The vast mountain range, situated at the heart of the five major powers in the Northern Territory. It covered an immense area, such that even a cultivator at the Purple Mansion realm would require three days and three nights of flight to traverse it.
Whether by chance or design, the distribution of powers across the entire Northern Territory mirrored the five cardinal directions surrounding this mountain range. Disciples from the five great sects often ventured into this range for training.
Thus, when Lin Chu and his companions informed Elder Yang Yun of their intention to train in the Cang Mang Mountains, Elder Yang Yun readily agreed.
The Cang Mang Mountains were not excessively far from the Young Sect. After traveling for a day and a night, Lin Chu's group of four finally arrived.
"So this is the Cang Mang Mountains." Gazing at the endless expanse of mountains, even Lin Chu was awestruck by its grandeur. The towering peaks pierced the clouds, their summits disappearing from sight. One mountain after another rose and fell, creating a truly majestic spectacle.
"It's getting late today. We'll rest here for the night and enter the mountains tomorrow," Lin Chu took a deep breath and said to Su Jinlong and the other two.
Having traveled for a day and a night, both their bodies and minds were exhausted. Coupled with the approaching darkness, Lin Chu, accustomed to life in the deep mountains, knew that nights in the wilderness were far more perilous than days.
Su Jinlong and the others nodded. They quickly split up to gather firewood and soon constructed a temporary shelter.
The night passed in silence.
The next day, as dawn broke, Lin Chu and his three companions opened their eyes. A sharp glint flashed in each of their eyes, indicating that after a night's rest, everyone had adjusted to their optimal state.
"It seems everyone is eager for the training in the Cang Mang Mountains. Let's assign tasks now. The training mission requires collecting one hundred beast cores, meaning we need to slay one hundred beasts of rank two or above."
"Su brother and I will work together to complete the task of slaying these one hundred rank two beasts. As for junior brother Lin Gang and junior brother De Sheng, you two will primarily observe from the sidelines. Should you encounter any rank one beasts, they will be your practice targets. Do you all understand?"
Lin Chu glanced at Su Jinlong and the other two. After receiving their nods, he began to lay out the plan. After all, this training expedition was organized by Lin Chu, and he was the strongest among the four. While ensuring everyone's safety, he also aimed to enhance each person's combat prowess.
"Don't worry, senior brother Lin Chu!" Chen Lin Gang was the first to respond, his eyes alight with eagerness.
"Good. Then, let's enter the mountains!" Lin Chu nodded, extinguished the campfire with a wave of his hand, and led the way into the Cang Mang Mountains.
As they journeyed, Lin Chu and his companions remained exceptionally cautious. The Cang Mang Mountains harbored countless unknown dangers. While it was a training exercise, it did not mean there was no risk.
Time gradually passed. Lin Chu and his companions had traveled about two to three kilometers into the Cang Mang Mountains from their initial resting spot.
"We're now in the fringe of the central region of the Cang Mang Mountains. Everyone be careful and stay alert," Lin Chu said in a low voice to Su Jinlong and the other two, glancing at the dense trees around them.
Su Jinlong and the others nodded, their spiritual energy constantly circulating within their bodies, ready to respond at any moment should a beast appear.
"Senior brother Lin Chu, have you noticed how quiet it is here?" After the four had advanced for another ten minutes, Su Jinlong's eyes showed a hint of surprise as he whispered to Lin Chu.
Lin Chu nodded, "It's impossible for the Cang Mang Mountains to be this silent. Everyone, be cautious. When things are too abnormal, there's usually a reason."
*Hoo.*
*Chih.*
As Lin Chu and his companions advanced another kilometer, two strange sounds gradually reached their ears. The four exchanged glances and then stealthily moved towards the source of the sounds.
As they drew closer, the sounds grew louder. Simultaneously, Lin Chu sensed a beastly aura, which had been faint initially, becoming increasingly potent.
"Senior brother Lin Chu, look!" Just as Chen Lin Gang passed a towering ancient tree, his eyes lit up, and he pointed forward, turning to tell Lin Chu.
Lin Chu and Su Jinlong immediately focused their divine senses and looked in the direction Chen Lin Gang was pointing.
Upon seeing what Chen Lin Gang was indicating, they both became excited, "It's a rank two Tyrant Tiger!"
A hint of joy flickered in Lin Chu's eyes. They had encountered a rank two beast on their very first day in the mountains. At the same time, he had found the reason for the surrounding silence.
The Tyrant Tiger was a formidable creature among beasts. An adult Tyrant Tiger could reach a length of eight meters. Even rank three beasts would not dare to act presumptuously in front of an adult Tyrant Tiger.
The Tyrant Tiger before them was about four meters long. Judging by adult standards, this Tyrant Tiger was still in its growth phase.
What further excited Lin Chu and the others was that the Tyrant Tiger was currently fast asleep.
"Su brother, you flank it from the rear, I'll be the main attacker. Junior brother De Sheng and junior brother Lin Gang, you two keep an eye on our surroundings." Lin Chu signaled, and his spiritual energy began to circulate rapidly within him.
Su Jinlong nodded and instantly moved to circle behind the Tyrant Tiger.
"Attack!"
Seeing Su Jinlong give the prepared signal, Lin Chu nodded. He moved, unleashing his Ethereal Step technique, and channeled his spiritual energy into his left arm. He then threw a punch towards the Tyrant Tiger's head.
As Lin Chu attacked, Su Jinlong also launched his offensive. His body glowed with spiritual light, transforming into a spiritual orb that shot towards the Tyrant Tiger's tail.
