The slight resistance presented no obstacle whatsoever to this monster, Gan Te Sichuan’s “Blue Fiend.” Their flight capabilities allowed them to pass through with effortless grace, as if treading on level ground, each relying on their own mastery.
Crossing the mountain range, an endless plain unfolded before them. Vegetation was strikingly scarce. In the distance, a city loomed clearly, standing head and shoulders above its surroundings. This must be Xianyang City.
In truth, this Xianyang City was not particularly vast; one might even call it a small town. Legend held that it was constructed later specifically to host large-scale events, as the surrounding open wilderness was perfectly suited for such purposes.
Strangely enough, this small Xianyang City lay alarmingly close to Bone Phoenix City, yet no direct road connected the two. The most likely reason, it was presumed, was that the Emperor of the Spring Dew Empire feared some potential threat during major events that might endanger the Imperial City’s safety, thus preventing the construction of a route. The barrier of the mountains served as a natural protective shield.
As Zhong Shenxiu and his group paused to survey their surroundings, numerous figures mounted on “Flying Magical Beasts” soared overhead, all heading toward Xianyang City. A sudden gasp escaped one of the onlookers!
Zhong Shenxiu smiled then, though no one knew why. With a single gesture from him, everyone in the “Ethereal Mercenary Group” dissolved into a streak of light, shooting toward Xianyang City!
. . Presently, Xianyang City could truly be dubbed the “City of Mercenaries.” All that met the eye, whether on the streets, in the shops, or within the taverns, were mercenaries—a vibrant, bustling scene everywhere one looked!
“There are so many people! Brother Xiu, are we going to participate in that Mercenary Alliance Competition?” Diya asked, her excitement palpable.
“No rush, let’s look around first,” Zhong Shenxiu replied with a smile.
Though he offered no definitive commitment, Diya still clapped her hands in delight, having discerned the underlying meaning in his words. As far as enjoyment was concerned, she was never lacking!
After a brief inquiry, they learned that the official start date for the Mercenary Alliance Competition was still more than half a month away.
Because the rules for this year’s competition had been altered, the criteria for participation in the Mercenary Alliance Competition had become significantly simpler. There was no restriction on the rank of the mercenary group; any group, regardless of registration date, was eligible, provided they pooled a minimum of four mercenary groups to participate as an alliance!
Simply put, a “Four Mercenary Group” unit was the smallest viable entity for an alliance. There were no personnel quotas, only the requirement of four distinct groups, which would then adopt a unified name and pay a set registration fee.
This change was enacted to stimulate activity within the mercenary community, and it was precisely because of this adjustment that the number of newly formed mercenary groups this year far exceeded that of previous years.
Naturally, the maximum number of mercenary groups permitted in any single “Mercenary Alliance” was fifteen—meaning the combined “Small Mercenary Alliance” could not exceed fifteen groups.
The limitation on the number of groups made every mercenary contingent extremely cautious when forming alliances, all striving to join powerful ones. However, these powerful alliances also maintained their own selection criteria; one could not simply join at will.
Consequently, many mercenary groups in Xianyang City were currently in a state of observation.
Currently, the groups in high demand were the large mercenary contingents boasting numerous members, as they were the preferred selection for those forming alliances due to the lack of hard personnel caps.
Having gathered this intelligence, Zhong Shenxiu felt even less urgency, leading his companions on a leisurely stroll. Along the way, they frequently overheard voices engaged in mutual recruitment, sounding much like merchants haggling over prices.
Since no one yet recognized the “Ethereal Mercenary Group,” Zhong Shenxiu and his party had not been approached by anyone actively seeking them out. If the other mercenaries knew they were the mysterious and formidable “Ethereal Mercenary Group,” they likely wouldn't be enjoying such ease.
To outsiders, Zhong Shenxiu and his group looked like tourists here for the spectacle, showing none of the discipline expected of a mercenary contingent; they were far too relaxed.
While walking together, Zhong Shenxiu’s members were scattered, each engrossed in examining items displayed at the roadside stalls, a perfect demonstration of a complete lack of organization and discipline!
Most of these stalls were set up by mercenaries themselves, hoping to earn some pocket money during their downtime by selling items they no longer needed. Yet, among these wares, there were often genuine treasures—it simply depended on one's discernment to spot them.
Treasure hunting was one of Zhong Shenxiu’s favorite pastimes, especially the feeling of finding something that was "clearly a gem being sold as common weeds," a sensation that brought him unending joy. He was clearly savoring the moment.
Under his influence and subtle guidance, his teammates had also developed an interest in bargain hunting. Whenever they spotted something promising, they would stop to haggle with the owner.
