Amid the quiet forest, the large group moved steadily, their eyes constantly scanning the shadowed corners of the trees, hands firmly gripping their weapons at their sides, ready at any moment to respond to unforeseen developments. As seasoned mercenaries who had long served in the Dragon's Mountain region, though this was their first collaboration, they maintained a solid rapport—through subtle glances, they could readily detect signals indicating either danger or safety in one another's expressions. The black greatsword's unusual ability to suppress ki, combined with its immense weight, made Xiang Yan's journey particularly challenging. With every step, he sank deeply into the soft earth, and after covering only a moderate distance, he began to grow winded. Wiping sweat from his face, Xiao Yan turned and glanced back at the herb-gathering team from Wan Yao Zhai, which was surrounded by a group of guards. His eyes swept casually over the ranks, finally settling on the white-dressed woman who stood at the center, like a star admired by the moon. At that moment, the delicate beauty known as the "Young Healer" had just slightly straightened her posture, gently wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, breathing lightly. Her soft features and gentle demeanor made her especially endearing. Seeing her in this state, several mercenaries felt a strong urge to carry her all the way to their destination—though they knew, even if they tried, the Young Healer would only smile and politely decline. As everyone's attention turned toward her, a young man with a particularly handsome appearance stepped forward from among the guards, smiling warmly and speaking softly to the slightly breathless healer. The two conversed for a while, after which the young physician smiled gently and shook her head, then continued walking forward. Undeterred by the rejection, the young man showed no sign of annoyance, merely offered a quiet smile, raised his hand, and bellowed, "All the wolf-head personnel—pay close attention! We're now approaching the Beast Mountains. Don't let yourselves sink in the middle of the journey!" "Yes, Lieutenant!" At the sound of his command, the group of about forty men instantly responded in unison, their clear voices drawing curious glances from the onlookers—even the young physician ahead paused to glance back. Satisfied with this response, the young man smiled warmly, took a few quick steps, and walked beside the physician, closely and attentively guarding her. "Damn it," he muttered, "all he has to boast about is that his father is the commander of the Wolf-Head Guild. Does he really think that's enough to win the young physician's heart?" The young man who managed to get close enough to Xiao Yan to chat with the young physician, a soldier standing beside him, immediately muttered under his breath, his tone laced with clear resentment. With his eyes slightly narrowed, Xiao Yan scanned the young man and finally settled on the insignia on his chest—a carved wolf's head with one eye. Glancing past the young man to the thirty-some soldiers wearing the same insignia on their chests, Xiao Yan blinked. It seemed these men were indeed members of the Wolf-Head Mercenary Corps, one of the three major mercenary companies in Qingshan Town. Observing the way these Wolf-Head mercenaries were diligently protecting the herb-gathering team, it was clear they had been hired by Wan Yaozhai as guards. Moreover, it appeared that Wan Yaozhai trusted the Wolf-Head Corps more than the earlier, more scattered mercenaries—otherwise, they wouldn't have been entrusted with serving as their personal bodyguards. Gently drawing back his gaze, Xiao Yan showed little interest in the relationship between the young man and the young physician, and thus shook his head, once again stepping forward with steady, resolute strides, heading toward the Beast Mountains. Upon being attacked, the group immediately grew angry and launched their assaults. Within a short time, the three one-rank魔兽 were inevitably battered to death. However, despite the successful slaying of these three, no trace of magical cores was found within their bodies. The mercenaries merely sighed slightly, expressing a mild sense of disappointment. It was not uncommon for a group to defeat a魔兽 in the wild only to return empty-handed after suffering heavy casualties, so they did not feel particularly disheartened. Within just five hundred meters of walking, the group endured three successive attacks from wild beasts. Fortunately, thanks to their numbers, the mercenaries managed to repel all three waves, sustaining only minor injuries—around