Instant execution.
The remaining five were shaken to the core.
Their elders had warned them:
Outside sect territory, never act arrogant.
Because if you meet someone more arrogant than you—
regret comes too late.
The corpse on the ground was not just anyone.
He was the son of an elder in their sect.
This mission had been a trial…
and their senior brother had chosen the wrong enemy.
The crossbow's arrowhead gleamed as Lin Ye's eyes swept over them one by one.
They were just children.
He didn't bother with them.
If one death taught them restraint…
then the boy had died with value.
Lin Ye snorted faintly and lowered the crossbow.
The Blacksteel Panther resumed walking.
Northwind City was only a dozen miles ahead.
Once Lin Ye was far enough…
the five finally collapsed onto the ground.
The pressure from that man…
had drenched them in sweat.
Their clothes were soaked.
"What… what do we do…?"
"Senior Brother Fang… he was killed…"
"What can we do? He provoked first!"
"He tried to steal someone's beast!"
"Hurry—inform the elders."
"This isn't our fault."
"Senior Brother Fang was the reckless one."
They quickly released a signal.
Before long, an elder arrived through the air.
He landed and immediately saw the body.
"What happened…?"
"Fang Jin is dead?!"
He approached, examined the corpse—
and his face turned deathly pale.
Fang Jin…
was the son of the Wild Lion Sect's Third Elder.
Fang Zhan.
The strongest combat elder in the Wild Lion Sect.
Many of the sect's territories had been conquered by Fang Zhan.
Now his son was dead.
This would cause a storm of blood.
"You—come with me."
"And remember everything clearly."
"No lies."
"No omissions."
"Or the consequences will be beyond what you can bear."
The elder's voice was grim.
The five trembled.
They had been dragged into something enormous.
Northwind City
Lin Ye rode the panther straight into the city without restraint.
A beast like this naturally eliminated trouble—no one dared block the road.
A wealthy merchant dared to demand the panther for purchase.
Lin Ye took his five million spirit stones.
In the next moment…
the panther smashed the man into a bloody heap, leaving him half dead.
Then wagged its tail and returned to Lin Ye.
The merchant lived only because he had paid.
Otherwise, he'd have died like the young man earlier.
By the time Lin Ye reached the city center…
the rumor of the terrifying black panther had already spread.
A flower shop.
A young woman in yellow carried a basket filled with vivid fresh flowers.
A maid beside her said:
"Miss, this 'Exotic Enchantress' bouquet is beautiful too—full and vibrant, fresh green at the edges."
The woman glanced at it and shook her head.
"No."
"The color is too bright."
She personally selected every flower.
It was for her mother, who lay gravely ill.
Every flower mattered.
"These will do."
"How many spirit stones?"
Her maid stepped forward to pay, but the young woman refused to let her carry the basket.
"Miss Mo," the shopkeeper said hurriedly, "your presence here is an honor. How could I take your money? These flowers are a gift—"
"Thank you," Mo Ziqi replied softly.
"But business is difficult for everyone."
"Xiao Cui, give him one hundred spirit stones."
The maid shoved the coins into the shopkeeper's hands and pushed him back before he could refuse.
Mo Ziqi stepped outside—
and immediately saw a huge black panther striding past.
At least two meters tall.
It paused.
Sniffed the floral scent.
Then lowered its head—
and with one long tongue-roll—
swept every flower from her basket into its mouth.
And ate them.
Mo Ziqi froze, eyes wide.
The panther gave her a satisfied look…
then continued walking.
Her maid screamed:
"Miss! That beast ate your flowers!"
She rushed forward in fury, but Mo Ziqi stopped her.
"It ate them… so be it."
"That beast is not ordinary."
"Its owner must be an expert. Do not offend them."
Mo Ziqi was frail, unable to cultivate—
but born with unusually strong spiritual perception.
She could observe and memorize like a living library.
And she could tell instantly:
This panther was extraordinary.
"M-Miss… what is it?"
Mo Ziqi answered in a low voice:
"A Fourth-tier ferocious beast."
"A Blacksteel Panther."
Her eyes flashed with amazement.
Creatures like this existed only in beast catalogs.
Now it stood before her.
A natural assassin.
Within seven steps, it could kill anyone it wished.
Xiao Cui gritted her teeth.
"So what? It ate our flowers!"
"Next time I see it, I'll smash its head!"
Mo Ziqi sighed.
Lin Ye walked beside the panther.
Riding a panther inside a city felt far too conspicuous.
But even walking beside it, he drew countless gazes.
After asking directions, he reached the gates of the Mo Clan estate.
Dusk was falling.
Four guards stood on the stairs.
People came and went—business traffic.
The Mo Clan controlled nearly seventy percent of the city's industries…
and sixty percent of its wealth.
A guard stepped forward nervously.
"My lord… may I ask who you are?"
The panther lay down lazily at the entrance.
It yawned, resting its paws…
then stared at the guards with indifferent aristocratic disdain.
Lin Ye said calmly:
"I need to see your clan master."
"Tell him I'm from the Fenglei Mystic Sect."
He handed over the sect authority token.
The guard stiffened.
Fenglei Mystic Sect!
A dominator-level sect.
This visitor was not someone they could offend.
And with that beast…
even less so.
"My lord, please come inside. Please rest in the side hall."
"As for… your mount…"
"It stays outside. It doesn't bite."
Lin Ye nodded.
The panther obediently moved to the corner of the wall and lay down again.
It looked like it was resting—
but its senses remained razor-sharp.
Lin Ye waited in the hall.
Tea and pastries were served at once.
The reception was impeccable.
Because they treated him with respect…
Lin Ye gave them patience.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have sat quietly at all.
At that moment, Mo Ziqi returned and stopped at the entrance.
Xiao Cui pointed.
"Miss! That's the beast that ate your flowers!"
Mo Ziqi blinked, surprised.
So its owner had come to the Mo Clan as well.
She stepped forward.
"Whose beast is this?"
A guard answered:
"It belongs to a young man from the Fenglei Mystic Sect."
Mo Ziqi's eyes flashed.
Fenglei Mystic Sect…
the strongest sect in the eastern region.
Dominator-level.
On the same level as the Wild Lion Sect.
But even the Wild Lion Sect treated the Mo Clan as equals.
The Mo Clan had been standing for a thousand years.
Even Wild Lion disciples entering Northwind City had to behave respectfully.
But before Mo Ziqi could think further—
a group approached behind her.
The guards tensed instantly.
Several Wild Lion Sect members stepped forward.
A booming voice rang out:
"I am Fang Zhan of the Wild Lion Sect!"
"Girl, tell me where the owner of that beast is!"
The panther slowly opened its eyes.
Its killing intent locked onto Fang Zhan like a blade.