6: Chapter 6 Forbidden Zone Mission

At Huaxia Supernatural Academy, the Special Cultivation Plan had been underway for over a month.

Under Gu Cangwu's guidance, Lin Wu's martial arts cultivation had progressed by leaps and bounds. He had stabilized his position at the Peak of the fifth stage of the Body Refining Realm, and was only one step away from the sixth stage.

One day, Gu Cangwu called Lin Wu into the bamboo hut, his expression solemn.

"Lin Wu, your cultivation has progressed quickly, but you still lack practical combat experience," Gu Cangwu said slowly. "The path of martial arts requires not only Cultivate, but also tempering between life and death."

Lin Wu nodded respectfully. "This Disciple understands."

"The academy recently issued a mission that requires going to the outskirts of the Forbidden Zone to gather Spirit Medicine." Gu Cangwu took out a mission briefing. "This mission is quite difficult, but for you, it is a rare Opportunity for experience."

Lin Wu took the briefing and read it carefully.

The mission location was the outskirts of the Nether Mountains, and the goal was to gather a Spirit Medicine called 'ice spirit grass.' This Spirit Medicine grows in places rich in Spiritual Qi and is an important Materials for refining Advanced Medicinal Pills.

"The Nether Mountains..." Lin Wu frowned slightly. "Isn't that one of the Three Great Forbidden Zones?"

"It is a Forbidden Zone, but it is also a land of Opportunity," Gu Cangwu said. "The Spiritual Qi inside the Forbidden Zone is dense, with countless Heaven And Earth Treasures. As long as you act carefully, the outer areas are not too dangerous."

"Furthermore," he paused, "this mission is not a solo operation; the academy will organize a small team. Su Qingxue will participate with you, led by Chu Tianjiao."

Lin Wu's eyes flickered.

Su Qingxue and Chu Tianjiao?

"What about Zhao Wuji?" Lin Wu asked. "Isn't he also a member of the Special Cultivation Plan?"

"Ever since you defeated him in the monthly exam, he has entered secluded Cultivate, wanting to Breakthrough to the Grandmaster Realm in one go and ignoring everything else," Gu Cangwu explained helplessly. "So, for this mission, you and Su Qingxue are the only two members from the Special Cultivation Plan participating."

"Chu Tianjiao is an elite senior student of the academy; his strength has already reached the Grandmaster Realm, and he is very experienced," Gu Cangwu continued. "He will lead the team this time, and the two of you will cooperate. The academy hopes you can coordinate with each other and grow together during the mission." Gu Cangwu looked at Lin Wu meaningfully. "Of course, you must also pay attention to safety."

"This Disciple understands," Lin Wu nodded solemnly.

After leaving the bamboo hut, Lin Wu returned to his residence and began preparing for the mission.

Located in the west of the Huaxia Alliance, the Nether Mountains is a Forbidden Zone formed from the original Himalayan Mountains after the Recovery of Spiritual Qi. The Spiritual Qi there is dense to the extreme, but it is also full of danger. Exotic Beasts roam freely, the environment is harsh, and for ordinary people, entering means certain death.

But Lin Wu was not afraid.

The path of martial arts is inherently a Heaven-Defying journey. If he didn't even dare to face this level of danger, how could he talk about becoming a martial arts Grandmaster?

Three days later, the mission team gathered at the school square.

The mission team was led by Chu Tianjiao, with members including Lin Wu and Su Qingxue.

"Everyone is here. Let's move out!"

At Chu Tianjiao's command, the team boarded a specialized aircraft and flew toward the Nether Mountains.

On the aircraft, Lin Wu sat by the window, watching the scenery flash by outside.

Su Qingxue sat opposite him, resting with her eyes closed. Today, she wore a white combat suit with an ice-blue longsword hanging at her waist, her entire being exuding a cold aura.

Chu Tianjiao sat at the front of the cabin, reviewing the mission data as the team leader. From time to time, he looked toward Lin Wu with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Lin Wu," Su Qingxue suddenly opened her eyes, her ice-blue pupils looking at him. "Why did you take this mission?"

"Experience," Lin Wu answered flatly. "Martial arts requires practical combat tempering."

"Martial arts..." Su Qingxue softly repeated the words. "I've checked ancient records; a martial arts civilization did indeed exist in ancient times. But after the Spiritual Qi was exhausted, martial arts were lost. How did you obtain the Legacy?"

"By a stroke of luck," Lin Wu answered vaguely.

Su Qingxue didn't press further, only nodding. "If there's an Opportunity, I'd like to see true martial arts."

"There will be an Opportunity."

Although the two spoke softly, Chu Tianjiao still heard them. He frowned slightly, a complex emotion rising in his heart.

As the team leader, he needed to be responsible for every member. But remembering Lin Wu's defiance toward him after the assessment, and the fact that he was getting closer to Su Qingxue, Chu Tianjiao felt a lingering sense of displeasure.

