As Quan Ji asked the question, her eyes flashed with golden light, indicating that she had activated her mind-reading ability.

She had originally planned that if the other party didn't speak, she would simply control him and make him say it.

Unfortunately, the other party was willing to reveal the details.

"We are here to investigate some information about the disappearance of humans."

"Many mercenary groups have noticed the recent spate of human disappearances, and many have offered bounties for their capture. We investigated and eventually came to the Whispering Woods, where we discovered the truth."

"The originally benevolent elves suddenly became easily agitated for some unknown reason. They wantonly captured humans and traded them as commodities. This is the reason for the disappearance of humans."

"We were tied up because we fell into their trap... We witnessed their capture and tried to stop them, but they were too strong. We were forced to retreat and eventually had to escape. However, there was only one way to escape, and on that very road, we were captured by the trap that the elves had set long ago..."

"Please, please save us..."

As Quan Ji looked at the person in front of her, the golden light in her eyes grew stronger, and her smile deepened, with an interesting curve forming at the corners of her mouth.

What the other party said was half true and half false—but the logic was clear. If they hadn't encountered Quan Ji, then others would have really believed it.

Unfortunately, they were just too lucky.

The billions of humans on the Noah Continent happened to encounter Quan Ji.

With a thought, Quan Ji untied the large net that had been binding them all.

The crowd collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony.

Quan Ji smiled and asked, "Where are the elves? Take me there."

Upon hearing this, the mercenaries first thanked them, then said, "Those elves are really too powerful. I think if you go, even with us... it will be useless. You might get captured, and your fate will be terrible!"

Quan Ji was too lazy to explain further; she simply gathered a stream of energy in her hand and gently waved it towards the tree beside her.

swish swish swish —

An energy blade appeared out of thin air and swiftly slashed in the direction Quan Ji had swung.

In an instant, the trees collapsed.

Boom boom boom—

The crowd couldn't even count how many trees had fallen; they just felt that the woman in front of them was ridiculously strong!

They could sense that the woman in front of them was merely a low-level priestess—only the compression of her energy was so extreme that it was almost tangible.

hiss--!

Everyone gasped.

That's fucking terrifying.

Quan Ji asked timidly, "So... do I have the qualifications now?"

Mercenary groups have always been a group of people who would do anything for money—of course, they'd risk their lives for money.

The mercenary group has always maintained a subservient attitude towards such a terrifying and unpredictable powerhouse.

A glint of greed flashed across Zhang Te's eyes before he said, "Your strength is extraordinary. May I ask your name?"

Quan Ji said, "Quan Ji of the Holy Glory Empire."

Everyone was stunned when they heard this.

Princess Quan of the Holy Glory Empire... isn't that the legendary young lady?

That incredibly powerful woman who was so arrogant at the Sky Conference, yet rendered everyone powerless, and who even made a group of level four and five empires pay her back taxes.

If the woman in front of me is Kwon Ji, then the man behind her...

The strongest person on the Noah Continent, Grand Marshal Jun Shenlan of the Star Abyss Empire?!

hiss--!

Everyone gasped again.

Immediately, they all knelt on one knee, clasped their hands in greeting:

"The Iron-Blooded Mercenary Group greets Young Miss and Marshal Jun!"

Quan Ji shrugged. "Enough with the nonsense, lead the way."

Zhang Te and the others dared not delay these two important figures any longer, and quickly nodded to lead the way.

"Come with me."

He led the way in a certain direction.

A smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

If it's these two... then it seems that even if we only get some soup and broth this time, it can be considered a feast!

The elves... just you wait!

Quan Ji took a few steps back, not following at the front, and said to Jun Chenlan jokingly, "This guy is really interesting. He wants to use us as pawns. I'll give him a surprise later."

Jun Chenlan didn't quite understand what Quan Ji was saying.

Quan Ji said, "You'll find out soon enough."

Zhuiyun, who was standing to the side, lowered his head and made a sound in Quan Ji's ear, as if asking if she had asked about the unicorn.

Quan Ji also patted Zhuiyun's head.

"Don't worry, with me here, I'll definitely handle this perfectly for you."

"However, that unicorn may be injured, but the injury is not serious. The money I swindled from the Qingquan Empire is more than enough."

As she spoke, Quan Ji seemed quite proud.

She didn't hide the fact that she was "tricked" into it, since the Qingquan Empire had now become the Qingquan region of the Shengyao Empire.

As the eldest daughter of the Holy Glory Empire, what's wrong with her taking some medicinal herbs in her own territory, which isn't even her own territory yet?

...

Soon, Zhang Te and the others stopped.

However, they stopped in front of a large tree that looked to be several hundred years old.

Quan Ji asked, "Why did you stop?"

Zhang Te: "We've arrived."

Quan Ji: "...?"

She took another careful look at the tree in front of her.

You call this...arrival?

She stared at Zhang Te with a questioning look.

Zhang Te could naturally see where Quan Ji's doubts lay, so he said:

"They're hiding in this tree. To get in, you have to break through a barrier on it. That's how the elves live. The reason ordinary people can't find the elves in Whispering Forest is that no one expected their way of living to be so unique. We only found out about this in the last two days."

"However... I estimate that it will be difficult for us to crack."

Quan Ji used her mind-reading ability to realize that the other party was not lying, so she stepped forward.

"I'll break the barrier."

Zhang Te: "You offer this service?"

These complex barriers are set up by specialized barrier masters and cannot be broken by ordinary people.

Then, Quan Ji gently summoned a pen from her spatial pouch and slowly wrote down each character.

...

...

At this moment, the world within the tree.

Several elves looked at the scene before them with worry and sneered, "These damned humans... they actually brought reinforcements. The aura emanating from this woman... is unbelievably strong, and... for some reason, it gives me a sense of familiarity."

The other elves, upon hearing this, asked in confusion, "You also feel affection for her?"

All the elves were stunned.

"You all have them? Are you kidding me...?"

It's important to understand that the relationship between elves and humans is not as peaceful as it appears on the surface. By blood, elves have an innate sense of aversion and disgust towards humans!