From a distance, the White Sudden River resembled a massive, winding white python, its continuous, rhythmic sounds echoing through the air.
After resting, Chen Zong rose and headed toward the river.
"Beyond the White Sudden River lies the Galloping Horse Plains, and beyond that, the territory of the Seven Luminaries Martial Academy," he muttered to himself, slightly quickening his pace.
His internal injuries, still unhealed and worsened by the life-and-death battle, forced him to restrain his speed.
Along the riverbank stood numerous groups of young clan members, each representing different families.
"Where's Chen Zong?" Wang Shenglei's gaze swept across Chen Zhong and the other three.
The four remained silent, uncertain of Chen Zong's current condition.
"Could he have died in Black Bee Mountain?" a Wang Clan member scoffed, causing Chen Zhong and the others to pale.
"Did Chen Zong really die in Black Bee Mountain?" Wang Shenglei pressed.
"I don't know," Chen Zhi retorted curtly.
The Wang Clan members were stunned.
"Could it be that Chen Zong's too afraid to show up? Afraid of losing the bet and having to forfeit those 50,000 White Jade Coins?" another Wang Clan member sneered sarcastically.
"You're looking to die," Chen Zhong roared, lunging forward, but Chen Wenzhe restrained him.
"If I lose, I'll gladly offer you fifty thousand White Jade Coins," a calm voice cut through the air, causing Chen Zhong and his companions to turn in unison, their faces alight with excitement.
"Chen Zong!"
"You're alive!"
"I knew you had to be alive!"
"I'm just lucky," Chen Zong said with a smile.
"Your complexion doesn't look good," Chen Zhong remarked after the initial excitement subsided, studying Chen Zong's pallid face.
"I sustained some injuries," Chen Zong replied.
"What happened to those Black-Robed Men?" Chen Kaiyue asked.
"I'm not sure," Chen Zong replied, omitting that he had already slain both with his sword.
"Hmph, Chen Zong, just glad you're alive. This bet is ours to win," Wang Shenglei declared. Chen Zong noticed that Wang Shenglei's group, originally six members, now numbered only five, with two visibly wounded.
The consequences of their night assault on Black Bee Mountain had clearly been disastrous.
The White Sudden River surged with violent currents and rolling waves. Swimming across it risked encountering demon beasts, and facing such creatures in the water was even more perilous than on land.
A single low-grade Level One demon beast in the water could easily kill a martial artist at the Fifth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm.
They waited until the White Sudden River calmed before attempting to cross. The group had prepared simple rafts using wood chopped from a nearby grove.
"Chen Zong, do you know the identities of those two?" Tang Junluo and Li Zhenshi approached, their voices tinged with anger.
Chen Zong shook his head. Though he had his suspicions, it was clear those two were targeting him, and he intended to handle the matter himself.
He stared at the White Sudden River, its turbulent waters surging like a thousand charging horses.
"Get ready," Chen Zong suddenly commanded.
"What?" Chen Zhong and the others were bewildered.
"Lift the raft and prepare to cross," Chen Zong repeated firmly.
"Let's go." Chen Zhong, placing his trust in Chen Zong, immediately grabbed the raft and strode toward the river. Chen Kaiyue and the others had no choice but to follow.
"What are they doing?"
"Don't tell me they're actually trying to cross?"
"They're courting death!"
"For the sake of winning the bet, they'd risk their lives!"
Wang Shenglei smirked coldly. Last night, his group had attempted a nighttime raid on Black Bee Mountain to gain an advantage in the crossing, only to lose one man and injure two more, without even securing a lead position. Still haunted by that failure, he dared not take such risks again. Now, seeing Chen Zong's group actually attempting to cross the river now, he muttered inwardly, "They're digging their own graves."
Tang Junluo, Li Zhenshi, and the others watched in bewilderment.
"Wait." Chen Zong stopped at the riverbank, his eyes fixed on the turbulent current.
"Release," he commanded after a dozen breaths. Chen Zhong pushed the raft into the water. Chen Zong leaped onto it first, followed by Chen Zhong, Chen Kaiyue, and the other two.
The raft surged downstream, propelled by the raging current.
"Chen Zhong and Chen Wenzhe, take the left side. Chen Kaiyue and Chen Zhi, the right," Chen Zong instructed immediately. Each man grasped a wooden oar carved from a tree trunk.
Chen Zhong and the others tensed, their nerves stretched taut. Only Chen Zong remained calm. As the raft drifted with the swift current, the group strained to advance inch by inch.
Chen Zong scrutinized every eddy and current, discerning patterns and directing the others' movements.
"Is this even possible?" The crowd on the riverbank watched in stunned silence.
The four men's coordination grew increasingly seamless, gradually accelerating the raft's progress. Yet the White Sudden River was hundreds of meters wide, and they had barely crossed a few dozen.
River's Flow Changes
Gradually, the river's ferocity waned, its currents slowing.
"Speed up!" Chen Zhong's team cheered, immediately swinging their wooden oars to accelerate.
"Cross the river!"
"Go!"
"Hurry!"
On the riverbank, the young clan members watched as the current slowed, and they quickly launched their rafts into the water.
With the river's flow now sluggish, their coordinated efforts propelled the raft forward swiftly, as if riding the wind and cleaving the waves. Before long, they had reached the river's midpoint, far ahead of the others.
"Chen Zong, did you know the river was going to slow down?" Chen Wenzhe asked, straining at his oar.
"Intuition," Chen Zong replied casually.
