10: Go into the mountains!

The eighty taels of silver in the Chen Family's storeroom, intended for reinforcing the perimeter wall, stockpiling Materials, and reserving funds for the cultivation of younger generations, melted away like thin snow under the scorching sun.

Looking at the constantly shrinking numbers on the ledger, and the increasingly urgent storm clouds of chaos gathering in the south, Chen Fan felt an unprecedented pressure.

Although the income from the semi-Spiritual Fowl was stable, its scale was limited by space, feed, and manpower, and profits were nearing a Bottleneck due to soaring prices and necessary ‘greasing of palms’.

To preserve the Family in this chaotic world, or even to advance further, this meager Family fortune and income were far from enough!

“Instead of sitting idly and consuming our resources, it’s better to proactively seek change.”

Chen Fan stood on the training ground in the backyard, his gaze fixed on the vast, undulating, mist-shrouded mountains behind the village.

That place was a paradise for wild beasts, but also held unknown wealth and danger.

At this moment, a long-conceived plan became increasingly clear in his mind—hunting in the mountains!

This decision was not made on a whim.

Firstly, he had entered the Iron Bone Realm several months ago; his muscles and bones were like iron, and his strength surged, but he still lacked true life-and-death combat experience.

The fierce beasts, jackals, and wolves in the mountains would be excellent whetstones, helping him consolidate his Realm and even find an opportunity to Breakthrough to the next Realm.

Secondly, the semi-Spiritual Fowl raised by his Family were, after all, optimized from common poultry, with limited potential.

He needed to find more valuable targets!

Rare and exotic birds and beasts in the mountains that inherently contained a trace of Spiritual Qi, such as the rumored “Crimson-Plumed Pheasant” and “Jade-Eyed Marten,” if captured alive for breeding, would be far more valuable than the current “semi-Spiritual Fowl”!

Failing that, hunting fierce beasts like tigers, leopards, bears, and boars for their hides, bones, meat, or even potential inner cores, would also be a huge fortune.

Additionally, rare medicinal Materials in the mountains, such as aged Polygonatum, Ganoderma, Fleeceflower Root, and Ginseng, were worth a fortune, usable for self-improvement or exchange for vast sums of money.

The most, most, most important thing was:

The Encyclopedia of All Things!

Deeper into the secluded mountains, encountering more exotic flora, fauna, minerals, and even special environments, illuminating new illustrations would bring Family benefits!

Every inclusion could bring unexpected surprises.

Thinking of this, Chen Fan made up his mind and began preparing for his mountain expedition.

He took out a strong bow and a quiver of fine iron arrowheads, gifts from Wang Yuanwai back then.

He sharpened his ancestral thick-backed hunting knife.

He also took a hundred-refined fine steel short sword that Liu Qianqian had pestered her father into “lending” her.

This fine steel sword was light and sharp, most suitable for close-quarters combat and skinning and boning.

Aside from weapons, defensive measures were, of course, essential, as profit was secondary, and survival was key.

He put on his specially made tough leather armor, embedded with thin iron plates to protect vital areas, and packed a sachet of insect repellent and anti-miasma medicine, ropes and grappling hooks for climbing, special leather pouches for medicinal Materials and precious items, and enough dry rations and fresh water for ten days.

Finally, he entrusted Su Wan and Su Qing with the specifics of reinforcing the perimeter wall and stockpiling Materials, and asked Wang Da Niang, familiar neighbors, and even Liu Qianqian to keep a close eye on the Chen Family.

As for the poultry sheds and fields, since he had hired two reliable long-term laborers to manage them, he didn't need to give too many instructions.

Of course, because the current times were not peaceful, he specifically instructed everyone.

If he did not return by the due date, they should immediately close their doors tightly, and if necessary, seek help from the Chang Cheng Martial Hall.

On the eve of his departure, Chen Fan held Rui Lin and Qiong Ju, who could now sweetly call out “Daddy,” and checked Ping An’s homework.

