Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor

"Thank you, Young Master Ling." The new students who received the Spirit Fruits thanked Ling Fei.

"You're welcome," Ling Fei said to the group. "But with your current cultivation, it's no longer suitable for you to press on. Even if you did, it would defeat the purpose of this training expedition." At this point, a large number of Innate Realm Demon Beasts had begun to appear. If these students continued forward, they would only be a burden.

Besides, a true training expedition required one to experience life-and-death situations firsthand. Just tagging along behind the senior students would render it meaningless.

"Don't worry, Brother Fei," Wu Dapang said. "After we consume these Spirit Fruits, we'll just stick to this area and won't go any further."

Even on a training expedition, they knew their limits. Advancing recklessly wasn't training; it was suicide.

Only by practicing on Demon Beasts of a similar strength could they truly hone themselves.

"That's for the best." Ling Fei nodded slightly.

After that, the group began to rest.

Some students started setting up a fire pit to cook the flesh of the Demon Python they had just slain.

Meanwhile, Wu Dapang and the others began consuming their Spirit Fruits, preparing to break through to the Innate Realm.

They had been at the stage of Ninth Layer Body Tempering Perfection for a long time.

Moreover, their studies at Celestial River Academy had given them an incredibly deep understanding of Martial Arts.

All they lacked now was a catalyst.

This Cyan Rattan Spirit Fruit was nurtured by the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi. Not only did it contain immense Essence Qi that could help one break through their shackles and connect to their Pill Sea, but it could also help one comprehend the Mystical of Heaven and Earth, thereby stepping into the Innate Realm. Of course, if one's aptitude was truly abysmal, a single Spirit Fruit wouldn't be enough to help.

When the Demon Python's flesh was cooked and the seasonings were added, a rich aroma filled the air. A hazy mist swirled within the pot.

This was dense Heaven and Earth Essence Qi that the Demon Python had absorbed into its flesh, a portion of which was now being released.

One could say that the flesh of an Innate Realm Demon Python was a great supplement for Innate Realm Cultivators.

As for those in the Body Tempering Realm, if their physique wasn't strong enough, they could easily be overwhelmed and burst from the immense energy.

The flesh of a Celestial Spirit Realm Demon Python, however, was not something an Innate Realm Cultivator could consume recklessly unless they first refined the residual Gang Qi within it.

Two hours later, the Essence Qi in the area suddenly erupted, and a powerful aura burst forth.

'An eruption of Essence Qi... Could someone be breaking through?!' At this, Ling Fei and the others immediately followed the fluctuations they sensed.

Sure enough, among the crowd seated on the ground, a powerful momentum was surging from one of the new students.

The surrounding airflow stirred as dense Essence Qi was drawn toward him.

"Heh, this kid is about to step into the Innate Realm." Seeing this, the senior students smiled, understanding the situation at a glance.

They were happy to see their juniors achieve a breakthrough.

After all, without stepping into the Innate Realm, one was ultimately just an ordinary Martial Artist.

Only by reaching the Innate Realm could one be called a Cultivator and venture into the deeper domains of Martial Arts.

An hour later, another person broke through.

"Let's rest here for the day," Ling Fei suggested.

"Alright!" The others nodded in agreement.

These new students needed someone to stand guard while they were breaking through. It would be troublesome if some Innate Realm Demon Beasts showed up while no one was watching over them.

As time passed, more and more people broke through to the Innate Realm.

Finally, a powerful momentum erupted from Wu Dapang, who was seated cross-legged.

Then, Heaven and Earth Essence Qi was drawn toward him.

He had clearly stepped into the Innate Realm.

"Haha, I, Wu Dapang, have finally reached the Innate Realm! When I get back to Longtan Town, I can marry lots and lots of beautiful women!" After breaking through, Wu Dapang opened his eyes, a fiery glint flashing within them. The fat student wore a smile so sleazy it was hard to look at.

'This guy...' Hearing his words, many of the people nearby rolled their eyes.

'A dignified Cultivator, and this is his only ambition?'

"Get lost. The beauties of Longtan Town are naturally mine," Huang Liang said scornfully from the side.

He had also broken through to the Innate Realm.

THWACK!

But just as Huang Liang finished speaking, he received a sharp rap on the head.

"You worthless brat! I worked my tail off guiding your cultivation, and all you can think about is marrying a few pretty girls?" Huang Xiaoman glared at him as she spoke.

"Sis, I was just thinking about continuing the Huang Family's bloodline," Huang Liang said with an aggrieved look after being hit by his sister.

Even after breaking through to the Innate Realm, he was still filled with awe and fear for his older sister.

Seeing this, everyone chuckled. They were already quite familiar with Huang Xiaoman's temper.

However, if Huang Xiaoman hadn't been so strict, Huang Liang wouldn't have been able to reach the Innate Realm so quickly.

For that reason, they rather admired Huang Xiaoman.

Shangguan Qingmu, in particular, found himself growing even more fond of Huang Xiaoman as he watched her act this way.

'A woman like her is so much more genuine than those self-proclaimed noble young ladies from the great clans.'

After that, people continued to break through one after another.

...

「The next morning.」

By now, a total of twenty-nine new students had broken through to the Innate Realm.

The remaining twenty-one were still one step away; they needed to continue accumulating experience and insights.

Still, for them, this trip had already been a massive gain.

Soon, everyone got up and formed ranks.

