Bloodfire Mercenary Group

After Jiang Chen returned home, he had a meal with his mother, Li Huirong, and then bid her farewell.

"Mother, I need to go out for a bit. I'll be back in a few days," Jiang Chen said.

"Chen'er, are you going into the Great Desolate Mountain Range again?" Li Huirong asked in surprise.

The Great Desolate Mountain Range was extremely dangerous. Besides powerful demonic beasts, there were also other cultivators, making it a place where the law of the jungle truly prevailed.

Li Huirong did not want Jiang Chen to enter such a dangerous place, even though his current cultivation was Martial Artist Realm, Fourth Level, which was quite strong.

"Mother, cultivation is inherently going against the heavens. Danger is unavoidable. If I always worry about danger and never venture out, I'll never achieve anything significant in my life."

"I haven't forgotten the grudge of Liu Yun crippling my dantian. I must get revenge. I want to avenge myself," Jiang Chen said.

"Mother, don't worry. I'll take care of myself. The family competition is in half a month, and I must achieve good results. Also, the three major sects in North Sea County are recruiting disciples this year, and I want to join one of them," Jiang Chen said.

Only by achieving good results in the family competition would he have a chance to participate in the sect assessments.

Each town had a certain number of spots. To get a spot, one had to demonstrate their strength.

After securing a spot, he would compete with other geniuses. Only by performing exceptionally well would he have a chance to join a sect.

What Jiang Chen didn't know was that the token Long Qingyao had given him earlier could completely allow him to join the Tianyun Sect through the back door, without needing to participate in any assessments.

Long Qingyao hadn't explicitly stated it at the time, and Lin Bei was also unaware.

"Liu Yun!" Hearing this name, Li Huirong's heart was filled with complex emotions. Liu Yun was once her adopted daughter, and she never expected Liu Yun to become their adversary.

However, anyone who dared to harm her family was an enemy.

It was all because of Liu Yun that Jiang Chen's dantian was crippled and Jiang Yunfeng was injured.

"Alright, if you have your own path of martial arts, then I won't stop you. In any case, be careful with everything," Li Huirong nodded.

A man should stand tall and upright. It was good that Jiang Chen had such a mindset.

After leaving home, Jiang Chen bought some dry rations at a small town shop and then entered the Great Desolate Mountain Range.

To save trouble, Jiang Chen specifically bought a map of the Great Desolate Mountain Range. The map depicted the general terrain of the surrounding area, marked dangerous regions, and also marked Snake King Valley.

"About two hundred and thirty li away. It's a bit far, but I should be able to reach it in a day," Jiang Chen thought to himself.

For a fifth-tier blade technique martial skill, Jiang Chen was willing to take the risk.

Along the way, Jiang Chen directly killed any demonic beasts he encountered. After practicing the Soaring Wave Steps, his speed had increased significantly.

Jiang Chen's comprehension was very strong now, and these martial skills were easy to get started with.

This was definitely the effect of cultivating the Sky Devouring Demonic Dragon Art.

"Roar..." A Water Cloud Wolf charged towards Jiang Chen.

This Water Cloud Wolf was injured and was at the second-tier, sixth level. Its eyes glinted fiercely as it saw Jiang Chen, opening its bloody maw and lunging at him.

"You're courting death." Seeing a demonic beast attack him, Jiang Chen naturally wouldn't just wait to die.

With a slash of the long saber in his hand.

"Hegemonic Blade Art, First Stance." A blade light flashed, directly striking the Water Cloud Wolf's neck.

"Pfft..." A shocking wound appeared on the Water Cloud Wolf's neck.

Jiang Chen brushed past the Water Cloud Wolf.

The Water Cloud Wolf took only a few steps before its body collapsed.

Jiang Chen then circulated his cultivation technique, and the blood essence within the Water Cloud Wolf converged towards him, being absorbed by Jiang Chen and slightly improving his cultivation.

Just then, a six-person team appeared from the direction the Water Cloud Wolf had come.

Seeing the clothes on these six people, Jiang Chen was stunned. These six people were actually from the Bloodfire Mercenary Group.

The Bloodfire Mercenary Group was an active force in the surrounding towns, specializing in robbery and plunder, and was disliked by many.

However, the Bloodfire Mercenary Group was powerful, and many people dared not speak out despite their anger.

Moreover, they often entered the Great Desolate Mountain Range to hunt demonic beasts. Most people would try to avoid them to prevent being robbed.

Due to the Bloodfire Mercenary Group's strength, no one in the surrounding towns dared to provoke them.

"Captain, that Water Cloud Wolf is dead," one of the mercenaries said.

The leader was a person at Martial Artist Realm, Eighth Level, while the others were all at Martial Artist Realm, Fourth Level or above.

"Did he kill it?" someone stared at Jiang Chen.

"Let's go and take a look," the burly captain said.

"Kid, we were dealing with that Water Cloud Wolf first, so it's our spoils of war. You get lost," a mercenary said fiercely.

The other party was from the Bloodfire Mercenary Group, and Jiang Chen didn't want to cause trouble. It was just a second-tier, fifth-level Water Cloud Wolf, not worth many spirit stones.

Jiang Chen thought about it and decided it wasn't worth making an enemy of the Bloodfire Mercenary Group for such materials.

"Alright, I'll be going then," Jiang Chen said, turning to leave.

"You know what's good for you." Seeing Jiang Chen's obedience, the mercenary showed a smug smile.

"Stop right there," the burly captain suddenly shouted.

"Something you need?" Jiang Chen frowned. He had let the Water Cloud Wolf go, even though it had died by his hand.

"Kid, leave the long saber in your hand and the storage pouch at your waist, and we might consider sparing your life. Otherwise, if we have to take them ourselves, you won't survive," the captain sneered.

He noticed that the long saber in Jiang Chen's hand was a second-tier saber, and of no low grade. This was definitely a good item.

Jiang Chen also had a storage pouch. These were all valuable items, much more valuable than the Water Cloud Wolf.

Seeing a fat sheep, why would they let it go?

"You want my things?" Jiang Chen chuckled. Although Jiang Chen was smiling, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

How dare they covet the things on his person? Then don't blame him for being impolite, no matter what Bloodfire Mercenary Group they were.

"That's right," the captain sneered.

The other five mercenaries also looked at Jiang Chen with cold smiles.

If it weren't for the captain's careful observation, they wouldn't have realized how wealthy Jiang Chen was. Just now, their attention had been solely on the Water Cloud Wolf.

They almost let a fat sheep slip away.

The other party was just a kid at the Martial Artist Realm, Fourth Level. Although he could be considered a genius, daring to venture into the Great Desolate Mountain Range alone showed his boldness.

But this wasn't home; the outside world was very dangerous.

"What if I say no?" Jiang Chen said calmly.

"No? Then die. It's perfectly normal for someone to die in the Great Desolate Mountain Range anyway," the captain said angrily.

He had little patience for being refused.

"Go, kill him," the captain ordered.

"Don't worry, captain. He's just a kid at the Martial Artist Realm, Fourth Level. With so many of us, killing him will be as easy as flipping our hands," the other five mercenaries immediately moved to surround Jiang Chen.