Wolf Mountain Seven Bandits

"Haoran, why are we going to Jade Mist Lake? Could there be any soul beasts there suitable for you?" Jiang Jiayao asked Hu Haoran in confusion. The previous night, Hu Haoran had suddenly told Jiang Jiayao that they were leaving Thousand Spirit Marshland for another dangerous area in the Canglan Mountain Range—Jade Mist Lake.

"There are indeed three types of soul beasts there that suit me well: the Jade Scale Sabertooth Crocodile, the White-Crowned Sky-Turning Crane, and the Lightning-Treading Eagle. Before setting out, I saw records of these soul beasts suitable for sword-type martial souls in my family's library. All three live at Jade Mist Lake in the Canglan Mountain Range," Hu Haoran explained. Of course, he had learned all this by consulting the Douluo System yesterday.

"Then let's set off!" Jiang Jiayao said.

And so, the two of them once again set out on a journey to hunt soul beasts. This time, Hu Haoran still led the way. With the Douluo System, he could effectively avoid dangerous areas.

Hu Haoran still had clear targets this time: the Jade Scale Sabertooth Crocodile, the White-Crowned Sky-Turning Crane, and the Lightning-Treading Eagle.

The Jade Scale Sabertooth Crocodile was a high-level, pack-dwelling soul beast. A typical adult was five thousand years old. Their bodies were covered in dark green scales, their pupils were an eerie green, and their teeth resembled tiny swords, looking incredibly sharp. That was how they earned the name Jade Scale Sabertooth Crocodile.

The White-Crowned Sky-Turning Crane was a high-level soul beast that preferred solitude. They had exceptionally long lifespans and were also known as Long-Lived Cranes. A typical adult White-Crowned Sky-Turning Crane was thirteen thousand years old. As its name implied, it possessed a white crest. Its entire body was white, and it looked exceedingly graceful. When happy, it often spun through the sky. Some soul masters remembered its elegant posture, and that was how the name Sky-Turning Crane came about.

The Lightning-Treading Eagle was an exceptionally vicious high-level soul beast. They too were considered adults only after reaching five thousand years. On ordinary days, unless they were hunting, they were difficult to encounter. They usually appeared during seasons of raging thunder and lightning. During thunderstorms, Lightning-Treading Eagles loved darting endlessly through bolts of lightning, making them appear as though they were treading on lightning itself. They were incredibly fast.

The Douluo System contained detailed introductions to all three soul beasts, so Hu Haoran naturally knew about them. With the Douluo System, Hu Haoran could definitely be considered a soul beast expert on the Douluo Continent.

"Ah..."

"Ha..."

Boom...

The sounds of battle came from the distance.

Hu Haoran and Jiang Jiayao exchanged a glance. Both knew that two groups were fighting not far ahead, though they had no idea what the conflict was about.

"Brother Jiang, do you want to go take a look?"

"I definitely don't want to miss such a spectacular sight. You probably only get to see this kind of brawl in a Soul Arena."

"Then let's be careful! Don't let them spot us."

The two smiled at each other and immediately ran ahead to watch the show.

Before long, Hu Haoran and Jiang Jiayao arrived at the source of the sounds. Two groups stood facing each other in the middle of the clearing. It seemed that neither side had gained an advantage in that last exchange.

"Wolf Mountain Seven Bandits, don't go too far! We were the ones who seriously injured this White Jade Mad Lion. We will never hand it over to you so easily. Either trade something for it, or get lost! Our Boulder Mercenary Group isn't afraid of you!" shouted a Soul Ancestor in a yellow robe bearing the image of a boulder. A trace of blood lingered at the corner of his mouth.

"Hahahaha... Going too far?! This world has always been ruled by the strong devouring the weak! What does it mean to go too far? You and that beast fought each other until you were seriously injured. What's wrong with us kicking you while you're down? What haven't we, the Wolf Mountain Seven Bandits, done? Why would we fear a tiny mercenary group like yours? If you want to blame someone, blame your bad luck for running into the Wolf Mountain Seven Bandits!" mocked a Soul Ancestor holding a Wolf Fang Club martial soul.

