In the dark stone doorway, several shadows slowly emerged from the outer darkness, finally sealing the entrance tightly. Then, a figure stepped out from behind, and under the glow of the moonstone, revealed his face—none other than Mu Li, the deputy commander of the Wolf-Head Mercenary Regiment! His eyes first swept over the several piles of gleaming gold coins inside the chamber, a glint of greed flashing across his gaze. He licked his lips, glanced at the stone chest already opened by Xiao Yan and his companion, and smiled politely, "I'm sorry to have disturbed you both." Holding the key tightly, Xiao Yan's expression remained somber. He glanced at the small healer beside him, her brows furrowed in annoyance, and coldly asked Mu Li, "Did you follow us?" "Actually, I wouldn't say I followed you. I received news several days ago about the small healer's discovery of the treasure chamber—though I didn't know the exact location at first," Mu Li shrugged, smiling gently. "How did you learn of this?" I've only mentioned this to my assistant, Lifa. You... did you bribe her?" The young physician's face first showed a look of surprise, then quickly turned furious. "Hmph, that woman is quite naive—just a little flattery, and she's already spilled everything." Mu Li smiled slightly, but didn't deny the young physician's suspicion. "You rogue!," Li Mei exclaimed, her brows furrowed in anger. "I'm sorry, but these items are absolutely vital to our Wolf-Head Mercenary Company. Once we secure them, we can easily absorb all the powers in Qingshan Town. Only then will we have the strength and standing to expand beyond these humble borders. My ambitions, I assure you, do not rest merely within this small town." Mu Li said calmly. "Hand them over to me, Young Physician. I know how you feel about me—your loyalty is well understood. As long as you stay with me, when I take full charge of the Wolf-Head Mercenary Company, you will never be treated unfairly." His gaze softened as he fixed it warmly on Xiao Yixian. "Following you? Right now, just talking to you makes me feel sick!" Xiao Yixian's pink lips curled with scorn, her tone sharp and cutting—clearly, Mu Li's efforts to win over her allies had deeply angered her. A faint coldness passed through Mu Li's eyes as he smiled gently. "That's fine. I'll make sure you stay right here with me." Then, shifting his gaze to the silent Xiao Yan beside him, Mu Li smiled warmly. "I've been telling you to join the Wolf-Head Guild for some time now, yet you've stubbornly refused. Now, even if you'd like to join, it's too late." "A guild with no one above the Grand Duelist rank—how bold they are!" Xiao Yan shook his head, his expression full of mockery. "I'll have to kill you—quite easily." Mu Li's smile was calm, yet carried a clear, unwavering resolve. "Hand over your things, and I'll let you go with your body intact." With both arms wrapped around his chest, Mu Li coldly glanced at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan grimly tugged at his lips, his eyes sweeping over the rank insignias on the chests of the over ten mercenaries who had completely sealed off the stone gate. These mercenaries were all at the level of four- or five-star warriors, and Mu Li himself was at the six-star level. After mentally assessing the composition of the opposing force, Xiao Yan felt a subtle weight settle in his chest. While he could currently only handle one four-star warrior at a time, he believed he might be able to hold his own against a six-star warrior for a while once he removed his heavy black sword from his back. However, at this moment, there were no fewer than ten capable mercenaries stationed at the gate. Given his current strength, if they surrounded him, he would likely be cut down in battle under normal circumstances. "Master?" Xiao Yan silently called out to Yao Lao, but received no response. With a sigh, he shook his head in resignation—seeming it would be unlikely that Yao Lao would intervene to relieve him. Mu Li stood at the center of the stone gate, arms folded, gazing with a teasing expression at Xiao Yan, whose face was rapidly shifting in color. A sudden sense of cat playing with mouse filled his heart. "You have good talent, but your wings still haven't grown strong. Honestly, I'm quite afraid of your future revenge. To eliminate this very situation that keeps me restless, you must die here today!" With a gentle tap of his fingers against his arm, Mu Li smiled. Since childhood, he had been instructed by his father to eliminate anyone he encountered—no matter what—ensuring that no trace of potential retaliation remained. Mu Li's composed smile caught Xiao