The second level mid-tier Phantom Leopard was a spirit beast of the wind attribute that was comparable to a mid-tier mystic warrior. It was known for its speed, so even a mid-tier mystic warrior would find it hard to kill it. Only a high-level mystic warrior would be able to kill it.
The most valuable parts of the Netherpatterned Leopard were its skin and fangs, which could be sold for thousands of gold coins. The other bones could also be sold for a good price.
However, the Tranquil Patterned Leopard's whereabouts were erratic, and it was often difficult to find its tracks. Moreover, it was best not to provoke it without sufficient strength, or else one could lose their life at any time.
Ling Xiao raised his eyes and looked at the two adventurers. One of them was a middle-ranked profound practitioner, while the other was a high-ranked profound practitioner. Yet, they actually dared to target a mid-ranked second rank spirit beast. He could not help but ask, "Solitary Eagle's strength is not bad, but he alone is not enough to kill the Serenity Leopard. Do you want him to die?"
The two adventurers waved their hands and said, "It's not like that, Young Master. The Spectre Leopard is already injured, so it shouldn't be difficult for Lord Solitary Eagle to injure it."
"Injured?" Lone Eagle exclaimed.
He had roamed the desolate mountains for many years, but he had never killed a Netherstripe Leopard. Now that the opportunity was right in front of him, he could not help but be tempted.
"You want to go?" Ling Xiao asked Lone Eagle.
Only then did Solitary Eagle remember his identity. He immediately said with some embarrassment, "Solitary Eagle does not dare. I will listen to Young Master's instructions."
When the adventurers saw Solitary Eagle's respectful attitude towards this youth, they couldn't help but guess at Ling Xiao's identity. "Which family's young master is this for Solitary Eagle to follow him?"
"Why are you in such a hurry? I'm not blaming you. Tomorrow, I'll follow them to see the Serenity Leopard." Ling Xiao had originally come out to broaden his horizons. Naturally, he would not let go of this opportunity.
"Thank you, Young Master," the two adventurers hurriedly thanked him, and then made an appointment with Lone Eagle to set off the next day.
After the meal, Ling Xiao and Lone Eagle returned to their room.
Ling Xiao didn't have the habit of living with a man, so he asked Lone Eagle to get another room.
Of course, Lone Eagle was very willing. He was still thinking about that slut.
As soon as Ling Xiao returned to his room, he could hear the sounds of two people flirting outside.
"What took you so long? I missed you so much."
"What's the hurry? Watch how I f * ck you to death tonight."
"I'm just anxious. By the way, which family's young master was that?"
"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask. She's my master, so you better be respectful when you see her in the future. Otherwise, even I won't be able to protect you."
…
As the two of them walked further and further away, Ling Xiao couldn't help but curse softly, "A pair of bitches."
Back in his room, Ling Xiao had nothing to sit on, so he immediately sat down cross-legged to meditate.
The Three Parts Restoration Qi continued to circulate and the Dark Force in his body surged endlessly.
The first stage of the Three Parts Origin Returning Technique, "Internalization of Qi", was to use one's own Profound Energy to pour into the Dantian, causing the Dantian to gradually expand and saturate. Once it reached a certain degree, one would be able to use sufficient Profound Energy to expand the meridians. At that time, one would break through the first stage and enter the second stage, "Channel Opening".
According to Ling Xiao's current Profound Energy, it was estimated that he would need to reach a high level before he could use the Three Parts Origin Returning Technique to break through the second stage.
However, Ling Xiao wasn't anxious at all. Cultivation wasn't something that could be achieved in a short period of time. To become a true expert, other than having a courageous and diligent will, one must also have patience that wasn't arrogant or rash. Only then could one reach the peak of martial arts.
After a few cycles of Profound Energy cleansing, Ling Xiao's exhaustion was dispelled. Instead, he seemed to be even more spirited and energetic.
Just as Ling Xiao was about to lie down and relax, he faintly heard the sounds of conversation coming from next door.
