After leaving the Heavenly Forging Pavilion, Ye Guchen went to the busiest market in Shang River City.
Other than buying some ordinary healing pills, he also bought a black mask and a black robe.
After all, Ye Guchen died because he was ambushed by Bei Danggui, one of the seven prodigies.
Although Ye Guchen had the talent of the Sword Demon and his understanding of the Way of the Sword, his cultivation was far inferior to the other prodigies.
He was like a three-year-old child who had reached the peak of martial arts but no strength. He could not beat a strong man who only had brute force.
Although sword skills were important, cultivation was equally important.
"Once I reach the peak of the Body Refinement Realm and the Body Metamorphosis Scripture, I will be able to compete with an expert of the Essence Realm." Ye Guchen decided that he had to make a breakthrough in this trip to the Cloud Valley Mountain Range.
The Cloud Valley Mountain Range was located at the intersection of the Milky Way Prefecture, Yuanyang Prefecture, and Beichen Prefecture. It was a vast mountain range.
There were many ferocious beasts roaming around the periphery of the mountain range. Demonic beasts roamed around the center of the mountain range. As for the inner part of the mountain range, it was rarely visited by humans. It was a dangerous place with only a slim chance of survival.
Ye Guchen rented a Scarlet Qilin Horse that could travel a thousand miles in a day and soon arrived at the periphery of the Cloud Valley Mountain Range.
Cultivators and martial artists came to the Cloud Valley Mountain Range to train all year round. Naturally, it formed a circle around the periphery of the mountain range.
In the market, there were many Beast Hunting Squads recruiting people.
These Beast Hunting Squads were mostly experienced and knew where there were Spiritual Herbs and Demonic Beasts. Ye Guchen thought for a moment, put on the black mask, and went to a Beast Hunting Squad.
This Beast Hunting Squad was called Chi Yan and they were recruiting people.
Ye Guchen went up and after a simple introduction, he joined them.
"Big Brother Shan Mu, that kid is only at the fifth level of the Body Refinement Realm. He will only be a burden if we pull him in." A pretty girl with short red hair and wearing leather armor complained.
"We can't recruit anyone. We will recruit as many as we can." The strong man called Shan Mu said.
"Hey, sneaky brat, my Big Brother Shan Mu is an Essence Origin Third Stage expert. If you don't want to lose your life in the Cloud Valley Mountain Range, you'd better follow closely." The short-haired girl, Su Ya, coldly snorted.
Ye Guchen smiled indifferently and ignored him.
The outer regions of the Cloud Valley Mountain Range were considered safer than the inner regions of the central regions, but that was only in comparison.
An Essence Realm expert might be able to handle the outer perimeter with ease, but a Body Tempering Realm expert would face the risk of death.
This was also the reason why Su Ya disliked Ye Guchen so much.
There were eleven people in the Red Flame Hunting Team, including Ye Guchen. Except for Ye Guchen and a warrior who was good at scouting, the rest were all Essence Origin Realm experts.
"Be careful, it's a Cyan Scaled Leopard!" The martial artist in charge of the investigation shouted in a low voice. Everyone in the Flaming Red Squad immediately perked up.
Roar!
A group of Viridian Leopards flashed through the jungle, and then pounced on the Flaming Red Squad.
"Kill!" Shan Mu roared. He raised his pitch-black sword and slashed at a Green-Scaled Leopard.
Su Ya was also quite experienced. Without the slightest fear, she picked up the crescent moon dagger and rushed forward.
Ye Guchen was the only one who remained where he was.
"Humph, as timid as a mouse." Su Ya caught a glimpse of Ye Guchen from the corner of her eye and thought he was scared silly.
"Viridian Leopard, an unranked fierce beast, but its speed is fast. It can be used to hone a fast sword." Ye Guchen secretly thought.
Ye Guchen's purpose in coming to the Cloud Valley Mountain Range, in addition to finding Qi and Blood Spirit Herbs, was mainly to hone his swordsmanship.
With the combat experience of Sword Demon, Ye Guchen's swordsmanship was actually not bad. The only thing lacking was the degree of running-in with his body.
Roar!
At this moment, a Viridian Leopard seemed to have found Ye Guchen alone. In its eyes, he was already fresh and delicious food. It could not help but pounce on Ye Guchen.
"Little brother, be careful!" Shan Mu saw this and shouted. However, he was too far away and could not do anything.
"Humph, I'm afraid he's scared silly." Su Ya was fighting with a Viridian Leopard, but she was watching Ye Guchen from the corner of her eye.
She had no intention of saving Ye Guchen, even though she was the closest to Ye Guchen.
"The biggest difference between the swordsmanship of my previous life and the swordsmanship of this life is the use of Qi Essence. In my previous life, I used inner strength. They are not the same." Facing the Viridian Leopard's attack, Ye Guchen acted as if he did not hear it.
"Weaklings should not come to the Cloud Valley Mountain Range. They are just throwing their lives away." Su Ya shook her head.
Just when everyone thought Ye Guchen was about to die, Ye Guchen finally moved.
The Vitality Ring on his finger flashed.
One sword!
It was just a single sword strike!
Like a flash of light, the sharp edge of the sword cut through the air and passed through the neck of the Viridian Leopard as if it was cutting paper.
The sword flashed. Ye Guchen, holding the Tribulation Dust in his hand, frowned and was still thinking.
The air seemed to be frozen.
Puchi!
The next moment, the head of the Viridian Leopard fell down, and the cut on its neck was as smooth as a mirror.
Hiss!
The surrounding Flaming Red Squad martial artists were all shocked in their hearts.
