On the Jade Ancestral Mountain, Xiao Ning decided to go a different way to explore the place and see what interesting things he could find. Unhurried, he wandered through an open plain, which ended facing a slope up the mountain.

  There wasn't much attractive on the plain, just grass. And it wasn't even Malaqui Grass, it was the common kind, of little use. However, when he started the climb up the slope, he spotted a plant from afar, uselessly camouflaged in the middle of the bushes, whose stem was black and leaves green with yellow dots.

  Anyone who had a keen Spiritual Sense would realize that wasn't a normal plant, as the Energy emitted by it was vibrant and flashy.

  "Oh, a Corpse Deceiver!" exclaimed Xiao Ning, surprised to see such a rare poisonous herb.

  The Corpse Deceiver, despite not being one of the deadliest, possessed an extremely powerful poison, capable of killing anyone below the Spirited Realm in a few hours. Unsuspecting people, attracted by its peculiar Energy, would be poisoned the moment they touched the yellow dots, the region where its toxin was stored.

  Xiao Ning paused for a moment to admire it. After all, herbalism was his hobby, and after a brief contemplation, he continued walking. He wanted to harvest it, to try and sell it, but because of the poison, he had no way of storing it. If he put the Corpse Deceiver in the glass jar, he wouldn't be able to store anything else inside.

  However, arriving just ahead, hidden behind a bush, a flower endowed with three petals, the size of a finger and exhibiting a vibrant violet, caught his eye. Xiao Ning lay chest down on the ground and brought his face very close. He examined it under an attentive gaze. He gave it a sniff. There was no mistaking it!

  "This is a Merciful Lady!" he exalted, excited by the find.

  Without delay, but with delicacy, he plucked the flower from the ground, taking extreme care not to injure its petals nor break its stem, while freeing its roots from the earth. After the harvest was done, he admired it one last time before placing it inside the glass container. At first, he had brought the jar to preserve the organs of the monsters he killed, but nothing could be done; he couldn't just leave a Herb like that behind.

  The Merciful Lady is an important ingredient used in one of the Alchemical Compositions, the Decoction, and is the base ingredient for preparing a good healing potion.

  After harvesting the Merciful Lady, he continued walking calmly, traversing hillsides and climbing slopes. On the way, he found other Herbs, some of which he harvested and others he merely appreciated. However, after a few hours, no monsters had appeared.

  However, that wasn't strange; after all, the number of Demonic Beasts on the Jade Ancestral Mountain was small. Thus, Xiao Ning left the place he was in and went looking in an even more distant area.

  But, even after walking and searching for a long time, he found nothing. As an Alchemist who loved getting his own ingredients, he knew the behavior of some monsters well, for example, the places they liked to hide and their more mundane habits. But even that didn't help him. Due to a lack of luck, he was considering climbing a little further up the mountain to explore the higher parts. That was when an isolated noise reached his ears: a distant, cornered cry.

  Guided by the noise, Xiao Ning gripped his spear and headed toward a large cyclopean rock, propped on a steep incline, supporting the slope above, which could be seen from afar.

  "Give it back, please!" shouted the voice.

  And in response to his plea, someone mocked:

  "HaHaHa!" laughed a wicked chuckle. "If you want it, why don't you try and take it?"

  "Ahahaha!" Then, a chorus of different voices accompanied the laughter, like a pack of hyenas watching a puppet show.

  Upon approaching the rock, Xiao Ning spotted a group of boys standing at its base. There were six in total, and one of them was kneeling with his forehead pressed to the ground.

  The kneeling boy was dressed in simple clothes, covered in dirt and a few old patches. He hit his head on the ground and kept begging.

  "Please, give it back! It was very hard to find them. I've been here for a week! Please!"

  But to his plea, the standing group laughed and laughed some more.

  A boy holding a bamboo basket approached and mocked:

  "A week to get just this crap?" he shook the basket. "What kind of trash takes so long?" And then, with malice, he stepped on the kneeling young man's hand.

  "I know it's not much, but please, Xiao Chu, I beg you! It's all I have!"

