A Miraculous Encounter in a Secret Cave and the Final Frenzy

The night was like water, and the starlight was dim.

Inside a hidden cave, the campfire crackled, its orange-red glow reflecting on three young faces that were slightly tired but couldn't hide their excitement.

"Gurgle gurgle..."

A rich meaty aroma wafted from an unknown beast roasting over the fire. Its fat dripped into the flames, sizzling invitingly.

This was a temporary camp, more than ten miles away from that terrifying swamp. After successfully escaping, Lin Xiao, relying on the System's precise terrain scan, found this naturally defensible cave.

"I... I still feel like this is a dream," Shi Lei muttered as he clumsily flipped the roasted beast leg. "We actually snatched a tooth from the jaws of that scourge, Xiao Lang, and got away unscathed!"

Even now, his honest heart was still pounding wildly. The thought of the thrilling confrontation from earlier in the day still made his palms sweat.

Su Yue sat nearby, meticulously cleaning the large, intact crocodile hide. She used her dagger to carefully scrape away any remaining blood and flesh, her movements gentle, as if handling a rare treasure. Her beautiful eyes occasionally glanced at the young man sitting cross-legged at the cave entrance, meditating with his eyes closed. Her gaze was filled with complex emotions.

If she had felt curiosity and admiration for Lin Xiao before, now she also felt a deep sense of awe.

This seemingly ordinary young man seemed to harbor an old monster within him, one who planned meticulously and left no move unconsidered. His calmness, intelligence, and courage far surpassed what was expected of someone his age.

"Stop spacing out and eat."

Lin Xiao had finished his cultivation at some point. He opened his eyes and handed a piece of roasted meat to Su Yue. "After we eat, we need to take turns on watch. The last night of the assessment is often the most dangerous."

After the continuous battles with the Swamp Giant Crocodile and the Heavenly Wolf Society, his spiritual energy was almost depleted. Fortunately, the increase in his level greatly boosted his recovery speed, and he was now almost back to his full strength.

"Oh... okay." Su Yue came back to her senses and took the meat with a slight blush on her pretty face.

The three of them gathered around the campfire, temporarily forgetting the harshness of the assessment and enjoying this rare moment of peace.

"Lin Xiao, what should we do with this crocodile hide?" Shi Lei asked, his mouth full of food. "This is the hide of a Second-Order Demonic Beast. I heard it can fetch a sky-high price at the Artifact Refining Pavilion in the city!"

"It's too much of a waste to sell it," Su Yue chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Armor made from the hide of a Second-Order Swamp Giant Crocodile is known for its defense. It's impervious to water and fire and difficult for blades to penetrate. If we can find a skilled artifact refiner, we could have three top-quality inner armors tailor-made for us! With it, our survivability will greatly increase!"

Lin Xiao nodded. That was his thought as well. A good piece of defensive equipment was equivalent to an extra life in a critical moment.

"Let's do that," he decided. "After the assessment ends, we'll go to the city and find the best artifact refiner."

Looking at the priceless crocodile hide, the eyes of the three were filled with anticipation for the future. They knew this was not just a trophy; it was a significant leap in their team's strength and crucial capital for their future standing at Cloud Creek Academy.

Meanwhile, outside the Myriad Beast Mountain Range, the plaza had already erupted.

Although the light screen couldn't display the specific images and sounds within the secret realm, the point changes and geographical movements of each participant's token were clearly displayed.

Not long ago, tens of thousands of spectators had witnessed a "clash" that could only be described as bizarre.

Three light dots representing Lin Xiao, Shi Lei, and Su Yue had met eight light dots representing Xiao Lang and the "Heavenly Wolf Society" in a swampy area on the map.

Everyone held their breath for Lin Xiao and his companions. In their eyes, the outcome of this encounter was a foregone conclusion: Lin Xiao's team would inevitably have their points cleared and be unceremoniously teleported out.

However, what happened next made everyone's jaws drop.

After the two groups' light dots had been in contact for only a quarter of an hour, Xiao Lang and his group's light dots actually retreated voluntarily!

And Lin Xiao's team's points had not decreased by even a single bit!

"What's going on? Am I seeing things? Xiao Lang actually let them go?" "This is impossible! With Xiao Lang's overbearing nature, how could he let such a juicy prize slip through his fingers?" "Look at the points board! Just before they met, Lin Xiao's team's total points had just surged by 50 points for hunting a Second-Order Demonic Beast! Xiao Lang and his group must have gone to rob them!" "Robbery failed? And they retreated voluntarily? This... this is simply a fantasy!"

The crowd was in an uproar, with all sorts of speculations running wild. No one believed Xiao Lang would be merciful; the only explanation was that Lin Xiao's team harbored a terrifying power that even Xiao Lang found daunting!

In an instant, the name "Lin Xiao" was shrouded in an even more mysterious aura. His ranking, thanks to the 50 points earned, remained firmly in thirty-seventh place!

On the high platform, Chu Tianxing's eyes also blazed with unprecedented brilliance.

"Interesting, truly interesting!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands. "Not only did they dare to challenge a Second-Order Demonic Beast, but they were also able to preserve their gains under Xiao Lang's pressure. This Lin Xiao, whether through strength or strategy, proves he is a rare talent!"

"Dean, should we send someone to investigate his background?" the slightly overweight elder beside him suggested.

