Battle through the heaven: Azure Emperor

"I'll be fine!"

Yan Aoyama shook his head and smiled at the young girl. His injuries had naturally healed long ago, but he had always pretended to be recuperating, in order to avoid suspicion.

After all, his previous injuries had been rather serious. If he recovered in such a short period of time, wouldn't that be telling others that there was a secret on him?

While Yan Aoyama and Little Doctor were conversing, Wanyao Zhai's men had finished arranging for the mercenaries. The mercenaries were so enthusiastic not only because harvesting herbs was safer than hunting magical beasts, but also because the rewards were higher.

Wanyao Zhai was the largest pharmacy in Aoyama Town. As long as they could establish a good relationship with them, they might be able to use their help in the future.

… …

In the silent forest, the large group of men and horses walked quietly. Pairs of vigilant eyes constantly scanned the shadowy areas in the surrounding trees. Their hands were tightly gripping the weapons at their waists, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

As veteran mercenaries who had been in the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts for many years, although this was the first time many of them had worked together, they were able to maintain a basic level of tacit understanding. When their eyes met, they were able to discern the signs of danger and safety from each other's eyes.

"Where are we?"

Yan Aoyama sat in a simple carriage, his head lowered as he looked at the map. As the leader of the herb-harvesting team, and as a patient, he naturally received the best treatment.

"It seems to be here. This is the route we're taking!"

Little Doctor was beside the carriage. When she heard Yan Aoyama's words, she walked over and pointed at one of the many red lines on the map. Yan Aoyama compared the route in his memory and could roughly determine the location. He just needed to confirm it with someone.

"There are quite a few cliffs on this route!"

Yan Aoyama looked at the markings on the map and spoke naturally. His gaze swept left and right, deepening his impression of the surroundings, especially the cliffs near the route.

"It seems so. Mountain roads with many cliffs are more difficult to traverse, and there aren't many grassy valleys where large amounts of herbs grow. However, wasn't this path chosen by Big Brother Aoyama?! "

Little Doctor looked around and wondered why Yan Aoyama would say something like that.

"Is that so? Maybe he was confused! Little Doctor, how was your trip this time … "

Yan Aoyama laughed and did not continue the topic.

The Little Doctor lowered her head in embarrassment. "It's alright! I have to thank Big Brother Aoyama. Otherwise, I would really be flustered! "

"It's fine. Shouldn't we help each other? Xian 'er! "

Yan Aoyama raised his eyebrows, calmly changing to a more intimate form of address. Without waiting for the Little Doctor's response, he turned his gaze back to the map, beginning to mark the locations of the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts outside of Aoyama Town.

The Little Doctor was cold on the outside, but warm on the inside. There was no need to rush. Instead, with this piece of meat by his side, it would be more interesting to take it slow.

Yan Aoyama laughed inwardly and shifted his attention elsewhere. Looking at the scattered markings of the cliffs on the map, he felt a little bitter. "As expected, I was too naive."

This small map only covered the outer regions of Aoyama Town near the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts. Just the large mountains marked on the map numbered no less than a hundred, and there were even more large and small mountains that were not on the map.

The Mountain Range of Magical Beasts was vast. Just the outer regions of the mountain range near Aoyama Town had eight different entrance routes, and these routes branched off into different directions. Every time they went to gather herbs, not only did they have to go to the original herb fields, but they also had to open up new routes.

The valley where Yan Aoyama and the others had found a large number of Yellow Lotus Spirits was one that they had just found. However, they did not expect there to be so many wild wolves, and even a small pack of more than ten first grade magic wolves. Although they had killed the pack of wolves in the end, the team had suffered heavy losses.

Among the numerous routes, cliffs and precipices were the standard ones for every route. They were all different in size. If they had to search through them one by one, it would take forever.

Yan Aoyama felt a headache coming on. Reality was not like novels. In novels, finding opportunities took only two or three chapters. Even if he knew that there were opportunities in the outer regions of the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, it would take him at least a few months to find any results.

However, he still had to do it, because this was the closest place to him where he had the chance to obtain a high level battle technique.

… …

In the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, a team of nearly a hundred people was slowly advancing. In the middle of the heavy guard was Wanyao Zhai's herb-gathering team. Surrounded by a myriad of stars surrounding the moon, Yan Aoyama methodically arranged everyone's work.

Beside him stood the Little Doctor in a white dress. She slightly straightened her body and listened attentively. From time to time, she would sneak a glance at his face. When he turned his head, she would turn her head away, gently wiping away the sweat on her forehead with the back of her hand. She was lightly panting, and seemed to be very hot.

Yan Aoyama noticed her small movements and felt that it was very interesting. With the help of Dawn's analysis, he had been able to arrange the herb-gathering team in an ingenious and reasonable manner. Not only did Wanyao Zhai's men admire him, even the mercenaries spoke to him respectfully when they saw him.

The girl beside him was the original leader of the team. She had been subdued by him these past few days, and practically treated him as her idol.

The girl blushed shyly and turned her head away. Coupled with her soft and beautiful face, she looked quite pitiful. She slightly avoided his gaze, yet she was secretly observing him. Wasn't this the first reaction a girl would have when she saw her idol?

