“Are the unmarked areas of the map still unexplored?” Tang Yan asked.


    “Mm, with our strength, we can''t go deeper into the mountains. But we are certain that there are higher-level spirit beasts inside,” replied Wan Fei, as Long Ying had gone to retrieve the wolf skin.


    "Good." Tang Yan tucked the map into his robes and said to Wan Fei, "Since your mission is complete, you should head back. We may meet again if fate allows. Farewell!"


    With that, Tang Yan activated his Shadow Step, disappearing like a shooting star into the distance.


    Having been training for about a month, Tang Yan was originally satisfied with his progression. However, upon seeing Wan Fei and her companions, a sense of urgency stirred within him.


    Wan Fei was only 22, yet she had reached the second rank of the Xuan class. In places like Fengyun City, she would be treated like royalty by the top families. But here in Fang City, she was merely a mercenary?


    What kind of terrifying strength did the younger generation of the East Region possess?


    Time was of the essence.


    Realizing this, Tang Yan knew he couldn’t afford to waste any more time.


    Watching Tang Yan leave so suddenly, Wan Fei felt an unexpected sense of emptiness.


    "Sis, he''s really gone?" Long Ying came running back, surprised.


    "He''s gone! What, do you miss him?" Wan Fei replied sharply.


    "No, no. It''s just that it happened so suddenly. We won''t be able to find him to thank him later. But Tang Yan''s strength is amazing. I''m sure his power hasn''t reached the Xuan class, yet his combat abilities are incredibly strong. Any opponent below the Yellow class was defeated with a single move.


    If he were in Fang City, he’d be in the top thirty of the younger generation,” Long Ying sighed, “But Tang Yan probably isn''t from Fang City."


    “At least he’d make the top fifteen!” Wan Fei seriously assessed, recalling how Tang Yan had guided her through those two moves earlier.


    "He''s that strong?" Long Ying’s eyes were wide with disbelief.


    “Not only does he seamlessly switch between techniques and martial arts, but his insight into his enemies'' weaknesses is also precise. Given his age, we may very well see him in the East Region Tournament," Wan Fei predicted.


    A woman''s intuition was always spot on.


    …


    Tang Yan hurried along and soon reached the waterfall.


    He had been here for a month, and his strength had grown significantly. It was a place perfect for cultivation, and even though he was about to leave, he felt a bit reluctant.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    After studying the map of Cangyun Mountain, Tang Yan''s eyes fell on a mountain peak eighty miles away.


    [Halfway up the mountain: Fire Ape King, third rank spirit beast, lives in groups.]


    After reading this, Tang Yan decided to head there.


    Ape-type spirit beasts were not only agile but also incredibly strong, making them an ideal sparring partner for his current strength.


    Tang Yan practiced intensely under the waterfall for another three days, almost mastering pressure combat. He then set off towards the deeper parts of Cangyun Mountain.


    His steps quickened as he moved across the mountain rocks. After his time under the waterfall, his abilities had grown dramatically, and his Shadow Step had reached new heights.


    After traveling for nearly an hour, the sound of howling apes reached his ears. Tang Yan''s heart raced as he knew he was close.


    Surveying the terrain, he found himself at a halfway point up the mountain, with relatively flat ground around him. A few hundred meters ahead, a towering mountain peak rose from the earth.


    Dozens of Fire Apes were leisurely playing in the trees—some swinging on branches, others eating wild fruit, living carefree lives.


    When he saw the apes—each standing over two meters tall and muscular—Tang Yan couldn’t help but break a sweat. These creatures were far more imposing than he had imagined.


    What surprised him even more was that these Fire Apes were all second-rank spirit beasts. Tang Yan couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed.


    However, he wasn’t deterred. On the contrary, his eyes gleamed with excitement.


    The wolf pack had tested his speed, and the waterfall had helped him build strength.


    Now, these powerful, agile Fire Apes would be the perfect sparring partners.


    Since he was already here, he decided to take action. He stopped hiding his presence and boldly walked toward them.


    The Fire Apes quickly noticed Tang Yan, and one by one, they began to howl, as if warning him not to come any closer.


    Tang Yan didn’t mind their warnings. He had come here precisely to challenge them.


    However, he may have underestimated the Fire Apes’ temper. Their fiery nature was reflected in their name.


    “Roar!” One of the Fire Apes bared its teeth and growled at Tang Yan. It was clearly enraged, but when it saw the small human still advancing, it snapped.


    The ape raised its fist and charged at Tang Yan.


    Seeing the massive fist coming at him, Tang Yan remained unfazed, laughing loudly, “Let me see your strength!”


    His swirling dantian rapidly circulated, and his true qi gathered in his right fist.


    Like the Fire Ape, Tang Yan''s punch was pure power with no flashy movements.


    "Bang!"


    The two fists collided with a powerful shockwave.


    The Fire Ape was sent stumbling back, taking two heavy steps as the surrounding mountain shook.


    But Tang Yan stood his ground without budging an inch.


    Although he had gained the upper hand, Tang Yan didn''t celebrate. The Fire Ape''s strength was even greater than he had expected. If this had been a second-rank giant wolf, it wouldn’t have been just two steps back—it would have been knocked off its feet.


    If the second-rank Fire Apes were this strong, just how terrifying was the Fire Ape King, a third-rank spirit beast?


    The Fire Ape, surprised by how its punch had been countered, quickly got enraged again. It was frustrated by this small human''s strength.


    “Roar—” the ape growled in fury and struck its chest before charging again.


    This time, it leaped toward Tang Yan with the force of a mountain, its fist aiming to crush him.


    Tang Yan narrowed his eyes, understanding why people often compared apes to humans. The Fire Ape’s movements had started resembling actual techniques.


    He took a deep breath and quickly pivoted in mid-air, using his dual-punch technique.


    "Bang, bang!"


    The second punch, combined with the force of the first, collided with the Fire Ape once more.


    "Bang, bang, bang!"


    This time, the Fire Ape was forced back three steps, still no match for Tang Yan.


    Now, the Fire Ape regarded Tang Yan with clear wariness.


    Though it didn’t understand how this small human could unleash such immense power, it knew that it stood no chance in a direct fight.


    “Roar, roar—” the Fire Ape howled, summoning the rest of its pack. They all charged toward Tang Yan.