The dense jungle was quiet and serene, occasionally interrupted by small animals leaping through the undergrowth, startling flocks of birds resting on the branches. The tranquil atmosphere lasted only briefly before being shattered by a hurried, disheveled figure who instantly sent a wave of birds and beasts scattering throughout the forest. Unconcerned with the chaos he had created, this somewhat flustered figure darted wildly, occasionally turning with wide-eyed panic toward the dark, dense woods behind him—his fear as if a primordial beast were hot on his heels. After running for some distance, the figure in the mercenary's attire looked up at the distant light ahead, a surge of joy spreading across his face. As soon as he emerged from this cursed forest, he could summon his companions for rescue and no longer need to dread the relentless death-dealing shadow pursuing him. With a sudden burst of momentum, the mercenary leapt slightly, firmly planting his feet against the trunk, and shot forward toward the light ahead. The bright light, so close at hand, deepened the joy on the knight's face. Yet, in the very next moment, that joy suddenly froze. Startled, the knight discovered a sudden, powerful suction force that not only halted his forward momentum but actually pulled his body backward. A look of shock flashed across his face as he still hadn't had time to call out—before him, a dark figure darted past, the strong gust of wind carrying thunderous sounds, crashing heavily against his chest. "Boom!" The deep impact caused the knight's eyes to narrow sharply, and a noticeable dent formed in his chest. The immense force sent his body suspended in midair, then crashing down to the ground, splattering soil and spraying blood mixed with shattered internal organs in a violent gush. Wide-eyed, the mercenary fixed his gaze on the figure standing atop the branches above, his eyes gradually turning pale, until his breath vanished entirely. Watching the mercenary's breath fade away with quiet detachment, the young boy carrying a massive black ruler gently tightened his grip on his palms, murmuring softly, "The eleventh one... If you intend to exchange others' heads for money, then you must also be prepared to have yourself be slain." The boy on the branches was Xiao Yan, who had just departed from his training grounds. Just two days after leaving the small valley, Xiao Yan had encountered no fewer than several waves of wolf-headed mercenary teams searching for him. With no mercy shown to those who hoped to bring him back for a reward, he had systematically eliminated nearly every member of the wolf-headed teams below eight-star battle rank along his journey. With Xiang Yan's current strength, even after securing the Xuan Chong Chi, a Seven-Star Battle Specialist could be slain within twenty rounds—provided that the specialist is not on par with him in rank. However, such a match might be hard to find even within the entire Wolf-Head Guild. The day before, Xiang Yan had gathered some internal information from a guild member. According to that member, the strongest figures in the current Wolf-Head Guild were its团长, Mu She, a Two-Star Battle Specialist, and beneath him, one Nine-Star Battle Specialist and one Eight-Star Battle Specialist at the senior leadership level. Beyond these three, the Guild would have no one capable of standing alone against Xiang Yan. Glancing once more at the lifeless body, Xiang Yan lightly tapped his foot on a branch, using the momentum to drift outward into the dense woods, then murmured a quiet laugh, slowly spiraling and fading away. "Lord Mu Li, how many of your wolf-headed mercenaries do you think can still survive? Send one out, and I'll kill one... The game has only just begun!" "...Damn it! By the gods!" In the spacious hall, Lord Mu She listened to the relentless stream of reports from his subordinates. With a furious roar, he crushed the teacup in his hand to dust, his anger mounting. Watching Lord Mu She's growing rage, the senior officers of the wolf-headed corps fell silent, each one hesitating to speak or even move. "In just two days, we've already lost fifteen of our core members. If this continues, will there be anyone left in our wolf-headed corps?" Taking deep, labored breaths, Lord Mu She bellowed. Everyone exchanged glances, utterly speechless. "The person responsible has been confirmed—Xiao Yan," said Lord Mu Li, clearing his throat and stepping forward despite his own unease. "You said he was no stronger than you, right?" "Why have all three of the Seven-Star Combatants sent out been defeated by him?" Mu She slammed her palm down hard on the table, shouting in frustration. With a weary smile, Mu Li replied, "Three months ago, even when he drew upon his hidden strength, he was truly on par with me. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been forced into such a desperate position by my team inside the cave." "Now, however, the strength he's displaying is absolutely equal to—or possibly even surpassing—that of a Seven-Star Combatant. Maybe even an Eight-Star!" Mu She's face darkened, recalling a possibility, her lips twitching slightly as a coldness crept into her voice. "Could it be that during his months in the Beast Mountains, he's grown this strong?" Upon hearing this, Mu Li's eyes flickered, a subtle shock passing through them. In just three months, the man had not only advanced—but jumped two stars? How on earth had this stubborn fool managed such a pace? This speed... it was simply astonishing. "It seems my expectations have not been misplaced—that young man isn't exactly a saving grace." Gradually regaining composure from his fury, Mu She sat back