Dangerous Moment!

Mu Chen shook his head slightly. No matter what, this was a good thing.

There were quite a few mercenaries in town who had reached the Dou Zhe level, so the recruitment went quickly. Before long, they had smoothly assembled a team of fifty.

The most dangerous things in the Magic Beast Mountains were naturally the elusive magic beasts. Even in the outer regions, First Tier magic beasts comparable to Dou Masters often appeared. Thus, traveling together and relying on one another had become the best choice.

The silent forest was thick with towering trees. Their dense canopies even blocked out the sun overhead. Sturdy green vines hung from the trees to the ground, and the air carried the smell of rotting leaves. Occasionally, the cries of unknown birds and beasts echoed out, yet not a trace of them could be seen.

Rustle...

In the somewhat dim forest, the large group of mercenaries walked silently across the soft earth. Every one of them looked vigilant, their sharp gazes constantly sweeping through the gaps between the trees and the underbrush. Their weapons were gripped tightly in preparation for any sudden danger.

Mu Chen followed the others near the center of the group, his gaze settling on Xiao Yi Xian, who was surrounded like the moon among stars.

At that moment, she was wiping the sweat from her fair forehead with a handkerchief. After traveling such a long distance, Xiao Yi Xian was breathing slightly heavily. Her delicate brows were faintly furrowed, making her appear particularly fragile and stirring pity in anyone who saw her.

Yet despite her flagging stamina, Xiao Yi Xian still smiled and politely declined those who wanted to help her, including the rather handsome Mu Li.

Mu Li did not look angry after being refused. Xiao Yi Xian's reaction had not been unexpected, and he had long grown used to it. However, when his gaze swept over her slender willow-like waist, a lewd glint flashed discreetly through his eyes.

He had coveted Xiao Yi Xian for far more than a day or two. Nearly all the mercenaries on this trip understood his intentions and had received his secret warnings. Thus, aside from Wanyao Pavilion's guards, no other mercenaries dared approach Xiao Yi Xian.

Perhaps because the beauty had embarrassed him, Mu Li waved his large hand and shouted, "Wolf Head members, stay alert! We're about to enter the Magic Beast Mountains, so don't capsize in a ditch."

"Yes, Young Leader."

Watching Mu Li's satisfied expression, Mu Chen curled his lip inwardly. He then stopped paying attention to him and looked past the crowd into the dense forest where shadows overlapped.

They had already begun entering the mountains. Then magic beasts should be appearing soon, right?

Without any warning, three slender snakes suddenly shot out from the crown of a large tree. The three burly mercenaries passing beneath it were caught off guard and viciously bitten on the arms.

These snakes were called Scarlet Ice Snakes, First Tier magic beasts commonly found in the outer regions of the mountains. They liked to dwell in cool places and would actively attack prey passing by their hiding spots.

Although their bodies were entirely scarlet, they were genuine Ice Attribute magic beasts and carried a troublesome Cold Poison. Those bitten would become stiff all over and unable to move. Within half a day, they would die on the spot.

The three bitten mercenaries turned deathly pale. They could not even cry out before collapsing rigidly to the ground.

Before the Scarlet Ice Snakes could continue their mischief, however, the mercenaries all brandished their weapons and swarmed forward. Quite a few of them had green gleams in their eyes as their broadswords came down viciously. In moments, the three Scarlet Ice Snakes were chopped into minced meat.

Unfortunately, there were no Magic Cores among them, causing the mercenaries who had hoped to make a windfall to sigh repeatedly.

The three mercenaries afflicted with Cold Poison were carried by their companions to the herb-gathering team at the rear, and Xiao Yi Xian personally treated them.

Scarlet Ice Snakes were common magic beasts after all. Though their Cold Poison was somewhat troublesome, it was not enough to stump the experienced Xiao Yi Xian.

Mu Chen stood to one side and quietly watched Xiao Yi Xian work with full concentration. At that moment, she radiated a holy beauty, like pure crystal—sacred and inviolable. All she lacked was a halo above her head and white wings on her back.

Before long, Xiao Yi Xian stood up, wiped the sweat running down her cheeks with her handkerchief, and smiled. "All right. However, the medicine will need some time before its effects are fully triggered, so the three uncles mustn't fight for the time being."

