Captain Mei Yang was about to go find Qin Ming when the Grand Princess waved her hand again.
"Forget it, if he can make himself sweat from practicing the Ice Soul Fist, he has some ability. Let him take his shirt off if he wants. As long as he doesn't take off his pants, I'll pretend I didn't see anything."
"Understood! Grand Princess, after reaching the First Stage of Body Tempering, he will need to refine his bones with Beast Blood. Should we help him find a beast and use its blood to refine his bones?"
The Grand Princess paced around the room. After a long pause, she suddenly turned and spoke.
"You will set up an ambush at North Frost Ridge tonight and capture all the traversers there! Also, bring little Qin Ming along and let him experience it. Help him catch a beast and bring it back to refine his bones."
"Okey,princess!"
Qin Ming had finally mastered the Ice Soul Fist to a small degree of proficiency. Just as he was pulling his fists back, he heard clapping behind him.
He turned around.
Standing fifty meters away under a maple tree was Mei Yang, exuding endless charm. She wasn't in her usual armor but instead wore a fluffy white coat.
"Very good, little Qin Ming," she said.
Qin Ming reached for his clothes hanging on a nearby branch, preparing to put them on.
Mei Yang quickly raised her hand. "No, no, no! Little brother, don't put it on yet. Let big sister take a look at your abs!"
Qin Ming: ...
Is this woman from ancient times or something? Why is she always so flirtatious?
"Tsk tsk, really nice. Not only do you look handsome, but your body is quite tempting too."
Mei Yang gently licked her lips, her rosy lips exuding temptation.
Qin Ming quickly draped his wide robe over himself to hide the exposed parts of his body.
"Sister Mei Yang, what brings you here?"
"Your punches are so loud, who could not hear? The Grand Princess has ordered that you remove your shirt while practicing your punches, which is disrespectful. She sent me to punish you."
Qin Ming was taken aback.
"So, what does Sister Mei Yang plan to do for the punishment? I'll make sure not to take my shirt off while training again."
"I'll punish you by making sure you take off your pants next time you train."
Qin Ming: ... |ʘᗝʘ|
A clear laugh echoed from the distance.
Captain Meng Tu, dressed in black armor, was holding a red rabbit blade in her hand.
"Little Qin Ming, don't listen to Mei Yang, always so lewd! Go back and change your clothes, we need to prepare to leave."
"Where are we going?"
"To North Frost Ridge to kill people!"
The difference between the glowing Crystal City at night and during the day was vast.
Qin Ming followed Captain Meng Tu, Mei Yang, and three hundred Demon-Binding Guards out of the city. Strange beast noises echoed around them, and eerie flying creatures with glowing blue eyes soared through the dark sky.
Despite having seen many strange occurrences in the palace, Qin Ming's heart raced.
"Little Qin Ming, in addition to setting up an ambush for the traversers, the Grand Princess also ordered us to catch a beast and help refine your bones."
Qin Ming: ??
What does that mean?
Catching a beast to refine bones? Could it be true what Mu Sizhe said, that the natives are related to beasts? If that's the case, wouldn't my bone refinement expose me?
"Sisters, I haven't been cultivating for long, and I don't fully understand this bone refinement process!" Qin Ming asked nervously. After all, if this had to do with beasts, he would have to find a way to escape when they reached North Frost Ridge. Otherwise, he would be exposed when they returned.
"You've already reached the First Stage of Body Tempering, so to continue advancing, you will need bone refinement. By soaking in the blood of these beasts, your bones will become stronger, and your veins will be more robust, laying the foundation for spiritual connection in the future."
"Ah, I see."
As long as it's just soaking in blood and doesn't involve beasts directly, it should be fine!
In the blink of an eye, everyone had arrived at North Frost Ridge.
This place was shrouded in mist, with eerie red flowers scattered everywhere, giving it an desolate and haunting appearance.
Qin Ming, using the visual enhancement provided by the Turtle Breathing Spiritual Art, scanned the surroundings. Faded, dry grass sprouted from the snow, swaying left and right in the cold wind. Above, fiery red Soul-Craving Birds once again circled, their numbers so vast they seemed endless.
