Chapter 60: Frost Serpent Skin

A grand total of four to five hundred people gathered imposingly in the Beast Mountain Range outside Cloud Sea City. For these newcomers, the atmosphere was overwhelmingly filled with excitement.

Because as long as they passed this assessment, they would be able to stay in Cloud Sea Academy at least until they turned twenty.

For the children of most families, Cloud Sea Academy was indeed a remarkably good place for cultivation.

Of course, that was under the premise of the old Cloud Sea Academy—the former academy that wholeheartedly considered the well-being of its disciples.

Now, things had completely changed.

"It is currently nighttime, which is when ferocious beasts come out to forage."

"However, if we all stick together, no matter how many beasts there are, they will not dare to show themselves before us. Therefore, following past regulations, we will enter in batches."

"Organize yourselves into your respective dormitories. The dormitories I call out will enter directly."

Wang Jin spoke up.

Without giving any further elaborate instructions, she began calling out names, having people enter the Beast Mountain Range in batches.

Everything that needed to be said had already been explained along the way.

As Wang Jin finished speaking, Wang Teng, Zhao Tengfei, and Mo Xiaolang could not help but look toward Chu Tianchen.

Chu Tianchen smiled at them and then walked over.

"You three don't need to worry. I won't hold you back. Once we enter the Beast Mountain Range shortly, I will part ways with you."

"Everyone, be careful, and we'll see each other back at the academy."

Chu Tianchen said to the three of them.

"Big Brother Tianchen, you must be careful too. I heard that Lin Shengbin is coming after you."

Mo Xiaolang said in a low voice.

"Mo Xiaolang!"

Wang Teng gave a stern shout, signaling him to speak no more.

Chu Tianchen simply smiled and nodded in response.

After that, he stood in place, quietly waiting for Wang Jin to call his name.

After about a few minutes, Wang Teng finally could no longer hold it in.

"Chu Tianchen, are you truly not afraid of death?"

"Just lower your head and apologize to that Lin Shengbin, and then spend some primordial stones. I'll smooth things over on my end and have the people from the Wang Faction drop this matter."

"Besides, as long as you join our Wang Faction, Lin Shengbin will still have to show us some respect."

Wang Teng said.

Suddenly, Chu Tianchen laughed—a genuine, heartfelt laugh.

To be honest, ever since his family estate was confiscated, most people either ridiculed him or avoided him altogether, considering it was an imperial decree personally issued by the Human Emperor.

Yet, the three roommates from the exact same dormitory had never shown him any ostracization.

Moreover, Chu Tianchen could sense that these three genuinely cared about him.

"Rest assured, I will be fine."

"There is too much resting on my shoulders; none of this allows me to die."

Chu Tianchen took a deep breath and said.

Wang Teng clenched his fists.

"Chu Tianchen, I've looked into your background. To be honest, I truly admire the Estate of the Marquis Who Secures the Nation and General Chu. I hope nothing happens to you."

"When we return, I'll treat you to drinks."

Wang Teng said through gritted teeth, revealing a harsh exterior with a soft heart.

"Big Brother Tianchen, take care of yourself."

Mo Xiaolang also chimed in.

"Why are you two making things so heavy? It's as if I'm marching to my execution."

"Keep yourselves well. When we get back, the drinks are on me."

Chu Tianchen said with a smile.

The time they had spent together was short, but for some inexplicable reason, a profound bond had formed among them.

Perhaps it was simply because it had been a long time since anyone had treated him with such selfless kindness, asking for nothing in return, like the three of them did.

Before long, Wang Jin called their dormitory.

Under the watchful eyes of the remaining people, the four of them stepped into the Beast Mountain Range. The moment they entered, Chu Tianchen's figure flashed, and he quickly departed.

Wang Teng and the other two watched his retreating figure without saying anything further.

After all, everyone had their own aspirations.

Roughly three or four hours later, all the disciples had entered the Beast Mountain Range. Only then did Wang Jin and the senior students step inside together.

At this moment, Chu Tianchen was walking alone through the Beast Mountain Range.

This mountain range stretched for thousands of li, but their designated activity zone was confined to the outer hundreds of li.

Deep within the Beast Mountain Range, numerous Tier 3 fierce beasts were active.

In the even deeper hazardous zones, Tier 5 and Tier 6 fierce beasts existed.

Tier 6 fierce beasts were comparable to human experts of the Heavenly Passage Realm; ordinary people would never dare venture into such places.

However, beasts of that caliber virtually never appeared in the outer perimeters, as they spent year-round in secluded cultivation.

As Chu Tianchen walked, he released his soul force to perceive the surrounding environment.

This trial was extremely necessary for him.

Now that his cultivation had been fully restored and he had successively opened up four meridian wheels—all of which were supreme myriad-zhang meridian wheels brimming with primordial energy—he had never yet engaged in a real, full-scale battle.

Back at the Estate of the Marquis Who Secures the Nation, whenever he opened a new meridian wheel, his paternal aunt and uncle would take him to the Four Directions Forest for practical trials.

As a martial artist, one had to constantly engage in combat to refine their primordial energy, and extensive battle experience was an invaluable asset.

When two people of the same realm possessed comparable cultivation and primordial energy, rich combat experience was precisely what played the critical role.

Furthermore, he was not only searching for the locations of fierce beasts; there were other objectives as well.

The Beast Mountain Range of Cloud Sea City was renowned throughout the entire Great Qian Empire, and its resources were extraordinarily abundant.

Many external martial artists frequently came here to hunt beasts and search for other resources.

It was common for people to discover high-grade medicinal herbs here.

Several hours after entering the Beast Mountain Range, night descended completely. Under the faint moonlight, an increasing number of beasts began emerging to forage.

Having crossed seven or eight mountain ranges consecutively, Chu Tianchen finally came to a halt, a slight curve playing at the corner of his lips.

The place where he stood was a lush, verdant hill range. Among the countless towering peaks of the Beast Mountain Range, this one appeared entirely unremarkable, yet Chu Tianchen had caught the scent of an Ice Serpent here.

Under normal circumstances, Ice Serpents inhabited cold, damp environments with accessible water sources.

For one to appear here—and even to have shed its skin here—seemed rather illogical.

When such a situation occurred, the primary reason was almost invariably that it had discovered something extraordinary here.

Following the lingering aura of the Ice Serpent, Chu Tianchen tracked it all the way forward.

Along the way, he spotted four or five discarded Ice Serpent skins and collected them. Although these were merely Tier 1 skins, they still counted as medicinal materials and could be exchanged for a modest amount of resources.

Yet, the further inward he ventured, the more Chu Tianchen felt that something slightly amiss.

Although this hill range was not large, it was rich in spiritual Qi; yet, not a single fierce beast could be heard howling or foraging.

Even with a Tier 1 Ice Serpent present, could a mere few Tier 1 serpents possibly claim this mountain as their undisputed domain?

Before long, Chu Tianchen stopped at a location where the Ice Serpent's aura grew significantly denser. He selected a path frequently roamed by the creature, concealed himself, and sat quietly waiting for his prey to appear.