At the far end of the lush mountains, a slender figure emerged slowly from the deep forest. As the figure appeared, a faint scent of blood and sharpness began to radiate outwards. Within a ten-li radius, any beast sensing this aroma instantly grew startled and darted away in panic. After exiting the mountain range, it took nearly twenty days of continuous travel for Xiao Yan, during which he lived a rugged, nomadic life. Though demanding, the vast forest truly proved to be an excellent place for personal growth. Although Xiao Yan now appeared somewhat disheveled—his clothes stained with the blood of various beasts, his hair wild and untamed, resembling a wild man—the initial sense of danger had seemingly vanished. Yet, only those with keen perception could notice that the sense of threat had not disappeared at all—it had simply been embedded deep within his very being. A person who may appear unimpressive on the surface but whose essence radiates danger is truly formidable, for such a person can deliver a fatal blow with subtle, unnoticed precision. Standing at the end of the mountain range, gazing down at the broad road beneath the peaks, watching the figures coming and going and the bustling sounds of life, Xiao Yan found his spirit growing somewhat hazy. Indeed, cultivation was a lonely and monotonous pursuit; the efforts and solitude required to become a revered strength in others' eyes were far beyond what ordinary people could imagine. This truth had first dawned upon him when he left Utan City years ago, and now, having lived through these years, he understood it more deeply—especially as he had personally felt it so profoundly over time. "The energy tides of the Thatu Mountain Range should also be beginning now, though fortunately the distance here is not far from there. With my speed, I'll be able to reach it within half a day..." Xiao Yan withdrew a map from his storage ring, studied it carefully, then turned his gaze toward the northern horizon, murmuring softly to himself. As he spoke, a subtle tremor ran through his back, and gradually, a pair of emerald flame wings unfolded gently. Upon learning that his bone wings belonged to the famed Celestial Phoenix Clan, Xiao Yan indeed became much more cautious. The Celestial Phoenix Clan's strength was undoubtedly superior to that of Fenglei Pavilion, and he didn't want to draw such significant complications at this very moment. Thus, his bone wings could only be deployed at critical junctures. Though this meant his speed would be noticeably slowed, he had to endure it for his own safety—after all, who could have imagined that the dreadful undead beast, once thought insignificant, would have such an extensive lineage? Of course, to nurture young talents within their own sect or lineage, major powers naturally place great attention on the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. The distinction between the Du Hong and Du Zong ranks represents a significant threshold. In the Central Plains, Du Hong cultivators can indeed be considered strong, but only upon attaining the rank of Du Zong do they truly earn the status of a true powerhouse. If a family's Du Hong cultivators form its core elite, then its Du Zong cultivators represent its very top-tier strength. As soon as a family possesses even one Du Zong cultivator, its reputation and influence naturally surpass that of families with ten Du Hong cultivators but no Du Zong. This is the very influence of a Du Zong cultivator. Hence, the gap between Du Hong and Du Zong cultivators is truly immense. Of course, if a family boasts a Douzun, even if that Douzun never manages the family's affairs, the family will surely rise as a major power—such that even a formidable force like Fenglei Pavilion must speak to them with courtesy. The Douzun rank is truly among the elite strongest among the midlands! In the Gamma Empire or Black Corner Domain, any faction that boasts a Du Phong or Du Zhong is considered a top-tier force. However, when such a status is viewed within the Central Plains, it merely qualifies as a mid-tier power—this is the gap. As for Du Sheng-level strength—factions that house such legendary figures are already regarded as transcendent; to them, ordinary rivalries between factions seem like child's play. Indeed, in the eyes of a Du Sheng, such competitions would crumble and dissolve with a mere gesture. Of course, such a level remains far beyond the reach of Xiao Yan and his companions. At present, his sole focus is to first break through to Du Phong and then ascend to Du Zhong rank. Only upon achieving Du Zhong status does he gain the qualification to meet Xun'er. That ancient lineage behind her is not among the famed one Tower, one Palace, two Sects, three Valleys, and Four Halls of the Central Plains. Yet Xiao Yan is certain that this ancient clan's strength is no weaker than Dan Tower or Hún Palace. To successfully secure Xun'er from this clan, he must present a level of prowess that commands their recognition or renders their objections impossible. Nevertheless, although Xiao Yan has now reached the rank of Nine-Star Duke, and has further refined his strength through these twenty days of rigorous training in the forest, there remains a significant gap between him and the threshold of Duke-level attainment. Though Nine-Star Duke is only one star away from Duke-level cultivation, that very single star has proven to be the final barrier for countless talented prodigies, who have thus halted their progress—some even succumbing to death without ever reaching it. It is precisely because of this that the extraordinary efficacy of the Tian Shan Blood Pond in helping cultivators overcome their bottlenecks has been continuously amplified, enabling an ever-growing number of young talents and even powerful factions such as Feng Lei Pavilion to courageously surge toward the Tian Mu Mountain Range, all in hopes of securing one of the ten coveted spots. Given the unparalleled value of the Tian Shan Blood Pond, it would naturally draw the attention and claims of numerous powerful factions. Yet, to date, no single faction has successfully claimed and monopolized it. Even Feng Lei Pavilion, despite its strength, finds itself short of resources—due to the pond's immense significance, any attempt to monopolize it would inevitably make it a target of opposition. Moreover, Feng Lei Pavilion is not without rivals; the Of course, if one truly speaks of the master's words, perhaps the native mythical beasts of the Tianmu Mountain range might qualify, but alas, the humans will not rest content—drawn by the allure of the Tian Shan Blood Pond, they will charge forth bravely, undaunted. The Tianmu Mountain Range was undoubtedly the most magnificent and imposing mountain range that Xiao Yan had ever seen. Even the魔兽 Mountain Range of the Jamma Empire could not compare. Thick clouds enveloped most of the range, making it difficult to discern what lay within. Moreover, it seemed that the clouds themselves contained a vast and powerful energy. Under the weight of this immense energy, even Xiao Yan felt a chill, which explained why no one dared to fly into the mountains from above—the path in the sky appeared to be a dead end. Standing high above, gazing down at the entry point of the mountain range below, and seeing the nearly dense sea of black-clad figures stretching out like a thick crowd, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a tingling sensation in his scalp. Though he knew the allure of the Tian Shan Blood Pond must be substantial, witnessing such a vast crowd still left him astonished. To secure just ten spots among this immense sea of people—how difficult that truly was! He chuckled faintly, choosing a quieter, more remote spot, then descended gracefully from the peak. In a few flashes of movement, he landed atop a tree outside the Tian Mu Mountain range. As he scanned the surroundings, he noticed that numerous figures were already seated cross-legged on the tree branches. As Xiao Yan silently admired the grand spectacle, a clear and resonant cry of a crane suddenly echoed from afar, instantly drawing the attention of countless onlookers. Xiao Yan followed the sound of the cry, and there, in the distance, a colossal crane with body feathers of seven hues was swiftly gliding toward the Tianmu Mountain range, its magnificent plumage shimmering under the sunlight with a brilliant, radiant glow. "A seven-hued spiritual crane? Isn't that the mount of Feng Miss from the Fenglei Pavilion?" voices of astonishment rose immediately as the crowd saw the magnificent creature.