Mu Li saw Xiao Chen effortlessly dispatch the mercenaries under his command, and his face changed dramatically.
He stared fixedly at Xiao Chen, his eyes filled with fear.
"Y-You... who are you?"
Mu Li's voice trembled.
Xiao Chen looked at him without saying a word.
Mu Li gritted his teeth, and Dou Qi surged wildly through his body.
He charged at Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen raised a hand.
He struck with his palm.
Mu Li was sent flying and crashed heavily to the ground.
He struggled to get up, but a sharp pain seized his chest, and he fell back down.
Xiao Chen walked over and looked down at him.
Mu Li lifted his head, his eyes filled with fear.
"Sir... please spare me, sir."
Mu Li knelt on the ground, his voice trembling.
"I was blind and dared to offend you, sir."
"Please spare my life."
"I'll never do it again."
Xiao Chen looked at him.
He brought his palm down.
Mu Li's head exploded in an instant.
His brains splattered.
He died on the spot.
He hadn't even had time to scream.
The mercenaries around them saw this and turned deathly pale, their legs trembling.
"He... He killed Young Master Mu Li!"
One mercenary's voice shook, breaking into a shrill squeak.
"Run! Run!"
Several mercenaries scrambled away.
One of them fell, got back up, and kept running without daring to look back.
Xiao Chen paid them no mind.
The mercenaries vanished in the blink of an eye, their footsteps gradually fading into the distance.
Xiao Yi Xian stood where she was, looking at Mu Li's corpse on the ground.
She was stunned, unable to move for a long while.
This young man had actually dared to kill Mu Li.
Mu She, Mu Li's father, was the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.
In Qingshan Town, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group held immense power and had the final say in everything.
After Mu Li's death, Mu She would never let this go.
The entire Wolf Head Mercenary Group would hunt him down.
Xiao Yi Xian looked up at Xiao Chen.
His face showed no expression.
It was as if nothing had happened.
Xiao Yi Xian was secretly astonished.
He seemed to be incredibly powerful.
Xiao Yi Xian took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"Thank you."
Xiao Chen waved a hand.
"It's nothing."
Xiao Chen replied.
Xiao Yi Xian looked at him, a feeling she couldn't describe welling up inside her.
Just then, a mechanical voice rang in Xiao Chen's mind.
[Mission complete: Earn Xiao Yi Xian's recognition and initial goodwill.]
[Reward issued: One Multi-Child Multi-Blessing reward. Draw now?]
Xiao Chen thought to himself,
"Draw."
[Drawing...]
[Congratulations, host! You've received a cultivation reward: Nine-Star Dou Zong.]
A vast power surged into his body.
Dou Qi coursed through his meridians, far more abundant than before.
Feeling the even greater power within him, Xiao Chen's lips curled slightly.
Though advancing from Eight-Star Dou Zong to Nine-Star Dou Zong was only a one-star difference, it was like crossing a vast chasm.
He thought to himself and put away the system panel.
Xiao Yi Xian looked at Xiao Chen, hesitating for a moment.
"There's a cave deep in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. There are treasures inside."
"I stumbled upon it while gathering herbs before."
"But there's a magical beast guarding it. I'm not strong enough to get in."
"Why don't... you come with me?"
"We can split the treasure inside. What do you think?"
Xiao Chen looked at her and fell silent for a moment.
"Okay."
Xiao Chen replied.
A smile appeared on Xiao Yi Xian's face, and a hint of delight flashed in her eyes.
"Then let's set off now."
Xiao Yi Xian said.
Xiao Chen nodded.
The two left Qingshan Town and headed toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Xiao Yi Xian led the way.
She knew the terrain around the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range well, every path clear in her mind.
Xiao Chen followed behind at an even pace.
They walked for about an hour.
Xiao Yi Xian stopped and glanced back at Xiao Chen.
"We've entered the outer reaches of the Magical Beast Mountain Range."
Xiao Yi Xian said.
Xiao Chen nodded.
Xiao Yi Xian looked around, checking their direction.
"The cave is deep in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. At our pace, it'll take most of the day to get there."
Xiao Yi Xian said.
She paused and looked up at the sky.
"It's getting late. Let's rest in the outer reaches tonight and head deeper in first thing tomorrow."
"It's too dangerous to enter the mountains at night. Magical beasts come out to hunt after dark."