To be honest, the Viridian Leopard was indeed not a monster beast. It was just an ordinary fierce beast, but even so, with its speed, even an ordinary Profound Origin Realm warrior would have to spend a lot of effort to kill it.
However, Ye Guchen, who was only at the fifth level of the Body Refining Realm, actually killed a Viridian Leopard with one sword.
Shan Mu's pupils shrank. He asked himself, if that sword had been aimed at him, he could not guarantee that he could have taken it.
Because it was too fast!
It was too fast to be seen with the naked eye!
As for Su Ya, her round little mouth was agape, and the shock in her heart did not dissipate for a long time.
After this, several more Viridian Leopards pounced on Ye Guchen, but without exception, they were all beheaded by Ye Guchen with one sword.
Not long after, the whole group of Viridian Leopards was wiped out, and the ground was covered in blood. This kind of bloody smell was the easiest to attract fierce beasts. If one was unlucky, even some low-level monsters might be attracted.
"Let's leave quickly." Shan Mu waved his hand and called for the Flaming Red Squad to leave.
After getting a safe place, Shan Mu and the others rested on the spot and looked at Ye Guchen.
"Little brother, you really don't show off. Although your cultivation is only at the fifth level of the Body Refining Realm, your strength is not weaker than us Profound Origin Realm warriors." Shan Mu looked at Ye Guchen and smiled.
On the side, Su Ya's face was also a little hot. After all, she had ridiculed Ye Guchen along the way.
But she could imagine that facing Ye Guchen's swift sword, Su Ya knew that it would be difficult for her to withstand it.
At this moment, she looked at Ye Guchen with less disdain and more curiosity.
"It's just an insignificant trick, not enough to reach the apex." Ye Guchen waved his hand and did not want to say anything more.
After a long while, Shan Mu seemed to have made up his mind. He looked at Ye Guchen and said, "Little brother, do you know what our Flaming Red Squad's mission is in the Cloud Valley Mountain Range this time?"
"Mission?" Ye Guchen was puzzled.
"Little brother, don't tell me you don't know about the recent news in the Cloud Valley Mountain Range?" Shan Mu asked back.
"What news?" Ye Guchen was confused.
Su Ya suddenly interjected, "Of course it's about the Dragon Blood Transformation Fruit appearing in the central region of the Cloud Valley Mountain Range."
"Dragon Blood Transformation Fruit!"
Ye Guchen's eyes suddenly narrowed.
He knew about the Dragon Blood Transformation Fruit. It was an Upper Grade Spirit Medicine. Rumor had it that it contained a trace of Dragon Qi and vigorous life essence. Its value was far greater than the Blood Spirit Vermillion Fruit that Ye Guchen had refined before.
A Dragon Blood Transformation Fruit was probably worth more than a thousand crystal jades.
"The appearance of the Dragon Blood Transformation Fruit has attracted the attention of various experts. Those young experts are also willing to hire us to pay attention to the movement of the Dragon Blood Transformation Fruit and pass the news to them as soon as possible," Shan Mu said.
"So you were hired?" Ye Guchen asked.
"Yes, the one who hired us is Princess Yuanyang of Yuanyang Prefecture. Princess Yuanyang is determined to get the Dragon Blood Transformation Fruit," Shan Mu said.
It was her?
Ye Guchen raised his eyebrows. He did not expect to meet the person who said she wanted to take him as a Sword Attendant so soon.
"Of course, in addition to Princess Yuanyang, I heard that the Bei Family and Wang Family of Tianhe Prefecture, and the Situ Family of Beichen Prefecture have all sent young experts to compete for the Dragon Blood Transformation Fruit."
Bei Family!
Wang Family!
Ye Guchen's black eyes narrowed slightly. He was familiar with the Bei Family. Bei Danggui was the most famous genius of the Bei Family. He was also the one who framed Ye Guchen and killed him.
The Wang Family, like the Bei Family and the Xia Family, was one of the Five Aristocratic Families of Tianhe Prefecture.
As for the Situ Family of Beichen Prefecture, although Ye Guchen did not know much about them, he believed that they were not weaker than the Five Aristocratic Families of Tianhe Prefecture.
Ye Guchen guessed that the geniuses might not show up to compete for the Dragon Blood Transformation Fruit this time, but the geniuses who were only second to the geniuses would definitely come.
For example, Princess Yuanyang was a Rank Four genius.
"Then why don't they compete directly, but hire a hunting team to pay attention to it?" Ye Guchen asked.
"Little brother, you may not know, but all the treasures of heaven and earth are guarded by demonic beasts. The one who occupies the Dragon Blood Transformation Fruit is said to be a terrifying demonic beast that is about to transform into a flood dragon, the Golden-eyed Horned Dragon Python!" Shan Mu answered.
"A Rank Three demonic beast!" Ye Guchen raised his eyebrows.
Demonic beasts like the Green-Scaled Leopard were only considered Acquired Demonic Beasts.
Only Demonic Beasts that breathed in the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth could enter the Connate Realm and condense a Monster Core in their body to transform into a demonic beast.
The strength of demonic beasts was divided into nine ranks, from the lowest to the highest.
Even an ordinary Qi Refining Grandmaster would find it difficult to face a Rank Three demonic beast head-on.
"This Golden-eyed Horned Dragon Python is too difficult to deal with. Only when it enters the flood dragon transformation stage and begins to transform can it be killed. Only then will we have a chance to compete for the Dragon Blood Transformation Fruit." Shan Mu explained.
"I see." Ye Guchen nodded slightly.
He was determined to get the Dragon Blood Transformation Fruit.