16: Liu Linger ran away from home and parked her car in the inner circle

Only Xiao Shen was willing to be close to Xiao Yue; Liu Ling'er definitely didn't want to associate with someone like him.

"Ling'er, as a daughter of the Liu Family, you must consider our Liu Family's interests. Xiao Yue is now a Level 7 Warrior, and his talent is even higher than Xiao Shen's was back then. In the future, the Xiao Family..."

"The Wall has always respected strength. If you don't agree to marry Xiao Yue, and the Xiao Family makes trouble for us then, it will be very problematic."

Liu's father spoke earnestly. If Xiao Shen were still here, Liu Ling'er marrying Xiao Shen would naturally be the best outcome. But now, Xiao Shen is missing, his life or death unknown!

After hearing her father's words, Liu Ling'er seemed to lose her soul. She took half a step back and said blankly, "Are we, the Liu Family, only capable of obeying the Xiao Family?"

It wasn't like this when Xiao Shen was around!

She understood Xiao Shen's character. Although he was very strong, he had always been kind and possessed a strong sense of righteousness.

In contrast, Xiao Yue exuded a sinister aura that made people uncomfortable just being near him.

The thought of becoming a couple with someone like Xiao Yue filled Liu Ling'er with a hundred reasons to refuse.

"No, Father, don't the other two families have any thoughts? Are they also willing to follow the Xiao Family's lead?" Liu Ling'er raised her head and asked.

The Xiao Family, Liu Family, Wang Family, and Hua Family are considered prominent families within the 155 Fortress, collectively known as the Four Great Families.

Although the Four Great Families' foundations are far inferior to the Three Great Powers, beneath the Three Great Powers, the Four Great Families are the most powerful.

In previous years, the four families always maintained a balance of power, and the family heads' strengths were similar. Although everyone knew that Xiao Shen had extraordinary talent and was likely to lead the Xiao Family to greatness in the future, the Xiao Family wasn't so arrogant back then; instead, they remained dormant.

But today, the Xiao Family, this tiger, finally bared its fangs.

"The Wang Family and Hua Family have already taken sides."

Liu's father said, "The Xiao Family offered them irresistible terms. Now, only our Liu Family hasn't declared its stance."

"How could this be...?" Liu Ling'er felt as if her worldview was about to collapse.

How could this happen?

Xiao Shen, yes, Xiao Shen!

As long as she finds Xiao Shen, she'll know what's truly going on!

"I'm going to find Xiao Shen!"

Liu Ling'er said, then activated her cultivation technique and ran out the door.

"Ling'er, where are you going? Come back!"

...Ferocious Beast Forest.

"Hello, excuse me, is this Cui Fucai's house?"

Xiao Shen followed the address provided by the guild and found a household.

"Ah, I am Cui Fucai. Are you the one who accepted the mission?" The person who opened the door was short and stout, looking very prosperous.

Xiao Shen nodded, "Yes."

"Then come in quickly." Cui Fucai was very enthusiastic. He wasn't very strong, but he was very rich. The foundation his father and grandfather established was enough for him to live lavishly for a lifetime.

"Please, sit down."

Cui Fucai said with a smile.

He had no strength, so he greatly respected those stronger than him. This was a principle his father taught him. What was that saying called again? Oh right, don't hit a smiling face.

"You're too kind, please sit as well." Since leaving the Wall, Xiao Shen hadn't received such treatment in a long time and was quite unaccustomed to it.

He recalled that back in the Wall, he had reached Level 7 cultivation at only eighteen years old. Who wouldn't call him a genius?

But now he was stranded in the Ferocious Beast Forest, fighting fierce beasts for his life every day, truly living on the edge.

"Alright, would you like some tea?" Cui Fucai asked after sitting down.

"No, let's discuss the time to go into the forest." Xiao Shen only wanted to quickly earn enough spirit stones to buy a Sheng Wu Dan.

"Alright." Cui Fucai thought for a moment and said, "I have something else to do today. How about this: we'll depart at seven tomorrow morning and meet at the guild."

"Okay." Xiao Shen nodded, which suited him perfectly. "Then if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."

"Are you in such a hurry to leave? I'll see you out then."

Cui Fucai saw Xiao Shen off at the door before returning inside.

Xiao Shen had nowhere to go, so he could only return to the Ferocious Beast Forest.

He had already taken the car today, so he couldn't take it again.

Xiao Shen smiled helplessly. When he was in the Wall, he never imagined that one day he would live in a cave in the Ferocious Beast Forest, with his daily routine consisting of fighting fierce beasts.

However, after all this time, his combat experience fighting fierce beasts had indeed increased significantly. With his current strength as a Level 2 Warrior, defeating a Level 3 fierce beast is basically no problem.

If he encountered a Level 4 fierce beast, he could still put up a fight... [Destination reached. Passengers, please exit the vehicle.]

The fare had increased, but the travel time hadn't. The four simultaneously opened their eyes to see the words they least wanted to see.

"I just started cultivating for a bit, and it's already over, sigh!" Chu Feiyue said helplessly.

"I've never seen you cultivate so diligently before." Wang Dapeng raised an eyebrow.

"How can it be the same?" Chu Feiyue glared at him.

Cultivating in the car, the increase in vital energy was so much more than outside!

"Since the time is up, let's get off. If we can meet again next time, we'll come together again," Zhuang Sanming said.

"Alright."

As the four were about to get off, Lin Feng, still unwilling to give up, promoted his pills again:

[Do you need pills? Sheng Wu Dan, Advancement Pill, Healing Pill...]

Wang Dapeng and Chu Feiyue didn't even want to look.

It was simple: they knew they definitely couldn't afford them!

Su Duo, however, asked curiously, "What are the prices?"

[Sheng Wu Dan: one thousand low-grade spirit stones per pill. Advancement Pill: two thousand low-grade spirit stones per pill. Healing Pill: five hundred low-grade spirit stones per pill.]

"That expensive?!" Even Su Duo, who had a bit of spare money, couldn't help but widen her eyes.

Then she immediately waved her hand and said, "Forget it, I'm not buying."

Lin Feng: Promotion failed orz

"Let's go," Zhuang Sanming said to Su Duo.

"Mm." Su Duo nodded.

"Wait!"

Just as they were about to open the car door and leave, Wang Dapeng suddenly spoke.

"What's wrong?" The three were very confused.

"Look outside, this doesn't seem to be the Outer Circle." Wang Dapeng frequently traveled in the Outer Circle and was very familiar with it. This place clearly wasn't the Outer Circle.

"Holy moly, it really isn't. Then where is this? Could it be..."

Chu Feiyue said, swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

"The Inner Circle!!"

The other three said in unison.

Then came the sound of them all swallowing their saliva.

That was the Inner Circle... The lowest level fierce beasts there were Level 5, and the highest level among them was only Level 3.

Getting off here, would they die as soon as they stepped out?!

Lin Feng seized the opportunity:

[Are you sure you don't want to buy pills? A Healing Pill is only five hundred low-grade spirit stones! It can quickly heal all external injuries, truly an essential product for home and travel!]