Xiao Chen looked at her.
She continued leading Xiao Chen forward.
Before long, they reached a relatively flat clearing.
A stream flowed nearby, its water clear to the bottom.
"Let's rest here."
Xiao Yi Xian said.
Xiao Chen nodded.
Xiao Yi Xian set down the bundle she had been carrying and walked to the stream.
She crouched, rolled up her sleeves, and felt around in the water for a while.
She caught several plump fish.
She expertly started a fire and used branches to put together a simple grill.
She threaded the fish onto branches and set them over the fire.
Xiao Chen sat beside the campfire, watching her work.
Xiao Yi Xian moved deftly, flipping the fish and sprinkling on salt in one smooth motion.
A short while later, the fish were ready.
Their skin had turned golden and glistened with oil, giving off an enticing aroma.
Xiao Yi Xian handed Xiao Chen the largest grilled fish.
"Give it a try."
Xiao Yi Xian said, anticipation in her eyes.
Xiao Chen took the fish and bit into it.
"How is it?"
Xiao Yi Xian asked.
"Not bad."
Xiao Chen said.
A smile spread across Xiao Yi Xian's face, and a hint of pride flashed in her eyes.
"I often gather herbs out in the wilderness. Sometimes I'm out there for days."
"I got good at grilling fish through practice."
Xiao Yi Xian said.
Xiao Chen said nothing and continued eating.
Xiao Yi Xian picked up a grilled fish too, eating it in small bites.
She sneaked a glance at Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen was focused on his fish, his profile sharply defined.
Xiao Yi Xian quickly looked away.
Her heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.
"We'll head into the depths of the Magical Beast Mountain Range first thing tomorrow."
Xiao Yi Xian said.
"There are quite a few magical beasts in there, including second- and third-tier ones."
"When I came here last time, I saw a third-tier magical beast right outside the cave."
"If I hadn't run fast, I might never have made it back."
The Snake-People Tribe.
Yao Yue excitedly pushed open her sister's door.
Yao Ye was sitting in the room, reading through a beast hide.
Seeing her younger sister rush in with delight on her face, Yao Ye looked up.
Yao Yue sat beside her sister and opened her palm.
A pill lay in it, a faint Pill Pattern on its surface.
"Fourth-grade pill. I made it myself."
Yao Yue said, unable to hide her pride.
Yao Ye took the pill and leaned closer to examine it.
The pill was perfectly round and gave off a faint medicinal fragrance.
It was indeed a fourth-grade pill.
Its quality was quite good.
"Not bad."
Yao Ye said.
"By the way, sister, did you see Xiao Chen today?"
Yao Yue asked.
Yao Ye shook her head.
"No."
Yao Ye replied.
Yao Yue frowned.
"I haven't seen him all day."
Yao Yue said.
"I didn't see him in the morning, at noon, or in the evening."
"Where did he go?"
Watching her younger sister, Yao Ye's smile widened.
"What, you miss him after just one day apart?"
Yao Ye teased.
Yao Yue's cheeks warmed slightly.
"Not at all."
Yao Yue lowered her head, her voice growing softer.
"I'm just curious."
"Curious about where he went and what he did, since he was gone all day."
Yao Ye didn't call her out. She just smiled.
Yao Yue sat there, her thoughts beginning to wander.
Xiao Chen had been away from the tribe all day.
She couldn't find him anywhere.
Could he have gone to Nalan Yanran and Yun Yun?
After all, they were also Xiao Chen's wives and concubines.
Yao Yue bit her lip.
For some reason, she felt a pang of jealousy.
If he really had gone to see them...
Yao Yue murmured to herself.
Watching her younger sister's expression, Yao Ye gently patted her on the head.
"Don't let your imagination run wild."
Yao Ye said.
"Xiao Chen must have gone out."
Yao Yue nodded.
But she still couldn't suppress the jealousy in her heart.
The outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
The night passed in a flash.
Before long, it was the next day.
Xiao Yi Xian opened her eyes and saw that Xiao Chen was already awake.
The morning light fell through the gaps between the leaves.
Xiao Chen stood up.
Xiao Yi Xian stood too, brushing the dust and bits of grass from her clothes.
She took a deep breath to wake herself up.
"Let's go. Into the mountains."
The two of them prepared to head into the depths of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Before you continue