"I didn't expect you were also in this line of business before, Brother Li," Wang Pangzi said with interest as Lu Hua handed over two and a half million mid-grade spirit stones and left.
Li Xuan could only offer a wry smile. Wang Pangzi had asked Lu Hua and now knew about his past as a highway robber in the third region. Faced with Wang Pangzi's question, Li Xuan could only chuckle in response.
"Brother Li, have some wine." Seeing Li Xuan's helpless expression as he ate beast meat, Wang Pangzi laughed heartily and offered Li Xuan a jar of wine.
Li Xuan took the wine, opened the lid, and as Wang Pangzi raised his jar and drank, Li Xuan also took a large gulp.
"Cough, cough..." A spicy, burning sensation instantly hit him, and Li Xuan coughed violently.
Wang Pangzi laughed loudly, "Brother Li, you wouldn't be drinking for the first time, would you? Hahahaha, it's fine, you'll get used to it after a few more times."
Li Xuan chuckled wryly. He was indeed drinking this wine for the first time. However, he now felt a warmth spread through his body after swallowing the wine, and his nerves became active.
"This is quite good," Li Xuan exclaimed, his eyes lighting up.
Wang Pangzi smiled and said, "Brother Li, this is just ordinary wine. If you have the chance to encounter spirit wine, drinking it can help increase your cultivation and spiritual power. However, only Saints are qualified to drink spirit wine, and it is very valuable."
Li Xuan's eyes showed clear interest. He took another large gulp of wine and then bit into a piece of beast meat.
Time passed, and another figure appeared at the intersection.
"Brother Li, are you going to?" Wang Pangzi glanced at the newcomer and then looked at Li Xuan.
"Okay." Li Xuan understood Wang Pangzi's meaning. After all, he hadn't received any spirit stones just now. With the arrival of this prodigy, it was naturally Li Xuan's turn.
"Friend, leave five million mid-grade spirit stones, and you may pass," Li Xuan said with a smile, looking at the newcomer.
"Can I take a detour?" the newcomer asked after a moment of thought, looking at Li Xuan.
Li Xuan was taken aback. What kind of strange people were these? However, the question did stump him. He then looked at Wang Pangzi.
"Are you trying to play with us, asking to detour? Be sensible and leave five million mid-grade spirit stones. Do you think Li Xuan's reputation as the 'Highway Robbery King' is for show?" Wang Pangzi shouted angrily.
Li Xuan broke out in a sweat, speechless. This Wang Pangzi was addicted to calling him that.
"Highway Robbery King? Never heard of it," the newcomer said with a slight shake of his head, then looked at Li Xuan, "If you want toll from me, Ning Cheng, you'd better show me your strength first."
Li Xuan sighed helplessly. With a thought, his soul weapon, Jing Hun, appeared.
"You have impressive strength. I'll pay the toll!" In an instant, Jing Hun was at Ning Cheng's brow. Ning Cheng's pupils contracted sharply, and he quickly said.
Li Xuan smiled and shook his head, "It was five million just now, now it's six million."
"My lord, although your strength is great, raising the price on the spot is not befitting your status!" Ning Cheng almost spat out blood, saying indignantly.
Li Xuan and Wang Pangzi exchanged a look, then stared at Ning Cheng as if he were a rare specimen. "We are both here robbing people, what kind of status do you think we have? I'll give you five breaths to decide, pay or not."
Ning Cheng swallowed hard, looked at Wang Pangzi's fierce expression, and quickly took six million mid-grade spirit stones from his spatial ring and threw them to Li Xuan.
"Good, let's go." Li Xuan waved his hand, retracted Jing Hun, and sat down.
Ning Cheng quickly hurried through the mountain pass, for fear that Li Xuan and Wang Pangzi would go back on their word.
"Brother Li, you're amazing! You earned an extra million mid-grade spirit stones in one go," Wang Pangzi said, his eyes gleaming at the spirit stones beside Li Xuan.
Li Xuan smiled, then waved his hand, dividing three million mid-grade spirit stones and placing them in front of Wang Pangzi. "These are yours."
"Following Brother Li, I, Wang Pangzi, will soon be rich!" Wang Pangzi said with a smile, sweeping the spirit stones into his storage.
Li Xuan smiled, took a sip of wine, and then began to ask Wang Pangzi about matters concerning the second region.
Soon, with Wang Pangzi's rather detailed explanation, Li Xuan had a general understanding of the second region.
The second region was divided into six major forces. Apart from the vast continent, the other three worlds each had two forces dominating the second region. Among them, the Jiuli Tribe and the Zhulong Tribe of the Demon Heart Continent were separate powers. The Xingtian Tribe was scattered, so there was no unified group.
On the Demon Spirit Continent, the two forces were the True Demon Tribe and the Lesser Demon Tribe. It was worth noting that the relationship between the True Demon Tribe and the Lesser Demon Tribe was not friendly. According to Wang Pangzi's explanation, the True Demon Tribe considered themselves the purest of the demon race, while the Lesser Demon Tribe was mostly composed of demons with impure bloodlines. The two tribes were constantly at odds, and they would even fight if they met in the second region.
In the Nine Nether Realm, the two forces were the Asura Tribe and the Rakshasa Tribe. Although their relationship was not friendly, it was much more peaceful than that of the demon tribes.
"Brother Li, these six major factions rarely recruit outsiders, except for their own tribesmen. Moreover, if you accidentally enter their territory and have spirit stones, it's fine. But if you don't, you won't survive," Wang Pangzi said with a wry smile.
Li Xuan finally understood. No wonder Wang Pangzi was robbing people here; it turned out he didn't have enough spirit stone reserves.
Li Xuan thought for a moment and then asked, "Brother Wang, where are you from?"
Wang Pangzi hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "I am from the scattered humans of the Nine Nether Realm. I am the only one from my tribe with a spot. If I don't survive this time, then the status of our scattered humans in the Nine Nether Realm will truly be at the bottom."
Li Xuan was stunned. What was this "scattered humans"?
"In the Nine Nether Realm, the status of humans is very low. While not at the very bottom, it's not much better. For example, the Asura Tribe and the Rakshasa Tribe each have over fifty Saint-level powerhouses in their tribes. Our scattered humans only have three. If it weren't for the recommendation of the three Saints this time, I wouldn't have been able to come here for trials," Wang Pangzi explained, seemingly sensing Li Xuan's confusion.
Li Xuan's expression became somewhat complex. The pressure on someone carrying the hopes of an entire tribe was immense. However, Wang Pangzi's demeanor was very cheerful. At such a young age, he bore unbearable pressure. At this moment, Li Xuan felt a sense of empathy.
"Wang Pangzi, from now on in the second region, you'll follow me. I, Li Xuan, will protect you!"