Mu Chen sighed inwardly. What a pure and kind girl. Unfortunately, fate loved to toy with people, burdening her with a terrifying constitution feared by all.

The mercenaries might be friendly toward Xiao Yi Xian now, but if they learned how terrifying she truly was, they would probably all be shouting for her death.

A trace of determination flashed through Mu Chen's eyes. Since Heaven allowed me to cross time and space and come here to meet you, I will never let you lose that kindness.

The Woeful Poison Body! Poison Attribute, huh? I happen to be able to restrain it.

Mu Chen suppressed his emotions. At present, Xiao Yi Xian was still little more than a stranger he had met a few times. Approaching her rashly might backfire.

Fine, then I'll wait until we descend into the cliffside cave together. That silly girl still doesn't know she has already fallen into Mu Li's scheme.

Mu Chen himself possessed the strength of a Six-Star Dou Zhe and had mastered a mid-grade Profound Tier Dou Technique. With the aid of the Xuan Huang Flame, he could still take Xiao Yi Xian and flee if he fought with all his strength.

After the treatment was complete, the group set out once more. But just then, a sudden change occurred.

Rustle!

A black beastly figure suddenly burst from a dense thicket. It let out a low roar, then turned into a black shadow, nimbly stepping across the trees and kicking up scattered rotten leaves. Like a bolt of black Lightning, it rapidly lunged toward the center of the group.

Mu Chen's pupils contracted sharply, because the black shadow's target was none other than Xiao Yi Xian, whose face was filled with terror and helplessness.

Her body had completely frozen. Intimidated by the fierce aura of the unseen magic beast, Xiao Yi Xian felt as though her legs had been filled with lead, too heavy to move even an inch.

Everyone had an instinct for survival. After the initial terror passed, Xiao Yi Xian realized that she had to do something, or she might very well die in this magic beast's attack.

She tightly clutched a packet of medicinal powder in her palm. Her own strength had not even reached the Dou Zhe level, so Xiao Yi Xian could only rely on her skills as a pharmacist.

The moment the black shadow emerged, the mercenaries also discovered the magic beast. An experienced old mercenary immediately recognized the somewhat blurry creature and cried out, "It's a First Tier magic beast, a Snake-Tail Leopard! This magic beast possesses the Wind Attribute. When it runs, it is as fast as the wind, and its strength is extremely formidable. It's very dangerous."

When they heard the name Snake-Tail Leopard, several mercenaries who had been preparing to act froze. As mercenaries who lived with their lives on the line, how could they not know the Snake-Tail Leopard's ferocity?

Among the magic beasts of the outer mountains, the Snake-Tail Leopard was definitely one of the most difficult to deal with. An adult Snake-Tail Leopard was at least comparable to a Three-Star Dou Zhe, while this one, judging by its speed, possessed strength of at least a Five-Star Dou Zhe.

While they hesitated over whether to risk their lives to save Xiao Yi Xian, the Snake-Tail Leopard had already closed to within ten meters of her.

Mu Li, who had originally been standing not far from Xiao Yi Xian, had a conflicted expression. His strength was only that of a Six-Star Dou Zhe. If he wanted to save Xiao Yi Xian in this situation, he would have to directly clash with the Snake-Tail Leopard!

Facing off directly against a Snake-Tail Leopard with strength above that of a Five-Star Dou Zhe, even an Eight-Star Dou Zhe would find it difficult to withstand its powerful attack.

In the end, Mu Li looked regretfully at Xiao Yi Xian's pale face and chose to retreat.

Without looking at the reactions of those around her, Xiao Yi Xian pressed her cherry lips tightly together. The packet of medicinal powder in her palm had been soaked through with sweat. Reflected in her beautiful eyes was the Snake-Tail Leopard, its claws extended, its maw open, and its savage fangs exposed.

Five meters!

Some mercenaries closed their eyes with sighs, unable to bear watching Xiao Yi Xian perish.

But at that moment, a figure shot out from the side at an astonishing speed and blocked the pale-faced Xiao Yi Xian. It was Mu Chen, his eyes icy cold.

"Get lost!"

Mu Chen circulated the Dou Qi in his body and wrapped it around his fist. There was no time to use a Dou Technique. He let out a low roar, then, amid countless astonished gazes, fiercely collided with the Snake-Tail Leopard's outstretched claw.