Chapter 1285: Chapter 1256: Growth
The path to leave wasn’t as simple as coming into the mountains.
The students all knew this very well. After a month of surviving in the forest, most of the students also realized that there were some demon beasts with considerable strength residing in the forest within this mountain range.
Among them, there were some entities that they absolutely couldn’t provoke.
The smooth arrival here before was due to Li Chen’s leadership. Under Li Chen’s formidable deterrence, many demon beasts didn’t dare to approach, and Li Chen also evaded territories with powerful demon beast presences, allowing them to reach here smoothly.
But on the way out, Li Chen wasn’t there anymore.
So they could only rely on their own abilities to walk out of this forest.
“Reid, Cai Si, Luo Qiang, you come with me to scout the way ahead.” After over a month of surviving in the wild, some leadership qualities gradually emerged in Li Weisi that he didn’t have before.
Although all of the students had the same status, in this survival environment, there had to be a decisive voice, and Li Weisi, being the strongest among the students, naturally became the spokesperson for that voice.
Even if he didn’t want to, he had to. This wasn’t something to be proud of; even if it was, it was more of a responsibility. This was what Li Weisi had realized during this time. No matter what accident happened, he should be the first one to take responsibility.
“Lin Lang, you take several people to the back of the team. Additionally, those with the weakest cultivation and those with healing abilities should stay in the middle of the team, ready to support everyone at any time.” Li Weisi instructed seriously.
“Alright!”
The group agreed in unison.
On the way into the mountains, guided by Li Chen, everyone took several days.
But now, without Li Chen’s guidance, it would probably take them even longer to walk out of this forest with their abilities.
At night, after a day of difficult travel, they found a place to rest temporarily and finally settled down.
“Nighttime is when demon beasts and wild beasts hunt for food. To avoid unnecessary trouble, we’d better not travel at night.” In front of a large rock, everyone was preparing their food over a fire, while Li Weisi sat cross-legged with Lin Lang and a few others.
Lin Lang nodded in agreement: “This isn’t the place we used to live, so we’d better have a few people keep watch at night.”
Li Weisi nodded: “Alright, I’ll take the first watch tonight, and you can take it tomorrow.”
Lin Lang nodded in response and didn’t argue with Li Weisi. Unknowingly, he had already become accustomed to this feeling.
The next day, the group of students continued their journey.
However, this time they weren’t as lucky as yesterday; during the whole day’s journey, they encountered beast attacks three times.
Among them, two were even Profound Level demon beasts. Although the students had improved their cultivation and strength significantly during this time, it still took a herculean effort to barely defeat the obstructing beasts. Moreover, two people were seriously injured as a result.
“Cain, quickly give them healing!”
“Luo Lin, water! Bring the water over!”
Li Weisi’s eyes were a bit red. In his view, the injuries of the two classmates were also his responsibility.
Although they had successfully slain the beast, everyone was panting heavily from exhaustion. Li Weisi was tired too, but more than that, he felt self-reproach in his heart.
Sitting beside him, Lin Lang patted Li Weisi’s shoulder without saying anything comforting.
He was not good with words by nature, and even though he understood Li Weisi’s feelings at this moment, he didn’t know how to start speaking.
“Hold on! It’ll be fine soon!” Li Weisi channeled True Qi to the injured students while Cain and others treated the two injured individuals.
“Teacher Li, rest assured, I will definitely get them out of here! This is the responsibility you entrusted to me, and I won’t let a single one of them be missing!” Li Weisi said resolutely in his heart.
“That’s it for today. First, find a place to rest, everyone heal up, keep your strength up, and we’ll continue moving tomorrow!”
Upon hearing Li Weisi’s words, everyone immediately got busy again.
Although they were all very tired, they understood that what Li Weisi said was right.
In the past, they would have been complaining incessantly at this time.
But after this month of survival training, they all seemed to have learned to endure, becoming stronger. No matter how hard or tiring, they just pushed on silently, dragging their exhausted bodies forward.
In this short month, an incredible transformation had taken place in these once innocent children.
Watching everyone busily get moving again, Li Weisi took something out of his pocket, held it tightly, then flicked open his hand.
“Teacher Li, we will do our best!”
What Li Weisi held in his hand was an ordinary piece of wood.