Yan's eye. For years, it had always been Xiao Yan who had been the one to dominate and bully others. Yet, he had never before faced such a situation—being about to be surrounded and killed. "You're absolutely right," Xiao Yan said, a cold edge appearing at the corners of his mouth. "If I ever get the chance to escape, I'll make the Wolf-Head Guild a scene of chaos." "I admire your courage in showing hostility toward me under these circumstances, though it also strengthens my determination to keep you here permanently," Mu Li smiled, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. Xiao Yin lifted his eyelid, his dark gaze equally sharp with resolve. As Xiao Yin pondered how to encircle him, the hand resting against his back suddenly shifted, as if something had been quietly slipped into it. With a subtle glance, Xiao Yin gently tightened his grip on the hand, his eyes casually scanning the small healer standing close beside him. "This was the hypnosis powder from earlier," the small healer murmured, her voice barely audible. Xiao Yin nodded slightly, his eyes swiftly sweeping across the walls of the stone chamber, noting the three moonstones glowing softly. A spark of recognition passed through him. "Follow me closely!" Xiao Yin said firmly, his tone serious. "Understood." Nodded obediently. At this point, the young physician had to place all her hopes for escape on Xiao Yan. "Move in! Kill that boy! Be careful not to hurt the young physician—she's the one I've chosen!" Mu Li raised his hand, his expression stern, and barked the order. "Understood!" Upon hearing Mu Li's command, the dozen mercenaries behind him immediately split off five, who charged forward with fierce determination, aiming directly at Xiao Yan and his companion. Observing the stone door, still tightly blocked despite only five mercenaries having arrived, Xiao Yan furrowed his brow—his growing frustration with the mercenaries' cautious approach. "Boom!" Scanning the five charging mercenaries, Xiao Yan raised his hand, sending a strong surge of energy that propelled a small bag of powdered medicine into the air, where it instantly exploded, scattering the fine powder throughout the entire chamber. "Hold your breath! Those at the door—stay still! Secure the entrance, Ma Si! Attack them now!" Staring at the drifting medicinal powder filling the stone chamber, Mu Li's face grew pale and he roared urgently. Mu Li's command swiftly calmed the agitated mercenaries. The five mercenaries inside the chamber drew their weapons from their sides, their eyes blazing with fury, and charged straight toward Xiao Yan and the other two. As Xiao Yan pulled Little Doctor with him and retreated, he suddenly bent his hand, then swiftly drew in the moonstone suspended on the wall—immediately, the moonstone detached and was firmly grasped in his hand. With a simple twist, the moonstone was sealed into his ring. The chamber's light dimmed noticeably as the first moonstone was lost. With a serious expression, Xiao Yan hurried forward, drawing in the next two moonstones with his right palm and accurately placing them into the ring. Once the final moonstone was secured, the chamber plunged into sudden darkness. At the very instant the darkness fell, Xiao Yan pulled Xiao Yi, turning his body sharply and charging straight toward the position of the stone gate as remembered. "Don't panic! Bring out the torches. The people at the entrance must stay put—no one may move. And the people inside must remain still. Anyone who dares to approach the gate, regardless of who they are, will be killed!" The sudden darkness had darkened Mu Li's expression, yet thanks to his sharp instincts, he immediately bellowed the orders. With clear leadership, the members of the Wolf Head Guild began to calm down. Several guild members with torches quickly pulled them from their cloaks, only to have them knocked back to the ground moments later by a powerful gust of wind bearing fierce force. A strong hand slammed directly onto their chests, sending several of them gasping and collapsing to the floor. "He's arrived! He's at the stone gate! Stop him!" the injured guild member, despite the pain, shouted. Hearing the shouts from below, Mu Li's expression darkened again, and he took several hurried steps backward, just landing at the very edge of the stone door, thereby completely blocking the opening space. "Boom!" A powerful surge of energy shot forth suddenly from the front. The several mercenaries at the stone door, rated at the five-star warrior level, would have been blown off their feet had they not reacted promptly. Even so, their stances were pushed unsteadily. As their