Outside the Sect Affairs Hall.
Thud!
A finger and a fist clashed, causing a gust of wind and a disturbing noise that caught the attention of many people.
Nearby, Feng De and another man and woman watched in shock, involuntarily stepping back a few paces.
Psst! Psst!
Two figures collided momentarily before quickly separating.
Among them, Chen Yu retreated nearly ten feet, swaying slightly as his face flushed with a surge of blood and energy.
He wasn't injured; he just felt a stinging sensation on his fist where his opponent's soft internal energy infiltrated, causing a slight blockage in his circulation.
However, a vigorous heat flowed from his heart, quickly clearing the congestion.
Chen Yu realized that after the transformation by his mysterious heart, his body's resistance to internal energy attacks had somewhat improved.
On the other side, Ding Jiuhui stepped back several paces before stabilizing himself, his fingers slightly drooping.
He appeared to hold a slight advantage.
Nonetheless, Ding Jiuhui's expression gradually grew serious as he forcefully masked a hint of surprise.
"I didn't expect Junior Brother Chen to be so deeply hidden, with not only impressive skills but also an entire body of 'Innate Divine Strength.'"
A forced smile appeared on Ding Jiuhui's face.
In the previous exchange, he had used seventy percent of his internal energy, yet his fingers were still faintly tingling.
"Thanks to Senior Brother Ding's restraint, that finger earlier let me suffer a bit."
Chen Yu pretended to massage his hand, giving his opponent an opportunity to step down.
In the sect, it was necessary to demonstrate a certain degree of strength and assertiveness.
Judging by Ding Jiuhui's one-eighty-degree change in attitude toward Chen Yu before and after the skirmish.
"Haha, with this, our team is complete."
Ding Jiuhui heaved a sigh of relief.
Regarding Chen Yu's words, he was half-skeptical.
Logically, with his Meridian Passage Stage cultivation, his invisible, soft internal energy should have dealt some minor damage to the opponent.
Yet a thought flashed in his mind: if in the previous exchange, Chen Yu didn't suffer at all, then this person was hiding far too deeply...
Of course, this unrealistic notion was quickly dismissed.
"With Brother Chen joining us, our chances of success have increased."
The pockmarked teenager also smiled, wary of Chen Yu's strength.
Only Feng De looked a bit awkward and embarrassed.
"Everyone is here?"
At this moment, a gentle young voice came from beside Chen Yu.
Hmm?
Chen Yu felt a shiver in his heart, as he only realized the presence of the speaker at the moment they appeared.
He saw a handsome, gentle young man with flowing hair and a long rectangular package on his back, appearing before them.
"Junior Brother Yue!"
Ding Jiuhui and the others greeted him with great respect.
"Brother Le, you finally came."
The previously quiet slender girl lit up with her eyes shimmering, her voice soft and pleasant.
Le Feng! Was he really that Le Feng?
Chen Yu was startled, quickly paying his respects to the handsome young man.
The "Le Feng" before him was said to be one of the top talents in the outer sect.
Chen Yu remembered that Le Feng joined the sect a little over six months after him, yet broke through to the Meridian Passage Stage within just one year!
It was rumored that Le Feng's current cultivation was at least at the Mid-stage Meridian Passage!
And he was still younger than Chen Yu!
Faced with such talent, Chen Yu couldn't help but feel respectful.
"Oh, are you the Brother Chen Yu?"
Le Feng's gaze lingered on Chen Yu's face for a moment, appearing slightly interested.
Chen Yu felt a sense of frustration, realizing that the "freeloader" label on his head wouldn't be removed anytime soon.
There was no choice.
Mu Xueqing was too famous in the outer sect, embodying the titles of "Heavenly Pride Girl" and "First Beauty of the Outer Sect." Getting involved with her was quite a headache.
"Don't misunderstand, Brother Chen."
Le Feng smiled slightly and then explained, "Mu Xueqing's beauty and talent are astonishing. She was once my rival. However, recently, she entered the inner sect early for some reasons."
So,
As one of the outer sect's talents, Le Feng had once competed with Mu Xueqing.
"Hmph! Mu Xueqing entered the sect half a year earlier than Brother Le. And who knows if there was any 'special' reason for her early entry into the inner sect."
The slender girl seemed highly protective and admiring of Le Feng.
"Alright, enough about that. Let's focus on discussing the mission..."
Le Feng waved it off, getting to the main point.
With this, the team was fully assembled.
The team leader was Le Feng, and the deputy leader was Ding Jiuhui.
The four other members were Chen Yu, Feng De, the pockmarked teenager, and the slender girl.
A total of six people.
Chen Yu was a bit surprised that the task of hunting the Iron Brown Bear brought together a formidable team.
In the team, Le Feng and Ding Jiuhui were both at the Meridian Passage Stage, especially the former, regarded as a top talent in the outer sect.
The other four members were all at the Peak of Body Refining stage.
A moment later.
The six-member team collected their team mission at the Sect Affairs Hall and discussed some details.
Half a day later.
The group rode their horses to the periphery of the Yunyue Sect's territory, reaching a stretch of continuous mountains.
"This is the 'Yunyuan Mountain Range,' spanning several nearby countries. This small area nearby, under the jurisdiction of the Yunyue Sect, is essentially a neutral, perilous forbidden zone!"
Le Feng dismounted.
