Wolf Head Mercenary Group, Hemon

At sunset, the forest was filled with a golden glow. The leaves swayed gently, rustling softly.

Atop a towering tree that would take two adults to encircle, Xiao Yan was picking the tenth medicinal ingredient needed to refine Blood Burning.

Looking at the fist-sized, blood-red mushroom growing from the trunk, Yao Lao smiled faintly. "Scarlet Fire Mushroom. It can only grow on trees over a hundred years old. I thought we would have to put in some effort to find one, but you got it on the first day. Your luck is truly not bad, kid."

Xiao Yan smiled, but his keen senses suddenly detected a powerful aura approaching. His handsome young face turned solemn. "A magical beast is coming, and it has reached the second tier."

Yao Lao nodded approvingly at Xiao Yan's ability to remain vigilant at all times in the Magical Beast Mountains.

"It is a second-tier Flame Demon Tiger, and it is seriously injured. You have obtained the most crucial Scarlet Fire Mushroom and may soon acquire a second-tier magic core, which is why I said your luck is not bad."

Xiao Yan's physical constitution was too strong. After careful consideration, Yao Lao believed that the blood of a second-tier fire-attribute magical beast might not be particularly effective.

Only a magic core could produce the best cultivation effect for Xiao Yan.

After putting away the Scarlet Fire Mushroom, Xiao Yan used the Breath-Concealing Art, further concealing his aura completely. His dark eyes focused intently below as the Dou Qi within him circulated slowly, ready for him to strike at any moment.

Before long, an enormous demonic tiger appeared within Xiao Yan's sight.

The magical beast's head was savage and terrifying, its eyes as scorching as lava and gleaming with a heart-palpitating light. Each time its four thick claws landed, they left behind a massive paw print, as though the ground had been corroded by lava.

However, its body bore numerous wounds from blades, spears, and swords. It was unknown which mercenaries it had fought.

Xiao Yan was no good person. If he had to fight a second-tier magical beast in its prime, he would have to use every trump card he had.

Not every magical beast possessed a magic core. He had hunted five magical beasts in the Magical Beast Mountains and had only obtained one fire-attribute magic core from the first one.

Such things were hard to come by, so naturally, he had to conserve what he could.

This heavily injured second-tier magical beast had come at just the right time.

Strike while it was sick and take its life!

Having sprinted here all the way, the Red Flame Demon Tiger had lost much of its former might from blood loss, despite the incredible resilience of a magical beast's body.

It warily glanced around. Only after confirming that there was no danger did the Red Flame Demon Tiger finally lie down on the ground in exhaustion.

After waiting several breaths, until the Red Flame Demon Tiger's vigilance had dropped to its lowest point, Xiao Yan pushed off with both legs and suddenly leaped down from the ancient towering tree. Like an arrow released from its bow, he shot toward the Red Flame Demon Tiger.

Rich yellow Dou Qi wrapped around his fist. The moment Xiao Yan struck, he was already using nearly his full strength.

The Red Flame Demon Tiger's reaction was not slow in the slightest. It abruptly sprang up from the grass, fury rising in its heart while its tiger eyes filled with disbelief.

Despicable, cunning human! The Red Flame Demon Tiger had barely formed the thought before the sandbag-sized fist smashed viciously into the character for king on its forehead. "Eight Extremes Collapse!"

The overwhelming force instantly slammed the Red Flame Demon Tiger's massive head fiercely into the ground.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Immediately afterward, three muffled explosions rang out within the Red Flame Demon Tiger's head. Terrifying hidden force erupted, instantly blasting apart its brain. Blood poured from its seven orifices as it died.

Its enormous body had only just risen before collapsing limply to the ground.

Having expended a great deal of Dou Qi, Xiao Yan let out a heavy breath. Looking at the second-tier Red Flame Demon Tiger lying before him, so easily dealt with, he could not conceal his delight.

Looking at the Red Flame Demon Tiger's corpse, Yao Lao said with a smile, "It was already badly injured, then you ambushed it. This Red Flame Demon Tiger died rather unjustly."

"I hope it has a magic core." Xiao Yan gripped the handle of the Black Heavy Ruler and swung it down hard at the massive Red Flame Demon Tiger.

Although the Black Heavy Ruler was perfectly flat and had no edge, Xiao Yan had comprehended the Eight Extremes Sky Cannon from Eight Extremes Collapse. He was already extremely familiar with the technique of concentrating force into a single line.

With one strike of the ruler, a crack suddenly appeared across the Red Flame Demon Tiger's back. Its flesh split wide open, exposing its stark white skeleton.

Seeing him achieve such mastery in just one day, Yao Lao nodded in praise. "You are becoming increasingly skilled in using this heavy sword."

"Oh, I nearly forgot. You already call it the Black Heavy Ruler," Yao Lao added.

"Not bad luck. It has a magic core!" Xiao Yan picked up the fiery-red magic core and smiled. "I am looking forward to Teacher teaching me some powerful Dou Techniques related to this Black Heavy Ruler soon."

"Wait until your Dou Qi strength rises a few more levels. Even if I taught you now, you would not have enough Dou Qi to use them," Yao Lao said with a smile.

Raise his Dou Qi strength?

Although his cultivation technique could not advance for the time being, who said he had to raise his Dou Qi strength to possess more Dou Qi?

After being "possessed by a ghost," who would care about his Dou Qi level?

Rubbing his nose, irritated by the intense stench of blood, Xiao Yan's understanding of how to expand his own Dou Qi had become increasingly clear.

After putting away the magic core, Xiao Yan left that forest, intending to find more medicinal ingredients before night fell.

After dark, magical beasts became even more active, and the danger level of the Magical Beast Mountains multiplied.

Yao Lao would help him locate medicinal ingredients, but he would not help him deal with those magical beasts.

After walking for only a short while, Xiao Yan encountered a large group of mercenaries rushing toward him.

After giving them a rough look, Xiao Yan estimated that there were over thirty mercenaries in the group. They were quite strong, and all wore the same badge on their chests.

A one-eyed wolf's head was carved into the badge.

Xiao Yan blinked. The Wolf Head Mercenary Group from three or four years ago?

The mercenaries had seen plenty of youths like Xiao Yan who came to the Magical Beast Mountains seeking the opportunities left behind by unknown recluses.

Not many of those youths survived. Most either lost arms and legs or were buried in the bellies of magical beasts.

"Kid, have you seen an injured demonic tiger?" asked a sharp-faced mercenary.

Could these fellows have severely wounded that Red Flame Demon Tiger? A trace of doubt flashed through Xiao Yan's mind. Then he smiled silently. He truly had these people to thank.

However, Xiao Yan was not about to tell them the truth.

"No." Xiao Yan shook his head slightly and prepared to go around them.

"Wait!" Just as Xiao Yan moved, a nearly two-meter-tall man among the mercenaries called out in a deep voice. "Leave behind that bag of medicinal ingredients at your waist."

As the third commander of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, Hemon was not only powerful, but also possessed exceptional eyesight.

The Scarlet Fire Mushroom visible at the mouth of the bag alone was worth more than three thousand gold coins. Dealing with a lucky young boy was far easier than dealing with a second-tier magical beast.