Matthews dragged the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion from the crater left by his Thunder Qilin attack to the base of the boulder, then asked, "What's your name?"
The Blood-Eyed Mane Lion's feeble voice sounded in Matthews's mind. "My name is Pal."
Matthews introduced himself and Asolun, then began feeling the lightning and thunder amid the rain and mist.
This time, drawing on the power of lightning between heaven and earth, his Battle Qi smoothly broke through to the Level Nine realm. He had also comprehended the force of nature, clearing the obstacles to advancing to the Saint Realm. As soon as his Battle Qi reached the Saint Realm, he could advance directly and gain the immortality that cultivators in his previous world had dreamed of.
Once he reached the Saint Realm, as long as he didn't do anything reckless and simply cultivated in peace, Matthews was confident he could comprehend the Laws and become a god. After that, he would keep a low profile on the material plane until he reached Midgod, then head to the Divine Plane.
Half a year later, Matthews appeared at the edge of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, riding a fully recovered Pal.
They were now close to the side of the empire ruled by the Church of Light. Seeing the young Matthews stroll out so casually, students from the Church of Light exclaimed enviously, "Look, a Level Nine Magical Beast!"
"Yeah! I'm going to ride a Level Nine Magical Beast someday, too!"
While Matthews marveled at how energetic these students were, they were looking up to his strength as their goal. In high spirits, Matthews directed Pal toward a mercenary group resting not far away. The group tensed as soon as they saw him approaching.
"May I ask what brings you here, sir?"
The mercenary group's leader was only a Seventh-Level warrior, but unlike the students, he recognized the beast the young man was riding. It was a Blood-Eyed Mane Lion, a magical beast that reached the Saint Realm upon adulthood. Judging by its size, it wasn't far from reaching maturity.
He knew, then, that this Level Nine Magical Beast must be at the peak of its level—more than a Seventh-Level warrior like him could handle. What's more, the young man who had subdued a beast of this caliber was surely even stronger than it: at least a peak Level Nine, perhaps even a Saint Realm expert. So he was careful to show the utmost respect.
"Which city is closest to the Magic Beast Mountain Range? Do you have a map?"
"The nearest city is Mutuo'ya City," the leader replied. "Our Wind Fox Mercenary Group is headed there."
"I see. Then take me along."
"Well..."
Seeing the leader's troubled expression, Matthews said, "Is there a problem? Don't worry. I won't ask you to take me for free."
As he spoke, Matthews took out the ten gold coins he had left and said, "This is your payment."
"It's our honor to take you, sir. We can't accept your money."
"Take it."
Matthews found a place to sit, then lay down on a handcart to rest, leaving Pal to stand guard beside him. Three days passed in no time. Matthews was tired, so he slept the whole way on the mercenary group's cart.
The Wind Fox Mercenary Group came to a stop. They had only just started to approach when Pal's low growl made them freeze in place.
"Why have we stopped?"
When they saw that Matthews had woken up, the leader of the Wind Fox Mercenary Group said respectfully, "We've arrived, sir."
Matthews flipped off the cart, then climbed onto Pal.
"Thanks!"
As he passed through the city gate, Matthews didn't bother to queue. He looked around Mutuo'ya City with interest, finding it more and more familiar the longer he looked.
"Wait, isn't this the city where the Mad Python Mercenary Group sold me into slavery?"
While Matthews was lost in thought, the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion ignored the guards and walked straight into the city.
"Captain, that man didn't pay the entrance fee."
Smack—
The young soldier got a resounding slap in response. The captain immediately scolded him, "If you want to die, don't drag me down with you! That sir was riding a Level Nine Magical Beast. Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"I'm sorry!"
Matthews heard them, but paid no mind. He had more important things to do: first, ask the Mercenary Guild about the Mad Python Mercenary Group's whereabouts, then visit the Maple Leaf Slave Group's headquarters.
He needed to find out where his Sovereign Artifact, the Death Scythe, had ended up. A trivial matter like the entrance fee wasn't worth wasting time on.
After spending his last fifty silver coins in the city to ask for directions to the Mercenary Guild, Matthews rode Pal straight there.
The area in front of the Mercenary Guild was packed with people, filled with noisy chatter and all manner of crude curses. As Matthews rode Pal toward them, the hubbub abruptly died down.
The crowd naturally parted to make way. Most people trying to make a living in this border city weren't high-level warriors. Level Nine experts rarely visited the Mercenary Guild in this small frontier town; they were powerful enough to become nobles in their own countries.
Even when they did come to a border town, it was usually to gain experience. They wouldn't bother with the Mercenary Guild.
The Mercenary Guild's attendant was a striking Seventh-Level female warrior. Seeing Matthews ride in on a Level Nine Magical Beast, she smiled and asked, "What can I do for you, sir?"
"I want to look up information on the Mad Python Mercenary Group."
"I'm afraid the Mercenary Guild keeps information about mercenary groups confidential."
Matthews said firmly, "I want to know their latest whereabouts."
Seeing Matthews's expression turn cold, the beautiful warrior smiled and said, "I'm sorry, but the Mercenary Guild can't disclose information about mercenary groups. However, sir, there is another way."
"Hmm?"
Seeing that Matthews didn't understand, a burly man nearby explained, "You can post a mercenary mission, sir. A mercenary group will surely take on a mission to find them."
After listening, Matthews took a Level Six Magic Beast Core from his Space Ring and tossed it to the burly man. As the man thanked him, Matthews turned to the fiery Seventh-Level beauty and said, "I'll post a mission for the Mad Python Mercenary Group, too. The reward will be one Level Seven Magic Beast Core."
"Certainly, sir."
The beautiful warrior quickly wrote up Matthews's mission and posted it. As soon as he left, a mercenary group that knew where the Mad Python Mercenary Group was immediately accepted it.
Someone said to the burly man who had received Matthews's Level Six Magic Beast Core, "You sure got lucky. Drinks are on you!"
They were all people who lived by the sword, and the burly man laughed and agreed. He was generous with people he knew, especially since he really had received a valuable Magic Beast Core.
After posting the mercenary mission, Matthews went straight to the Maple Leaf Slave Group's branch in the city.
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