  "I already said. If you want it, come and take it," provoked Xiao Chu. "Although trash like you couldn't do it even in a thousand years." Finishing saying that, Xiao Chu kicked the kneeling boy's head, making him roll backward.

  Seeing this scene, the others standing further back smiled as they clapped happily. They rejoiced watching their friend humiliate the defenseless poor guy.

  But the one in simple clothes didn't give up because of that. He prostrated himself again and continued begging, hitting his already bleeding head against the ground.

  "Xiao De, no matter how much you beg, I won't give you anything back. If you want this back, come and take it with your own hands. That's the law of the strongest! Otherwise, this will be young noble Bai's gift," grunted Xiao Chu, encouraging Xiao De to fight.

  However, Xiao De remained prostrate, asking for his things back, begging with a pitiful voice.

  While watching that whole scene, Xiao Ning slowly walked toward the young troublemakers. As he walked, he sighed and shook his head. All his life there had always been this kind of idiot, who tries to take advantage of the weaker ones. With calm steps, he approached the six. He didn't seem angry or anything like that.

  As he got closer, Xiao Ning, who used his Spiritual Sense at all times, examined the boys and found out that the so-called Xiao De was at the 4th Layer of the Mundane Realm, and the others ranged from the 5th to the 6th Layer.

  The one holding the bamboo basket, Xiao Chu, was one of the two who had reached the 6th layer of the Mundane Realm.

  "Hm... Who are you? What are you looking at?" When he saw Xiao Ning approach, one of the boys, with a malicious look, immediately said.

  But Xiao Ning didn't answer; he just cast a brief glance at the others around and then at the bamboo basket.

  "Hey! I asked you a question. Where do you think you're looking?" The boy, who took it upon himself to take the initiative, got very close to Xiao Ning. And with a threatening voice, repeated the question.

  "I look wherever I want," answered Xiao Ning, shrugging. "Besides, this basket in your hand isn't yours, is it?" He indicated the bamboo basket with a nod.

  "And if it isn't, what does it have to do with you?" questioned Xiao Chu, taking a step forward.

  "Nothing much." He shrugged casually. "I just think you should be ashamed of stealing something from a member of your own Family."

  "Member of our own Family? Ahaha!" Xiao Chu laughed loudly, and the others followed his example, making a harmonious chorus.

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  "What's so funny?" said Xiao Ning, arching his eyebrows. He didn't understand what he had said wrong. He had heard the others call the kneeling one Xiao De. Had he misunderstood?

  "This trash may carry the surname Xiao, but he is nothing more than an inferior member of a Branch Family," mocked Xiao Chu, looking with disdain at Xiao De, who was still kneeling.

  "Ah, so that's the case." Xiao Ning nodded as if agreeing with such words and continued. "You really are dumber than I thought. If he has the surname Xiao, what difference does it make if he came from a branch or not? He's still Family."

  Hearing his words, Xiao De raised his head and looked at him, sketching a surprised look. On the other hand, the other five boys had dreadful expressions on their faces, something that mixed profound disgust and intrinsic contempt.

  "Humph! You are one of those worms! Just like that fake Patriarch!" snorted Xiao Chu, looking irritated, spitting the word "Patriarch" with immense disgust.

  Xiao Ning didn't care about the insult. He was more curious to know what the Patriarch had to do with what he had just said. However, before asking any questions, he was interrupted by one of the youths standing next to Xiao Chu.

  "Hey, older brother Chu, I wonder if there's anything interesting inside that sack?" he said, nudging his companion with one hand and pointing to the bag on Xiao Ning's back.

  "Oh, good question!" exclaimed Xiao Chu, showing interest in the suggested idea. "Hey, you! Hand that over here, right now!" he ordered, waving his hand.

  Xiao Ning cast a brief look at the bag he was holding and then at Xiao Chu. And arching his eyebrows, he grunted:

  "I will not!"

  "Boy, if you know what's good for your health, obey brother Chu and hand over that bag," threatened one of the troublemakers, with a menacing voice.

