On the Azure Sky Continent, Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures had always been scarce resources. Not only could they absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and possess extremely pure power, but more importantly, they held unique inherent attributes.
These attributes acted like magical keys, capable of helping a Martial Artist shatter their internal shackles and bring about an earth-shattering transformation in their strength.
The Nirvana Flower could allow a Martial Artist to undergo Nirvana Rebirth once.
The Cyan Dragon Fruit gave a Martial Artist a minuscule chance to comprehend Spatial Divine Techniques.
...
The function of the Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower was precisely to cleanse the marrow and refine the meridians, tempering the bones and allowing Lin Huang’s physical body to achieve a further breakthrough.
The unique Spiritual Qi of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures held a fatal temptation for Demon Beasts. Wherever there were precious Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Demon Beasts would undoubtedly be present.
This was exactly what troubled Lin Huang!
In the vicinity of the Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower, there was bound to be a Thousand Mechanism Python. It was a genuine Second-Level Demon Beast, comparable to a Martial Artist in the Earth Element Realm.
The Earth Element Realm...
It could probably swat the current Lin Huang to death with a casual slap!
Lin Huang felt a headache coming on.
He was determined to obtain the Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower, but he still hadn’t thought of a good way to deal with the Thousand Mechanism Python.
"Let’s find the flower first. Hopefully, that Thousand Mechanism Python is still an un-grown beast!" Lin Huang muttered as he packed his bag. Afterward, he headed toward the Central Belly of the Qinglong Mountain Range.
...
The Qinglong Mountain Range could be divided into three layers from the outside in: the periphery, the Central Belly, and the Inner Domain.
The area Lin Huang had stayed in previously was the periphery. This time, he was approaching the Central Belly, where the level of danger was far beyond that of the outer edges. According to the records of the Great Xia Dynasty, seventy percent of the Mercenaries who entered the Qinglong Mountain Range every year ended up buried there.
There was even less need to mention the Inner Domain. Even ordinary experts in the Celestial Element Realm who entered would meet a certain death.
"Brother Lie, look! There’s a wildman over there!"
Lin Huang hadn’t walked for long when a little girl’s sweet voice suddenly drifted over from a distance. Subsequently, several gazes fell upon him.
Lin Huang froze for a moment. He looked down at himself and thought, "That’s quite a fitting description."
Right now, apart from being half a head shorter than a typical wildman, there was no difference at all.
Not far away was a Mercenary Corps of more than twenty people. They carried heavy swords on their backs, and faint murderous intent exuded from their bodies.
Standing at the forefront of the Mercenary Corps was a young man draped in a Profound Black Robe. He was holding the hand of a little girl who looked to be under ten years old, as pink and delicate as a porcelain doll.
Lin Huang glanced at the young man in the Profound Black Robe. Dressed in this Cloud Pattern Brocade Robe, he looked like a young master from a prominent family. Although his appearance was somewhat ordinary, the Four Symbols Compass he held in his hand was far from simple!
Lin Huang frowned slightly and turned around, preparing to leave.
"Wildman Brother, wait a minute!"
The little girl suddenly called out. With big, watery eyes and revealing adorable little canine teeth, she asked, "Wildman Brother, do you know where to find the Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower?"
"Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower?"
Lin Huang frowned, growing much more vigilant inwardly. He cast another glance at the young man in the black robe holding the Four Symbols Compass.
"That’s right! Wildman Brother, how about you take us to find it? Ling’er can give you money. Ling’er has lots and lots of money," the little girl said with an innocent and naive expression.
"Little Ling’er, this wildman might have never even seen money before." Behind the little girl, a woman in red covered her mouth and chuckled softly. Her slightly charming face made no effort to conceal her disdain for Lin Huang.
"Brother, I am Qin Lie. Ling’er speaks without thinking, so please don’t take offense." The black-robed young man spoke gently and let out a hearty laugh.
"This place is unusually dangerous. You should all be more careful."
