[Btth],The journey of Immortal Emperor

As the first rays of sunlight crested the horizon, Shen Yuan awoke naturally, his internal clock attuned to the dawn. The rest had done him well, easing the fatigue from his bones and renewing his spirit. Mornings like these were perfect for honing his Dou Qi. As the saying goes, "A day's work begins in the morning," and this rang particularly true for cultivators. To stagnate was to fall behind; only through relentless progress could one truly become stronger.

Seated upright on his bed, Shen Yuan closed his eyes and formed a cultivation hand seal, beginning to draw Dou Qi from the surrounding air. His goal was clear—within a month, he would step up to become a six-star Fighting Master. After two hours of meditation, he opened his eyes, feeling the potency of Dou Qi coursing through him.

After freshening up, he left his room and made his way through the quiet streets of the inn toward the town entrance. The bustle of Qingshan Town was amplified by its proximity to the Warcraft Mountains. Mercenary groups crowded the town entrance, calling out to lone mercenaries with offers of safety in numbers.

There were two types of mercenary groups here. The first was well-organized, where only those with the rank of Fighter or higher were accepted. Such groups were few in Qingshan Town. The second type was loosely organized and temporary—groups formed by individual mercenaries for a single venture. Some chose to go alone, preferring the risk for the promise of greater reward.

Shen Yuan scanned the groups, searching for one in particular—the Little Medical Fairy's. The day before, she had invited him to join her expedition to collect medicinal herbs in the mountains. Just as he looked around, a sudden commotion arose at the entrance.

"Wanyao Zhai is heading to the mountains with the Little Medical Fairy! There are only fifty spots available, and participants must be two-star Fighters or stronger. Hurry up!"

Following the source of the announcement, Shen Yuan spotted the gathering group. The Little Medical Fairy's team had drawn a substantial crowd, and mercenaries eagerly scrambled for a place. He couldn't help but smile wryly as he watched the frenzy.

Amid the chaos, the Little Medical Fairy herself stood with her calm, perceptive gaze sweeping over the crowd, searching. He had promised her yesterday that he would join, and now it seemed she was looking for him. Her eyes lit up as she spotted him.

"Only one spot left!" announced the man handling the team's registration, raising a parchment in his hand.

"Me!" Shen Yuan's voice sounded over the din, his tone steady but clear. The Little Medical Fairy's eyes brightened as she turned to him. The registration officer, too, turned, taken aback to see a youth answering the call. "Isn't that the young man from Wanyao Zhai yesterday?" someone recognized him.

The crowd murmured, confirming his identity. The registration officer's smile broadened as he appraised Shen Yuan. "Such talent at a young age," he complimented, "Already a Fighter, are you?" He turned to Shen Yuan and added, "In that case, the last spot is yours. The payment is five hundred gold coins—half now, the rest upon safe return."

Shen Yuan nodded; the gold was inconsequential to him. His true purpose lay beyond—the chance to explore the ruins hidden within the Warcraft Mountains. Those left without a spot looked on in frustration as the final place went to a teenager. At that moment, the Little Medical Fairy approached, teasing with a gentle smile, "You certainly know how to make an entrance."

Shen Yuan chuckled in response, then recalled something he meant to ask. "By the way, is there a man named Mu Li in the team?"

Mu Li—the young master of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. He was infamous in the area, and Shen Yuan's expression hardened. In the original tale of this world, Mu Li had plotted against the Little Medical Fairy, harboring dark intentions. A man like that could not be ignored.

Surprised, the Little Medical Fairy looked at Shen Yuan. "That young man is watching you," she said quietly. Shen Yuan followed her gaze, his eyes landing on Mu Li, who was indeed staring at him. Realizing he had been noticed, Mu Li strode over, his gaze slipping from Shen Yuan to settle on the Little Medical Fairy.

"Do you know this young man?" Mu Li asked, though his eyes betrayed a certain malice.

The Little Medical Fairy nodded. "We met yesterday," she said with a calm smile. Mu Li chuckled, looking Shen Yuan up and down. "He seems unfamiliar; not a local, I presume?"

Shen Yuan nodded slightly, his demeanor composed. "I arrived in Qingshan Town only yesterday," he replied.

"Oh? I was wondering how our small town produced such a young Fighter." Mu Li's smile widened, though his tone held a note of warning. "But even Fighters must be cautious in the Warcraft Mountains. Many dangers lurk there."

Shen Yuan heard the veiled threat, but his expression remained steady. The notion that he, a three-star Fighter, should fear Mu Li's group was laughable. "Thank you for your concern, but perhaps it's you who should be careful," Shen Yuan replied with a polite but pointed smile.

Mu Li's gaze hardened, though he quickly masked it with a grin. "Then, good luck," he said, his tone mocking before he turned away.

The Little Medical Fairy leaned in, her voice barely a whisper. "You've made an enemy of Mu Li. Be careful," she warned, glancing at the young master's retreating figure. "He's a six-star Dou Zhe and the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's young master."

Shen Yuan smiled confidently. "He should be the one who's careful. If he decides to cause trouble, he may not return from the mountains."

The Little Medical Fairy blinked, taken aback by Shen Yuan's confidence and his unspoken threat. She had not expected such fierce resolve from the young man beside her. " be cautious," she murmured, not entirely convinced he could face Mu Li's strength.

Shen Yuan only smiled. His strength, and his resolve, would be enough.

[A/N-This chapter is inspired by the chapter 27 of Btth:Obtain extraction system,Extract Yao lao at the beginning]