On this day, four figures slowly stood on the edge of the vast mountain range.
These four were Lin Chu, Su Jinlong, Chen Lingang, and Chen Desheng, who had left the Young Sect once more.
Looking at the vast mountain range before him, a complex expression flickered across Lin Chu's face.
It was in the depths of this vast mountain range that he had inadvertently stumbled upon an opportunity. Now, he could no longer see his master. Unless his strength could surpass his master's, he could not break through the barrier his master had set.
But by then, his master would likely no longer be in this world.
"Master, please rest assured! I will take good care of Sister Xia!" Lin Chu thought silently, then waved his hand, and the four of them once again majestically entered the vast mountain range.
Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, Lin Chu and the other three had spent a full three months in the vast mountain range. Both Qu Yanxia and Bai Yuwei had not objected to Lin Chu going to the vast mountain range to cultivate.
Lin Chu had already reached the early stage of the Spirit Soul realm, so they did not have many worries.
Boom!
In the middle of the vast mountain range, as the fourth-tier Fire Spirit Python fell to the ground with a loud thud, Su Jinlong, Chen Desheng, and Chen Lingang's faces were instantly filled with excitement. With their combined efforts, they had finally killed this fourth-tier Fire Spirit Python.
Lin Chu, who was observing from the side, also showed a trace of praise. In the past three months, Su Jinlong, Chen Lingang, and Chen Desheng's strength had improved significantly. Their combat power had risen linearly through continuous battles.
Although it would not take him much time to deal with this Fire Spirit Python, it was a breakthrough for Su Jinlong and the other two.
"Alright, pack up, we need to head back to the Young Sect," Lin Chu said with a smile, looking at the three who were still reluctant to leave.
The year-long deadline set by Elder Yang Yun was now only half a month away.
Su Jinlong had now broken through to the advanced stage of the Spirit Mirror, and even Chen Desheng and Chen Lingang had reached the intermediate stage of the Spirit Mirror. Therefore, Lin Chu planned to start returning to the Young Sect to prepare for an opportunity mentioned by Elder Yang Yun.
"Time flies, doesn't it? Three months have passed without us even realizing it," Su Jinlong said with a hint of nostalgia. With Lin Chu observing by their side, the three of them had no fear of running out of power when fighting.
It was precisely because of this that the three of them had put themselves in a desperate situation and their strength had broken through rapidly. Now that Lin Chu had spoken, the three of them understood what he meant. Even Su Jinlong, upon learning of the agreement between Elder Yang Yun and Lin Chu, felt envious.
After all, anything that a Spirit Venerable realm expert called an opportunity was bound to be extraordinary.
"Senior Brother Lin Chu, my junior brother Desheng and I may not be able to break through to the Spirit Soul realm. However, with you alone, I believe that opportunity will surely be yours. With you looking out for us then, I don't think anyone will dare to bully us."
Chen Lingang also stepped forward at this moment, saying with a smile.
"Senior Brother Lingang, even if we both broke through to the Spirit Soul realm, I fear that opportunity would still be out of our reach. With Senior Brother Lin Chu's talent and comprehension, how could we compare?" Chen Desheng also walked over and said.
Clearly, Chen Lingang and Chen Desheng had let go of their expectations. No cultivator was not tempted by an opportunity. However, with their current strength not meeting the requirements, they naturally placed their hopes on Lin Chu.
"Alright, you two stop flattering me. We don't even know what the opportunity Elder Yang Yun is talking about yet. Let's pack up and rest for a moment before we set off," Lin Chu said with a smile.
Lin Chu would naturally not let go of such an opportunity. As his strength gradually increased, Lin Chu had also felt the power of cultivators. Coupled with the promise he made to Master Yang Song, how could he protect without strength? And to have enough strength, opportunities were naturally the fastest path.
After resting for a quarter of an hour, Lin Chu and the other three set off towards the Young Sect.
After Lin Chu and the other three left the central part of the vast mountain range, Liu Feichen and the Great Elder flew out from the depths of the vast mountain range with expressions of disappointment.
"I didn't expect this senior's strength to be so powerful. We couldn't even break through a single formation barrier. Such a powerful expert, perhaps only those in the Anwu Hall are comparable."
After flying out from the depths of the vast mountain range, Liu Feichen and the Great Elder stopped. Liu Feichen looked back at the depths of the vast mountain range and said with emotion.
"Sect Master, you need not be disheartened. It's not just our Young Sect that cannot open that formation barrier. As the Sect Master has seen, none of the other four sects present could move it in the slightest. Thus, the balance of power among our five factions will not be broken, which can be considered a blessing in disguise."
The Great Elder said with a slight bow.
"That's all we can think of now. Let's go. The Liuluo Sect brought a disciple this time. Judging by his strength, he should have broken through to the advanced stage of the Spirit Master realm. If he has broken through, his strength could be that of an elder of a faction. And we have never heard of this disciple before. We must investigate thoroughly when we return."
Liu Feichen nodded, then frowned slightly.
In the Northern Region, outstanding disciples from the five major factions had a certain level of popularity. And the competition between the five major factions was extremely fierce, so these outstanding disciples had entered the eyes of various factions.
Now that Liu Tula, the Sect Master of the Liuluo Sect, personally brought a disciple, it showed his importance. And the grievances between the Young Sect and the Liuluo Sect were complex, so Liu Feichen paid extra attention.
