After getting ready, Ai Kun led Luo Xiu to meet the Mercenary Leader of the Tianhe Mercenary Group.

The Mercenary Leader's name was Zuo Qianhuang. He was at the Second Realm of Dao Jade and had something of a reputation in the Flowing Thunder River area. Upon seeing Ai Kun, however, Zuo Qianhuang instantly shed his air of superiority and humbly referred to himself as a junior.

Although Ai Kun might not have much fame throughout the Three Thousand Worlds of the Upper Realm, he was an Emperor Realm Expert. Across the entire Upper Realm, such experts were exceedingly rare. This was especially true after the Azure Emperor went on a rampage, killing until no one dared claim the title of emperor. Since then, the number of Emperor Realm Experts in the Upper Realm had become even scarcer. Only after the fall of the Azure Emperor did Dao Jade experts dare to attempt breaking through to the Emperor Realm, which was why their numbers had increased somewhat.

But overall, Emperor Realm Experts were still extremely rare.

"With Senior Ai participating in this hunt, success is guaranteed. Haha, we will all be relying on you, Senior Ai."

"Brother Zuo, you're joking. I'm just here to join in the fun," Ai Kun said, exchanging pleasantries with Zuo Qianhuang.

Meanwhile, Luo Xiu had already changed into leather armor and walked up to a beautiful woman in a white dress who also wore a piece of leather armor over her upper body.

"Hello, my name is Lin Luo."

Luo Xiu was brimming with enthusiasm and took the initiative to strike up a conversation, but the beautiful woman merely gave him an indifferent glance and a faint nod, clearly uninterested in talking.

This girl is still so cold. Luo Xiu couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

This beautiful woman was the Plateau Saintess, Luo Qingxian, an acquaintance Luo Xiu had inadvertently discovered earlier while scanning with his Divine Sense. Why Luo Qingxian had come here, and why a woman of her esteemed status would join a group of loose cultivators to hunt the Flowing Thunder Sky Python, was a mystery to Luo Xiu. He had no way of knowing or even guessing.

But since they had met, Luo Xiu naturally had to look out for her. This was because Luo Qianye had told him a great deal about Luo Qingxian. This young woman was, after all, the Plateau Saintess he had personally appointed in his past life. If he hadn't been betrayed by Luo Hao and fallen to the Lower Realm, he would have surely groomed Luo Qingxian as his successor.

Because hunting the Flowing Thunder Sky Python was so perilous, Zuo Qianhuang hadn't managed to recruit many people aboard the Starry Sky Ferry. Most people didn't want to risk their lives and preferred to be quiet spectators. Additionally, a number of tycoons planned to wait on the ship for the mercenaries' triumphant return to buy the spoils of their hunt at a high price.

With a single command from Zuo Qianhuang, the more than two hundred members of the Tianhe Mercenary Group set off in a grand procession. Each enveloped themselves in Spiritual Power and flew through the starry sky toward a patch of cosmic dust that resembled a colossal eye. Luo Xiu blended in with the crowd, keeping a constant eye on Luo Qingxian.

Zuo Qianhuang's Divine Sense Communication suddenly echoed in the minds of all the mercenaries. "Brothers and sisters, seniors and juniors, as always for this trip into the Tianhe Secret Realm to hunt the Flowing Thunder Sky Python, the spoils we obtain will be shared equally after we're done!"

"As for any captured Thunderfish and Thunderworm, you may do with them as you please. But no one is to privately hoard any Thunderpython Stones!"

At that moment, Ai Kun flew to Luo Xiu's side, nudged him with his shoulder, and gave him a mischievous smile. He sent a Divine Sense Communication, "Boss, I saw you staring at that girl. Do you fancy her?"

"To be fair, she's as beautiful as a celestial being and has a very shapely behind, but she's just too cold. She won't even talk to anyone."

Luo Xiu replied, "It's not as complicated as you think. She's just an old acquaintance."

Ai Kun, however, looked unconvinced.

Luo Xiu changed the subject. "Tell me about this Flowing Thunder Sky Python."

Ai Kun explained, "The so-called Flowing Thunder Sky Python is a peculiar creature born only within the Tianhe Secret Realm. However, no one can say for sure if it's actually a living creature. In any case, one is born every two thousand years. Some Upper Realm scholars have analyzed that the lightning in the Tianhe is highly concentrated year-round. It forges cosmic dust into a special substance, and this substance is what's called a Thunderpython Stone."

"You could say the Thunderpython Stone is the crystallization of lightning, and it even possesses spiritual intelligence. It uses its unique force field to capture surrounding meteorites, forming a long belt. From afar, this belt looks like a giant python, hence the name 'Flowing Thunder Sky Python'."

"I see," Luo Xiu nodded.

Ai Kun continued, "The place where the Flowing Thunder Sky Python exists is called the 'Tianhe Secret Realm.' There are also many Thunderfish and Thunderworm inside, all of which contain the aura of the Thunder Path. If you can catch them, even if you can't use them yourself, you can trade them for a lot of Spirit Jade."

As they spoke, Zuo Qianhuang, at the head of the group, landed on a huge meteorite. Following his lead, the other mercenaries also found places to land. Standing on a meteorite, Luo Xiu looked ahead and saw countless meteorites of all sizes floating in a stable formation, like a vast, shattered plain.

At the end of this "plain" was the Tianhe Secret Realm. It was a mass of cosmic dust spinning at an astonishing speed, with lightning flashing within. Even from a great distance, one could feel the terrifying aura emanating from it.

Suddenly, Zuo Qianhuang took out a small Golden Bowl, which immediately flared with a dazzling golden light.

"Everyone, stay within the light of the treasure! Do not leave its range, and do not fall behind!"

With that, Zuo Qianhuang held the Golden Bowl aloft and flew toward the swirling cosmic dust. The mercenaries, fearing they would be left behind, quickly followed.

After some time, protected by the golden light, the mercenary group passed through the cosmic dust and successfully entered the depths of the Tianhe Secret Realm.

Deep within the Tianhe Secret Realm was a pitch-black void. Spanning hundreds of miles across it was a giant python that resembled a great wall, a truly awe-inspiring sight. But it wasn't an actual flesh-and-blood giant python. As Ai Kun had said, it was a meteorite belt formed from countless meteorites.

Luo Xiu glanced at Ai Kun and sent a Divine Sense Communication, "Is that the Flowing Thunder Sky Python?"

Ai Kun nodded. "We just have to find its core, the Thunderpython Stone, and shatter it. Then the hunt will be a success."

"The trouble is, though..."

POOF! POOF!

Before Ai Kun could finish, strange sounds erupted nearby. Luo Xiu looked toward the source and saw several mercenaries had been struck by sudden flashes of lightning. They exploded instantly, turning to ash. Even mercenaries at the Earth Immortal level had no chance to resist the lightning!

What terrifying lightning. Luo Xiu thought with a grimace.

Ai Kun said, "This lightning is what I was about to warn you about."

At that moment, Zuo Qianhuang's voice echoed in everyone's mind via Divine Sense Communication. "Everyone, be careful! Dodge and defend yourselves! My Golden Shield Divine Bowl can't withstand the lightning here!"

He continued, "Hurry! Disperse immediately. The moment anyone finds the Thunderpython Stone, signal the rest with your communication talismans at once!"

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