"No need," Chu Tianxing waved his hand. "A hero's origin doesn't matter. The academy seeks geniuses, not family backgrounds. I'm actually more eager to see how far this young fellow with no background can go in the remaining assessment."

He had already made up his mind: as long as Lin Xiao passed the assessment, he would definitely take him as a personal disciple and nurture him well.

The last day of the assessment quietly arrived.

As the first rays of dawn pierced the darkness and illuminated the mountains and forests, countless figures darted out from their hiding places, beginning the final desperate sprint.

Those with high rankings wanted to maintain their advantage; those on the verge of elimination wanted to make a last-ditch effort. The competition in the entire Myriad Beast Mountain Range entered a white-hot stage at this moment.

Lin Xiao and the other two had also set off early.

"Our current total points rank us thirty-seventh, which is a sure spot in the second round," Su Yue analyzed the current situation. "On the last day, should we play it safe or..."

"No," Lin Xiao shook his head, his eyes flashing with a wild light. "Defense isn't my style. The more it is towards the end, the more opportunities there are!"

He knew very well that in the final stage, many teams would take risks to hunt high-order demonic beasts or engage in infighting for points. And chaos was the best time for him to fish in troubled waters.

"Listen to me, we're going to the 'Sky-Piercing Chasm' in the east," Lin Xiao said, pointing to a location on the map. "The terrain there is narrow, it's a necessary path for many demonic beasts to migrate, and it's also a place where many teams like to set ambushes. There will definitely be a good show there."

Shi Lei and Su Yue had long since believed his judgment and immediately nodded in agreement.

The three of them concealed their presence like the most seasoned hunters, silently sneaking towards the "Sky-Piercing Chasm."

Along the way, they saw a fierce battle from afar. Two teams, both ranked in the top hundred, were fighting intensely over a "Vajra Ape" of Second-Order Mid Grade.

"Should we..." Shi Lei seemed tempted.

"No," Lin Xiao shook his head decisively. "Our goal is to reap the benefits of a fisherman's struggle, not to become the snipe or the clam."

They quietly bypassed the battlefield and continued on their way.

About an hour later, the narrow and perilous "One Line Sky" canyon appeared before them.

Just as Lin Xiao had predicted, the area was already fraught with hidden dangers. Relying on the System's scan, he easily discovered at least four different teams ambushing each other in the hidden spots on both sides of the canyon. They were all on guard, waiting for prey or... the appearance of hunters.

"Looks like there's a good show coming," Lin Xiao's lips curved into a smile.

He didn't rush into action. Instead, he led the two of them to a vantage point with an excellent view that was also extremely well-hidden. Like a patient vulture, he quietly surveyed the canyon below.

Time ticked by, second by second.

Finally, a monstrous demonic beast slowly walked into the canyon.

It was a Second-Order High Grade "Crimson Fire Lion"! Its entire body was engulfed in crimson flames, exuding a ferocious aura. Wherever it passed, even the rocks were scorched black.

50 points!

The breathing of the four teams ambushing in the canyon instantly became rapid.

But no one made the first move. They were all waiting for others to attack first so they could reap the benefits.

However, just as the tension reached its peak, the situation took an unexpected turn!

The ground deep within the canyon suddenly cracked open without warning, forming a massive chasm!

Immediately after, a strong, nauseating smell of grass and wood erupted from the fissure.

"Wh-what is that?!" Su Yue exclaimed.

A giant vine, thicker than a water bucket and tens of meters long, shot out from the underground crack like a waking python. With lightning speed, it tightly ensnared the arrogant Crimson Fire Lion!

The Crimson Fire Lion struggled frantically, spewing raging flames from its mouth, trying to burn through the vine. But a strange green light flickered on the vine's surface, seemingly unfazed by the flames.

Under the horrified gaze of everyone present, the giant vine tightened its grip. The Crimson Fire Lion's steel-like bones let out a bone-chilling crunch, and with a final, unwilling roar, it was ripped into two halves!

One-shot kill! A powerful Second-Order High Grade demonic beast was instantly killed!

"It... it's a Third-Order Demonic Beast! A Spirit Devouring Demonic Vine!" one of the ambushing students screamed, his voice trembling with fear.

Panic spread like a plague.

All the ambushing teams were terrified out of their wits. They could no longer maintain their cover and scrambled out of their hiding places, fleeing for their lives towards the canyon's exit.

But it was too late.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Dozens of smaller vines shot out from the underground crack like tendrils from hell, catching up to the fleeing students with astonishing speed. They ensnared them one by one, dragging them into the bottomless, dark abyss...

Screams and wails echoed throughout the entire canyon.

"Let's go!"

Lin Xiao made a decisive move, pulling Shi Lei and Su Yue to his side and turning to run.

The scene before them had far surpassed their ability to handle. That was a Third-Order Demonic Beast, its strength comparable to a powerful cultivator in the higher echelons of the human world, the Origin Opening Realm!

However, just as they were about to escape the canyon's perimeter, Lin Xiao's steps suddenly halted.

His gaze was fixed on the depths of the underground chasm.

On his System panel, an unusual message was flashing with a brilliant golden light.

[System Notification: Discovered a Heaven and Earth Treasure - Earth Core Body Tempering Milk (Nascent Stage)]

[Item Description: A spiritual treasure of heaven and earth, nurtured by the essence of the earth over a thousand years. It possesses miraculous effects of cleansing the marrow and transforming the body. It is an ultimate treasure coveted by Body Refinement Realm cultivators!]