"Alright, you all should conduct your training in this area. Remember to be careful with everything. After all, you've only just stepped into the Innate Realm, so your foundations are still shallow," Ling Fei said to the group. It was now time for them to part ways.

"Okay!" These students all nodded, having no intention of pressing forward anyway.

"In that case, take care," Ling Fei said, looking at Wu Dapang.

"Don't worry, Brother Fei. We'll all be careful," Wu Dapang replied.

Although they had all just reached the Innate Realm, their strength was in their numbers. They could still manage to get around in this region.

"Sis, you take care!" Huang Liang said. "Ling Fei, you have to look after my sister, or I'm not done with you!"

Although the boy was terrified of his sister, he was also very concerned for her safety.

"Just worry about yourself," Ling Fei said, rendered speechless.

And so, after a final farewell, the groups went their separate ways.

Ling Fei's group continued deeper into the mountain range.

However, as they advanced, they began to encounter many Innate Realm Demon Beasts, with no shortage of those at the Mid Stage of Innate.

Likewise, the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essences also became more abundant.

Not only were they honing their skills in battle against the Demon Beasts, but their rewards were also plentiful.

They pressed on, eventually traveling eight hundred li deep into the mountains.

By this time, nine days had passed since they entered the ancient ruins.

The deeper they went, the more difficult it became to advance.

This was because, in addition to Demon Beasts, dangerous areas like poisonous miasmas and swamps began to appear.

Several senior students who had not yet reached the Late Stage of Innate had already been forced to turn back, unable to endure the conditions.

The miasma was volatile and malevolent. Once inhaled, it would invade a person's meridians and flesh, and could only be expelled with True Qi.

However, using large amounts of True Qi to suppress and expel the miasma would inevitably affect an Innate Realm Cultivator's combat strength.

Continuing like this, advancing recklessly would only lead them into danger.

After they had been advancing through the mountains for ten days, only nineteen people were left in the group.

The rest had all retreated, not daring to go any further.

...

BANG!

One day, a huge crash echoed from the mountain forest in front of a ravine.

Within the forest, human figures flickered amidst the roars of massive beasts. Terrifying shockwaves ravaged the area, causing giant trees to topple one after another.

ROAR!

A Red-Eyed Giant Bear swept forward with its enormous paw. The paw was massive, its claws as sharp as blades. A fierce wind rose in its wake, and ancient trees seven feet in diameter snapped at its touch. A violent demonic aura raged from its huge paw.

These were clearly Innate Realm Demon Beasts.

KILL!

A low shout rang out from the giant forest on the mountainside.

Ling Fei, Shangguan Qingmu, Shangguan Yurou, and the others could be seen charging with their Long Swords toward the onrushing Red-Eyed Giant Bears.

Wherever their Long Swords reached, blood splattered.

However, the giant bears were incredibly ferocious. If a single strike failed to kill one, it would retaliate with a frenzy of attacks, a terrifying rage that chilled one to the bone.

"Sword Qi Silk!" Ling Fei's Long Sword moved with ease, and the deep words came from his lips.

SWISH!

As his Long Sword shot out, the Sword Qi became like silk, piercing through the weakest point of a nine-foot-tall giant bear's defense: its abdomen.

Then, the Cold Dao Sword Qi surged inside, gradually locking the Red-Eyed Giant Bear's bloodline and True Qi in an Ice Seal.

With that, the giant bear's combat power plummeted, and it let out a pained howl.

DIE!

Seizing the opportunity, Ling Fei dealt it another fatal blow.

The Sword Qi flashed, directly piercing the giant bear's heart.

THUD!

And just like that, the giant bear collapsed like a mountain, making the very ground tremble.

Ling Fei's Sword Qi was sharp; with every strike, he would injure a Red-Eyed Giant Bear. This was not only due to his immense strength but also the huge role played by his Cold Chi True Qi.

Take Shangguan Qingmu, for example. Although his Sword Momentum was also incredibly sharp, rendering the Red-Eyed Giant Bears unable to withstand a single blow, if his strike failed to be fatal, the injured bear would retaliate with even greater ferocity.

In this way, facing the frenzied assault of dozens of Red-Eyed Giant Bears, it was easy to be attacked from all sides.

"Why are there so many Late Innate Stage Realm Red-Eyed Giant Bears on this mountainside?!" Mu Xue and the others frowned, their faces grave.

There were only nineteen of them.

Yet, sixty-eight Red-Eyed Giant Bears were charging at them, and in the short time they had been fighting, they had only managed to slay thirteen.

If the battle dragged on, the situation would become extremely dire.

Ling Fei's expression was also grave.

Although his combat power was impressive, among their group, Huang Xiaoman, Gu Xiaomi, and others were only at the Late Stage of Innate, not yet at the Perfection Realm.

Shangguan Yurou, in particular, was only at the Innate Mid Stage Realm. A single moment of carelessness could lead to her being injured by the giant bears.

In a situation like this, getting injured would be a disaster.

'If more Demon Beasts arrive from the forest ahead, our situation will be extremely grim.' Ling Fei's gaze hardened, and he released his Heart Spirit.

His Heart Spirit was released, transforming into Spiritual Sense that drifted through the mountain forest, sensing the situation in all directions so he could better assess their predicament.

But when Ling Fei's Heart Spirit reached its destination, his brow furrowed tightly.

'Liu Yuan, Liu Ming!' On the mountainside in the forest ahead, several young men were looking down at the group fighting in the woods below.

And who could these people be, if not Liu Yuan, Liu Ming, Wang Dongyang, and their men?