Su Wan and Su Qing were naturally worried, but they suppressed their urge to stop Chen Fan, simply tidying his travel gear in silence and tucking a so-called ‘talisman’ drawn by Ping An himself into his inner pocket.

And that evening, Liu Qianqian also came, uncharacteristically without her usual playful demeanor, simply handing him a bottle of Liu Chengzong’s secret, high-quality wound medicine and whispering:

“Be careful. If you can’t win, run. There’s no shame in that!”

Liu Qianqian was a Martial Artist; she naturally knew how fierce the jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards in the mountains could be.

Even her father, who was a Tongmai Realm Martial Artist, dared not venture deep into the mountains to seek treasures.

After all, if humans could cultivate, fierce beasts would naturally grow stronger.

Compared to ordinary Martial Artists, the strength of those fierce beasts, or so-called Yao Beasts, was even more formidable!

Even if they belonged to the ‘same Realm,’ a Yao Beast’s combat power was several, even dozens, of times that of a human.

Not to mention Yao Beasts, even fierce beasts were not something ordinary Martial Artists could contend with.

However, Chen Fan was no ordinary Martial Artist; with the Encyclopedia of All Things’s enhancement, his abilities in all aspects far exceeded those of ordinary people!

As the morning light barely broke, Chen Fan, with his long bow and hunting knife strapped to his back and his short sword at his waist, agilely disappeared into the vast and dense mountains behind the village, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.

Upon first entering the mountains, Chen Fan could still faintly discern the small paths trodden by hunters.

He did not rush to go deep but instead followed the outer areas, familiarizing himself with the environment while searching for targets.

“Successfully collected: Common Plant · Hundred-Year-Old Iron Fir.”

“Compendium Category: Spiritual Plant Lineage -> Common Wood -> Tough.”

“First Illumination Reward: Slight increase in ‘Physical Resilience’ for all Family members! (Doubled for host)” (Effect: Improves resistance to blows and wound healing speed)

Chen Fan stroked the ancient tree, so wide that three people could embrace it, its bark like iron scales, and listened to the sound of the compendium illuminating in his mind, sighing:

“I should have been a hunter instead of a farmer.”

However, he also regretted entering the mountains too late.

After all, maintaining the status quo was not a bad thing, especially for him, who had already settled down and had a stable life.

One should know how many people wished for a stable life but couldn’t achieve it!

If not forced by circumstances, who would truly live a life on the razor's edge every day?

“Successfully collected: Common Beast · Adult Male Wild Boar.”

“Compendium Category: Living Being Lineage -> Beast -> Brute Force.”

“First Illumination Reward: Slight increase in ‘Strength’ for all Family members! (Doubled for host)”

“This beast is truly terrifying!”

Chen Fan looked at the wild boar’s carcass, which had collapsed like a small mountain, and couldn't help but wipe away the cold sweat that had appeared on his forehead when he first saw it, commenting.

As the saying goes, ‘First pig, second bear, third tiger,’ one shouldn’t underestimate the wild boar’s seemingly clumsy appearance; it is extremely ferocious.

If not for an arrow accurately piercing the wild boar’s eye socket, severely wounding it before its furious charge, and then his movement technique allowing him to evade its attacks without being touched, the outcome might have been different.

Otherwise, he dared not imagine the damage if it had hit him!

But fortunately, as the wild boar’s body crashed down, the victory was decided. The massive wild boar became his first trophy and brought a practical strength boost.

After a short rest, Chen Fan gradually pushed deeper, until he could no longer see the footprints of hunters.

He realized he was gradually moving away from the outer areas and entering the inner circle.

Towering ancient trees blocked out the sun, vines like giant pythons entwined, and the air was filled with the scent of decaying leaves, damp earth, and a faint, lingering animal musk.

Under this oppressive atmosphere, Chen Fan heightened his five senses to the extreme, observing all directions, listening to every sound, taking each step with utmost caution.

The wild boar was just an appetizer; now that he had entered the inner circle, the real hunting and tempering had just begun!