After burying the dead bodies of the slaughtered merchants, they continued on their journey through the barren lands. It was two days later when they started seeing the first plants and trees, a sign that they had finally crossed these lawless grounds.
With only a quarter of their journey remaining, all they had to do before they could reach their final destination was to cross the great dividing range. A huge range of mountains dividing the barren lands from the fertile lands across, hence deserving of its name.
In contrast to the barren lands, this was a place that thrived with life. It was home to a great diversity of animals, magical beasts, and secluded tribes. The mountains were covered in green, thousands of different plants, herbs, and trees were growing everywhere, making it look like a paradise. A paradise not only for its natural inhabitants but also for the many bandits and convicts running from the law. Despite its danger, the sparsity of people, unexplored gorges, and complicated cave systems made it the perfect place to hide.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" Anna asked Samuel.
"Yes it really is, it would make an amazing painting."
"Beauty is often accompanied by danger, an unspoken rule not only applying to us woman but these mountains as well. There are things in there that even we can't handle, so before we start crossing it I want us to stop and rest here first, and when we have returned to our optimal conditions we'll depart immediately. Also, after we leave, we will fly as fast as we can and won't be stopping anymore until we reach our destination." Eva explained.
Samuel who got curious couldn't help but ask, "What is it these mountains harbor that even you can't handle?" He asked Eva. After Sarah's dominating display of power who was only in the golden core realm, he couldn't imagine how powerful Eva would be, what could there possibly be that even she in the nascent soul realm couldn't handle?
"People far stronger than me have lost their lives in these lands. Despite the many adventurers that have traveled these mountains throughout the ages, about half its territory remains unexplored. That fact alone should tell you enough about its dangers."
"Once upon a time, three hundred and sixty years ago exactly, the kingdom made a serious attempt to explore these regions by sending a group of powerful cultivators deep into the mountains. The team consisted of twenty-four people and all of them had a minimum cultivation base of the nascent soul realm, there were even two old void realm monsters among them."
"And do you know what happened to them?"
"Except for the two old monsters who were heavily wounded, none returned.'" Eva exclaimed.
"What?" Samuel was shocked! Although he has no idea how strong void realm practitioners are, he knew those in the nascent soul stage are far stronger than Sarah, and they all died? And they were about to cross the place where all of those people died?
"Haha don't worry, I know what you're thinking. The parts we fly over have been explored a long time ago. The most dangerous things we can encounter on this route are magical beasts in the higher sky ranks." Eva explained.
"How strong are those in the higher sky ranks exactly?" Samuel asked doubtfully.
"Oh, I had already forgotten you were born in an isolated village. You have probably never heard about the categorization of magical beasts officially used in the cultivation world?" Eva asked, without looking down on him.
"I have read about all the different stages but was never able to find how they compare to the human stages, so I have no idea how strong they are," Samuel said.
"Well, time for your first lesson then," Eva teased.
"The moment an animal turns into a magical beast by forming its demon core, it has officially reached the first stage of the earth rank and is comparable with a human in the early stage of the Ki condensation realm."
"Just like our early, middle, and late stages, every rank is divided into three parts, but with beasts we call it the first, second, and third stage.
The moment magical beasts gather more energy than their demonic cores can handle, they will trigger an evolution. The demonic core breaks down and the beast will use its energy to develop and transform its body in the process. When the evolution is done they will have officially entered the first stage of the sky rank."
"But here comes the tricky part, the strength a magical beast gains after its evolution depends entirely on its bloodline. The weakest among them will be comparable with humans in the early foundation realm, but the strongest among them can rival a human in the early golden core realm, and that is directly after it enters the sky rank!"
"There are three reasons that make them stronger than humans at this stage. The first and most noticeable one is that their bodies are far stronger than ours, the second reason is that they will start using the innate abilities gained from their bloodlines, and the last and most mysterious one is that they will start inheriting their ancestor's memories."
Samuel who was listening like a well-behaved student, couldn't help being surprised by all of this. He has always known that beasts are stronger than humans but he never knew the difference would be this big.
"You're probably wondering why the beasts haven't taken over the world if they are so much stronger than us humans right?" Eva asked him.
"No, I already figured it out. Actually, now that I think about it, it's amazing how well the heavens have balanced our two species. Human intelligence is the sole reason we are able to keep up with magical beasts. Via the use of weapons and formations, and by utilizing advanced tactical teamwork we are able to fight them head-on." Samuel explained.
"You really are the perfect student Samuel," Eva said admiringly.
"There are a lot of things about beasts I haven't explained yet but those are things you will eventually come to learn in the academy, so I will finish things up and only explain the remaining ranks, the difference in strength remains the same for the later ranks as well."
"After the sky rank, there is the spirit rank, which in strength can be compared to humans between the early golden core realm and the early stages of the nascent soul realm. After that, there is the king rank which strength ranges between the early nascent soul realm and the early void realm. And lastly, there are the emperor rank beasts who are able to fight head-on with newly ascended immortals."
"And after that?" Samuel asked curiously.
"What comes after that is something you will eventually learn during your classes hehe," Eva answered teasingly.
"Anyway, it's about time we continue on our journey. Anna, Sarah, you girls ready?" Eva asked.
"Yes master," Both girls answered.
"Perfect, I don't have to explain this to you but I will still mention it just to be sure. Whatever happens, do not use your spiritual sense wantonly and keep your auras reserved at all times. When we go up we will stick together closely and keep Samuel in our midst. I want Anna behind Samuel on his left and Sarah. you do the same for his right side, while I will be the vanguard. If something happens you two will never leave Samuel's side and I alone will deal with it. And last but not least, if a situation occurs where I tell you to leave, I want you to take Samuel and leave me immediately without hesitating, understood?"
"Yes master!" Sarah and Anna shouted while standing side by side like two disciplined soldiers.
Eva nodded proudly, despite their young age and usual playful behavior, they were dependable and trustworthy when she needed them to be.
"Then we will depart immediately, lets go!" Eva commanded.
And so, the four of them created a triangle formation and put Samuel in their midst before they shot off for the skies, setting out on the last and most dangerous part of their journey before reaching the academy of Marz.