Huayang Commandery had a Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range stretching hundreds of miles, called the Paradise of Fierce Beasts and the Graveyard of Humans.
Just from the name alone, one could tell that fierce beasts were definitely abundant here.
Precisely because fierce beasts were plentiful and humans dared not venture in, there were abundant ores and medicinal herbs inside—truly a treasure land for getting rich.
A thousand years ago, a young man accidentally entered the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range. Not only did he not die at the mouths of fierce beasts, he also obtained an extremely rare ten-thousand-year-old lingzhi!
Although the final result was that rashly consuming the powerful tonic led to him exploding, it also told the world that this dangerous place concealed many heavenly treasures and earthly treasures!
Thus, an exploration craze swept through Huayang Commandery.
Many factions and rogue cultivators would venture into the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range to explore every day, every moment.
The mountain range had only one entrance.
Over time, many martial artists gathered there, forming a stronghold that later slowly developed into a town named Fugui Town.
Why was it called Fugui Town?
Because the implication was that martial artists entering the mountain range could return wealthy.
Unfortunately, reality proved otherwise.
Every year, tens of thousands of martial artists entered the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range. Forget returning wealthy—only twenty to thirty percent returned empty-handed at all.
Wealth is found in danger.
How many people failed to find wealth and instead became food in the mouths of fierce beasts?
Even so, this couldn’t stop martial cultivators from coming to explore.
Because every so often, someone would narrowly survive death and obtain heavenly treasures and earthly treasures.
This was just like dungeon instances in games. Although it was very easy to meet one’s demise, for the sake of equipment, many players would still tirelessly come to fight.
Only difference—in games, death meant you could start over.
In this cruel otherworld, death meant you had nothing left.
……
At the entrance gate of Fugui Town, Jun Changxiao walked in wearing white robes. Seeing quite a few martial artists equipped with weapons and dressed in tight-fitting clothes on the main street, he murmured, “Quite lively.”
He first found an inn to stay at, then went out to stroll the streets, learning about matters concerning the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range from passersby.
Jun Changxiao was now a Wuzong—in a low-tier commandery, he was already considered one of the top experts.
But learning a bit more about this dangerous place naturally had only benefits and no drawbacks.
After some inquiries, Jun Changxiao learned that entering the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range required a map, so he bought one at a general store.
The map wasn’t large, but it was drawn very meticulously. It divided the mountain range into several different colored zones—the deeper the color, the more dangerous it represented.
Of course, there were also many unknown zones.
The general store owner, seeing he looked rather unfamiliar, kindly reminded him, “Young fellow, if you don’t have a powerful team, absolutely don’t enter unknown zones alone. Otherwise, you’ll very easily perish.”
……
The next day, early morning.
Jun Changxiao checked out of his room and walked along the main street toward the entrance leading to the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range.
Not only was he equipped with a map, he had also prepared quite a bit of dried rations, as well as dozens of spatial rings to conveniently contain food for Little Dragon to eat.
“Hehe.”
“Is that thing coiled on that kid’s shoulder a lizard?”
“If you ask me, it looks more like a snake.”
Seeing Little Dragon lying on Jun Changxiao’s shoulder, martial artists on the road discussed in low voices, their words carrying mockery.
On the Xingyun Continent, only those who possessed formidable fierce beasts would make others feel respect. Bringing non-threatening animals would only make one a laughingstock.
“Hiss!”
Hearing everyone’s mockery, Little Dragon’s gaze flashed with anger.
Jun Changxiao stroked its small head, consoling it, “Don’t stoop to the level of common philistines.”
Coming to the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range was to search for various resources.
Otherwise, he would definitely have Little Dragon release scorching flames to ruthlessly slap their faces.
Soon, Jun Changxiao arrived at the mountain range entrance.
At this moment, several hundred martial artists had already gathered. Many people held up signs with various recruitment messages written on them.
“Forming team for Zone Three, need four more, seeking strong damage dealer!”
“Forming team for Zone Six, need eight more, seeking one who can tank, one who knows healing techniques!”
