Benna the Mercenary

Of course, there were also quite a few mercenary Soul Master groups that accepted commissions to help others hunt soul beasts.

Hunting soul beasts was not sightseeing—it was skilled work!

The Star Dou Great Forest contained an enormous number of soul beasts, and every kind had its own living habits and behavioral patterns.

At the same time, the great forest was filled with countless dangerous areas.

Without a guide, if one entered the Star Dou Great Forest directly, even Li Tianlan was not confident he could make it out alive.

Within the Star Dou Great Forest, the strength of many soul beasts could not be judged by their age.

For example, poison, Spirit Impact, and even curses!

Thus, after careful consideration, Li Tianlan still decided to find a mercenary group to protect him while he searched for the Purple Orchid Heart Flame.

In any case, he was not short of Gold Soul Coins. Before he left, Dugu Bo had given him a large sum for travel expenses.

When he arrived at the place where mercenaries were recruited, before Li Tianlan could even speak, he saw a beautiful blonde woman walk over.

The beauty wore white metal armor that outlined her perfect curves. Below her long, ivory-like legs was a pair of red leather boots, with two daggers tucked into them.

Judging from her attire, she was likely an agility-type Soul Master.

The blonde mercenary came before Li Tianlan and smiled, revealing pearly white teeth. She crouched down, pinched his cheek, and asked with a beaming smile, "Little brother, what are you doing here all alone? This place is very dangerous. Maybe bad people will snatch you away, cook you, and eat you!"

Li Tianlan was speechless. Who would believe such a trick for scaring children?

He slightly turned his head, freeing himself from the blonde female mercenary's hand, and said unhappily, "I'm not a child anymore."

"Hehe, interesting." The blonde mercenary was greatly surprised, then said, "My name is Benna. Little brother, you didn't come here looking for mercenaries, did you?"

"That's right." Li Tianlan nodded slightly and continued, "I'm going to the Star Dou Great Forest, and I need a guide."

"To the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Benna examined Li Tianlan again and asked in surprise, "Are you going to hunt a Soul Ring? Becoming a Soul Master at such a young age—you have a boundless future ahead of you."

Li Tianlan shook his head slightly and said slowly, "I'm not hunting soul beasts. I'm looking for a kind of purple flame. It seems to be in a valley."

"Purple flames? The valley where a Titled Douluo once disappeared?"

Benna cried out in alarm, staring at Li Tianlan with a face full of surprise.

This child was far from ordinary!

He actually wanted to search for that dangerous flame!

That was seeking death. Over all these years, very few people who had seen that flame had survived.

Most had vanished without a trace!

Li Tianlan looked at Benna with some surprise as well. Could his luck really be that good, finding a suitable guide on his first try?

He immediately asked, "That's right, that valley. Mercenary sister, have you been there?"

Hearing Li Tianlan's answer, Benna sighed and said to him, "That valley is far more terrifying than you imagine. You'd better not go. You'll die in there!"

"It's fine."

Li Tianlan did not care at all. He directly took out a bag of Gold Soul Coins from his Soul Tool and said with a smile, "One hundred Gold Soul Coins. Would Sister Benna be willing to take me to find that valley?"

At those words, Benna froze.

One hundred Gold Soul Coins was equivalent to seven or eight months of income from her missions. It was an extremely generous reward.

But when she thought of the legends surrounding that valley—

A trace of fear flashed through Benna's eyes. She shook her head slightly and said, "Forget it. My life is more important. That place is too dangerous. Little brother, I advise you to go home instead."

Li Tianlan: "..."

Benna's reaction surprised him, and his heart stirred.

Could there be some danger waiting for him in that valley that he did not know about?

Theoretically, it was not impossible.

After all, the information he had received from Dugu Bo was vague. As for the detailed specifics, he knew nothing at all.

Li Tianlan thought for a moment, then said, "How about this, Sister Benna? I'll pay one hundred Gold Soul Coins to ask you a few questions about that valley. You only need to tell me what you know."

"One hundred Gold Soul Coins for a few questions? You really are a little tycoon."

Surprise flashed through Benna's eyes, and she put away her contempt for Li Tianlan.

A child who could casually take out one hundred Gold Soul Coins had to be the heir of some great family or sect.

Perhaps powerful Soul Masters were protecting him nearby!

If she got any bad ideas, a few Soul Kings or Soul Emperors might jump out to clean things up!

As a mercenary, she had seen such situations many times.

Thinking this, Benna accepted the Gold Soul Coins and said with a smile, "Sure. What questions?"

"First question: what is that valley called? Why are you so afraid of it?" Li Tianlan asked curiously.

Hearing Li Tianlan's question, Benna sighed and explained, "That's a long story."

"To you outsiders, the most memorable thing about that valley might be that a Titled Douluo disappeared there."

"But to us local mercenaries, that place is practically a land of death."

"Every year, dozens or even hundreds of unlucky newcomers who don't understand that valley end up disappearing there forever."

"So even if you gave me ten million Gold Soul Coins, I wouldn't go. That place is just too bizarre!"

Li Tianlan nodded slightly, understanding Bena's feelings well.

To ordinary people, the valley was merely a legend, something to talk about after dinner.

But to Bena, it was a real place. Quite a few people she knew might have died in that valley.

The valley was unfathomably deep, like a heavenly abyss that devoured everyone who entered.

Of course she was afraid!

With that thought, Li Tianlan looked up at Bena and nodded slightly. "I understand. Then let's change the job. Sister Bena, take me to the outskirts of that valley without going inside. How many Gold Soul Coins would that cost?"

"This..."

Bena rubbed her chin, weighing the risks in her heart.

As long as they did not enter the valley, the outskirts were inhabited by Hundred Year Soul Beasts. Thousand Year Soul Beasts were rare, so the danger was not great.

After glancing at Li Tianlan, Bena finally said, "Forget it. I won't ask for too many Gold Soul Coins. The hundred Gold Soul Coins from before will count as the fee for taking you to that valley. But there's one condition: you can't enter the valley."

"I know." Li Tianlan nodded slightly.

He was not stupid. Before figuring out what exactly was going on in the valley, he would not recklessly charge in.

The Heavenly Flames posed little danger to him, but Li Tianlan vaguely sensed that something was wrong.