Helian Yuchen gazed at Yan Wuxin’s profile, recalling what Ye Lin had said, and pursed his lips as he stared at him. It was precisely because of this glance that Yan Qingcheng felt a surge of killing intent toward Yan Wuxin.
Yan Qingqiu stood at the forefront, using Huanli to amplify his voice as he spoke, his booming tone reaching everyone’s ears. “One month from today, you must all appear here. Duanhun Shan is filled with countless Moshou. On the day the training ends, we will tally the Shoujing. The top ten will not only qualify for the Tiancai Xuanba Sai but will also be allowed to enter Bingqi Ge to select a Huanqi as a reward.”
Upon hearing this, all the disciples grew excited.
Yan Jia’s Bingqi Ge housed the various Huanqi accumulated over a lifetime by General Yan. Each Huanqi within possessed Shenshi and could form a contract. The prospect of obtaining a handy Huanqi with Shenshi left no one unmoved.
“Additionally, besides Changle Guo, there will be other cultivators in Duanhun Shan. If you encounter them, remember not to provoke conflicts lightly. Understood?”
“Understood.”
After a few brief instructions from the heads of each family, the disciples’ training officially began the moment they stepped into Duanhun Shan.
Upon entering Duanhun Shan, the sky gradually darkened, so the teams had no choice but to rest where they were.
Looking around, campfires of various sizes flickered everywhere, with each team gathered around their own. Apart from the royal team, which consisted of ten members, most other groups had six people. Among them, Yan Wuxin and Shangguan Ruoyu stood out the most.
“Two people forming a team, and without a Teleportation Array at that. It seems some might not make it back.”
Mocking voices were everywhere. Yan Wuxin paid them no heed, but Shangguan Ruoyu kept her head lowered, not daring to utter a word, afraid that she might accidentally offend them and invite even more ridicule.
Yan Wuxin frowned and walked to a quiet spot.
Having not eaten for two days, Shangguan Ruoyu, her stomach growling, approached her. “Fourth Miss… are you hungry?”
Yan Wuxin looked at her timid and weak demeanor, her frown deepening.
She took out some food from her Kongjian and placed it before Shangguan Ruoyu, saying indifferently, “Only the weak allow themselves to be bullied. If you wish to follow me, remember to hold your head high.”
Shangguan Ruoyu was taken aback, unsure how to respond.
“Whether you’re a concubine’s daughter or a legitimate one, in this world, the most terrifying thing is not others looking down on you, but you looking down on yourself.”
That night, Shangguan Ruoyu did not sleep, reflecting on the words Yan Wuxin had spoken to her.
The next day, at the break of dawn, everyone packed their belongings and prepared to embark on the true path of training. Duanhun Shan was vast; if they had a vehicle, they could traverse the entire forest in less than three days.
Yan Wuxin and Shangguan Ruoyu had no specific destination and simply wandered aimlessly.
Where exactly was the Wannian Shilian?
Apart from searching without direction, she didn’t know what else she could do.
As Yan Wuxin walked, she gathered some rare herbs not commonly found in her Kongjian.
Seeing her collect herbs, Shangguan Ruoyu stood by and watched. She knew Yan Wuxin harbored many secrets. Even though her own strength was not high, she understood that Yan Wuxin’s future would undoubtedly surpass everyone else’s.
Her aura, her confidence—no one could match them.
Perhaps it was because of the path she had chosen, but after walking for an entire morning, they had not encountered a single Moshou. She even began to wonder if these Moshou truly existed.
Perhaps her doubts had displeased the heavens, for at that moment, a roar echoed through the air.
“Moshou!” Shangguan Ruoyu’s expression instantly tensed.
“Let’s go.”
It was said that Shoujing could not only aid cultivation but could also be exchanged for items in the market. However, these were not the most important reasons. What mattered most was that she wanted to see if the Moshou was as mysterious as portrayed in television dramas.
As they hurried forward and caught sight of the Fourth-Rank Phantom Beast before them, Shangguan Ruoyu swallowed hard, nearly grabbing Yan Wuxin’s hand and fleeing on the spot.
Moshou were categorized into: ordinary Moshou, Huanshou, Shengshou, Shenshou, and Chaoshenshou, with each type divided into ranks one through five.
The Moshou before them was a brown tiger, its eyes sharp and gleaming with killing intent. And behind it… Seeing the gruesome state of the six individuals, her heart leaped into her throat, nearly jumping out of her chest.
They were disciples of the Mei family, all six at the Spirit Master Intermediate Grade. They didn’t look young either—one of them, a girl, was around sixteen or seventeen, while the others were roughly in their twenties.
Even with such strength, they were utterly defenseless in the face of this beast. What about them…
“Fourth Miss, they are disciples of the Mei family,” Shangguan Ruoyu whispered.
The Mei family? What rotten luck!
“Fourth Prince, save me!” The only girl in the group cried out in panic, swiftly darting toward the crowd.
Fortunately, a white figure caught her, or she would have fallen into a trap.
Yan Qingyu?
Truly… enemies are bound to cross paths. But how did Yan Qingyu end up with the Fourth Prince? Wasn’t she fond of the Crown Prince?
“Sister Mei, you…”
The girl shyly lowered her head, and then one of the Mei family members spoke up, “Fourth Prince, we cannot defeat this Huanhu.”
This was a Fourth-Rank Phantom Beast. If they could contract it, they could boast about it upon their return. However, even with the six of them working together, they were no match for it. If Yan Wuxin and the others hadn’t suddenly arrived and interrupted the Huanhu, they would have already become its meal by now.
The Fourth Prince stared at the tiger across from him, unsure of what to do.
If he subdued the Huanhu now, others would surely accuse him of taking advantage of the situation. But if he gave up like this, who knew how long it would be before he encountered another Fourth-Rank Phantom Beast.
Just then, the Fourth Prince noticed that the number of onlookers was growing, especially under the large tree, where the spectators’ eyes were fixed on the scene. Suddenly, a plan formed in his mind.
“Quick, lure the Huanhu toward the tree!” Yan Wuxin had made them wait so long when they came for training—he had to make her suffer a little.
“…” At that moment, Yan Wuxin felt as though ten thousand horses were galloping through her heart, cursing his ancestors for eighteen generations.
Watching as the group desperately led the tiger toward her direction, Yan Wuxin narrowed her eyes and swiftly threw silver needles.
“Roar…”
The tiger roared in pain, lifting its head. Now, it was thoroughly enraged by the humans before it.
“Climb the tree! What are you waiting for?” With that, she pushed Shangguan Ruoyu aside and lured the tiger away alone.
“Yan Wuxin!” A sinister voice called out from behind.
Yan Wuxin instinctively turned her head, only to be yanked backward by a powerful force. She was flung forward at high speed, hurtling straight toward the tiger.
Seeing the human who had injured it thrown out, the tiger roared several more times, opening its bloody maw, ready to tear into its prey.
“Fourth Miss!” Shangguan Ruoyu cried out in panic as she saw Yan Wuxin flying toward the Moshou.
The onlookers at the scene quickly scattered to the sides, each one nervously watching the slender figure.
Yan Wuxin, this time, you’re dead for sure!
Yan Qingyu glared venomously at the person on the brink of death, her eyes blazing as if she were a Moshou, ready to slay her enemy with her own hands.