Martial Defiance Across Nine Thousand Realms

"Someone's knocking at this hour?"

Ye Han, surprised, quickly opened the courtyard door.

Three disciples who had knocked were on par with Ye Han in terms of cultivation, all at the ninth layer of the Gathering Core Realm.

"May I know who you are?" Ye Han asked curiously.

"My name is Nie Yuan, this is Zhao Yijian, and he's He Qingfeng."

The disciple who introduced himself as Nie Yuan smiled at Ye Han: "And you are?"

"Ye Han!"

Ye Han was somewhat puzzled.

"Ye Han, we've decided to go out for some training. Would you like to join us?" Nie Yuan got straight to the point.

"Training? Where to?" Ye Han was curious.

He hadn't expected to be invited on an adventure so soon after arriving at the Cycle Academy.

"Demon Ridge!"

Nie Yuan's face was full of anticipation: "Joining forces, the four of us have the capital to venture into Demon Ridge for training and exploration. Moreover, the Academy has issued a new mission, offering a reward of two thousand Vigor Pills."@@novelbin@@

"Demon Ridge? Isn't that place beyond our reach?"

Demon Ridge, located in the northern part of the Sun Moon Empire, was teeming with Monster Beasts, including second and third-tier ones, and even more terrifying creatures.

There was even a great Demon Gorge within, a dwelling place for underground demons, which was extremely dangerous.

All information about Demon Ridge flashed through Ye Han's mind, as introduced in the Primordial Void Records.

Demon Ridge was similar to the Cold Abyss Mining Area but the dangers were a thousand times greater.

Although it was a coveted training ground for Martial Artists, it depended on the realm of the Martial Artist. To venture there with a few Gathering Core Realm menial disciples was akin to a near-certain death.

"Brother Ye Han, we'll only be on the periphery of Demon Ridge, there shouldn't be any danger."

Nie Yuan was full of hope: "We've all done our homework. With you joining, we're eighty percent sure of completing the mission. Then we can return directly, and with some luck, we might even find some precious herbs or treasures in Demon Ridge to exchange for more Vigor Pills."

"What's the mission?"

Ye Han remained calm and did not immediately agree.

Even Martial Artists in the Divine Power Realm could perish in Demon Ridge.

Being fearless was one thing, but having common sense was another. It was natural to seek fortune and avoid disaster.

"It's a mission from the Myriad Medicine Hall. They need twenty bear gallbladders from Earth Rampage Bears for medicine making, with a reward of two thousand Vigor Pills," Nie Yuan explained.

"The gallbladders of Earth Rampage Bears?"

Ye Han pondered for ten breaths: "Alright, I'll join you on this mission."

Earth Rampage Bears were third and fourth-tier Monster Beasts, typically found on the outskirts of Demon Ridge. In terms of combat power, a third-tier Earth Rampage Bear could match a Martial Artist at the ninth layer of the Gathering Core Realm, or even the Divine Power Realm.

Ye Han now had a new Divine Bone in his body and the beginnings of the Eternal Invincible Dragon Body. He wanted to take this opportunity to test his current combat strength.

After a brief discussion, the four of them set off immediately.

Following Nie Yuan and the others to the back of Divine Power Peak, Ye Han discovered a vast area teeming with precious mounts like lion-blooded treasure horses, wind-piercing steeds, and swift leopards.

The Academy's conditions were good; even menial disciples who wanted to go out for training only needed to hand over three Vigor Pills to take a mount.

Of course, the weak were not entitled to enjoy more benefits. Compared to Outer Sect, Inner Sect, and True Disciples who received the Academy's benefits every year, menial disciples had to fight for everything themselves.

The best way was to take on missions like Nie Yuan and the others, to exchange for resources, Vigor Pills, and so on. Occasionally, the high and mighty Inner Sect and True Disciples would also issue missions for some menial disciples to work for them.

Four lion-blooded treasure horses were quickly led out, carrying Ye Han and the others as they sped away from the Cycle Academy.

Half a day later, they finally arrived at their destination: Demon Ridge.

The dark, crisscrossing mountain ranges were deep and immeasurable, giving an oppressive feeling that took one's breath away.

Standing before Demon Ridge, the four of them felt their own insignificance.

Demon Ridge stretched for countless miles, and even before setting foot in it, they could hear the roars and howls of numerous Monster Beasts and feel the violent tremors from the ground from time to time, indicating that some peerless ferocious creature was battling deep within Demon Ridge.

"Brothers, rest assured, Demon Ridge is within the territory of the Sun Moon Empire, not far from our Academy. Many senior brothers and sisters train there regularly. If there's any crisis, we can send a signal and seek their help," Nie Yuan said, standing before Demon Ridge, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Zhao Yijian and He Qingfeng nodded immediately. Nie Yuan was right; Demon Ridge was dangerous, but not so much that one would die upon entering, otherwise who would dare to come?

"Brother Ye Han, you don't have to worry!" Nie Yuan turned his gaze, encouragingly looking at Ye Han.

In the blink of an eye, the four of them entered Demon Ridge.

Not even a kilometer in, the sight before them made the four exchange glances, and the faces of Nie Yuan and the others changed abruptly.

On the ground lay several skeletons, or more accurately, mummies, with flesh long gone, leaving only broken bones.

There were also a few blood-stained garments nearby, suggesting that these skeletons had died no more than three days ago.

For a moment, the once lively and laughing group fell silent at this chilling scene.

"It's likely that after they died, Monster Beasts devoured their flesh. Don't dwell on it," Nie Yuan said after a while, trying to comfort the others.

He didn't want the group to turn back upon just arriving at Demon Ridge, thus wasting all their efforts.

Ye Han frowned, crouched on the ground staring at the skeletons, then closed his eyes, sensing something.

"Demons!"

"The aura of five demons, not far from here."

Suddenly turning around, Ye Han looked at Nie Yuan: "I've read about Demon Ridge in the Primordial Void Records. Although demons roam freely, they are mostly near the Demon Gorge, not on the outer edges."

"Be careful, everyone!"

Ye Han then warned Nie Yuan and the others.

He Qingfeng forced a smile: "Brother, what kind of joke is this? How do you know they were killed by demons and not eaten by Monster Beasts after they died?"

"Monster Beasts wouldn't leave it so clean, and besides, these bones are stained with demon blood and carry the aura of Divine Power Realm demons," Ye Han said calmly.

Although they were all young disciples in their teens, Ye Han's survival experience was far beyond what these three could compare with. He had spent a considerable amount of time in the Cold Abyss Mining Area and had even witnessed underground demons devouring two disciples from the Flame Academy.

Monster Beasts were terrifying, but demons were even more dreadful!

Most low-tier Monster Beasts acted on instinct and ferocity, making them relatively simple to deal with. But underground demons were different; their intelligence was not inferior to humans.

"Humans, die!"

In an instant, the figures of five demons appeared, with a brutal voice resounding.

"Hmm?"

Ye Han turned around, immediately on guard.

It was as if what he had just mentioned had materialized; he had felt something was off when examining the skeletons, and now they had encountered demons, exactly the number he had speculated.