C13 Wasteland Accident

The Devil Dragon Wasteland stretched far and wide, lying on the fringes of the North Star Country. Qiao Gao, like a seasoned hunter, led the group through twists and turns, effortlessly shaking off the Corpse King's pursuit. In no time, they had left the mining area behind and stepped onto the Wasteland.

For countless years, the Devil Dragon Wasteland had been a silent graveyard, rumored to hold the remnants of numerous sects. Its most infamous tale was of the 'Ancient Battle,' one of two legendary conflicts. A Devil Dragon, a Divine Beast no less, met its bloody end here. Its divine blood tainted all life, seeping into the earth to form a vast Origin Stone Mining Area below.

The mining area lay beneath, with the Wasteland sprawling above. A millennium ago, the Devil Dragon Mining Area thrived, teeming with martial artists mining Origin Stones, giving rise to countless dynasties and sects.

Yet, ten thousand years have turned all that prosperity into mere echoes of the past, particularly after the cataclysmic 'World Destruction Battle,' the second of the legendary battles. Invading forces from other lands pillaged the mines, and the demon beasts were nearly wiped out...

Desolation and barrenness now reigned as the unchanging rulers of this land.

Stepping out from the mining area, Qiao Gao surveyed his surroundings and immediately noticed a drastic transformation of the Wasteland. The Origin Energy was now several times more concentrated than before—a chilling development. The once-dead colossal trees, with their blackened and rotting trunks, were sprouting fresh green shoots, as though on the cusp of resurrection.

A thick scent of blood wafted through the air, prompting Qiao Gao to wrinkle his brow in distaste. Drawing closer for a better look, he involuntarily inhaled sharply.

A stone's throw away lay a mass of demonic beast carcasses strewn across the rocks. The majority were Rank One beasts, interspersed with the occasional Rank Two, and even a few Rank Three creatures.

In that moment, as Hwang Ningxue gazed upon the slain beasts, her expression turned grave. "These demonic beasts are laid out with deliberate precision, and all the demonic cores have been removed, as if they've been..."

"This is a Soul Refining Altar. Someone has offered up the battle souls of these demonic beasts to harness the purest soul power!" Qiao Gao declared solemnly. "We shouldn't linger here. Those responsible are likely still in the vicinity. We need to get out of here immediately."

Upon hearing this, Hwang Ningxue nodded in agreement.

To construct a Soul Refining Altar and resort to such barbaric acts to slaughter demonic beasts for their soul power is the hallmark of an evil Soul Master! Should we cross paths with such a vile Soul Master, our fate would be all too clear.

Legend has it that after the 'World Destruction War', the Devil Dragon Wasteland was left cursed, a prison for innumerable evil cults and demonic gods. Yet now, the wasteland is stirring back to life. Trees and flowers are burgeoning like spring after a downpour, and even ancient trees, which have stood uncorrupted for eons, are bursting anew with life.

Qiao Gao, guiding a group of students through their assessment, weaved through the forest. The thirty-meter-tall ancient trees grew denser, and they even encountered a forest of hundred-meter-tall trees, disorienting them to the point of losing all sense of direction.

The deeper they ventured, the more ferocious the roars of demon beasts became. Most alarming of all was that Qiao Gao had led them straight to the lairs of Rank Three, Rank Four, and even Rank Five demon beasts. Such formidable creatures were a challenge even for the dean to confront, let alone with a group of new students in tow.

"Hey, Qiao Gao, are you sure we're on the right path? It feels like we're only going deeper into the Wasteland," one student questioned.

"Yeah, we just skirted a Rank Five demon beast's lair. Are you sure you know what you're doing?" another added.

Sensing the unease among the students, Qiao Gao turned and snapped, "Silence! There are demon beasts engaged in battle!"

The Devil Dragon Wasteland was awakening, its primal energy thick in the air, revealing ancient ruins brimming with countless treasures and medicinal herbs, over which demon beasts fought fiercely.

In the distance, a colossal snake with wings nestled in its belly rose into the sky, spewing black flames onto a stone mountain.

"Oh my god! That's a Rank Nine Demon Beast – the Black Flame Winged Snake."

Students gasped in shock.

Despite being tens of miles away, the oppressive aura of the Black Flame Winged Snake was so overwhelming that they struggled to catch their breath. Everyone except Qiao Gao and Hwang Ningxue was forced to the ground, shaking uncontrollably.

