Chapter 82: Intelligence


    Obtaining a fourth-tier fire-attribute magical beast core filled Han Ming with ecstasy.


    Even though he couldn''t sell the core, just having it on him gave Han Ming an immense sense of satisfaction.


    A fourth-tier core—how much would that be worth?


    The recipe for hunting the Xuantian Ice Silkworm didn''t specify the tier of the fire-attribute core required, but it was obvious that the higher the tier, the better the effect. A higher-tier core would inflict greater damage on the Xuantian Ice Silkworm.


    Similarly, figuring out how to use the Qing Hong Sword also brought Han Ming great joy. The sword''s immense power significantly increased his chances of successfully hunting fourth-tier magical beasts. Although it required blood to activate, Han Ming didn''t see this as a drawback. The sword''s capabilities were already extraordinary.


    This was truly a double blessing.


    Upon returning to the underground city, Han Ming found that Kulo had already left the estate. The herbs he had left behind were gone, indicating that Kulo had fully recovered from her injuries. This put Han Ming''s mind at ease.


    After paying another month''s rent, Han Ming spent a few days recovering from his injuries at the estate. During this time, he received some news.


    The sects that had besieged the Secret Sect had been completely annihilated.


    Yao Ji had emerged from seclusion!


    Han Ming''s first thought was for Li Xiaotian''s safety.


    The Secret Sect was located about two days'' journey from the underground city in the subterranean world and was renowned far and wide. Yao Ji, in particular, was a notorious demoness known to all. After learning of the failed siege by hundreds of experts, those in the underground city who had minor grievances with the Secret Sect began to panic.


    However, what puzzled many was the sudden annihilation of a small, obscure mercenary group called the Jackal Mercenaries. Hundreds of their members were wiped out overnight. The gruesome state of their deaths led some to suspect Yao Ji''s involvement.


    Many were baffled as to how such a weak mercenary group could have provoked Yao Ji. The two forces were worlds apart in strength. Under normal circumstances, a small group like the Jackals wouldn''t even warrant the Secret Sect''s attention.


    Of course, this was just a minor incident. Such a small mercenary group naturally didn''t attract much attention. People were more focused on the sects that had failed in their siege of the Secret Sect. If Han Ming had paid closer attention, he might have realized that the Jackal Mercenaries included the men he had crippled at the underground city''s entrance some time ago. But his attention was elsewhere.


    The sudden massacre of the major sects by Yao Ji made some people sense an opportunity. With their leaders gone, these sects became easy targets, and the treasures they had accumulated over the years became objects of desire for many.


    Numerous self-proclaimed powerful individuals, seizing the chance to plunder, descended upon these sects and stripped them bare.


    Han Ming didn''t participate in this looting. His mind was entirely focused on the Secret Sect.


    Yao Ji''s emergence from seclusion meant Li Xiaotian was in danger. Should he go to rescue him or not?


    As Han Ming hesitated, a stranger arrived at his estate and handed him a note. The stranger explained that they were part of a unique mercenary group in the underground city that didn''t hunt magical beasts or engage in factional conflicts.


    Their sole purpose was gathering intelligence.


    That morning, they had received a small eagle carrying a note explicitly instructing them to deliver it directly to Han Ming. The note included a description of Han Ming''s appearance.


    Finding Han Ming''s whereabouts wasn''t difficult, especially after his recent extravagant spending at the mercenary auction house.


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    Han Ming opened the note, which contained only a few lines: "Yao Ji has descended the mountain. Master and I are safe for now. Do not worry. — Bai Kai."


    Seeing Bai Kai''s message, Han Ming breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he didn''t need to worry about the old man''s safety for the moment.


    Following protocol, Han Ming paid the messenger ten gold coins for the delivery.


    As the messenger was about to leave, Han Ming suddenly remembered something and called out to stop him.


    The messenger smiled and asked, "Is there anything else, sir?"


    Han Ming inquired, "Since you specialize in gathering intelligence, do you know anything about the five mysterious regions within the wilderness forest?"


    The messenger maintained his professional smile and replied, "We know a bit, but not much. The information fee is fifty gold coins."


    "That much!?" Han Ming exclaimed in surprise.


    The messenger nodded respectfully. "The five mysterious regions are not places ordinary people can venture into. We''ve lost many brothers trying to gather information about them. Fifty gold coins is not too much."


