful soul', they thought. Even Su Yaoren is not left out. He thought to himself, 'I must make up for all the miseries I've caused her. Otherwise, my chance at rebuilding a body may be delayed'.
Everyone with their own thoughts. Still Ye Chen said, "No problem. I can't stomach such abuse either".
The beast they are talking about is actually a Flying Cat, usually known as Shadow Monster. Not just because of its black fur, but also because of its speed, and it moves in the shadows. Stealthily it would approach its prey, make a clean cut across their neck, and then neatly nibble at the flesh and bones, leaving out the innards.
Thinking about the situation on that day, Ye Chen couldn't help but become a little angry. They just finished a battle with another Monster to obtain the Yellow Spring Mangosteen Fruits on the Yellow Spring Mangosteen tree, which can only grow in the dark and shady areas of the Yellow Spring. The Yellow Spring is a spring that was formed from inside a Yellow Mountain, hence its name.
But who knew that the Monster they slaughtered was a subordinate of the Shadow Monster. The other beast, a RattleSnake-Tailed Armadillo, was running an errand for the Shadow Monster. Its instruction was to harvest the Yellow Spring Mangosteen Fruit that was about to mature.
The Shadow Monster was an Overlord level Monster in that region. So when other monsters saw the RattleSnake-Tailed Armadillo, they retreated without a fight, leaving the mature fruit for the Shadow Monster's subordinate to harvest.
At the critical moment when the Fruits matured, Ye Chen and Lin Qing'er suddenly appeared. Ye Chen confronted the Armadillo, while Lin Qing'er harvested the matured fruits.
It happened so suddenly that none of the monsters that have not retreated yet didn't have time to react at all.
By the time they react, Lin Qing'er had already harvested the Yellow Spring fruits, and Ye Chen had slaughtered the Rattlesnake-Tailed Armadillo. And when they were trying to retreat, the other monsters woke up, and tried to surround them.
Then, it came. A Monster Sense swept over the area, and the monsters stopped. They recognized this Monster Sense, it belonged to Shadow Monster, so they left. Leaving only the vigilant Ye Chen and Lin Qing'er, who also felt that that Sense contained Monster Qi.
They knew they had entered the lare of a powerful Monster. And it turned out to be the Shadow Monster. When they felt the Monster Sense, it was suffocating and heavy. But when they saw the body, they thought, 'Such a cute little monster'.
And the expression on their faces revealed their inner thoughts, which the Shadow Beast captured. It was only the size of a lamb, with two wings hanging by its shoulder blades, which is the only distinctive thing it has from an ordinary Cat Monster.
It became enraged and harassed them with its speed. It was a Peak stage Soul Projection Realm Monster with high intelligence due to its bloodline. So, in its enraged form, it beat them up, then tortured them by making a cut at their wounds from time to time.
If not for Su Yaoren's intervention, they would probably be tortured to death.
The Monster didn't retrieve the Yellow Spring Mangosteen Fruits because it thought it had everything under control, not knowing that there's actually someone else at the scene - a human much more powerful than it.
When Ye Chen and Lin Qing'er were taken away in a flash, it was stunned for a moment, and then became enraged when it regained its senses.
Having lost both its long desired Rank 8 low grade Spiritual Fruit that can propel it to the Integrated Union Realm, where it could open its vocal cords and be able to transform, and the object of its lashing out, the Shadow Monster would torture all the Monsters under it for months before its anger was barely suppressed.
…
"Careful", said Bai Yujian, a powerful Swordsman
While Ye Chen was reminiscing the events of that day in his mind, he and his group entered the lair of a Monster, and quite a powerful one.
A monster Roar was heard. The path in front of them is covered by thick, twisted and knotted jungle vines. The roar came from behind these vines. And as they looked on, Mo Chen said, "It is a Flesh-Eating Koala, a powerful monster at the Late stage of the Soul Projection Realm. It has sharp claws and strong paws. Its jaws are very strong too. You need to watch out for these three places when confronting the Flesh-Eating Koala"
Ye Chen and Lin Qing'er looked at each other, surprised that Protector Mo could already tell which Monster they were facing.
"You don't need to be surprised. Brother Mo has special eyes that can see through walls", said Chu Bingyue.
"No wonder. Thank you Protector Chu", they thanked her.
"Be prepared for combat!", shouted Wang Wu, and he retreated alongside the other Protectors.
'They should be able to deal with this', they thought.