The Green Marsh Fox Hunt

Chapter 616: A Name Spreads Afar – The Green Marsh

Seeing that Han Li had truly agreed to help, Kui Huan was naturally overjoyed. He immediately set a time and place with Han Li, then, beaming with smiles, took his leave.

A night passed. Early the next morning, after activating the restrictions on his cave dwelling, Han Li departed the medicine garden and flew straight for their agreed meeting point.

He trod upon a flying sword magic tool, his pace neither hurried nor slow.

It was rather amusing, thinking about it. Since forming his core, he hadn't used a magic tool in years.

This top-grade tool was the most inconspicuous one he could manage to dig out from his storage pouch.

As for any lower-grade tools, he simply couldn't find any.

After flying for half an hour, Han Li landed on a relatively tall small hill. This was the meeting place he had agreed upon with Kui Huan and the others.

No one else was there yet. Han Li didn't show any sign of impatience. After all, he had arrived a bit earlier than the appointed time.

Without ceremony, he found a clean, flat rock on the hilltop, sat down cross-legged, and began to circulate his qi, breathing in the world's spiritual energy.

After an hour, just as the fiery red morning sun was faintly appearing on the horizon, several black dots appeared from a different direction, slowly moving toward him.

Watching their flying speed, Han Li rubbed his nose and smiled wryly to himself.

It took them a long while, moving at what Han Li considered a snail's pace, before they finally landed on the small hill.

"Junior Han, you arrived even earlier than us. You’re truly thoughtful," Kui Huan called out cheerfully from mid-air, grinning. The magic tool beneath his feet was a round plate—a low-tier flying tool uniformly issued to disciples of the Falling Cloud Sect. No wonder the group was so slow.

As he spoke, Kui Huan descended with the others.

"It's nothing. I just arrived myself. Are these three senior brothers the full team for this trip?" Han Li stood up from the rock, his gaze sweeping over the other three.

"Hehe, capturing that Snow Cloud Fox, five people are just right to set up the Five Elements Path-Sealing Formation. Any more, and the spirit stones would be too thinly split. This is Senior Brother Ma, Senior Brother Xi, and Senior Brother Wang." Kui Huan, still beaming, pointed to each of the three in turn, introducing them to Han Li.

None of them were very old. The oldest was Senior Brother Wang, around thirty-five or thirty-six. He had a refined appearance, white robes that fluttered in the wind, and a rather dashing bearing. Among them, his cultivation was the highest, at about the eleventh layer of Qi Condensation.

The other two were both young men in their late twenties. One was short and stout, and the other had a pale golden complexion. Their cultivation was at the tenth layer of Qi Condensation.

"We've heard about your situation, Junior Han, from both of us brothers. This time, we truly owe our success to your generous assistance. Without it, we'd have no way to deal with that demon fox." Senior Brother Wang had an impressive aura. As soon as the introductions were finished, he spoke to Han Li with a smile, giving a very pleasant first impression.

The other two also looked at Han Li with goodwill. It seemed that his willingness to lend them spirit stones had left a very good impression.

"Senior Brother is too kind. I just wanted to earn some more spirit stones," Han Li replied with a modest courtesy.

"These spirit stones might not mean much to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but for us Qi Condensation outer disciples, they’re not something you lend to a stranger lightly. For this reason alone, Junior Han is a trustworthy person to befriend! Consider Wang this friend of yours made," the white-robed cultivator, Wang, said with a shake of his head, his expression sincere.

Han Li nodded inwardly at these words, taking another thoughtful look at the man.

This Senior Brother Wang, in terms of bearing, cultivation, and character, was truly remarkable. He was clearly the leader of this expedition.

Just as Han Li was about to say something more after a faint smile, Kui Huan glanced at the sky and suddenly interjected a reminder:

"Senior Brother Wang, Junior Brother Han. If you have more to say, we can talk on the way. At our speed, if we delay any longer, by the time we reach the Green Marsh, we won’t have much time left to catch the Snow Cloud Fox. After all, we can’t be away from the sect for too long."

"Well said, Junior Kui. We can't afford to waste any more time. Let's set off now. We can have a good talk with Junior Han another time." Senior Brother Wang nodded in agreement.

The group then released their magic tools and soared into the air.

"Oh? Junior Brother is using a magic tool you bought yourself! That's at least a mid-grade or higher tool. Could Junior Brother be from a clan family?" As soon as they took off, Kui Huan spotted the flying sword under Han Li's feet and called out in surprise.

