Survival in the Canyon

"Report, Qian Yuxi: 27 battles, 27 victories!"

"Report, Yu Longsan: 24 victories, 3 defeats!"

"Report, Luo En: 17 victories, 4 defeats!"

"Report, Bing Xinwu: 16 victories, 5 defeats!"

The instructors announced the four students' records one after another. After hearing them all, Jiang Xiruan revealed a somewhat satisfied expression. Her gaze swept over the four of them, lingering on Qian Yuxi for an extra second as a sharp glint flashed through her eyes. "Very good. For every battle you win, you will receive one White Spirit Ticket. However many battles you lose will be deducted accordingly. Ten White Spirit Tickets can be exchanged for one Yellow Soul Ticket. As for the winners of the other challenges, go to Instructor Long to claim your rewards."

After hearing the four students' records, the other trainees looked at them with awe. Yet when they looked at Qian Yuxi, there was an added measure of admiration.

The other three Soul Elders had also heard of Qian Yuxi's undefeated record. Varying degrees of wariness appeared in their eyes, and some even showed a faint trace of killing intent...

They had gained quite a lot that night, and the rewards were generous as well. A Yellow Soul Ticket alone was enough to cover three days' worth of meals, or to purchase essential training supplies.

Qian Yuxi received three Yellow Soul Tickets and seven White Spirit Tickets. With these, he could at least deal with many matters that might arise in the future.

"Today's training is over. At the hour of the Dragon tomorrow, the third training exercise will begin!"

"Yes."

Everyone answered in unison.

The next day, as soon as the hour of the Dragon arrived, Jiang Xiruan appeared outside the tents on time. Channeling her Soul Power, she took out an amplification Soul Tool and called out loudly, "Everyone, get up!"

A commotion broke out. Numerous young figures quickly emerged from dozens of tents and consciously formed three rows.

Jiang Xiruan swept her gaze around before pointing at the canyon entrance behind her. "Today's training mission will be long and extremely difficult. You must survive in the outer region of Misty Trace Grand Canyon for at least three days! During this time, the usual rules apply: teams cannot exceed five people. At midnight three days from now, you may come out. Of course, the instructors will also enter to retrieve you!"

Jiang Xiruan announced the training rules, but in the next moment, her tone suddenly shifted and turned icy. "Additionally, within Misty Trace Grand Canyon, I permit you to kill freely. Once you enter, everyone besides your teammates is an enemy! Settle your grudges and repay your hatred. A Spirit Beast's territory is a world where the weak are prey to the strong, and only fists and claws matter! Remember! Even the outer region of Misty Trace Grand Canyon is fraught with danger!"

After finishing that last statement, Jiang Xiruan's expression became even more imposing. "Now, everyone, set off immediately!"

"Yes!!"

So early in the morning, they had already been thrown into such a terrifying atmosphere. The trainees gained a whole new understanding of that freak Viper Jiang.

"Misty Trace Grand Canyon..." Qian Yuxi narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the valley.

Even though it was morning, dense mist filled the space between the two mountains, blocking out the sunlight. Thin clouds drifted along the mountainsides, while the forest lay deathly silent. He could only vaguely make out shadowy figures in the distance, some of which were flying.

Qian Yuxi looked toward the canyon entrance and thought to himself, Misty Trace Grand Canyon... It seems this was where Ghost Douluo threw Xie Yue and the others for three years of training after they lost the Spirit Master Tournament... If it could make three Soul Kings so frightened, it definitely won't be simple.

Qian Yuxi had already raised the danger level of Misty Trace Grand Canyon to a rank second only to the Star Dou Great Forest. He had no teammates, so he had to be extremely careful. He could not lose his life over a momentary lapse in judgment.

"Set off!"

At the command, over a hundred trainees swiftly ran toward Misty Trace Grand Canyon. Jiang Xiruan and seven instructors remained standing at the canyon entrance.

Among the teams that had already formed, five-person groups accounted for half. There was strength in numbers, and everyone preferred sticking together for safety.

