First Meeting with Xiao Yi Xian, Good Advice Cannot Save the Doomed

"Uh." The middle-aged man stared at the somewhat youthful-looking boy before him in surprise, then smiled.

"Little brother, our requirement is a Two-Star Dou Zhe!"

The middle-aged man emphasized those last four words. Clearly, he did not believe that this teenager, barely more than ten years old, could meet that standard.

"Where did this brat come from? Has his hair even grown in yet, and he's already wandering around outside?"

"Kid, get out of the way. Don't waste our time!"

"..."

Seeing that the final spot had actually been taken by a mere youth, the burly mercenaries around them immediately began grumbling and cursing.

Ignoring the noisy clamor, Xiao Lei stepped forward and stopped before a tree trunk as thick as two arms. He spread open his right hand, and Purple Dou Qi covered his palm like a faint curtain of light.

Xiao Lei's expression remained calm as he slammed his palm, carrying fierce force, hard against the trunk.

Bang!

With a loud explosion, the thick tree trunk was blasted apart by a single palm strike before everyone's astonished eyes!

Rumble!

The tree toppled over, while purple arcs of lightning continued to flicker along the broken stump!

"That should meet the standard, right?" Xiao Lei withdrew his hand, raised his eyes to the dumbfounded middle-aged man, and smiled faintly.

"Impressive, little brother. Your talent is truly extraordinary. 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 and smiled at Xiao Lei.

"Fine, then the final spot is yours. The mercenary pay is five hundred Gold Coins. You'll escort our Ten Thousand Medicines Hall herb-gathering team there and back safely. Half will be paid shortly, and the remaining half when we return."

"That works." Xiao Lei nodded slightly. He had no objections.

He did not care about a mere five hundred Gold Coins. The only person in the Ten Thousand Medicines Hall party who interested him was Xiao Yi Xian.

With the final spot taken by Xiao Lei, the surrounding mercenaries could only leave resentfully.

As they left, they did not forget to cast strange looks at Xiao Lei.

Xiao Lei looked only fifteen or sixteen, yet he already possessed strength beyond that of a Two-Star Dou Zhe. Such talent was truly formidable!

Which great faction had nurtured a genius like him?

If they knew that Xiao Lei was not a Dou Zhe at all, but a Four-Star Dou Shi, who knew how shocked they would be!

After settling the matter with Xiao Lei, the middle-aged man quickly made his way to the center of the group. He finally stopped before a woman in white, who was surrounded like the moon amid a host of stars.

"Miss Xiao Yi Xian, everyone is here. Shall we set out now?"

The middle-aged man bowed slightly to the woman in white and asked politely.

Following his voice, Xiao Lei also got a clear look at the woman in white.

She was around sixteen or seventeen years old. Though her beauty could not be called unparalleled, she was still a rare beauty. Her gently smiling face carried a fresh, ethereal air.

That distinctive aura greatly enhanced her charm.

Yet what drew the most attention was her slender willow-like waist, bound by a green sash and narrow enough to fit in one hand.

So this was Xiao Yi Xian. She was the one I had found most regrettable in the original story.

Xiao Lei looked in Xiao Yi Xian's direction and thought to himself.

In this life, I will definitely change her fate of loneliness and suffering.

While Xiao Lei's thoughts drifted, the middle-aged man obtained Xiao Yi Xian's agreement and immediately announced the departure of the herb-gathering party.

Thus, Xiao Lei followed the mercenary group toward the Demon Beast Mountain Range...

Within the silent forest, the large party advanced quietly. Alert eyes continuously swept the dark spaces amid the surrounding trees, hands tightly gripping weapons as they remained ready for any sudden situation.

Xiao Lei, meanwhile, mobilized his soul power and carefully sensed everything around them, allowing him to detect any possible attacks in advance.

On the surface, however, Xiao Lei appeared rather relaxed. He even had the leisure to observe Xiao Yi Xian in the middle of the group.

Because of her special constitution, Xiao Yi Xian had no cultivation, so before long, she was already beginning to tire from the journey.

At that moment, the delicate beauty known as Xiao Yi Xian slightly straightened up and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead. Her soft panting, paired with that lovely face, made people unable to help but feel tenderness toward her.