    Han Ming realized the messenger had a point.


    "How much do you know about these five regions?" Han Ming handed over fifty gold coins.


    "For detailed information, please follow me," the messenger said, his demeanor growing even more respectful after receiving the coins. He led Han Ming to the Falcon Mercenary Group, the intelligence-gathering organization.


    An elderly attendant guided Han Ming into a large hall constructed of massive stones. The entrance was guarded by a squad of twenty mercenaries.


    Rows of towering bookshelves filled the hall, each guarded by a mercenary, making the security extremely tight.


    The elderly attendant asked Han Ming to wait for a moment while he retrieved a thin book from a corner of one of the shelves.


    The attendant brought the book to Han Ming, gently wiping the dust off its cover with a cloth.


    The two sat down at a wooden table.


    The attendant glanced at Han Ming over his glasses, then lowered his gaze and opened the book. After a light cough, he began to speak softly.


    "The five mysterious regions of the wilderness forest are the Frozen Wasteland, the Desert of Desolation, the Ancient Forest, the Stormlands, and the Infernal Abyss. These regions are located at the very heart of the wilderness forest, each forming a concentric ring. The Frozen Wasteland is the outermost ring, while the Infernal Abyss lies at the center. This means that to reach any region other than the Frozen Wasteland, one must pass through the preceding regions.


    "The Frozen Wasteland is perpetually covered in snow and ice, with temperatures so low that ordinary people cannot endure them. The most dangerous aspect is the presence of frost vortices, areas where temperatures drop below absolute zero. Any living being unfortunate enough to enter these vortices has no chance of survival.


    "The second ring, the Desert of Desolation, is an extremely arid wasteland. Not a single drop of water can be found here. But the true danger lies in the countless quicksand pits scattered throughout the desert. These pits are unlike ordinary quicksand; once a living being falls in, there is no escape. The suction force is so powerful that even a hundred giant magical beasts couldn''t pull you out. These pits are also incredibly well-hidden, making them nearly impossible to detect. Falling into one means certain death.


    "The third ring is the Ancient Forest. This region is unique in that it can be considered both the most dangerous and the simplest. Its danger stems from the presence of the Tree of Destruction, a mutated offspring of the Tree of Life. Legend has it that the Tree of Destruction was born from a fallen leaf of the Tree of Life, transforming from a life-giving entity into a life-draining monstrosity. Any living being that comes within a mile of the Tree of Destruction will have its life force instantly drained, leaving behind only a withered skeleton. Due to its vast range, this region is deemed the most perilous. However, it is also the simplest because, according to records, the three Trees of Life in the world mysteriously vanished thousands of years ago. Along with them, the Tree of Destruction also disappeared, removing the region''s greatest threat.


    "The fourth ring is the Stormlands. This region is highly dependent on luck. If you''re fortunate enough to avoid the terrifying temporal storms, traversing this area is relatively straightforward, even for the weak. But if you''re unlucky and encounter a storm, you''re out of luck. The nature of these temporal storms remains unclear, as no one who has encountered them has ever returned. Unlike the frost vortices and quicksand pits of the previous regions, which only claim those who fall into them, temporal storms cover vast areas, leaving no survivors.


    "The fifth and final ring is the infamous Infernal Abyss. This region is the most well-known, as it is the primary source of the highly sought-after fire-attribute magical beast cores. The Infernal Abyss is home to active volcanoes that can erupt at any moment. More importantly, every inch of this land is engulfed in raging flames, making it a colossal furnace. While there are no unique hazards here, the ever-present flames are enough to deter most. Only powerful water or fire mages, or warriors specializing in these elements, can hope to survive in this inferno."


    The elderly attendant closed the book with a knowing smile. "Of course, these descriptions merely outline the geographical peculiarities of the Five Mysterious Zones. Each domain also teems with high-tier magical beasts ranging from third to fourth tiers. While magical creatures aren''t segmented into progressive stages like human cultivators, they are classified within tiers as basic, intermediate, and advanced. The Scarlet Moon Beast that manifested above our city recently was a fourth-tier intermediate specimen. Should you merely wish to survey these regions," he paused, fingers tracing the book''s weathered spine, "heeding these environmental hazards and assembling a formidable party might marginally improve your survival odds. But if your intent is to hunt these beasts..." His voice trailed off as he shook his head gravely, the unspoken warning hanging heavier than any explicit caution.