As planned before, they moved deeper into the Forest. Now and then, they would find a Stage One Demon Beast, which Malaka would be responsible for dealing with. After walking for a day, Rean took a map from his bag to check.
"We should have left the outskirts and entered the inner region. From now on, we might find a few Stage Two Demon Beasts."
It was then that Sister Orb's voice appeared in their minds.
[New Mission Available: Acquire an Azure Spiritual Flower from the Azure Hyenas' territory.]
[Mission Reward: Authority Level Increased by One.]
[Destiny Points Reward: 20]
[Mission Time: 48 Hours.]
Rean and Roan were taken aback by that sudden mission.
"Sister Orb had never given a mission before."
Roan agreed.
"For her to take the initiative, this mission should be quite troublesome. We have the option to ignore it, though."
[Mission Failure Cost: 100 Destiny Points.]
[If hosts don't have enough points, hosts will be eliminated, and the search for new hosts will start.]
Rean looked at Roan with a frown.
"You just had to open your mouth, right?"
"Fuck you! If I haven't commented that, you would definitely do so."
In the end, they only sighed.
"Forget it. We don't have time, so we need to find these Azure Hyenas' territory first."
"There is no need. The map I bought back in the Tribe is quite good. If it isn't wrong, we are half a day away from there. It is located even deeper into the Jiran Forest, but not enough to enter the Core Region."
All this conversation was made through the connection between their Souls, so Diakar, Opril, and Malaka didn't hear anything.
"Alright. I have decided where our training will be. We are going to the Azure Hyenas territory to get an Azure Spiritual Flower. It will be quite dangerous, but it is exactly this kind of experience we are looking for."
Diakar couldn't help but intervene.
"We shouldn't! Those Hyenas are the type who walk in groups. Besides, there is always a leader at the peak of the Second Stage that controls their territory. It is the same as fighting a Late or Peak Stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. I strongly recommend not to go there."
Opril nodded as well. They had never seen the Azure Hyenas, but they are quite famous due to their group attacks. That being said, those two guys didn't want to get even close to them.
However, Rean and Roan immediately refused them. Are you kidding? If we don't go, we will die for sure!
"No complaining. That is where we are going. If you think you can't take it, then you can stay behind or go back to the Tribe. Roan and I can find our way back."
Diakar and Opril obviously couldn't do that. Although Rean and Roan are stronger than them now, they are still considered their protectors. If they return to the Tribe alone, Juri will probably take their heads!
With teary eyes, Diakar and Opril were forced to follow Rean and Roan. As for Inna Malaka, she didn't really care where to go.
As they moved deeper into the Forest, the bandit leader and his companion who survived returned to the Tribe beside the Jiran Forest. If they knew that things would turn out like that, they definitely wouldn't have picked a fight with those demon kids.
"Hey, Nial, what happened to you?"
Just as they entered the Tribe, someone called them from behind.
Nial was the name of the bandit leader. When he turned back and looked at who it was, his eyes narrowed.
"Kalav, uh? What do you want?"
Kalav looked at Nial's injured shoulder and his companion before laughing.
"Hahaha! I see you got unlucky this time, yea? What was it? Don't tell me it was a demon beast because no one will believe it. Those cuts are not something that a Demon Beast would do."
Nial's expression went dark, but it was then that he remembered something.
"It was a group with two men and three kids. They had Spiritual Swords and took us by surprise. I lost four members of my group because of that."
Kalav was taken aback.
"Kids? Are you serious?"
"Yes. We underestimated them. They were probably geniuses from some Tribe. All three of them were in the Energy Gathering Realm. Not to mention that their Spiritual Swords were very strong. We had no chance."
Kalav's eyes lit up after hearing that.
"Tell me more."
However, Nial only shook his head.
"You should not get involved. Even I, as a Peak Energy Gathering Realm, was not a match to them. Your group isn't much stronger than mine, so you will be courting death if you try to get in their way."
Kalav didn't mind.
"It is okay, I can ask brother Luono for help if that is the case."
Nial showed a surprised expression, but inward he was laughing. Luono is a Foundation Establishment Realm bandit leader that operates a big group of bandits. Nial had heard that Kalav and Luono are in quite good terms too. That's why he decided to talk so much. If everything goes well, he can get his revenge and profit from it.
"Would Luono really go after a bunch of kids?"
Kalav nodded.
"I can talk to him. I just need to know where those kids were heading. With so many Spiritual Swords, there is no doubt that they also have quite a few Spirit Stones on them. As long as Brother Luono helps, we will be making a good profit."
Nial pretended to ponder a bit and then nodded.
"Very well. If you can convince brother Luono, then it is worth a try. Just their Spiritual Swords would already be worth quite a little."
Kalav nodded, and they went to see Luono. As bandits who operated in this Forest for so long, it wasn't hard for them to follow the tracks as long as they knew the general direction of Rean's group.
