There was a 72.34% probability that the map depicted on this Beast Skin Scroll was of the northern Thorn Jungle.

Considering the Kobolds' utterly atrocious drawing skills, this probability could be even higher.

Fang Zhou's eyes lit up. Such a high probability was more than enough to justify an expedition to the Thorn Jungle.

Besides, the Goblin Cave he had originally intended to visit was in the same direction as the Thorn Jungle, so it wouldn't cause any delays.

After ensuring nothing was left behind, Fang Zhou commanded the Skeleton Team to depart from the razed ruins of the Kobold camp.

He had spent far too much time in the camp. To reach the Goblin Cave before nightfall, he significantly quickened his pace.

The Cave was located deep underground, its only light source being patches of Magic Energy Moss. At night, this moss would go dark.

The Cave would then be plunged into complete blackness, and many Demons that were active only in the dark would emerge to hunt, drastically increasing the level of danger.

Though his skills were high and his courage was strong, Fang Zhou still planned to find a base to spend the night, just to be on the safe side.

「...」

As Fang Zhou traveled, the instructors and students watching the live broadcast were left speechless.

One student lamented, "What was that in Fang Zhou's hand just now? A Refining Stone, right? That was definitely a Refining Stone, wasn't it?"

"What kind of luck is this? He casually wiped out a Kobold nest and looted a Refining Stone? More importantly, he even found a map pointing to the suspected location of an ore vein?"

"Hasn't Cave #1 been explored countless times already? How could there still be a fish that slipped through the net?"

"Everyone else is struggling with wilderness survival in the Cave, but Fang Zhou is on a grand treasure-hunting adventure?"

The group of students was so envious they were grinding their teeth, wishing they could trade places with Fang Zhou.

A Refining Stone vein!

If he really found it, according to the Human Alliance's reward rules, he would receive a one-time reward of at least several hundred contribution points, depending on the vein's size.

Furthermore, the discoverer was entitled to one percent of the vein's total profits.

For apprentices like them, it was the ultimate fast track to getting rich overnight!

Fang Zhou was already the wealthiest tycoon among the first-years. If he discovered a Refining Stone vein on top of that, they couldn't even imagine how amazing his life would become.

Inside the Cave Fortress, the instructors exchanged stunned glances.

One instructor pulled up the beast hide map Fang Zhou had uploaded and began comparing it to the topographical map of Cave #1.

"Could there really be a Refining Stone vein in Cave #1?"

Another instructor stated with conviction, "Impossible, absolutely impossible! I know Cave #1 like the back of my hand. I've explored the Thorn Jungle area no less than ten times. Forget about rare resources like Refining Stone; even the common iron and copper veins have been completely mined out."

Just then, Lu Hu, who was standing to the side, commented leisurely, "But didn't an earthquake occur in Cave #1 not long ago? Is it possible the quake pushed a Refining Stone vein up from deep underground?"

"Uh..."

The instructor who had just spoken with such certainty was suddenly at a loss for words.

Lu Hu stood up. "Regardless, contact the stationed instructor in the Thorn Jungle area and have them investigate the situation. If there really is a Refining Stone vein, that would be excellent. Also, if they find any Demon of Black Iron rank or higher, they are to eliminate it on the spot!"

A female instructor asked, "Only Demons of Black Iron rank? Fang Zhou is only an Apprentice Middle Rank. What if he encounters an Apprentice Upper Rank Demon?"

Lu Hu grinned. "Just have the instructor over there protect Fang Zhou. Things have gone too smoothly for him these past two months. It'd be good for him to see what an Apprentice Upper Rank Demon is like and suffer a little. With his strength, as long as he isn't careless, he should be able to escape from an Apprentice Upper Rank Demon. It's unlikely he'll get eliminated."

The other instructors nodded in agreement.

Lu Hu's idea was quite sound.

Sometimes, a genius having it too easy wasn't a good thing. Tempering their sharp edge a bit was more conducive to their growth.

「...」

Fang Zhou, still in the Cave, had no idea that the instructors in the outside world had already mobilized because of his discovery.

Out in the wilds, the dense fog had gradually dissipated, replaced by a light, drizzling rain.

The climate within the Cave was strange and ever-changing, posing a great challenge to the students' hunting and travel.

However, Fang Zhou, who had done his homework, was already prepared.

He donned an all-weather jacket from his backpack and continued toward the Goblin Cave, undeterred by the light rain.

After he killed several more Fierce Beasts along the way, the rain began to fall more heavily.

Amidst the downpour, Fang Zhou suddenly halted.

He felt tremors in the ground, as if some colossal creature was charging toward him.

Just then, his thermal imaging radar blared an alert, confirming his suspicion.

Fang Zhou positioned his back against a massive boulder and commanded his fifteen Skeletons to form a defensive line in front of him. He then waited, peering vigilantly into the curtain of rain.

CLIP-CLOP! CLIP-CLOP!

From out of the deluge, a massive Ferocious Horse, with bulging muscles and standing two meters tall at the shoulder, charged out from nowhere, launching a ferocious assault against the group of Skeletons.

The Ferocious Horse's hide was like iron, its hoofbeats were like thunder, its eyes blazed with a crazed blood-red light, and its nostrils snorted out scorching air.

Although it was just a Lower-Rank Apprentice Demon, the tremendous force of its charge was not something that could be blocked head-on.

Fang Zhou commanded the Skeletons to scatter quickly, forming a circular encirclement.

At the same time, he no longer held back on his Magic Power and gently waved his Magic Staff. "Skeleton Shackles!"

Two chains composed of bone fragments materialized from the Void, instantly wrapping around the Ferocious Horse's front legs.

A horse that loses its footing is bound to stumble.

NEIGHHH!

With the crisp crack of breaking bone, the mindless Ferocious Horse cried out mournfully as it crashed heavily into the muddy rainwater.

Immediately, several Skeletons leaped forward. Using their very bones as blades, they struck precisely at the joints of the horse's hind legs, attempting to cripple it completely.

The Ferocious Horse writhed in pain, roaring as it turned to snap its massive, fang-filled mouth in a counterattack.

However, Fang Zhou had long anticipated this move. He commanded the Skeletons to dodge into rock crevices or leap to higher ground, evading the attack.

As the Ferocious Horse's assault momentarily slowed, several more Skeletons closed in from behind, using their Bone Claws to tear at its tail, trying to impede its movement.

The Magic Energy Moss on the boulder behind Fang Zhou flickered in the wind and rain, its faint light illuminating the fierce clash between the Skeleton Team and the thrashing horse. The Ferocious Horse, though immensely powerful, couldn't land an effective Deadly Strike against the Skeletons' flexible and varied tactics.

With its forelegs twisted like pretzels, it was impossible for it to break out of the Skeletons' encirclement.

As time wore on, the Ferocious Horse's stamina gradually dwindled, its attacks growing weaker and weaker.

Finally, when it was utterly exhausted and could fight no more, Fang Zhou commanded the Skeleton Team to swarm it.

The Ferocious Horse summoned its last ounce of strength and struggled desperately, but it could not break free from the shackles woven from Death itself. Its life force gradually faded amidst a final, desperate roar.

Hunting Points +5.

Soul Power +0.1.

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