A Thousand Griffins

Several instructors gathered inside a spacious carriage, the atmosphere somewhat grim.

Old Man Mo tapped the table with his withered fingers and said in a deep voice.

"Have you all examined him just now?"

"That boy named Jiang Donghua is clearly already a Two-star Dou Master."

Jade Flute Instructor toyed with the jade flute in his hand and chuckled.

"Crazy Yan really struck gold this time. Who would have thought a small place like Black Iron City could produce such talent?"

"Impossible!"

An instructor in blue robes slammed his palm onto the table and rose to his feet.

"Black Iron City lacks resources. It does not even have a proper Cultivation Method Pavilion. How could it possibly..."

"The facts are right before us."

Old Man Mo narrowed his cloudy eyes slightly.

"That boy's foundation is absurdly solid. Even I cannot find a single flaw in how refined his Dou Qi is."

The expressions of the instructors all turned unpleasant at those words.

They had all carefully selected talented students from various cities. They had thought the competition for Yellow-grade Class Instructor positions was certain to be theirs, only for Yan Feng to emerge halfway through.

No one had expected that such a rundown place really had a Dou Zhe.

Old Man Mo snorted heavily.

"It seems Crazy Yan intends to get involved in the Yellow-grade Class Instructor positions this time as well."

The instructors looked at one another, each seeing unwillingness in the others' eyes.

Although the students they had brought included several Dou Zhes, Two-star Dou Masters with foundations as solid as Jiang Donghua's were indeed rare.

"Tomorrow's trial will show whether this boy is truly the real deal!"

One instructor gritted his teeth.

In the distance, Yan Feng leaned against an ancient tree. Seeing the grim faces of the instructors, he could not help but grin.

"Heh heh, old geezers, let's see how you can keep acting so smug this time!"

He tipped back his head and took a swig of wine, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

This time, Crazy Yan would finally hold his head high!

As the eastern sky began to pale, clear eagle cries suddenly rang out above mist-shrouded Peace Town.

"Screech—"

The piercing calls tore through the sky. Then, one massive Griffin after another soared from Jia Nan Academy's beast-taming grounds!

These Griffins were enormous. Their wingspans stretched nearly thirty zhang, and their bodies were covered in golden-brown feathers that gleamed like metal beneath the morning light.

Their heads resembled eagles', their sharp beaks curved like blades, and their golden vertical pupils radiated fierce savagery.

Yet their bodies were as sturdy as lions', with thick, powerful limbs and sharp claws capable of easily tearing apart rock.

Most eye-catching of all was their aura.

Every Griffin emitted pressure comparable to that of a Da Dou Shi, while the several dozen leading them had even reached the Dou Ling level!

The gales raised by their beating wings made even the houses of Peace Town tremble faintly.

"Is everything ready?"

A Jia Nan Academy Elder in green robes stood at the highest point, his voice rolling across the entire area like thunder.

"Reporting to Elder, all one thousand Griffins are in position!"

The Beast Tamers below responded in unison.

The elder nodded in satisfaction and waved a hand.

"Depart! Head to the Black Corner Region Great Plains and collect the new students!"

"Screech—!"

Over a thousand Griffins cried out together, their voices shaking the heavens!

Their enormous wings flapped simultaneously, and the storm they stirred sent sand and stones flying across the ground.

In the blink of an eye, this terrifying aerial force became a golden torrent speeding toward the Black Corner Region!

On the wastelands of the Black Corner Region, a group of vicious-looking bandits hid behind rocks, greed flickering in their eyes.

As they looked up at the Griffin flock blotting out the sky, their throats bobbed unconsciously.

"Boss, if we could catch just one..."

A scar-faced man licked his lips.

"That would be worth hundreds of thousands of gold coins!"

"Shut up!"

The One-eyed Strongman at their head let out a low roar, staring fixedly at the sky.

The Griffin flock swept past overhead, the wild winds it raised sending dust flying everywhere.

At the very front of the flock, several figures stood suspended in the air, their auras as unfathomable as the abyss!

