The Soul-Eating Mercenary Group

Sunlight streamed through the window, scattering patches of dappled light across the room.

"That Pill Emperor in the Black-Corner Region-that's what we call him here; over there, they call him the Medicine Emperor-is named Han Feng. He's a true genius at alchemy. He isn't even as old as our city lord, yet he's already a sixth-rank alchemist. Compared with him, my meager skills aren't fit to be put on display."

"From what I've learned, he suddenly appeared in the Black-Corner Region a few years ago and established himself through his alchemy. Even the region's long-established powers don't dare offend him lightly."

"No one knows where he came from, but geniuses like that rarely appear on the Northwest Continent. Most likely, he's from the Central Plains. What puzzles me is why he would leave a perfectly good life there to put down roots in the northwest."

Master Mo recounted the information he had gathered.

His words carried envy and wonder, along with a measure of puzzlement.

After all, people climbed toward higher ground, while water flowed toward lower ground.

Even in the Central Plains, a sixth-rank alchemist could live an utterly carefree life.

Chen Cang, however, knew the answer.

"Perhaps he offended some important figure in the Central Plains in a fit of youthful recklessness. Who knows? It has nothing to do with us, anyway."

Master Mo nodded slightly, acknowledging that it was indeed possible.

"True enough. But if it has nothing to do with us, why are you asking about him, brat?"

"Just learning a little about him. Alchemists are so sought after that I might need to ask him for help someday."

"Indeed. Your strength is improving rapidly now, and my alchemy is becoming less and less helpful to you. Take your current cultivation as a nine-star Dou Shi: I know of a few pills that could help you break through, but my abilities are limited. I simply can't refine them."

Master Mo sighed wistfully.

He knew his own circumstances well. There was almost no chance of him reaching the fourth rank in this lifetime, so he held out little hope. In the final years of his life, all he wanted was to take on a disciple.

"You've already helped me a great deal. Without your care, I'd probably have accumulated all sorts of ailments by now. I hope this trip into the mountains goes smoothly and we find a few more Azure Nether Fruits. Then we can trade for some medicinal ingredients and ask that Pill Emperor to refine an Azure Nether Longevity Pill."

"Hahaha, life and death are ordained by fate. There's no forcing them. It's enough that you have the heart to do this."

The next day.

At the first glimmer of dawn, Chen Cang packed his belongings and went to seek an audience with the city lord.

Despite being disturbed so early in the morning, Ding Dian was not angry. Instead, he looked at the youth with undisguised appreciation.

"Go on, what is it? You're the sort who never visits a temple without something to pray for."

That was the truth, and Chen Cang could not argue.

Ever since learning of Ding Dian's hidden identity, Chen Cang had found it difficult to view the city lord normally. He always assumed from the outset that every move the man made and every word he spoke was an attempt to manipulate him, with ulterior motives behind it.

For that reason, Chen Cang felt nowhere near as close to this city lord as he did to Master Mo.

"City Lord, Master Mo told me you hired some mercenaries to search the mountains for Azure Nether Fruit. I'd like to go along. I can help while gaining experience. You know I'm quite good at finding medicinal ingredients."

Ding Dian knew this. Although Chen Cang operated in the outer reaches of the Black Eagle Mountains just like everyone else, he often found medicinal ingredients that others had overlooked or failed to discover, bringing back several times as many as even the seasoned mercenaries.

It was something that defied common sense.

But no one would have imagined that Chen Cang could read magical beasts' memories. In his mind, the outer reaches of the Black Eagle Mountains were like a fully revealed map.

Ding Dian merely attributed all of it to exceptionally good luck.

"Mm. Your current strength puts you among the best of those mercenaries. The outer reaches really won't provide you with much training anymore."

"How about this? You may accompany them, but you must obey Zhou Wen's orders and never act on your own. The dangers deep in the Black Eagle Mountains are nothing like those on the outskirts. Even I wouldn't dare run wild in there. To be honest, deep down, I don't have much hope of finding Azure Nether Fruit. But the orders came from above, so I have no choice but to do my best."

Chen Cang obediently nodded in agreement.

Inside, however, he was grumbling. City Lord, do you realize you've given yourself away?

Those words make it clear that you aren't all that loyal to His Majesty the Emperor, either...