balance wavered, two swift gusts slipped through the gaps between them like eels, vanishing silently. When they regained their awareness, they found themselves unable to stop the advance. They immediately shouted urgently to the last remaining figure, Mu Li, "Captain, they're charging toward you!" The pupil of his eyes narrowed slightly, and Mu Li slowly spread his feet, blocking the narrow passage completely. His palms clenched tightly, and the faint green qi beneath them began to surge. Under the glow of this green energy, the flesh of his fists gradually turned a wood-like hue. "Let's see then, how your two-star warrior manages to push me back in a direct clash!" With a cold laugh, Mu Li pulled out a night pearl from his sleeve and tossed it forward. Though the light was dim, illuminating only a few feet around, it was more than sufficient for the narrow passage. As soon as the night pearl was released, two figures leapt swiftly across the space above. With the faint glow of the pearl, Mu Li could just make out the determined aura on the young man's face. "Get back!" He watched as Xiao Yan charged forward like a moth flying toward a flame, and with a cold smile, he raised his wooden-like fists, glowing with a vibrant green hue, and struck them with fierce force straight at Xiao Yan. "Xuan Stage, Basic Combat Technique: Hardening of Wood!" The rushing qi pressing against him stung Xiao Yan's face, causing a slight pain. He lifted his eyes and clearly saw the fierce intensity hidden within Mu Li's pupils. "Damn it." Mentally cursing, Xiao Yan took a deep breath, then suddenly gripped the massive black sword on his back with both palms. With a powerful shout, the sword launched itself from his back. As he twisted his hands, the sword was instantly stored within his storage relic. Once the sword vanished, Xiao Yan's speed surged dramatically—almost as if it had doubled in the blink of an eye. The previously sluggish flow of qi within him now surged like a tidal wave, rushing violently through his meridians. After having suppressed himself for so long, Xiao Yan finally broke through, his fists clenched tightly, veins bulging with increasing intensity, as a powerful force rapidly coalesced. Feeling the surging, flowing ki within his body, the young man's refined features bloomed with fierce determination. His eyes, slightly cold, fixed upon Mu Li, now nearly within reach. The ki began to surge powerfully along the pathways of his combat techniques. "Eight-Point Collapse!" The cry resonated deep within his mind, causing his sleeves to instantly tighten—fabric that had once been soft now stiffened as if forged from steel. As the sleeves swelled with potent force, his fists first contracted sharply, then exploded outward in a sudden burst. "Thud!" The two fists collided squarely within the narrow cave, producing a thunderous sound that echoed through the passage, lingering for a long time. Observing the young man who now matched him in strength, Mu Li's expression subtly shifted. He hadn't expected that in mere moments, this individual's prowess had leapt several levels. "I'll hold him here—kill him now! At any cost!" A cold roar erupted from Mu Li's throat, sending the seasoned, calculating young captain into a state of alarm. The strength Xiao Yan was now displaying was far beyond what he had expected—so young, yet capable of matching him, a six-star combatant. If this trend continued for another couple of years, the consequences would be catastrophic. Should Xiao Yan escape, the Wolf Head Guild would face a devastating blow. The very thought of relentless retaliation that would follow stirred an unrelenting fury within Mu Li. "Knocking out Mu Li, Xiao Yan forcibly resisted the urge to kill him on the spot and immediately grabbed the young healer behind him, then turned without a backward glance and dashed urgently toward the entrance of the cave. As soon as Xiao Yan had stepped out, over a dozen mercenaries burst out of the stone chamber, staring at Mu Li lying on the ground with a pale face. They were all stunned—how could a young captain of only six-star combat rank be defeated by a mere youth? This stark reality left everyone momentarily speechless. 'Idiot! What are you waiting for? Go after him! Make sure you kill that boy. Once you get outside, send a signal so the ones stationed above can intercept!' Mu Li, gasping for breath, spat out another stream of blood and roared in fury. 