Ryan smiled to himself and began to sort through the spoils of this fierce battle, his mood unusually relaxed.
The clash with the Wolf Sky Mercenary Corps had brought him far more than danger and bloodshed.
Not only had his cultivation surged all the way to the peak of the nine-star Upper Elite, but he had also gained a considerable number of attribute pills.
These pills, subtle yet terrifying in effect, would steadily refine his strength, speed, endurance, and overall physique.
When accumulated to a certain degree, they would allow him to challenge opponents across realms without relying purely on luck or desperation.
To Ryan, these gains were far more valuable than momentary glory.
What truly surprised him, however, was the weapon reward.
Aside from the Ice Sword that he still could not wield, this was the first truly usable weapon he had obtained since entering the cultivation path.
Remnant Shadow Sword.
A legendary blade said to have been forged by the first blacksmith of the Holy Mystic Continent, capable of producing lingering afterimages whenever sword techniques were unleashed.
Required level: 20.
Ryan drew the sword from his system backpack and held it in his hand, examining it carefully.
The weapon was a massive broad sword, nearly four feet long and more than a foot wide.
Its edges were keen and symmetrical, while the sword tip was cut at an angled thirty-degree bevel, resembling a broken blade that had been forcibly snapped off. Yet the lines were smooth and natural, clearly crafted intentionally rather than damaged.
The entire sword radiated a primitive, domineering aura, as if it had been born to cleave mountains rather than duel gracefully.
The Remnant Shadow Sword was astonishingly heavy, weighing close to a hundred pounds.
It sank into Ryan's palm with a solid, grounding force. If not for his nine-star Upper Elite cultivation and the countless strength pills he had consumed, merely wielding this sword would have been exhausting, if not outright impossible.
For him, however, the weight felt just right, like an extension of his own body.
"Let's see..."
He casually swung the sword a few times through the air. As the blade cut forward, faint afterimages trailed behind it, overlapping and shimmering before slowly dissipating.
"Good. Very good..."
Ryan's eyes lit up with satisfaction.
Strength could always be cultivated, but a suitable weapon was something far rarer.
Since the Ice Sword remained sealed for now, this Remnant Shadow Sword was undoubtedly the greatest harvest of the day.
Just as Ryan was immersed in this sense of fulfillment, a gentle, hesitant voice reached his ears.
"Um… hello."
The voice was soft and cautious, carrying a trace of shyness, as though its owner was unsure whether she should speak at all.
Ryan turned his head and saw Shang Jiao standing there, her short hair framing a delicate yet resolute face.
According to the information revealed earlier by his Sky Eye Technique, she was the leader of the Red Scorpion Mercenary Corps.
She was undeniably beautiful.
While she might not rival Li Xue's peerless charm, she was still a rare beauty by any standard.
Yet such beauty, when unaccompanied by overwhelming strength or an unshakable backing, could easily become a curse rather than a blessing.
As a mercenary constantly roaming dangerous lands, she was far too exposed.
If not for this encounter, today might have ended in tragedy, and even if she survived, there would surely be others like Zhang Yuxi who would set their sights on her in the future.
In this world, beauty without power was often nothing more than a commodity waiting to be claimed. It was cruel, but it was reality.
"Hello," Ryan replied calmly, his tone polite and unhurried.
"My name is Shang Jiao. I'm the leader of the Red Scorpion Mercenary Corps," she said, gesturing toward the battered members standing behind her.
Then she turned back to Ryan, her expression earnest and expectant. "Please forgive my abruptness, but… may I know your name? Thank you for today. If it weren't for you, our entire mercenary corps might have been wiped out here."
Ryan had indeed mentioned his name during the battle, but in the chaos of life and death, no one had paid attention. Shang Jiao hesitated after speaking, as if suddenly realizing something. "Of course, if it's inconvenient, then please forget I asked."
She understood all too well that making enemies like the Wolf Sky Mercenary Corps often meant endless trouble. Revealing one's identity could be dangerous, and she did not want to burden her benefactor with further risk.
