Mercenaries in Two Worlds

Zhang Qian, who had spent the entire night meditating according to the mental cultivation method, discovered that he had already reached the first level of Qi Refining. If this were to get out, it would definitely terrify everyone around him. Everyone goes through a period of "constipation" for ten days to half a month; who can reach the Qi Refining level in a single day? Zhang Qian also knew the saying that "the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind," so he used the "False Words" martial art technique he had stolen from Ye Mei to conceal his cultivation level. He estimated that no one would be able to tell until he reached the Yuan Dan realm.

The supreme Daoist method emphasizes acting according to one's heart, without needing to hide anything. However, Zhang Qian explained to himself that his true nature was to be timid when necessary and tough when necessary. As long as he firmly believed that he was right, the supreme Daoist method would not easily lead to demonic possession. To put it simply, "I am the Daoist method" means wearing your own shoes and walking your own path.

After a night of cultivation, Zhang Qian felt not only not tired, but also refreshed. With the cool morning breeze blowing, Zhang Qian slowly walked in the courtyard following the steps of the setting sun.

Wang Er, the nanny of the Wang family mercenary group, was carrying a large bag of steamed buns when he saw Zhang Qian walking with strange steps in the courtyard. For some reason, he felt that this strange gait had a kind of inexplicable charm. Although Zhang Qian's movements were slow, it was as if his figure filled the entire courtyard, with no trace to follow. It was like the setting sun shining through the clouds into the courtyard, clearly making the whole world turn yellow, but you just couldn't find the light.

"Hmm, how come watching Zhang Qian act crazy makes me think of sunset? That's strange." Wang Er scratched his head, puzzled.

Unfortunately, Zhang Qian, who was in the middle of practicing his "crazy" act, heard the words "go crazy" and stopped. He turned around and gave Wang Er a disdainful look, letting him figure it out for himself. While Wang Er was still in shock, Zhang Qian snatched the bag from his hand and picked out a few large meat buns to eat.

Wang Er looked helplessly at Zhang Qian and shouted in his loud voice, "Time for breakfast!" One by one, the doors opened in response to his shout. A flock of birds in the willow tree were startled and took flight into the sky.

"Wang Er, where's my big meat bun?"

"Zhang Qian ate it."

"Zhang Qian! You still dare to run? Who gave you permission to eat?"

"Ah~~ Sister Ye, don't do this. You'll gain weight if you eat this. I'm eating some for your own good."

Am I fat? Do I look fat to you?

"Ah~ Oh~ Ah~ I dare not..." A noisy commotion came from the courtyard, which ended with Zhang Qian's soul-stirring scream.

Today, the Wang family mercenary group plans to take on a mission to supplement their already insufficient food budget. Ever since Zhang Qian ate the green fruit and egg liquid, his appetite has increased several times over. Even Wang Yi regrets picking up such a glutton, not to mention Zhao Yi, who stares at Zhang Qian every time he eats, making it impossible for him to eat properly.

"Hey," Wang Er suddenly said, "This morning when I went to buy steamed buns, I heard that a master broke through to the Transcendent Realm in Ghost Night Forest last night and was met with the Nine Heavens Tribulation Lightning. I just don't know if he survived it. Did you hear the thunder last night?"

Everyone shook their heads, indicating that they were either fast asleep or engrossed in their cultivation and had not heard.

Only Zhang Qian's expression turned sour upon hearing the news, which puzzled Wang Er.

Could Zhang Qian really admit that he thought the nine bolts of lightning were meant for him last night and was so frightened that his face turned pale? Obviously not. So when Wang Er nervously asked Zhang Qian if he was feeling unwell, Zhang Qian shook his head to indicate that he was not and refused to say anything more.

After waiting for a short while at the entrance of the mercenary center, Ye Mei came out with the mission, waving a piece of paper in her fair hand: "Find the Three-Leaf Blue Flower, complete within two days, first come, first served."

The "first come, first served" message usually indicates that multiple mercenary groups can take on this type of task, and the commission goes to whoever completes it first. Three-leaf blue flower is primarily used to neutralize the venom of the four-ringed snake; its main function comes from its sap, which is difficult to preserve, so it's generally harvested and used on the same day.