It looked unremarkable, like an ordinary branch with its bark peeled off.
Lin Lang saw the item in Li Weisi’s hand but didn’t speak; he stood up and began helping others organize their work.
With the concerted efforts of the group of students, it took seven whole days for the group to finally reach the edge of the forest.
“It’s here!”
Beatrice walked out from the team, pointing to a tree not far from everyone: “I made a mark here, we are close to the edge of the forest, and we’ll be out soon!”
Upon hearing Beatrice’s words, a sense of joy involuntarily spread across the faces of the trainees.
Even Li Weisi, who had always worn a heavy expression, couldn’t help but show a slight smile.
“Finally, are we almost there?”
It was clear that during this time, everyone had become quite tanned, and not a single person was clean. During this period, it could be said that each member of the group had rolled on the ground, been knocked into the dust by demon beasts, all looking rather disheveled.
However, what was important was that at this moment, the trainees appeared extremely spirited. This kind of spirit was completely different from before.
It could be seen that each of them exuded a kind of spiritual energy that they did not possess before.
For them, this month or so had been like a painful torment, but spiritually, it was a form of sublimation.
During this time, they suffered, got tired, complained, but upon waking up, they still had to continue to labor for survival.
Because, this place wasn’t a school, nor their home; to live well, they must work.
Even if they are martial artists!
The faces of the young men and women were now less innocent and more mature.
“I think Teacher Li should be waiting for us outside, right?” a female trainee said with a smile.
In fact, previously, many had complained about Li Chen, abandoning them here and taking away the food, but gradually, they began to understand Li Chen’s intentions. Thus, they stopped complaining and started to strive for survival.
Li Weisi smiled, preparing to speak, when a strange sound came from not far away.
“Squeak—Squeak—”
It was like a mouse, yet somehow different, and where would a mouse dare to run around outside for most of the day?
To know, this was a forest!
Besides, does a mouse’s voice get this loud?
“Alert!”
Li Weisi immediately commanded.
A group of trainees immediately gripped their weapons and assumed battle stances.
Such situations were not the first time, and everyone had gradually gotten used to it.
Lin Lang looked at the figure at the front of the team, his gaze somewhat complicated.
In fact, he wasn’t much stronger than himself, yet whenever there was danger, he was always the one standing in the front. What on earth sustained his courage?
Li Weisi didn’t think much, gripping the longsword tightly, staring intently in the direction of the sound.
Before long, a creature covered in black-gray fur, walking on two legs like a human, appeared before the group.
Seeing this creature, one of the trainees’ expressions changed abruptly.
Coming to Li Weisi’s side, Bai Zhao quickly said, “If I am not mistaken, this thing should not be a demon beast. It is… a Chupacabra of the Demon Clan!”
“What?”
“Demon Clan?”
Hearing Bai Zhao’s words, many of the trainees’ faces turned pale.
During this time, they had hunted not a few demon beasts, but it was their first encounter with a real Demon Clan, and in such a place.
“Not bad, little one able to recognize this lord at first sight,” at this time, the humanoid creature spoke proactively.
Its blood-red pupils swept across the trainees, a hint of greed flashing in its eyes: “Not bad, didn’t expect to find such a bounty upon coming out.”
Taking a step forward, the Chupacabra suddenly released an astonishing aura.
Originally vigilant towards Chupacabra, when hit by this aura, Li Weisi was directly knocked flying, landing heavily on the ground.
“A little guy who hasn’t even broken through the Profound Level, don’t make a fool of yourself in front of this lord,” Chupacabra grinned broadly, laughing, “You all just obediently come back with me, become this lord’s blood food!”
Li Weisi wiped the blood at the corner of his mouth, with the help of others, stood up with difficulty, bitterly spat out a few words: “…Earth Level.”
Hearing Li Weisi’s words, the faces of the group changed uniformly.
They were able to deal with Profound Level demon beasts together, but against an Earth Level Demon Clan, no matter how capable they were, it was impossible for them to handle.
Expressions of despair appeared uncontrollably on their faces.
Seeing the expressions of the group, the Chupacabra laughed even more proudly.
However, just at this time, a bone-chilling voice like a December cold wind came from a distance.
“I heard you want to make my students your blood food?”