  "If you want to please this 'young noble Bai' so much, why don't you go and look for something valuable yourselves. Although, with those moronic faces, I doubt you know how to differentiate a Malaqui Grass from normal grass," sneered Xiao Ning, shaking his head and giving a mocking smile, as if what he had just said was very clever.

  "You trash! How dare you denigrate the good name of the Young Noble!" Without any warning, one of the boys who was closest to Xiao Ning let out a roar and jumped with clenched fists.

  Caught by surprise by the sudden action, Xiao Ning ducked at the last second. But, as soon as he did so, someone else's foot hit his chest. Spear in one hand and cloth sack in the other, he rolled backward and fell with open arms.

  The moment he sprawled on the ground, Xiao Ning quickly looked to the side, worried about the glass jar accommodated inside the sack. However, before he could check if it was broken or not, a sole, stained with mud, came down toward his chest.

  He rolled to the side, dodging the sole, and stood up with a jump. But the instant he did so, a boy flew with both feet toward his chest. Knowing he wouldn't be able to dodge in time, Xiao Ning gathered some Spiritual Energy in his forearms and protected himself.

  Thud!

  The sound of the impact echoed, and Xiao Ning took a few steps back, while the attacker who hit him fell on his back to the ground, but in the same second got up and ran back to his companions. Feeling his forearms sore, somewhat numb, Ning shook his hands, making the blood flow through his veins. Although he expected to take some damage due to the difference between cultivation levels, the attack had been stronger than he deduced at first. Those boys seemed to have feet of steel.

  While Xiao Ning was at the 4th Layer of the Mundane Realm, two of the five troublemakers were at the 6th Layer, while the other three at the 5th. So, a disparity in their strengths was already to be expected. But their attacks were unexpectedly solid and precise.

  However, there was no denying it, Xiao Ning was impressed, even, even admiring! These young troublemakers were very well coordinated. After all, where had they learned to fight like that?

  It was to be expected that a cultivator knew how to battle, but what those five boys, sixteen to seventeen years old, showed was beyond that. They exhibited perfect synchronism with one another, and that required experience and familiarity among those involved. Even in his five thousand years, he could count on his fingers the number of groups that demonstrated such harmony during a fight; it was as if they were reading each other's intentions and attacking by common agreement.

  Cultivators were selfish and tended to act alone. For this reason, what was shown by those youths was beyond astonishing. If they were a group of old men with some battlefield experience, then it wouldn't be so surprising. But Xiao Ning doubted they had ever even left Chaos Border City in their lives.

  Therefore, where the hell had they learned to move in such a coordinated manner?

  Well, be that as it may, if Xiao Ning didn't pay attention, he would end up taking a beating.

  Before continuing the battle, Xiao Chu took a step forward and with a glorious tone, spoke:

  "For a worm, you sure know how to crawl," he mocked, giving a satisfied smile. And then, his colleagues, like a chorus of hyenas wanting to please the boss, laughed loudly. "I'll give you one last chance. Hand over that sack in your hand. Otherwise..." Finishing saying that, he pointed his index finger at Xiao Ning, and from the tip, a red light emerged.

  Xiao Ning looked at the red dot with the same calm expression as always. Despite the impressive display of choreography, he wasn't afraid. After all, they lacked experience. Thus, remaining calm, he placed the cloth sack on the ground and twirled the spear between his fingers.

  "I already told you! If you want to please your 'Young Noble', go look for treasures yourselves," he said, emphasizing 'Young Noble', as if it were a form of mockery.

  Hearing him mock their hero for the second time, the troublemakers became irate. They prepared to attack again. They wanted to break his bones, down to the last one. But, suddenly, a red line crossed toward Xiao Ning at a frightening speed. It was thin, the thickness of a thumb. However, it seemed to be carrying considerable power.

  As if the short distance between the two wasn't enough, the speed exhibited by the red ray was alarming. It seemed Xiao Ning wouldn't be able to dodge in time, as he stayed standing in the same place, without yielding a single step. But then, from the tip of the Gray Sequoia spear, a fire emitting an intense glow arose. And demonstrating incredible reflex and speed, Xiao Ning slashed forward, diagonally, as if it were a sword.

