On the return journey, the magic beasts he encountered grew weaker and weaker. By the time Lin Lei stepped into the outer regions, the beasts he met were almost all third or fourth level, posing no real threat at all. Even so, Lin Lei didn't dare to fully let his guard down.
Derinkoort walked shoulder to shoulder with Lin Lei, but the old man couldn't shake his worry. The current Lin Lei carried an aura of calm composure, but when he acted, he was utterly ruthless. That pair of eyes also held a coldness that kept others at a distance.
Derinkoort still remembered that before entering the
After pondering in his mind for a while, Derinkoort finally used soul transmission to say: "Lin Lei."
Lin Lei, who was nimbly weaving through the forest, turned his head and looked at Derinkoort questioningly. "Grandpa Derink, is something wrong?"
Derinkoort nodded, speaking solemnly. "Lin Lei, before we entered the Magic Beast Mountain Range, I warned you that people's hearts are hidden behind bellies, and you shouldn't trust others easily. I told you to remain vigilant towards them."
Lin Lei nodded. "Grandpa Derink, you were absolutely right. Others can't be trusted easily. If I had listened to you sooner, Grandpa Derink, this wound in my abdomen probably wouldn't exist."
Derinkoort shook his head. "While you shouldn't trust others easily, you also can't become overly wary. Look at you now—how will you get along with others in the future? Remember, you shouldn't be too cold towards people, but you can't trust them too readily either. Trust is built gradually through long-term interaction. Don't be swayed too easily by someone's words."
Lin Lei was very clever. Whether at home or at
"Grandpa Derink, I understand," Lin Lei said, nodding.
Derinkoort sighed internally, but he also felt a measure of relief. "Fortunately, Lin Lei still has the little Shadow Mouse, '
Derinkoort still remembered that several thousand years ago, when the Puan Empire still existed, there was a man dressed in white who was also a Saint-realm powerhouse like him. That man was a powerful Sword Saint, but also an extremely reclusive and solitary individual.
"Grandpa Derink, what do you think Father's reaction will be when he sees so many magic beast crystal cores?" Lin Lei suddenly looked at Derinkoort and asked with a smile. At that moment, his eyes held the anticipation of receiving his father's praise, much like a child who had done well on a test and was eagerly waiting for their father's commendation.
"Lin Lei, are you planning to give all these magic beast crystal cores to your father?" Derinkoort asked with a smile.
Lin Lei nodded. "Of course. These magic beast crystal cores are worth over seventy thousand gold coins. As for me, I just need enough so I don't go hungry. A few dozen gold coins a year is plenty. But Father manages the entire family and also has to pay for little Wotton's education. These magic beast crystal cores should definitely go to him."
Lin Lei didn't want to sell the crystal cores himself. In matters of trade, he had zero experience and would probably be cheated without even realizing it.
"Haha, I believe your father will be so happy he jumps for joy," Derinkoort laughed.
Lin Lei couldn't help but grin. He immediately increased his speed along the return path.
Lin Lei couldn't be bothered to kill the third and fourth level beasts, so he swiftly and flexibly made his way through the Magic Beast Mountain Range. When he leaped over a small stream, he heard fierce beast roars and excited human shouts coming from deep within the forest ahead.
"Huh? Anyone who dares to come to the Magic Beast Mountain Range must be at least a fifth-level warrior. And the outer regions are usually populated by third and fourth level beasts. Why is the fighting so intense?" Lin Lei was somewhat puzzled. Such brutal clashes might happen in the inner regions where fifth, sixth, and occasionally even seventh-level beasts roamed, but they were rare in the outskirts. Battles there usually ended quickly.
With a push from his legs, he leaped seven or eight meters into the air and lightly jumped between the trees. In just a short while, he arrived near the battlefield.
Standing on a tree branch, Lin Lei quietly looked on.