"It's fine," Ryan said lightly, unconcerned. "It's just a name. I'm Li Wei."
"Li Wei?" Shang Jiao repeated softly, then, almost without thinking, asked, "How old are you this year?"
The question slipped out before she realized how direct it sounded.
Yet for some reason, the answer felt strangely important to her. The members of the Red Scorpion Mercenary Corps exchanged puzzled glances, wondering why their leader suddenly seemed so interested in Ryan's personal details.
Ryan merely smiled, unbothered by the question. "16."
"Sixteen…" Shang Jiao murmured. She nodded instinctively. "It matches your appearance. I'm only twenty myself… not that far apart." Her voice trailed off as a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. Some stray thought crossed her mind, and she hurriedly lowered her head, embarrassed by her own imagination.
On the Holy Mystic Continent, age was never a true barrier between men and women. Strength, talent, and future potential mattered far more than years lived.
A powerful sixteen-year-old could easily command more admiration than a weak sixty-year-old. Beauty admired strength, not fragility, and this law was deeply ingrained in the world.
"Hm?" Ryan looked at her in confusion.
"Oh, nothing, nothing," Shang Jiao waved her hand quickly and forced a smile, hastily changing the subject. "Thank you again for saving us. If you don't mind, would you be willing to visit Heavenly Cold City as our guest?"
Her words immediately stirred the mercenary members behind her.
"Yes, Brother Li, come to Heavenly Cold City! I'll treat you to the famous grapefruit yak. It's amazing!"
"Get lost, a grapefruit yak is all you've got? Brother Li saved our lives. If you're inviting him, at least offer a proper feast!"
"Exactly! As long as Brother Li comes to Heavenly Cold City, he can eat whatever he wants and go wherever he wants!"
"You're bragging again. Can you even afford that?"
Laughter and chatter broke out, easing the heavy atmosphere that had lingered after the battle.
Ryan lowered his head and thought for a moment.
Time was precious to him right now.
He still needed to return to the Li Clan, test his strength against Li Mingtian, and prepare for an important half-year agreement. Lingering in Heavenly Cold City would slow his progress.
"I'm sorry," he said finally. "I have some urgent matters to handle, so I can't go to Heavenly Cold City for now. But when things settle down, I'll definitely visit."
A trace of disappointment flashed through Shang Jiao's eyes, but she quickly nodded. "Alright. When you're free, come find us in Heavenly Cold City. We'll make sure to treat you properly then."
"I will," Ryan replied. He clasped his fists politely in farewell, then turned and walked away.
"There will be a time when we meet again," the members echoed, returning the gesture.
Shang Jiao stood quietly, watching as Ryan's figure gradually faded into the darkness of the forest.
Even after he disappeared from sight, her gaze lingered, filled with complicated emotions she herself did not yet understand.
After parting ways with the Red Scorpion Mercenary Corps, Ryan did not immediately leave the Forest of Death.
Instead, he circled around quietly, masking his tracks, and only after confirming that Shang Jiao and the others had truly gone far did he return to the place where Zhang Yuxi and his men had fallen.
The forest had already grown silent again, the earlier chaos swallowed by the darkness, leaving behind only the heavy smell of blood and scorched earth.
Ryan stood amid the pool of blood, his expression calm.
He slowly raised his hand, and a wisp of purple-black flame flickered to life on his palm, faint yet terrifying.
Just now, with outsiders present, he had deliberately restrained himself from using this flame. He had no intention of exposing such a secret in front of others. Only now, alone in the forest, did he release it without concern.
With a flick of his fingers, the small flame split into several strands and drifted down onto the corpses scattered across the ground. Instantly, purple fire surged upward, accompanied by sharp sizzling sounds. In mere breaths, the bodies turned into ash, dissolving into the air as though they had never existed.
Ryan frowned slightly. Something felt off.
He counted carefully. One, two, three, four, five.
Five bodies.
One was missing.
Chang Bo, Zhang Yuxi, and the others totaled six people, yet only five corpses had been burned. Ryan's gaze sharpened, and a chill crept into his heart.
"Something's wrong…"