Chapter 27: Imperial Phoenix Grass

Wusheng Academy. They were disciples of Wusheng Academy as well.

Hearing Mo Changhen's words, Chu Fengmian thought to himself that it seemed he truly had a destiny with Wusheng Academy. First, he had encountered that Young Hall Master, and now he had run into these five young people.

However, these five youths were much better than that Young Hall Master; they lacked an arrogant and overbearing attitude and valued friendship and righteousness. It was precisely because of this that Chu Fengmian chose to lend them a hand.

"Lin Wucheng, Chu Fengmian," Chu Fengmian said calmly, glancing at Mo Changhen.

"Lin Wucheng..."

Mo Changhen was somewhat shocked. This place was not famous; on the contrary, it was extremely obscure. With Chu Fengmian's terrifying strength, he actually came from such an unremarkable place? They had assumed Chu Fengmian would be a genius nurtured by a major power, but they never expected him to be from a mere remote small town.

"Brother Chu, we owe you a great debt for your help this time. Otherwise, we would have all died at the hands of that Mountain Rock Savage Bear!" a young man said hurriedly in gratitude.

The man looked young, perhaps sixteen or seventeen years old, and was currently in a state of extreme excitement after having narrowly escaped death.

"Haolan, you have the nerve to say that? If you hadn't just egged Senior Brother Mo on, why would we have wanted to hunt that Mountain Rock Savage Bear in the first place?" a young woman complained, though her tone had relaxed significantly.

"My name is Yun Jialan, also an inner disciple of Wusheng Academy."

"I am Wang He."

"I am Yue Zhanqing," said the youngest-looking girl last.

"Thank you for saving us, Brother Chu."

"No need for thanks. It was just a small matter," Chu Fengmian replied calmly.

His rescue of them was merely a coincidence; he had simply come following the roars of the Mountain Rock Savage Bear and helped them on his way. He had not come seeking any reward.

"With your current strength, it is still too dangerous here. You should head to the outer perimeter of the Desolate Mountain Range. If you encounter some Body Tempering Realm demon beasts, you might not be so lucky," Chu Fengmian said, looking at them.

Chu Fengmian could tell that these people were likely young disciples of Wusheng Academy who had only recently ventured out for experience. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been so reckless as to try and hunt a Mountain Rock Savage Bear.

"Yes..."

The five of them all blushed. Had it not been for Chu Fengmian, that Mountain Rock Savage Bear would have been enough to take their lives. Looking at Chu Fengmian's Bone Tempering Realm, Eighth Layer cultivation as he spoke to them, a strange feeling rose in their hearts.

However, cultivation realms meant nothing; strength was the only truth. Chu Fengmian had just been able to slay a Mountain Rock Savage Bear single-handedly; such strength was likely greater than the five of them combined.

*Where did this monster come from? Fighting across realms... even those monster geniuses from Wusheng Academy can't compare to him,* the five of them couldn't help but think.

Their Wusheng Academy was known as the gathering place for geniuses of the Wusheng Kingdom, housing countless talents. Generally speaking, being able to fight across one minor realm was enough to be called a genius, and fighting across two minor realms made one a genius among geniuses.

But fighting across realms like this—from the Bone Tempering Realm to the Body Tempering Realm—was unprecedented for Wusheng Academy. Furthermore, Chu Fengmian wasn't dealing with a Body Tempering Realm martial artist, but a Mountain Rock Savage Bear. Demon beasts of the same realm were far more difficult to deal with than martial artists of the same realm.

Compared to Chu Fengmian, the so-called geniuses they had seen in the academy seemed like trash.

"Be careful when you leave. I shall be departing as well," Chu Fengmian instructed with a glance before preparing to leave.

Hunting that Mountain Rock Savage Bear had allowed Chu Fengmian to gauge his current strength. At the very least, he was capable of hunting demon beasts that had just entered the Body Tempering Realm. This meant he could now choose to hunt Body Tempering Realm demon beasts. The more he fought against stronger opponents, the faster his strength and swordsmanship would improve.

"Brother Chu, wait!"

Seeing Chu Fengmian about to leave, Haolan suddenly called out to him.

"Did Brother Chu come to this Desolate Mountain Range for training as well?"

"Indeed." Chu Fengmian turned around and nodded.

He had come to the Desolate Mountain Range for two reasons: first, for training, and second, to hunt demon beasts to obtain demon cores, which could be exchanged for medicinal pills outside. A single demon core from an Eighth Layer Bone Tempering Realm beast was enough to exchange for several Body Tempering Pills. For Chu Fengmian, this was exactly the time he needed pills. Therefore, he planned to hunt many demon beasts in these mountains to acquire cores.

"Then, would Brother Chu like to join us?" Haolan suddenly asked.

"Junior Brother Hao," Wang He said from the side, frowning, attempting to stop Haolan from continuing.

"Senior Brother Wang, Brother Chu has just saved our lives; naturally, we must repay him. Besides, as you can see, the Desolate Mountain Range is full of dangers. With our current strength, it would be too difficult to obtain the Imperial Phoenix Grass."

"Imperial Phoenix Grass?"

Hearing this name, a strange glint passed through Chu Fengmian's eyes.

The Imperial Phoenix Grass was a top-tier Earth-grade spiritual medicine. For martial artists, it had the effect of consolidating one's essence and foundation, especially for those under the age of thirty. A single Imperial Phoenix Grass was enough to change one's natural aptitude. It could be said that one plant was enough to create a peerless genius. Because of this, the price of the Imperial Phoenix Grass was even higher than some Heaven-grade spiritual medicines.

Noticing the change in Chu Fengmian's expression, Haolan continued, "That's right, Brother Chu. Just now, when we passed a pool of water, we discovered several stalks of Imperial Phoenix Grass on a small island in the center. However, there is a Ghost Water Cold Snake in that pool with strength reaching the Body Tempering Realm."

"We were originally planning to call the academy elders to help us deal with the Ghost Water Cold Snake, but if we have Brother Chu's help, perhaps we can deal with it and take the Imperial Phoenix Grass."

The Ghost Water Cold Snake.

Among demon beasts, this was an extremely powerful species. Legend had it that the Ghost Water Cold Snake possessed the bloodline of a Flood Dragon, and through growth and cultivation, it could eventually transform into one. An adult Ghost Water Cold Snake would typically have strength reaching the peak of the Body Tempering Realm. However, judging by Haolan's words, this snake was likely not yet an adult.

If it had only just entered the Body Tempering Realm, Chu Fengmian was not without the ability to fight it. Moreover, the value of the Imperial Phoenix Grass was of great use to him.

"If it can truly be obtained, I want one Imperial Phoenix Grass," Chu Fengmian said, looking at Haolan.

"No problem!" Haolan agreed instantly, then turned his head to look at Mo Changhen. "What about Senior Brother Mo?"