"When we first met, you all seemed a bit wary of me? What is the reason for that?"

By the fire, Wang Linchi casually asked. After handing over the Dark Spirit Snake to them and conversing a bit to improve their relationship, the atmosphere had finally eased.

"I assume you're a Great View person, aren't you?" Ouyang Tong, the leader of the Hunter Group, didn't answer but first confirmed Wang Linchi's identity.

"Isn't it welcomed?" Wang Linchi raised an eyebrow.

"Not all Great View people can sit down and chat with us peacefully like you. After the Saintly Hundred Beast Sect was broken ten years ago, your Great View people have continued invading up to now."

"Many of you don't treat us as equals, indulging in senseless killing and plundering, causing our businesses to decline, and even our cities to be scattered," Ouyang Tong said somewhat helplessly. He understood that where there are bad people, there are also good ones.

"Sorry, I didn't know that, nor could I stop it." Wang Linchi didn't argue with him. Indeed, during the ruling period of the Hundred Beast Sect, they operated quite well, even if they also used force as a deterrent. It's all about comparison. Being cursed at is undoubtedly preferable to being killed outright.

Ouyang Tong shook his head and didn't say anything, then asked, "Are you here to hunt the Beast King Species?"

"Sort of. Do you know where the Beast King Species are? I can offer some compensation," Wang Linchi did not immediately reveal his intention but asked instead.

"There are no Beast King Species nearby. Back then, most of them were hunted by you Great View people," Ouyang Tong said.

Wang Linchi was confused. Wasn't there a nestful of them not far away in the valley? Then he realized. Those were elders and deacons of the Hundred Beast Sect, and they definitely would not casually prey on people around, as that would expose them. Although they have been eroded by the innate instincts of the Beast King Species, their human consciousness is always present, so naturally, they won't harm their own interests.

"What a pity," Wang Linchi said regretfully. Then he asked, "By the way, the technique you guys are cultivating is the Beast Armor Technique, right?"

"Yes, otherwise, how could we dare to go out and hunt Battle Beast Species." Ouyang Tong looked at Wang Linchi. "You Great View people don't need the Beast Armor Technique; some of you can kill the Beast King Species directly."

"Well, it's not that I want to kill them, but I have to."

"By the way, do you accept commissions? I want you to help me track and kill Beast King Species," Wang Linchi abruptly changed the topic.

"We don't accept commissions," Ouyang Tong decisively responded. It was not that they didn't want to, but they didn't plan to accept commissions from Great View people.

He thought Wang Linchi seemed quite decent and honestly, he didn't want to get involved. Firstly, most Great View people were bent on killing. Secondly, Great View people looked down upon them with disdain. Recently, it had become slightly better with fewer Great View people visiting, thus slightly more bearable. In the past, they were treated as disposable pawns.

"What a pity," Wang Linchi sounded quite regretful.

"Please don't misunderstand. It's not that I don't want to accept, but our Hunter Group is too small, our Beast Armor Technique is not refined, and hunting a Battle Beast Species is troublesome, let alone a Beast King Species." Ouyang Tong naturally didn't say that he was worried Wang Linchi would treat them as cannon fodder. Instead, he used their lack of strength as an excuse.

Wang Linchi seemed totally fine with it. "What about escort missions? Escort me to a city that is not controlled by Great View people; preferably, a larger and more prosperous one."

At these words, Ouyang Tong looked at him strangely. A Great View person not going to Great View territory? What is he up to? While finding it strange, he also became more cautious.

"This…" He was thinking of a reason to refuse. Such an unusual request would surely be dangerous.

"Rest assured. Although I am a Great View person, I don't want to mingle with those bootlickers; they and I are not on the same side."

"If I really had some ulterior motives, I wouldn't have waited till now," Wang Linchi said with a smile.

Ouyang Tong hesitated a bit before finally nodding. "There are indeed quite a few cities not controlled by Great View people now. But according to your requirements, only Crouching Tiger City remains. It used to be the place with the most Beast Hunters, but after… well, things happened. Regardless, there are still quite a few Beast Hunters there now."

According to the standards in the Secret Realm, prosperity was naturally not measured by ordinary people, but by Beast Hunters as Transcendent beings.

"What about the other Beast Hunters?" Wang Linchi asked curiously.

"Most of them are like me. Without enough Beast King Species, their Beast Armor Technique stagnates, and their strength wanes," Ouyang Tong said helplessly.

