The Magical Beast Mountain Range

This was far too strange.

Just as the commander told everyone to be careful and remain on guard, countless enormous tiger-like magical beasts emerged from the dense forest.

Their hides were red, their faces livid and their fangs exposed. At the sight of them, the mercenaries could not help feeling afraid and wanting to retreat.

"Everyone, don't panic! These are only first-rank magical beasts. With our strength, we can handle them easily!"

The commander's forceful words raised everyone's morale considerably.

They slowly approached the pack of tigers, their expressions hardening as they said, "Everyone, attack together! Let's fight these beasts to the death!"

As they spoke, they rushed forward as one, swiftly reaching the magical beasts, reaching the magical beasts.

Killing moves flew as everyone unleashed the Dou Techniques they excelled at.

Fireballs and ice intertwined. The forest floor froze solid, while the enormous trees around them were burned into charred husks.

Over the course of the day, everyone in Xiao Yi Xian's mercenary company pressed their momentum, pulling out every trick they had.

At last, they drove the many magical beasts back. Finally able to rest, they each lowered the weapons in their hands.

Only then did the commander notice that the sky beyond the mountain range had darkened. Night had fallen.

He knew they would not be leaving tonight.

He immediately ordered everyone to light torches and rest here for the night, then advance deeper into the Magical Beast Mountain Range tomorrow.

Hearing this, everyone could only set up camp, pitching several tents for them to rest in.

Each tent also had a dedicated guard stationed outside to watch for attacks from nearby magical beasts.

That night, Xiao Mo did not fall asleep.

Familiar with every storyline in Battle Through the Heavens, he knew Xiao Yi Xian would head to a nearby mountain peak tonight to search for treasure.

He hurriedly woke Xiao Yan beside him.

Xiao Yan lifted his heavy eyelids and looked at Xiao Mo before him, his face filled with confusion.

Xiao Mo immediately said, "Stop sleeping. Get up-we have real work to do!"

As he spoke, he led Xiao Yan out of the tent.

Just then, Xiao Yi Xian happened to emerge from another tent.

Not wanting her to see them, Xiao Mo immediately hid with Xiao Yan.

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian leave her tent in the middle of the night, Xiao Yan remained utterly puzzled.

"Come on, let's follow her and take a look!"

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian head deeper into the dense forest, Xiao Mo hurriedly pulled Xiao Yan along after her.

After Xiao Yi Xian left the mercenaries' camp and crossed a small stream, a leopard-like magical beast suddenly appeared in the middle of the water.

Fangs bristled across its face. Its body was enormous, with all four paws planted on the ground and blue-green fur covering its hide.

The sight terrified Xiao Yi Xian so badly that she did not dare move.

The leopard-like magical beast opened its bloody maw and sprang forward on all four limbs.

In the blink of an eye, it reached Xiao Yi Xian.

At that critical moment, Xiao Mo acted. With a swift movement, he appeared in front of Xiao Yi Xian.

Facing the magical beast lunging at him, he clenched his right fist, and ice attribute Dou Qi surged wildly from within him.

A moment later, all that Dou Qi gathered in his hand.

Xiao Mo clenched his fist and swung it fiercely forward, striking the magical beast squarely in the abdomen.

The magical beast let out a miserable cry. Its abdomen froze instantly, and its entire body staggered backward before collapsing into the stream behind it.

"Xiao Mo, why are you here?!"

Seeing Xiao Mo, Xiao Yi Xian was equally shocked, her eyes widening.

Despite taking a blow from Xiao Mo, the magical beast had learned nothing. It quickly stood up and bared its fangs.

With an enraged roar, it charged straight at the two of them and opened its bloody maw.

It was ready to swallow Xiao Yi Xian whole.

Disdain filled Xiao Mo's face. He raised his fist, gathering wave after wave of Dou Qi into it.

Aiming at the magical beast's vital point-its heart-he threw a savage punch.

With a bang, his fist pierced the magical beast's heart, sending red blood spraying.

The ice attribute Dou Qi from Xiao Mo instantly froze all the magical beast's internal organs.

Then its life faded, and it fell to the ground with a thud.

"Taken care of!"

Dealing with a first-rank magical beast took practically no effort for Xiao Mo.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan also emerged from the nearby bushes.

Xiao Mo then approached Xiao Yi Xian. Though he knew the truth, he did not expose it, instead asking, "Xiao Yi Xian, what are you doing out here alone so late?!"

"Why aren't you staying in the tents with everyone else? Could you be searching for some treasure?!"

At the mention of searching for treasure, Xiao Yi Xian knew she could not keep it from the two men before her. She answered honestly, "Here's what happened. A few days ago, I obtained a treasure map!"

"Although I came across it by chance, following its directions really should lead to treasure!"

This time, Xiao Mo directly exposed her intentions. "So gathering medicinal herbs was only a pretext for entering the Magical Beast Mountain Range with the mercenary company. What you really want is the treasure on that map!"

Xiao Yi Xian nodded, making no attempt to deny it.

To help Xiao Yan obtain the map fragment for the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame and that Flying Dou Technique, Xiao Mo stopped beating around the bush.

"If not for us just now, you would already have ended up in that magical beast's belly. We aren't expecting you to repay our kindness!"

"But anyone who finds something good deserves a share. We'll go with you to the treasure's location, and split it fifty-fifty in the end!"

Hearing that the treasure would be split fifty-fifty, Xiao Yi Xian found herself torn. The treasure map was hers.

She was still reluctant to hand over half the treasure she had found to someone else for no reason.

But then she thought of the dangers lurking throughout the Magical Beast Mountain Range. She was only a weak young woman. With Xiao Yan and Xiao Mo escorting her, the journey would be much smoother.

"All right, I agree!"

Xiao Yi Xian finally compromised.

And so, following the treasure map's directions, the three began searching within the Magical Beast Mountain Range for the cave that held the treasure.

They made a circuit through the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, straying into the territories of quite a few magical beasts along the way. Fortunately, those beasts were not very intelligent, and the strongest were only second-rank.

Xiao Mo and Xiao Yan joined forces and dealt with them easily.

Before long, it was the next morning, and they arrived at a spot halfway up a cliff.

Following the treasure map's directions, the three were almost certain this was their destination. There was definitely treasure inside.

"Then why are we just standing around? Let's hurry inside and get the treasure!"

Xiao Yi Xian was the first to lose patience. Holding on to a vine, she reached a point halfway up the cliff and focused her gaze ahead.

There, she spotted an extremely well-hidden cave halfway up the cliff.

As she spoke, she swiftly swung the vine and reached the cave entrance.

"Xiao Yan, let's go in too!"

As Xiao Mo spoke, he and Xiao Yan took hold of the vines on the cliff and gave them a light swing.

They, too, entered the cave.

Once all three were inside the cave, they lit their torches and were just about to venture deeper.