'Yes!' Mu Li's roar snapped the mercenaries back to alertness. They quickly responded, then launched themselves into pursuit, charging furiously after Xiao Yan and his companion. With great difficulty, Mu Li leaned against the stone wall, exhaled heavily, and his eyes flashed with fury as he slammed his fists hard into the stone, his voice cold and sharp: "Little scamp, don't let me catch you—otherwise, you'll be trapped, unable to live, unable to die!" "After you step out, don't climb up—should their ropes be cut, we'll be buried at the bottom of the cliff." "Stay down? Do you really want to leap off the cliff, or are you going to wait for them to come out and surround us?" Xiao Yan frowned, his steps unrelenting. Biting her lower lip, Xiao Yisheng seemed to have made a decision, and said, "I can take you away." Xiao Yan's heart stirred slightly, and he remained silent. "Don't hesitate any longer! You've helped me—I won't let you down!" Seeing Xiao Yan's hesitation, Xiao Yisheng knew perfectly well what thoughts were going through his careful mind, and thus urged him impatiently. Taking a deep, slow breath, Xiao Yan nodded slightly. Seeing him nod, Xiao Yisheng pulled out a short bamboo flute from her sleeve, placed it to her lips, and gently blew. A peculiar wave of sound swiftly radiated from the flute, traveled through the corridor, and finally spiraled into the night sky beyond the cliff. "What are you doing?" Staring at the small opening softly glowing with moonlight, Xiao Yan couldn't help but ask curiously. "Call your companion," said Xiao Yisheng, smiling playfully as she raised her bamboo flute. "A first-tier blue hawk." "A flying beast?" Xiao Yan was slightly surprised. When he saw Xiao Yisheng nod, a look of delight spread across his face—now he was in good shape. "Unfortunately, there's still one stone box left unopened," Xiao Yisheng remarked, following closely behind him, a touch of regret in her voice. "Well, don't hold on to too much. There will be more opportunities later; I'll just retrieve it then," Xiao Yan said, a hint of coldness in his expression. "Heh, I was actually struggling with the dullness of my future cultivation routines. Now, this guy has just brought a whole batch of entertainment. Fine, Wolf-Head Guild, I'll be staying with you through my days in the Beast Mountains—this is going to be a long-term affair!" After rushing furiously along the dark passage once more, the moonlight at the entrance grew increasingly bright. Suddenly, the two of them were bathed in brilliance, and the countless stars along with the large silver moon came into view. At the entrance, Xiao Yan swiftly pulled Xiao Yixian close to the stone wall, glancing subtly toward the cliff above. Indeed, he saw several figures carrying torches patrolling around. "Good thing you didn't leave me hanging," he muttered, pressing his ear to the ground, then said solemnly, "The pursuing forces are coming. Where's your flying beast?" Xiao Yixian scanned the night sky with her beautiful eyes, once again placing her bamboo flute to her lips. A strange, quiet wave of sound gently echoed through the night. "Li!" Not long after the sound began, a sharp cry rang out across the night sky. Under the glow of the moonlight, Xiao Yan could vaguely see a massive, deep-blue old eagle speeding through the mountain's depths, swiftly circling below the cliff just in a short while. "Come on," said Xiao Yixian, breathing a sigh of relief as the blue eagle arrived, and gestured toward Xiao Yan. Nodding slightly, Xiao Yan turned and looked at the cave, now beginning to reveal human figures, gave a cold smile, then wrapped his arm around Xiao Yixian's slender waist, leaping onto the giant blue eagle. "Lan, hurry!" Xiao Yixian urged as soon as she climbed onto the eagle's back. At the sound of her voice, the blue eagle spread its wings wide, generating a strong gust of wind, and then soared skyward, carrying the two of them. "Shoot it down!" The group of over a dozen mercenaries standing at the cave entrance quickly shouted to the cliff as they saw Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian boarding the eagle. "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" He heard the shouts from below, and the cliff above grew momentarily chaotic before a sudden barrage of arrows shot forth, aimed directly at the blue eagle soaring in the sky. Observing the rain of arrows rushing toward him, Xiao Yan was slightly startled. As he prepared to intervene and push them back, the blue eagle beneath him suddenly flapped its wings vigorously, sending a gentle, pale blue breeze sweeping out. This gust instantly scattered a wave of arrows over the cliff's edge. Perched upon the blue hawk, Xiao Yan gazed down at the cave, his piercing gaze firmly locked onto Mu Li, who stood at the entrance being supported by a mercenary. Their eyes met across the