Staring at the courtyard below, now nearly reduced to ruins, Xiao Yishen finally regained her composure after a moment of stunned silence. Her eyes shimmered with wonder as she fixed her gaze on the young boy carrying a heavy bamboo pole. Gently brushing the feathers of Lan Ying with her jade hands, she then took to the air, slowly circling before descending and landing softly in the courtyard. With a light leap from the eagle's back, she approached Xiao Yan, her eyes following Mu She's flight path. "How is he?" she asked softly. "At the very least, he's severely injured." Smiling slightly, Xiao Yan suddenly coughed violently, clutching his mouth with both hands. After a moment, a few streaks of blood appeared on his palms. "Are you all right?" Concerned by Xiao Yan's pale complexion, Xiao Yishen quickly tapped his back with her jade hands. "Nothing serious," Xiao Yan waved off gently. "Just a bit drained." With a simple push of his palm toward the dusty corner of the wall, a gust of wind swept away the dust, revealing the ruins beneath. Xiao Yan gazed at the body trembling faintly beneath the ruins, his dark eyes remaining utterly calm. He coughed softly a few times, then slowly dragged his heavy staff to the side of the wreckage. With a powerful stroke, he struck a fragment of stone, sending it flying, and revealed Mu She, pale-faced, battered and disheveled beneath. "Seeming to understand that Xiao Yan would have no sympathy, Mu She's words carried neither the tone of pleading nor the desire to retreat, instead brimming with fierce determination. "I think," Xiao Yan said calmly, lowering himself and feeling along his body with his hands, then returning empty-handed, slightly tilting his head, "you no longer have a chance for that." "Ah, you're interested in it?" Mu She managed a chuckle, though with a cold, proud satisfaction as he lifted his head. "But alas, should I die, you'll never see it again." Nodding slightly, Xiao Yan slowly straightened up, sighed, and with a gesture of resignation, remained silent for a moment before suddenly smiling. "Then, if it's that way—go ahead and die." As soon as the words fell, Xiao Yan's face instantly turned cold, and his Xuanzhong Chi-Staff was forcefully slammed down upon Mu She's chest. Observing Xiao Yan's decisive and unhesitant action, a shock and fear flickered in Mu She's eyes—he hadn't expected Xiao Yan to abandon the allure of the Xuanyuan-level Combat Technique. "Let me go! I'll tell you where the Xuanyuan-level Combat Technique is hidden. From this day on, our grievances shall be settled once and for all!" cried Mu She, his voice strained under the shadow of death. "No thanks. Compared to the Xuanyuan-level Combat Technique, I simply don't like being kept in the memory of cold-blooded creatures like a venomous snake." With a crisp smile, Xiao Yan drove the heavy staff with relentless force into Mu She's chest. "Boom!" A deep thud echoed as Mu She's eyes suddenly widened, his body sinking deeply beneath the impact. A surge of blood, mingled with shattered internal organs, erupted violently from his mouth. Staring fiercely at the young man before her, Mu She finally softened, her vitality rapidly fading. Gazing at the cold, curled form lying amidst the ruins, Xiao Yan gently closed his eyes, exhaled, and then turned toward the small healer nearby. "Let's go. Mu She is gone. Without a leader, the Wolf-Head Guild has lost its cohesion—when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. The Wolf-Head Guild is now disbanded," Xiao Yan said, his face slightly weary. "Hmm." The small healer softly nodded, her eyes sweeping the surroundings. She saw that the remaining soldiers, now bereft of any fighting spirit following Mu She's death, pale and scattered, fleeing in every direction—fearing, as if Xiao Yan might pursue them. Sighing softly, once Mu She had passed, all the past grievances had vanished as if by magic. With her rosy lips slightly pressed together, the young physician murmured, "It's time we were leaving, after all..." Turning around, she carefully helped Xiao Yan onto the back of the blue eagle, then mounted herself as well. With a graceful gesture of her jade hands, the blue eagle let out a resonant cry and began to glide upward, slowly ascending into the sky. Circling once in the heavens, the eagle then swiftly spread its wings and soared ahead, eventually fading into the vast blue sky. A young man who seemed no more than twenty had single-handedly slain all three senior commanders of the Wolf-Head Mercenary Corps, a feat so brutal that most people felt a deep sense of shame. The death of Mu She marked the official dissolution of the Wolf-Head Mercenary Corps. Without a leader to guide them, a once-dominant force in Qingshan Town had gradually declined into one of the least prestigious factions—entirely due to the rise of a single youth. As for the ultimate fate of the Wolf-Head Corps, it