Chen Yu had heard some legends about the Yunyuan Mountain Range.
It was said that deep within this mountain range, ancient beasts from ancient times existed, possessing the terrifying power to topple mountains and nations.
Many years ago, super-powerful figures from neighboring countries had united to purge the terrifying presence deep in the mountains, leading to earth-shattering battles.
The final result, however, remained unknown.
In the current situation, as long as humans didn't venture too deeply into the Yunyuan Mountain Range, they wouldn't encounter the legendary terrifying beings.
"According to the mission information, the Iron Brown Bear should be around here, and we don't need to go deep."
Le Feng eased the group's concerns.
After all, the Yunyuan Mountain Range was notorious as a forbidden zone. These outer disciples weren't fit to venture deeper.
Roar!
Shortly after entering the mountains, some tiger and leopard-like beasts emerged nearby.
However, these were just ordinary beasts.
Typical tigers and leopards weren't a threat to those at the Body Refining Stage.
Willow Shadow Finger!
Ding Jiuhui lightly tapped a leopard's head with a finger, causing it to collapse with a groan, lifeless.
For ordinary people, these fierce beasts were terrifying, but they were effortlessly killed in one move by those at the Meridian Passage Stage.
The Meridian Passage Stage had cultivated "internal energy," capable of entering the body to shatter internal organs and blood vessels. Ordinary flesh stood no chance against it.
In comparison,
Feng De, the pockmarked teenager, and the slender girl needed two or three moves to take down a tiger or leopard.
This demonstrated the evident gap between the Meridian Passage Stage and the Body Refining Stage.
"Scram!"
Chen Yu delivered a heavy punch to a wolf, shattering its head, splattering blood everywhere.
Despite lacking "internal energy," Chen Yu possessed immense strength and refined martial skills.
Ordinary beasts were heavily maimed, losing combat effectiveness, with just a single blow—even without unleashing the full prowess of his "Iron Plow Fist" mastery.
The strength Chen Yu displayed caught Le Feng's eye and earned a nod of approval.
"We're almost there."
Le Feng led the way, his movements so swift that the beasts before him seemed instantly dispatched, their actions almost imperceptible.
Before long,
the six of them crossed a mountain peak, with a woodland appearing ahead, nestled against the mountain. Some caves could be vaguely seen.
With his enhanced vision after transforming, Chen Yu saw the large footprints in the woods, surpassing those of humans and ordinary beasts.
"It's around here, everyone be prepared."
Le Feng took out a small jar of honey, placed it on a mountain slope upwind.
Without sufficient tools, they couldn't set traps or ambushes, only a simple lure. Moreover, against a beast like the Iron Brown Bear, ordinary traps or blades were ineffective.
Roar!
Within a short time, two towering brown bears charged from the forest, nearly a dozen feet tall, comparable to a small building.
The two immense brown shadows roared as they charged, their invisible beastly presence causing insects and beasts to scatter in fright.
"That's the Iron Brown Bear, so big..."
Feng De and the slender girl, who were relatively weaker, felt a shiver down their spines, their legs trembling slightly.
It was their first time facing such a massive beast, given their limited experience as outer disciples.
"Two of them, and bigger than anticipated."
Le Feng's expression shifted slightly.
According to the mission description, the gallbladder from an Iron Brown Bear of this size could be exchanged for forty to fifty contribution points.
"Everyone, attack!"
Le Feng and Ding Jiuhui exchanged glances, each confronting an Iron Brown Bear.
Chen Yu and the four Body Refining members, according to the plan, split into two groups to support the two Meridian Passage leaders.
Ding Jiuhui, Chen Yu, and Feng De formed one group to contend with one Iron Brown Bear.
Le Feng, the pockmarked teenager, and the slender girl formed the other group.
However, the initial exchange was far from ideal, even disheartening.
"Willow Shadow Finger!"
Ding Jiuhui's form flickered, moving to the Iron Brown Bear's side, pressing with a finger on its back.
The Iron Brown Bear's back was already several feet above his head.
Thud!
The Iron Brown Bear merely shook its enormous body, unfazed, then waved its massive arms, creating a whirlwind.
"Watch out!"
Ding Jiuhui barely dodged the blow in time.
Ah!
But Feng De, on the side, cried out, unable to dodge, taking the Iron Brown Bear's blow head-on.
In the next instant,
Boom-Whoosh!
Feng De was sent flying like a black shadow, slammed into a mountain wall, vomiting blood.
In a single exchange, Feng De was knocked away!
Meanwhile, Chen Yu deftly rolled to the side, avoiding the massive fuzzy bear arm.
"That was close!"
Chen Yu wiped his sweat nervously.
If not for his body's transformation from his mysterious heart, augmenting his reflexes and speed, he might have ended up like Feng De, forced to take the hit.
On the other side, the situation for Le Feng's group wasn't promising either.
Smack!
The slender girl wielded a silver whip, wrapping it around another Iron Brown Bear's leg, her face showing delight.
The Iron Brown Bear, in a furious rage, howled and grabbed the silver whip.
"Let go!"
Le Feng shouted a warning, but it was too late.
The next moment,
the slender girl was yanked into the air by the Iron Brown Bear, its mouth as wide as a giant snake's, ready to bite the off-balance girl in mid-air.
"Ah..."
The girl's scream echoed through the mountain wilderness.