"Lin Wu," Chu Tianjiao suddenly spoke, his tone cold. "As a newcomer to the Special Cultivation Plan, you should know your place. During a mission, obeying orders is the top priority."

Lin Wu turned to look at Chu Tianjiao. Their gazes met in the air, and it felt as if sparks were flying.

"I understand," Lin Wu replied calmly, but there was no hint of backing down in his eyes.

Chu Tianjiao snorted coldly and turned away. He told himself they were on a mission and to put personal grudges aside for now. But deep down, his hostility toward Lin Wu had not dissipated.

The aircraft flew for about three hours before finally arriving at the outskirts of the Nether Mountains.

Looking down from the air, the Nether Mountains were shrouded in a thin layer of gray mist, giving off a mysterious and dangerous vibe. The mountain range rolled on with Peak after Peak; several Peaks pierced the clouds as if trying to stab through the sky.

"Everyone, pay attention, prepare to land!"

The aircraft landed in a relatively flat valley, and the team members disembarked one after another.

As soon as he stepped off, Lin Wu felt a dense wave of Spiritual Qi hit him. The concentration of Spiritual Qi here was at least ten times that of the outside world!

"Such dense Spiritual Qi..." Lin Wu took a deep breath, and the Martial Dao True Essence within his Physical Body began to circulate involuntarily, greedily absorbing the surrounding Spiritual Qi.

"The Spiritual Qi concentration here is indeed high, but it's also full of Impurities," Chu Tianjiao warned. "Absorbing it directly will cause harm to the Physical Body; you must use a special filtering device."

Lin Wu's heart stirred.

He could absorb it directly?

The martial arts inheritance stated that Martial Dao True Essence could refine Spiritual Qi of any attribute, including this impurity-laden Spiritual Qi in the Forbidden Zone.

This was one of the advantages of martial arts!

"Our target is the ice spirit grass growth area deep in the valley," Chu Tianjiao unfolded a map. "It's about five kilometers from here. We might encounter Exotic Beasts on the way, so everyone be careful."

The team began to advance.

The environment of the Nether Mountains was indeed harsh, with jagged rocks and steep cliffs everywhere. A decaying scent permeated the air, making one feel oppressed.

After walking about a kilometer, a sudden movement came from ahead.

"Something's happening!"

Chu Tianjiao immediately made a hand gesture, and the team members quickly entered a combat stance.

From behind the rocks ahead, several massive Exotic Beasts slowly emerged.

They were creatures resembling wolf-dogs, but their size was more than three times that of an ordinary wolf-dog. Their fur was an eerie grayish-white, and their eyes were blood-red, emitting a savage light.

"D-Rank Exotic Beast: Nether Hound!" Chu Tianjiao said in a low voice. "There are five of them. Everyone, be careful!"

Nether Hounds are one of the most common Exotic Beasts in the Nether Mountains. Although their Rank isn't high, they make up for it in numbers and extreme ferocity.

"Prepare for battle!"

Chu Tianjiao quickly issued orders. "Su Qingxue, you take the left; Lin Wu, you take the right; I'll handle the front."

"Thunder Motion!"

Chu Tianjiao was the first to strike, a ball of blinding lightning coalescing in his hand as he blasted it toward the Nether Hounds.

"Boom!"

The lightning exploded, and two Nether Hounds were sent flying, their bodies charred black, clearly dead.

But the other three Nether Hounds took the Opportunity to pounce, their speed so fast it caught them off guard.

"Ice Seal!"

Su Qingxue made her move.

With a gentle wave of her ice-blue longsword, three ice spikes appeared out of thin air, accurately piercing the heads of the three Nether Hounds.

"Crack!"

The three Nether Hounds were instantly frozen into ice sculptures, then shattered into countless ice shards.

An instant kill!

"Good coordination," Chu Tianjiao nodded. "Su Qingxue reacted very quickly. Lin Wu, your positioning just now was good; keep it up."

"Mm," Lin Wu responded.

"Everyone, stay alert. There could be danger at any moment in the Forbidden Zone," Chu Tianjiao warned. "Continue advancing."

Lin Wu's expression remained normal, though he was somewhat surprised by Chu Tianjiao's professional command. This senior student was indeed experienced.

The team continued forward.

Along the way, they encountered several more waves of Exotic Beast attacks, but all were successfully dealt with.

Lin Wu had not yet made a move; he was observing and learning.

The environment of the Forbidden Zone was completely different from the city; the Exotic Beasts here were more savage, and the environment harsher. He had to adapt to the rhythm of combat here as quickly as possible.

Finally, the team arrived at the ice spirit grass growth area.

It was a valley covered in ice and snow, where countless translucent Spiritual Plants grew, shimmering with beautiful light under the sun.

"This is it!" A flash of joy appeared in Chu Tianjiao's eyes. "Everyone, spread out and gather them. Stay alert!"

The team members began gathering the ice spirit grass.

