Entering the Monster Mountain Range

If he could help Xiao Yi Xian control her constitution, she would become a Dou Zun-level backer.

Even if he went to the Central Plains, as long as he did not recklessly court death, hardly anyone would come looking for trouble with him.

If not for the severe side effects of Xiao Yi Xian's Calamity Poison Body, it might not necessarily lose to Qing Lin's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.

After a long silence, Lin Feng looked at Xiao Yi Xian, who was treating the injured mercenaries not far away.

After some thought, he temporarily gave up on the idea of approaching Xiao Yi Xian.

If he rashly went up to her now, not only would he fail to gain Xiao Yi Xian's goodwill,

but he might also be mistaken for a pervert and earn her disgust instead.

Seeing that the sky had already darkened, he casually found an inn, rented a room, and settled in.

Entering the room and securely shutting the door, Lin Feng took a Jade Box from his Storage Ring.

Then, he carefully took the Blood Lotus Essence from his robes and placed it inside the Jade Box.

He could keep this treasure safe. It might fetch something valuable in the future.

Once he had finished all that, he went to bed to rest.

The night passed quietly.

The next day, warm sunlight pierced through the darkness and shone upon the ground, completely dispelling the last traces of chill left behind by the night.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Lin Feng felt the warm sunlight and withdrew from cultivation before springing down from the bed.

After washing up, he left his room at the inn.

He headed for the entrance to the Monster Mountain Range on the eastern side of Qingshan Town, intending to find suitable mercenaries to form a team with.

The Monster Mountain Range lay in the center of the Jia Ma Empire, stretching from north to south through the entire empire and dividing it into eastern and western regions.

The mountain range contained countless rare plants of immense value. Many high-level Alchemists were drawn there as well, entering the mountains in search of Medicinal Herbs.

However, Magical Beasts of every rank also lived within the mountain range, making it extremely dangerous for humans to enter.

Those who traveled alone were even more likely to be attacked by Magical Beasts.

Therefore, aside from a few highly skilled and daring mercenaries who entered the mountains alone,

most entered in groups.

With Lin Feng's strength as an Eight-Star Dou Practitioner, he could currently only handle some first-tier Magical Beasts or Second-tier Magical Beasts with relatively low offensive power.

If he encountered a powerful Second-tier Magical Beast inside, his journey after transmigrating would probably come to an end there.

So, he chose the safer option of entering the Monster Mountain Range with other mercenaries.

When he arrived at the entrance to the Monster Mountain Range in town, quite a few mercenaries had already gathered there.

Shouts rang out continuously as they called to lone mercenaries looking to enter the mountains.

The mercenaries in town could roughly be divided into three categories.

The first consisted of mercenary groups that had already formed tightly organized units. There were only three such groups in Qingshan Town, each with around a hundred members, most of whom were stronger than Dou Zhe.

Moreover, the leaders of all three mercenary groups were Dou Masters, making them some of the strongest forces in Qingshan Town.

The second type consisted of temporary mercenary teams. Such teams usually disbanded after completing a single mission, and their mutual trust and teamwork were far inferior to those of formal mercenary groups.

The third type consisted of lone mercenaries, people who generally had a few tricks up their sleeves to preserve their lives.

The mercenaries loudly calling out at the town entrance belonged to the second type.

Standing in a corner, Lin Feng did not immediately join a mercenary team. Instead, he secretly observed which temporary team appeared more disciplined.

After all, within the dangerous Monster Mountain Range, even the slightest negligence could lead to the tragedy of the entire group being wiped out.

Just as Lin Feng was searching for a suitable team, a sudden commotion erupted at the town entrance.

An excited shout rang out. "Myriad Medicine House is heading into the Monster Mountain Range to gather herbs! Xiao Yi Xian will be going too! There are only fifty spots, and you must be at least a Two-star Dou Zhe! Hurry up, everyone!"

Hearing the shout, Lin Feng froze. He had not expected such a coincidence—his trip into the mountains happened to coincide with the day Xiao Yi Xian was gathering herbs.

He quickly came back to his senses and walked straight toward the man.

After all, Xiao Yi Xian's herb-gathering party had dozens of people. If he entered the Monster Mountain Range with them, ordinary Magical Beasts would certainly not dare attack so easily.

It was far safer than joining some other mercenary squads with only a few people.

Besides, with so many people, it would be less likely for anyone to notice him when he later slipped away to search for the cave.

The other mercenaries who believed they met the requirements also surged toward the middle-aged man wearing Myriad Medicine House attire, scrambling to get there first.

Being relatively quick to react, Lin Feng soon squeezed his way in front of the middle-aged man and said, "I'm signing up."

"Huh?"

The middle-aged man stared blankly at the handsome youth before him, who looked no more than seventeen or eighteen. Then he smiled. "Little brother, our requirement is a two-star Dou Zhe!"