"What are the Wolf Mountain Seven Bandits? And what kind of mercenary group is the Boulder Mercenary Group?" Hu Haoran asked Jiang Jiayao through Soul Power transmission.

Soul Power transmission was a minor technique created by the seniors of the Douluo Continent through their control of Soul Power. It had since become something every soul master could use. Hu Haoran had naturally learned the technique as well, and he thought it was pretty cool. Of course, a low-level soul master's Soul Power transmission was practically undisguised before a high-level soul master, and certain martial souls with exceptional hearing could also detect it.

"The Wolf Mountain Seven Bandits are notorious bandits around the Canglan Mountain Range. They specialize in this sort of kicking people while they're down and robbing other robbers. Some factions have sent people after them before, but they always move in a group of seven. They are quite powerful and work together exceptionally well in battle. It is said that they even possess a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, so no faction has managed to destroy the group so far," Jiang Jiayao calmly explained through Soul Power transmission. "There are bounties on them at the Mercenary Guild as well. Their leader, Lang Bashan, is a level 53 Soul King, with a bounty of 50,000 Gold Soul Coins. The second, Lang Bahai, is a level 51 Soul King, worth 45,000 Gold Soul Coins. The third, Hu Qianya, is a level 49 Soul Ancestor, worth 35,000 Gold Soul Coins—that's the one with the Wolf Fang Club martial soul. The fourth, Han Shigu, is a level 46 Soul Ancestor, worth 30,000 Gold Soul Coins. The fifth, Chen Yaojin, is a level 45 Soul Ancestor, worth 25,000 Gold Soul Coins. The sixth, Chen Yaoyin, is a level 45 Soul Ancestor, worth 25,000 Gold Soul Coins. The seventh, Chen Yaotong, is a level 44 Soul Ancestor, worth 20,000 Gold Soul Coins. Killing the Wolf Mountain Seven Bandits would definitely earn us a fortune."

Hu Haoran showed an expression of understanding, nodded, and stared at the Wolf Mountain Seven Bandits with burning eyes.

"As for the Boulder Mercenary Group, it's a medium-sized mercenary group and another force operating around the Canglan Mountain Range. I've heard that the Wolf Mountain Seven Bandits previously ambushed their cargo and men, so the two sides have some history," Jiang Jiayao continued. "That man over there in brown, with golden patterns wrapped around his clothes and the same boulder emblem on them, is Shi Zhenhe, the third leader of their mercenary group. He's a level 57 Soul King, and he's quite strong."

"Why are you so familiar with the forces around the Canglan Mountain Range?" Hu Haoran was puzzled by Jiang Jiayao's knowledge of the local powers.

"Because I don't want to get screwed over in some gutter!" Jiang Jiayao explained.

"So that's how it is... Brother Jiang, look." Hu Haoran compared the strength of both sides. "Although the Boulder Mercenary Group has a level 57 Soul King, they only have five people, and every one of them is injured to varying degrees. I don't think things look good for the Boulder Mercenary Group!"

"I think so too. Brother Hu, are you thinking of standing up for justice now? Your eyes are practically glowing," Jiang Jiayao said lazily.

"I am! But I'm not strong enough. It would be different if I ambushed them from the shadows while you went out there and fought them," Hu Haoran urged.

"Is that any way to push your big brother into a pit of fire?! I go out there and risk my life while you ambush them from here. Your ambush might not even be enough to scratch their itch," Jiang Jiayao scolded with a laugh. "Still, you don't need to urge me. I'll definitely help them. After all, killing a few scum can earn us some money and a good reputation. Why not? Especially for someone as righteous as me! For now, let's wait until they're fighting in earnest. I need to observe their fighting style first. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you'll never be defeated."

After hearing that, Hu Haoran rolled his eyes at Jiang Jiayao.