Wolf Head Mercenary Group

After some thought, Xiao Li temporarily set this idea aside. He was still only a minor Dou Shi; he had no spare energy to help others.

The team slowly entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Whether they were mercenaries or members of the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion, everyone grew tense. It was a consensus in Green Mountain Town that entering the mountain range always resulted in casualties, and no one wanted to be the one to die.

As they walked deeper, Xiao Li secretly observed the other mercenaries, learning their methods for masking their own tracks. These were veteran mercenaries who had spent years in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and he would certainly need these skills when he came out to train alone in the future.

In the silent forest, the large group moved quietly. Pairs of vigilant eyes constantly swept through the dark patches among the surrounding trees, hands gripping weapons tightly, ready to deal with any sudden situation at a moment's notice.

As veteran mercenaries who had spent years in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, they maintained a basic tacit understanding despite this being their first time working together. Through exchanged glances, they could identify signals of danger or safety from one another.

Xiao Li carried his long spear slung diagonally across his back, the tip pointing toward the ground, watching his surroundings warily. The Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion's destination was a small valley ten kilometers into the mountain range to gather herbs, a place where the density of magical beasts was already quite high.

Occasionally, there were even traces of second-order magical beasts. Only in such places could one find resources not already picked clean by the massive number of mercenaries from Green Mountain Town.

The mercenaries closer to the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion's gathering team seemed to belong to the same mercenary group; their clothes bore the same mark, and the badges on their chests were all engraved with the same one-eyed wolf head.

Judging by the level of protection these Wolf Head Mercenary Group members provided to the gathering team, they were clearly the guards hired by the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion. Moreover, it seemed the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion trusted the Wolf Head Mercenary Group far more than the scattered mercenaries ahead, or they wouldn't have been chosen as the personal guard detail.

Listening to the chatter of those around him, Xiao Li learned that the person leading the Wolf Head Mercenary Group this time was Gan Mu.

Xiao Li looked at a man in the mercenary group who radiated a heavy, murderous aura. A seven-star Dou Zhe, his strength was decent, but Xiao Li was confident he could heavily injure the man within five moves and finish him in ten.

And Gan Mu was already the strongest among the mercenaries this time.

"Have you heard? The leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, Mu She, has broken through to become a Dou Shi expert. The Wolf Head group has been incredibly arrogant lately," one mercenary said with a hint of resentment.

As soon as these words were spoken, others chimed in.

"Indeed. Relying on their numbers, they've snatched things others had their eyes on several times."

"Exactly, exactly. They're so arrogant."

Outside the Magical Beast Mountain Range, everything had been relatively calm. However, shortly after the team entered the mountain range, a small-scale magical beast attack cruelly unfolded before Xiao Li.

Four first-order Iron Feather Eagles suddenly dove down, targeting the few individuals with the weakest auras. Judging by their ferocious expressions, they were clearly starving, or they wouldn't have attacked such a large group of humans.

The mercenaries quickly formed small squads to defend against the enemy together.

The gap in ability became apparent during the exchange. The Wolf Head Mercenary Group members coordinated with better synergy, and all two of the attacking Iron Feather Eagles were cut down.

The scattered mercenaries, on the other hand, barely managed to force their opponents away.

Watching the Iron Feather Eagles dive again, Xiao Li moved his long spear, and a thunderclap exploded.

Lightning Flash Strike

The long spear shattered the bird's head, and a powerful wave of energy rippled outward.

The hair on Gan Mu's forehead was lifted by the aura, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

This youth's strength is likely a notch higher than mine. If he has a faction behind him, it must be formidable. If not, perhaps he can be recruited...

Xiao Li struck ruthlessly; the Iron Feather Eagles, equivalent only to low-level Dou Zhe, naturally had no chance of survival.

He pried open the heads and abdominal cavities of the Iron Feather Eagles. Finding no magical cores, he only took the most valuable, sturdy iron feathers.

"Everyone contributed, so I shouldn't take it all for myself. The rest of you can split the rest."

Xiao Li's words startled the stunned mercenaries.

"Little brother's strength is truly extraordinary. You must be a five or six-star Dou Zhe, right?"

"I'm afraid it's more than that. Even Gan Mu's strikes didn't look as clean and efficient as little brother Xiao's."

"I've really lived my life in vain these past few years."

The few people in Xiao Li's squad discussed it in a flurry of voices, their eyes filled with amazement.

Suddenly, they fell silent, their gazes turning warily toward Xiao Li's back.

Xiao Li turned his head and discovered that the person approaching was none other than Gan Mu of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, followed by a youth of about twenty.

"Little brother, your skills are extraordinary."

Gan Mu cupped his hands, a smile on his face, starting with a compliment.

However, Xiao Li had no favorable attitude toward the man who would later hunt down his younger brother.

"Does your Excellency have business with me?" Xiao Li replied indifferently.

Stopping Mu Li, who was about to speak, Gan Mu kept the smile on his face. "I would like to invite you, little brother, to join the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. I wonder if you..."

Gan Mu's tone was inquisitive, while Mu Li behind him seemed unimpressed by the young Xiao Li.

"Our Wolf Head is the largest mercenary group in Green Mountain Town. You have no idea how many people want to join," Mu Li said proudly.

With his father having just broken through, Mu Li naturally walked with a sense of arrogance, looking down on anyone below the level of Dou Shi.

Xiao Li's expression was cold. "I am accustomed to being a free spirit, so I will not join."

The smile on Gan Mu's face faded. "In that case, never mind."

Gan Mu didn't say much more; the other party's attitude was clear, and saying more would be useless. He pulled Mu Li back to their own team.

Mu Li, however, was indignant. "Uncle Gan, that brat is so arrogant. Does he look down on our Wolf Head?"

Looking at his nephew with some helplessness, Gan Mu explained, "That kid is powerful. If we force him to join, it would go against our original intentions. It is better to maintain the relationship of strangers."

That said, Gan Mu was clearly still wary of whether Xiao Li had some power backing him; he had never heard of such a young high-level Dou Zhe before.

Staring at the storage ring on Xiao Li's finger, Gan Mu licked his parched lips, forced to suppress the thoughts churning within him.

Only their leader, Mu She, possessed a storage ring. If nothing else, it would be quite a prize if he could just snatch the boy's ring.

It was a pity that, looking at the dozen or so freelance mercenaries nearby, Gan Mu wasn't confident he could silence them all. Plus, there were the people from the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion; with so many eyes around, it wasn't the right time to make a move.

Within the group, Little Fairy Doctor was well-protected by the mercenaries, her large eyes darting toward Xiao Li.

This person is so strong. How have I never heard of him before?

Little Fairy Doctor pursed her lips. If I had strength like that, I wouldn't be controlled and exploited by Master Yao. I must slip out tonight to find more herbs and poisons to craft something for self-defense.