Chapter 725: Hunting Begins

“Teacher Zhang, don’t forget our bet. Whoever gets a higher score wins!”

Seeing everyone quickly ascend the mountain, Brother Yu couldn't hold back. He turned to Zhang Xuan, sneered, and along with Feng Wu, quickly rushed up the mountain as well.

“Let’s go too!”

Seeing everyone depart, Zhang Xuan glanced at Luo Xuan, Young Master Ruohuan, and the others behind him before speaking.

Renowned teachers like Teacher Hong, who were seeing them off, were not allowed to enter the freshman assessment grounds and could only observe from outside. Therefore, the rest was up to them.

“Yes!”

Luo Xuan and the others nodded.

“Let’s go that way!”

Knowing that everyone now looked to him for guidance, Zhang Xuan didn’t hesitate. He surveyed his surroundings, his eyes landing on a long, narrow valley, and he led the way.

The renowned teachers from the Phantom Feather Empire, who were there for the assessment, followed closely.

Thunderfall Peak was not only steep but also vast, covered with countless ravines, passages, rocks, and vegetation. Though there were 30,000 people, they seemed insignificant when spread across such an enormous mountain.

The passage Zhang Xuan chose was sparsely populated, with few people present.

Even the weakest members of the group had reached the peak of the Turbid Clear realm, making their speed exceptionally fast. Within ten minutes, they had entered the forest.

Dense vegetation obscured the sun, and the entire mountain range emanated a chilling atmosphere.

The forest was quiet and still, utterly silent. It was unclear if the animals and birds had been driven away by earlier entrants or if they had hidden themselves, aware of the many renowned teachers hunting, creating a desolate, lifeless atmosphere.

“Teacher Zhang, which way should we go?”

After walking for a while, they hadn't seen a single spirit beast, or even a strand of animal fur. Luo Xuan and the others couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

“Thunderfall Peak is vast, and spirit beasts aren't easy to find if they hide. But don't worry, I'm a beast tamer, and I've already discovered some tracks...”

Zhang Xuan smiled faintly.

Apart from his identity as a renowned teacher, he was also a beast tamer proficient in beast language. Although the forest appeared empty and devoid of life, it couldn't deceive a beast tamer's eyes.

Furthermore, he possessed the Eye of Insight.

If he truly wanted to find something, it couldn't escape, no matter how well it was hidden.

After walking a bit further, Zhang Xuan suddenly halted, signaling everyone to remain silent. With a flick of his wrist, a long sword appeared in his palm.

With a swift motion of his hand, a sword gleam slashed down onto the steep rock wall before them.

Everyone was puzzled as to why he would strike the rock when they heard a roar, followed by the rock shattering, and then a grey figure rushing straight out.

It was a Howling Wind Wolf, a spirit beast at the peak of the Transcendent Mortal 4-dan!

They hadn't expected the creature to be hidden inside the rock.

“I'll leave this to you. I'm going ahead to scout!”

Knowing that a spirit beast of this level posed no challenge to Luo Xuan and the others, Zhang Xuan didn't intervene. He pushed off the ground and swiftly surged forward.

This valley sloped upward, with steep rocks interspersed with dense vegetation. Lightly tapping his feet on the branches, he quickly covered seven or eight kilometers.

Zhang Xuan stopped, his brows furrowed.

“Are these tracks left by a group of beasts?”

Although the ground before him bore few obvious marks, his Eye of Insight revealed that a group of beasts had recently passed through.

“Green-backed Savage Bear, Iron-toothed Leopard, Southern Yellow Tiger, Golden-armed Iron Ape… This beast group consists of at least a dozen different types of spirit beasts, all of which have reached the Spirit Unification realm and are known for their speed!”

After observing for a while, he made a mental assessment.

Different types of spirit beasts left distinct traces; at a glance, he recognized at least a dozen species among the group that had passed.

These spirit beasts, normally hostile toward each other, were now moving together. This likely meant, as Elder Mi had previously stated, that they had united and were planning to ambush humans.

“Teacher Zhang…”

While he continued to observe, trying to discern where the spirit beasts had gone, Luo Xuan and the others caught up.

A spirit beast at the peak of the Turbid Clear realm was indeed no match for them, and they easily dispatched it.

However, given the large number of examinees in their group, killing only one or two spirit beasts of that level would be like trying to put out a bonfire with a teacup.

“Alright, everyone, keep your voices down. Let's go for a big score!”

Zhang Xuan smiled faintly.

Since at least a dozen Transcendent Mortal 5-dan spirit beasts had passed through this area, he naturally intended to find a way to eliminate them.

If they managed to eliminate them all, everyone's scores should be sufficient.

For any other team or alliance, even knowing there were a dozen Spirit Unification realm spirit beasts ahead, they likely wouldn't dare to charge. But he was different; his own strength had already reached the peak of the Transcendent Mortal 5-dan, making his combat power superior. Spirit Unification realm spirit beasts were trivial; if he wanted, he could slaughter them all by himself.

“Go for a big score?”

Everyone looked confused.

“Yes, based on my observations, a group of Spirit Unification realm spirit beasts passed by recently. If we eliminate them, our collective scores should be enough…” Zhang Xuan said with a soft smile.

“Spirit Unification realm spirit beasts?”

Everyone’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

A single early-stage Spirit Unification realm beast could earn ten points; five would be enough for everyone's scores.

