Those outside the barrier watched as Xiao Man and her companions subdued the Flood Dragon, skinned it, and then proceeded to roast it and make soup, their hearts churning with fury. That was a Flood Dragon, a creature just half a step away from becoming a True Dragon, a coveted contract beast for countless cultivators. Yet, these scoundrels were treating it as mere food, much to everyone's dismay.
Had it not been for the barrier, people would have likely charged in to beat Xiao Man and her group to death, calling them wasteful wretches for such an act!
An Yue and Liu Hong stood outside the barrier, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and astonishment as they watched the group inside treat the Flood Dragon as food. After a moment, Liu Hong shook his head. "Junior Sister, let's go."
"Senior Brother, that's Junior Brother Xiao and the others."
"I know." Liu Hong felt a deep well of emotion. The first time he had seen Xiao Man in the Roland Mountains, he had thought her incredibly arrogant for daring to provoke the Demonic Ape. As they journeyed, she had transformed from an initiate into a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, saving so many people with her abilities. The gap between individuals wasn't just about cultivation; it was also about perspective.
Consider the current situation: if they had captured a Flood Dragon, they would have undoubtedly focused on training it into a contract beast. Xiao Man and her group, however, were intent on finding various ways to prepare the Flood Dragon meat into delicious dishes, solely for the purpose of taste! He had to admit, he lacked such audacity, and he understood that the distance between them was growing, and soon, he would only be able to look up to her.
Time passed swiftly, and the day of the Seven Sects' Hunt arrived. Elders from each sect led their disciples towards the nameless town.
Upon entering the nameless town, Jun Fei'er overheard people discussing a group of prodigal sons who had captured a Flood Dragon. Instead of forging a contract or selling it for money, they had killed it and were eating its meat!
"Who would be so wasteful, killing a Flood Dragon to eat? What a waste of a heavenly treasure!" Fu Shen exclaimed. "Uncle-Master Jun, wouldn't you agree?"
Jun Fei'er didn't respond. After all, her good disciple was capable of causing any kind of trouble. If this prodigal act was indeed her disciple's doing, admitting it would be like slapping her own face.
"Perhaps they have deep pockets. Not just Flood Dragon, but even dragon meat, they might dare to eat."
"Is Flood Dragon meat delicious?" Kong Qing asked curiously.
"I've never eaten it, how would I know if it's delicious or not?"
"Junior Brother Xi Wen, what kind of people do you think would kill a Flood Dragon to eat?" Fu Shen asked, genuinely curious. As far as he knew, no one within the Seven Sects would slaughter a Flood Dragon for consumption.
Xi Wen slowly shook his head. "I don't know."
"I wonder where Xiao Qin is?" Jun Fei'er's gaze scanned the surroundings. The Seven Sects' Hunt was considered a grand festival; the sect with the highest ranking in the hunt could send two more disciples to the trial grounds.
"Xiao Qin?" The moment Xiao Qin's name was mentioned, the cultivators in the nameless town looked at Jun Fei'er with peculiar expressions.
Confusion flickered in Jun Fei'er's eyes, but her expression remained remarkably calm.
"The Xiao Qin they speak of, is it our Xiao Qin?"
"Is there another Xiao Qin here?" someone whispered by the roadside.
"Fellow Daoist, do you know Xiao Qin?"
"You know her?"
"We..."
"No," Xi Wen interjected, "we are just very curious about her."
"Many people are curious about her!" another person chimed in enthusiastically.
"Did she do something?" Xi Wen asked gently.
"She's done more than enough! With so many inns in our nameless town, she insisted on staying at a black inn, and even cheated her companions. She found two underlings somewhere and formed a team to capture a Flood Dragon. In the end, she actually caught it! The cultivators in the East Moon Forest swarmed in, wanting to snatch it. In a fit of anger, she released the Flood Dragon."
Jun Fei'er raised an eyebrow. This was indeed Xiao Man's typical modus operandi.
"We heard the Flood Dragon was killed and eaten. Xiao Qin released it, and then someone else caught it?"
"That's even stranger!" the person exclaimed, spitting as they spoke. "After Xiao Qin let the Flood Dragon go, she angered many who wanted to take advantage. In the East Moon Forest, she got into a fight with others."
"Did she win?"
"She did!" another person quickly added. "Not only did she win, but she recaptured the Flood Dragon."
"Did no one try to steal the credit this time?"
"Oh, there were!" The two exchanged a look, their faces alight with satisfaction. "Before she captured the Flood Dragon, she set up a barrier beforehand, blocking all those who wanted to take advantage outside. Then, in front of everyone, she skinned and dismembered the Flood Dragon, steaming, roasting, and frying it, creating a full Flood Dragon feast. A Flood Dragon is an excellent contract beast, so it must be extremely delicious to eat."
"If it wasn't delicious, would Xiao Qin have killed it to eat? Do you think eating Flood Dragon meat can greatly increase one's cultivation?"
"It's possible."
Kong Qing and Fu Shen's faces were frozen in astonishment. They knew Xiao Man was good at causing trouble. Back at the sect, after blowing up their master's alchemy room, she had then blown up their Grand Uncle-Master's alchemy room, and even his cave dwelling, infuriating him to the point where he got a headache just seeing her. But they never expected her to be such a magnet for animosity!
Others might not be able to contract a divine beast like a Flood Dragon in their entire lives. Even their sect leader's contract beast was not as powerful as a Flood Dragon. Yet, Xiao Man had killed and eaten it in front of everyone, how could that not incite envy?
"Isn't she afraid of becoming the target of public criticism by doing this?"
"Hmph, if she were afraid, she wouldn't have done it!" The two said in unison. "She has a Golden Core stage expert accompanying her, who beat those who dared to provoke them half to death. Now, who would dare to mess with them?"
"A Golden Core stage expert?" Fu Shen looked at Xi Wen. "Has Bai Chen advanced?"
Xi Wen shook his head. How would he know? When Bai Chen left the Qian Ji Sect, he was already at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Advancement was not impossible.
"Can a single Golden Core stage cultivator walk around so freely in the East Moon Forest?" Jun Fei'er asked, shocked. This was not a lawless land. In the lawless land, Xiao Man had a large group of people she could mobilize. Even in Wuji City, she could call upon many. This was her first time in the East Moon Forest.
"Not just one!" the person exclaimed excitedly. "There were five people in their group. Besides Xiao Qin, the rest were all Golden Core stage experts!"
"Five people?" Jun Fei'er looked at Xi Wen. Did your master burden my beloved disciple again?
Xi Wen shrugged innocently. His master had only asked Senior Brother Bai Chen to follow their leader; he knew nothing else.
"Fellow Daoist, do you know where Xiao Qin is now?"
"Look, do you see that Penglai Inn over there?"
"I see it."
"Xiao Qin and her group are staying at this Penglai Inn. If you want to find her, go to Penglai Inn. However, at this time, they are usually not there."
"Thank you, two fellow Daoists."
Jun Fei'er led her group towards the Penglai Inn. The inn was quiet and deserted. The innkeeper was busy calculating accounts behind the counter.