C13 The Gathering Place for Rest

"Now it's time to solidify my current level of mastery," Zhang Binn mused, a slight smile playing on his lips as he retrieved the corpse of the Red Fire Wolf. Had his Body Tempering Stage Six been fully stabilized before, Huang Qingyu wouldn't have stood a chance against him.

Luckily, the Red Fire Wolf, a fire-attribute Demon Beast, had blood that hadn't coagulated even after a considerable time. With a decisive motion, Zhang Binn used his Hidden Dragon Sword to slice open the wolf's throat. Bracing himself, he clenched his teeth and began to draw in the creature's vital blood essence.

Truth be told, drinking raw blood was a revolting thought for someone from Earth like Zhang Binn. But to fortify his realm, he would endure it, no matter how unpleasant.

Gulping down the blood, Zhang Binn consumed nearly all of the Red Fire Wolf's essence. He then closed his eyes and sank into a deep meditative state.

Half a day passed before Zhang Binn's eyes fluttered open, a sharp glint flickering within them. An intimidating presence radiated from him, enough to make one's heart skip a beat.

"The blood essence of the Red Fire Wolf truly lives up to its reputation," he acknowledged. In just half a day, he had not only reinforced his cultivation but also harnessed the essence of the Red Fire Wolf's blood and the Red Fire Fruit to elevate his strength to the mid-stage of the Body Tempering Stage Eight.

Now, Zhang Binn was confident that he could hold his own against a martial artist at the pinnacle of Body Tempering Stage Nine.

"This venture into the Devil Beast Mountain Range has paid off," Zhang Binn said with a wide smile. The old adage was right: fortune favors the bold.

"Time to press on," he declared, rising to his feet and stepping out of the cave. After locating a nearby pool, he bathed and changed into fresh clothes. Casting a final glance at the undulating mountain range, he vanished into the woods with a swift movement.

The skilled are indeed the courageous. Without hesitation, Zhang Binn made his way deeper into the Devil Beast Mountain Range.

Throughout his half-day trek in the forest, he encountered several Devil Beasts, but they were merely low-level creatures of no significant worth.

The most formidable foe Zhang Binn had faced was a late-stage, tiger-shaped Devil Beast, yet he had dispatched it with a single strike of his sword!

Currently, Zhang Binn was on the hunt for a more challenging Devil Beast to gauge his own strength.

However, as dusk fell, he was compelled to seek out a secure spot to hunker down for the night.

The night brought peak terror in the Devil Beast Mountain Range, as that's when most Devil Beasts prowled.

And here, in the middle reaches of the outer layer of the range, late-stage Rank One Devil Beasts were plentiful, with a significant number of Rank Two beasts as well!

Not just Zhang Binn, but even masters at the Qi Refining Stage wouldn't dare to linger here solo!

After trekking through the woods for nearly half an hour, he spotted a cave on a nearby hillside, aglow with the flicker of firelight.

Zhang Binn's pulse quickened. Could it be another Red Fire Wolf?

The thought electrified him; such a creature was a true prize!

With his current prowess, he could slay an uninjured late-stage Rank One Red Fire Wolf without breaking a sweat!

But upon closer inspection, Zhang Binn realized it wasn't a Red Fire Wolf at all, but rather a group of people huddled together.

"They're disciples from our own Heavenly Rotating Jade Sect."

He recognized their attire and pondered their presence.

He recalled that those who ventured into the Devil Beast Mountain Range would band together before nightfall to fend off any Devil Beast assaults.

"Looks like I'll be joining them for the evening."

Decided, Zhang Binn moved swiftly in their direction.

"Alert! Someone's approaching!"

The group by the fire tensed up, ready for any threat.

"Fellow seniors, please, there's no need for alarm. I am a disciple of the Heavenly Rotating Jade Sect."

As Zhang Binn's voice carried to them, he emerged from the shadows of the forest.

Upon hearing him and recognizing his affiliation, the group gave Zhang Binn a once-over and relaxed, their anxiety easing.