It was not only Xiao Lei. Most people in the group would occasionally glance toward Xiao Yi Xian's position.

As everyone's attention gathered on Xiao Yi Xian, a rather handsome young man stepped out from the nearby guard unit with a broad smile. He lowered his head and said something to the panting Xiao Yi Xian.

After exchanging a few words, Xiao Yi Xian smiled and shook her head, then continued onward.

Though Xiao Yi Xian had rejected him, the young man showed no anger. With a faint smile, he waved his hand and shouted loudly,

"Wolf Head Mercenary Group members, pay attention! We're about to enter the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Don't let yourselves get overturned in a ditch!"

"Yes, Young Leader!"

At the young man's command, the dozens of burly men around him answered in unison. Their orderly response drew everyone's attention.

Even Xiao Yi Xian, who had been walking ahead, gave him another glance.

Seeing this, the young man revealed a satisfied smile. He hurried forward two more steps, walked shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Yi Xian, and eagerly guarded her side.

"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 this, a mercenary beside Xiao Lei muttered curses under his breath, his tone thick with jealousy.

Xiao Lei merely smiled and shook his head without saying anything.

The Wolf Head Mercenary Group? That young man should be Mu Li, the young leader. I hope they do not provoke me. Otherwise, I can only start killing again.

With the attitude of someone out for a stroll, Xiao Lei slowly advanced toward the Demon Beast Mountain Range with the group.

Outside the Demon Beast Mountain Range, everything remained calm.

Not long after the group entered the Demon Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Lei's soul power sensed three serpent-type magical beasts approaching them.

"Everyone, be careful. There are magical beasts ahead!" After a brief hesitation, Xiao Lei still gave everyone a warning.

Aside from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, Xiao Lei had a fairly good impression of the other mercenaries. It was only a few words, so there was no harm in helping them.

Hearing Xiao Lei's words, the already tense crowd immediately changed expressions. Some had already drawn their weapons and prepared for battle!

Yet despite everyone's vigilance, no magical beasts appeared to attack.

Everyone instinctively turned toward Xiao Lei. Even Xiao Yi Xian did the same.

For a moment, Xiao Lei became the center of everyone's attention.

Seeing this, Mu Li, who stood beside Xiao Yi Xian, frowned slightly, his expression turning displeased.

"Kid, what are you shouting about? None of us detected any magical beasts. Are you trying to show off how capable you are?"

A man from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group saw Mu Li's expression and immediately jumped out with great tact, harshly berating Xiao Lei.

Right after that, the other members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group also began mocking him.

"That's right. Where are the magical beasts? This kid is making a fuss for no reason. Isn't he just disturbing everyone?"

"Haha, I think this little brat is entering the Demon Beast Mountain Range for the first time and got scared out of his wits!"

"Were you trying to remind us that there are magical beasts in the Demon Beast Mountain Range?"

"Haha..."

"Good advice cannot save the doomed. Believe it or not." Xiao Lei shook his head slightly, as though he had not heard the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's mockery.

He had always been very generous toward dead men!

Watching the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's behavior, Xiao Yi Xian's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she said softly,

"This friend means well. Everyone should stay alert."

Since Xiao Yi Xian had spoken, Mu Li waved a hand to stop the Wolf Head Mercenary Group members. Smiling faintly, he said, "Miss Xiao Yi Xian is right. Everyone, stay sharp and be careful."

"Yes!"

The Wolf Head Mercenary Group members responded loudly, though they did not take it seriously.

They simply did not believe Xiao Lei's warning.

"Brother, did you really sense magical beasts?" The mercenary who had cursed Mu Li earlier asked Xiao Lei quietly.

"I've been especially sensitive to magical beasts since I was young. I can't be wrong," Xiao Lei said calmly.

The mercenary's eyes shifted as he said, "In that case, let the Wolf Head Mercenary Group take the lead!"

With that, his eyes darted again as he slipped into the crowd.

Before anyone realized it, the entire Wolf Head Mercenary Group had moved to the front of the party.

"Ah!"

After the group traveled on for a while longer, a piercing scream suddenly rang out from ahead.