Above Mid-Stage Inner Strength in Minghai City There Is Another

Soon enough, someone arrived to guide the way up Fenghua Mountain.

When the guide saw the charred, burned bodies lying all over, he was startled. Miss Mu handed him a wad of cash, telling him to find help and get those bodyguards sent to the hospital and settled in. Only then did the group follow him toward Fenghua Mountain.

"That old guy just now—was he a magician or something? He can play with fire?" On the way, Yolanda Fang couldn't help but marvel at the Fire Elder's tricks.

She and Lynn Chen couldn't make heads or tails of it—just thought the Fire Elder could light people's clothes on fire in a flash, which was seriously impressive.

Besides that, it seemed like Medicine King Valley's reputation really worked. At least, that woman and the middle-aged man turned into scaredy-cats the moment they heard the Fire Elder announce his title.

But Lynn Chen and Yolanda Fang were just regular people—they had no clue what 'Medicine King Valley' actually meant, and couldn't figure out what the Fire Elder's burst of flame was supposed to represent.

To them, the most impressive move was still Harvey Xie's punch at the end. But after getting beaten so badly, Harvey just looked pathetic—nobody was interested in him anymore.

"Maybe he is a magician. I just don't get how he does it—maybe there's phosphorus hidden in his sleeves?" Lynn Chen guessed, trying to sound serious.

Up ahead, the Fire Elder and his group walked in front, while Lynn Chen, Evan Lin, and Yolanda Fang followed behind. Harvey Xie wasn't paying attention to them now—just glared back at Evan every so often, full of resentment.

"Fenghua Mountain is up this way. Once you're on the mountain, don't sit on the tree roots, and don't wander too far from me, or you'll get lost."

"Also, once we're in the mountains, if you see the Old Immortal Sage, don't make a racket. If you piss him off, there's nothing I can do to save you."

The guide was pretty young, but he spoke with a noticeable air of arrogance.

He was just an ordinary guy from Zhaoyu Town, but after years of earning good money by guiding all sorts of bosses up the mountain—and relying on the Old Immortal Sage's fame—he'd gotten pretty full of himself.

The Fire Elder said nothing, while Uncle Victor Li nodded politely. "Of course."

Harvey Xie, walking beside the Fire Elder, was still in a foul mood. Melissa Mu, who was usually cool and distant with outsiders, finally managed a strained smile at Harvey after Uncle Victor Li repeatedly signaled her—and because she knew Medicine King Valley's reputation. She looked at Harvey and said, "Young Master Xie, I was blind just now. If I'd known you were from Medicine King Valley, I would've lined my men up for you to beat."

"No need for that. I was just holding back before. Otherwise, do you really think they'd have walked away alive?" Harvey Xie took a deep breath, smoothed his hair with his palm, and felt frustrated inside.

Hearing this, Melissa Mu and Uncle Victor Li exchanged glances and didn't press the issue any further.

"I'm Melissa Mu, from the Jinnan Mu clan. Young Master Xie, may I ask what cultivation level you've reached?" Melissa paused for a moment, then her tone suddenly softened, and she unconsciously leaned a little closer to Harvey.

Harvey Xie glanced sidelong at Melissa Mu, his eyes roaming over her. She might not be as pretty as Lynn Chen or Yolanda Fang, but the air of refinement she'd grown up with was definitely attractive.

What really got Harvey, though, was the faint scent coming off Melissa Mu—he couldn't help but daydream a little, and his anger started to fade. He snorted, "I've been at mid-stage Inner Strength for ages. In a few days, I'll break through to late-stage Inner Strength!"

Harvey Xie said this extra loud—mainly for Melissa Mu, but also for Evan Lin and the others behind him. But when he glanced back, he saw Yolanda Fang and Lynn Chen just admiring the scenery, not caring at all about his so-called cultivation level. Not surprising, since neither of them had any clue what Inner Strength or Outer Strength even meant.

Harvey felt a little frustrated, then glanced at Evan Lin—who had a faint, relaxed smile at the corners of his mouth. To Harvey, that smile looked mocking and sharp, which made his own gaze turn cold.

Melissa Mu kept an eye on Harvey Xie the whole time. She'd come here to find the Old Immortal Sage and ask for a life-extending elixir, but whether she'd actually get it was anyone's guess.

Medicine King Valley had always been famous for its medical arts in Haizhou. If she could get on good terms with Harvey Xie and the Fire Elder, maybe she could get something out of it.

To Melissa Mu, the Fire Elder was hard to approach, but Harvey Xie was obviously vain—much easier to handle.

Just as Melissa was plotting how to make her move, she saw Harvey Xie glaring coldly at Evan Lin. Instantly, she understood, flashed a sweet smile, and turned to Evan: "Is this friend of yours also close with Young Master Xie?"

As soon as Melissa spoke up, the Fire Elder up ahead kept a blank face, but Uncle Victor Li gave her an approving look.

Yolanda Fang and Lynn Chen frowned and glanced over at Melissa Mu.

Evan Lin turned to look at Melissa Mu, but before he could say anything, Harvey Xie cut in coldly: "He's just a friend of a friend. What could he possibly have to do with me?"

Melissa Mu nodded and replied coolly, "That's true. Young Master Xie comes from Medicine King Valley—naturally, he's a cut above ordinary mortals. And judging by this friend's looks, he seems pretty weak."

"Just now, Young Master Xie wasn't feeling well, but he still managed to hold his own against more than ten of my men. But this friend over here—he looked scared out of his mind and just hid to the side. Pretty timid, if you ask me."

Melissa Mu's face was full of disdain.

Harvey Xie felt secretly pleased.

"Hey, what is wrong with you? That's not how it went at all! He was supposed to beat you up, but you couldn't win and got thrashed instead. How come you make it sound like it was some kind of epic battle? Wasn't it just you getting wrecked? Is Medicine King Valley so awesome that you immediately start sucking up to them?" Yolanda Fang fired back, standing right next to Evan Lin.

Lynn Chen nodded in agreement.

Harvey Xie's face turned dark. "I was holding back, okay? Otherwise, those guys would've been no match for me!"

"Yolanda, you probably don't get what mid-stage Inner Strength means. I can tell you—among all eighteen-year-olds in Minghai City, I'm the only one who's reached mid-stage Inner Strength!" Harvey said, worried Yolanda and Lynn might not believe him, so he clenched his fists, ready to show off.

Yolanda quickly shook her head. "What, you're gonna punch the ground again? That just proves your bones are tough. No wonder you could take such a beating and still bounce around afterward."

"Harvey Xie, among eighteen-year-olds in Minghai City, there's at least one person who's above mid-stage Inner Strength. At best, you're only second." Evan Lin glanced at Harvey's frustrated face and shook his head slightly.

Eighteen?

Evan Lin thought for a moment—he wasn't even seventeen yet, was he?