Lin Huang nodded. After offering a brief warning, he took his leave. He was not familiar with these people, so naturally, he could not go searching for the Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower alongside them. If there were multiple flowers, it would be a different story. But if there was only one, driven by self-interest, a fierce battle would inevitably break out.
...
Three days later, Lin Huang finally discovered the Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower on the edge of a cliff. The fiery red petals and leaves bathed in the sunlight, shimmering brilliantly alongside the waterfall cascading down the precipice.
Lin Huang did not approach but instead concealed himself. There was bound to be a Thousand Mechanism Python in the vicinity of the flower; this was a law of nature.
During these past few days of searching for the Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower, he had encountered a total of four Demon Beasts. He had managed to avoid two of them from a distance.
Then he had been chased like a dog by the other two.
And the Thousand Mechanism Python was vastly more powerful than all four of those Demon Beasts combined...
"Brother Lie, look! Is that the Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower that Brother Ce mentioned?"
Just as Lin Huang had hunkered down, that sweet voice suddenly rang in his ears again. It was precisely the little girl, Little Ling’er, whom he had met three days ago.
Lin Huang looked up, only to see Qin Lie’s group appear not far away. The Compass had already been put away by Qin Lie. As they gazed at the radiant Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower by the cliff edge, expressions of excitement washed over their faces.
Lin Huang frowned, watching as Little Ling’er trotted happily toward the Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower...
HISS!
The hiss of a snake suddenly tore through the air. Lin Huang watched as the rocky ground ahead cracked open. A Thousand Mechanism Python, which had buried itself in the dirt, abruptly surfaced before everyone’s eyes. It was as thick as a water bucket and over ten large strides long. Its entire body was covered in iridescent scales, and three sharp horns protruded from its head.
At this moment, the Thousand Mechanism Python reared its body, locking its gaze onto the little girl as the vicious glint in its eyes intensified.
"Big snake head, could you give Ling’er one Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower? My Brother Ce’s body is failing him, and he needs the Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower to save his life!"
The little girl blinked her large, dark eyes, putting on the most adorable act she could muster.
In the clearing, everyone else’s expressions drastically shifted. They had never expected the Thousand Mechanism Python to appear so quickly. A fine layer of sweat broke out on Qin Lie’s forehead, terrified that the slightest harm might befall the little girl.
The Thousand Mechanism Python blinked. A hint of confusion seeped into the ferocious gaze it fixed on the little girl.
Maintaining her innocent expression, the little girl flashed a sweet smile, then simply bypassed the Thousand Mechanism Python and jogged toward the Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower.
HISS!
The Thousand Mechanism Python was instantly enraged. Its entire long body arched up as it bared its long fangs, lunging to bite the little girl.
Qin Lie’s face contorted as he lunged forward like a hunting leopard...
But the distance was too great. Even a Martial Artist in the Earth Element Realm would not make it in time.
"Little Ling’er!"
Qin Lie roared, his eyes filled with panic, wishing he had eight legs at this very moment.
SWISH.
Just as the little girl was about to be swallowed whole by the Thousand Mechanism Python, Lin Huang violently shot out from the side. He scooped the little girl into his arms and hit the ground heavily, rolling three consecutive times to break the fall.
"Oh, Wildman Brother, you’re here too!"
Still oblivious to the danger, the little girl spoke with her large, bright eyes wide open, her two small dimples looking exceptionally endearing.
Lin Huang looked at the carefree little girl and forced a smile. By now, the Thousand Mechanism Python was furious beyond measure. Its blood-red eyes locked onto Lin Huang as it slithered in a circle around him.
It seemed to be toying with its prey.
It had merely been waiting for the Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower to mature. Now that it finally had, out popped some little girl acting cute for all she was worth, trying to steal its treasure while it wasn’t paying attention.
How could anyone bully a snake like this!
"Brother, Qin Lie expresses his thanks here. Please leave this Thousand Mechanism Python to us to handle," Qin Lie called out gratefully from a short distance away. If Lin Huang hadn’t intervened just now, the little girl would have lost her life.