no longer mattered to Xiao Yan. Qingshan Town was merely the starting point of his journey. Perhaps, upon completing his rigorous cultivation, he would occasionally recall that small town nestled beneath the Mountains of Beasts—the place where he first faced life's first pursuit and chase. Xiao Yan was not unfamiliar with this place either. It was precisely the basin once visited by the herb-gathering team, where medicinal plants grew abundantly across the land. This time, however, under the guidance of Xiao Yishen, he had soared from the sky and directly descended into the heart of the basin. As he gently descended into the deep interior, the rich energy permeating the small valley filled him with exhilaration. Taking a deep breath, he felt his spirit instantly invigorated. "How do you like it? This place is excellent. The small valley is completely isolated from the outside world, with thick fog covering the sky, making it extremely concealed. Had it not been for a chance encounter by a young breeze who accidentally entered, I might never have discovered this remarkable site," Xiao Yishen said with a proud, graceful smile, observing Xiao Yan's awed expression. "Indeed, it's wonderful." Nodding with great enthusiasm, Xiao Yan's gaze swept over the valley, where a gentle mist of energy hovered. To his further delight, he discovered that the valley was also home to various rare medicinal herbs, their fragrant essences mingling with the mist and filling the air with a refreshing, invigorating charm. "Shall we stay here for a while? Several herbs mentioned in my Seven-Colored Toxin Classic are exactly available here," said Xiao Yixian, turning to Xiao Yan with a tone suggesting consultation. "Certainly," replied Xiao Yan without hesitation. Such a prime place for cultivation was not something one could easily encounter—he had already resolved in his heart to aim for a Master Rank here. Though the valley was isolated, accessible only by Xiao Yixian's blue eagles, he felt no concern. With the support of Yao Lao and Ziyun Yi, he was confident that even in the event of unforeseen circumstances, he could soar skyward. Seeing Xiao Yan agree, the young physician smiled warmly and nodded, then blew a soft bamboo whistle to Blue Eagle, letting it soar freely. She then led Xiao Yan on foot to a corner of the small valley, pointing gently with her slender finger at a thatched cottage there, and smiled, "This is where I used to build it. We'll stay here for the time being." "Ha, though it's just a simple thatched hut, having a beautiful lady to share it with makes life quite pleasant," Xiao Yan said, nodding as his gaze swept over the cottage. He turned to admire the porcelain-like elegance of the young physician's side profile, chuckling lightly and teasingly. At this, the young physician blushed slightly, gave him a playful scolding glance, then waved her small fist, lightly sniffing, "Don't think I'm weak just because you think so, and then expect me to do whatever you please!" "Hmm, I certainly don't want to find out you've quietly slipped some mysterious poison into my system without me even knowing," Xiao Yan said, waving his hand with a cheerful smile. "Hmph." "Her delicate nose twitched slightly, and the young physician raised her jade-hand toward Xiao Yan, saying, 'I'll go gather herbs first. You just wander around at your leisure.' With that, she turned and walked toward the distant patches of medicinal plants. Turning back to watch the young physician gradually fade into the distance, Xiao Yan smiled and began walking in the opposite direction, murmuring softly, 'Master, is there anything wrong here?' “…A Master of Battle?…” The steps suddenly paused. Xiao Yan lifted his head, gazing at the misty air above the valley, and slowly said, “Let me calculate—since I’ve come out, it’s already been over half a year. And the time until that three-year agreement seems to be less than a year now.” “Then, let’s speed things up a bit. The cultivation journey in the Beast Mountains is nearly coming to an end. Your next destination is the Tagoer Desert, you know—ah, the hardships and dangers there will be even more severe and challenging than in the Beast Mountains.” The old pharmacist’s laughter carried a touch of indulgent relief. Shaking his head in resignation, Xiao Yan chuckled, “Can the hardships I’ve endured be any fewer?” "Hehe, relax and focus on your cultivation. Although the Tagoor Great Desert is dangerous, its serpent maidens are truly exceptional—first-rate on the Spirit Qi Continent. If luck is on your side, you might even end up with a serpent maiden as a personal servant, hehe..." Rolling his eyes, Xiao Yan had no desire to deal with the pompous old doctor anymore. He continued to carefully examine the valley's surroundings. For the coming period, he would remain calm and steadily cultivate here, until he achieved the rank of a true Spirit Qi Master!"