"Wow! A legendary third-tier magical beast, and a cub at that!"
"Put it up for auction, and it's worth hundreds of thousands of gold coins!"
"No wonder they're the Wolf Head Mercenary Group!"
Mu Li basked in the crowd's praise, shooting a provocative glance at Yun Xian's group.
Just then, Zhang the Butcher emerged, carefully carrying a large iron pot. Despite the lid, a rich, savory aroma wafted out.
"Dinner's served, honored guests. Enjoy!"
Zhang lifted the lid, revealing stewed beast meat. An indescribable fragrance filled the air, making everyone's mouths water.
"What kind of beast meat is this?"
"How can it smell so divine?"
"Just a whiff, and I feel my Dou Qi surging!"
The crowd stared in disbelief at the meat on Yun Xian's table, itching to dive in.
Whimper…
Strangely, the EmberHound cub, moments ago snarling at the crowd, now cowered in its cage, trembling as if sensing a terrifying beast's aura.
"Yanran, Yu'er, Mei'er, dig in," Yun Xian said.
At his command, the three girls began eating. They started with some restraint, mindful of their image, but soon gave in, grabbing the meat with their hands.
"Little Uncle-Master, this meat is too good!"
Chomp, chomp, chomp!
Sixth-tier beast meat really is something else!
Yun Xian smiled at their enthusiastic eating, then noticed Xiao Yi Xian at the next table. Despite her efforts to stay composed, she was practically drooling.
"Little sister, want a piece?"
Yun Xian tore off a chunk and offered it to her.
"I…"
Xiao Yi Xian started to refuse, but the meat's irresistible aroma overwhelmed her. After swallowing hard several times, she succumbed to her hunger, accepting it with a handkerchief and a polite smile. "Thank you, young master."
The sight ignited Mu Li's jealousy. Damn it! Who's this pretty boy, flirting with my Xiao Yi Xian?
"Hey!"
"They say 'share with those who see.' Hogging it all isn't right, is it?"
Mu Li's flimsy excuse was clearly a pretext to stir trouble.
"Yanran," Yun Xian said, too lazy to engage.
Clang!
Nalan Yanran drew her sword without hesitation, her icy gaze fixed on Mu Li. "Get lost!"
As she spoke, she released her Dou Qi.
"Six-star Dou Zhe?!"
Mu Li's face paled. He was also a six-star Dou Zhe, but nearly a decade older than her—a stark testament to their talent gap.
"No way!"
"She's only fourteen or fifteen?!"
The mercenaries were stunned. A six-star Dou Zhe wasn't a powerhouse, but at her age, such strength was rare, not just in Qing Shan Town but across the Jia Ma Empire!
"Who are you people?" Mu Li asked, his tone grave.
"Heehee, scared now? We're disciples of Yun Lan Sect!" Xiao Mei said, hands on hips, her youthful pride swelling.
"Yun Lan Sect? The Jia Ma Empire's top sect?!"
The crowd gasped.
"Let's disperse, everyone," Xiao Yu said, not wanting to draw more attention.
Mu Li and his group wavered, their courage faltering. The Wolf Head Mercenary Group was mere ants before Yun Lan Sect.
At that moment, another band of mercenaries stormed into the tavern.
"Leader!"
"Father!"
The newcomer was Mu She, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's leader. After a brief exchange with Mu Li, he grasped the situation.
"Honored guests from Yun Lan Sect, I'm Mu She. Forgive my failure to welcome you properly," he said, bowing humbly. But his eyes locked onto the beast meat on Yun Xian's table, a glint of greed flashing across his face.
Mu She wasn't after a mere meal. The beast itself was his prize.
"Those purple crystal scales… no mistake!"
"Leader, that meat likely comes from the legendary sixth-tier Amethyst Winged Lion King!" a seemingly educated strategist whispered in his ear.
Sixth-tier Amethyst Winged Lion King?!
Mu She's eyes gleamed. Scanning Yun Xian's young group, he dismissed the idea they could've hunted such a beast. They must've acquired the corpse through an auction or a lucky find!
If there's a magical core…
That's a treasure worth millions of gold!
The third-in-command, sensing Mu She's crooked thoughts, cautioned, "Big Brother, they're from Yun Lan Sect!"
"Tch! So what? Out here in the wild, if we're clean, who'll know it was us?"
"Worst case, we pull this job and flee to the Chu Yun Empire. I doubt Yun Lan Sect will chase us there!"
Tempted by the massive reward, the second-in-command joined in the scheming.
The Wolf Head Mercenary Group surrounded Yun Xian's table, their gazes menacing.
"Trouble…"
"These travelers don't know to keep their wealth hidden," Xiao Yi Xian sighed, glancing at the meat in her hand. Feeling indebted, she pondered whether to help them.
"Stop!"
Nalan Yanran stood firm, sword raised, her fearless gaze unwavering—a bold novice undaunted by the odds.
Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei, however, were scared. With only nine-segment and seven-segment Dou Zhi Qi, they had no fighting strength.
"Little Uncle-Master, what do we do?"
They looked to Yun Xian for help, but he continued eating and drinking leisurely, as if the mercenaries were beneath his notice.
"Watch closely and learn," he said. "Yanran, it's time to test your cultivation."
At Yun Xian's command, Nalan Yanran snapped into combat mode. Her cultivation method surged to its peak, her long hair flowing without wind.
"That aura… a High Xuan-Class cultivation method?!"
Mu She's face darkened. He practiced only a High Huang-Class method, far inferior in Dou Qi quality.
"But even so, the gap between a Dou Zhe and a Dou Shi isn't easily bridged!"
Mu She sneered, his body enveloped in pale cyan Dou Qi, forming a thin energy veil. This Energy Armor, a hallmark of Dou Shi, boosted defense, speed, and attack power.
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