Living as a Mortal: Grinding Experience Starting from the Underworld

By the river, Zhang Feng encountered Li Ning, who looked wary.

Judging from her skin color, Zhang Feng was certain that she had not yet mastered the Netherworld Body Refining Technique.

That's true; not everyone has a proficiency panel to assist with training.

Upon seeing Zhang Feng arrive, Li Ning did not linger; she remained wary of him.

After washing up, Zhang Feng found Huang Tianhe and they went to the demon-hunting team together.

Upon arriving at the meeting point outside the village, Zhang Feng was surprised to find two groups of people.

One team was the demon-hunting team led by Huang Qing, and the other team was led by Elder Liu, whom we met in the council hall yesterday.

The two groups did not exchange any words and even looked down on each other.

Interesting. They are divided into two demon-hunting teams: one for mortals and one for cultivators. There might even be conflicts between them.

Zhang Feng pondered to himself that Huangtu Village was divided into immortals and mortals, while Huangtian Valley, as an immortal cultivator, was not stingy in sharing secret methods to improve strength, and also had to protect mortals, thus straddling the two factions.

There must be something fishy going on.

Thinking of Huang Qing and Huang Tianhe, Zhang Feng seemed to understand.

An old tree can bloom and leave offspring in the underworld; Huangtian Valley is indeed quite formidable.

"Young friend Zhang, following those mortals into the Netherworld Beast's lair could cost you your life!"

Elder Liu saw Zhang Feng appear and gave him a reminder.

"Elder Liu, there's no need for further explanation. We mortals are merely gathering the catch, unlike the immortal masters you led who went to hunt the Netherworld Beasts. Immortal Master Zhang naturally knows which is more dangerous!"

Before Zhang Feng could reply, Huang Qing spoke first, outlining the pros and cons.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Feng stood silently beside Huang Tianhe without replying.

"Hmph! Young Huang, when did it become your place to interrupt when we cultivators are having a conversation?"

"If it weren't for the village chief, you would have died a thousand times over!"

Elder Liu glanced at Zhang Feng, snorted coldly, ignored Huang Qing, and led the team to set off first.

Zhang Feng stood still. Huang Qing was ostensibly helping him, but in reality, he was afraid that Zhang Feng would be persuaded by Elder Liu to join the ranks of cultivators.

However, he had no intention of joining a group of unfamiliar cultivators anyway, since the backstabbing among cultivators was far more dangerous than among mortals.

He understood this deeply. Li Qiang died at his hands, Li Keng was missing, Li Ning was in Huangtu Village, and there was also his junior sister.

His fist clenched slightly; he knew he would avenge the betrayal sooner or later.

"Brother Zhang, don't worry about Elder Liu. They call themselves immortals and have always looked down on ordinary villagers since joining Huangtu Village. They even treat mortals as slaves, ordering them around. It's really despicable."

If it weren't for the village chief keeping me in check, my second uncle and I would have fought them long ago.

Huang Tianhe looked indignant.

"Tianhe! Silence!"

Huang Qing gave a reprimand and then turned to hand Zhang Feng a bone knife.

"Master Zhang, I'll leave this bone knife to you as a protective measure."

Cultivators like Master Zhang, who treat us mortals with such equality, are far too few.

"We'll go to the same nest we went to yesterday. There are some fish we didn't bring back yesterday. As long as we're careful, there shouldn't be too much danger."

To reassure Zhang Feng, Huang Qing said a few more words.

Zhang Feng nodded and took the bone knife, as he also wanted to go to yesterday's lair.

One reason was to examine Li Qiang's belongings and track Li Keng's whereabouts.

Secondly, the nest contained a lone Fire-Scaled Beast, which was perfect for Zhang Feng to hunt and obtain crystals.

After assembling, the group of dozens of people set off quietly.

After traveling for several hours, the group arrived at the nest of the Yinming Beast, led by Huang Qing.

"On the first hunt, the Immortal Master and Tianhe guarded the entrance and exit to prevent outsiders from intruding and the Yinming Beasts from chasing them."

"it is good."