Even a mid-grade magic tool represented a huge sum of spirit stones for Qi Condensation outer disciples.

Seeing this, Senior Brother Wang also showed a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Although he didn't say anything, there was a hint of curiosity.

The short, stout cultivator and the one with the pale golden complexion also looked puzzled.

"I'm alone, with no clan to speak of. I just learned some crude talisman-making skills in my early years. So, when I was a rogue cultivator, I managed to earn a few spirit stones. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been so generous as to lend Senior Kui such a large sum all at once." Han Li had anticipated this reaction, so he just smiled serenely and offered his explanation.

Hearing this, the group first showed looks of understanding, then became envious.

"Talisman making? I didn't know Junior Han had such a skill! Since you can earn spirit stones from it, your skill must be quite good. What grade of talismans can you make now?" The short, stout Senior Brother Ma, putting away his surprise, asked with some curiosity.

"Mainly low-grade, elementary talismans. I can make two types of mid-grade elementary talismans, but the success rate isn't very high," Han Li replied noncommittally.

"Junior Han can even make mid-grade talismans!" Even Senior Brother Wang was impressed, giving Han Li a second look.

"Yes. I can make 'Thunderfire Talismans' and 'Golden Firmament Talismans.' But unfortunately, I only succeed once every five or six tries. After deducting the cost of materials, I barely earn any spirit stones." Han Li spoke with an unchanged expression.

"Junior Han is too modest. As far as I know, among the outer disciples, even on Fire Cloud Peak, which specializes in talisman making, there are only a few who can forge mid-grade ones. With this skill alone, Junior Han will have a constant stream of spirit stones in the future. Unlike us, who have to rack our brains every day just to figure out how to earn them." Senior Brother Wang sighed, a note of emotion in his voice.

The others' expressions darkened upon hearing this. It was clear Senior Brother Wang had struck a chord.

"You overestimate me, senior brothers. After all, I'm not making any high-grade talismans. And I'm not the type who can spend all day in the market town peddling low-grade ones that might not sell for ages, so my profits aren't as high as you think. From what I see, your business of catching Snow Cloud Foxes seems to be doing rather well?" Han Li’s gaze shifted slightly as he changed the subject.

Hearing this, Kui Huan and the others exchanged glances, then all showed bitter smiles. It was Senior Brother Wang who spoke up:

"Junior Brother, you might not know, but this business of catching Snow Cloud Foxes won't last much longer. After we catch this one, we might never go to the Green Marsh again."

"Why is that?" Han Li asked, surprised after a brief pause.

"First, we've already caught most of the Snow Cloud Foxes there, so finding the few that are left is getting harder. Second, the market for Snow Cloud Foxes is slowing down. After all, an ordinary Snow Cloud Fox isn't a true demon beast. Only a small number of female disciples are willing to buy them. Senior sisters who have achieved some success in cultivation would rather try to catch a true demon beast as their spirit pet." Kui Huan explained from the side.

"I see. So you senior brothers will indeed have to find another way to earn your keep in the future." Han Li showed a look of sympathy.

Upon hearing this, Senior Brother Wang just shook his head and said nothing more.

And so, the five of them flew out of the Falling Cloud Sect's restriction range. Then, changing direction, they sped straight for the central part of the Dreamcloud Mountains.

"Junior Brother Han, the Green Marsh is located in a rather tricky spot, right at the border between our Falling Cloud Sect and the Ancient Sword Sect's territory. But because it's remote and has miasma all year round, very few other disciples go there. That's why we've been able to monopolize the Snow Cloud Fox business. Here's a bottle of miasma-dispelling pills. Once we fly inside, be sure to take one every so often. Otherwise, you'll be vomiting and having diarrhea non-stop." Senior Brother Wang suddenly tossed a small green vial to Han Li mid-flight, offering the reminder.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother." Han Li didn't stand on ceremony; he took the vial and stored it in his pouch.

With his cultivation level, of course, he had no fear of any miasma. Heaven only knew if he would actually take the medicine.

They continued flying for several hours. After crossing a tall mountain peak, their vision suddenly opened up. A vast, lush green basin valley appeared before them, covered in trees of varying heights and thick bushes. But from within the green, faint, pink-tinged mists could be seen floating.

"We're here. Let's go down. Everyone, be careful!" Senior Brother Wang issued a warning. Then, pressing down on his magic tool, he was the first to charge into the mist below.