*Boom!*
Before Lin Chu's punch could land on the Tyrant Tiger's head, its tightly shut eyes suddenly snapped open. Lin Chu, seeing this, had no time to hesitate. He accelerated his movement and struck the Tyrant Tiger's left eye with his fist.
"Roar!"
The newly awakened Tyrant Tiger felt a tremendous force strike it. Before it could even discern what had hit it, its tail also experienced a searing pain. With a pained roar, the silence of the Cang Mang Mountains was finally broken.
"Full power!" Seeing the Tyrant Tiger rise to its feet, a hint of surprise flashed in Lin Chu's eyes. His punch had not managed to rupture the Tyrant Tiger's eyeball. His expression turned serious, and he lunged forward again.
*Roar!*
As if sensing its dignity challenged, the Tyrant Tiger let out a sky-rending roar. Its more than four-meter-long body stood upright. It glared at the human charging at it again and, with a ferocious glint in its eyes, lunged forward.
"Meteor Saint Slash!" Seeing that his Breaking Void Fist was no longer effective, Lin Chu willed it, and his spiritual energy surged from within him, pointing towards the Tyrant Tiger.
*Boom!*
The spiritual energy, channeled through Lin Chu's finger, transformed into a vast net that instantly enveloped the Tyrant Tiger. Then, streaks of brilliant spiritual light suddenly accelerated, descending like meteorites, each emitting a terrifying power. Upon contact with the Tyrant Tiger's body, they rapidly exploded.
Simultaneously, Su Jinlong also unleashed his strongest attack. Lin Chu only caught a glimpse of a flickering spiritual shadow, like a shower of pear blossoms, attacking the Tyrant Tiger's tail.
*Bang!*
Caught in a pincer attack from both front and rear, the Tyrant Tiger's more than four-meter-long body was slammed to the ground. With a roar of unwillingness, it attempted to rise again.
Strike while the iron is hot! Seeing this, Lin Chu did not give the Tyrant Tiger any chance to recover. He employed his Ethereal Step, his figure becoming a phantom as he shot upwards.
"Meteor Saint Slash!"
Lin Chu shouted, and his figure suddenly appeared above the Tyrant Tiger. His massive fist slammed down onto the Tyrant Tiger's head.
*Boom!*
Accompanied by a thunderous roar, a gush of hot liquid splattered onto Lin Chu's face. Lin Chu raised a hand to block it, and after a moment, he looked at the Tyrant Tiger.
He saw that his fist was still deeply embedded in the Tyrant Tiger's skull. The Tyrant Tiger's colossal head was no longer breathing.
"Senior brother Lin Chu is so powerful! He actually dealt with the rank two Tyrant Tiger so quickly!" Seeing this, Chen Lin Gang and Chen De Sheng exchanged glances, their eyes clearly filled with admiration.
"Senior brother Lin Chu's physical strength is truly immense. You even killed the Tyrant Tiger, which dominated rank two beasts, with a single punch," Su Jinlong said, moving to stand before Lin Chu.
Looking at the Tyrant Tiger's corpse lying on the ground, even Su Jinlong felt a surge of excitement. This was the first time they had successfully slain a rank two beast, and it was natural to be thrilled.
"Without you distracting it from behind, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to break through this Tyrant Tiger's defense so easily. Hmm, speaking of which, this is also the result of our combined effort. Junior brother Lin Gang, collect this Tyrant Tiger's corpse. It will make for some good accompaniment with our drinks tonight."
Lin Chu smiled and slowly withdrew his hand from the Tyrant Tiger's skull. He then slowly opened his palm, revealing a beast core.
Chen Lin Gang immediately walked to the Tyrant Tiger's corpse, unfastened a cloth bag from his waist, and with a wave of his hand, the Tyrant Tiger's body was collected.
It should be mentioned that this cloth bag was no ordinary item. It was a Qiankun bag given to them privately by Elder Yang Yun as they departed. It could hold items within a ten-mile radius. Lin Chu had given it to Chen Lin Gang for collecting beast carcasses.
"Senior brother Lin Chu, this Tyrant Tiger beast core is actually so small?" Su Jinlong asked with some surprise, looking at the beast core in Lin Chu's palm.
Lin Chu smiled, "This Tyrant Tiger has only just passed its juvenile stage. For it to have such a beast core is already quite good. If it were an adult Tyrant Tiger, perhaps all four of us combined wouldn't be its match. Alright, let's continue. This initial victory is a great start. Next, it's time to hone the skills of those two."
Su Jinlong nodded. An adult Tyrant Tiger could even contend head-on with rank three beasts. While their strength accounted for their success in their first venture into the mountains, luck had also played a significant role.
More importantly, while the training mission was a secondary objective for the four of them, the primary goal was to strengthen themselves. In dealing with this Tyrant Tiger, Lin Chu and Su Jinlong had both taken action. Now, it was time for Chen De Sheng and Chen Lin Gang to step up.
A look of anticipation flickered across the faces of Chen Lin Gang and Chen De Sheng at Lin Chu's words. Clearly, their performance in slaying the Tyrant Tiger had spurred them on.
"Senior brother Lin Chu, as long as we don't encounter rank two beasts, leave the rest to junior brother De Sheng and me!" Chen Lin Gang declared.
"Let's go." Seeing the expressions on Chen Lin Gang and Chen De Sheng's faces, Lin Chu smiled, put away the Tyrant Tiger beast core, and then proceeded deeper into the mountains.