night sky, both radiating fierce, unhidden intentions of deadly intent. As the blue hawk gradually receded, Xiao Yan turned his gaze away, tilting his head toward Xiao Yixian and asking, "Where are you headed?" With a delicate gesture, she brushed aside a strand of dark hair from her forehead; the strong wind rushing in pressed her robes tightly against her body, subtly revealing the graceful contours beneath. "I'm returning to the herb-gathering team," Xiao Yixian said calmly. "You're going back? Mu Li might just follow you too," Xiao Yan remarked, slightly surprised. "Ah, once I return to the herb-gathering team, he'll never dare to do anything to me again," Xiao Yixian smiled. With her reputation in Qingshan Town, if Mu Li wished to avoid public disapproval, he would absolutely refrain from making any further moves against her. "And after returning to Qingshan Town, he was even more hesitant to act—Wan Yao Zhai's influence wouldn't be smaller than that of the Wolf-Head Guild, and both of the other two guild leaders have personally owed me favors." "Then, let it be as you wish." Nodding slightly, Xiao Yin could see from the way the soldiers were looking at her just how respected she was in the town, so he had no real concerns about her safety. "What about you?" She turned to him, smiling gently. "Me? Heh, I won't be going back. I don't have your standing. If Mu Li wants to kill me, no one will stand in his way. And given the strength I've shown, he'll surely find every opportunity to eliminate me. So, I simply can't return to Qingshan Town anymore." Holding tightly to the blue eagle's feathers in his hand, Xiao Yin chuckled. "Are you leaving?" Xiao Yin asked, slightly hesitating. "Leaving?" Hehe, I Xiao Yan won't be running around like a tail-between-my-legs coward doing something so meek. I'll train in the Monster Mountain for a while, and then—well, I'll settle things with the Wolf-Head Guild one day at a time." Xiao Yan smiled calmly. "The guild's captain is only a two-star Battle Mage. If you'd like to take revenge, you'll have to be a bit more careful," Little Healer said seriously, after a brief pause. "Relax, a Battle Mage isn't anything special—haven't we seen plenty of them before?" Xiao Yan waved his hand carelessly and chuckled. Back then, Jialebi was even a senior Battle Mage, and still, he managed to bring his entire family to ruin. Seeing Xiao Yan's composed demeanor, Little Healer nodded in agreement and fell silent, then turned to command the Blue Eagle, soaring upward into the mountain range. On the eagle's back, a quiet calm settled in as both of them slowly relived the thrilling near-death experiences they'd just endured. "Hehe, little one, that's quite impressive—managing to escape such a perilous situation with such a minimal cost. I didn't expect that at all." As Xiao Yan closed his eyes to recover, the satisfied chuckle of Yao Lao suddenly echoed within his mind. Listening to Yao Lao finally speak, Xiao Yan gave a slight scowl, murmuring to himself, "I thought you'd vanished entirely." "Haha, the youngster is quite grumpy—how could I expect him to truly feel the weight of such a crisis unless he experienced it firsthand?" Yao Lao laughed heartily. "And how was the sensation of breaking free from those restraints?" "Not bad," Xiao Yan said, brushing his nose with a calm tone. "Hehe, care to seek revenge?" Yao Lao's laughter sounded like that of a cunning old fox, full of allure. "When have I ever seen you suffer a loss and not come back stronger? If that stubborn fellow wants me dead, then how can I let him live in peace?" Xiao Yan smiled, though a cold, sharp glint passed through his eyes. "You've also heard the young girl's words—the commander of the Wolf-Head Guild is a two-star Combatant." The Elder of the Medicine laughed. "Therefore, if you wish to seek revenge, you must quickly elevate yourself to the rank of Combatant!" "Of course," Xiang Yan shrugged. "During this period, I will meditate and train within the Mountain of Beasts, regardless of how demanding or rigorous my teacher's methods may be." "Haha, excellent! Since you've made up your mind, I'll employ the most efficient approach to ensure you become a Combatant without any lingering effects!" Hearing Xiang Yan's words, the Elder burst into laughter—clearly, resentment was indeed the finest catalyst for progress. ... Above the night sky, a massive blue eagle descended slowly, finally landing on a mountain peak after folding its wings. "This is where the herb-gathering team is stationed," the Elder said. "Since you don't intend to return, I'll leave you here. In the morning, you may simply depart at your