Chapter 2398: Chapter 2402: Arrival
"Elder Ouyang, let’s go! If we wait any longer, I’m afraid I’ll be reluctant to leave!"
Jiang Chen looked at the group from the academy and spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse.
Ouyang Song chuckled lightly, glanced at Jiang Chen, and turned to accelerate the flying boat.
Jiang Chen bowed deeply to the academy crowd, and only straightened his back when the flying boat had left the valley in front of the academy gate.
Staring at the increasingly distant peaks, Jiang Chen’s heart was filled with complex emotions.
This was the first place he came to in the Void Nether that gave him a sense of belonging. Jiang Chen believed that even if other places might give him a sense of belonging in the future, none would be as strong as that from Changlin Academy!
When his sight could no longer spot even a trace of the mountain range where the academy was located, Jiang Chen turned, sat cross-legged inside the flying boat, and began to calm his mind and meditate.
The crowd glanced at Jiang Chen, exchanged smiles, and all sat cross-legged, waiting to reach the destination.
Their first stop was outside the Demonic Beast Forest, where the academies of the region gathered those who passed the exam, led by their respective deans to assemble here.
Not every academy has the privilege of being picked up by the elders of the main court. Only the four branch academies have this honor, which highlights the distinctiveness of the four branch academies, encouraging other academies to diligently nurture outstanding students.
Upon reaching the Demonic Beast Forest, Jiang Chen was startled to find that although the students who passed the exam were still five hundred in number, they were not the original five hundred. Nearly half were those who had been previously eliminated.
This means that during subsequent exams, nearly half had their tasks interrupted by eliminated students and lost their slots.
Jiang Chen felt fortunate in this regard; his team task was too difficult to warrant arranged obstruction, while his solo task was an odd one of searching for someone, which also couldn’t be obstructed. Certainly, nobody could prevent others from finding and hiding someone first.
As a result, he didn’t encounter any obstruction from eliminated students.
Of course, even if he had, he wouldn’t be afraid, it would just mean those fellows were unlucky, losing what could have been an opportunity!
Once everyone gathered, Ouyang Song wasted no words, taking out ten larger flying boats, directing each junior academy to split into ten groups of fifty students each. These were commanded by the assisting academy elders or deans, flying toward the direction of Changling Academy.
During this journey, people from various academies were quietly sizing each other up, identifying potential threats.
However, nobody targeted Jiang Chen’s group; Jiang Chen’s ruthless behavior in the previous exam had deterred everyone from setting their sights on students of Changlin Academy. Even Qing Hai Academy and Fengchen Academy abandoned this chance to thwart Changlin Academy’s branch title.
It wasn’t that they didn’t want to; they simply lacked the strength!
A week of flight later, a vast forest appeared in front of everyone, broad as the Demonic Beast Forest.
"This is where our Changling Main Court is located, and this forest is the outer region of the Demonic Beast Forest. Within this area, there are numerous adventurer gathering points and many demonic beasts, with the highest grade reaching sixth-tier level."
"So, when you enter the academy and wish to venture outside, make sure to apply through your mentor, who will then accompany you out."
"Of course, if you feel your strength is sufficient to traverse this forest alone, nobody will stop you, but departing the court must be reported to your mentor or master!"
Ouyang Song explained loudly as they flew over the forest.
The students gazed curiously at the forest below, occasionally hearing bursts of beast roars and battle sounds.
Keer!
Suddenly, a giant eagle over ten zhang in length soared out from a part of the forest.
The giant eagle hovered above the flying boats, eyeing the students fiercely with bloodthirsty glimmer. Yet sensing multiple dangerous auras from each flying boat caused its fierce gaze to wane, though it begrudgingly followed alongside.
"That is the Golden Crown Giant Eagle, a sixth-tier pinnacle demonic beast adept in both the Dao of Wind and the Golden Path, and the overlord of the Demonic Beast Forest’s outskirts, as well as the greatest threat to outward-bound students."
Ouyang Song chuckled lightly in explanation.
The crowd closely observed the trailing eagle, its eyes a shade of green, and atop its head was a fleshy crest, glowing in lustrous gold.
"Elder Ouyang, why is the main court established in this Demonic Beast Forest?"
One student couldn’t help but inquire.
"Because our academy has a duty to guard this Demonic Beast Forest."
Ouyang Song’s eyes gleamed with pride, "After the Great Emperor unified the continent, numerous territories were allocated for the demonic beasts, and for each territory a guarding force was established. Our Changling Academy guards this vast, boundless Demonic Beast Forest."
"Of course, we guard only a central area spanning thousands of miles. Other parts are not under our jurisdiction."
His explanation paused before continuing, "Our academy guards here because within this thousand-mile span lies eighty percent of the Saint Realm demonic beasts, namely eighth-tier beasts, which are our primary focus!"
"Eighth-tier beasts?! Are there eighth-tier beasts in this forest?!"
The students exclaimed in surprise.
"Hehe, of course there are. Back then, demonic beasts were not weaker than us humans. Even though their numbers are much reduced now, strong ones are still abundant, as demonic beasts were once among the most numerous species in the Void Nether!"
Ouyang Song responded with a soft laugh, visibly uplifted after returning here.
This return signified his task was nearly done, and he wouldn’t have to roam around anymore.
"That is our Changling Academy. The vast region ahead, encompassing all that peaks, is our academy’s location!"
After flying for a while, when the giant eagle stopped trailing, a vast expanse of mountains and forests unfolded before their eyes.
This mountain range, even abruptly appearing amid the forest, stood alone with no other peaks elsewhere around.
This range was not circular or orderly; the mountains seemed to be scattered without pattern. Between these peaks lay forests, streams, palaces, pavilions, martial arts arenas, and more of varied kinds.
"This... Changling Main Court is so large!"
"Yes, it’s practically the size of a city!"
"I sense many powerful auras!"
The students exclaimed in admiration as they gazed at the sprawling mountain forests ahead, with various constructions emerging intermittently.