  A burning flame was projected from the Rock Steel tip and clashed against the red light.

  For an instant, it seemed the two forces would destroy each other, as the light continued trying to pierce forward and the spear blocked it, pushing it back. However, after an intense flash, the red ray fragmented into several sparks. And the flame, without obstacles in its path, danced toward the boys.

  The five youths jumped back and easily dodged the fire, which wasn't that fast. However, they couldn't help but be amazed by the power demonstrated by the flame. Especially Xiao Chu, who was jaw-dropped.

  "How is this possible? How did he destroy my Scarlet Finger?" he murmured, looking shocked. "This is a Mundane Technique, given to me by Young Noble Bai. How is this possible?"

  While Xiao Chu seemed unable to accept reality, Xiao Ning let out a sigh of relief. If he hadn't managed to use the Dragon's Breath: Tongue of Fire technique along with the spear, he would be in big trouble.

  However, now wasn't the time to celebrate. Xiao Ning wanted to get this over with as soon as possible and go hunt monsters. Therefore, he twirled the spear between his fingers, and shouted:

  "Dragon's Breath: Tongue of Fire!"

  A flame was launched right into the middle of the group, forcing them to separate. However, no one was hit.

  But that didn't matter, because the next instant, Xiao Ning ran toward the two who jumped to the right side. And, demonstrating his mastery in battle, lively blue sparks danced along the wood of the spear's shaft when it was thrust forward.

  "Electric Palm!" said Xiao Ning, calmly, the moment he hit one of the boys using the back of the spear.

  And instantly, the young man in question fell to the ground as his body trembled, convulsing, and his limbs became more rigid.

  Seeing this, the other boy took a jump back and shouted:

  "Technique of..."

  However, before he could finish speaking, his face was hit squarely by the side of the spear, making him do a somersault in the air, spinning uselessly sideways. Even before falling to the ground, he was already unconscious. Xiao Ning didn't even need to use a Combat Technique.

  Right after, two boys jumped toward Ning, while shouting at the top of their lungs:

  "Jade Tears!" roared the one on the right. And several green flakes began to gather around him.

  "Spiritual Projection!" roared the one on the left. And a purple mist appeared around his hand.

  Xiao Ning also invoked Dragon's Breath: Tongue of Fire, and the three techniques clashed. A loud crack later, the Jade Tears and Spiritual Projection of the troublemakers were destroyed. The two were stupefied. However, for Xiao Ning, this was the expected result; after all, the Dragon's Breath technique was from the Awakening Realm, not to mention it had been fused with Essence Flames, making it even more powerful.

  Failing their attack, the two tried to retreat. But Xiao Ning, with a horizontal movement, swept them both with his spear. And when the Electric Palm was activated, they could do nothing but try to let out a shrill scream, which got stuck in their throats.

  Now only Xiao Chu remained, who was standing at a safe distance, out of reach of the Dragon's Breath, with his finger pointed at Xiao Ning. The two stared at each other for a while until Ning moved and suggested:

  "I've already knocked down four of your friends. You're the only one left, but your Scarlet Finger technique is weaker than my Dragon's Breath. So, how about you leave the basket and take your friends?" Xiao Ning was a lazy person when it came to anything other than Alchemy. He knew that soon those who were knocked down by the Electric Palm would get up, as this wasn't a very powerful technique, and what's more, they were at a higher level. Therefore, if he could end this in this way, it would be perfect.

  Xiao Chu remained silent for a moment, pondering the proposal, when he finally lowered his finger and placed the basket on the ground. Then, he walked to his fallen friends, and as Xiao Ning had predicted, the one who had been hit first by the Electric Palm got up still half groggy, and with his help, the leader of the troublemakers carried the rest.

  However, when he started to walk away, Xiao Chu looked back and said:

  "I don't know who you are, but I will make sure to inform the Young Noble about today's occurrence," he threatened, with vibrant eyes.

  "Fine by me," replied Xiao Ning, giving a relaxed smile and waving goodbye.

  Then, feeling frustrated, Xiao Chu and the others turned around and left.