Wild Dogs

A bitter look appeared on Mu Wan'er's face.

"We can't just come and go as we please; there are some rules to it."

The others nearby nodded in agreement.

"Those who guard the checkpoints have always been very demanding."

"We have to pay a lot of spirit stones every time we enter or leave the mountains."

"They will only let us pass once we pay enough spirit stones."

Everyone complained about the difficulties involved.

Yang Fan understood immediately after hearing this.

To get in and out of the mountains smoothly, you have to get on good terms with the people guarding the checkpoint.

He thought for a moment, then turned to look at them.

"You still haven't told us what kind of trouble you've encountered."

"Without knowing the specifics, I can't just offer to help you."

"I bet you've come to me this time because you want my help."

Mu Wan'er nodded gently.

"We came here specifically to ask for your help, young master."

She lowered her voice and slowly explained the reason.

"Young master, you don't know, Cangyun City has sealed off the Cangyun Mountain Range for almost two years."

"During the period of mountain closure, cultivators from outside cannot enter the mountain at all."

As a result, the number of mythical beasts in the mountains increased.

Over the past two years, there have been many more mythical creatures in the mountains than before.

Moreover, the inability of outside spirit-hunting groups to enter has caused the prices of spirit beast cores and various materials outside to rise dramatically.

So in the past two years, the closure of the mountains in Cangyun City has not been so strict, and several spirit hunting groups have entered the mountains together.

Yang Fan nodded in agreement.

"That Giant Whale Gang from earlier must have been one of them, right?"

"Yes."

"The Giant Whale Gang is one of them, and our Scorpion Gang was only established in the last two years."

At this point, Mu Wan'er showed a hint of embarrassment, clearly indicating that they were also there to seize territory.

Yang Fan didn't care and waved his hand.

"Go on."

Mu Wan'er sighed and continued.

"At the beginning, everyone was doing their own thing, and nothing serious happened."

"But later, as we hunted more spirit beasts, there wasn't enough territory to go around, and people started having frequent conflicts, which escalated."

"A few days ago, the leaders of several major spirit-hunting groups got together to discuss this matter and decided to hold a competition."

"The competition rules stipulate that the leaders and elders of each gang cannot participate; they can only send young people under the age of twenty."

"The final rankings will be determined by wins and losses."

Yang Fan frowned and looked at Mu Wan'er with a puzzled expression.

"Why not let the gang leader handle it? Why insist on sending a young man?"

Mu Wan'er sighed again.

"If the gang leader takes action personally, then the situation changes completely."

"The gang leader is the most capable fighter in the gang. If the gang leader loses, it means that your gang's overall strength is not good."

"That will make others look down on your gang, and then you'll have a lot of trouble."

"That's one issue. Secondly, if the gang leaders start fighting, and one gang leader loses, what if the other side uses lethal force? Wouldn't that gang be left without anyone to manage it?"

"Therefore, the gang leader is the trump card of each gang and cannot be used lightly. Only subordinates can go first."

"Those elders may not be as high in status as the gang leader, but they are still very important."

"Everyone was afraid of losing face if they lost, so in the end we decided to let the young people in the gang take the lead."

"Young people represent the future of a gang. If these young people can win, it means that the gang has a solid foundation."

"If the top leaders on both sides are of similar strength, and the newcomer is more capable than you, then naturally you are more qualified to occupy a good position."

At this point, Mu Wan'er looked at Yang Fan expectantly.

"Young master, after discussing it, we decided to stay here together."

Hearing this, Yang Fan finally understood the whole situation and nodded slightly.

"Okay, I understand what you're saying."

"However, although this method sounds a bit casual, it's the only way we can do it."

Yang Fan could understand; although this ranking only determined who was better or worse, it was still acceptable.

Once the rankings are determined, everyone can divide up their territories without having to fight anymore. Clearly defining the territory benefits everyone.

Thinking of this, Yang Fan nodded.

"Alright, in that case, I'm happy to help you."

"But surely none of your opponents are Core Formation stage cultivators?"

Mu Wan'er quickly shook her head.

"Impossible, the opponent's cultivation level is at most the mid-Foundation Establishment stage."

Upon hearing that his opponent was only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, Yang Fan immediately felt relieved.

He possessed a strong physical body, exceptional spiritual sense, and a cultivation level at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Coupled with the numerous treasures he carried, dealing with these people was more than enough for him.

Yang Fan felt extremely excited whenever he thought of the Earth Spirit Milk.

Earth Spirit Milk not only helps cultivators improve their cultivation level before Foundation Establishment, but it is also an essential and precious material for refining Core Formation pills.

If one could obtain the Earth Spirit Milk, it could be used for cultivation to improve one's strength, or it could be used to refine pills.

In the future, it will save a lot of effort when breaking through from the Foundation Establishment Realm to the Core Formation Realm.

Thinking of this, Yang Fan spoke up.

"Lead the way and take me to your Scorpion Gang's headquarters."

"I need to discuss this with your gang's higher-ups in person. If the gang leader and others don't agree, I can't just rashly step in to help."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Fan put his hands behind his back and calmly walked to Mu Wan'er.

Mu Wan'er looked up at Yang Fan with a respectful expression.

"Young master, I'll lead the way for you right away."

She immediately walked up to Yang Fan, respectfully gestured for him to enter, and then led the way.

The other three surrounded Yang Fan, their attitude extremely respectful.

Yang Fan knew that everyone had witnessed his abilities and held him in great awe, all hoping that he would step in to protect them.

He saw through everyone's thoughts, said nothing more, and walked steadily forward with his hands behind his back.

Yang Fan observed the surrounding environment along the way, noting traces of cultivators' activities everywhere in the mountains.

This place is frequently visited by various spirit-hunting groups, and it is generally peaceful.

The group traveled continuously for three days before stopping.

Yang Fan gazed at the Scorpion Gang's encampment ahead and couldn't help but sigh.

"You're hiding way too far away."

A helpless, bitter smile appeared on Mu Wan'er's face.

"We didn't want to come to such a remote place; we were just cornered by the other side."

Several people around him began to explain, and Yang Fan had already heard the reason several times along the way.

The group was hunting spirit beasts in the mountains when they were intercepted by the Giant Whale Gang.

From that day onward, the Giant Whale Gang relentlessly pursued them, pressing them step by step for several days in a row, driving them to the brink of despair.

If it weren't for the fact that the leader of the Giant Whale Gang coveted Mu Wan'er's beauty, the group would have lost their lives long ago.