Slaughter

After checking, he found no Magic Core. Huo Yuhao picked up his longsaber again.

At that moment, Xiao Yan drifted back unsteadily, staring at Huo Yuhao with a complicated look. Seeing Huo Yuhao and Xiao Yi Xian pinch their noses in unison, Xiao Yan said resentfully, "If I ever take medicine you give me again, I'm a dog!"

"Alright, let's leave first. Other things will be drawn here soon."

After all that commotion, Xiao Yan was somewhat weak. Yao Chen did not let him continue carrying the Profound Heavy Ruler. Freed from the burden, Xiao Yan excitedly looked around.

"One of the herb-gathering areas Myriad Medicine Hall often visits is up ahead." Xiao Yi Xian pointed toward the river valley ahead and asked Yao Chen and Huo Yuhao whether there were any medicinal herbs they needed there.

"Why not ask me? I've learned quite a few medicinal herbs over the past few months, after all."

"I almost forgot if you hadn't mentioned it. Xiao Yan, it's time for you to begin learning alchemy as well. Let's take a look up ahead."

While Yao Chen taught Xiao Yan, Xiao Yi Xian pulled Huo Yuhao aside to rest. Huo Yuhao asked, "Xiao Yi Xian, what cultivation method and Battle Qi techniques did you learn after breaking through to Dou Zhe?"

"As for Battle Qi techniques, I learned a needle technique and an acupoint-sealing technique. Don't think I was useless just now—it was purely because that thing was too big."

Xiao Yi Xian introduced the Battle Qi techniques she had learned from Mr. Yao. By combining the two techniques, she could inflict great harm on humans, but they were less effective against magical beasts.

"What about your cultivation method?"

"I haven't learned one yet. Father said Jia Ma Empire has very few poison-element cultivation methods. Those kinds of methods are more common in Chu Yun Empire."

Huo Yuhao nodded and handed Xiao Yi Xian the scrolls containing the Spirit Condensation Formula and Qi Control Art. At the same time, he personally demonstrated the Qi Control Art.

"Xiao Yi Xian, this Qi Control Art was created by my companions and me... It's a Battle Qi technique. It can..."

Huo Yuhao demonstrated it several times while helping Xiao Yi Xian guide the Dou Qi within her body. Before long, Xiao Yi Xian had grasped the basics of using the Qi Control Art.

Watching Xiao Yi Xian use the air to control pebbles by the riverbank as though she had received a new toy, Huo Yuhao pondered inwardly.

What if I teach Xiao Yi Xian the Heavenly Cycle Art, and her poison attribute grows so strong that I can no longer suppress it? I should ask Teacher whether he has a suitable poison-element cultivation method.

Xiao Yan's voice interrupted Huo Yuhao's thoughts.

"What are you thinking about? Staring dumbstruck at your little girlfriend?"

Huo Yuhao ignored him and asked Yao Chen, "Teacher, do you have a poison-element cultivation method suitable for Xiao Yi Xian?"

After giving it some thought, Yao Chen smiled. "You're worried that cultivating the Heavenly Cycle Art will make her even more poisonous, aren't you? For someone with the Calamity Poison Body, as long as she cultivates, the poison qi in her body will grow stronger and stronger. Whether she cultivates your Heavenly Cycle Art or some other poison-element cultivation method, it makes no difference."

While Xiao Yi Xian converted her Dou Qi according to the method Huo Yuhao had taught her, Xiao Yan suddenly asked, "By the way, Yuhao, why are the names you give your cultivation methods and Battle Qi techniques all so simple? They're not cool at all." As he spoke, Xiao Yan resumed the showing off that had been interrupted earlier. "Look at that self-created Battle Qi technique I just used. Next time I use it to beat someone up, I'll ask them, 'Have you ever heard of a Ruler Technique Descending from Heaven?' Hehehe!"

"I didn't name them." Huo Yuhao looked at Xiao Yan as if he were an idiot. "And why do you all like shouting out the names of your Battle Qi techniques? You do it, and so do Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning."

Xiao Yan said unhappily, "It's for presence! You can show off and use your aura to intimidate your opponent. A guy with no sense of romance like you wouldn't understand."

Then Xiao Yan asked curiously, "What would you call it in your style?"

I think it's only for showing off. Huo Yuhao mocked inwardly. Then, hearing Xiao Yan's question, he became a little more interested and said excitedly, "I originally planned to name the Heavenly Cycle Art 'Hope Among the Stars—The Path of the Heavenly Cycle'!"

Gasp! So cringey! Xiao Yan was speechless.

Still undiminished in enthusiasm, Huo Yuhao continued listing the names he had given his other cultivation methods and skills. He was even preparing to name Xiao Yan's earlier move, but Xiao Yan hurriedly stopped him.

Time gradually passed. Xiao Yi Xian completed the conversion of her Dou Qi, raised her head to glance at the sinking sun, and said to Huo Yuhao and the others, "After all this delay, we won't make it there today. It's getting late, so should we camp here and continue tomorrow?"

"Wait." Huo Yuhao rose to his feet. "Before we rest tonight, we should deal with the tail first."

"A tail? Someone's following us!"

As he spoke, Huo Yuhao pulled the two of them to his side, lifted one in each hand, and leaped onto the treetops. Golden light flickered in his eyes as spiritual power enveloped the three of them. The surrounding air distorted, and their figures vanished.

"How did you notice?" Xiao Yan lowered his voice.

