C35 Entering the Mountain

"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"

In that instant, all eyes were riveted on Liu Xingchang!

No one had anticipated Liu Xingchang's formidable display of strength, nor did they expect him to fearlessly eliminate a member of the Hunter Squad in the face of their intimidation.

It was clear to everyone that Zhu Zi deserved his fate for his merciless and unprincipled actions. Yet Liu Xingchang's audacity to not only kill him but also to brazenly challenge the captain of the Hunter Squad caught everyone off guard.

"Bravo, young man, you've got guts!"

"That's quite the statement! He must be the leader of this squad, right? Even I, an outsider, find such a leader incredibly charismatic. The girl who nearly had her Spirit Sea pierced must be even more thrilled, right?"

"He's certainly got nerve, but without the requisite strength, that kind of audacity could easily lead his whole team to an early grave!"

At a table by the window, a mature man with a scar across his face narrowed his eyes and remarked, "This young man's performance is indeed unexpected."

The wild woman expressed her astonishment as well, "We were only focused on the fat heir of the Gong Family Merchant Association, yet this squad has managed to surprise us. Their leader exudes a heroic aura and possesses a strong personal magnetism. The girl who nearly had her Spirit Sea pierced is also a force to be reckoned with, willing to gamble her life against her opponent's! This squad is like a dark horse."

The young man scoffed, "A dark horse? This squad from the White Nation has been striving to become the top hunter team, participating in the selection trials for five consecutive years with unmatched strength and seasoned expertise. To annihilate this green squad from Cloud Ascending City would be child's play for them."

The mature man squinted and mused, "Yet, the outcome is far from certain."

On the second-floor balcony.

The woman in white raised her crescent-shaped eyebrows in surprise and asked, "Uncle-master, did I underestimate this team?"

The elder in the crane cloak clicked his tongue and replied, "Even though I hold a respectable status in the heart of the Azure Sky Realm, I didn't expect to misjudge the situation here. This lad's defensive capabilities are downright formidable. To think that he could defeat a member of the Hunter Squad in a single move, even after deploying thirty defensive Spirit Mark Runes... it's quite the surprise. And that young girl, risking her life in combat, is an exceptionally fierce individual. She's destined for greatness!"

The woman in white gave a wry smile and said, "Uncle Master, surely you didn't just discern the exceptional nature of this squad, did you? Did you choose them on purpose?"

The elderly man in the crane cloak shook his head and replied, "This squad doesn't look particularly remarkable at first glance. How could I have known their true strength beforehand? Their sudden display of prowess was indeed astonishing. However, any team that qualifies as a Hunter Squad is not to be underestimated. Even with one member down, they remain a formidable force. Now, we'll see if this newly formed team can hold their ground against their onslaught."

The woman in white and the crane-cloaked elder found themselves increasingly intrigued by Liu Xingchang's team, their initial jests and wagers turning into earnest anticipation.

Downstairs, as Liu Xingchang's blade sliced across Zhu Ziyu's neck, Hong Tengqing's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. He alternated between staring in shock at Liu Xingchang and the lifeless body of Zhu Ziyu. Tong San maintained a relatively stoic demeanor, though his eyebrows involuntarily lifted in a subtle expression of surprise.

Of all the team members, Yan Tianni's view of Liu Xingchang had been the most dramatically overturned.

Yan Tianni could never have imagined being rescued by someone she had initially underestimated. More than his formidable strength, it was Liu Xingchang's display of valor and spirit that resonated with her.

Had Liu Xingchang not acted just now to protect her, to defend her, when he struck down Zhu Ziyu?

His assertive, protective behavior deeply touched Yan Tianni.

Meanwhile, the purple-robed young man, his face splattered with blood, was thoroughly infuriated. His voice was chillingly cold as he declared, "Kid, your entire team will pay with their lives for Zhu Ziyu's death because of your actions. Remember my name—Leng Baiyu, Crown Prince of the White Nation—so you won't be at a loss when explaining to the King of Hell who ended your life!"

Yang Changqing, the muscular youth, and the seductive girl all drew their weapons in response.

Hong Tengqing stood frozen in fear, but Tong San and Hu Gewan boldly stepped forward, weapons in hand.

They had no desire to seek out trouble, but they were certainly not going to shy away from it when it came calling!

However, just as tensions reached a peak, a harrowing scream echoed from the mountain outside the tavern.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, the entire tavern erupted into chaos.

"The Blazing Giant Rock Lizard has appeared!"

"Charge!"

All attention to Liu Xingchang's situation was instantly abandoned as the patrons surged out the door like a tidal wave, some even leaping out the windows.

Leng Baiyu shot Liu Xingchang a fierce glare and said, "You'll remember this debt. You'll pay for it one day!"

It was clear that Leng Baiyu was a man of reason.

With Zhu Zi Yu dead, seeking revenge would yield no benefits. Therefore, hunting the Blazing Giant Rock Lizard was the more valuable pursuit.

No one dared approach a fully grown Blazing Giant Rock Lizard, and certainly, no one in the tavern would willingly seek their own demise. However, the Blazing Giant Rock Lizard was inexplicably gravely injured and barely clinging to life.

Every group believed they might be the lucky ones to finish off the Blazing Giant Rock Lizard, which explained the large crowd.

Naturally, Leng Baiyu wouldn't pass up such a golden opportunity.

Following Leng Baiyu's lead, the others dashed out of the tavern. Liu Xingchang nodded to Yan Tianni and her companions, "Since we're here, we might as well join in the excitement!"

Hu Gewan's eyes sparkled with thrill as she said, "I overheard them talking about the severely wounded Blazing Giant Rock Lizard. At its peak, it was on par with a Heavenly Path Realm expert, and its body is a treasure trove. If we can secure the corpse, our strength will surely soar to new heights!"

Liu Xingchang nodded, then abruptly kicked Hong Tengqing's behind, "Snap out of it, will you?"

Startled by the kick, Hong Tengqing let out a loud yelp, "Ahhhh!"

"What are you howling for?"

Liu Xingchang shot him a look and then turned to Yan Tianni and the rest, "We can't let this chance slip by. We must act quickly. Let's go!"

With that, Liu Xingchang took the lead, Yan Tianni, Hu Gewan, and Tong San right on his heels. Hong Tengqing had intended to stay behind, but catching sight of Zhu Zi Yu's unblinking stare directed his way, he let out a startled yelp and hurried out the door, shouting, "Wait for me, wait for me!"

As the group made their way into the mountain, the elder in the crane cloak and the woman in white gracefully descended.

The crane-cloaked elder remarked, "The battle for the Blazing Giant Rock Lizard is bound to be fierce and tumultuous. There's no telling if those youngsters from White Country might take a swing at the newcomers. Let's go have a look, shall we?"

The woman in white nodded in agreement, and in a blink, she and the elder darted into the mountain with steps as light as feathers, yet as quick as lightning.

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