They couldn't afford to let their guard down; an unexpected encounter with even a single Rank Two Devil Beast could spell disaster.

Zhang Binn surveyed the group—eight in total. The least advanced among them was at the eighth level of the Body Tempering Stage, with the most advanced being a man at the ninth level.

The rest merely shot Zhang Binn a glance before settling down to meditate and rejuvenate themselves.

However, the young man at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Stage fixed his gaze on Zhang Binn and spoke with a hint of indifference, "Senior Sister Ye is inside the cave. She's declared that anyone seeking her protection must pay ten crystal stones."

The others, basking in the fire's glow, snapped their eyes open at these words, their faces alight with anticipation for the unfolding drama.

Zhang Binn felt a surge of alertness. Senior Sister Ye from the outer sect!

It was common knowledge that outer sect disciples possessed the prowess of the Qi Refining Stage!

"Hehe, if you don't have crystal stones, other valuables will suffice," the man said, locking eyes with Zhang Binn, who remained silent.

After all, who traversing the Devil Beast Mountain Range wouldn't carry treasures?

"Wang Yan, when did I ever utter those words?"

Just then, a crisp voice rang out.

At the mouth of the cave stood a woman in yellow robes, seemingly materializing out of nowhere.

She appeared to be in her twenties, strikingly beautiful with a statuesque figure, and she looked at Wang Yan with a faint smile.

The expressions of the spectators shifted at the sight of her.

Wang Yan's face, too, transformed in an instant as he quickly clarified, "Senior Sister Ye, please don't be mistaken. I was merely jesting with this junior brother."

Realization dawned on Zhang Binn as he heard the woman's retort. The man had been bluffing, attempting to swindle his crystal stones!

After shooting the young man a frosty glare, Zhang Binn's attention turned to Senior Sister Ye.

But by then, Senior Sister Ye had already retreated into the cave.

The night passed uneventfully, with the group easily dispatching lower-tier Devil Beasts. The early Rank Two Devil Beasts, however, met their end at the hands of Senior Sister Ye!

As daylight broke, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Zhang Binn cast one last glance at the cave, noting Senior Sister Ye's absence. With a nonchalant shrug, he too departed.

About half an hour into his trek through the woods, Zhang Binn came to a sudden halt. A silhouette had emerged, blocking his path.

"Senior Brother Wang?"

Zhang Binn inquired, an eyebrow arched in curiosity.

"Hehe, you got lucky last night. Now, just hand over the crystal stones, and I'll let you pass."

The figure was none other than Wang Yan, the very man who had tried to exploit Senior Sister Ye's name to cheat Zhang Binn out of his crystal stones the previous night.

Indeed, everyone had relinquished their crystal stones the previous evening, partly due to Wang Yan's formidable strength, and partly because no one dared cross Senior Sister Ye.

In truth, Senior Sister Ye was well aware of Wang Yan's schemes, yet she chose to turn a blind eye.

However, once Zhang Binn arrived, Wang Yan's greed knew no bounds; he audaciously demanded ten crystal stones from him.

It was only when Senior Sister Ye could no longer stand idly by that she intervened.

Zhang Binn responded with a cold, mocking laugh. He hadn't sought retribution, yet here was Wang Yan, knocking at his door?

He fixed his gaze on Wang Yan and challenged, "And what if I refuse to hand them over?"

"Then you're signing your own death warrant!" Wang Yan retorted, fury igniting within him.

Whoosh!

No sooner had he uttered the threat than Wang Yan launched into action!

"Ding dong! Wang Yan's Fury +60!"

"Ding dong! Wang Yan's Killing Intent +50!"

"You're courting disaster!"

With a cold cry, Zhang Binn drew the Hidden Dragon Sword.

"Profound Nether Nine Swords! Strike!"

Swish!

A gleaming sword light cut swiftly through the woods.

Bang!

A body thudded to the ground, lifeless.

"Ding dong! Successfully vanquished a Body Tempering Stage Level 9 martial artist, Experience Points +90!"