The quiet night slipped by silently. When the sky was just beginning to lighten on the second day, Xiao Yan opened his eyes at the exact moment—his body clock, well-adjusted through these days of outdoor life, ensured this consistency. After a night's rest, the deep fatigue that had seeped from his very bones was completely gone, replaced instead by a vibrant, fresh energy. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Xiao Yan formed the hand seals for cultivation and then slowly closed his eyes again. Early morning was the optimal time for cultivating his battle energy; cultivating it was like sailing—a journey where progress or stagnation determined success, and only through unwavering persistence could one achieve transformation and renewal. As Xiao Yan's breathing grew steady, the tranquil space around him suddenly rippled like water waves, and a gentle flow of battle energy began to seep out from within the space. After yesterday's intense training, Xiao Yan's skin now resembled a sponge—whenever the swirling ki came into contact with him, countless pores instantly expanded and contracted, eagerly absorbing the streams of ki. While the pores greedily siphoned the ki, most of it flowed into his body through his breath, traveling along specific meridians outlined by several cultivation techniques, and gradually being stored within the small, suspended spirals hovering within him. The ki cultivation lasted nearly an hour. Only when the sunlight streaming through the window illuminated the room fully did Xiao Yan finally conclude his practice, releasing his hand seals and exhaling a long, slightly drowsy breath. As his eyelids slowly opened, a soft yellow glow passed through his dark pupils, then faded into the deepest part of his gaze. "At this pace," he thought, "it should take another half-month before I become a Five-Star Cultivator." To his surprise, the effects of this rigorous training truly proved quite impressive. Stretching lazily, he listened to the crisp, crackling sounds emanating from within his body, a satisfied smile forming on his face. "Today, we're heading into the Beast Mountains." After stepping down from the bed, Xiao Yan took a simple shower in the room and then walked to the bedside, where he stared at the strange, dark giant sword with a touch of resignation. Slowly curling his legs, he exhaled deeply, then curved his palms like eagle talons, firmly gripping the hilt. With a solid foot press against the floor, he roared, "Lift!" Though the power of his aura was strong enough to nearly snap a giant tree in two, when applied to this peculiar giant sword, it could only lift it slowly, inch by inch. Bending slightly forward, Xiao Yan's face flushed red, his breathing growing more and more rapid. He let out another deep, resonant cry, and finally managed to swing the great sword over his back. His body then sank sharply downward, but fortunately, Xiao Yan had prepared for this. He clenched his teeth and, after a moment, gradually straightened himself. "Damn, that was terrifying..." He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and chuckled weakly. He then gave a firm拍拍 on the black great sword behind him and took another step forward toward the room's entrance. After several days of adjustment, even now, with the great sword slung over his back, his steps no longer caused the ground to tremble as they had before. ... In the Beast Mountains, beasts roam freely, posing constant threats. A lone traveler is especially vulnerable to attacks from these creatures. Therefore, most mercenaries entering the mountains—except those with exceptional skill and courage—typically travel in groups. With the strength he currently possesses, Xiao Yan could manage only a first-tier beast at most, and thus had no ability to single-handedly charge through the beast mountains. Of course, this assumes that the Ye Elder would step in to assist. However, on the very day his rigorous training began, the Ye Elder had explicitly stated that during the training period, unless Xiao Yan faced a life-threatening, fatal danger, he would not intervene to resolve any of Xiao Yan's difficulties. In other words, even though Xiao Yan had the Ye Elder as a reserve strength, he would have to use it sparingly—every challenge would have to be met solely by his own efforts. Although Xiao Yan found this arrangement deeply frustrating, he had no choice but to accept it. He understood that the Ye Elder's intention was to prevent him from becoming overly reliant on protection, which would eventually dull his own sense of vigilance. A fledgling bird sheltered beneath its parent eagle's wings would never truly soar—only by facing adversity and adversity could it unleash its full potential and ultimately triumph in the skies. The old doctor didn't want Xiao Yan to become a fledgling eagle hiding behind him; therefore, he had to make Xiao Yan fully understand his current situation. ... After walking down the street, Xiao Yan arrived at another exit of the town, which also served as the entrance to the Beast Mountain. Already, numerous