Venturing deeper inside, Ling Feng led Yang Jun and Feng Mo towards the area of mystical-tier students.
In fact, Ling Feng had already decided that on the first day, he would assist Yang Jun in hunting ordinary demonic beasts. For the following two days, he would venture alone into the areas where fifth-tier demonic beasts lurked.
Due to seeking fortune amidst danger, Ling Feng's strength had already reached the level of an average sky-tier student. Naturally, he saw no need to hunt down ordinary demonic beasts that posed no threat in the lower-tier areas.
After traveling for about three to four miles, the trio arrived in a densely wooded area within the Tianwei Mountain range.
The Tianwei Mountain range stretched endlessly. Today, hundreds of students entered it, and shortly after they dispersed in all directions. Typically speaking, it would be rare for them to encounter each other.
At high noon, the scorching sun hung overhead casting its relentless rays upon the land below. Rows of towering ancient trees, adorned with lush foliage, filtered the sunlight through their dense canopy, creating a mosaic of dappled shadows that danced across the forest floor.
This was the area where mystical-tier students roamed, a realm where fourth-tier demonic beasts could lurk in any shadow.
Yang Jun and Feng Mo trailed closely behind Ling Feng. As they observed Ling Feng come to a stop ahead, they too paused in their tracks.
"This marks the boundary between the territories of mystical-tier and yellow-tier students. Today, we'll be hunting demonic beasts in this area."
Glancing back at Yang Jun and Feng Mo, Ling Feng noted their cultivation levels: both were in the later stages of the Pulse Formation Realm, with their cultivation ranging between seven and eight meridians. While they were adept at handling ordinary third-tier demonic beasts, they would fall short when faced with fourth-tier ones.
"Understood," Feng Mo and Yang Jun nodded in agreement. The surroundings emitted a terrifying aura that sent shivers down their spines.
Surveying their surroundings, they could barely discern the dense bushes rustling softly beneath the pitch-black tree shadows. For ordinary martial practitioners, distinguishing between mere small animals and deadly demonic beasts lurking in the darkness was nearly impossible!
However, no living spirits within a radius of several hundred yards could escape Ling Feng's Boundless Vision.
"Eek... This place gives off such a creepy feeling."
Yang Jun shivered and felt goosebumps all over his body. He wouldn't have dared to venture here if it weren't for Ling Feng leading the way.
Feng Mo, swallowing nervously, retrieved his weapon from the storage spirit ring and vigilantly monitored the surroundings.
At that moment, the seemingly lazy youth displayed remarkable vigilance.
"It seems that Feng Mo isn't just an ordinary person," Ling Feng thought to himself.
Ling Feng ran his hand over his nose. Among his six roommates from the East Court Tianshu, Feng Mo remained the most mysterious. He had never disclosed which province he came from or mentioned his family or clan.
While everyone harbored their own secrets, these differences didn't impede the bonds of friendship between them.
"Shh, keep quiet," Ling Feng whispered, lowering his voice as he glanced back at Yang Jun. Despite being a young master of a business family, Yang Jun lacked practical combat experience. If left alone, Yang Jun would most likely not survive.
Yang Jun nodded, recognizing that with Ling Feng's exceptional abilities, there was no need for him to intervene, nor was there any reason to worry about their safety.
As Yang Jun found himself lost in thought, a sudden roar pierced the air, carrying with it the terrifying presence of a fourth-tier demonic beast. It struck fear into him, causing his legs to tremble.
"A demon... demon... demon wolf!"
While Yang Jun had encountered demonic beasts before, none had ever been as fearsome as this.
The demon wolf's fur, resembling flames, billowed wildly in the wind. Its lantern-like eyes flickered like ghostly flames in the darkness and emitted a predatory glimmer.
Ling Feng's lips curled with disdain.
A Crimson Flame Demon Wolf, a fourth-tier low-level demonic beast, akin to a martial artist in the early stages of the Transformation Realm, was standing before them. Yet, to Ling Feng at that moment, it hardly seemed worth worrying about.
Before the demon wolf could lunge at him, Ling Feng's form flickered, and a crimson streak sliced through the air.
Following that, a spray of blood arced into the sky, and a hefty head tumbled to the ground, rolling to a halt at the feet of Yang Jun and Feng Mo.
It was the head of the Crimson Flame Demon Wolf!
Insta-killed in a single strike!
Two sounds of swallowing saliva echoed as Yang Jun and Feng Mo exchanged a glance, both registering the shock reflected in each other's eyes.
Had a fourth-tier demonic beast just died so undignified?
Before they could fully comprehend the situation, two more sword cries pierced the air. A flicker of red light followed, and then came two resounding "bangs," as two more Crimson Flame Demon Wolves[1] collapsed to the ground.
Within a few breaths, three Crimson Flame Demon Wolves fell to Ling Feng's sword.
"I... I... I..." Feng Mo's lips trembled uncontrollably, leaving his speech fragmented and disjointed.
He had always recognized Ling Feng's prowess, but this display surpassed even his wildest expectations.
"Why are you standing there? Quickly gather the demonic cores and materials from these beasts," Ling Feng commanded, effortlessly dissecting the wolves with precise sword strikes.
With three wolves defeated, each of them could claim a demonic core.
As for the remaining materials, Yang Jun and Feng Mo were too embarrassed to take them, so Ling Feng graciously collected them all and stored them in his storage spirit ring.
"Obtaining a fourth-tier demonic core so effortlessly—this is too simple, and too casual! Haha!" Yang Jun exclaimed with joy.
Feng Mo, equally delighted and grateful, chimed in, "Ling Feng, if I were a girl, I would definitely marry you!"
"You're repaying kindness with enmity!"
Ling Feng arched an eyebrow, causing Feng Mo to feel embarrassed, while Yang Jun laughed heartily beside them.
"Alright, let's not waste any more time. I'll do my best to collect at least five fourth-tier low-level demonic cores for each of you. That should secure your spots in the top ten." Ling Feng said casually as he stepped forward, continuing towards the depths of the forest.
Quickly following, Yang Jun and Feng Mo latched onto Ling Feng, seeing it as a shortcut to securing a spot in the top ten.
As they proceeded, Ling Feng's sword strikes stayed swift and deadly. Any foolish demonic beast that dared to emerge was swiftly met with a fatal blow from his blade.
His swordsmanship had reached a level akin to the Transformation Realm, characterized by its simplicity and lethality with every strike.
Even the fourth-tier demonic beasts, once mighty rulers of the jungle, found themselves stripped of all dignity under Ling Feng's relentless assault.
Amidst the slaughter, Ling Feng sensed the Slaughterous Sword Will in his sea of mind, seemingly absorbing the psychic energy brought by each kill, gradually growing stronger.
Though the growth was slow, there was nonetheless improvement.
"The Eight Direction Shatter Abyss sword technique is indeed effective."
With another strike, he slayed an Iron-Armored Demon Bull, gently wiping the blood off his blade with excitement glinting in his eyes.
The swordsmanship taught by Yan Cangtian was indeed exceptional. Without it, and by solely relying on the Blood Lotus Sword Song and the Flower-Transposing Jade-Burying Sword, he would never have been able to slay these demonic beasts so effortlessly.
1. Not sure if the word war was a mistake or intended by the author. ☜