But Qian Yuxi was an exception.

As one of the last to enter the grand canyon, Qian Yuxi looked up at the sky. After confirming the exact direction in which the sun rose, he stepped inside.

In a place like this, he absolutely could not lose his sense of direction. The instructors had not clearly stated what age of Spirit Beasts might appear in the outer region.

"Hey... Qian Yuxi, wait."

Just as Qian Yuxi stepped into the canyon entrance, someone called out from behind him. Turning around, he saw the girl he had saved from Blood Leopard's jaws the night before. The boy beside her was around his age and appeared to be her teammate.

Qian Yuxi frowned slightly, but his steps did not stop. "Do you need something?"

"Um... you don't have any teammates yet, right? Do you want to join our group? After all, I want to repay you too." Seeing Qian Yuxi's reaction, Tuoba Yun revealed an awkward expression and asked cautiously.

"I don't need anyone for now." Qian Yuxi shook his head.

"But..."

"Forget it, Little White Dragon. If he doesn't want to, we shouldn't force him. I'm enough on my own anyway. Just focus on supporting me."

The boy beside Tuoba Yun spoke. His voice was somewhat low, but his golden eyes were exceptionally sharp. When he looked at Qian Yuxi, an unusual gleam flickered within them.

"Then be careful." Qian Yuxi nodded and said no more.

"Let's go."

The boy spoke before taking the lead into the canyon, with Tuoba Yun following close behind.

After exploring for roughly two hours, Qian Yuxi had a general grasp of the situation in the outer region of Misty Trace Grand Canyon. Fortunately, there were no ten-thousand-year Spirit Beasts, but there was a wide variety of them. Some were so strange that he had to consult a book just to identify them.

It was time for lunch—and time to hunt.

Qian Yuxi washed his face by a river, took out the Aurora Sacred Feather Bow, and prepared to hunt a beast with Spirit Beast bloodline or a ten-year Spirit Beast to fill his stomach.

It was easy. He hunted a large black deer, beheaded it with his dagger, and dragged the body back to the temporary camp he had set up.

However, just as Qian Yuxi set the black deer aside and rested, his ears twitched slightly. His eyes narrowed as a sense of danger spread through his entire body.

Whoosh!

A flash of blade light swept past, and a giant python roughly three meters long collapsed before him. Blood splattered everywhere as its head was severed by the dagger in his hand and tossed into the river where he had just washed his face. A white Soul Ring quickly condensed above the headless corpse, though it bore faint yellow markings.

"Sure enough, danger is everywhere..."

Qian Yuxi took a deep breath and kicked the corpse away. This Misty Trace Grand Canyon truly was dangerous. Who knew how many more Spirit Beasts like this were lurking around?

"Help..."

A weak cry reached his ears from what seemed to be the south. Qian Yuxi turned his head slightly, gathering spiritual power in his eyes. For an archer, eyesight was also extremely important. The stronger one's spiritual power, the stronger one's perception. This was also the area of cultivation that Control System Spirit Masters excelled at most.

He looked in the direction of the voice.

Two girls were being pursued by more than a dozen white apes. The leader was over five meters tall, its eyes crimson as though blood might drip from them at any moment. It continuously let out low growls while swinging an enormous tree trunk in its hands.

Qian Yuxi saw clearly and knew what kind of Spirit Beast it was: an Ape of Harmony, a Spirit Beast recorded on page five of the Spirit Beast Encyclopedia.

"How did this creature run over from next door to the Douluo Plane?"

The corner of Qian Yuxi's mouth twitched. His gaze then fell upon the girls being chased. They fled as if mad, yet they still could not escape the fate of being surrounded.

Once you enter the canyon, everyone is an enemy. Sorry... Qian Yuxi withdrew his gaze and prepared to roast the meat.

But the ground beneath his feet suddenly began to tremble. The low growls of the Apes of Harmony and the girls' cries for help rang clearly in his ears.

"What the hell... Why are you running toward me while fleeing for your lives?!"