"Those are... Jia Nan Academy's vice deans?"

Someone spoke in a trembling voice.

"Six Peak Dou Wangs..."

A trace of fear flashed through the One-eyed Strongman's lone eye.

Then his pupil suddenly contracted!

At the center of the Griffin flock stood a burly figure with his hands behind his back. Faint lightning flickered around him, and merely standing there, he seemed to freeze the entire sky!

"Lei Tian..."

The One-eyed Strongman's voice was dry as sandpaper.

"That old monster came in person..."

The surroundings instantly fell silent.

Lei Tian, Dean of the Outer Court of Jia Nan Academy, an unrivaled powerhouse with one foot in the Dou Zong realm!

In the Black Corner Region, that name alone was enough to make even the most vicious bandits flee in terror!

"Retreat!"

The One-eyed Strongman turned around without hesitation.

"Back to the Blood Wolf Gang!"

"But, Boss..."

"If you want to die, go by yourself!"

The One-eyed Strongman roared without looking back.

"I haven't lived long enough yet!"

The same scene played out throughout the Black Corner Region.

The forces that had originally been eager to make a move all lost their nerve the instant they saw Lei Tian, slinking back to their lairs in disgrace.

In the sky, Lei Tian seemed to sense something and casually swept his gaze over the ground below.

"Hmph."

That soft snort rang out like a thunderclap!

Several scouts hiding in the shadows immediately vomited blood and staggered backward.

"Dean, why bother with such minor characters?"

One vice dean said with a smile.

Lei Tian's gaze was profound.

"The Black Corner Region... must be cleaned out sooner or later."

The Griffin flock continued onward without further obstruction.

The enormous Griffin flock in the sky gradually dispersed, with only twenty or thirty diving toward the camp where Yan Feng was stationed.

The giant beasts' spread wings stirred up fierce winds. Their sharp eagle eyes swept over the crowd below as deep growls rolled from their throats.

"Screech—"

The leading Griffin landed first, its sharp claws sinking deeply into the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Its golden-brown feathers gleamed like armor, and its fierce aura made several youths who had not yet entered the Dou Zhe realm turn pale and unconsciously retreat a few steps.

"Don't panic!"

Yan Feng shouted lowly. Crimson Dou Qi erupted around him, forming a barrier that shielded the students behind him.

The other instructors also released their Dou Qi, surrounding their students to resist the natural killing intent of these magical beasts.

"So these are Jia Nan Academy's Griffins?"

Liu Yuting hid behind Yan Feng's Dou Qi barrier, her large eyes full of astonishment.

"They're even fiercer than the rumors said..."

Jiang Donghua stood at the front of the crowd, calmly studying the giant beasts.

He could sense that every one of these Griffins was comparable to a Five-Star Great Fighter, while the leader had even reached the Dou Ling level.

"The last batch of students, mount up!"

A Jia Nan Academy steward standing on a Griffin's back shouted loudly.

"Remember, no noise and no provoking the mounts!"

Several children of prominent clans wore bitter expressions.

They had thought they would return to the academy in style atop Griffins. Instead, the aura of these fierce beasts alone made their legs go weak.

Lin Xiuyuan forced himself forward. Just as he was about to leap onto a Griffin, the giant beast suddenly turned its head, its sharp eagle eyes stabbing toward him and startling him into a stagger.

"Pfft—"

Liu Yuting could not stop herself from laughing, then quickly covered her mouth.

Jiang Donghua shook his head, then lightly leaped onto a Griffin's back.

The Griffin was just about to fly into a rage when it suddenly sensed an extremely pure pressure from Dou Qi. Its savagery immediately subsided, and it obediently stood still.

Several instructors raised their brows at the sight.

"Did you all see that?"

"That is what true strength looks like."

Jade Flute Instructor said with a soft laugh.

Yan Feng smugly stroked his beard and waved a large hand.

"Get on your mounts, all of you! Don't embarrass me!"

As the last student tremblingly climbed onto a Griffin's back.

The group finally took to the sky and sped toward Jia Nan Academy.