Mixed in with the sound of the howling wind, shrieks echoed over the mountain. The sounds gradually grew closer. With time, the vibrations synchronised into a distinct noise.

Yun Fei craned his neck, squinting, trying to figure out the source of the sound. He froze up as an unbelievable scene unfolded before him.

His eyes, which could see farther than anybody else at his level, leveled their gaze towards the sky above him. The sight made his mind stall, his eyes remained wide open as he tried to comprehend what he was witnessing.

The world is of a mind-boggling size, comprehending its limits is but a mere dream, for mortal senses. Reality is often awe inspiring and fact often surpasses fiction.

One such sight drew the attention of every being on the mountain, whether man or woman, human or beast.

High above the peak, tearing through the sky, with air streaking in its wake, a heron flew.

It was, to all present, extremely obvious that this was no ordinary heron. The distance threw off the honed senses, of even the most experienced of observers.

Nevertheless it could be seen and most importantly felt, that its beak alone spanned tens of metres in length and its wingspan covered a kilometre easily.

This humongous avian carried in its beak, a lively, wriggling reptile. A serpent, at least six hundred metres long was gripped in the yellow appendage. Its dangling tail, thrashing in the air, obstructing the heron as much as it could.

As the heron flew closer, the people on the mountain could finally understand the whole situation. The reptile had drilled through the large neck of the heron, trying to escape its mouth in any way possible.

Litres of blood fell to the ground as the heron drew closer and closer to the mountain. Their figures grew in size as the struggle continued between the monsters.

What the two titanic monsters brought with them wasn't just the awe-inspiring sight. They also brought an aura, an aura so great and suffocating that everybody on the mountain was rendered incapable of movement.

The candidates as well as the organisers were reduced to statues, barely able to look onto the sight.

Bodies of some of the weak willed candidates softened and they slipped off the cliff, turning into meat paste at the bottom.

Finally, the shadow that shrouded the sunlight passed over Yun Fei. He could breathe again.

He wiped his forehead and took long breaths. His clothes were drenched in sweat. Relief washed over him and his mind started functioning again. This incident had made him realise just how insignificant he was in the world.

He wouldn't last even for a moment against existences on such a level. Their mere size commanded his respect and made him reconstruct his views about the world.

Through this incident, Yun Fei's horizon had widened. He had never thought that something like this could exist. He had heard a hint of such things from Sun Ming but personally witnessing something was completely different from hearing about it.

"BOOOM!!!!!"

While Yun Fei and the others who were able to hold on to the cliff face were recovering from the excruciating experience, an explosion echoed through the firmament.

The whole mountain shook and many of those who were able to survive the pressure were shaken off.

After the large explosion, tremors resounded. The mountain, which had stood here for who knows how long, was cracking. Even Yun Fei was not spared, because of the initial quaking, giant rocks tumbled down the trembling mountain towards the place he was resting at.

This caused him to pause for a moment, but then he moved without any hesitation. He took quick steps and jumped off the ledge.

At this height, if Yun Fei fell directly to the ground, there was no way he would survive as he would be in no condition to avoid the barrage of rocks following his fall. However, being buried by stones on that ledge was also a sure death.

Falling down while parallel to the cliff, Yun Fei put his hand inside one of the space pouches tied at his waist.

He took out a sickle, its thin chain still in his space pouch. This was the weapon he had seized from a warrior he had fought. Although he couldn't take the space pouch, he still retrieved the weapon as his loot.

Yun Fei only had one chance, the window for success was fleeting. If he failed, it was certain death. The opportune moment swiftly arrived and he moved.

He threw the sickle with all his strength.

There was a tree, it grew perpendicular to the cliff and was sturdy. Its roots had wriggled deep into the core of the mountain.

Despite its precarious position, it was in one of the least affected areas. A ways away from the boulders sweeping the cliff face. This tree was what Yun Fei aimed at.

The sickle streaked through the air. And using the weight of the chain, it wound around the trunk. Clasping with both of his hands, he held on to the chain for dear life as it swung him to safety.

