After riding their horses for nearly two hours, they finally arrived at the outskirts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Normally, most people would head toward Qing Shan Town—the closest settlement to the range—before venturing inside. But Xiao Hai and Jia Xing Tian's purpose was not to hunt magical beasts; instead, they had come to temper themselves through training. For that reason, they chose a different path, one that most people deliberately avoided.
At a certain point, Jia Xing Tian pulled on the reins and came to a stop. Xiao Hai followed suit, halting his horse as well.
"From here on, you'll continue the journey alone," Jia Xing Tian said, his tone carrying a rare seriousness. He took out a storage ring and handed it to Xiao Hai. "Take this. Inside are rations enough for a month, a map of the mountain range, and several weapons you might need."
Xiao Hai accepted the ring and dismounted from his horse. Gazing ahead, his eyes met only an endless expanse of towering trees. Taking a deep breath, he steadied his mind and body, preparing himself for the battles to come.
"Thank you, Senior," Xiao Hai said with genuine gratitude as he turned toward Jia Xing Tian. Without lingering any longer, he faced the forest once more and strode forward without a hint of hesitation.
Watching Xiao Hai's determination and fearless steps, Jia Xing Tian's eyes revealed a flicker of approval. With a slight nod, his figure blurred and disappeared without leaving a trace. In the silent clearing, only the two horses remained.
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The Magical Beast Mountain Range was a vast, untamed wilderness—a natural habitat for countless species of magical beasts. From the outermost edges to its deepest heart, danger lurked within every shadow. The outer region was home to low-level beasts, but as one ventured deeper, the threats grew exponentially. Within the inner region roamed terrifying overlords, including an absolute behemoth—a Rank 6 magical beast. Even Rank 5 beasts could be found in great numbers, making the mountain range a place few dared to tread.
The strength of magical beasts was measured by rank. A Rank 1 beast possessed power comparable to that of a Dou Zhe practitioner, and from there, their might climbed all the way to Rank 10—the pinnacle of beast-kind. However, no Rank 10 magical beast was known to exist upon the Dou Qi Continent.
Yet, this did not make magical beasts any weaker than humans. On the contrary, they possessed their own natural advantages. Their lifespans far exceeded those of human practitioners, their physical strength and resilience were unmatched, and their instincts honed them into living weapons. All of these traits combined made them far more dangerous than most could ever imagine.
At the same time, these very qualities gave rise to human greed. Beyond their powerful bodies, many magical beasts carried within them a beast core—a crystallized essence of energy invaluable for refining pills and greatly coveted by alchemists. Some among them even harboured the rare Beast Flames, though not as powerful and mysterious as Heavenly Flame, but still helpful in fights and were of immense aid in the art of pill refinement.
Thus, even though magical beasts were perilous creatures, human practitioners still risked their lives to hunt them. The lure of beast cores and flames was simply too great. But Xiao Hai's purpose was different—his goal was not wealth, but tempering himself through real combat. For that, there was no better teacher than the magical beasts themselves. Unlike most, however, he had no need to join a mercenary team.
As he pressed onward, Xiao Hai's expression grew solemn. Every step into the forest was taken with focus and vigilance. He understood that even here, in the woodland connected to the outer reaches of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, danger awaited. Low-ranked magical beasts were certain to appear.
As time passed, Xiao Hai began to feel an unfamiliar fatigue creeping over him. For someone who had never experienced such exhaustion before, it was a shocking realization. After a moment of reflection, he understood the cause—his constant vigilance had forced him to remain overly focused, which in turn drained his spirit power far faster than expected.
Recognizing this, he halted his steps and chose a spot to rest. He had been walking for nearly an hour, yet not even a rabbit had appeared in his path.
Settling beneath the shade of a tree, Xiao Hai retrieved a water bag from the storage ring Jia Xing Tian had given him. After taking a few refreshing sips, he unfolded the map of the mountain range. Studying it carefully, he realized he was still some distance away from the true outer region of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Since nightfall would arrive in half a day's time, Xiao Hai decided to survey the surrounding area in search of a suitable place to spend the night.
After resting a few more minutes, he set out once again. His purpose here wasn't only to practice combat but also to temper himself in the art of survival. Every step, every choice, was part of that training.
As he searched, however, he noticed the forest growing unnervingly still. From the very beginning the woods had been quiet, but now the silence carried a different weight—an unnatural stillness that pressed against his senses, making the air itself feel eerie and oppressive.
Suddenly, as Xiao Hai advanced through the undergrowth, a chill shot down his spine. Every hair on his body stood on end, his instincts screaming of imminent danger. Without hesitation, he channelled all his energy into a swift sidestep.
Boom!
The ground behind him cracked as a massive serpent's tail slammed down, striking the exact spot he had stood a heartbeat earlier. Dirt and leaves scattered into the air, the sheer force of the blow leaving a deep mark on the earth.
Staring at the massive tail—its tip sharp like a spear—Xiao Hai drew in a steady breath.
"Looks like there's no avoiding this… we can only fight," he muttered under his breath.
The underbrush ahead rustled violently, and soon the beast revealed itself. A giant serpent slithered forth, its entire body sheathed in gleaming grey scales that glimmered beneath the dim forest light. Its cold eyes fixed on Xiao Hai with the same hunger a predator shows its prey.
Only then did Xiao Hai understand why the forest had been so unnaturally silent. The smaller animals weren't hiding—they had all been slaughtered by this serpent. Searching his memory, he quickly recalled what he had once read: this was a Rank 1 magical beast, the Grey-Scaled Serpent. Typically, such creatures dwelled deep within caves, emerging only to hunt before retreating again.
But the one before him was different. The feral glint in its eyes, the way it hissed as though starved—it was like staring at a ravenous ghost. Xiao Hai exhaled slowly, realizing a bitter truth: not everything written in books matched reality. Some lessons could only be learned through experience.
But instead of fear, Xiao Hai felt a surge of exhilaration course through him. From the day of his birth until now, he had never once experienced the thrill of true combat—not even a light spar. Yet as a member of the Xiao Clan, the spirit of battle flowed through his veins. Now, facing the serpent's murderous gaze, his own eyes blazed with unrestrained fighting intent. There was no trace of fear—only excitement.
"Haha! Since you see me as prey… then wouldn't it be fitting if I turned the tables and killed you instead?" Xiao Hai laughed, speaking not for the serpent but to steady his own boiling excitement.
The beast responded with a shrill, venomous hiss, its coiled body tightening like a drawn bowstring. Xiao Hai's lips curved into a sharp smile. With a flick of his wrist, he pulled a sword from the storage ring. The blade caught the faint light, gleaming coldly as he shifted into a battle stance.
"Come then," he growled, his voice low with anticipation. "Let's see who will fall first!"
With that, he kicked off the ground, sprinting straight toward the serpent.