Huo Yuhao said nothing. He released his spiritual power and connected it to the minds of Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yan.

[Spiritual Detection Sharing]!

As Huo Yuhao's spiritual power spread outward, more than twenty figures appeared in Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian's field of vision.

"They're from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group!" Xiao Yi Xian cried softly. "Their leader and several of their officers are all here."

"They've been following us the whole way. At first, I thought they were simply entering the mountains and happened to be heading the same direction. But we stopped here for a long time, while they kept hiding nearby without moving."

"But why?"

"That isn't important." Feeling the malice radiating from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group not far away, Huo Yuhao's voice turned cold.

"They want to kill us."

"Boss, those kids suddenly disappeared!"

"Disappeared? How is that possible?" Mu She's voice was displeased. "They noticed they were being followed and hid."

He ordered, "Let's go take a look."

The Wolf Head Mercenary Group's second-in-command, Gan Mu, walked up to Mu She and asked, "Boss, could they have run away? The third brother and I can each lead a team to search nearby."

Mu She thought for a moment before refusing. "That brat from a few months ago may have some tricks. We won't split up. We'll go together. With two burdens in tow, they can't get away."

Up in the treetops, Huo Yuhao crouched quietly. The Simulation skill was operating at full force as he held his breath and focused, watching the mercenary group below walk and scout toward the river valley where they had rested earlier.

This was Huo Yuhao's first time facing an organized group in the Battle Qi Continent. He did not know what trump cards they possessed, or whether they had any combined techniques or formations. Huo Yuhao decided to first assassinate their leader through a sneak attack. That way, even if they had some trump card requiring multiple people, it would most likely fail to activate without its core.

When Mu She passed beneath him, Huo Yuhao recognized him as the man who had been giving orders in the Wolf Head Mercenary Group earlier. Huo Yuhao instantly entered the state of Heaven-Human Unity. To make the ambush more effective, he chose not to draw upon Heaven and Earth Origin Qi. Instead, he circulated his Dou Qi at full strength into his right hand, maintained Simulation, leaped down from the tree, and used the Qi Control Art to conceal the sound of his movements.

[Great Cold Without Snow]!

An ice-blue palm silently pressed against the back of Mu She's head. Mu She's eyes widened as all the Dou Qi in his body was instantly frozen, and a layer of white frost formed across his body. He made no further sound. Even until death, he could not understand why the danger sense he had honed for years had failed him this time.

Only when Mu She's body fell straight down did the mercenaries realize their leader had been struck. By then, Huo Yuhao had already flashed away and concealed himself once more.

"An assassin!"

"It's that brat!"

"Captain Mu She has been killed!"

The mercenaries erupted in an uproar, their voices filled with shock and fear.

His father, who had just been giving him instructions, had suddenly gone silent. Mu Li could not believe it at all. He crawled to Mu She's side on his knees and kept shaking him.

"Father, what's wrong, Father? Get up!"

At the same time, Gan Mu's terrified voice rang out. "The enemy has a secret technique that conceals his body! Hurry, gather around! Stand in a circle, back to back!"

The Wolf Head Mercenary Group's mercenaries immediately obeyed, gathering around the second-in-command Gan Mu and the third-in-command He Meng respectively.

Gan Mu glanced at Mu Li, who was still sprawled beside Mu She, and sneered. He calculated that the assassin would not pass up such a perfect opportunity and would likely ambush and kill Mu Li. Then he could command the mercenaries to attack Mu Li together. They would definitely be able to eliminate the assassin.

While Gan Mu was making his calculations, Huo Yuhao hid behind a tree and carefully observed them.

Could they really have a formation?

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao was no longer in a hurry to attack. Instead, he used his spiritual power to carefully observe the Dou Qi fluctuations of every one of them.

Suddenly, a figure appeared beside Mu Li and raised a blade to slash at him. Sensing danger, Mu Li abruptly looked up. The instant he saw the flash of the blade, he scrambled backward on all fours like a lizard possessed, while simultaneously unleashing a Battle Qi technique.

"Wood Hardening—Don't come over here!"

"Attack with everything you have!" Gan Mu and He Meng shouted together. The mercenaries around them heard the order and unleashed their strongest Battle Qi techniques, attacking the figure alongside their second and third leaders.

Several long-range Battle Qi techniques struck, scattering the figure. Had Mu Li not crawled backward to dodge the figure's attack, he would likely have been reduced to actual pulp by now. A puddle of foul-smelling liquid seeped out from beneath his crotch.

"Ha—Oh no! It's an illusion!"

A saber light more than ten feet long flashed past. Gan Mu and several unlucky men standing beside him were beheaded, their eyes still wide in death.

"With no trump cards at all, how did you dare follow us?" Huo Yuhao revealed himself and stared at the remaining mercenaries.

"It's that brat!"

The remaining mercenaries groaned inwardly. They had thought they were merely following their leader to trouble a few children. Who could have expected to encounter such a monster?

He Meng, the third-in-command, glanced at Mu Li, who had been frightened into wetting himself, then stepped forward and cupped his fists toward Huo Yuhao. "Sir, our Wolf Head Mercenary Group admits defeat this time. Please name your terms. Whatever you require to spare us, we will do our utmost to fulfill."

There was no reply. What awaited him was an ice-blue cold gleam.

[Domain of Eternal Frost]!

As the cold gleam spread, the mercenaries stopped thinking.