With that said, Qin Lie signaled the Mercenary Corps behind him to close in, allowing Lin Huang and the little girl to retreat safely from the Thousand Mechanism Python’s attack range.
This group had clearly come prepared. A massive Realgar Rope Net appeared in the hands of the mercenaries. The net was smeared entirely with potent realgar, and numerous sharp spikes were concealed within the ropes.
The Thousand Mechanism Python’s eyes were blood-red. These humans appeared extremely weak in its eyes, yet that massive net made it sniff out a dangerous aura.
"Attack!"
Qin Lie was not a soft-hearted person either. Seeing the Thousand Mechanism Python reveal a hint of fear, he immediately ordered everyone to attack.
In an instant, the mercenaries clashed fiercely with the Thousand Mechanism Python.
In the rear, Lin Huang let out a long breath of relief. With the Realgar Rope Net in play, he was more than happy to sit back and avoid the slaughter.
"Brother, thanks to you just now, otherwise, Little Ling’er would have been in grave danger." Qin Lie expressed his gratitude repeatedly, reaching out to rub the little girl’s head.
"I want one Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower!"
Lin Huang stated calmly.
He had seen it earlier; there were three Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flowers on that cliff.
"Wishful thinking. The Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower is incredibly expensive. On what grounds do you think you can just ask for one?" Hann Yunyun, the woman in red behind Qin Lie, rejected him. Her eyes bore a mocking tint as she looked at Lin Huang. "If it weren’t for us, could you have dealt with the Thousand Mechanism Python by yourself?
"Don’t think that just because you saved Little Ling’er, you can demand a reward for your kindness. Look at your own status! You’re nothing but a wildman, what right do you have to negotiate terms here?!"
Lin Huang paid no attention to Hann Yunyun. He looked calmly at Qin Lie and asked, "Do you share the same view?"
"No problem!"
Qin Lie laughed heartily and agreed without the slightest hesitation. In his eyes, the little girl’s life was far more precious than a single Thousand Mechanism Bone-Cleansing Flower.
"Wildman Brother, my name is Qin Lingxuan. What’s your name?" the little girl asked, blinking her eyes.
"Lin Huang!" Lin Huang smiled as he patted her small head.
"Lin Huang? Lin Huang of the Divine General’s Mansion?"
Qin Lie paused slightly, then frowned.
This wildman... is the Young Master of the Divine General’s Mansion?
Off to the side, Hann Yunyun tucked away her previously disdainful expression. Biting her crystalline red lips, she couldn’t help but steal a few more glances at Lin Huang. She quietly adjusted her hair, a bright and alluring smile blossoming on her beautiful face.
Lin Huang smiled and shifted his attention to the fierce battle unfolding ahead.
He had to admit, these Mercenaries were highly experienced. Although their Realms were not high, their coordination was incredibly tacit. Coupled with the Realgar Rope Net in their hands, they were steadily forcing the Thousand Mechanism Python into a corner step by step.
CRACK!
While the intense battle ahead was in full swing, the sound of snapping dead branches suddenly echoed from the jungle. Lin Huang’s mind jolted in alert. He frowned and said,
"Someone is coming!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You guys certainly made yourselves hard to find!" Following that, an arrogant laughter rang out from the jungle, sounding exceptionally unbridled.
Lin Huang turned his head, only to see dozens of people emerging from the undergrowth. Each one of them boasted a burly physique, their faces radiating Evil Qi. As they stared at Lin Huang and the others, their expressions bore a beast-like ferocity.
"Violent Bear Mercenary Corps!"
Hann Yunyun exclaimed, covering her mouth, a trace of dread laced in her voice.
Lin Huang’s gaze swept across the crowd before finally landing on the leader in the very center, causing a slight ripple in his heart. This man was heavily built, resembling an ape. The Evil Qi overflowing from his body displayed an unrivaled Tyrant Path. He was actually at the Human Element Sixth Heaven!
There was also a distinct character tattooed on his face: Sin.
Not only him, but every single member of the Violent Bear Mercenary Corps had the character for "Sin" tattooed on their faces...