Chapter 60: The River-Turning Crocodile (1)

At night, Nevis City was far from lifeless; on the contrary, it grew even more bustling. Shen Duo and Feng Jun dressed inconspicuously and deliberately avoided others, so naturally, they did not attract any attention.

After submitting their mercenary assignment at the Mercenary Guild, Shen Duo took the opportunity to inquire about the whereabouts of the Blazing Flame Mercenary Corps. The mainland mercenary guilds were interconnected, and although information sometimes arrived with a delay, it was generally reliable.

The receptionist at the guild noticed Shen Duo’s cold demeanor but was struck by her elegant manners and polite speech, so she responded in kind. “The latest news is still from a few days ago. The Blazing Flame Mercenary Corps recently completed the A-level mission at Kalbas. They should be staying in the Kast Empire for recovery. Lady Mercenary, you may not know, but Young Master Lei Hang of the Blazing Flame Corps performed exceptionally well during this massive A-level mission. He’s already advanced to the Sky-ranked level…”

The receptionist seemed to have unlocked her chatterbox, speaking endlessly about the Blazing Flame Corps and Lei Hang. Shen Duo was stunned for a moment upon hearing this news, then revealed a genuine smile. She knew Lei Hang was diligent in his cultivation, but she hadn’t expected his advancement to be so swift—back in Locheng, he had only been a six-star Spiritual Illusionist. Pressing her lips together, her clear eyes flashed with determination; she could not afford to slack off either.

Feng Jun, expressionless as ever, raised his eyebrows upon hearing the news.

Shen Duo did not take on any new mercenary tasks, uncertain how long they would remain in Nevis City. The two left the guild and headed directly to the upper reaches of the Tianqing River.

At a secluded spot, Shen Duo used her spiritual sense to summon Benyi’s true form, carrying them to the lair of the River-Turning Crocodile.

Standing atop Benyi’s broad back, they could take in the vast and flowing banks of the Tianqing River. Thanks to the river’s irrigation, even though Nevis City was close to the desert, the soil on both banks had not turned sandy; instead, the terrain resembled rolling hills.

Along the riverbanks, dense clusters of violet reeds grew. These shrubs produced a substance akin to phosphorescent powder, and at night, their veins would emit a faint purple glow, as if natural ribbons of light adorned the riverbanks. Viewed from above, the scene resembled a dreamlike veil drifting across the landscape.

Though beautiful, these plants were a troublesome menace. The violet reeds covered the banks, their leaves long, firm, and razor-sharp. The glowing substance secreted by their veins was highly corrosive; any ordinary Illusionist venturing in with quality robes would emerge half an hour later stripped to their bare skin.

Most vexing of all, the lair of the soon-to-advance River-Turning Crocodile was nestled deep within the violet reeds.

As Shen Duo admired the exquisite scenery, Feng Jun explained the habits of this strange plant. He’d once encountered it on the outskirts of Steldrija, suffering greatly for it—an experience he remembered well.

Not far away, Shen Duo and Feng Jun both noticed a difference along the riverbanks.

Yusha wriggled out of the beast space and nestled into Shen Duo’s arms, his round tiger eyes fixed on the distance. “Little Duo, there are at least a dozen Spiritual Illusionists stationed there. The news of the River-Turning Crocodile’s impending advancement must have leaked.”

Hearing Yusha’s voice through her spiritual sense, Shen Duo’s delicate brows knit in concern.

“Let’s stealthily scout from a hidden spot first,” Shen Duo said calmly.

Feng Jun nodded. Shen Duo immediately instructed Benyi to land in a concealed area. The two quietly crept closer and soon arrived at the camp of the group. Shen Duo scanned the area, estimating thirteen or fourteen Spiritual Illusionists in total, including one whose rank she couldn’t discern.

For once, Feng Jun’s eternally stoic face showed a trace of severity. “A nine-star Spiritual Illusionist. If I’m not mistaken, this one is only a step away from becoming a Sky-ranked Illusionist.”

The situation was unexpected. Shen Duo squinted at the group, catching snippets of their conversation.

“This beast is truly cunning—those who set out this morning haven’t returned. I fear they won’t be coming back. That team even had a skilled Illusionist!”

It became clear that someone had already been tempted by the enormous profit and made their move, only to underestimate the River-Turning Crocodile’s power and end up as fodder. Having learned this much, Shen Duo and Feng Jun decided not to go any further. On one hand, the competition was formidable; on the other, they needed ample preparation.

Exchanging a glance, they quietly withdrew and returned to their inn in Nevis City to rest.

The next morning, Zoe summoned them to his room for a discussion, evidently having received news similar to what they’d discovered the night before.

Princess Doris slammed her palm on the table, grinding her teeth in fury. “Those shameless wretches dare to compete with me for the mythical beast—utter fools!”

Her arrogant and dismissive attitude made Zoe shake his head. In this world, power always spoke louder than titles. Whether you were a princess from a fringe empire or a direct descendant of the Four Great Families, status meant nothing without fists to back it up. Without formidable strength, all else was fleeting.

Shen Duo, her face cold and impassive, ignored Doris. Zoe had to smooth things over. After some deliberation, the group decided to camp by the Tianqing River’s bank—proximity was advantageous.

They rented a few unicorn horses at the station and set out. Doris, accustomed to a life of luxury, scowled at the sight of the crude tents, her face growing dark.

Shen Duo paid her no mind, setting up a simple tent with Feng Jun. The rogue Illusionists stationed on the riverbank cast unfriendly looks their way, but their group was sizable, with several skilled Illusionists among them. Even if the rogue Illusionists had designs, they dared not act rashly.

Princess Doris found fault with everything, maintaining all the airs of royalty, which only increased the resentment among the recruited Illusionists.

Songyan and Songshi’s tent was erected beside Feng Jun’s, while Lu Qi and Hong Zhi’s tent faced Shen Duo’s. After setting up, everyone grabbed some food and nectar, then sat together to strategize.

Recently, low-ranked magical beasts had been appearing in the area, some even of the lower Illusionist rank. When a high-ranked beast advances, the unique pressure it emits draws low-ranked beasts to pay homage and offer protection—a sign that the River-Turning Crocodile hidden among the violet reeds was close to its advancement.

Not all the rogue Illusionists camped by the river were after the high-ranked crocodile; some sought to profit by hunting lower-ranked beasts drawn by its impending evolution. Thus, Illusionists of varying strength continued to gather.

But the thick barrier of violet reeds remained a natural obstacle. Zoe’s lookouts reported that over nearly half a month, more and more rogue Illusionists had gathered, yet the River-Turning Crocodile had only appeared once.

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