Gozhanxin, Ya, and the others couldn't fathom why Xialuo was so agitated. They, too, felt a flicker of curiosity toward the assembled mercenary corps, though none leaned over the railing with the same intensity as Xialuo.

The most outspoken among them, Kaini, couldn't resist a playful jab: "Xialuo, you're a married woman now, you can't just go abandoning your duties for someone else!"

Marco Xin and the others nearby let out suppressed laughter. Xialuo finally realized her indiscretion and quickly countered, her face flushing, "It's not what you think. The leader of the 'Heavenly King Mercenary Corps' is a woman—one of my idols whom I've always admired but never met in person!"

A woman?

Everyone froze for a moment. The leader of the world's number one mercenary corps was female?

Noticing their astonishment, Xialuo continued with a touch of pride, "That’s precisely why I admire her, and it was the inspiration for me to establish the 'Cloud-Rending Mercenary Corps'! Despite being a woman, she commands tens of thousands of members—a true heroine among women..."

Before she could finish her declaration, Diya’s chirping voice broke in: "Sister Xialuo, hurry! They’re coming over!"

As her voice rang out, the atmosphere outside intensified with livelier chatter.

"It looks like the 'Heavenly King Mercenary Corps' will be participating in the 'Mercenary Alliance Tournament' this year, as usual."

"This year's tournament is going to be fascinating! I wonder if that recently rumored 'Ethereal Mercenary Corps' will also join?"

"The competition this time will be fierce. I hear the number of newly established corps is several times that of last year, many of them quite capable. Plus, a small rule change allows almost any corps, regardless of rank, to qualify. The spectacle will be absolutely magnificent!"

The discussions outside seemed to shift focus from the "Heavenly King Mercenary Corps" to the upcoming "Mercenary Alliance Tournament"! Mercenary Alliance Tournament? That name sounded somewhat familiar...

Zhong Shenxiu murmured the phrase to himself. He felt certain he had heard it before, though at the time, he hadn't paid it much mind.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhong Shenxiu finally recalled. It was years ago, while he and Robin were at the Mercenary Association, hearing someone loudly soliciting recruits for a 'Mercenary Alliance' or something similar—it seemed related to this very 'Mercenary Alliance Tournament'!

While Zhong Shenxiu was lost in thought, Marco Xin and the others called out, "Xialuo, who is this idol you speak of?"

In fact, they had all crowded the railing, gazing intently at the group of several dozen people slowly approaching their location.

Xialuo found it hard to answer, as she had never actually met the leader of the "Heavenly King Mercenary Corps." She could only rely on old rumors, hesitating for a long time before saying, "It should be the one at the very front."

Following her pointed finger, they saw a middle-aged woman, standing nearly six feet tall, with short black eyes and a long scar running down her right cheek, walking forward with vibrant energy. A greatsword hung at her waist!

"Is she a Swordsman?" Angeliya, who had been quiet until then, asked with noticeable interest.

"Yes!" Xialuo only nodded, offering no further explanation.

Her eyes were fixed directly on the middle-aged woman. Although the reality diverged significantly from the image she had constructed in her mind, there was an undeniable, ineffable aura emanating from this woman.

Could this be Gwendolyn, known as the "Steel Blade Queen"? Lost in thought, Xialuo hadn't heard Niu Niu’s question beside her.

Niu Niu had no choice but to gently tug Xialuo's sleeve and ask again, "Sister Xialuo, who is that child next to her?"

Niu Niu's question redirected everyone's gaze toward the young boy beside Gwendolyn, who was about the same age as Zhong Shenxiu.

"I don't know who that is," Xialuo replied honestly.

"Could he be your idol's child? Look how much they resemble each other! Especially those eyes," Marco Xin speculated.

"He seems like an arrogant little boy, hehe, he reminds me a bit of our Young Master!" Yue Nongying chuckled slyly.

As they were chattering, the "Heavenly King Mercenary Corps" had drawn near. They truly possessed an air of royalty, incomparable to ordinary mercenary groups!

Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was in high spirits. She was taking her son back to her hometown for a visit today.

She was born in this city, and though she had no family left here, she made it a point to return every two years.

This time, the "Mercenary Alliance Tournament" was coincidentally being held in the "Spring Dew Empire." Even though it wasn't in "Bone Phoenix City" but in "Immortal Sun City," separated by a mountain range, Gwendolyn was still delighted. She could travel between the two cities easily, primarily because she possessed a magical beast—a dragon—making the mountain barrier negligible.