It was difficult to hold on due to his injuries, the gauze around his right hand was all ripped off and half of the chain was drenched in his blood.

His eyes glimmered and sweat dripped off his brow. These little injuries didn't matter to Yun Fei, what mattered was that he had some safety now.

Although he was still some ways above the ground. If he fell now, he had a chance to survive.

He would be injured but he would still survive, it's not like he planned to drop from here though. He was going to slowly descend and reach a safer height.

At this point of time, there were hardly any survivors left among the ones who were towards the upper half of the cliff. The ones who hadn't started their climb and the ones still nearer to the ground were better off.

Yun Fei's nerves were taut, it was just one disaster after the other. However, before he could have a brief respite and begin his descent, the earth quivered and a monstrous pressure once again descended upon him.

Hanging by the chain, he raised his head to look towards the top and his mind blanked once again. He wanted to survive and perhaps because of this, his body moved instinctually to survive.

Sadly, there wasn't anything he could do except leaving the chain and falling freely to the ground. So, that was what he did.

Yun Fei resolutely let go of the iron chain and fell, he would most certainly be dead if he had kept hanging there.

What he saw as he fell with his back to the ground, was definitely a sight that he would never forget in his lifetime.

A gigantic reptilian head moved rapidly down the cliff. It brought along with it waves of debris. The top part of the cliff was crumbling under its movement.

Yun Fei finally understood where the explosive sound had come from. The snake had been successful in its escape from the heron and had fallen on the flat top.

In this situation, there wasn't really anything he could do to affect it. He could only stare at the gigantic head slithering down the cliff, rapidly.

The gleaming black scales shifting around like plated armour. The rows of jagged teeth, like daggers that could rend anything. It's fangs dripped with venom pumped out by the bright red poison sacs.

The eyes were yellow bulbous spheres, menacing with red vertical pupils. Emanating a gaze of pure violence given form.

A king, no… an emperor, never… a destroyer, yes. Its mere presence was enough to make it clear that it had no constructive inclinations. It was just a predator, nothing less than it. Nothing more was ever needed.

'Haaaa, nothing good ever comes when I encounter a reptile.'

As if wanting to validate Yun Fei's concerns, the snake suddenly increased its speed and opened its giant maw. A forked tongue tasting the air eagerly, a master seaman reading the wind.

Even though it had not fully opened its jaw. It was still so enormous and moving at such speeds that even if Yun Fei could fly like a bird, he still wouldn't be able to escape.

His eyes peeled open as he saw the gaping maw of the snake.

Yun Fei felt truly weak in this situation, he had no way to resist what was coming for him. He was once again made aware of his weakness a long time after that incident in the monastery.

Just like that, darkness descended. Yun Fei was swallowed, by the snake that had fallen from the sky.

At the top of the mountain, on the tabletop,

Shocked faces assessed the damage, one of the six facets of the table top had been completely decimated. The previously flat top was now marked with a channel of epic proportions.

The crashing snake had compressed its landing spot so much that even swords were unable to leave a mark on the ground. The compressed dirt and rock was dense enough to put suits of armour to shame.

Su Libai felt thankful that he was alive. When the snake had dropped on the table top, the life of everyone there was basically up in the air.

It was the beast's discretion. If it wanted to, it could kill everyone present there. They wouldn't be able to put up even the slightest bit of resistance.

Thankfully, the only people who had died were the ones who were directly below the snake and the ones that were in its path.

All of the other people had been pardoned, grateful that their lives weren't cut short in such an unlikely, freak accident.

"This was amazing, I don't think anyone would have a better story than this at the bar."

Said Ren, sitting on his ass, his knees shaking and clothes completely drenched with sweat.

This statement served the function of breaking the grim atmosphere that had enveloped everybody. Some people actually started laughing, maybe at the sheer absurdity of the situation or Ren's statement.

The laughter was once again overturned into a grim atmosphere by Ha Ken's statement.

"The people down there might still be alive. They could be breathing beneath the debris.

Anybody who can move, Quickly get down the mountain and assist in the rescue operation."