When Wang Yi heard that they were looking for Three-Leaf Blue Flower, his eyes lit up. "Ha, then hurry up! There are lots of Three-Leaf Blue Flower at the location we marked last time."

The others also showed delight. Veteran mercenary groups like theirs usually had several familiar spots in Ghost Night Forest, and the Wang family mercenary group had just gotten lucky this time.

"Wait a minute!" Ye Mei suddenly called out to everyone, her beautiful face serious as she reminded them, "It is said that a master failed his tribulation last night, and now many people are going to pick up the dead's loot. Be careful and don't provoke anyone. I heard that several old monsters in the Fusion Realm have come, not to mention those in the Foundation Establishment and Core Formation Realms. We can't afford to offend even one of them."

Upon hearing the seriousness of the problem, several people hurriedly nodded in agreement, as Ye Mei still held considerable authority within the Wang family mercenary group.

Not only was she the most skilled in cultivation, but she was also a beautiful woman adept at flirting with men, practically manipulating this group of "pig brothers" with ease. However, according to Wang Yi, the most important thing was that the house they were living in belonged to Ye Mei; they were dependent on her and had no choice but to obey. Turns out, they were also a group of people who "eat soft hair" (meaning they were taken advantage of).

The location of the Three-Leaf Blue Flower is not hard to find. In fact, there is no need for so many people to come. It is safe for two people to travel together on the outskirts of Ghost Night Forest.

Unlike when Zhang Qian first arrived and barely a ghost was to be seen, Ghost Night Forest is now teeming with groups of people. Because of the high-level cultivator's failed tribulation, many are hoping to profit from it. The Nine Heavens Tribulation Lightning of the Transformation Realm requires overcoming; failure to do so results in severe injury or death. Furthermore, only a rogue cultivator can borrow the chilling energy of Ghost Night Forest to complete their tribulation. Therefore, nearby cultivators swarm like flies to dung, hoping the rogue cultivator will die during their tribulation so they can claim their spoils.

The three Wang brothers and Ye Mei didn't want to get involved. Zhao Yi wanted to try his luck and left alone. Zhang Qian also wanted to go and see, but his cultivation level was too low and he didn't have much confidence, so he decided against it.

The five of them were so happy to have completed their mission so smoothly that they chatted excitedly about where to get some good food. Upon hearing the word "food," Zhang Qian, who was always hungry, felt his stomach rumble and his cravings intensified.

Zhang Qian was unaware that the egg liquid from the Thunder Flying Eagle and the accompanying spiritual medicine, the Thunder Fruit, that he had eaten were both body-refining spiritual medicines. Even without the aid of body-refining techniques, he had already entered the early stage of body refining, and his large appetite was one of the manifestations. Only after his body absorbed enough energy and stabilized would his appetite gradually return to normal.

Just as the five were chatting excitedly, a group of people approached. At the head of the group was a young woman in a green silk dress, with a beautiful face, delicate eyebrows, and almond-shaped eyes. Even amidst the dense forest, her gait was elegant and composed. She was whispering something to a hunchbacked old man on her left, followed by a servant in blue robes and a blue hat leading a horse on her right, and five guards behind them. It was the very image of a young noble family on an outing.

After the group appeared, Zhang Qian's gaze followed the young woman intently. Undeniably, she possessed a beauty that could topple kingdoms, but Zhang Qian's attention wasn't on the woman herself, but rather on the two small animals she held in her arms. After watching for a while, just as the hunchbacked old man thought Zhang Qian was fixated on his young lady's breasts and was about to teach him a lesson, Zhang Qian confirmed that they were indeed the two cubs of the Purple Moon Lion family he had encountered a few days ago. A chill ran through him; the Purple Moon Lioness was probably in grave danger. He approached, chirping softly.

When the guards behind the girl saw Zhang Qian approaching, they drew five knives with a clang. If Zhang Qian dared to make any improper move, he would probably be hacked to death.

The girl waved her hand to indicate that she was alright, because the two Purple Moon Beast cubs in her arms seemed quite excited upon hearing Zhang Qian's voice, indicating that they recognized him.