The full strength of a Beast Hunter comes from the gear made through the Beast Armor Technique, and the gear requires good raw materials.

With the Beast King Species, the best source of raw materials, having been plundered by Great View, the Beast Hunter profession naturally declined, even without direct suppression. As for Battle Beast Species, materials could also be sourced from them, but the quality was far too poor. This meant equipment not only had low power but also fewer uses.

Later, the Great View rulers even imposed a "Beast Tax." Whether a hunter killed a Wild Beast Species, Battle Beast Species, or Beast King Species, they had to pay eighty percent as tax. Of course, that was at the beginning; now it's only fifty percent.

This heavy tax caused a further decline in the number of Beast Hunters. Nowadays, a Hunter Group that could take down a Battle Beast Species was considered top-tier. Hence, the value of raw materials and Beast Souls from Battle Beast Species and Beast King Species continued to increase. It's like Soul Kind and ordinary coins: the former maintains its value, while the latter could plummet at any moment.

"I see. So, about my commission – will you accept it?"

"I have some... well, it is essentially jerky from a Beast King Species. It's just that it's been stored for quite a while," Wang Linchi said, displaying chunks of dried meat.

Indeed, it was the meat from the two tigers he had encountered at the beginning of a previous Secret Realm adventure. Wang Linchi still hadn't finished it, and it had later been air-dried into rock-hard jerky. Even with his strong teeth, it was difficult to digest. Later, when better resources became available, Wang Linchi stopped eating the tiger jerky, and it had been lying forgotten in his Storage Soul Device for a long time.

His plan was simple: leverage this Hunter Group to build momentum and amass sufficient resources for himself. He preferred to remain behind the scenes in his dealings, maintaining a distance that would allow him to sever ties easily if needed. If they weren't willing, that was fine too. Once in Crouching Tiger City, he could find other alternatives. The only problem was that he didn't know the city's exact location. A local guide would save him significant time.

"Well, we need to evaluate its quality." Ouyang Tong had initially wanted to refuse, but hearing it was from a Beast King Species made it hard for him to decline. Materials from Beast King Species were in high demand everywhere and had skyrocketed in value.

When Wang Linchi brought out a large strip of dried meat, Ouyang Tong's eyes twitched. "This is all the payment?"

"Yes, payment for guiding me." Wang Linchi wasn't worried they would double-cross him. His Saint Master had easily subdued the Dark Spirit Snake—a Battle Beast Species their entire Hunter Group couldn't handle. They knew that, combined, they were no match for the Saint Master, so they wouldn't dare try to double-cross him.

Ouyang Tong and several others from his Hunter Group exchanged glances and finally agreed.

"No problem, we can escort you to Crouching Tiger City. However, your beast…" Ouyang Tong pointed at Wang Linchi's stand-in, the Saint Master, implying it was too conspicuous.

"Don't worry, it will disappear on its own." As soon as Wang Linchi finished speaking, the Saint Master's figure slowly faded and vanished.

It returned to the Soul Shadow· Book of Records. However, if Wang Linchi was in danger, the Saint Master would appear immediately. It was only in Ghost Pattern Mode, not dead, so it could still protect him.

"That's good. When we get to Crouching Tiger City, it's better if you don't reveal you are a Great View person, if it's not necessary."

"If you don't mind me asking, what are you going to Crouching Tiger City for?" Ouyang Tong had to ask. Truthfully, his attitude was considered quite good; many people in Crouching Tiger City harbored deep-seated hatred for Great View people. Towards invaders, who besides traitors could maintain a good attitude?

"Mainly to learn the Beast Armor Technique." Wang Linchi naturally wouldn't reveal his true purpose.

"Learn the Beast Armor Technique…" Seriously? Could you come up with a better excuse? Ouyang Tong wanted to say.

"It's true. So, I'll have to trouble you to recommend someone skilled in the Beast Armor Technique when we get there. I will pay for the lessons," Wang Linchi said sincerely.

This left Ouyang Tong somewhat undecided. Great View people had always been dismissive of their Beast Armor Technique from the very beginning. Now, someone suddenly appeared wanting to learn it, naturally making him suspicious.

"I can pay an introduction fee as well," Wang Linchi added.

"Deal!" Ouyang Tong's resolve wavered. At worst, he thought, I'll just take the money and leave Crouching Tiger City for a peaceful life in the countryside.

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