A Rank Nine Demon Beast was formidable enough to instill fear in the most exceptional Life Connecting Stage masters, and even more so for those at the Vein Connecting Stage.

Atop the massive stone mountain, a colossal spider loomed, hundreds of feet in size, with a grotesque human face on its abdomen. Its body shone with a golden hue, as if forged from gold itself, and its eight legs carved through the solid rock as easily as if it were tofu.

This was the Golden Abyssal Spider, another Rank Nine Demon Beast, rumored to carry the bloodline of the Golden Divine Clan, making its power truly fearsome.

The two Rank Nine Demon Beasts were locked in combat over a spirit fruit at the peak of the mountain. Even at a great distance, Qiao Gao could sense the potent life force emanating from the fruit. What sort of spirit fruit could provoke such a fierce battle between these colossal creatures? Too far to discern its details, Qiao Gao could only wonder.

"Roar~~"

"Back off, Winged Snake. I found this spirit fruit first!" boasted the Golden Abyssal Spider, its lineage from the Golden Divine Clan evident as it spoke in human tongue.

In contrast, the Black Flame Winged Snake communicated with a voice made of pure essence energy, its arrogance manifesting in a chilling screech.

The battle raged, its shockwaves reaching far and wide, claiming the lives of Rank Five and even Rank Seven Demon Beasts. The terror of the clash sent beasts fleeing en masse from a hundred miles around.

Indeed, this clash was the catalyst for the Beast Tide in the Devil Dragon Wasteland. Eyes gleaming with opportunity, Qiao Gao dashed toward the fray, eager to risk the dangers for the chance to harvest the Beast Cores or blood essence from the fallen high-rank Demon Beasts.

Beast Cores were not only rich in essence energy but also held the sealed battle spirits of the Demon Beasts. Consequently, they fetched a high price in yuan crystals, with those above Rank Three being particularly valuable.

"Qiao Gao, are you trying to get us killed? Move it and get us out of here, now! We're no match for the fallout from a Rank Nine Demonic Beast battle; even a brush with the residual energy could annihilate us!"

"Someone's been knocked unconscious, bleeding from every orifice."

Fear gripped everyone as they urged Qiao Gao to make a swift exit. The mere presence of a Rank Nine Demonic Beast was overwhelmingly terrifying.

Yet, Qiao Gao was filled with reluctance. Before him lay a trove of high-level Demonic Beast carcasses, casualties of the battle's ripple effects. They were like mountains of gold and silver within sight yet beyond reach.

Alone, Qiao Gao might have seized the opportunity to harvest a few precious Beast Cores from the high-level Demonic Beasts. But with a group of Vein Connecting Stage students in tow, he wasn't about to take any risks.

"Let's go." With a last, longing glance at the high-level Demonic Beast remains, Qiao Gao turned his back on the potential fortune and vanished into the endless wilderness.

Come evening, Qiao Gao had led them to the rear mountains of Great Flame City, with Flowing Cloud Academy just a stone's throw away. Hwang Ningxue was profoundly stunned, her gaze fixed on Qiao Gao with a mix of awe and curiosity. Despite her frequent training expeditions, she couldn't match Qiao Gao's intimate knowledge of the Devil Dragon Mining Area.

"Who exactly is Qiao Gao?" Hwang Ningxue pondered, watching his retreating figure, her mind swirling with questions.

The students, having narrowly escaped death, were ecstatic. They vocally shed the stress of their recent ordeal. Each held a token from Senior Sister Hwang Ningxue, a promise that come morning, they'd be processing their enrollment at Flowing Cloud Academy and officially joining its ranks.

The excitement was palpable, and they were all eager to celebrate, extending an invitation to Qiao Gao.

He declined with a shake of his head. In his view, his power was still lacking. He had only unlocked two Yuan Meridians, and despite one being of the legendary Holy Rank, activating it required an immense amount of elemental energy, not to mention the significant drawbacks.

Particularly after crossing Bai Jutian, a figure known for his merciless and vindictive nature, Qiao Gao's standing was precarious. Despite being his family's heir, his position within the clan was far from secure.

He had indeed inherited the vast repository of knowledge from the Myriad Tribulation Pill Monarch, but he was still in need of time to mature.

"I must grow stronger as quickly as possible!" Qiao Gao resolved internally. With the resurgence of the Devil Dragon Wasteland, he could sense an impending upheaval—not just for Great Flame City, but for the entire North Star Country.