a dozen of them with slight wounds. Xiao Yan, who had been unable to avoid the attacks while trailing behind the scouting party, directly participated in one such battle. However, during a direct confrontation with a first-tier wild beast, he was left with a tingling sensation in his hands. Watching the cunning creature that, after failing to make an impact, simply slipped away, Xiao Yan gritted his teeth in frustration. If not for the powerful sword restricting the flow of his internal qi, he would have certainly slain it. Still, despite the beast's escape, Xiao Yan's performance left the surrounding mercenaries in awe. "Young sir, that's impressive—managing to withstand a powerful blow from the renowned strength of the serpent-tailed leopard!" "Indeed, so strong at such a young age. I can only imagine what he'll achieve in the future." "Ha ha, that young fellow is the youngest two-star warrior in the group, isn't he? Looking at his strength, it's truly impressive." The cheers from the surrounding mercenaries stirred a gentle ripple through the group. Once everyone turned their gaze toward the young boy carrying the massive sword, any lingering doubts had automatically vanished. In a circle where status is determined by strength, simply demonstrating outstanding ability is enough to command respect—this is a simple, straightforward rule. While listening to the applause, Xiao Yan merely smiled, neither showing off nor displaying pride, but quietly following the group as they continued toward the herb-gathering site. "Ladies and gentlemen, we're now approaching the herb-gathering area. Please take a rest—after walking this far, everyone must be quite tired," the woman's soft, clear voice suddenly broke through the quiet of the group as they advanced a little further. The pace slowed slightly, and the entire group halted in unison, turning to gaze at the white-robed woman whose smile was pure and unadulterated, then nodding respectfully. After a swift consultation, several of the mercenaries dispersed to take up positions on guard, while the rest settled in place, restoring the strength depleted by the long journey. Sitting down heavily on the ground, Xiao Yan exhaled slowly, lightly flicking his fingers to bring a pale green Qi-restoring pill back into his palm. He glanced around, then slightly tilted his head, yawned, and gently tapped his palm against his mouth—just as the pill, without a trace of ceremony, slipped into his stomach. The medicinal power swiftly dispersed as it entered his body, and Xiao Yan leaned against the tree trunk, eyes half-closed, allowing the restored qi to replenish the energy that had been drained throughout the journey. Thanks to the help of the Qi-Regenerating Pill, when Xiao Yan once again returned to his peak condition, the surrounding mercenaries were still murmuring among themselves, patiently waiting for their strength to slowly recover. After mentally muttering about how much better it felt with a pill, Xiao Yan stood up, said to a nearby mercenary, "I'll step out for a brief rest," and then slowly walked toward a small grove beside him. Inside the grove, the light was dim, but since the mercenaries had previously surveyed this area, Xiao Yan didn't need to worry about sudden attacks from wild beasts. He scanned the surroundings, searching for the most suitable spot for meditation and training. As Xiao Yan continued his exploration, he gradually ventured deeper into the dense woods. After walking a bit further, the dim light suddenly brightened. Looking up, he realized he had already passed through the small forest and now stood before a moderately steep cliff, beneath which lush, verdant woods spread out, creating a beautiful scene. His gaze swept along the cliff's edge, but then paused suddenly. Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and stopped at a plant blooming with pale flowers beside the cliff. The flowers, softly opening, bore faintly visible crimson fruits, subtly emerging, releasing a delicate medicinal fragrance. He carefully studied the plant, his eyebrows lifting in mild surprise, then slightly bent down, extending his hand toward it to pluck it. As soon as Xiao Yan made contact with the plant, a slender, porcelain-white hand suddenly emerged from the cliff ahead, reaching for the same plant—only to grasp firmly onto Xiao Yan's hand. The jade hands, having just touched Xiāo Yīn's palm, slightly paused before contracting as if electrified, and in an instant, a delicate, ethereal face emerged from beneath the cliff, slightly flushed with mild embarrassment, gazing at the young man crouched ahead, wide-eyed with astonishment.