Originally, he had no intention of eavesdropping on the conversation, but he heard three words that made him pay 120% of his attention. He quietly walked to the wooden wall and eavesdropped.
"Have you heard? The Green Wolves Mercenary Group and the Cold Snake Mercenary Group are fighting in the mountain range." One person whispered to the other.
The other person replied, "Who doesn't know about this? There were many casualties in the battle between the two groups. However, the Cold Snake Mercenary Group's strength is still a level lower than the Green Wolves Mercenary Group's, and they are almost destroyed."
"Yes, it seems that the 'Snake Beauty' stole something from the Green Wolves Mercenary Group and even killed the Green Wolves Mercenary Group's brother, Black Wolf. That's why they are fighting to the death."
"Tsk tsk, 'Snake Beauty' Wei Daier is the sexiest flower in Meteorite City. Many people want to conquer her, but I'm afraid that she's going to fall. How pitiful."
"Shh, lower your voice. There are many mercenaries who like Wei Daier. If they hear us, we won't be able to keep our lives. Let's go to sleep. Tomorrow, we'll bring this month's harvest back to sell and have some fun before coming out. It's so damn tiring."
… …
After listening to the conversation between the two, Ling Xiao couldn't help but feel worried for his beautiful sister. Even though the two of them had only met by chance, it couldn't be denied that Wei Daier was more attractive than Bai Yuxi and Luo Qingshuang.
After all, Ling Xiao had a fetish for mature women.
"I'll go into the mountains tomorrow. If there's a chance, I'll save her once. Maybe she'll be so touched that she'll marry me." Ling Xiao smiled as he muttered to himself. In his mind, he was already imagining the scene of Wei Daier kneeling at his feet.
The night passed uneventfully, and the sky gradually brightened.
After replenishing their dried meat and water at the relay station, Ling Xiao, Lone Eagle, and the two adventurers called Fu Ning and Fu Wei set off towards the Desolate Mountain Range.
Very quickly, the day passed.
In the evening, the sun was setting in the west, and the sky was filled with red clouds of various shapes and sizes. It was an extremely enchanting and beautiful sight.
In front of them was a continuous stretch of mountain range. The forest was lush green, and weeds were everywhere. Countless unknown wildflowers could be seen everywhere. Under the setting sun, it was as beautiful as a fairyland.
Ling Xiao allowed the horse to forage for grass nearby, while he stared at the beautiful scenery in front of him in a daze. His heart couldn't help but race. "Is this the Desolate Mountain Range?
I've heard that there are many powerful spirit beasts here, and they eat humans. But it doesn't seem to be as terrifying as I imagined! "
"Awooo …" Suddenly, the roar of a beast dragged Ling Xiao back to reality.
"It seems that the more beautiful a place is, the more dangerous it is. But … I like it." Ling Xiao narrowed his eyes and muttered to himself. His eyes were filled with a sincere light.
"Young Master, let's rest for the night. We'll enter the mountain range tomorrow." Lone Eagle respectfully came to Ling Xiao's side and said.
Ling Xiao nodded and found a place to sit down with Lone Eagle.
Fu Ning and Fu Wei went to pick up some wood to start a fire.
In the mountain range, regardless of whether it was the periphery or the depths, the temperature difference between day and night was relatively large. If they didn't start a fire, ordinary martial artists wouldn't be able to withstand it.
The four of them started a fire and sat together, drinking wine and eating meat.
Fu Ning and Fu Wei constantly tried to curry favor with Ling Xiao and Lone Eagle. After all, Lone Eagle's reputation over the years was not for nothing. Since Lone Eagle was serving Ling Xiao as the young master, it was obvious that Ling Xiao's identity was not simple.
"Come, Young Master, Lord Lone Eagle, have a taste of my Monkey Wine. It's definitely an excellent brew." Fu Ning passed a bottle of wine to the two.
Ling Xiao accepted it without hesitation and took a sip. "Hey, it's really good wine. Lone Eagle, have a taste."