convenience, shall we?" Staring at the bonfire below, the young healer turned to Xiao Yan and smiled. "Hmm." Nodding with a smile, Xiao Yan bowed slightly and laughed warmly, "Then let us part here. Our next meeting might have to wait quite some time." "Hmm." Gently nodding, the young healer hesitated slightly before withdrawing a small pouch of powdered medicine from her sleeve and handing it to Xiao Yan. "Though the medicinal power isn't strong, these powders should at least be sufficient to protect us." Receiving the pouch, still warm from her body, Xiao Yan felt touched. Honestly, he and the young healer had only just met, and he had even been rather persistent in taking half of her precious belongings. Though he had saved her during their escape, at that moment, anyone in his position might have done the same. Smiling gently while running a hand over his nose, Xiao Yan nodded slightly, raised his hand toward Xiao Yishen, and then turned, walking steadily into the dark forest: "Goodbye. Next time we meet, I'll take down that broken mercenary company—give both of us some satisfaction." "Haha, I'll be waiting." Xiao Yishen blinked playfully as she smiled. Watching the young man's silhouette fade into the darkness, she finally turned her gaze back to the camp below, her voice soft and steady: "Mu Li, you'd better hold on—women remember things far more tenaciously than you'd ever imagine." She gave a cold laugh, leapt back onto the blue eagle, and slowly spiraled downward, eventually vanishing into the night sky. ... The quiet night slowly faded away, and the first rays of morning sun spilled across the sky, gently illuminating the white tents. When Xiao Yixian woke up from her sleep, the commotion inside the tent and the familiar sound that made her feel nauseous reached her ears. With a softly flushed mouth, she gently lifted a cold expression, lazily descended from the bed, dressed herself, and then slowly stepped out of the tent. Outside the tent, seven or eight mercenaries were standing firmly at the entrance. At that moment, they were solemnly blocking a young man outside. Upon seeing Xiao Yixian emerge, they promptly bowed to her. "Ah, Mu Li, sir, what's going on so early in the morning? How did you manage to break into my tent?" Xiao Yixian smiled warmly at the mercenaries, then turned to Mu Li, who looked somewhat displeased, and offered a gentle smile. "Ah, no problem at all. It's just that it's getting late, and I wanted to come and ask Xiao Yixian to prepare for departure." As she glanced behind Xiao Yixian, Mu Li furrowed his brows slightly, then smiled. Nodded slightly, the young physician waved off several mercenaries and stepped forward, smiling at Mu Li. "Master Mu, 'the mantis catches the cicada, but the oriole waits behind'—what a fine strategy!" "Ignoring his complaints, the young physician tilted her rosy lips slightly, her eyes filled with scorn. "Miss Young Physician, the medicinal herbs are nearly all in place. Shall we be on our way?" A herbal gatherer from Wan Yao Zhai stepped forward, bowing respectfully to her. "Yes, let's go," the young physician nodded gently, her gaze sweeping the camp. Suddenly, she softened and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, due to a minor incident involving the Wolf-Head Mercenary Company, I would like to ask each of you to temporarily take on the role of personal bodyguards for them. Would that be acceptable?" Hearing this, the mercenaries all paused, then quickly dropped what they were holding, rushing excitedly toward the young physician. Watching the young physician smiling calmly as she arranged the mercenaries, Mu Li couldn't help but feel a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth—he knew she was keeping a careful watch on him. After assigning the personal guards, the young physician turned to Mu Li, who remained in place, and smiled. "Master Mu, when Xiao Yan left, he asked me to deliver a message to you." "As long as he hands over what he obtained in the cave, I will not hold against him for injuring me," Mu Li said with a cold laugh. "Ah, Master Mu," the young physician chuckled, "you're mistaken. Xiao Yan asked me to tell you—he will return." With a gentle smile, she spoke softly. Mu Li's eyes narrowed, and he exhaled deeply, his expression filled with determination and resolve. After a long pause, he finally nodded, his tone now cold and firm: "Very well. As long as he survives in the Mountain of Beasts, I shall wait for him to come and settle his score!" With a sharp gesture, he waved his sleeve and, together with his attendants, departed. Watching Mu Li's retreating figure, the young physician's smile