"All right, off you go. Head straight to the Soul-Eating Mercenary Group's headquarters and wait there. Once Zhou Wen arrives, you can set out."

Chen Cang bowed and took his leave, but after a few steps, he turned back and pulled a jade bottle from inside his robes.

"City Lord, this is the Qi Gathering Powder my instructor requested for me before. Forming my Dou Qi Vortex went quite smoothly, so I was able to save it."

"Keep it. What's been given to you is yours. Whether you use it is your business. Our Tianying City may not be particularly wealthy, but we can certainly afford a single dose of Qi Gathering Powder."

Ding Dian glanced at it, his smile growing even warmer.

That dose of Qi Gathering Powder was undoubtedly the most valuable thing Chen Cang currently possessed. If sold, it would surely fetch more gold than he had earned from over a year of training in the wilderness.

The fact that Chen Cang was now willing to hand it over was ample proof that he had developed a strong sense of belonging to Tianying City and trusted Ding Dian without reservation.

Yes, that was how Ding Dian saw it.

Chen Cang seemed surprised and paused briefly. Once he recovered, however, he did not take the Qi Gathering Powder back.

"In that case, City Lord, please help me pass it on to Lü Guan, who trained alongside me back then. With this dose of Qi Gathering Powder, he should be able to form his Dou Qi Vortex sooner."

Only yesterday, Chen Cang had realized that he truly was rather lonely.

In all of vast Tianying City, Master Mo was the only person he could usually chat freely with. Beyond him, he did not even have anyone to talk to.

Naturally, he thought of Lü Guan.

Judging by how much time had passed, that fellow might already have reached eighth-stage Dou Qi. If Chen Cang gave him the Qi Gathering Powder now, he should be able to hold on to it.

Moreover, with the Qi Gathering Powder as motivation, he would surely train even harder.

"You're quite generous. It's a small matter. I'll take care of it."

Giving Chen Cang another look, Ding Dian put away the Qi Gathering Powder.

The Soul-Eating Mercenary Group was the largest mercenary group in Tianying City.

It was said to have numbered only thirty when first founded. After years of growth, it now had several hundred members.

Of course, those at the Dou Qi stage and the Dou Zhe level accounted for ninety percent of them.

Although Chen Cang had never visited the Soul-Eating Mercenary Group's headquarters, he knew that its leader was its strongest member. His name was Lou Baishan. Publicly, he was a nine-star Dou Shi, but in truth, he was a three-star Da Dou Shi, powerful enough to rival the current clan leader of a certain Ancient Race.

Chen Cang had obtained this information when he once inspected the Soul-Eating Mercenary Group's second-in-command, Lou Baishui, from afar.

Their names alone made it easy to tell that the two shared a close relationship. That was indeed the case: they were brothers.

When Chen Cang arrived at the Soul-Eating Mercenary Group's headquarters, the place was bustling with figures, and dozens of people had already gathered in the open grounds.

Chen Cang swept his gaze over them. Every one of them was above the level of a five-star Dou Zhe.

Clearly, these were the cream of the crop.

"Hey, kid, what are you here for?"

Seeing someone enter, a mercenary immediately questioned him in a rough voice.

Before Chen Cang could answer, he saw two men push open a door and emerge from the building.

The tall, burly man whose arms were thicker than Chen Cang's thighs was Lou Baishan, leader of the Soul-Eating Mercenary Group.

Following behind him was a gentle-faced, somewhat thin man: Lou Baishui, the second-in-command whom Chen Cang had once seen from afar.

"Behave yourselves. Quiet down." After barking at the mercenaries, Lou Baishan walked over to Chen Cang and cupped his hands slightly. "May I ask, have you brought a message from Commander Zhou Wen?"

"No. Commander Zhou Wen will be here shortly. My name is Chen Cang. The city lord told me to accompany you for training."

"I see. Understood. Then please wait here with the men for a little while, young brother. We have something to discuss. Once Commander Zhou Wen arrives, we'll set out."

"All right."

After replying, Chen Cang watched the two return inside.

"Hehe, Chen Cang, was it? Why do you look so familiar? How about joining our Soul-Eating Mercenary Group? You've met our leader now. He's very easy to talk to." An overly familiar mercenary sidled over to greet him.

Chen Cang merely chuckled in response.

As he saw it, this Lou Baishan was no harmless soul.

After all, everyone could lie, but memories could not!