Consequently, as soon as she settled her members, she eagerly brought her son and a few of her team members over.

Gwendolyn seemed entirely accustomed to the intense reaction of the surrounding citizens, maintaining a calm smile. She occasionally glanced toward the son walking beside her. Just then, a strange sensation abruptly washed over her heart, causing her body to involuntarily pause.

What was this feeling? Gwendolyn's expression clearly shifted. Instinctively, she looked up and found herself meeting the curious gazes of Xialuo and her companions.

Who are these people? Why do they give me such a tense feeling of pressure?

Gwendolyn couldn't help but look at Xialuo and the others a few more times. Having dealt with danger so frequently, she deeply trusted her sixth sense. She felt that these individuals observing her were extraordinary, yet their youthful appearance confused her.

"Leader, is something wrong?" a member beside Gwendolyn whispered, following her gaze upward toward Xialuo's group.

"N-Nothing. Let's go," Gwendolyn replied, though she withdrew her eyes, the doubt in her mind persisted.

Eventually, the group moved on. It seemed like a minor incident, yet neither party suspected that they would meet again in the near future, and...

Kaini watched Gwendolyn’s retreating back with an interested glint in her eyes. She, too, possessed a strong intuition and faintly sensed Gwendolyn’s suspicion towards them. She could already understand why this woman could command a mercenary corps of tens of thousands! Truly, not an ordinary person!

Kaini lightly tapped Xialuo, who was still daydreaming, and teased, "Xialuo, you finally saw your idol, why didn't you cheer out loud?"

"Cheer about what?" Xialuo blurted out, asking.

Knowing she couldn't win an argument against Kaini, Xialuo quickly returned to her seat, intending to resume eating. But in the next instant, she froze. Marco Xin and the others wore the same expression of disbelief as they stared at the dining table!

The table was barren. There was barely a drop of sauce left! While they had been watching the "Heavenly King Mercenary Corps," Robin had silently devoured every last morsel. He was, after all, the biggest eater among them!

Everyone collectively sweat-dropped! One... Two...

For over half a month, Zhong Shenxiu spent his time secluded in a private room within the "Dark Trade Guild." His research had hit a bottleneck.

These past days, Zhong Shenxiu's main focus had been on "How to refine alternate spaces." He had pondered for a long time, believing this to be the most direct, effective, and least costly method to eradicate the Demon Insect catastrophe! Yet, after so many days, he still couldn't devise a way to harness the power of heavenly tribulation without ascending.

Every plan he conceived carried significant inherent risks, often with a high probability of failure, making Zhong Shenxiu hesitant to put any into practice!

Although this primary problem remained unsolved, it wasn't entirely fruitless. Zhong Shenxiu's comprehension of "time" had reached a new plateau. Perhaps this was what they meant by 'trying too hard to grow flowers yields none, while unintentionally planting a willow brings shade.' He could now successfully scale the time within his "Medium Bag" by a factor of one hundred!

To put it plainly, under his control, one day inside the "Medium Bag" could equate to over three months in the outside world; conversely, over three months outside could pass as a single day inside!

Zhong Shenxiu was filled with wonder. He hadn't expected to break through the time barrier that had previously blocked him while he was not consciously striving for it!

His research into "alternate spaces" must continue, but as the saying goes, 'the more one chases, the faster it retreats.' Zhong Shenxiu knew he needed to clear his head and relax, or he wouldn't overcome this obstacle.

So, what should he do?

As Zhong Shenxiu pondered this, he remembered the "Mercenary Alliance Tournament" he'd overheard chatter about in the tavern some days prior. This seemed like an excellent diversion!

The "Mercenary Alliance Tournament" was currently the hot topic of conversation throughout "Bone Phoenix City," discussed everywhere one went. One only needed to ask any passerby on the street to get all the necessary information.

"Immortal Sun City," Zhong Shenxiu murmured to himself. He had already found out the venue for the tournament. While he still needed to learn the exact entry requirements and competition rules, he figured he could inquire about those things once he arrived in "Immortal Sun City."

A profound, inscrutable smile spread across Zhong Shenxiu's face.

One truly wonders: behind that smile, would someone soon be weeping?

Without delay, Zhong Shenxiu led every member of the "Ethereal Mercenary Corps" toward "Immortal Sun City"!

Question: Will the already bustling "Immortal Sun City" become even more vibrant due to the arrival of Zhong Shenxiu and his group?

Answer: Absolutely, yes!! H