The towering trees in the lush forest reached up into the clouds, and the scorching sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, leaving only sparse rays of light. It was evident that the Cloudfall Mountain Range had a long history.
Suddenly, a faint sound caught the attention of the four individuals: Bai Li Hongzhuang, Ouyang Yu, Gong Shaoqing, and Liu Qin Yue.
"Be careful!" Gong Shaoqing's handsome and cold face showed a cautious and serious expression. He carefully surveyed the surroundings, knowing that there must be a demon beast nearby.
Swish!
A faint sound rang out, and a shadow darted past. Gong Shaoqing swiftly brandished his sword, and a lightning ferret was already dead beneath his blade.
The lightning ferret was a mid-level Xuan Realm demon beast, small in size, agile in movement, and as fast as lightning. It excelled at ambushes, making it difficult to guard against.
Gong Shaoqing gracefully sheathed his sword after dealing with the lightning ferret, as if nothing had happened. Bai Li Hongzhuang's eyebrows raised slightly. Gong Shaoqing truly lived up to his reputation as the top-ranked student of Canglan Academy, with such keen observation skills and strength that left no room for criticism.
"While walking in the Cloudfall Mountain Range, we can encounter demon beast attacks at any time. So we must stay focused. A momentary lapse of attention could cost us our lives," Ouyang Yu reminded them.
Along the way, Bai Li Hongzhuang and the others encountered numerous demon beasts. Gong Shaoqing, Ouyang Yu, and Liu Qin Yue took turns dealing with them.
During this process, Ouyang Yu carefully explained to Bai Li Hongzhuang the weaknesses of each type of demon beast and the areas to be cautious of during battles.
Bai Li Hongzhuang noticed that there was a significant difference between the demon beasts of the present and those from a thousand years ago.
Over the course of a millennium, these demon beasts had undergone considerable evolution, becoming smarter and posing a greater challenge to deal with.
In this thousand-year span, the Saint Xuan Continent had established a clear classification system for demon beasts, and human cultivators had a comprehensive understanding of them.
However, Bai Li Hongzhuang learned from Ouyang Yu that many demon beasts had gradually disappeared during this long history, or rarely appeared within the sight of human cultivators.
Adaptable demon beasts had become stronger, while weaker ones had been eliminated over time. It could be said that the demon beasts of the present were even more formidable than those from a thousand years ago.
Night gradually fell, enveloping the Cloudfall Mountain Range in a heavy veil of darkness. The already eerie and damp mountains became even more gloomy and desolate.
The darkness was so dense that one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face, and occasionally, the sounds of demon beasts roaring and insects chirping could be heard in the surroundings.
A sense of fear permeated the entire Cloudfall Mountain Range.
"Creak."
Bai Li Hongzhuang and the others walked through the mountains, and the sound of their footsteps stepping on branches was clear in the silent night.
"Let's rest ahead," Gong Shaoqing said. His bright eyes shone like gemstones in the dark night, radiating a dazzling brilliance. They had been looking for a relatively dry place to rest, as they had just passed through a wetland until now.
Ouyang Yu nodded with a faint smile. "There is a higher ground ahead, which is suitable for resting."
Soon, the four of them reached the high ground. After Gong Shaoqing carefully and vigilantly surveyed the surroundings, confirming the absence of any demon beasts, they sat down on the ground, leaning against a sturdy tree.
Bai Li Hongzhuang and the others also formed a circle and sat down. They took out dry rations from their spatial bags and began to eat.
"After a whole day, do you feel tired?" Ouyang Yu's gaze was warm, and a gentle smile graced his handsome and gentle face. "It's normal for first-time participants in the trials to feel a bit uncomfortable."