C8 Mercenary Team Captain Kou Quan!

Wow! The moment Lin Yaoyang caught sight of this man's silhouette, his gaze sharpened. This individual was unmistakably one of those who dedicated themselves to the rigorous discipline of body refining.

While their cultivation and mastery of Qi might not match the innate brilliance of some, their relentless daily training had turned their bodies into formidable weapons.

Such practitioners were particularly formidable in the early stages of cultivation, with combat abilities far surpassing those who focused solely on Qi.

Yet, the essence of this continent was Qi! As cultivators ascended to higher realms, the ranks of body refiners dwindled. Despite divergent paths, the ultimate focus inevitably shifted back to Qi. Nonetheless, those who had honed their bodies in the lower realms could still leverage their past hardships, even when facing opponents of higher echelons.

The hardships of youth were never in vain! Lin Yaoyang pondered, "What is this man's combat strength?"

Instantly, a list materialized before him.

Name: Kou Quan.

Level: First-Grade Martial Master.

Strength: 180

Agility: 50

Vitality: 200

Wisdom: 50

Luck: 30

Experience: 1820/2000 Next level: Second-Grade Martial Master.

Lin Yaoyang's eyes narrowed with intensity as he studied the robust man before him. This man's attributes surpassed his own in every category, and his experience was nearly maxed out, signaling an imminent level-up to Second-Grade Martial Master!

Advancing through the ranks of cultivation was a daunting challenge, akin to crossing chasms between mountains.

For the average person, leveling up required a painstaking build-up of experience and a tremendous exertion of will, unlike Lin Yaoyang, who could decide on the spot to level up, bypassing the grueling process entirely.

The act of accumulating Qi wasn't the hardest part; even the least gifted could meet the requirements with enough repetitive practice over time. The true challenge lay in the act of ascending.

Those seeking advancement needed extraordinary perseverance and insight, and a touch of luck didn't hurt either.

But Lin Yaoyang had the ability to skip this arduous step altogether. Should word of this get out, it would send shockwaves across the continent, leaving countless luminaries, who had been stuck at a plateau for decades or even centuries, utterly astounded.

Someone has actually managed to skip this step! Lin Yaoyang figured it wouldn't be long before the big shots would snatch him up for research.

This just goes to show how freakishly powerful and horrifying Lin Yaoyang's ability is!

Lin Yaoyang was acutely aware of this, so even when he couldn't make heads or tails of it, he refrained from asking anyone in his family. Moreover, the voice in his head was like an encyclopedia; there was nothing he didn't know.

He had no need to seek answers from others. Lin Yaoyang regarded the towering man before him with a measure of respect, but he was far from intimidated. Lin Yaoyang had faith in himself and knew it wouldn't take much time to outdo this giant of a man!

The big man felt someone enter the tent and turned to Lin Yaoyang, asking, "Are you here to join the Mercenary Team?"

This hulking figure named Kou Quan, despite his intimidating appearance, spoke with unexpected warmth, a gentle smile gracing his face, giving off an air of straightforward sincerity.

Yet, Lin Yaoyang's guard went up even further at the sight. He knew this man was far from simple. No one who rose to lead a Mercenary Team could be a simpleton.

Such a person would undoubtedly be cunning, and Lin Yaoyang wasn't about to be fooled by the man's seemingly innocuous demeanor. For all he knew, Kou Quan might be the type to stab you in the back for a valuable possession.

Moreover, in the Demonic Beast Forest, the greatest threat to a Mercenary Team was often not the Demonic Beasts themselves. Low-level Demonic Beasts lacked intelligence and were single-minded, which explained why even the weaker Mercenary Teams dared to venture into the forest.

Humans were always more cunning than beasts, always finding ways to outwit and outlast the Demonic Beasts with traps and tactics. But when it came to other humans, it was a different game.

Many groups that called themselves Mercenary Teams were actually hunters of a different sort—their true quarry was other Mercenary Teams. They would stealthily track their targets, waiting for them to exhaust themselves in battle with the Demonic Beasts.

Then, they would swoop in to finish off the weary Mercenary Team and reap the rewards. Who could say whether this Mercenary Team had engaged in such treachery? After all, a targeted Mercenary Team would never be left with any survivors.

Lin Yaoyang gave Kou Quan a nod and said, "Yes, I'm here to join the Mercenary Team. I've already heard about the strength requirements from someone outside, and I'm confident I meet them."

Kou Quan, a burly man, let out an 'oh' and looked at Lin Yaoyang with a hint of curiosity. "I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Kou Quan. You say you meet the requirements? Could you possibly be a Level 9 Warrior? You don't seem like it—I can't sense that kind of aura from you."

Skeptical, Kou Quan scrutinized Lin Yaoyang, who simply smiled and allowed a faint Qi to emanate from within him.

Upon seeing this, the hopeful glint in Kou Quan's eyes faded. "A ninth grade? Clearly, he's just a First Grade warrior."

Kou Quan's irritation flared. Was this guy here just to mock him? But then he noticed the Lin Family badge on Lin Yaoyang's waist and realized he was dealing with a disciple of the Lin Family.

Trying to keep his cool, Kou Quan said sternly, "Young master of the Lin Family, please don't waste my time. If you don't have the strength, leave now and avoid further embarrassment."

Lin Yaoyang detected the displeasure in Kou Quan's voice but chose not to elaborate. Instead, he casually lifted his hand and channeled the Power of the Ant King towards a stone table in the tent.

With a soft "puff," there was a muffled sound, akin to tofu crumbling. Lin Yaoyang's palm had smashed into the stone table, leaving a long, visible crack snaking down its legs.

Kou Quan's eyes bulged in disbelief. "How is this possible? This kid's a First Grade warrior. How could he have such strength? He's almost as powerful as I am!"

Lin Yaoyang wasn't done yet. His right hand formed a seal and he directed it at a torch standing in the tent. A surge of black light burst from his hand.

In a flash, it enveloped the torch. The black light, upon reaching the torch, split into countless fragments, swarming over the flame like a horde of ants devouring it.