grew more composed. A subtle coldness passed through her eyes. Gently brushing back a strand of dark hair from her forehead, she lifted her gaze toward the high peak behind her. Under the glow of morning light, it seemed as though a young figure stood faintly atop the mountain peak. …… Standing at the summit, gazing at the group of mercenaries preparing to depart, Xiao Yan twisted his head slightly, clenched his hands firmly, and coldly remarked, "Stubborn old fool! I'll keep your misdeeds fresh in my memory—last night's affair, I'll make sure you pay for it handsomely the next time we meet!" Drawing a deep breath of the crisp morning air, Xiao Yan turned sharply, back turned to the forest, and strode forward without looking back. He knew then that true cultivation had finally begun! …… Within the fresh, invigorating forest, Xiao Yan lay concealed among a patch of grass, his dry leaves blending him perfectly into the surroundings. He suppressed his breathing to the very lowest level, fully concealing his presence, his body as still as a rock, motionless. His eyes, however, remained fixed intently, steadily watching a massive red wolf approaching slowly from the direction of the forest. It has now been two days since Xiao Yan parted ways with Xiao Yi. During this period, he has steadily advanced toward the heart of the Beast Mountains, and based on his pace, he should now be situated in the central region of the mountain range. Over these two days, he has encountered no fewer than ten attacks from beasts—winning victories in two instances, while in the others, he has each time managed only to flee in desperation. Though he has escaped many times, the relentless, life-or-death battles against the beasts have imbued him with a genuine sense of blood and weariness. Ever since, Xiao Yan has been searching for the cultivation site requested by Yao Lao, yet has yet to find one that fully satisfies his expectations. As a result, he has continued to journey tirelessly, enduring constant threats from various beasts, carefully preserving his life at every turn. Before Xiang Yan stood a massive red wolf, a mature first-tier fire wolf whose strength rivaled that of a human six-star battle cultivator. Xiang Yan had encountered this wolf on several prior occasions against wild beasts, though due to the heavy sword strapped to its back, it had ultimately fled in a somewhat awkward manner. As soon as the low rumble in his heart faded, a tremendous surge of qi caused the giant wolf to emit a mournful cry, its body skidding across the ground for over ten meters before it finally collided with a tree trunk. Its four legs twitched violently before giving in, collapsing in reluctant surrender. With a firm step, Xiao Yan exhaled deeply, his limbs tingling from the prolonged crouching position. He twisted his head, then hurried forward, drawing out the small dagger at his waist and slicing open the wolf's head. Instantly, a small crimson crystal came into view. "Hm, a magical core?" He was momentarily surprised, then beamed with delight, carefully removing it and brushing off the blood without a care. This was his first magical core harvest in two days. After extracting the core, Xiao Yan casually laid the wolf's body aside, glanced up to orient himself, and then took off at a swift stride toward a spot where a faint sound of water was subtly echoing. With agile movements, piercing through the dense thorns and undergrowth, Xiao Yan's view suddenly broadened after a few moments of hurried progress, and the booming sound of the waterfall filled him with exhilaration. After finally breaking through the last colossal tree, Xiao Yan gazed at the scene before him, breathing deeply in awe. Before him, a massive waterfall cascaded like a silver ribbon from a lofty mountain peak, its waters crashing against giant stones, sending a misty vapor rising into the sky. On either side of the waterfall, steep mountain walls rose, adorned with naturally formed caves—Xiao Yan was delighted to see them. With just a few stones piled at the entrances of these caves, he could easily keep the beasts out, no longer worrying about waking up to find a fierce, venomous serpent coiled at his side. "At last, I've found the perfect place for cultivation," Xiao Yan said, spreading his arms and inhaling the misty air, smiling softly. Rubbing his nose, Xiao Yan rotated his palm, and two scrolls appeared in his hands. These scrolls were the ones he had obtained in the cave. Due to being in peril for the past two days, he had not had the time to carefully study them. Now that he had a secure place to settle, he could finally begin to study them at ease.