As all the cultivators present in the area as well as the city officials moved the debris and rescued the injured people buried beneath, a flying figure with robes fluttering in the wind, came into view.

It was a middle aged man wearing golden robes. He had brown hair and a brown beard which was trimmed neatly. His height was below average and his build muscular and stocky.

The newcomer's face was twisted into a grimace as he assessed the damages. With just the wave of his hand more than a tons worth of rubble floated into the air. The injured people were extricated and levitated down to the officials below.

"Take the severely injured to the city, be quick."

Uncle elbowed Ren,

"Damn, who's that."

Scholar berated him in an exasperated voice,

"You fool, that's the city lord. At least research basic stuff like this."

Daoist Ren lightly slapped Scholar on the back of his head,

"He's our boss now. Hurry up, help them move the injured. Do you guys wanna get fired before we even get hired?"

He Weiyuan, the city lord of Sungon City, was a widely respected entity. He was a fair man and a ruler well in touch with the will of the people.

Sungon city had flourished under his governance. The cultivators as well as the mortals of the surrounding region behaved with a certain respect, even admiration at the mention of his name.

This venerated master had come rushing as soon as he could. Even back in his cultivation chamber in Sungon city, he had been rendered dumb.

The horrifying aura emanating from a full force struggle between the two beasts was strong enough to make him want no part in the incident.

However, when he went out to check. He discovered the fact that the snake had fallen right on the test site.

That had made him rush with his fastest speed to the mountain. How could he not? After all, his own beloved daughter and disciple were directly present at the scene. He didn't even know if they were alive.

As soon as she saw her father, the usually aloof He Xianru ran into his arms without caring if she looked like a child.

The incident had clearly shaken her spirits. Her body still a little rattled, from facing something so horrifying for the first time in her life. She was finally at peace in her father's embrace.

Comforting his daughter, the city lord looked towards his disciple. He felt relieved that both of them were alright. He had already lost his wife before, if he lost someone once again, he wouldn't be able to function.

Ha Ken executed a bow, "Disciple greets master."

“Raise your head, son. Explain the situation to me.”

Maintaining a respectful tone, Ha Ken launched into an explanation while He Xianru still clinging to her father’s arm added some points from time to time.

Suddenly, just as Ha Ken was talking to He Weiyuan. A figure rose into the air from the first mountain in the Atlas forest.

It rushed straight in the direction the snake had disappeared. Vanishing with such speed that would be missed if you blinked.

"That should be the senior that's currently in charge of the Alliance operations in the Atlas forest.

He should have a nascent soul cultivation. Looks like he's going to follow the snake."

As He Weiyuan explained this to his disciple, he didn't show any signs of following that senior. Afterall, he knew that he wouldn't be of any assistance whatsoever.

Involving yourself in things which were above his level would be courting death. He had no such plans.

"Master, I was wondering about this for some time. Just why didn't the serpent rush into the Atlas forest? Wouldn't that be a better place for it to escape?"

"It is not as you think. Although the Atlas forest would maybe make it harder for it to encounter humans, that wouldn't be the case for other beasts.

For the monsters, it's mostly about looking for their own survival and grabbing any chance they can for the growth of their powers.

If this injured serpent rushed into the Sungon forest, it would've already been seized by the powerful monsters in the forest long before the human experts ever got close to it. They are all keen to increase their powers.

The beast core from a beast of this level would be a very good tonic. Not as if there would be a shortage of humans attacking it.

Atlas forest is a very rich area and it also borders other forces. It could encounter people from those forces too.

Comparatively, the area that it has escaped to is mostly deserted, there are hardly any powerful forces in that area nor are there any strong beasts."

"So it is like that."

"It was unfortunate that this happened right on the day of the examination. We'll have to reconduct it in a few days.

You and Xianru should head back to the city already. Although it was a harrowing experience for you youngsters, in a way, it was also a blessing.

There aren't many people that get to experience such a dangerous situation in their youth. Rest properly and digest your experiences. Overcome your fears, It will surely help your cultivation."