The following morning arrived.
Feng Mo and Yang Jun retraced their steps and headed back to the activity area for yellow-tier students.
Meanwhile, Ling Feng ventured alone into the activity area for sky-tier students.
His objective remained unchanged: to hunt fifth-tier demonic beasts.
Fifth-tier demonic beasts were equivalent to experts at the Spiritual Element Realm level.
Facing them head-on, Ling Feng naturally wasn't a match. However, with the two killer moves of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Art and Zifeng's ability to plunder life essence, he might have had a fighting chance.
As long as he could manage to obtain a demonic core from slaying a fifth-tier demonic beast, it would guarantee him a spot in the top-ten.
After about half a day of travel, Zifeng finally appeared with a flash of purple light, hopping onto Ling Feng's shoulder in a few swift movements.
Zifeng stretched lazily, their pocket-sized frame and youthful face making it irresistibly cute with every movement.
"You've been asleep for a whole month. If I hadn't called you, would you have just slept through it all?"
Ling Feng couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark.
"Well, sleeping is what we elemental life forms do best," Zifeng's adorable face wrinkled slightly. "You see, as elemental life forms, we can continuously grow stronger just by sleeping. It's something other races can only envy."
Ling Feng rolled his eyes. It wasn't surprising that Wen Tingguang mentioned the Earth-Fire Flame Demon had slept for at least eight hundred years; apparently, such creatures could grow stronger just by sleeping.
It was truly enviable!
"Let's focus on something serious!" Ling Feng raised an eyebrow, explaining his plan to Zifeng.
His plan was simple: if his Heaven-Slaying Sword Art could leave a wound on the body of a fifth-tier demonic beast, Zifeng could exploit its ability to absorb life essence to rapidly age the beast.
When Zifeng drained the life force of the demonic beast, seizing its demonic core would be an easy task.
"I see," Zifeng clapped eagerly. "Another feast awaits me."
Ling Feng couldn't help but feel a bit envious. Despite humans considering themselves the most intelligent beings, in many aspects, their innate abilities were far inferior to those of other races.
Ling Feng and Zifeng arrived at a canyon blocked by dense forests.
"According to my senses, there seems to be a fifth-tier demonic beast residing here."
Ling Feng's lips curved into a slight smile as he enjoyed the sensation of using Boundless Vision. It felt exhilarating and comforting to be able to detect the presence of enemies without them being able to detect his location in return.
This ability proved far more practical compared to the spiritual consciousness sensing of experts at the Spiritual Element Realm level.
"Time for a feast!" Zifeng exclaimed eagerly. The life force of a fifth-tier demonic beast would undoubtedly provide him with a satisfying meal.
With a casual gesture, Ling Feng descended vertically along a towering ancient tree.
As he dropped into the canyon below, aside from the fierce aura emanating from the demonic beasts, there was also a subtle fragrance wafting through the air.
Places frequented by powerful demonic beasts often concealed rare treasures.
This understanding was common among all martial practitioners on the Xuanling Continent.
The fact that this fifth-tier demonic beast had chosen to reside here suggested the presence of a rare celestial fruit nurtured by the unique environment.
Descending steadily down the steep cliff, Ling Feng ventured into the depths.
Inside the gorge, darkness enveloped everything, growing denser with each step downward.
Zifeng began emitting a faint glow, akin to that of a firefly, to illuminate the path ahead. Though dim, the light proved adequate for navigation.
"That ability is quite useful."
Ling Feng remarked with a faint smile. The light's deceptive nature effectively avoided drawing attention from the demonic beasts below.
The cliff was steep, and Ling Feng dared not unfurl his wings of true qi easily. He had to climb down the cliff bit by bit, fearing for almost half an hour before finally finding a place to rest.
Concealing his presence, Ling Feng navigated through the tangled vines and found a path to gradually approach the lair of the fifth-tier demonic beast.
"It seems someone beat me here."
With his Boundless Vision, Ling Feng saw two other sky-tier students sneaking toward the lair of the fifth-tier demonic beast, just like he was.
Their intention didn't seem to be to slay the beast but rather to seize the celestial fruit from its lair.
Though the two individuals hid their aura well, they couldn't escape Ling Feng's Heavenly Dao Eye.
"Interesting," Ling Feng rubbed his nose as a cunning plan formed in his mind.
First, he would let those two unfortunate fellows lure the fifth-tier demonic beast away. Ling Feng only needed to obtain the celestial fruit, refine it to enhance his strength, and then return to confront the beast. This plan seemed foolproof!
"Hehe, that's the plan!"
With a smirk, Ling Feng crawled along the ground and was concealed by the vines, making him virtually undetectable.
Next, Ling Feng suppressed his aura and stealthily approached the two humans lurking in the shadows.
"Hehe, sorry about this!"
Ling Feng thought to himself as he picked up a small stone and, with precise aim, shot it towards the two humans.
The two sky-tier students, cautiously attempting to evade the detection of the fifth-tier demonic beast, were suddenly attacked. Startled, they panicked, believing they had been discovered by other demonic beasts.
In an instant, they drew their swords, releasing powerful auras.
It was evident without further thought that their auras immediately alerted the fifth-tier demonic beast guarding the vicinity of the nest.
A thunderous roar erupted. The fifth-tier demonic beast let its presence be known with its formidable aura spread rapidly from its core.
The two sky-tier students paled in terror at the sight.
A fifth-tier demonic beast!
Although they had the nerve to sneak in and try to take advantage of it, they certainly didn't have the courage to face the fifth-tier demonic beast head-on!
However, time didn't allow them to ponder further. Sensing the intrusion of two powerful auras into its territory, the fifth-tier demonic beast, a Sky-Swallowing Dragon Python, roared and lunged at the two sky-tier students like lightning.
Terrified to their core, the two sky-tier students wasted no time and immediately bolted away.
The Sky-Swallowing Dragon Python relentlessly pursued, determined to devour the two intruders whole.
Soon, their presence faded from Ling Feng's perception, indicating they had distanced themselves by about a thousand zhang.
Ling Feng emerged from beneath the vines, brushing off the dirt from his clothes with a smile on his lips.
The celestial fruit within the Sky-Swallowing Dragon Python's lair would definitely be his!