Stirring Affections

A sharp eagle cry rang out. At the peak of the mountains, a massive azure eagle-type magical beast burst through the clouds, spread its wings, and soared through the air, carrying a fierce gale as it charged straight toward the two people at the cliffside cave.

"Damn it, it's a Blue Eagle! It's coming this way!"

"Shit, Blue Eagles are the top predators of the outer region. Hide, now! Don't let it mistake us for food and crush our heads!"

The moment the Blue Eagle appeared, a chaotic burst of curses erupted from above the cliff. More than ten burly mercenaries retreated in terror and disappeared into the forest behind them.

As for whether Mu Li and the others inside the cave below would be attacked by the Blue Eagle, that had nothing to do with them. Saving their own lives came first.

"Let's go."

Seeing the Blue Eagle arrive just in time, Xiao Yi Xian patted her chest in relief. Her lively eyes fixed on Mu Chen's slightly weary face, and she was secretly stunned by his strength.

Looking back into the dark depths of the cave, they could vaguely smell a faint trace of blood drifting out from the cold passageway.

"Mu Li thought he was clever, but he never could have imagined that Mu Chen would slaughter them all by himself. There were more than ten Four- and Five-Star Dou Zhes..."

With a flick of his hand, Mu Chen stored the Storage Ring taken from Mu Li in his backpack. As the young leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, Mu Li ought to have had something valuable inside.

Looking at the Blue Eagle circling before the cave entrance, Mu Chen laughed. A mischievous grin quickly spread across his face as he wrapped his arms around Xiao Yi Xian's waist, scooped her up, and leaped cleanly onto the Blue Eagle's back.

Xiao Yi Xian immediately cried out. Her jade-like hands pressed tightly against Mu Chen's chest, her face flushing red as she angrily grabbed his arm and bit down hard.

"Hiss... It hurts, it hurts! Let go... Hurry up and let go! Are you some kind of puppy?"

It was only after quite a while that Xiao Yi Xian finally released Mu Chen's arm.

Seeing Mu Chen bare his teeth in pain, Xiao Yi Xian burst into laughter. Her bright, lively eyes blinked with amusement, but when she saw him looking at her, she promptly put on a stern face. Grinding her gleaming little fangs, she raised a delicate fist and pretended to be fierce. "That's what you get for taking advantage of me. If you do that again, I... I'll bite you to death."

As soon as she said it, Xiao Yi Xian's cheeks turned red. Seeing the increasingly wicked grin on Mu Chen's face, she hurriedly added, "There won't be a next time. Don't you dare get any ideas, or I'll have Xiao Lan throw you down."

"Tsk, tsk, Xiao Yi Xian, you're so fierce. Whoever marries you in the future will be in for a miserable time," Mu Chen teased with a smile.

"That's right, I'm very fierce. So if a certain lecherous wolf doesn't put away his dirty thoughts, I'll poison him to death."

A threatening curve rose on Xiao Yi Xian's pretty face. Her bright eyes glared at Mu Chen as if to say, Stop looking. You're that lecherous wolf.

The Blue Eagle let out a sharp cry. Its enormous wings beat powerfully, and at Xiao Yi Xian's command, it stirred up gust after gust of wild wind as it soared into the sky.

Watching the scenery beneath the cliff rush backward at terrifying speed, Mu Chen felt his legs go weak. Anyone else afraid of heights?

"Mission: Protect Xiao Yi Xian and escape the cliffside cave. Completed.

Rewards have been distributed to the System Backpack."

Mu Chen closed his eyes and sank his consciousness into the System Backpack. Sure enough, there were now two additional items inside.

"Purple Wheel Lottery Ticket," quantity: 3. Purple quality. Value: none.

Effect: Can open the Wheel Prize Pool once regardless of the amount of points required. Can only be used on the Purple Wheel.

"Battle Emperor Power Card"! Quantity: 1. Purple quality. Value: none.

Effect: Upon use, forcibly raises the user to the Dou Emperor realm. The specific star level is random. The effect lasts one hour.

Current remaining uses: 3.

*There are still fourteen rewards left in the Wheel Prize Pool. In other words, if I want to draw out the entire Purple Wheel, I'll still need fourteen more lottery chances.

The points required for a draw have now changed to 200 points, equivalent to 200,000 gold coins.

No matter whether the points required later keep multiplying, using points for the first few draws is more cost-effective.

These three lottery tickets can be saved for use at the end.*

If he relied purely on points to draw! Mu Chen let out a helpless groan. He did not even dare imagine how many points it would take to finish the Purple Wheel. Even if he looted all the resources in the Jia Ma Empire, it might not be enough.

