"Fang Yang is incredibly powerful. In this assessment, besides a scant few individuals whose cultivation surpasses his, no one else even comes close."

Lin Yan flicked open the peach blossom fan in his hand, a confident smile on his face. "Plus, his combat prowess is astonishing. With his Golden Tai Chi Diagram that suppresses everything, it’s only natural that everyone is afraid of him."

As Lin Shenghuang’s younger kinsman, Lin Yan had studied Fang Yang extensively.

Furthermore, Fang Yang’s earlier display of the Fire Domain Skill had been a real eye-opener, leaving him deeply wary.

Erzhu Yao sighed in resignation upon hearing this. "We’re still fighting for a place on the Human Ranking, but Fang Yang is already a Tier Four cultivator. He’s completely left the Human Ranking competition behind to vie for a spot on the Earth Ranking. It’s no wonder everyone is so intimidated by a gap that large."

Erzhu Yao was a prodigy of the Erzhu Race, as well as Minghai Nanyu’s older cousin.

He knew very well how vast the gap was between the Human Ranking and the Earth Ranking.

Anyone who wasn’t a fool would make the smart choice.

The lamplight flickered over a table laden with sumptuous dishes.

At that moment, listening to the two of them speak, Minghai Nanyu bit her lip, feeling rather indignant.

Just then, Lin Yan snapped his peach blossom fan shut.

His handsome face held a faint smile. "The race for supremacy isn’t won in a day," he said. "Right now, our most pressing task is to climb to the top of the Human Ranking, and perhaps even seize a fateful opportunity..."

Lin Yan proactively suggested a plan, his intention being to take Minghai Nanyu to the Frost-Condensing Illusory Sea to find an opportunity.

He thought himself the picture of elegant, nonchalant grace, but while Minghai Nanyu gave a slight nod, her eyes held a flicker of hidden contempt.

Minghai Nanyu was no naive, sheltered young miss. She knew what kind of person Lin Yan was—utterly greedy and lecherous.

Using his status as a young master of the Golden Clan, he had cheated countless women of their innocence. There were even rumors that he had murdered a subordinate to steal his wife—his depravity knew no bounds.

’And now this Lin Yan actually wants to win my heart? Heh, dream on!’

"The Frost-Condensing Illusory Sea..." Erzhu Yao’s brow furrowed.

Erzhu Yao would rather go to the Cyan Lotus Volcano Range, for his ancestors had foretold that a great opportunity would manifest in that area.

That opportunity was directly related to the Soul Dao, and as a Soul Dao cultivator, he had no desire to go to the Frost-Condensing Illusory Sea.

...

That day, the sky was a vast, cloudless expanse of brilliant blue.

Students, one after another, embarked on their journeys, heading straight for Peach Blossom Island.

"I wonder if Fang Yang will even show up," Dongfang Xuezhi mused aloud.

Her words immediately made Dongfang Moran, Qing Mang, and Lin Tianxue turn to look at her.

Knowing their own strength was lacking, the four of them had teamed up to travel together.

Dongfang Moran said, "His cultivation is at Tier Four Elementary, and he’s the Changkong clan’s First Martial King, a prodigy not seen in a millennium. Whether he participates in this or not, he’s bound to land on the Earth Ranking."

Qing Mang added, "Heh, while the rest of us are still fighting to get on the Human Ranking, he’s already transcended our generation."

Lin Tianxue remained silent, merely urging the others to keep moving.

’Back then, she’d obtained the True Blood of the Vermilion Bird in that cavern. She’d thought her destiny and luck were peerless, that she would surely leave Fang Yang in the dust.’

’But she never expected that it would also get her targeted by the Muri clan, forcing her to spend time recuperating from her injuries.’

’And in that time, Fang Yang had only continued to advance by leaps and bounds, leaving *her* far behind instead!’

A heavy sigh escaped her.

In this Dragon Cry Assessment, some formed alliances and traveled in groups, while others went as lone wolves.

Those not participating in the Dragon Cry Assessment watched from a distance as one renowned prodigy after another took the stage, their hearts filled with emotion.

"I wonder who will rise to prominence on the Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings this time, shocking everyone with their skill."

The crowd murmured, filled with curiosity and anticipation.

...

「Meanwhile.」

「At the edge of the Ancient Forest.」

Clad in white battle armor, Fang Yang sat astride his Small Frost Horse. With his White Feathered Eagle released to the skies, he began his journey with an air of ease.

