Spirit-Eyed Boy

In a valley on the northern side of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, cold winds swept across the cliff face, carving fine frost patterns into the exposed rock. Thirteen-year-old Huo Yuhao crouched atop the branch of an ancient tree, ice crystals clinging to his lashes as a faint golden glow flickered deep within his pupils.

[Spiritual Detection]

In an instant, everything within a hundred-meter radius was clearly imprinted in Huo Yuhao's mind. Suddenly, from a crack in the rocks directly ahead, a faint chill began to spread along his spiritual power... A smile curled across Huo Yuhao's lips. "It really is Ice Spirit Grass."

Huo Yuhao leaped forward and landed beside the rock crevice in a few strides. One hand gripped a protruding stone while the other took on a jade-like sheen, digging toward the roots of the Ice Spirit Grass.

Just as he pulled the Ice Spirit Grass free, an enormous shadow loomed over him from behind.

"I spotted you long ago."

Huo Yuhao stored the Ice Spirit Grass in his storage ring. His legs and the hand gripping the rock wall suddenly exerted force, launching him into the air. At the same time, a shaggy arm thicker than Huo Yuhao's body came smashing down with a violent gust of wind onto the spot where he had just been.

Shattered stones flew everywhere. What entered Huo Yuhao's sight was a massive white ape with four arms. Missing its strike, it immediately let out an enraged roar, twisting its body as it attempted to attack Huo Yuhao in midair.

"Whoosh—" A short blade appeared in Huo Yuhao's hand. He slashed down with all his strength, and a streak of cold light flashed past, carving a bone-deep wound from the white ape's left shoulder. "Roaaargh—" The white ape's pain-filled, furious cry echoed through the valley. After the slash, Huo Yuhao immediately kicked its lower back, using the recoil to leap backward and land steadily atop the tree branch where he had stood before.

"Snow Demon Ape, peak second-tier Magic Beast, solitary, skilled at pouncing." Huo Yuhao stared intently at the white ape before him. "I heard you like eating brains too?"

Once the pain eased slightly, the Snow Demon Ape fixed its furious gaze on the little insect before it and lunged toward the treetop where Huo Yuhao stood.

"Doesn't seem very smart. Didn't Xiao Yan say you are what you eat?" Huo Yuhao chuckled and jumped onto a nearby branch, watching the Snow Demon Ape's enormous body snap the trunk beneath it and crash to the ground in a daze. Seizing the opportunity, Huo Yuhao adjusted his breathing and focused his mind. Holding the blade in both hands, he mobilized all his battle qi and leaped down in a full-force slash. The natural energy of heaven and earth in the surrounding space was drawn in by that strike, pouring into the blade in Huo Yuhao's hand.

Still shaking its head on the ground, the Snow Demon Ape instantly sensed intense danger descending from above. Without time to look up, it hurriedly dodged to the right. But it was already too late.

"Crack, crack—" Its two left arms fell in response. "Roaaarghhh—" The Snow Demon Ape screamed miserably, then fled toward the mouth of the valley without looking back.

"Tch, forget it. Let it run." Huo Yuhao shook his head and ignored the fleeing Snow Demon Ape, standing where he was as he calmed his surging battle qi. Crack, crack. Soft splitting sounds rang out. Huo Yuhao looked at the blade in his hand and saw fine cracks winding their way across it, gradually covering the entire blade. With a sharp crack, the short blade shattered, leaving only the hilt behind.

"Ugh! Broken again. Weapons made from refined iron are still too poor in quality. Where am I supposed to find some rare metals?"

In the dim forest, a group made up of herb gatherers and mercenaries walked silently onward. The leader's wary eyes constantly swept over places where danger might be lurking. The mercenaries guarding the group were all seasoned veterans, each gripping their weapons tightly, ready to respond to any sudden situation.

Suddenly, the leader crouched down and picked up a pinch of dirt. He rubbed it between his fingers three times, brought it close to his nose, then carefully examined the surrounding bushes. "There's a Blood Wolf nest to the northwest. We'll go around." As he spoke, he grabbed a handful of medicinal powder from his pouch and scattered it along the path.

As a herb gatherer who had spent many years in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, Mr. Yao had led teams more than once. He looked up at the sky, then waved for everyone to stop moving.

"Looks like we won't make it out of this forest today. Moving at night is too dangerous. This place is fairly open, so we'll make camp here."

"Alright." The guarding mercenaries agreed. After Mr. Yao assigned their duties, they dispersed to scout for danger, clear away brush, and spread medicinal powder to repel insects and beasts...

The herb gatherers also began fetching water, lighting fires, and preparing food.