After all, even among the top ten outstanding disciples of the Young Sect, only two had broken through to the intermediate stage of the Spirit Master realm, which was why Liu Feichen attached so much importance to it.
"Sect Master, rest assured, I will pay attention when we return. However, in my opinion, this disciple is likely Liu Tula's backup plan for the grand competition. Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought him along." The Great Elder expressed his opinion.
"Hmph! Liu Tula's desire to climb onto the Anwu Hall's back has long been evident. When we return, you must intensify the training of our disciples." Liu Feichen nodded.
If the Liuluo Sect managed to ally with the Anwu Hall, the Young Sect's future would be extremely difficult.
"Yes." The Great Elder nodded.
In the management pavilion for ordinary disciples of the Young Sect, Lin Chu respectfully bowed to Elder Yang Yun before him. Standing beside him was another disciple, Shi Wendong, who had emerged from his year-long seclusion.
To be honest, Lin Chu was greatly surprised when he learned that Shi Wendong had also broken through to the Spirit Soul realm. His own breakthrough to the Spirit Soul realm was largely due to Master Yang Song. Coupled with his experience in the vast mountain range, this achievement was not surprising.
However, Shi Wendong had been cultivating in seclusion within the Young Sect, and after a year of seclusion, he had reached the Spirit Soul realm, which left Lin Chu very puzzled. At the same time, Lin Chu understood that everyone's path was different, and perhaps Shi Wendong's background was far beyond what he imagined.
Looking at Lin Chu and Shi Wendong, Yang Yun's eyes were filled with relief. He then cleared his throat and slowly said, "Very good! I didn't expect that with more than ten days left before the one-year deadline, you two would have met the requirements and broken through to the Spirit Soul realm."
"Since that is the case, I will fulfill my promise of granting you both an opportunity. However, who gets to obtain it will depend on your own fortune."
As Elder Yang Yun finished speaking, Lin Chu and Shi Wendong exchanged a glance.
Then Lin Chu looked at Elder Yang Yun and said, "Elder, didn't you say that we could both obtain this opportunity? Why does it sound like only one of us can get it?"
Elder Yang Yun looked at Lin Chu, then at Shi Wendong, and said, "There is only one opportunity in this world. Whoever obtains it is already destined. It is still too early to say that one of you can obtain this opportunity."
"It is possible that neither of you will be able to obtain it. In any case, it all depends on your own fortune. Of course, if one of you does not obtain the opportunity, I will not treat him unfairly. After it is over, there will be a certain compensation."
As Elder Yang Yun finished speaking, Lin Chu and Shi Wendong exchanged another glance. Elder Yang Yun's meaning was clear: opportunities require fated individuals. And from this moment on, the two of them were competitors.
"Senior Brother Lin Chu, if I find it first, I will not hold back," Shi Wendong also revealed his attitude at this moment. After all, an opportunity was extremely important to a cultivator.
"Then it will depend on our individual abilities," Lin Chu nodded. If Shi Wendong did not give up, he naturally would not back down.
Seeing that Lin Chu and Shi Wendong were already getting tense, Elder Yang Yun smiled slightly and said, "Competition between each other is a good thing, but only before obtaining the opportunity. If one of you obtains the opportunity, the other is not allowed to forcibly attack. Alright, follow me."
As Elder Yang Yun stood up, Lin Chu and Shi Wendong also stood up and followed closely behind.
As they left the pavilion, Elder Yang Yun waved his hand, and Lin Chu and Shi Wendong felt a surge of spiritual energy. Their bodies lightened, and they rose into the air, instantly flying out of Shaoyin Mountain in the Young Sect.
After about half an hour, Lin Chu felt his body ease and stop.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a desolate area, with endless yellow sand stretching as far as the eye could see. Elder Yang Yun was standing with his back to him, seemingly searching for something.
Lin Chu and Shi Wendong exchanged glances, with a clear trace of confusion in their eyes.
"Hmm, it's still here. It seems that you two have a chance to try this opportunity." A moment later, Elder Yang Yun's eyebrows twitched, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Elder Yang Yun, where is this place? It feels so far from our Young Sect," Shi Wendong looked around and then bowed slightly to Elder Yang Yun and asked.
Lin Chu also looked at Elder Yang Yun curiously. Given Elder Yang Yun's Spirit Venerable realm strength, flying for half an hour must have taken them quite far.
"This is the border between our Young Sect and the Liuluo Sect. Beyond this Flowing Sand River is the territory of the Liuluo Sect," Elder Yang Yun turned around and said with a smile.
"Flowing Sand River? Elder Yang Yun, are you mistaken? This is a barren desert, where is there any sign of a river?" Shi Wendong's confusion deepened.
"Hehe, you haven't been here before, so you naturally don't know. This is indeed the Flowing Sand River. Every fifty years, the Flowing Sand River will turn back into a river. After flowing for a year, it will return to its current state. This is also why I asked you to break through to the Spirit Soul realm within a year."
Elder Yang Yun smiled at this and patiently explained.
"How magical!" Lin Chu and Shi Wendong were both shocked.
Elder Yang Yun nodded and continued, "When the Flowing Sand River begins to rise, Five-Spotted Dragon Fish will appear. These Five-Spotted Dragon Fish are fifth-grade, but they only have the strength of third-grade beasts."
"With your Spirit Soul realm strength, dealing with them should not be a problem. And the opportunity I mentioned is the Five-Spotted Dragon Fish King."
Lin Chu and Shi Wendong said in unison, "The Five-Spotted Dragon Fish King?"