After saying this, Huang Qing led a group of people into the lair, leaving Zhang Feng and Huang Tianhe alone at the entrance.

"Don't worry, Brother Zhang. Besides Second Uncle, I'm the best in this demon-hunting team. I'll definitely protect you."

Seeing Huang Qing walk away, Huang Tianhe whispered something to Zhang Feng.

"Wow! Brother Tianhe is that amazing?"

Zhang Feng's mind raced, and he asked in a disbelieving tone.

"Of course! I've been practicing the secret technique my grandfather gave me, look!"

To prove his prowess, Huang Tianhe immediately activated his internal energy technique.

A wisp of black energy, visible to the naked eye, swirled around his arms, and the muscles in his arms suddenly swelled.

"Brother Zhang, look! My arms can draw a bowstring taut for half an hour straight, I don't know how many waves of Nether Beasts I've shot back!"

Zhang Feng watched as Huang Tianhe showed off his arms, and then carefully examined them.

It has some resemblance to the Netherworld Body Refining Technique. According to what it says, there should be a few members of the mortal demon-hunting team who have mastered the basics of the Netherworld Body Refining Technique.

"The Tianhe brothers are quite impressive."

"Hehe! Xiao Cui praised me like that too."

"Oh, Xiao Cui is...?"

"She was also an immortal. She fell into the nest and was injured. I brought her back to the village and she has been recuperating there ever since."

Huang Tianhe's words were filled with a silly grin, and also carried a hint of embarrassment.

"By the way, Brother Zhang, could you please watch over the entrance and exit? Xiao Cui asked me to help her hunt for beast crystals. Since Uncle isn't here, I'd like to try it myself!"

Huang Tianhe looked at Zhang Feng and spoke.

Ok?

Zhang Feng was somewhat surprised to hear this. Huang Tianhe was young and naive, and not very shrewd. He was probably being used by this cultivator named Xiao Cui.

Alas, the silly boy has fallen in love; such is the affection of young people.

Based on Zhang Feng's understanding of cultivators and the fact that village chief Huang Tiangu met with them, this Xiao Cui was no pushover.

However, taking advantage of the situation, Zhang Feng could use this opportunity to enter the lair alone.

"No, Brother Tianhe, guarding the entrance and exit is crucial to the entire demon-hunting team. I can't do it alone."

"Ah~"

"Xiao Cui has begged me for the third time. If I don't take her back, she might never talk to me again!"

But the safety of my second uncle and everyone else is also very important…”

Huang Tianhe scratched his head, considered for a moment, and then lowered his head, looking somewhat dejected.

Looking at the impetuous, straightforward, and loyal young man in front of him, Zhang Feng felt a pang of emotion; the young man was very similar to himself when he was a teenager.

"Don't worry about it. You stay here. I'm going to the spot where it fell yesterday to look for the lost item. I can try hunting the Netherworld Beast, but whether I can get the beast crystal is still unknown."

"Really? But Brother Zhang, you don't have spiritual power, can you defeat the Netherworld Beast?"

Huang Tianhe was initially delighted, but then became worried about Zhang Feng's safety.

"Silly boy! Don't worry, cultivators always have hidden methods!"

Zhang Feng patted Huang Tianhe on the shoulder and gently pressed down on his swollen right arm. The black aura dissipated, and the arm returned to its original state.

"What?"

Huang Tianhe looked at his two different arms with some surprise.

"Alright, trust me."

"Okay, here are the torches and map I prepared. Brother Zhang, you must come back safely. Even if you don't get any beast crystals, it's okay, I'll think of something next time!"

Huang Tianhe nodded vigorously and handed the items he had prepared to Zhang Feng.

Taking the torch and map, Zhang Feng couldn't help but smile. He had achieved multiple goals at once, which was quite pleasing.

"Brother Zhang, the demon-hunting team will gather here before dark. You must come back safely before dark, or Uncle will blame me."

Huang Tianhe gave his final instructions.

"Don't worry, I will definitely come back safely. Wait for my good news."

Zhang Feng waved his hand, lit a torch, and followed the map to enter the Netherworld Beast's lair.