Meng Tu and Mei Yang jumped off their horses. Qin Ming followed suit.
Ten meters in front of him, a glowing plant was slowly extending its vines into the snow, inching forward. Qin Ming thought it was strange—when had he seen such a scene on Blue Star?
Suddenly, the glowing vine shot out of the snow with a whoosh, moving at an incredible speed, heading straight for Qin Ming's eyes.
It was a split-second decision.
Qin Ming planted his foot firmly on the ground, dodging left in the nick of time. At the same time, the red rabbit blade in Meng Tu's hand flew out.
With a whoosh!
The red rabbit blade severed the plant from its roots. The glowing vine in the snow immediately lost its light and faded.
Meng Tu turned and looked at Qin Ming, saying, "Nice reflexes! That's Silver Corpse Grass, it feeds on the blood of corpses. Be careful."
Qin Ming felt a slight chill in his heart. Even the plants in this damn world were this bizarre?
Meng Tu quickly scanned the surroundings and immediately gave orders.
"Magic-Binding Guards, listen up! Search the area, expanding from here. Report immediately if you find any traversers! Tonight's principle is to capture them alive if possible. If not, eliminate them on sight!"
"Yes,sir!"
In an instant, the three hundred Magic-Binding Guards dispersed, scattering in all directions.
Qin Ming and Meng Tu then took cover in the snow pit. He touched the green jade pendant in his pocket, wondering if Qing Xuan would show up.
Just then, a blood-curdling scream echoed from the distance. Qin Ming looked up and saw a red flame charging directly toward three Magic-Binding Guards.
Mei Yang and the red rabbit blade jumped into action.
"Damned traversers! They can control fire!"
With that, they immediately charged out, their killing intent surging.
As they ran, Meng Tu shouted to the surrounding guards, "Ten of you, stay and protect little Qin Ming!"
"Yes,sir!"
Ten Magic-Binding Guards surrounded Qin Ming, brandishing their swords and knives.
Meanwhile, more sounds of battle could be heard from the left, as several more traversers appeared.
Each of them seemed to be very powerful, at least at the Third Stage of Body Tempering or higher! Many of the Magic-Binding Guards were drawn away to deal with them.
Qin Ming was about to move forward when, suddenly, a warning flashed in his mind from the Sky Locking Pot.
[Warning: Danger level increased by 50 times! During this danger period, the speed of luck points accumulation is increased by 50 times!]
In an instant, Qin Ming's hairs stood on end. He quickly jumped out of the snow pit!
"Danger!"
"Clang, clang, clang..." Ten Magic-Binding Guards unsheathed their swords.
The next breath, a four-meter-tall beast suddenly charged out of the darkness. Its appearance resembled a rhinoceros, but with two sharp horns on its head and green scales covering its body.
"Bang, bang, bang~" Three Magic-Binding Guards were immediately crushed to death.
"It's a second-tier Green Poison Beast, equivalent to the Sixth Stage of Body Tempering! Run!"
Without saying a word, Qin Ming turned and fled.
Currently at the First Stage of Body Tempering, he was no match for a Green Poison Beast at the Sixth Stage of Body Tempering!
With the Turtle Breathing Spiritual Art and his Stealth Talent, he ran at great speed, silently and swiftly!
Four Magic-Binding Guards were caught and killed by the Green Poison Beast.
Only three remained following Qin Ming.
As he ran, he couldn't help but wonder. Didn't Mu Sizhe say that the natives were beasts? Yet these exotic beasts were attacking them, and they weren't transforming or anything?
"Boom, boom, boom..."
"Bang, bang, bang..."
The massive Green Poison Beast was chasing closely behind, causing the entire ground to tremble with each step.
After running for thirty breaths, Qin Ming suddenly saw a small wooden house on the left side of the mountain, which seemed like a good place to temporarily hide.
He quickly darted into the small house.
The other three Magic-Binding Guards followed him in at the same time, quickly slamming the door shut behind them!
"Bang, bang, bang..." The Green Poison Beast kept slamming into the door outside.
After entering, Qin Ming hid in the left room, while the other three guards went into the right room to search for places to take cover.
Just then...
"Boom~" The door to the outside room was suddenly smashed open by the Green Poison Beast!