The Lesser Venom Wyrm stalked after the small human, her large serpentine body undaunted as she followed.

  She eyed the strange human with a predatory look in her eye.

  The young girl was rather capable. Zhu Mei, despite her youthful village-girl appearance, moved with an air of experience and expertise as she navigated the dense Forest.

  Should I be cautious? Zhu Mei was not hiding who she was in front of me, yet I knew from those memories that human cultivators are among the most treacherous and ruthless in this world.

  It made her unable to not stare at the girl with a bloodthirsty caution that promised violence at the sight of betrayal.

  “My Father was very active in these parts. The valuable plants here have decreased due to the Whispering Spirit Beast Pavilion, yet it remains invaluable to mortal humans.” Zhu Mei said lightly as she briskly continued her speedy pace.

  Sun Yuying followed, snapping branches and debris underneath her, as the weight of her large, powerful serpentine body pushed her forward.

  Ruminating on Zhu Mei's words, she knew that the human was inviting her for a discussion, and after some thought decided to humour her.

  What do you know of this place? You seem to know a lot, yet you do not appear to be affiliated with any sect.

  An amused twinkle appeared in Zhu Mei's eyes as she turned to face her, saying, “Finally caught your interest? You are rather unusual for a Wyrm; most would try to swallow me whole by now, usually rather glutinous fellows. I know more about this place than you think, though you did surprise me. Does the Tiger know you're here?”

  The Lesser Venom Wyrm could not hide her eagerness to respond. Mirthfully, she felt delighted to shock Zhu Mei for a change as she projected.

  That Kitten? I ate him along with the others.

  It was Zhu Mei's turn to appear utterly flabbergasted. The young girl finally completely lost her composure, and her stoic facade cracked momentarily to the absolute delight of the serpent.

  “You did what?” Zhu Mei said in alarm.

  The Lesser Venom Wyrm felt delighted that she had finally ruined Zhu Mei's composure.

  You find it hard to believe? I ate them one by one. Don’t you think I am mighty?

  Sun Yuying had no idea what compelled her to sound so smug as she uttered those words. It was as if her lesser dragon blood compelled her to brag about her exploits enthusiastically.

  Zhu Mei seemed less than amused as she stared back in annoyance at the giant serpent that dwarfed her small form.

  “You do realise the Whispering Spirit Beast Pavilion is going to come here, finding no Spirit Beasts for their Outer Sect trials? Well, none except you. And trust me, it's bad. Though these trials are meant to be fair to those of lesser backgrounds, there are always the young masters with good backgrounds who bribe their way to a claim on the Spirit Beasts. That ‘Kitten’ you shoved down your gullet was deemed fairly valuable, and the insufferable brat who wanted it will definitely look at you as the ideal replacement.” Zhu Mei said with a lecturing tone.

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  The Lesser Venom Wyrm no longer felt as self-satisfied as she heard Zhu Mei's words. Yet, as it dawned on her that some uppity brat from some human sect assumed he could lay a claim on her, she was infuriated.

  A young master? What is that? Can she eat it?

  After we slaughter those rogue cultivators of yours, you must inform me of a means to get around this.

  Zhu Mei chuckled at that as she said, “There are some complications. The deacon who goes with them is assuredly at the Foundation Establishment, yet I do have my own means. As Iron Blade Gang, I expect them to follow the trail we are blatantly leaving behind; they will eventually be on us.”

  Sun Yuying continued to follow after that, a moment of silence between them.

  She knew the confrontation was coming soon, and she had to be prepared.

  As confident as she was, it would be her first encounter with trained cultivators, even if they were rogue.

  “Oh, and I should warn you, the leader of Iron Blade Gang is not a mere rogue cultivator. He is an exiled outer sect disciple; his cultivation would be considered very advanced in this region, and he has experience fighting Spirit Beasts. Do not underestimate him.” Zhu Mei said suddenly.

  Sun Yuying recalled her earlier words.

  I thought you said their foolishness to challenge me stemmed from their underestimation?

  Zhu Mei smiled at that as she said, “The leader does not underestimate you. His goal is me and the heavenly treasure; he is fine with slaughtering his entire group to get his hands on it. It is the rest of the group who underestimate you. Watch out for him; he will use them, including Min Feng, as shields once he has his sights on us.”

  The Lesser Venom Wyrm was deep in thought at that.

  It seemed this leader would be an interesting challenge after all.

  Hong Yuan's imposing frame stood tall as an informant from one of the villages stood pathetically before him.

  The lowly villager he recalled was from Ironwood Village, Min Feng, wasn’t it?

  He recalled the name, as he was the trusted disciple of the herb gatherer who acquired that Blazing Yang Fruit.

  It was that very fruit that broke his bottleneck, allowing him to progress to the eighth stage of Qi Refinement.

  Since being exiled from the Mountain Fist Sect, he had been forced to scavenge for resources, and he had formed a group of Rogue Cultivators who had been terrorising the Villages in these parts.

  His group numbered over a dozen. And with his cultivation being remarkably high in these parts, it was effortless to command obedience.

  I might have passed the age limit and was declared to have no hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment. Yet, I was still among the top at the Outer Sect before I was exiled for those unsavoury rumours; there are few in the Iron Willow Dynasty outside the Sects for me to be wary of.

  It gave him reason to move from place to place, pillaging places like this.

  Lingshou Forest contained few resources, yet, with the Spirit Beasts under restrictions from the Whispering Spirit Beast Pavilion, it offered opportunities to those like him.

  He loomed over Min Feng as the Villager shivered in fear, as he narrated to him information, “It was the daughter of that man. She promised that Spirit Beast something. Out of nowhere, she had joined my group and had been upping our yield by a fair bit; of course, you received some of those very benefits! Yet, I knew she was hiding something. Her Father was clearly lying about not knowing where he found that fruit.”

  Hong Yuan placed his hand on his chin, coming to the same conclusion as he said, “Tell me everything.”

  Hong Yuan knew that even if the young girl didn’t have another Blazing Yang Fruit, she knew about something valuable.

  Spirit Beast?

  He was not afraid of a Spirit Beast in the First Realm. Hong Yuan had experience fighting such beasts before. Beasts in the first realm were dumb brutes; sect disciples were used to taking them down in groups.

  Another Blazing Yang Fruit was too good for him to pass up. If he could acquire another one, then the ninth stage of Qi Refinement would be in sight.

  He would be gone after this and would not have to worry about the Whispering Spirit Beast Pavilion.

  “Come on, men, we have an overgrown serpent to hunt.” Hong Yuan said as a bloothirsty grin appeared on his giant features.