Mu Li's Jealousy, A Standoff on the Cliff Face!

At the sound, everyone's expressions turned grim. They immediately drew their weapons and prepared for battle.

Before long, the source of the screams was discovered.

Three mercenaries at the front of the group had gone pale as ice sculptures and collapsed helplessly to the ground.

Each of their necks bore a blackened wound.

"Crimson Ice Serpents!"

The mercenaries scanned their surroundings and quickly spotted a Crimson Ice Serpent hanging upside down from each of the branches above the three fallen men.

Crimson Ice Serpents were a common type of magical beast in the outer regions of the Demon Beast Mountain Range. They possessed an ice affinity, and their ice contained a frigid poison.

If the poisoned were not treated in time within half a day, the frigid poison would freeze the blood in their bodies until they died.

"Damn it!"

The three bitten men were all mercenaries of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Mu Li's expression turned extremely ugly as he shouted furiously, "Attack together! Tear these three beasts to pieces!"

"Yes!"

Hearing Mu Li's order, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group members shouted in response. All manner of attacks then rained down upon the three Crimson Ice Serpents!

A First-Class Magical Beast was roughly as strong as a human Dou Zhe.

Thus, under the combined assault of several dozen people, the three Crimson Ice Serpents were soon beaten to death.

Yet after killing them, they found no Magic Cores in their bodies, making Mu Li's expression even uglier.

Seeing this, the others in the group instinctively looked toward Xiao Lei, their eyes filled with uncertainty and surprise.

Not long ago, Xiao Lei had warned them that magical beasts lay ahead, and it had come true almost immediately.

Those from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group had mocked Xiao Lei earlier, yet karma had come for them so quickly.

The Wolf Head Mercenary Group was one of Green Mountain Town's three major mercenary groups. They had always been overbearing there, and the other mercenaries had suffered plenty at their hands.

Now that they saw the Wolf Head Mercenary Group being embarrassed, everyone could not help taking some pleasure in their misfortune.

At the same time, they also regarded Xiao Lei more highly for his ability to detect the traces of magical beasts in advance.

At the center of the group, Xiao Yi Xian also cast a glance in Xiao Lei's direction, though she showed no particular reaction.

Even so, Mu Li, who had been watching Xiao Yi Xian all along, revealed a shadowy look in his eyes and began to resent Xiao Lei.

Partly because Xiao Lei's warning about the magical beasts had humiliated the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, and partly because Xiao Yi Xian had paid Xiao Lei a little more attention.

"Xiao Yi Xian, I'll have to trouble you."

Mu Li suppressed his emotions and had the three poisoned mercenaries carried beside Xiao Yi Xian. A gentle smile returned to his face as he spoke to her.

Xiao Yi Xian nodded slightly and began treating the three men's frigid poison, causing the group to halt for the time being.

"Brother, you really called it. With your ability, you could do great things in the Demon Beast Mountain Range! Interested in forming a team with us and making a fortune here?"

The burly mercenary who had previously cursed at Mu Li moved close to Xiao Lei again and spoke admiringly.

"Thank you for the offer, but I have no such plans for now," Xiao Lei said with a slight shake of his head.

The man was somewhat disappointed by Xiao Lei's response.

After the Crimson Ice Serpents' attack, the mercenary group became much more cautious.

Moreover, everyone trusted Xiao Lei even more.

Thus, the middle-aged man who had previously accepted Xiao Lei into the group came to him again. He politely asked Xiao Lei to help warn them of danger and promised to give him an additional reward afterward.

Xiao Lei wanted to maintain good relations with others so it would be easier for him to draw prizes, so he agreed.

With Xiao Lei's warnings, the group could always predict magical beast attacks in advance. Their journey went smoothly, and nearly everyone in the group became deeply grateful to Xiao Lei.

Though Xiao Lei was the youngest among them, he seemed to have invisibly become the leader of the group, filling Mu Li of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group with jealousy and resentment.

"Everyone, we're close to the herb-gathering area. Please take a rest. We've walked for so long that everyone must be tired."

After traveling some distance farther, Xiao Yi Xian's gentle voice suddenly sounded through the quiet group.

Hearing her voice, the entire group stopped in unison. Looking at the white-robed woman whose smile was utterly pure, they obediently nodded in agreement.

After a brief discussion, more than a dozen mercenaries spread out around the area to keep watch, while the others sat down where they were to recover the energy they had expended on the journey.

As they rested, the mercenaries could not sit quietly and began chatting.

"Come to think of it, I've ventured into the Demon Beast Mountain Range so many times, but I've never had it this easy!"

"Isn't that the truth? When we used to take on missions in the Demon Beast Mountain Range, we'd get ambushed by magical beasts if we weren't careful. This time, we were the ones prepared in advance, taking the initiative to surround and kill them!"

"Haha, it's all thanks to little brother Xiao Lei's ability!"

"That's right. We've all benefited from little brother Xiao Lei this time!"

"Damn, how am I supposed to live without little brother Xiao Lei in the future?"

"That's disgusting. Get lost!"

"Haha!"

"..."

Seeing everyone praise Xiao Lei so highly, a shadowy gleam flashed through Mu Li's eyes. He prepared to go have a talk with Xiao Lei.

"Hm? Where did that brat go?"

Mu Li was just about to look for Xiao Lei when his brows suddenly furrowed. When he realized that Xiao Yi Xian was gone as well, his expression immediately darkened further!

A little earlier.

Not far from the mercenary group's resting area was a small forest.

Xiao Lei had been boredly listening to the mercenaries brag and chatter when he suddenly noticed Xiao Yi Xian heading toward the woods.

Thus, Xiao Lei found an excuse to leave the mercenary group and headed into the small forest as well.

After passing through the woods, Xiao Lei discovered a steep cliff ahead.

Below the cliff lay a lush green forest, making for a beautiful sight.

Xiao Lei swept his gaze around, but he did not find any sign of Xiao Yi Xian.

Could she have already discovered that cave and gone down to investigate it?

A thought stirred in Xiao Lei's mind as he remembered something. He stepped toward the edge of the cliff.

Suddenly, Xiao Lei spotted a plant blooming with pale white flowers by the cliff's edge.

The plant bore pale white blossoms, and within the faintly blooming flowers was a green fruit tinged with red.

This is... a White Orchid Fruit?

It seems the cave containing the Flying Dou Technique and the Seven-Colored Poison Manual is nearby.

On the day Xiao Lei left the Xiao Family, he had drawn a prize from Xiao Xun'er and obtained a copy of the "Spirit Material Treasure Appraisal," which recorded detailed information on every spirit medicine and heavenly treasure on the Dou Qi Continent.

Over this period, Xiao Lei had memorized all of its contents while traveling, which was why he recognized the spirit medicine before him at a glance.

However, this White Orchid Fruit had not yet ripened.

Xiao Lei passed by the White Orchid Fruit and continued forward until he reached the very edge of the cliff, where the sheer cliff face came into view.

The steep cliff face was covered with scattered rocks, strangely twisted trees, and what appeared to be bones.

On the cliff wall, a figure in a white dress was struggling to lift a section of fallen timber and move it toward a spot on the mountain wall, as though trying to conceal something.

That figure in white was Xiao Yi Xian.

Xiao Lei looked closely and could vaguely make out a pitch-black cave entrance there.

Xiao Yi Xian had just set down the piece of timber when she seemed to sense something. She suddenly raised her head, meeting Xiao Lei's eyes, and her expression stiffened slightly.

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