Yan Aoyama patted the wooden plank of the carriage he was sitting on, wanting the Little Doctor to sit over and rest. "Xian 'er, come and sit for a while!"

The Little Doctor shook her head and said, "No need, Big Brother Aoyama. I can still do it."

The sun was high in the sky, and under the scorching heat of the sun, it didn't take long for everyone to feel their lips and tongues dry up.

A bald mercenary with sweat flowing down his face came to the side of the carriage. "Aoyama, the weather is too hot. There's also a medicinal field in front of us. Although it hasn't even been three months since we started picking, we still have to keep going."

This bald mercenary was called Mang Ba, and he was the leader of a small mercenary team in Aoyama Town. His cultivation level as a five star Dou Zhe was not bad.

Because of their relationship, he was one of the mercenaries protecting Wanyao Zhai's herb-picking team. Last time, he was the one who carefully escorted Yan Aoyama, who was still breathing, back to Wanyao Zhai. He could be considered Yan Aoyama's savior.

"Uncle Mang Ba, then let's hurry up and rest in the forest ahead!"

Yan Aoyama looked at the sweating Little Doctor beside him and nodded at Mang Ba after handing her a jug of water. The sun was indeed unbearable. The mercenaries were wearing heavy armor, so it was even hotter than the herb-picking team. It was also easier for them to sweat and become dehydrated, which greatly affected their combat ability.

"Ah! Okay, okay! "

Mang Ba replied and turned to inform the other mercenaries. When everyone heard that they would be able to rest in the forest, they all became excited and quickened their pace.

The Mountain Range of Magical Beasts was filled with danger. On their way here, the team had already encountered three waves of magical beasts and several other groups of wild beasts.

However, with so many mercenaries protecting them, it was still alright. There weren't many injured, and their injuries weren't too serious either. They would be fine after a little bandaging.

The mercenaries naturally made a lot of noise as they approached the forest, but this was also done on purpose. In the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, the safest path was actually the small path that the mercenaries had created over time. There were very few weeds, and there was almost no danger.

Although the forest on both sides of the path was dense and cool, there were bound to be wild beasts and even magical beasts residing in the forest. Every time they entered the forest, they had to be very careful.

Just like now, a team of strong mercenaries had created a lot of noise as they entered the forest. They were quickly ambushed.

"Everyone, be careful. It's the Scarlet Ice Snakes. There are three on the left, five in the middle, two on the right, and four more behind …"

Yan Aoyama loudly warned the mercenaries. Dawn had already activated its alarm detection function the moment they started moving.

Because of his strong perception, he was able to easily identify the types of magical beasts and their movements. He also accurately reported the data within his line of sight.

Numerous illusory crimson shadows whistled through the air, flying down from the top of the trees in the forest.

Scarlet Ice Snake, a level one magical beast of the ice attribute. It was quite common in the outer regions of the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts. It was good at using icicles to attack. The ice contained cold poison, and if the victim wasn't treated in time within half a day, the poison would freeze the blood in their body until they died.

These Scarlet Ice Snakes seemed to be a group, and this forest should be their habitat. They hid in the treetops and hung above the tree trunks. When the mercenaries made a commotion, they would decisively attack, shooting out cold poison icicles at lightning speed.

The attack of a level one magical beast was no small matter. Even though the mercenaries had expected to be ambushed before entering the forest, they hadn't expected it to come so quickly and fiercely. Two mercenaries weren't able to dodge in time and were hit by the cold poison. Their faces immediately paled, and their limbs lost their strength as they fell to the ground. Their bodies emitted a cold white gas, as if they were ice sculptures.

The sudden attack of so many Scarlet Ice Snakes naturally attracted the attacks of even more mercenaries. With everyone's combined efforts, only two or three of the thirteen or fourteen Scarlet Ice Snakes managed to escape with their lives. The ground was littered with Scarlet Ice Snake corpses. There were about twenty to thirty pieces.

After the dozen or so Scarlet Ice Snakes were taken care of, the two mercenaries who had been severely injured by the cold poison and the other mercenaries who had unfortunately been injured in the battle were sent to the herb-gathering team. Yan Qingshan and the Fairy Doctor treated them accordingly.

"Bandage their wounds and feed the other two some Huanglian Powder. Help them move their bodies so that they won't have any hidden injuries."

Yan Qingshan took a look at the symptoms of a few of the injured and began to treat them accordingly. Since Yan Qingshan had to pretend that he was still injured, he couldn't personally treat them. Therefore, there were apprentice apprentices who went to help and treat these mercenaries. This was also an opportunity for these apprentice apprentices.

On the other hand, the Little Doctor did it herself. She had a smile on her face as she carefully treated the other mercenaries. She had a sense of sanctity that couldn't be blasphemed.

The reason why this young girl could enjoy such a high status and prestige in Aoyama Town in the future was inseparable from her personality and behavior.

As Yan Aoyama treated the injured, aside from a group of mercenaries who surrounded the herb-gathering team, the rest of the mercenaries went to open up a path. There were also a few who were assigned to clean up the corpses of the Scarlet Ice Snakes.