"We're in the lead now. Everyone, keep pushing! Maintain this advantage, and we'll win the bet for sure," Chen Zhong said with a grin.
The thought of winning the bet and each receiving ten thousand White Jade Coins filled them with excitement and renewed vigor. The raft's speed increased even more.
"Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" Wang Shenglei urged anxiously. His team had initially reached the White Sudden River ahead of the Chen Clan, but the sudden surge in the current had forced them to stop and wait. Now overtaken, he frantically urged his team onward.
However, both Chen Zong and his companion were seriously injured and struggling to coordinate. Wang Shenglei's constant urging only worsened their coordination.
"Don't panic. Stay together. We're almost there," Chen Zong said calmly. They were still about a hundred meters from the opposite bank.
Aquatic Demon Beast Attack
Suddenly, water splashed as a massive fish broke the surface, its mouth full of sharp teeth snapping viciously toward Chen Zong. It was a Level One aquatic demon beast.
"Die!" Chen Zong reacted swiftly, his sword slicing through the air, shattering droplets of water as it struck the demon beast. The sharp blade pierced through the creature's tough scales and into its body. A burst of formidable force sent the beast crashing back into the water, blood spreading across the surface.
The internal injuries flared, pain radiating through Chen Zong's body. His face paled.
Other teams also encountered demon beast attacks, but the creatures in the White Sudden River were all Level One, mostly low-grade or mid-grade. With caution, they posed little threat.
As they reached the shore, Chen Zong and his four companions leaped onto the bank without hesitation and immediately sprinted forward.
"You four go ahead. I'll catch up later," Chen Zong said. His internal injuries had yet to heal, and the exertion of just now, combined with the effort of slaying the demon beast, left him in considerable pain and severely limited his speed.
"Are you alright?" Chen Zhong asked, concerned.
"I'm fine. Just need a moment to rest. You guys go ahead," Chen Zong replied.
"Alright, but make sure you catch up quickly," Chen Zhong said, then burst into a sprint with the other three.
Galloping Horse Plains
The Galloping Horse Plains stretched flat and endless, the wind whipping through the grasses in rolling waves, creating a majestic scene.
Chen Zong maintained a steady pace. Before long, disciples from other clans began catching up and passing him.
"Chen Zong, what's wrong?" Li Zhenshi asked, running alongside him.
"I suffered some internal injuries last night that haven't fully healed. It's not wise to push too hard," Chen Zong replied tersely.
"Internal injuries..." Li Zhenshi frowned slightly. External wounds could be treated with powdered medicine, but internal injuries required decoctions. Pills for internal injuries were rare and prohibitively expensive.
"I have a Recovery Pill here. Try this," Li Zhenshi said, offering Chen Zong a gray pill. Chen Zong accepted it without hesitation and swallowed it. A cool, refreshing energy spread throughout his body, and under its influence, his internal injuries seemed to gradually mend.
"Thank you, Brother Li," Chen Zong said solemnly.
"I'm leaving first. Make sure you keep up," Li Zhenshi said with a wave and a smile, then sped away.
The Recovery Pill can treat internal injuries, but my injuries are severe. One pill probably won't be enough, Chen Zong thought. Still, it should help a little.
"Chen Zong, you're done for," Wang Shenglei sneered as the five Wang Clan members passed him.
"How can you know victory or defeat before the end?" Chen Zong replied calmly.
"A dying duck still quacks," one of the Wang Clan members jeered.
"This battle was decided long ago," Wang Shenglei declared, leaving Chen Zong behind. His two injured companions had only superficial wounds, less burdensome than Chen Zong's internal injuries.
Finally, everyone faded into distant specks before vanishing completely. Chen Zong couldn't help but shake his head.
Looks like I'll lose those 50,000 White Jade Coins after all, he thought bitterly. The coins, untouched until now, were about to belong to someone else.
Dragon Horn Peak
From a distance, Dragon Horn Peak resembled a solitary horn jutting from the earth, rising from the edge of the mountain range.
Part of Subduing Dragon Mountain, Dragon Horn Peak stood at 1,888 meters tall, covering over a thousand square kilometers. Its precipitous slopes were dotted with towering peaks.
The sight of Dragon Horn Peak meant that Seven Luminaries Martial Academy was near.
The young heirs of various clans raced fiercely, each eager to be the first to reach the academy.
"Speed up! Win the bet, and I'll give each of you 3,000 White Jade Coins," Wang Shenglei shouted. The Wang Clan members, spurred on by this promise, gradually closed the gap between themselves and the four Chen Clan members.
"Push harder! Don't let them pass!" Chen Zhong urged.
"What's the point? Chen Zong still hasn't caught up," Chen Zhi said dejectedly. If Chen Zong couldn't overtake the Wang Clan, they would lose the 10,000 White Jade Coins even if they reached the academy first, draining their motivation.
"Yah..."
The grass whipped past as the hooves of a brown wild horse thundered across the ground, its rapid hoofbeats clear in the air. The horse surged past Wang Shenglei and his group, then overtook Chen Zhong and his companions, galloping swiftly toward Seven Luminaries Martial Academy.
"Chen Zong..."
"It's Chen Zong!"
"Haha, we're going to win!"
Chen Zhong and his group seemed infused with renewed vigor, their speed surging. In contrast, Wang Shenglei's group appeared drained, their pace slowing.
"No! I haven't lost yet!" Wang Shenglei roared, his Qi Blood Power erupting. He accelerated, quickly overtaking Chen Zhong and his group. However, the other four Wang Clan members remained trailing behind.