The Small Frost Horse had now reached the Tier Two Elementary realm and even possessed two major bloodline spells, the Wind Chasing Skill and the Burning Flame Skill.

It was now capable of fighting alongside Fang Yang in minor skirmishes.

’Ancient Forest, the Cyan Lotus Volcano Range, Hunshun River, the Frost-Condensing Illusory Sea, Wujiang River, and Peach Blossom Island.’

Fang Yang mentally recited the names of the six mystical realms.

This was his planned itinerary.

THUMP, THUMP...

The Frost Horse galloped forward, the rushing wind whipping through Fang Yang’s hair.

Fang Yang’s gaze was serene as he kept a firm grip on their direction.

Perhaps relishing the rare chance to fight alongside its master, the Small Frost Horse galloped with a boldness that replaced its usual timidity.

High above, the White Feathered Eagle beat its powerful wings, scouting the surroundings and ready to relay information at a moment’s notice.

’To ride a horse, wield a spear, and fly a hawk...’ Fang Yang mused to himself.

’Hadn’t he once dreamed of this very scenario?’

As the Ancient Forest loomed closer, the White Feathered Eagle suddenly let out a piercing shriek—a warning.

"SKREEE..."

The Small Frost Horse slowed its pace as Fang Yang narrowed his eyes.

The next moment, a colossal, blood-red bear emerged from the dim thicket.

A Blood-tooth Bear!

The Blood-tooth Bear was covered in crimson fur that rippled in the breeze, making it look as though liquid blood was flowing over its body.

These bears are cruel by nature, with a thirst for blood. It was a relatively rare Blood Dao Fierce Beast.

When injured, it enters a "berserk" state, capable of inflicting massive casualties on its enemies.

’Tier Four... or maybe even approaching Tier Five?’

Fang Yang’s gaze remained calm. ’But what’s more surprising is that a Blood-tooth Bear would appear here. So this is what the Thunder Saint Academy is like...’

As the thought crossed his mind, phantoms of scorching flames erupted from thin air around him, spreading rapidly and forming what looked like layer upon layer of a Fire Realm.

The sudden eruption of eerie flames made the Blood-tooth Bear freeze, its instincts screaming of death.

With a furious roar, the Blood-tooth Bear slammed its paws into the ground, summoning a river of blood that surged forth to engulf the illusory Fire Realm.

Then, using the power of the blood river as cover, the bear decisively turned and fled in a blind panic.

The Small Frost Horse raised its head slightly, snorting a puff of white vapor.

It knew that the big red bear had no chance of escape.

And just as it expected, the moment the phantoms of the Fire Realm touched the river of blood, they instantly set it ablaze, sending a torrent of fire rolling through the thicket.

A single spark landing on the fleeing Blood-tooth Bear was enough to sear the flesh from its bones, incinerating it completely to ash.

’...What a pity.’

Fang Yang was silent. He had forgotten to leave the Blood-tooth Bear’s corpse intact.

Fortunately, he hadn’t used his Sea of Thunder skill.

His Fire Domain Skill, with its Eighteen Layers of Fire Realm phantoms, allowed for gradual power adjustment.

His Sea of Thunder skill, on the other hand, only had its light and dark seas, and amplified by the Yimu Saint Spear—a Thunder Dao Sacred Artifact—its power was simply too terrifying.

If he had used the Sea of Thunder, the Blood-tooth Bear would have been vaporized in an instant!

「A short while later.」

At Fang Yang’s urging, the Small Frost Horse trotted across the scorched earth, heading straight for the Cyan Lotus Volcano Range.

As dusk fell, they finally arrived near the main peak of the Cyan Lotus Volcano Range.

Fang Yang found a place to lie low, settling in to quietly wait for sunrise.

「Meanwhile.」

「In the Ancient Forest.」

HISS...

Staring at the horribly scorched earth, Erzhu Yao couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath. "Who could possibly obliterate a Blood-tooth Bear in a single blow? Was it Fang Yang? Or someone from Black Tower City?"

The more he thought about it, the more his hair stood on end.

He had been traveling with extreme caution, terrified of attracting the attention of a powerful Fierce Beast. That was the only reason his progress had been so slow.

He let out a long breath.

After composing himself, he silently pressed on toward the Cyan Lotus Volcano Range.

He could only hope that this mysterious and powerful cultivator hadn’t decided to linger at the Cyan Lotus Volcano Range.