Mr. Yao let out a breath, relaxing the nerves that had remained taut all this time. He turned toward the people building the fires—or rather, toward a purple-haired girl among them.

Little Fairy Doctor lit a fire and set up a soup pot, tossing in several herbs and some ingredients. Humming a tune, she stirred circles in the pot with a wooden spoon. Suddenly, she cried out, "Ow!" and pulled out a lock of hair that had been singed by the fire.

"How many times have I told you? Tie your hair up when starting a fire." Mr. Yao had appeared behind her at some point. His rough fingers gently brushed away the grass scraps caught in her hair. He took out a hair tie and helped her tie it into a ponytail. The girl stuck out her tongue and hurriedly pushed Mr. Yao away. "I know, Father. Go rest first. The food will be ready soon."

Mr. Yao smiled and shook his head. He found a relatively clean tree root and sat down, silently watching Little Fairy Doctor's figure as his thoughts gradually drifted away...

Ever since the accident that had happened when Little Fairy Doctor was three years old, Mr. Yao had taken her in. The two had lived in Green Mountain Town ever since. During that time, Mr. Yao had built Myriad Medicine Hall from nothing, turning it into one of Green Mountain Town's top powers. But what others did not know was that Mr. Yao had not founded Myriad Medicine Hall for any other reason. He only hoped that its medicinal herb business would allow him to come into contact with real alchemists, so they could help Little Fairy Doctor resolve the problem of her "Calamity Poison Body."

When Mr. Yao came back to his senses, he saw Little Fairy Doctor crouching in front of him with a bowl of soup. Her other hand was waving back and forth before his eyes.

"What's wrong? Why are you spacing out?"

"Nothing." Mr. Yao took the soup without regard for how hot it was and drained it in one gulp. "I'll go check on the mercenaries who went scouting. You all rest first." With that, he handed the bowl back, rose to his feet, and headed outside the camp.

Little Fairy Doctor took the empty bowl without replying. Once Mr. Yao had walked away, she muttered softly, "I never agreed to that!" Then she secretly followed in the direction he had gone.

Mr. Yao had only made it halfway when three sharp whistle blasts suddenly sounded from far to the northeast. It was the warning signal the mercenaries had agreed upon. Mr. Yao's expression changed. As he sped up, he pulled out a whistle and tossed it backward. "Catch it! Blow it three times..." Before he finished speaking, he had already rushed into the darkness.

Little Fairy Doctor, following behind him, caught the whistle. Knowing this was no time to be willful, she immediately turned around and ran while blowing the whistle.

"Danger! Everyone get ready!" Before she even reached the camp, Little Fairy Doctor heard the mercenary captain giving orders. "Old Ma, your men stay behind to protect the people from Myriad Medicine Hall. Everyone else, come with me!"

"It's to the northeast!" Little Fairy Doctor called out to the mercenary captain, then hurried into her tent. After searching around for a moment, she took out a shoulder bag and turned to chase after them.

"Little Fairy Doctor, you—" The mercenary named Old Ma hurriedly tried to stop her, but she shifted her steps and slipped around him. Leaving behind only, "I'm going to help!" she disappeared into the dense forest.

When Little Fairy Doctor arrived, she found the ground littered with the corpses of mercenaries and Magic Beasts. The mercenaries still alive were all wounded, fighting desperately against various Magic Beasts.

"How can there be so many Magic Beasts..."

Little Fairy Doctor's face was slightly pale. The mercenary captain who had come to reinforce them before her was fighting a massive ape-like Magic Beast alongside Mr. Yao. Yet judging by their expressions, they were barely holding on. If the two arms on the magic ape's left side had not already been severed, they likely would have been smashed to death by it already.

Suddenly, a mercenary was sent flying by the Magic Beast in front of him. His body shot straight toward Mr. Yao, knocking him to the ground. The magic ape seized the chance, raising its right fist to smash down on Mr. Yao.

"No!" Little Fairy Doctor cried out, raising the medicine bottle in her hand and hurling it at the magic ape's eye.

Smack! The medicine bottle shattered against the magic ape's head. Pale gray medicinal liquid flowed into its right eye, and pain even more intense than that of losing its arms surged from its eye. Because of that, the magic ape failed to hit Mr. Yao, allowing him to roll across the ground and escape its attack range.

"ROAR!!!" The magic ape covered its eye with one hand while using the other to send the mercenary captain, who had tried to ambush it, flying. With its remaining eye, it glared fixedly at the person who had caused it such pain.

"Phew..." Seeing Mr. Yao escape danger, Little Fairy Doctor let out a long breath. Then she looked up and saw the magic ape's hatred-filled gaze locked tightly onto her. She could not help but force a smile. "I didn't do it on purpose. Do you believe me?"