Facing Xiao Xun's questioning, the few people scratched their heads sheepishly. "Because the Mage Association explicitly forbids any mage from consuming living creatures killed by magic."
Xiao Xun didn't understand this bizarre rule.
He later learned that it was precisely because of this rule that the world was so stable and lacked such violence.
Xiao Xun was not a mage, nor did he possess magical energy within him, so the food he made was edible.
Although there were no seasonings here, Xiao Xun's culinary skills were evident. Even a fish prepared without any seasoning was several times tastier than what an ordinary person could grill.
Xiao Xun looked at the famished individuals and had no choice but to go back to the river to catch more fish for them.
As for the fish they had just caught, Xiao Xun kept it for himself to fill his stomach, telling them: "How can I catch fish for you if I'm not full?"
There were quite a few fish in the small river, just not as many as the first one.
Soon, more than ten fish were caught.
"The axe isn't yours either, and besides, I have no use for your axes. You'll have to trade for them with something else!"
Xiao Xun said this while scaling the fish.
The people exchanged glances. One of them produced a jade-like ring. "I'll trade this for three of your fish, is that okay?"
Adhering to the principle of haggling in business, Xiao Xun held up two fingers. "Two at most."
The other party happily handed over the ring. "Deal."
Xiao Xun was taken aback because the other party agreed so quickly, making him feel like he had undersold.
With one person starting, the rest followed suit.
Some offered jewelry like bracelets, necklaces, and rings, while others presented minerals like obsidian and gold essence. Of course, some traded unknown beast teeth and bones.
Xiao Xun, following the principle of accepting all offers and haggling for each, exchanged a pile of nature's "gifts" for many things.
These participants were the elites and paragons of the magical world from various countries, and now they could only watch enviously as Xiao Xun grilled fish with his Whirlwind Divine Axe.
Don't ask how an axe grills fish; it was merely to let the fan on the axe blow air. These mages dared not offer any help, not even to conjure a flame.
Xiao Xun grilled over a dozen fish simultaneously, and the entire riverside began to emit fragrant aromas that wafted into the forest with the gentle breeze.
The aroma of the grilled fish even attracted carnivorous beasts from the forest.
Hearing the commotion, everyone became vigilant. Xiao Xun's immediate reaction was to take off his clothes, gather everything he had obtained that day, bundle it up, and prepare to flee at any moment.
"Lord Swain, please grill the fish with peace of mind. We will handle the rest."
They all brandished their staffs and magic swords, standing ready. They absolutely would not allow these beasts to profit from the fish they had traded for.
Soon, the grilled fish defense battle commenced.
Leading the charge were the Hyena Manes, unique to Mount Migalashan. Their tails were so short they were almost nonexistent, their teeth were all inward-curving fangs, their ears were triangular, and they were exceptionally agile, moving with great speed and acting in packs.
However, these beasts were very afraid of noise. So, as the first few Hyena Manes appeared, these people started shouting and screaming for their lives.
As expected, the Hyena Manes only peered from a distance and did not approach.
Xiao Xun finished grilling one batch of fish and started on the next. The participants who had scared away the Hyena Manes took the opportunity to eat the freshly grilled fish, stuffing them into their mouths without regard for the temperature.
Fortunately, the aroma of Xiao Xun's grilled fish only attracted this batch of Hyena Manes and no other fierce beasts came to trouble them.
While eating the fish, everyone discussed what to do next.
A person wearing a wizard's hat said, "In a few hours, the sun will set, and we haven't even entered the mountain yet."
Another tall, thin man threw his axe onto the ground. "Do you think Her Majesty the Queen doesn't really want to find a partner, and that's why she set up such a difficult challenge?"
"If that's the case, then setting up just one such competition would suffice; why bother with three and waste everyone's time?"
In response to the previous person's question, a purple-robed man wearing a monocle and holding a book similar to a dictionary said, "Is there a possibility that you are not capable? After all, there were over twenty people who went up the mountain together, and we only have a dozen. Perhaps someone can truly accomplish it."
Everyone nodded, agreeing with the man's statement.
One person then said, "When I arrived, I saw Dukar, the Archmage of the Zhiyue Kingdom and the sole student of the Red Dragon Knight of that country, fly directly into the thorny jungle. If there is indeed a Moon Laurel Immortal Wood on this mountain, then with his abilities, he might be able to cut off a branch."
Upon hearing this, many people exclaimed, "Then what's the point of competing? Let's all go home!"
At this moment, urgent horse hooves echoed from the forest. Everyone stood up, looking at the dusty area, unsure if the approaching party was friend or foe.
Everyone stood ready, adopting a defensive posture.
As the horse hooves drew nearer, a familiar figure appeared before them: Prince Kent of the Centaur tribe.
Seeing the participants, Kent, out of kindness, told them, "Dukar has disturbed a ferocious beast somewhere and it is rushing towards us. Everyone, run quickly!"
After saying this, he galloped away towards the city-state.
While everyone was debating whether to believe him, the birds in the forest suddenly took flight in a frenzy, flapping their wings rapidly as if evading something.
Meanwhile, dust in the distance was surging in like a tidal wave, and small stones on the ground began to bounce rhythmically.
Only then did everyone realize that what Kent had said was true.
Someone shouted at the top of their lungs, "Run!"
Everyone scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing in panic towards the direction Kent had taken, towards the city-state.
After all, the allied forces of the city-state were there, along with a forbidden array to defend against magical beast incursions. More importantly, the capital was guarded by the Empress of the Blaze Family and the High Priest, an Archmage of the Space element.
They could run fast with their magic, but it was tough for Xiao Xun.
"I should have listened to the Empress and exercised properly. It looks like I'll be crushed to death any minute. This place is too dangerous, I want to go back to 'Blue Star'."
Xiao Xun ran as fast as he could, but the magical beast was fast approaching. The massive beast, carrying a storm of sand, rushed towards him.
He had only seen magical beasts in games before, where they were at most the size of his fist on the computer screen. But the one before him looked like a small mountain, with a human's cloak hanging from its huge horn.
Seeing that he couldn't outrun it, Xiao Xun's hands flashed with white light, and he unleashed the illusion magic he had absorbed earlier towards the beast.
Reflected by Xiao Xun, the illusion magic was amplified manifold.
The beast was startled by the sight of a larger troll hunter than itself, its fur standing on end.
Xiao Xun attempted to guide the magic, and surprisingly, he succeeded.