in his chair, his fingers tapping steadily on the table as he pondered, then spoke with a cold resolve, "First, let us temporarily withdraw our forces from the Beast Mountains. After two days, reorganize our teams into groups of five, and equip each with signal flares pointing the way. Then, enter the Beast Mountains together." "I'm going to lay a web from sky to earth—see where that young fool tries to hide!" His hands clenched tightly, and a fierce determination radiated across his face. "Understood." "By the way, where is Hemong? I haven't seen him." Nodding slightly, Mu She scanned the hall, then furrowed his brow in query. "Uh…" The others were momentarily startled. After a pause, one of them smiled and replied, "It seems Hemong, the third commander, has taken a few of his men with him to accompany the blue lady from Blue Flower Inn into the Beast Mountains to capture the snow foxes." "Her mouth twitched, and Mu She snapped, 'This foolish fellow, always thinking only of women—does he not know the current state of the Wolf-Head Guild? How dare he enter the Beast Mountains on his own? Dead man's luck! He'll end up crushed under a woman's belly!' 'General, Third General is an Eight-Star Battle User. If he meets Xiao Yan, he might even manage to defeat him in the process.' 'Given his mind, if he makes it back alive, I'll be satisfied.' Mu She snorted, then waved irritably. For some reason, he couldn't shake off a growing sense of unease. Hemon was different from the others. If he fell to Xiao Yan's hands, it would be a significant blow to the Wolf-Head Guild. 'When he returns, have him come see me.' With that sharp remark, Mu She turned and left the murmuring hall. ...Under the soft moonlight, a tent camp rose among the trees, several clusters of pale yellow fires standing out prominently against the night sky. Perched on a tree branch, Xiao Yan leaned against the trunk, gently biting into a green root, its subtle bitterness spreading throughout his mouth. With the thick branches providing cover, he had a clear view of the camp below, which housed fifteen mercenaries, most of them at the level of five-star combatants. At the central tent, however, stood a eight-star combatant—his very target, reportedly the third commander of the Wolf-Head Mercenary Regiment. While Xiao Yan’s current strength gave him a strong chance of defeating a single eight-star combatant, this would be true only if the opponent had no allies. Given the current situation, to successfully eliminate the eight-star combatant, he would first need to dispatch the other mercenaries. Frowning at the well-defended camp, Xiao Yan did not immediately act but instead remained quiet, patiently waiting for the optimal moment. Above, the crescent moon gradually rose higher, and the land lay still and silent. After another half hour of waiting, a gentle breeze suddenly stirred through the heavens, rustling the trees and sending a soft rustling sound through the forest. Sensing the direction of the breeze, Xiao Yan's face softened into a faint smile. With a light tap of his finger on his storage ring, a small bag of powder appeared in his hands—the very one gifted by Xiao Yixian when they parted that day. This powder, with its special sleep-inducing effect, was precisely what Xiao Yan needed now. He tossed the powder gently in his hand, smiled slightly, and was about to take action when he suddenly noticed two mercenary guards slowly stepping out from the camp toward him. "They've spotted us?" With a slight frown, Xiao Yan slightly retreated into the shadow, then stared calmly at the two guards approaching steadily. At the same time, the qi within him began to flow. As the two mercenaries reached beneath Xiao Yan's tree, they suddenly stopped, scanning the surroundings before pulling out their equipment to take a break. Observing their actions, Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief and quietly muttered under his breath—“Damn, that woman is so showy—just looking at her big ass, I’d think she’d be crushed underfoot right there.” One of the mercenaries, mid-urination, suddenly barked out a stream of coarse remarks. “Hush now, you idiot—she’s the third brigade commander’s prized possession. If you do anything out of line, the commander will personally send you off to feed the wolves.” The other mercenary gently reminded him. “Hmph, just a mediocre woman, I saw her being taken by the second brigade commander last time. But apparently, she’s been too shy to mention it to the third brigade commander—heh.” "Alright, alright, just don't go spreading these stories—otherwise, it'll be us, the little guys, who end up in trouble. Let's go..." After securing his gear, the soldier on the left turned around first. Suddenly, a shadow flashed before him, and before he could react, a sharp pain surged in his throat. Moments later, his consciousness began to fade. "Let's go," said the other soldier, who had been hesitating for a while before finally turning around. He stared at the now-empty space behind him, momentarily stunned. Before he could speak, a cool sensation passed through his throat, and then darkness swallowed his vision. Gazing at the quiet camp, Xiao Yan waited a moment longer before leaping down from the tree trunk, holding a long sword taken from a mercenary's back, and then walking steadily through the camp. Passing several empty tents, he eventually reached the large tent situated at the central location. Under the reflection of the flames inside, two entwined bodies were moving vigorously. Listening to the man's heavy breathing and the woman's moans coming from within the tent, Xiao Yan's lips curled into a cold, composed smile.