mercenaries were gathered at the town gate, calling out continuously to attract individual mercenaries wishing to enter the mountain. The mercenaries in the town could generally be categorized into three types. The first were well-organized mercenary companies, of which there were only three in Qingshan Town, each with around a hundred members. The members of these companies typically possessed strength surpassing that of mere Battle-Users, and it was said that the captains of all three companies were strong Battle-Users themselves—making them among the most powerful forces in Qingshan Town. The second type consisted of temporary mercenary squads, which usually disbanded after completing a single assignment. These squads generally lacked the trust and coordination that more formal and established mercenary companies enjoyed. The third category of mercenaries consists of those who travel alone—individuals typically equipped with a solid backup to ensure their survival. The mercenaries currently shouting loudly at the town's entrance belong to the second category. Standing in a corner, Xiao Yan did not immediately join any of the forming groups, but instead quietly observed which temporary team appeared more disciplined, for in the perilous territory of the Beast Mountains, even the slightest oversight could prove fatal. As Xiao Yan searched for the ideal group, sudden commotion erupted at the town's entrance, followed by an enthusiastic cry: "The Ten-Thousand-Medic Pavilion is heading into the Beast Mountains to collect medicinal herbs, accompanied by the young physician! Only fifty spots are available—mercenaries must possess at least two-star combat strength. Everyone, hurry!" The roar of voices momentarily quieted at the bustling entrance of the town. After a brief pause, the crowd exchanged glances, and those who believed they had met the criteria rushed eagerly toward the middle-aged man dressed in the attire of Wan Yao Zhai. Staring in amazement at the now frenzied surge of the mercenaries, Xiao Yan blinked, paused thoughtfully, and then joined the crowd, pushing his way through the throng. With so many people entering the Dragon's Mountain, ordinary beasts would likely hesitate to attack, thus securing a greater safety margin. As long as he could find a secluded and secure place to train along the way, he could then comfortably leave the group. Indeed, as the store clerk had mentioned the day before, the reputation of Xiao Yi the Young Physician was truly invaluable in Qing Shan Town—out of fifty spots, nearly everyone had vied fiercely for them. Though Xiao Yan had managed to secure a spot thanks to his agility and nimbleness, he still found himself among the front runners. "One spot remains!" The middle-aged man smiled warmly, holding up the leather scroll and speaking to the crowded crowd. "Me!" The young man's voice, still a bit稚嫩 and slightly breathless, rose clearly in front of the middle-aged man. "Huh?" The middle-aged man blinked, taken aback by the fresh, well-groomed youth who looked no more than seventeen or eighteen. He then smiled and said, "Young sir, our requirement is for a Two-Star Fighter!" He particularly emphasized the last four words, clearly doubting that such a young boy, barely in his teens, could meet the standard. "What kind of little kid is this? Not even a full coat of hair yet, just wandering around!" "Get out of the way, young man! Don't waste the elders' time!" A burly mercenary from the outer ranks, seeing his spot snatched away by a young man, exclaimed angrily. Undeterred by the scornful murmurs, the young man took two steps forward and stopped before a tree trunk as thick as two arms. He clenched his fists tightly, and a pale yellow aura formed a faint, shimmering veil over his palms. With a low exhalation, he drove his fists with powerful force into the trunk. "Crack!" The crisp sound echoed as the sturdy trunk, under the stunned gaze of the onlookers, groaned and collapsed, sending a shower of dust and debris across the ground. "Should that be enough?" The young man wiped his hands and smiled at the astonished middle-aged man. "Hmm, truly impressive—such a strong talent. At his young age, he's already reached the rank of Two-Star Combatant. A true prodigy." Nodded in astonishment, the middle-aged man smiled at Xiao Yan and said, "Very well, the last spot goes to you. Your courier fee is five hundred gold coins—full coverage for the safe transport of our Wan Yao Zhai herb-gathering team. We'll pay you half upfront, and the remaining half upon your return." "Agreed," Xiao Yan replied, smiling. He didn't particularly care about the five hundred gold coins; all he needed was for the team to find him a safe place to train. When the final spot was claimed by this young man who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, the surrounding mercenaries sighed and slowly departed, casting several curious glances at Xiao Yan as they went. To achieve a two-star combat rank at just seventeen or eighteen—such talent was truly rare in the quiet town of Qing Shan!