“Just arrived, seeking veterans to guide me in, won’t go to dangerous zones!”
Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched as he said, “No matter how I look at it, this looks like players doing dungeon runs in online games.”
If he didn’t have important business to attend to, he might have set up a sign that read: “Veteran driver taking passengers into Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range for sightseeing, one hundred thousand taels per spot, full team departs!”
“Hey.”
Just then, a short young man walked over, grinning as he said, “Friend, do you have a team? Want to go to Zone Four with this big brother?”
“Not interested.” Jun Changxiao declined.
The young man didn’t give up and said in a low voice, “Friend, I’ll be straight with you—I discovered a pretty good place in Zone Four. If you’re interested, you can take a gamble.”
Jun Changxiao didn’t answer and ignored him.
The young man pursed his lips, saying, “Not even tempted—clearly a novice with no guts.”
Jun Changxiao continued walking toward the entrance.
During this time, many martial artists tried to recruit him, including some very beautiful girls, but he declined them all.
Forming a team could certainly be safer.
But in Sect Master Jun’s eyes, going in with these people was equivalent to bringing a bunch of dead weight.
“Everyone.”
A man in tight-fitting clothes standing before the entrance said, “Let’s depart!”
With that, he strode in.
The eight or nine teammates he had recruited followed closely behind.
They knew this journey would be extremely dangerous, but for the sake of martial dao resources, they had long since prepared themselves mentally.
Jun Changxiao didn’t hesitate and strode in boldly.
“What the—!”
“That guy seems to be alone, right?”
“How much courage must one have to dare enter the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range alone!”
“Could he be an expert?”
“Looking at the aura he’s emanating, it doesn’t seem that high.”
“No need to say more—definitely an arrogant youngster who doesn’t know his own limits, wanting to go in seeking thrills.”
“The fierce beasts in the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range most like attacking lone martial artists. This guy going in alone will have no chance of survival once he goes slightly deeper.”
As Jun Changxiao disappeared from their view, martial artists from all sides immediately discussed.
Those who had tried to recruit him on the road finally understood why he had refused—he turned out to be a fool wanting to solo the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range!
……
The Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range was different from Death Valley—it had no valley or cliff walls. What it had were towering trees, their branches and leaves spreading to block out the sunlight, making the interior both dark and damp.
As soon as Jun Changxiao walked in, he saw the team that had entered a step earlier. They had already taken precautionary measures, ready to face sudden changes at any moment.
With strength that wasn’t too high, being cautious wasn’t wrong.
As for our Sect Master Jun, being a superior-grade Wuzong, he fearlessly followed the map’s directions and headed directly toward dangerous zones.
“Little brother.”
The team leader called out, “You came in alone?”
“That’s right.” Jun Changxiao said.
Several martial artists were stunned, then muttered—this guy came in alone, was he certain he wasn’t here to court death?
The leader kindly reminded him, “Little brother, the fierce beasts in the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range like to ambush lone individuals. Coming in alone is dangerous for you. Why not come with us?”
“Brother Qin.”
A man beside him glanced at Jun Changxiao, quite dissatisfied as he said, “We’re going to Zone Six. Bringing dead weight wouldn’t be good.”
“That’s right.”
The fatty behind them frowned, saying, “Boss, our journey is extremely dangerous. We can’t just casually bring someone along.”
Dead weight?
Casually bring someone along?
He was being looked down upon.
Jun Changxiao didn’t care and said, “I prefer training alone. Not interested in joining a team.”
With that, he continued walking forward.
“Tch.”
The man said disdainfully, “What an arrogant fellow.”
The leader shook his head, saying, “Let’s go—”
“Whoosh!”
Right at that moment, a fierce beast resembling a leopard sprang down from a tree, pouncing viciously toward Jun Changxiao.
“Watch out!” the leader cried out in alarm.
Boom!
Just as the words fell, an explosive sound rang out.
The leopard beast that had gotten close was punched by Jun Changxiao right on its forehead. Its brains splattered everywhere as it went flying, then collapsed directly on the ground.
“This…”
The leader and several team members all widened their eyes in shock.