Chapter 23 - Ch 23: Dark Mountain Range

Alex left the Floating Cloud Academy after talking with Ethan for a short while.

From Ethan, he came to know about many things. From the moment he entered the Floating Cloud Academy, he had always been busy cultivating. He never got to know about anything related to the outer sect of the Floating Cloud Academy.

From Ethan, Alex came to know that one could enter the Inner Sect as long as one advanced to the Golden Core Realm.

Alex also noted down the Five Giants that Ethan talked about. He had to get to know about them so that when he face them in the future, he would not be at a disadvantage.

.....

After around half an hour, Alex had was walking on the road to Dark Mountain Range.

There was a vast forest without end in the 100 kilometers of the mountain range. There were many Demonic Beasts and countless poisonous insects in this forest.

Before leaving the Floating Cloud Academy, Alex went to the Weapon Hall and copied a spear. He didn't have any weapons and he was about to enter the forest. So, he copied the spear that cost him only 15,000 energy points.

It took Alex another half an hour to arrive in front of the Dark Mountain Range. After another five minutes of walking at full speed, Alex entered the forest within this mountain range.

.....

The vast and endless forest was mysterious and deep.

At first glance, it looked like a vast expanse of green ocean. In the depths of the mountain range, the wavy mountains and valleys were like the bones of dragons prostrating on the ground.

It was truly extraordinary, displaying its boundless power.

From time to time, the roars of some unknown Demonic Beasts could be heard from the depths of the mountain range.

As an area with a high risk of Red Leaf Country, every part of the Dark Mountain Range was suffused with a dark sense of crisis.

"Bang! Bang!"

At this very moment, in the outside region that was 500 meters away from the Dark Mountain Range, an intense fight was taking place.

"Roar!"

The roar was extremely intimidating. It was a Demonic Beast covered in white fur, which was about three meters tall and five meters long. Its appearance was similar to a lion. But in every aspect, it was something that a normal lion could never compare with.

This Fire Lion was a Demonic Beast of the Secon Level.

It was equivalent to a cultivator being at Rank Foundation Establishment Realm. It was extremely fast as well as had extremely strong strength.

However, the Fire Lion was fighting against a youth with a black spear in his hands. The youth's body was covered in dust and sweat, making him look rather pathetic, but his firm and unswerving outline looked like being carved by a sharp knife. His deep eyes were filled with calmness, without any signs of panic or fear.

"Roar!"

The Fire Lion's eyes revealed a vicious light as it grimaced in pain. Its entire body was emitting a ruthless aura.

Suddenly, the Fire Lion leaped up and pounced on the youth with an unstoppable momentum.

At this moment, the youth's eyes were filled with a sharp and cold glint. When the Fire Lion jumped to the highest point, he followed and leaped up, releasing the surging strength of the Level 9 Foundation Establishment Realm. A large amount of power quickly climbed onto the long spear in his hands.

"Buzz! Buzz!"

At this moment, the black spear immediately released a dazzling golden light and the restless strength wantonly stirred.

In the next moment, the youth directly threw out the spear in his hands towards the Fire Lion. His attack was as quick as lightning and his power was like a ray of light!

"Hiss!"

Along with the tearing sound in the air, the spear forcefully pierced into the head of the Fire Lion like a pair of chopsticks piercing through tofu.

"Wu!"

A mournful scream came out from the Fire Lion's mouth as blood splattered in the air.

"Bang!"

The Fire Lion's gigantic beast body smashed onto the ground heavily. A large amount of dust and fallen leaves flew recklessly into the air. After struggling for a few moments on the ground, it stopped moving.

The strike was clean and neat.

Alex calmly looked at the Fire Lion's dead body in front of him. His face was not showing any sign of excitement or joy.

He had already been in the Dark Mountain Range for two days now and this was not the first time he had killed a demonic beast of the second level.

In these two days, Alex once again broke through and reached the Level 9 of Foundation Establishment Realm. Now, he only needed an opportunity to break through to the Enlightenment Realm.

From the moment he had first entered the Dark Mountain Range, he had encountered more than 10 Demonic Beasts of the First Level and 4 Demonic Beasts of the Second Level. He had also killed every single one of them. The strongest one he had encountered till now was this Fire Lion.

During that battle, Alex had used all his power.

After an incredibly fierce and bitter battle, Alex finally killed this demonic beast of the second level.

The large and small injuries on Alex's body were from the constant fighting these days. In order to improve his combat ability effectively, Alex had not taken rest during these two days.

"Chi!"

Alex pulled out his spear from Fire Lion's body and a string of blood splattered out.

The dark and sharp tip of the spear let out a buzzing sound. After soaking in so much blood, the spear was much sharper than before and it also had a cold and fierce aura.

"Although this spear is enough for me now, I still have to change for a better weapon in the future."

Alex muttered and put the spear back into the System's Personal Space. He then took out a dagger to open the Fire Lion's head and took out a red-colored beast core.

In these two days, Alex had already collected Four Beast Cores of Second Level Demonic Beast. As for the Beast Cores of First Level Demonic Beast, Alex didn't bother to take them out. The value of First Level Beast Core was too low.

As for the missions that he had accepted from the Mission Hall of Floating Cloud Academy, he had already completed. After going back to the academy, Alex would submit the mission and take away his reward.

But he decided not to go back to the academy for now.. He was planning to spend a few days inside this Dark Mountain Range and increase his combat ability, as well as search for some herbs or fruits that can increase his cultivation base.