"Lone Eagle wouldn't dare." Lone Eagle knew that there was a difference between master and servant, so he naturally didn't dare to drink with Ling Xiao.
"If I tell you to drink, then drink. Don't be so wishy-washy." Ling Xiao forcefully stuffed the bottle into Lone Eagle's hands.
Lone Eagle was slightly touched. "This young master of the Ling family is still a little humane."
After drinking, Ling Xiao couldn't help but ask about the situation of the Spectre Leopard.
"When did you guys discover the Spectre Leopard?" Ling Xiao asked Fu Ning and Fu Wei as he raised his head.
Fu Ning answered, "Two days ago, when we came out of the mountain range, we found it while we were washing our faces in a pool. If we hadn't escaped quickly, we would have died on the spot. That fellow was fighting with a white ape. It killed the white ape, but it was injured by the white ape."
Ling Xiao stared into Fu Ning's eyes, trying to discern whether she was speaking the truth or not.
Hearing Fu Ning say it all in one breath, other than the greed in her eyes, there was no other abnormality.
"A mid-tier second stage white ape has boundless strength and is almost invincible among those of the same level. For the Spectre Leopard to be able to kill it, it seems that this Spectre Leopard is about to advance to a high-tier one. Who knows, it might even be a high-tier Spectre Leopard," Lone Eagle guessed.
"A … a high-tier Spectre Leopard. What should we do?" Fu Wei said disappointedly.
A high-tier second stage Spectre Leopard was an existence comparable to a high-tier Mystic martial artist. Lone Eagle was only a mid-tier Mystic martial artist. Even if the Spectre Leopard was injured, Lone Eagle and a few of them together might not be able to defeat it.
It seemed that their plan to capture the Spectre Leopard was going to fail.
"There's no need to be pessimistic. If the Spectre Leopard is really injured, it definitely won't recover in such a short period of time. As long as we can exhaust its energy, it will die when it is exhausted," Lone Eagle said confidently.
"Then we'll have to trouble Lord Lone Eagle," Fu Ning and Fu Wei quickly said respectfully.
Ling Xiao said, "Exhausting its energy is just a bad idea. Spirit beasts have intelligence too. If it senses danger, it will definitely escape. With its speed, how can we catch up to it?"
"This …" Fu Ning and Fu Wei suddenly didn't know what to say, because what Ling Xiao said was indeed true.
"Young Master is wise," Lone Eagle was startled for a moment before he quickly agreed.
Actually, he didn't quite agree with Ling Xiao's words. According to his past experience, once a spirit beast was angered, it would usually not escape until it was dead.
"I have a good idea," Ling Xiao said after some thought.
The three of them looked at Ling Xiao, waiting for his next words.
Ling Xiao said indifferently, "I'll attract the Spectre Leopard's attack, and Lone Eagle will take the opportunity to strike at its old wounds. This way, it won't be able to escape."
Fu Ning and Fu Wei heard Ling Xiao's words and couldn't help but droop. They thought, "This young master seems to be inexperienced. He's only a mid-tier Mystic Martial Artist, how could he attract the Spectre Leopard's attack?
I'm afraid he'll be killed by the Spectre Leopard's claws. "
Lone Eagle was very tempted by Ling Xiao's suggestion. He had seen Ling Xiao's methods before, and it should be fine if he just attracted the Spectre Leopard's attack.
However, he still pretended to be concerned and asked, "Young Master, isn't this too risky?"
Ling Xiao didn't answer Lone Eagle, but looked at Fu Ning and Fu Wei playfully and said, "You two, lead the way, and we'll kill it. The leopard's skin and fangs will belong to us, and the rest will belong to you. How about it?"
Everyone knew that the Spectre Leopard's most valuable items were its skin and fangs. If it was someone else, they might not agree to Ling Xiao's request, but Fu Ning and Fu Wei had no other choice. The other items could be sold for a lot of gold coins, and it was a good deal since they didn't have to do anything anyway.
The night passed quickly, and Ling Xiao finally stepped into the outskirts of the desolate mountain range.