As for this "Battle Emperor Power Card"! It was Mu Chen's greatest life-saving trump card at the moment. Even if he encountered a Dou Wang in the next instant, he was confident he could smash that opponent to pieces with ease.

"Random... The range of possible results is a bit of a scam. The guaranteed minimum is definitely a One-Star Battle Emperor, but if my luck is good enough, tsk, tsk, a Nine-Star Battle Emperor could swagger through the Jia Ma Empire without a care."

Although Dou Emperors were nothing special across the entire Dou Qi Continent, that depended on the location.

At least in this part of the Northwest Mainland, Dou Emperors were still exceedingly rare. Anyone who could become a Dou Emperor was, at the very least, a renowned powerhouse and someone every faction had to treat with caution.

Mu Chen looked at the now-quiet Xiao Yi Xian and asked, "Where do you plan to go next?"

Sweeping aside the hair blown loose across her forehead by the wild wind, Xiao Yi Xian fell silent for a moment before smiling. "Next, I'll return to the herb-gathering team and continue completing the herb-gathering assignment. Then I'll go back to Wanyao Pavilion."

"No, it's too dangerous for you to go back. Especially since Mu Li is already dead at my hands. His father will definitely fly into a rage, and he may very well take it out on you," Mu Chen said worriedly.

Though according to the original course of events, Xiao Yi Xian had Wanyao Pavilion's protection and the Wolf Head Mercenary Group would not dare touch her, that was only under the condition that Mu Li had not died.

In Qing Mountain Town, where the strongest person was merely a Junior Dou Master, even if Wanyao Pavilion treated Xiao Yi Xian exceptionally well, it could not possibly endure the mad wrath of a Dou Master for her sake.

Xiao Yi Xian smiled brightly. The concern in Mu Chen's words made her heart feel sweet, and she said softly, "Don't worry. Wanyao Pavilion is no weaker than the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Besides, the leaders of the other two major mercenary groups owe me favors. The Wolf Head Mercenary Group definitely won't dare provoke public outrage by attacking me.

And if I don't return, Wanyao Pavilion will certainly fall under suspicion and be dragged into trouble. I received kindness from Master Yao, the owner of Wanyao Pavilion. I have to go back."

Mu Chen frowned. Xiao Yi Xian was determined to return. A strange glint suddenly flashed through his eyes as an idea arose in his heart. Then he nodded. "Although I don't agree, if you insist on going back, I can't exactly tie you up and drag you away.

Just be careful. Better safe than sorry."

Xiao Yi Xian smiled sweetly, a beautiful curve blooming on her pure and flawless face. Turning slightly, she slowly rested her head against Mu Chen's shoulder.

Xiao Yi Xian could feel the sincerity in Mu Chen's words, and she was very happy. The seed of fluttering emotion in her heart quietly sprouted.

"I'm a little tired. Let me lean on you for a while, but don't get any wild ideas, or I'll poison you to death." Xiao Yi Xian symbolically waved her soft little fist and smiled, though that smile was somewhat forced.

*This is already enough. I truly wish this journey would never end.

But I... am ultimately someone cursed by heaven!*

Beneath the blue sky and white clouds, the massive Blue Eagle circled once before finally landing atop a low mountain covered in lush green vegetation.

After jumping off the eagle's back, Xiao Yi Xian released the Blue Eagle. She turned to look at Mu Chen and said softly, "The herb-gathering team is down below. Since you don't intend to return to the group, follow the path we came from and leave the Magic Beast Mountains as quickly as possible.

Don't return to Qing Mountain Town. At least, don't come back before you become a Dou Master..."

After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Yi Xian slowly moved closer to Mu Chen. Leaning forward, her thin cherry lips flashed against his cheek like lightning. Her jade-like cheeks turned pink, and before Mu Chen could speak, she vanished into the forest below as quickly as if she were fleeing.

Mu Chen rubbed the spot with his fingers, faint warmth still lingering there, while the fragrance of the beauty seemed to remain in his breath. He stood stunned for a long while before muttering, "Silly girl, taking advantage of me isn't so easy. Next time, I'll taste it back double."

Looking down at the herb-gathering team crying out in surprise at Xiao Yi Xian's return, Mu Chen's eyes turned cold. He stirred the Dou Qi within him and gathered it in his throat before roaring, "Mu Li is dead! His killer is Mu Chen.

You brats from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, if you have the guts, come find me in the Magic Beast Mountains!"