“Brother Xiu, what do you think of this I bought?” Niu Niu trotted eagerly over to Zhong Shenxiu, presenting a piece of stone she had acquired.
“Mmm, not bad. This is ‘Cui Xu Stone.’ It can be inscribed with simple magic arrays, perfect for a beginner’s practice!” Zhong Shenxiu recognized the stone’s name and properties with a single glance.
Hearing that she hadn't overpaid, Niu Niu immediately brightened, quickly tucking the stone into her “Storage Ring” before continuing her search.
“Young Master, do you think this is a real antique? How much might it be worth?” Makexin also approached, holding up a very beautiful stone carving she had just purchased for Zhong Shenxiu’s inspection.
“A modern imitation. Worthless!” Zhong Shenxiu answered bluntly.
She had bought a fake!
Makexin’s mouth twitched, and she walked away crestfallen.
Zhong Shenxiu acted as an appraisal expert, examining items for each of his teammates. In the process, noon slipped by unnoticed. Just as he decided they should stop for lunch, a high-pitched female scream suddenly pierced the air.
“Ah!” It was a shriek of excited, almost disbelieving joy!
As Zhong Shenxiu and his group turned to look, they saw a figure rushing toward them, their target appearing to be a startled Angelia.
“Senior Sister! It really is you! What an incredible coincidence, we only just arrived and we’ve run into you!” The young girl began excitedly grabbing Angelia’s hand, chattering nonstop.
Angelia was slow to react initially, but upon hearing the girl speak, she immediately recalled that this girl was named Jami, a member of the “Sunset Mercenary Group” she and Leng Xiangxue had encountered in the “Forest of No Return”!
“Captain, Captain, hurry over here! It really is Senior Sister Angelia! I told you I wasn't mistaken!” Jami cheered, waving to Ingrid, who stood looking astonished nearby.
“Little Angelia, who is this? Why is she calling you Senior Sister?” Laurent asked, genuinely puzzled.
His question, however innocent, elicited another sharp shriek from Jami.
“Ah!”
Jami’s eyes widened as she stared at Laurent. Having been overly focused on Angelia, she had only just now noticed the other members of the “Ethereal Mercenary Group.”
“Little Senior Brother Laurent! Are you Senior Brother Laurent?” Jami asked breathlessly, her excitement spiking.
“You know me?” Laurent felt extremely bewildered, glancing inquiringly at Angelia as if asking what on earth was happening.
“Oh my God, Senior Sister Makexin, Senior Brother Solomon, Teacher Elina…” Jami suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. She hadn't expected all the famous figures from the “Stay-at-Home Magic and Martial Arts Academy” to appear in one place! This was truly unbelievable!
“Little girl, who are you? How do you know our names?” Makexin asked, curiosity piqued.
However, Jami’s mind was blank; she hadn't heard Makexin’s question at all. Fortunately, at that moment, the other members of the “Sunset Mercenary Group” arrived, their faces etched with astonishment.
“Hello, we are… we are the ‘Sunset Mercenary Group.’ We all graduated from the ‘Stay-at-Home Magic and Martial Arts Academy,’” Ingrid said, her voice trembling slightly, offering a brief self-introduction.
Hearing the name “Stay-at-Home Magic and Martial Arts Academy,” Makexin paused momentarily, then smiled, a flood of memories surfacing. She hadn't expected to run into juniors from the academy here; the world truly was small!
After hearing Ingrid’s brief explanation, Makexin and the others learned that after they secured the championship in the “Royal Competition” for the Academy that year, the institution had sculpted a life-sized statue for each of them.
“Senior Sister Makexin, may I ask you one question?” Jami, having regained her composure, darted in front of Makexin, her expression radiating deep admiration.
Makexin, flattered by the repeated use of “Senior Sister,” smiled indulgently. “What do you want to know?”
“Senior Sister Makexin, the statues of you in the Academy were made many years ago. Why is it that your appearances haven't changed at all?”
This question was like a breath of spring air, blowing directly into the hearts of the women from the “Ethereal Mercenary Group.” Eternal youth was the aspiration of every woman. Due to their cultivation, they had achieved this feat, so hearing Jami ask this brought sweet smiles to their faces.
Makexin didn't answer the question directly. She chuckled first, then added, “Well, not entirely. Our Teacher Zhong Shenxiu and Teacher Robin have changed quite a bit. Haven’t you noticed?”
As she finished speaking, she cast a meaningful glance toward Zhong Shenxiu and Robin!
What she failed to notice, however, was that the moment her words fell, every member of the “Sunset Mercenary Group” looked utterly bewildered.
My God, could it be that the mysterious, powerful, and invincible Teacher Zhong Shenxiu and Teacher Robin are also here???? H