Bear Alert

To give Qie Youyi enough face, Zhao Li dragged Lang Youqin, whom he had tossed back into the tent, out again.

Looking at the two people lying unconscious on the ground, Zhao Li decided not to disturb Lang Youqin's sweet dreams and only woke Qie Youyi.

With coaxing and threats working in tandem, Zhao Li very happily got Qie Youyi to tell him everything.

In broad strokes, it was no different from what Lang Youqin had said, except that this trip into the mountains was not to search for treasure, but to snatch the remaining Treasure Map Fragment from the Black Demonic Bear.

After Zhao Li heard that, he inwardly cried, Good grief. So all of you had gone all-out, even putting on a storm of performances, for something you did not even know you could get your hands on.

Zhao Li obtained a Sheepskin Scroll from Qie Youyi. It looked extremely familiar. His heart stirred, and he remembered the fragment he had previously bought at the Auction House...

Suppressing the urge to take out the fragment and fit them together, Zhao Li threw the two of them back inside.

After leaving, Zhao Li could not wait to take out the fragment and try it. Although the pieces could not be joined together, they were clearly of the same lineage, and he could confirm that they belonged to the same map.

"Good grief, did I get the Son of Destiny's script? I actually just happened to run into the other parts of the fragment, and even got clear leads. Could it be because the treasure is trash?"

Zhao Li began muttering inwardly, thinking about all sorts of random things.

After putting the fragment away, Zhao Li pondered for a while and decided to go to the Black Demonic Bear first to take a look. If it worked out, good; if not, it was not a big problem. He could explore again after his strength rose in the future.

Zhao Li was not in a rush to set off either. He found a spot, lit a campfire, and prepared to rest first. Half a month of jungle life had made Zhao Li develop the habit of keeping himself in good condition at all times.

The next day, Qie Youyi woke up and found himself inside the tent, as if everything last night had only been a dream. But that feeling of his life not being in his own hands reminded him that it had all truly happened.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. "Good for you, Lang Youqin. You said we'd work together to explore the treasure, then turned around and sold me out. Just you wait!"

"Brothers, get your gear ready. Follow me back, and we'll raid Black Panther's lair."

In the end, Qie Youyi still retained his reason. He knew that fighting within the Myriad Beast Mountain Range was ultimately not a wise move, so he merely ordered everyone to speed up, return as soon as possible, and raid Black Panther's lair.

On the other side, Lang Youqin felt a wave of relief. He had not expected to still be alive to see today's sun.

"I wonder if that person went to find Qie Youyi, or to look for that black bear. It'd be best if that old fellow dealt with all of them together, leaving them in Mutual Destruction so I can reap the fisherman's profit."

Thinking of that possibly existing treasure and inheritance, Lang Youqin's eyes shone with greed.

Different thoughts and choices gave the two mercenary groups different endings.

Huu—

Zhao Li spat out a mouthful of turbid air, ended his cultivation, and opened his closed eyes.

"It feels great to improve every day!"

He casually ate some dry rations to fill his stomach, took out the map and looked at it, roughly identified the direction, then rose and left.

With his current physique, which was comparable to a Magical Beast's, and his control over himself, he could already maximize the conversion of the food he consumed into pure energy. If not for caring about image and taste, it was not as if he could not eat raw meat and drink blood.

Zhao Li restrained his aura, hid his figure, and shuttled through the forest. He walked and stopped, and from time to time, he would see Magical Beasts hunting. Some succeeded in their hunts, while others instead became prey and turned into food for other beasts.

"A fourth-rank Black Demonic Bear. High defense, thick health, boundless strength. The key is that unlike other bear-type Magical Beasts, it isn't slow. It's simply a freak among bears. Ordinary Dou Ling-level cultivators can't do anything to it. Although my combat strength isn't weak, I've never fought a true expert, so it's hard to judge. I'll be more careful this time. It'll be just right to test myself. That's also one of the purposes of cultivating in the Myriad Beast Mountain Range this time."

As Zhao Li hurried on, he also thought about the Black Demonic Bear's traits. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you could win a hundred battles.

"Sigh, I should've had Master spar with me earlier. Then I wouldn't have to go to so much trouble. Now I know the enemy but not myself. I really don't feel confident."

Zhao Li was somewhat troubled, and even felt a trace of retreat.

"Should I go find Master first? I don't even know where he ran off to enjoy himself."

"Zhao Li, oh Zhao Li, what's wrong with you? After living a second life, you've actually lost that old mentality of going forth even against tens of millions. Don't forget why you chose to study law, and don't forget that the obstacles you'll encounter in what you want to do are bound to be far greater than Big Xiong."

Thinking of Ye Yunsheng's resolve and his own decision to fight against people, Zhao Li patted his face and felt ashamed of his thought of retreating.

"There's nothing wrong with caution, but worldly affairs are ever-changing. How can everything be perfect? Don't use the banner of caution and stability as an excuse for your own timidity. Don't talk about the Ten Mile Slope Sword God so much that you actually get into character."

Fortunately, Zhao Li was not an awkward, stubborn person. He did not get stuck in a dead end. After realizing there was a problem with his thoughts, he quickly figured it out and gave himself a reminder.

On the other side, Lin Lan was inside a radiant Cave Dwelling, drinking and chatting merrily with a tall, burly man with a dark, rough face.

"Brother Lin, come, another bowl. You haven't come to my place in years. This time, we have to drink properly. Otherwise, if word gets out, Old Lion will think I didn't entertain you well."

Xiong Ba raised a large bowl of wine, drained it in one gulp, wiped the corner of his mouth, and said to Lin Lan.

"Hahaha, drink slower, drink slower. Old Xiong, your capacity is still the same. I can't beat you."

Lin Lan also raised his bowl and drained it, though his mouth was laughingly telling him to drink slower.

After several rounds of wine, Lin Lan prepared to take his leave.

"Old Xiong, I still have some matters this time, so I won't stay longer. We'll gather again next time."

"Old Lin, don't fool me. What matters could you have? Don't tell me you can't drink anymore?"

Although Xiong Ba had an honest and simple appearance, once the wine got to him, he was not so easy to stop. He wanted to keep Lin Lan there to continue drinking.

"Old Xiong, I'm not fooling you. This time, when I entered the mountains, I brought a little fellow with me to let him gain some experience. Although his talent is quite good, he's young after all, so I still have to keep an eye on him," Lin Lan said, rather helplessly.

"Oh? Could he be your junior? Good for you, Lin Lan. You kept quiet about it, and I never heard anything about you getting married either?"

Lin Lan's words aroused Xiong Ba's soul of gossip. His interest piqued, he began teasing Lin Lan.

Lin Lan choked, having no idea how that damn bear had arrived at such a thought. He only said calmly, "My disciple's future achievements will certainly surpass mine."

Hearing this, Xiong Ba fell silent too. Back when Lin Lan had still been a Da Dou Shi, he had formed a bond with Lin Lan by chance, so he naturally knew how terrifying Lin Lan's talent was. Someone who would certainly surpass Lin Lan's achievements was worth taking seriously.

"Brother Lin, just stay here with me for a while at ease. I'll have them be a little more careful. I won't let him die on my territory."

After hearing that, Lin Lan refused without even thinking. "Old Xiong, there's no need for that. This is training, after all. In the end, only life-and-death situations can draw out one's potential. Didn't you and I make it this far step by step? Let him carve out his own path. It's just that human strength has its limits, so I can only protect him a little at times like these..."