Wild Trial

A month later, the wild trial began as scheduled. Led by Su Wan, the students of Class A boarded specially prepared flying exotic beasts and arrived at the "Black Wind Ridge" trial zone on the outskirts of the capital.

Black Wind Ridge was an intermediate trial zone, where large numbers of Body Tempering Realm and Martial Master Realm exotic beasts lurked. There were even a few Catastrophe-level Exotic Beasts, making it extremely dangerous. The trial mission was to survive for seven days inside Black Wind Ridge, with each group required to slay at least ten Body Tempering Realm exotic beasts and one Martial Master Realm exotic beast, collecting their Inner Cores as proof.

Fang Yan and Chu Feng were assigned to the same group. Carrying their respective weapons, the two cautiously entered Black Wind Ridge.

"Let's find a concealed place to set up camp first, then slowly search for exotic beasts," Chu Feng suggested. Although he had lost to Fang Yan before, he was clearly more experienced when it came to wilderness survival.

Fang Yan nodded. "Good idea."

The two found a cave in a dense forest. After clearing out the debris inside, they set up some basic defensive fortifications.

"I'll scout the area. You stay here and guard the camp," Chu Feng said. He then used his movement technique and soon vanished into the forest.

Fang Yan sat inside the cave and circulated the Extreme Ice Prison Art, recovering the qi and blood he had expended on the journey. At the same time, he recalled the insights into spear technique intent that Mentor Qin Feng had given him, constantly honing his own spear technique.

Before long, Chu Feng returned, his expression somewhat grave. "The situation isn't good. I found a large number of exotic beast tracks to the east. It looks like they're about to form a Beast Tide."

"A Beast Tide?" Fang Yan's heart jolted. "How large is it?"

"At least a hundred beasts, including quite a few Martial Master Realm exotic beasts." Chu Feng's voice was heavy. "We'd better leave as soon as possible. Otherwise, once we're surrounded by the Beast Tide, we'll be in trouble."

Fang Yan had just begun to nod when he suddenly heard a dense wave of footsteps and roars from outside the cave.

"It's too late. They're already here!" Chu Feng's expression changed. He immediately drew his Folding Fan and prepared for battle.

Fang Yan also tightened his grip on the Ink Ice Spear and warily watched the cave entrance.

Soon, a massive "Black Wind Bear" appeared at the cave entrance first. Its qi and blood had reached 3.2, already placing it in the early Martial Master Realm. Behind it followed dozens of "Black Wind Wolves," all at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm.

"Kill!"

The Black Wind Bear roared and swung its enormous paw, smashing it toward the inside of the cave.

"Watch out!"

Fang Yan shouted in a low voice and suddenly charged out of the cave. The Ink Ice Spear shot forward, its tip condensing a gigantic phantom of an ice dragon.

Ice Soul Spear Technique: Ice Dragon Roar!

The ice dragon phantom collided with the Black Wind Bear's paw, unleashing a deafening boom. The Black Wind Bear felt an enormous force surge from its paw, shaking it backward again and again.

Chu Feng seized the opportunity to attack as well. His Folding Fan opened, firing dozens of silver needles that precisely struck the eyes of several Black Wind Wolves. The Black Wind Wolves let out agonized cries and collapsed to the ground, losing their ability to fight.

"I'll handle these Black Wind Wolves. You deal with that Black Wind Bear!" Chu Feng shouted.

"Got it!"

Fang Yan answered and charged at the Black Wind Bear again. Though injured, the Black Wind Bear remained ferocious. It opened its maw and spewed out a black pillar of wind, shooting it toward Fang Yan.

Fang Yan used the Wind-Treading Steps and nimbly dodged the wind pillar. At the same time, he circulated the Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger, sending an ice-blue finger force shooting toward the Black Wind Bear's eye.

"Pfft!"

The finger force struck the Black Wind Bear's left eye with pinpoint accuracy. The Black Wind Bear let out a shrill howl and went completely berserk. Ignoring its injuries, it frenziedly lunged toward Fang Yan.

Fang Yan's gaze sharpened. He released the full force of the Extreme Ice Prison Art's inner power. The chill around the Ink Ice Spear grew denser and denser, and the shaft even began to freeze over.

Ice Soul Spear Technique: Ice Sealing Ten Thousand Miles!

Fang Yan shouted in a low voice and thrust his spear forward. Torrential chill burst from the shaft, forming a gigantic phantom of an ice spear that crushed toward the Black Wind Bear.

This strike gathered all the inner power in his body as well as the essence of the Ice Soul Spear Technique. Its might far exceeded that of his previous attacks.

Though the Black Wind Bear had gone berserk, it still sensed the lethal threat. It tried to dodge, but the chill had frozen its body stiff.

"Pfft!"

The phantom ice spear slammed solidly into the Black Wind Bear, sending it flying backward. It crashed heavily onto the ground, spat out a mouthful of blood, and never moved again.

[Ding! The host has slain the early Martial Master Realm exotic beast Black Wind Bear while exceeding his level. System rewards obtained: Martial Master Realm Qi and Blood Pill x1, Ice Soul Spear Technique proficiency +30%, new skill "Ice Spear Thrust" unlocked.]

The system notification rang out in Fang Yan's mind, filling him with delight. He had never expected that slaying a Martial Master Realm exotic beast would yield such generous rewards!

By then, Chu Feng had also dealt with the Black Wind Wolves. He looked at the Black Wind Bear's corpse on the ground, then at Fang Yan, admiration showing in his eyes. "Fang Yan, you're incredible. This Black Wind Bear was at the early Martial Master Realm, yet you managed to slay it so quickly."

Fang Yan smiled. "We're teammates. We just worked together."

At that moment, even denser roars came from the distance. Clearly, more exotic beasts were rushing toward them.

"This is bad. The Beast Tide really is here!" Chu Feng's expression changed dramatically.

Fang Yan also furrowed his brows. He could sense that the number of exotic beasts coming this time was far greater than before, and their strength was greater as well.

"We can't fight them head-on. We have to leave as quickly as possible," Fang Yan said.

Chu Feng nodded. "I know a path that can get us out of Black Wind Ridge quickly. Let's go!"

The two did not dare delay. They immediately gathered their things and ran toward the path Chu Feng had mentioned. The roars behind them drew closer and closer, leaving them no room to stop.

As they ran, Fang Yan checked the newly acquired skill "Ice Spear Thrust" in his mind. It was an extremely fierce single-target attack that could condense inner power at the spear tip and erupt in an instant, possessing astonishing penetrating power.

"With this move, my strength has increased quite a bit again." Fang Yan thought to himself.

He knew that this wild trial was probably even more dangerous than they had imagined. But he was confident that, relying on his own strength and Chu Feng's cooperation, they would definitely complete the trial mission successfully—and might even obtain more system rewards.