The wild grass outside was gradually withering. Autumn had arrived in Aqua Country, and the vitality of all things waned.

A group of hunters walked up the mountain road, carrying several hunted beasts on their backs.

These hunters, both men and women, were all fit. Clearly, they were not ordinary people but robust warriors.

"Captain, we've been on the road for a while. Let's take a break," the only female member of the team said.

The leader of the group, a robust middle-aged man with a sturdy build, wiped the sweat from his forehead and then nodded. "Alright, since we still have time, let's rest a bit."

The group came to a jumble of rocks and sat down to rest.

"We've had quite a haul this trip up the mountain. It should be enough for the villagers to live comfortably for a while," a man dressed in tiger skins said with a smile.

"Indeed. Something seems to be stirring the Exotic Beasts in the mountains recently. Perhaps some upheaval is brewing. After this trip, it might be best for us to lay low for a while," another hunter spoke.

"What's there to fear? We are all warriors, and our captain is a Seventh Realm warrior. Unless we encounter a powerful First-grade Exotic Beast, there's nothing to be afraid of."

"That's right. The only threat would be a Tier-2 Exotic Beast, but such beasts usually reside deep in the wilderness. Under normal circumstances, they won't appear."

The group laughed and chatted, clearly at ease.

Suddenly, one of them showed a curious expression. He approached a large stone, a look of astonishment on his face. "Hm? There's something strange with the spiritual energy here. It seems to be flowing into the crevices of this rock."

"It's just as you said! Could there be a treasure behind these rocks?"

As martial artists, they were familiar with spiritual energy. The thought of a hidden treasure excited them; perhaps some Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures were growing within.

"Move it!"

At the thought of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, the hunters' eyes gleamed with anticipation. As martial artists, all they wanted was a quick boost in Cultivation. Their limited talents and lack of good Cultivation Techniques made progress difficult, but with such treasures, everything could change.

BOOM!

As they heaved the massive stone halfway, they suddenly stumbled back several steps. A blinding light pierced through the crevice! An overwhelming aura spilled out, making their skin tingle and their hair stand on end. It felt several times more terrifying than a Tier-2 Exotic Beast one of them had once glimpsed from afar.

HUM!

The air vibrated, creating faint ripples that spread out. The withered grass on the ground curled up and was swept away in all directions. Then, the jumble of rocks, only partially moved, began to tremble, emitting a cracking noise.

An intense pressure bore down on the group of hunters.

"Get back, quickly!"

The hunter captain, being the strongest, was the first to sense the danger. He immediately shouted for everyone to retreat.

They had just retreated about ten meters when the giant rock before them suddenly shattered, split from the center by two Sword Lights, and burst apart.

BOOM!

Dozens, if not hundreds, of rocks were blasted away as if caught in a terrifying storm, scattering in all directions.

The mountainous terrain shook violently as if an earthquake had struck. The hunters all dived to the ground, not daring to move an inch.

After a while, the hunters got up. Seeing the high ground, now covered in cracks and on the verge of collapse, they were horrified. Their gaze involuntarily landed on the original location of the giant rock.

The giant rock had disappeared, replaced by a pitch-black cave. The air outside the cave rippled like water.

RUSTLE!

Footsteps echoed, and a figure slowly emerged.

"Finally, after so much time and effort, I've reached the Martial Master Eighth Level."

The figure was Ling Chen. He had been in secluded Cultivation in the cave, fully focused on breaking through his Realm. After more than a month of arduous Cultivation, he had finally achieved a successful breakthrough.

Feeling good about his progress, Ling Chen then noticed the hunters, his gaze shifting towards them.

"We did not mean to disturb Your Excellency! We hope that Your Excellency will not kill us and will grant us a chance to live!"

Seeing Ling Chen cut such a huge boulder into pieces with his sword as if it were tofu, the hunters were left utterly dumbstruck and terrified. They knew that some powerful experts had unpredictable tempers and were prone to fits of rage if disturbed during their Cultivation. Fearing retribution, they immediately knelt and begged for mercy.

"Why would I want to kill you?" Ling Chen paused, puzzled, then chuckled. They must mistake me for some kind of murderous fiend, he thought. This little interruption hardly warrants taking their lives.

"Thank you!"

The hunter leader let out a sigh of relief. Luckily, the person they encountered wasn't bloodthirsty; otherwise, their lives would have been in peril.

"Are you hunters from nearby?"

Ling Chen sized them up. Seeing their attire, he knew they must be mountain folk from the vicinity.

"Yes," the hunter leader responded respectfully, aware that Ling Chen was a martial arts expert. "We live in a mountain village over twenty li from here, not far. Usually, when I have nothing else to do, I come here to hunt and share the game with the villagers."

"I didn't expect to find so many warriors in such a small village."

Even though martial arts flourished within the Five Kingdoms, in such a desolate and remote place, someone with the hunter leader's level of Cultivation was already considered an expert.

"Sir, we have disrupted your Cultivation. To express our apology, would you honor us by visiting our village? This would allow us to properly show our remorse."

The hunter leader was eloquent. Having just witnessed Ling Chen's Cultivation, he naturally wanted to befriend him.

"There's no need for such formality. You can just call me Ling Chen."

Ling Chen shook his head, then smiled. "Since you've all invited me so earnestly, it would be rude to decline."

He was not one to put on airs. Besides, after sitting in the cave for over a month, he was indeed feeling a bit restless. It was time to see people and eat something fresh.

"Great! Brother Ling Chen, this way."

Shouldering their prey, the hunter leader was overjoyed. To be able to speak with such a powerful warrior, even just to walk alongside him, was an incredibly precious opportunity. If the villagers found out, they would admire him even more. After all, the most powerful warrior the villagers had ever seen was merely a Fifth Level Martial Artist; judging by aura alone, he was far inferior to Ling Chen, not even a tenth of his strength.

And Ling Chen looked so young; the leader was certain he had to be a renowned figure in the Jianghu. For such a person to willingly interact with mountain folk of their humble status, and without any pretense, was truly commendable.

Suddenly, Ling Chen gazed into the distance behind him and to his right, his brows furrowing.

"You're in trouble."

"What kind of trouble?"

They had no idea why Ling Chen would suddenly say such a thing, but they sensed something amiss.

"That direction," Ling Chen said, his eyes narrowing to a slit as he pointed. "A large horde of Exotic Beasts is gathering and surging towards us. I estimate the surrounding hundred-mile area will be affected."

"This is bad! Our village is full of ordinary people. We need to warn them right away!" The hunters' faces changed drastically.

"Then we'd better hurry. I'll escort you. Let's go!"

Ling Chen looked at the hunters. He could choose not to intervene in this. But if he did that, how would he be different from anyone else? If one possessed heaven-defying Cultivation and peerless strength but didn't act chivalrously or aid those in peril, what meaning would it all have?