Magic Beast Mountain Range, Qing Mountain Town

Just as Su Zhao and Su You were causing a huge uproar within the Black Wolf Mercenary Group, inside the City Lord's Manor—

The city lord, Zhao Tian, who had been cultivating, suddenly opened his eyes.

"What terrifying Battle Qi fluctuations! A powerful expert is fighting in the city!"

He hurriedly dashed forward, turning into an afterimage as he shot out of the manor. The moment he emerged, he saw a violent tornado hundreds of meters high raging in the eastern part of the city. Green wind blades tore through the sky, while the dust it swept up blotted out the sun.

Zhao Tian was instantly startled.

"Such power, such horrifying Battle Qi fluctuations! Only a Dou King expert could achieve this, and a high-level Dou King at that!"

"The eastern district... Could the Black Wolf Mercenary Group have offended this expert?"

Zhao Tian could not help cursing under his breath. It was one thing for the Black Wolf Mercenary Group to throw its weight around in the city, but they had even dared to provoke such an expert. They were simply tired of living.

They deserved their fate!

Zhao Tian himself was only a nine-star Grand Dou Master. Naturally, there was no way he could meddle in this matter.

He even began to entertain the idea of befriending this expert. If luck was on his side and he could form a connection with the expert, or even merely leave a favorable impression, it would bring him enormous benefits!

With his current cultivation, who knew how long it would take before he could meet a true Dou King expert—someone from the upper ranks of the empire.

He did not want to miss such an opportunity!

With several flickers of his figure, he rushed toward the site of the battle.

Of course, Zhao Tian remained extremely cautious.

He knew that the expert was likely still furious. If he carelessly approached too closely and got dragged into it, ten lives would not be enough to save him.

Before long, he arrived at the edge of the hurricane and waited for an opportunity.

Only after the storm raged for some time did it gradually subside. Zhao Tian waited a while longer, and after confirming that there were no more aftershocks, he straightened his robes and quickly headed toward the former Black Wolf Mercenary Group headquarters.

Su Zhao was having Su You gather everything left behind by the Black Wolf Mercenary Group and was preparing to leave. Just as they reached the entrance of the compound, they ran into someone head-on.

Their eyes met.

Zhao Tian was initially stunned. The person before him was actually a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old youth with the cultivation of a three-star Dou Practitioner.

Then he noticed the silent black figure standing behind the youth, and every hair on Zhao Tian's body stood on end.

The black-robed man had concealed his aura extremely well, but Zhao Tian was still a nine-star Grand Dou Master. He could vaguely sense a faint pressure, like that of a dormant ferocious beast—unfathomable and immeasurable!

He could not discern this man's cultivation at all.

Zhao Tian's thoughts raced, but a smile had already appeared on his face. He cupped his hands and bowed, lowering his posture to the utmost.

"Welcome to Black Wind City, esteemed seniors. Forgive me for failing to greet you sooner. Since you have appeared at the Black Wolf Mercenary Group's headquarters, I assume someone from this mercenary group offended you. Their fate is well deserved. I only hope you will not blame Black Wind City for its poor hospitality."

Su Zhao immediately recalled who this person was.

Wasn't this Zhao Tian, the city lord of Black Wind City? A nine-star Grand Dou Master—he could be considered an important figure in this remote little city.

He said calmly, "Heh, what are you saying, City Lord? There is no question of blame. The Black Wolf Mercenary Group did indeed offend me, so I destroyed them. The City Lord has no objections, I trust?"

Zhao Tian hurriedly waved his hands, his smile becoming even more eager. "Of course not! The Black Wolf Mercenary Group has long acted tyrannically in Black Wind City, bullying merchants, dominating the market, and oppressing the common people. By eliminating them, you have done a great kindness for Black Wind City and its people. We are grateful beyond measure—how could we possibly object?"

As Zhao Tian spoke, he secretly calculated.

Of the two before him, he could see through the cultivation of the one who had spoken at a glance—merely a three-star Dou Practitioner. That meant the person who had wiped out the Black Wolf Mercenary Group was the black-robed man behind him. His senses confirmed it as well; he could not perceive even the slightest trace of the black-robed man's cultivation!

Yet from their behavior, it was obvious at a glance that the one making the decisions was this three-star Dou Practitioner youth! That powerful expert behind him was actually so respectful toward the young man?

Could they be from some great clan or powerful faction? They had actually assigned a Dou King expert as a guard? What an extravagant display! Even the imperial family likely did not possess such resources!

This was a high-level Dou King. No matter what faction or sect he belonged to, he would either be revered as an elder or regarded as a foundational pillar.

How could he follow a three-star Dou Practitioner like a servant?

Could it be... that these two came from beyond the Jia Ma Empire?

Zhao Tian immediately began speculating about Su Zhao and Su You's origins. Even if he could not figure it out, he knew that the force behind them must be terrifyingly powerful.

The more Zhao Tian thought about it, the more certain he became. The more respectful his expression grew. If he could earn even a little goodwill from people of such status and background, even the slightest favor that slipped through their fingers would bring him unimaginable benefits!

Even if there were no benefits at all, simply becoming acquainted with them would do no harm! If he could somehow attach himself to them, it would be the greatest opportunity of his life. Prosperity and success would be right before his eyes!

Su Zhao looked at Zhao Tian's eager manner and understood perfectly well what he was thinking.

Zhao Tian had most likely misunderstood something. He probably thought Su Zhao was a disciple from some great family out on training, while Su You was the powerful guard his family had sent to protect him.

But Su Zhao could not be bothered to explain. A misunderstanding was a misunderstanding—it saved him the trouble.

Besides, he had no plans to take on more subordinates. Su Zhao had no intention of building a force right now. He was busy cultivating; where would he find the time to manage some faction?

Zhao Tian had ultimately calculated wrong.

"You are too polite, City Lord."

Su Zhao waved his hand, his tone indifferent.

"This matter is settled, and it is time for us to leave. Until we meet again."

Without waiting for Zhao Tian to say anything more, he gave Su You a look.

Su You understood. He placed one hand on Su Zhao's shoulder, and green Battle Qi faintly surged forth. Their figures turned into two blurred afterimages and shot toward the city gates, vanishing into the wind and sand in the blink of an eye.

Zhao Tian stood there in a daze, watching the black figures disappear into the horizon. The eager smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by deep regret and melancholy.

"Alas..."

He sighed and shook his head.

He knew that his attempt to cling to them had ultimately come to nothing.

Though that youth was young, he was clearly not someone who could be swayed by a few words. Still, at least they had not become enemies. That was fortunate enough.

Zhao Tian glanced once more at the ruins before him. After a moment of silence, he turned and left without looking back.

With the Black Wolf Mercenary Group destroyed, the balance of power in the city would inevitably be reshuffled. As the city lord, he still had many matters to handle. His attempt to attach himself to them might have failed, but life had to go on.

In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.

In the north of the Jia Ma Empire, the Magic Beast Mountain Range lay along the empire's border. It stretched nearly a hundred thousand li from east to west and was the largest primeval forest in the Jia Ma Empire. The locals called it the Hundred-Thousand Mountains.

Its peaks rose one after another, its ancient trees towered into the sky, and countless Magic Beasts inhabited the mountains. From the lowest first-tier Magic Beasts to high-level Magic Beasts that even Dou King experts feared, this boundless forest had them all.

Countless mercenaries and adventurers made their living here. Some became rich overnight, while others vanished without even leaving their bones behind.

At this moment, at the outskirts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range—Qing Mountain Town.

After leaving Black Wind City, Su Zhao had traveled through several places before arriving at this small town.