He placed particular emphasis on the final four words.

Clearly, he did not believe that a youth barely in his teens could meet the requirement.

"Yeah, where did this little brat come from? You're still wet behind the ears, yet you're wandering around outside!"

"Brat, get out of the way! Let this old man take that spot!"

The slower mercenaries behind them, seeing that they still had a chance to obtain a spot, immediately began cursing at Lin Feng.

Lin Feng ignored their shouts. He stepped forward twice until he stood before a tree trunk as thick as two arms put together, then suddenly clenched his fist.

Scarlet Dou Qi covered his fist like a faint curtain of light. Carrying fierce force, it smashed heavily into the tree trunk.

"Crack."

With a crisp sound, the thick tree trunk creaked and toppled to the ground under everyone's stunned gazes, kicking up dust everywhere.

"That should be enough, right?"

Patting his hands, Lin Feng smiled at the dumbfounded middle-aged man.

"Tsk, tsk. Little brother, your talent is truly formidable. At such a young age, you've already cultivated to the level of a Two-star Dou Zhe. You're practically a genius."

The middle-aged man nodded in amazement, then smiled at Lin Feng. "All right, you're the last one. The mercenary fee is five hundred Gold Coins. You'll escort our Myriad Medicine House herb-gathering party there and back. Half your payment will be given to you shortly, while the other half will be paid once we return."

"Fine."

Lin Feng smiled and nodded. He did not care about the payment of five hundred Gold Coins.

As long as it made it easier for him to search for that cave containing the Flying Dou Skill, he would not mind even if they paid him nothing.

Seeing the spot taken by a youth who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, the surrounding onlooking mercenaries could only leave in disappointment.

Yet as they departed, they did not forget to cast Lin Feng a few strange looks.

To become a Two-star Dou Zhe at seventeen or eighteen—

such talent was quite rare in little Qingshan Town!

Within the silent forest, the large group advanced quietly. Pairs of vigilant eyes continuously swept over the dark places among the surrounding trees.

Their hands tightly gripped the weapons at their waists, ready to deal with any sudden situation at any time.

As veteran mercenaries who had spent many years making their living in the Monster Mountain Range, although this was their first time working together, they were able to maintain a basic level of coordination.

When their gazes met, they could even discern signals of danger and safety from one another's eyes.

Wiping the sweat from his face, Lin Feng turned around and looked at the Myriad Medicine House herb-gathering party behind him, which was surrounded by layer upon layer of guards.

His gaze casually swept through the group before finally settling on Xiao Yi Xian, who stood in the middle like the moon surrounded by stars.

At that moment, Xiao Yi Xian happened to straighten slightly and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.

Her light panting, paired with her delicate face, made her look especially endearing.

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian in such a state, several mercenaries nearby immediately felt the urge to carry her all the way to their destination.

But they also knew that even if they wanted to carry her, Xiao Yi Xian would only smile and politely decline.

As everyone's gaze gathered upon Xiao Yi Xian,

a rather handsome young man emerged from the guards at the side with a smile on his face. Lowering his head, he said something to the panting Xiao Yi Xian.

After the two spoke for a while, Xiao Yi Xian smiled and shook her head, then continued onward.

Having been rejected by Xiao Yi Xian, the young man showed no anger on his face.

With a faint smile, he waved his hand and shouted, "Wolf Head, stay alert! We're about to enter the Monster Mountain Range, so don't capsize in a gutter!"

"Yes, Young Group Leader!"

Upon hearing the young man's shout, the dozens of burly men around him immediately answered in unison.

Their orderly response drew countless sidelong glances. Even Xiao Yi Xian, who was walking ahead, glanced back at them.

Very pleased with this reaction, the young man smiled slightly, quickly took another two steps, and walked side by side with Xiao Yi Xian, guarding her with great attentiveness.

"Damn it, isn't he just relying on the fact that his father is the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group? Does he think he can win Xiao Yi Xian's heart like that?"

Seeing the young man chatting with Xiao Yi Xian at such close range, one of the mercenaries beside Lin Feng immediately muttered in a low voice, his tone thick with jealousy.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Lin Feng swept his gaze over the young man before it finally settled on the badge on his chest. Engraved upon it was the head of a one-eyed wolf.

He then slowly withdrew his gaze. Although the Wolf Head Mercenary Group had a terrible reputation in Qingshan Town, he had already grown accustomed to the laws of survival on the Dou Qi Continent.

As long as Mu Li and the others did not come looking for trouble with him, he had no interest in playing the hero.

Besides, he did not currently have the strength to play the hero anyway.

After the break ended and Xiao Yi Xian gave the order to move out, Lin Feng continued following the large group deeper into the Monster Mountain Range.

At the same time, his gaze continually observed the surrounding terrain as he guessed which direction the cave was most likely to be in.

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