"Yeah, I'm fine," Shen Yuan replied casually, though a glint in his eyes hinted at the tension brewing beneath his calm facade. "We should go to the surface, shall we?"
Xiao Yi Xian nodded, and without hesitation, he wrapped an arm around her. With a powerful leap, he brought them both to the surface, where a sinister sight awaited them. A group of men, led by a young man with a cold, mocking glare, stood ready as if expecting their arrival.
"System, comprehend the Eagle Wing," Shen Yuan commanded inwardly, his mind focused on the technique he had been after for some time now. Instantly, a faint chime echoed in his thoughts.
[Ding… Comprehended], the system responded, and Shen Yuan felt a rush of understanding fill him, empowering him further. But he didn't have time to savor it, as his attention snapped to the menacing figure before them.
It was Mu Li, young master of the Wolf Head Mercenaries and a 6-star Dou Zhe. His presence was intimidating enough, but the hostility in his gaze made it clear that his intentions were anything but friendly. His mercenaries, weapons drawn, waited in silent anticipation, their eyes gleaming with greed and malice.
"Hand over the treasures," Mu Li demanded, his tone sharp and unwavering. Xiao Yi Xian tensed at his words, her fingers trembling as she instinctively moved to comply. But Shen Yuan placed a firm hand on her shoulder, stopping her.
"And if we don't?" he challenged, a sly grin curving his lips. His voice held a hint of amusement, as if daring Mu Li to make a move.
Mu Li's sneer deepened. "Haha, you know exactly what will happen if you refuse," he spat, as his group erupted in mocking laughter. Their confidence was palpable, their arrogance unshaken.
But Shen Yuan had other plans. With a mere thought, he released his Dou Ling aura, an intense wave of energy cascading outward, silencing the laughter and sending chills down the spines of Mu Li and his men. The change was instantaneous; Mu Li's once-confident face now paled as he stammered in disbelief. "Do-Dou Ling…?"
Even Xiao Yi Xian gasped beside him, her eyes widening with shock at the sudden display of Shen Yuan's strength. But before Mu Li could react, Shen Yuan struck with ruthless efficiency. With a swift, forceful kick aimed straight at Mu Li's neck, he unleashed an attack of Dou Ling magnitude. The impact was brutal, snapping Mu Li's neck with a force that left no room for resistance. His lifeless body crumpled to the ground, leaving his men frozen in horror.
Xiao Yi Xian's gaze shifted to Shen Yuan, stunned at the ruthless decisiveness of his actions. But Shen Yuan wasted no time. In one fluid motion, he scooped her into his arms, his eyes still sharp with a cold determination.
"Hold on," he murmured, his voice low but steady. Without another word, he leaped into the sky, his newly comprehended Eagle Wing technique propelling them high above the ground. As they soared over the stunned and scattered mercenaries, Xiao Yi Xian clung to him, her heart racing with a mixture of fear and exhilaration. The ground below fell away, leaving the chaos and danger far beneath them as they flew toward safety.
"I have a location," Xiao Yi Xian said, her voice steady yet tinged with excitement. "I found it when I was out searching for medical ingredients. Go left, then right, then straight… then down." She gave Shen Yuan clear directions, guiding him toward the heart of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Shen Yuan followed her instructions precisely, navigating through dense forests and rocky pathways as they made their way deeper into the wilderness. Soon, they reached a secluded clearing, a vast open ground surrounded by steep mountain ridges, almost like the interior of a hidden volcano. The towering cliffs rose on all sides, giving the place an isolated, almost mystical feel. The quiet air was thick with the scent of vegetation, a sharp contrast to the rugged terrain they had crossed.
Once they landed, Shen Yuan gently set Xiao Yi Xian down on her feet, and she wobbled slightly from the long flight. She looked up at him, cheeks flushing ever so slightly in response to his touch, and Shen Yuan, always quick to notice her reactions, chuckled softly. His teasing smile only deepened the blush on her face, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she lowered her gaze, her fingers twining together nervously.
"Why so shy?" Shen Yuan murmured, the playful tone in his voice unmistakable. He was well aware of her feelings, and his teasing only made her blush grow deeper, spreading from her cheeks to her ears. She struggled to find the right words, glancing away to hide her embarrassment.
He chuckled again, clearly amused by her reaction, before nodding toward a small hut nestled in the shade of the nearby trees. "You should go to the hut and practice," he told her gently. "I have other matters to attend to."
Xiao Yi Xian blinked, still flustered, but nodded in agreement. "Alright," she replied softly, trying to regain her composure. With one last glance at him, she turned and headed toward the hut, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite her blush. Shen Yuan watched her go, his expression thoughtful, before he turned away to focus on his own plans.
Once she was safely inside, Shen Yuan began to make his way deeper into the mountain range. His mind raced with thoughts, but one idea kept resurfacing—Yun Yun, a powerful figure he had been waiting for. According to what he knew, she wouldn't appear in this area for some time yet, but in the past two months, he had noticed an unusual shift in his luck. Small encounters, rare items, and even unexpected boosts to his cultivation seemed to fall into his path, as if the heavens themselves were aligning with him rather than with the main protagonist, Xiao Yan. It was a strange sensation, one he hadn't fully come to terms with, but it was undeniable. Every step seemed to take him closer to opportunities that should have belonged to someone else.
He moved silently, careful not to disturb the creatures lurking nearby. The Magical Beast Mountain Range was a place of both wonder and danger, a place where magical beasts roamed freely, their roars occasionally echoing across the mountain peaks. Shen Yuan's senses remained sharp, and his pace was steady. The air grew colder as he ventured deeper, shadows thickening around him as he approached the more secluded parts of the range.
His thoughts turned back to Xiao Yi Xian. Her presence had become a steady comfort to him, her quiet loyalty and skill as a healer making her an invaluable companion. Though he teased her often, there was a warmth in his heart whenever he thought of her. Yet he knew the path ahead wouldn't be easy. His increasing power and influence would likely attract even greater challenges—and perhaps, the attentions of figures like Yun Yun, who could either become powerful allies or formidable enemies.
As he moved further into the mountains, he couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was about to happen. His luck, this strange bending of fate, felt almost too convenient, as if it were part of a larger design. Perhaps the heavens really were favoring him now, as he had mused. Or perhaps it was simply the result of his own growing strength and determination.
Lost in thought, he made his way deeper, each step resonating with the quiet anticipation of change. The mountains loomed above him, silent witnesses to his journey, and the wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the faint scent of opportunity and danger intertwined.