Lin Wu walked up to an ice spirit grass plant and was about to pick it when he suddenly felt a dangerous aura.

"Watch out!"

He shouted loudly and retreated violently.

Almost at the same moment, the ground where he had just been standing suddenly exploded, and a massive claw reached out from underground!

"C-Rank Exotic Beast: Earth-Rending Beast!" Chu Tianjiao's face changed drastically. "Everyone, get back!"

The Earth-Rending Beast is an extremely dangerous Exotic Beast, skilled at lurking underground to ambush prey. Its strength is equivalent to a Proficiency Realm Ability User, and it is thick-skinned and very difficult to deal with.

"Boom!"

The ground shook violently as a massive Exotic Beast emerged from below.

It was a creature resembling a pangolin, but its size was dozens of times larger than an ordinary one. Its entire body was covered in thick scales that shimmered with a metallic luster. A pair of blood-red eyes stared intently at Lin Wu, clearly marking him as the primary target.

"Damn, it's targeted me!" Lin Wu's heart tightened.

"Lin Wu, get back!" Su Qingxue shouted, her longsword coalescing with ice-blue light.

But the Earth-Rending Beast was too fast!

It exerted force with its limbs, charging toward Lin Wu like a heavy tank. Its massive body kicked up a gust of wind, and the ground trembled.

Lin Wu's eyes narrowed; he knew it was too late to dodge.

"In that case, let's fight!"

"Nine Revolutions Golden Body, Third Revolution!"

"Heavenly Collapse Fist, Fourth Form: Rock Smasher!"

The Martial Dao True Essence within Lin Wu's Physical Body circulated frantically, and his entire body glowed with golden light. He clenched his right fist and charged toward the Earth-Rending Beast!

"Boom!"

With a loud crash, Lin Wu's fist collided violently with the Earth-Rending Beast's head.

The massive impact sent Lin Wu stumbling back several steps, his hand numb. But the Earth-Rending Beast didn't have it easy either; a crack actually appeared on its thick scales!

"What?!"

Everyone was stunned.

Lin Wu actually used his Physical Body to withstand the attack of a C-Rank Exotic Beast and even injured it?

"So this is martial arts..." A hint of shock flashed in Su Qingxue's eyes.

"Roar!"

The Earth-Rending Beast was enraged; it roared at the sky, its scales standing on end like countless sharp blades.

"Not good, it's going berserk!" Chu Tianjiao shouted. "Everyone, attack together!"

The three of them attacked simultaneously, various abilities and Martial Skills blasting toward the Earth-Rending Beast.

Lin Wu didn't stay idle either; he took a deep breath and charged forward again.

"Heavenly Collapse Fist, Fifth Form: Mountain Sever!"

This punch was even more powerful than the last!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Under the combined assault of the three, the Earth-Rending Beast finally couldn't hold on; its massive body crashed to the ground, no longer showing any signs of life.

The battle ended.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but the way they looked at Lin Wu had changed.

"Lin Wu, that punch just now..." Chu Tianjiao looked at him in shock. "It could actually injure a C-Rank Exotic Beast?"

"Just luck," Lin Wu said flatly, but excitement surged in his heart.

The battle just now had given him a clearer understanding of his own strength.

A martial arts cultivation at the fifth stage of the Body Refining Realm, combined with the Nine Revolutions Golden Body and Heavenly Collapse Fist, was already enough to contend with a C-Rank Exotic Beast!

If he broke through to the Qi Refining Realm, his strength would be even greater!

"We owe this mission to you," Su Qingxue said softly as she walked to Lin Wu's side. "If you hadn't discovered the Earth-Rending Beast's ambush in time, some of us might have been injured."

"It was only right," Lin Wu smiled slightly.

Chu Tianjiao walked over and looked at Lin Wu, a complex expression in his eyes.

"Lin Wu, your performance was excellent," Chu Tianjiao said in a low voice. "As the team leader, I want to thank you for saving a teammate."

"Thank you," Lin Wu nodded.

"But I must remind you," Chu Tianjiao's tone became serious, "in the Forbidden Zone, individual heroism is very dangerous. Next time you spot danger, you should report it first rather than acting alone."

"I understand," Lin Wu accepted the criticism.

Chu Tianjiao nodded and turned to arrange the return journey.

Lin Wu watched his back, feeling a bit more respect for this senior student. Although Chu Tianjiao was arrogant, as a team leader, he was competent.

After gathering the ice spirit grass, the team began their return journey.

On the way back, Lin Wu was deep in thought.

This trip to the Forbidden Zone had been very fruitful. Not only had he gained practical combat experience, but more importantly, his understanding of martial arts had deepened.

Martial arts is not about working in isolation, but about constantly Breakthrough one's limits in battle.

"After I get back, I must Breakthrough to the Qi Refining Realm as soon as possible!" Lin Wu clenched his fist, his gaze fixed firmly on the distance.

His path to becoming a powerhouse had only just begun!