They walked for an entire day, and before they knew it, night had fallen. However, the members of the Blaze Hawke mercenary group didn’t seem inclined to stop; after eating a bit of dry rations, they continued deeper into the dense forest. The surroundings grew increasingly desolate, long devoid of any sign of people. Along the way, they even encountered some ferocious wild beasts, but all of them were shot dead by Hawkeye.

By midnight, they stopped again to eat.

“Olivia Walker sis, what exactly are these level 19 War Generals and level 42 War Saints you mentioned?” Olivia Carter asked while eating his dry rations.

Olivia Walker sighed and explained gently, “The Empire values martial strength, and almost everyone practices martial arts. It’s just that some achieve more than others. According to their strength, all martial practitioners are divided into 15 levels and five major realms. The five realms are: Human Realm, Earth Realm, Heaven Realm, Saint Domain, and Divine Realm. Each realm is further divided into three classes. The specific classifications for Human, Earth, and Heaven Realms are: Warrior, War General, War Spirit, War Sect, War Lord, War Saint, Heaven Lord, Heaven King, and Heaven Emperor. Each level is divided into 10 grades. For example, my power is measured at level 19, which places me as a War General of the second tier in the Human Realm, while Hawkeye is level 42, a War Lord of the second tier in the Earth Realm.”

Olivia Carter was stunned. There were so many levels—he was probably just a level 1 nobody. He didn’t want to ask too much, so he said, “Why are they hunting spirit beasts that are three thousand years old?”

“Probably for the beast’s spirit or spirit stones?”

“……” He didn’t understand again, looking every bit the rookie.

……

At that moment, the young man in luxurious clothes appeared once more, holding a wine flask, his face full of mocking laughter. He said, “You two bait seem to be getting along quite well. Don’t you realize death is near?”

Olivia Walker looked up angrily, “Who are you?”

“You don’t even recognize me, the young city lord Grace Brooks, and yet you dare to…” He was about to go on and on, but then noticed that the girl before him was an exceptionally beautiful woman!

Was he really that Grace Brooks who became a grand alchemist at such a young age?

Olivia Walker was secretly alarmed, but seeing the lecherous smile on Grace Brooks’s face made her skin crawl, and for a moment she was at a loss for words.

Chapter 0007: Extreme Escape

“Tsk tsk, what a waste to use you as bait!”

The young city lord of Silver Fir City, Grace Brooks, had a trace of lechery on his face. He turned and asked with a smile, “Captain Hawkeye, this little beauty… before she’s used as bait, can I…”

Hawkeye, who was wiping his battle axe, couldn’t help but sneer inwardly, cursing this young city lord as a true lecher. However, he still maintained a respectful tone and said, “We’re already deep in the Seven Star Forest. At any moment, a thousand-year-old spirit beast could appear. Young lord, you’d best not think about that, lest you cause unnecessary trouble!”

Grace Brooks was a bit displeased. “Hawkeye, my father gave you a full three thousand Gold Yin coins. Isn’t that worth a mere commoner girl?”

Hawkeye was clearly impatient. “Let’s keep moving! We must reach Canglong Ridge before dawn!”

……

“What are they planning?” Olivia Walker asked, a bit flustered.

Olivia Carter shook his head. “Nothing.”

He knew he had to stay calm, or else Olivia Walker would fall apart.

……

The Seven Star Forest at night was indescribably cold. Along the way, Hawkeye and the other mercenaries worked together to kill a 400-year-old spirit beast—a wolf king-level blue wolf that had already formed a spirit stone, making it a true overlord of the forest. Now, it had been cut into four pieces, all roasted dry without a trace of blood, and each piece was hung from the rump of a mercenary’s horse.

Grace Brooks still hadn’t given up his wicked intentions toward Olivia Walker, but with Olivia Carter standing guard, he didn’t get his way.

As dawn broke in the east, a winding mountain ridge appeared ahead—it was the legendary Canglong Ridge!

“Boss, we’re here,” a mercenary said.

Hawkeye took the battle axe off his shoulder, his eyes full of fighting spirit. “Four days ago, a hunter saw a bloodthirsty tiger with four golden stripes here at Canglong Ridge. As everyone knows, each golden stripe represents a thousand years of age. This bloodthirsty tiger is at least four thousand years old. Its spirit stone must have already formed, and killing it will also yield the beast’s spirit—that’s what the young lord wants.”

Grace Brooks also drew the longsword from his horse with a “clang,” the blade shining cold and clear—a fine sword. He smiled slightly and said, “So, Captain Hawkeye, how do you plan to kill this four-thousand-year-old bloodthirsty tiger?”

Hawkeye replied, “Every spirit beast has its own territory and won’t stray far. This is already the bloodthirsty tiger’s domain. The tiger is extremely sensitive to the scent of blood and can smell human blood from ten miles away on the wind. So all we need to do is let the bait bleed a little, and the bloodthirsty tiger will come.”

Grace Brooks couldn’t help but laugh maliciously, his eyes sweeping venomously over Olivia Carter. “Tie this kid up. I’ll bleed him myself!”

“No need.”

Hawkeye said coolly, “I’ll do it myself.”

……

Very soon, Olivia Carter and Olivia Walker were both tied to a big tree. When Hawkeye approached with his battle axe, Olivia Walker was so frightened she burst into tears, cursing, “Hawkeye, you beast! We have no grudge against you—why are you doing this to us?!”