As for the danger, didn't Teacher Zhang have a half-step 9-dan beast pet? If things got truly dangerous, its intervention would easily resolve the situation.

Ignoring their thoughts, Zhang Xuan moved swiftly, following the tracks ahead.

“Wait…”

He stopped shortly after.

“What's wrong?” Young Master Ruohuan asked, approaching him.

“There are traces of a formation being set up ahead, but no signs of a struggle…”

Zhang Xuan frowned.

“What do you mean?” everyone asked, confused.

“Traces of a formation mean someone set up an ambush here earlier! The absence of fighting indicates that this group of spirit beasts didn't fall for the trap and managed to avoid it in advance!”

“Spirit beasts are naturally sensitive to spiritual energy; perhaps they detected the formation and evaded it!”

Luo Xuan interjected.

Spirit beasts possess keener senses of smell and touch than humans, so it's not surprising they might detect a formation in advance!

“This is a five-star Azure Firmament Illusion Array! It's renowned for its concealment; even a renowned teacher in the Spirit Unification realm might not be able to detect it if they passed by...”

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

It's not that simple.

Although the opposing formation had been removed, its traces remained. With his keen sight, he could fully discern the formation's type and grade from these remnants.

The Azure Firmament Array is renowned for its concealment; without using the Eye of Insight, even he would find it difficult to detect if he encountered it suddenly, let alone a group of spirit beasts!

He found it hard to believe that a group of spirit beasts only in the Spirit Unification realm could possess keener eyesight than his.

“Then what's going on?”

Upon hearing about the Azure Firmament Array, everyone's brows furrowed in confusion.

“I don't know either... Let's continue tracking them to find out!”

Zhang Xuan couldn't quite grasp what was happening, but there was no point dwelling on it. The tracks indicated the spirit beasts had passed recently, so continuing their pursuit should reveal the full story.

“Alright!”

Knowing his judgment was likely correct, everyone continued to follow him.

They continued forward, searching for tracks, and after another ten minutes, Zhang Xuan stopped once more.

“What is it now?” Seeing his expression, Young Master Ruohuan couldn't help but step forward.

“Someone passed through here just now and used a Crimson Blood Pill as bait, but... this group of spirit beasts still didn't fall for it and quietly departed...”

Zhang Xuan said, sniffing the lingering scent in the air.

“A Crimson Blood Pill?”

“Yes, a Level 5 pill. Spirit Unification realm spirit beasts simply can't refuse it...” Zhang Xuan grew increasingly puzzled.

While spirit beasts might refuse other items, a Crimson Blood Pill, once consumed, significantly enhances their bloodline, offering immense benefits. The fact that they could resist such a powerful lure was indeed strange.

Spirit beasts don't possess human-level intelligence; if they could always recognize and avoid traps, fewer would have been tamed by humans.

Avoiding a single formation might be a coincidence, but resisting the allure of a Crimson Blood Pill made the situation highly suspicious.

“Most importantly, both the person who set up the formation and the one who laid the Crimson Blood Pill as bait have vanished!”

Zhang Xuan continued.

“Vanished? Could they have been killed by the spirit beasts?”

Luo Xuan's pupils contracted.

A force capable of employing a Level 5 formation and peak Level 5 pills must be formidable. If so many individuals were killed, then their own group would likely struggle to resist if they encountered the same fate.

“No! If there had been a battle, there would certainly be traces. Even a group of Transcendent Mortal 8-dan or 9-dan spirit beasts would find it difficult to wipe out a team of renowned teachers in one swift action, let alone a group of Spirit Unification realm ones!”

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Those who came here for the assessment were all elites among renowned teachers, possessing respectable statuses and bright futures. Each of them certainly carried some life-saving methods.

Not to mention a dozen Spirit Unification realm spirit beasts, even several Transcendent Mortal 8-dan or 9-dan beasts couldn't possibly silently kill people without leaving the slightest trace.

“Then…” everyone murmured, bewildered.

“If my guess is correct, that group of people must have discovered the spirit beasts and quietly followed them...” Zhang Xuan stated his deduction.

“Followed them?”

“Yes, otherwise, the formation wouldn't have been dismantled so cleanly, the pills wouldn't have been taken, and no traces would have been left on the ground!” Zhang Xuan continued.

“Discovered the spirit beasts? That doesn't make sense. If the spirit beasts detected the humans in advance, they should have quietly slipped away. Allowing themselves to be tracked would be very dangerous, wouldn't it?”

Young Master Ruohuan, realizing the crucial detail, couldn't help but interject.

“It's precisely because of that I find it odd!” Zhang Xuan nodded.

Since this group of spirit beasts could detect the formation and human-laid traps in advance, they should have silently departed, unnoticed, to ensure their escape.

Yet now, not only had the first group of people discovered them, but a second group had too... It was as if they were deliberately leaving traces for others to find.

This fact demanded deeper thought.

“Let's continue to track them and see…”

Knowing that dwelling on the issue here wouldn't provide answers, Zhang Xuan located the spirit beasts' departure marks and resumed his pursuit.

Everyone followed closely behind him.

They soon walked for half an hour, making a large circle around the mountain. They had already discovered several human ambushes and even traces of fighting.

However, these marks were very simple, suggesting that the spirit beasts had encountered opponents, engaged in little combat, and then simply retreated.