It took only an hour for a sizable amount of crowd to gather Infront of the herb mountain. The Purple crown lion was still standing in the middle of the gate as it's amber coloured eyes were scanning every warrior present.

"Roar!

", seeing the increasing number of people, it let out a roar to warn everyone. The message was clear. If anyone dare to come near the gate, he or she would face it's wrath.

"The show is going to begin

", Zhan Chen murmured lightly. A newly arrived level five expert went ahead to test the water first. He took out his sword and launched an attack towards the Purple crown lion.

A yellow coloured light flashed from the sword and zoomed towards the head of the Purple crown lion. The Purple crown lion looked towards the level five expert with disdain in its eyes. It moved it's body slightly as the attack flew past it's head.

"This beast looks shrewd. Everyone, let's work together and take down it

", Qian Zichuan, the leader of Qian family spoke. Other powerful cultivators nodded their heads and started their assault on the Purple crown lion.

A glint appeared in the eyes of Purple crown lion as the experts started to attack it together. It moved to its side to avoid the attack of an expert and opened its mouth.

A purple coloured energy blast came out from its mouth and moved towards the experts of the Shredded mountain province. A sudden sense of danger alerted the minds of level five experts. They hurriedly shifted their bodies to dodge the energy attack of the Purple crown lion.

The energy attack of the Purple crown lion covered a wide area. The experts who were standing at the side managed to dodge it's attack but the expert in the middle was not so lucky. The attack landed squarely on his body.

He fell to the ground by the force of the thunder attack as his body twitched in pain. It didn't take time for his consciousness to fade away.

"A level five expert was taken down like this!

", Kai Min looked towards the Purple crown lion with horror in her eyes. Seeing the response of Kai Min who was watching the battle from a distance, one could imagine what was the reaction of other onlookers were. It was worst for the level five experts who were standing close to the Purple crown lion.

"Looks like these guys have never ever battled with a high level thunder beast

", Zhan Chen spoke in a light voice. Using elemental power was not uncommon for human cultivators but cultivators with thunder affinity were rare even when one looked towards an entire continent.

Thunder element was most violent one among other five elements. So, it was not strange that a group of level five experts couldn't fight with a tire five magical beast of same rank.

"Can we really enter the herb mountain?

", Kai Min became skeptical after seeing the power of the Purple crown lion.

"Looks like I have to think of a way. There are really a good collection in the herb mountain. Even I am feeling tempted. For our current power level, these herbs are really beneficial

", Zhan Chen muttered. Kai Min felt worried after seeing the thoughtful look on Zhan Chen's face. She held Zhan Chen's hand tightly as she felt that Zhan Chen was thinking about taking a risk to enter the herb mountain.

She knew Zhan Chen was mysterious and he had way to fight those of above ranks but no matter how capable he was, all hope was lost after seeing such a mighty tire five beast.

Zhan Chen smiled towards Kai Min after seeing the worried look on Kai Min's face. Kai Min generally had a shy and reserved personality but she still was clutching his tightly to express her worry for his safety. Zhan Chen felt touched.

"No need to worry about me. I am not going to fight the Purple crown lion now. Our priority is entering the herb mountain at this moment

", Zhan Chen spoke.

He took Kai Min away from the crowd and turned towards a different side of the herb mountain. Seeing the teleportation arrays of Cleansing Insense ancient sect, he had understood one thing. Cleansing Incense ancient sect was not that as it seemed on the surface.

The overall prowess of the Northern desert continent had decreased but Zhan Chen knew that it once had mighty experts in its peak. Even the first ancestor of the Zhan dynasty had came from the Northen desert continent. But Zhan Chen had yet to confirm if his previous life ancestor had any link to the Zhan clan of Northern desert continent.

The past might of Northern desert continent could be imagined by observing the Cleaning Incense ancient sect Infront of him. There was no experts of Cleansing Incense ancient sect around but they somehow managed to preserve the structure of the sect intact.

"No matter how complex the traps around, it can not stop me from entering the herb mountain

", Zhan Chen thought to himself.

One of the side of the herb mountain was protected by the Purple crown lion. There were three other sides remained. Zhan Chen chose to climb from the west side of the herb mountain.

"Miss Min, please follow close to me. There are some annoying traps are here. So, it will be safe as long as you stay close to me

", Zhan Chen spoke.

"Ah! There are people

", Kai Min cried out as soon as they started to climb the mountain. There are close to fifteen people who are lying on the path. Each of their faces had become greenish black as froth was coming from each of their mouths.

"Are they poisoned?

", Kai Min asked in a trembling tone. No matter how courageous she was, she was still a sheltered child from a noble family. Occasionally she would go to forest to train but that was with the supervision of her elders. It was her first time to see so much people dying in such a gruesome death.

"Don't mind them. If you want to be powerful then prepare yourself. The one end of the risk is death but the other end leads to opportunity

", Zhan Chen spoke.

Kai Min nodded her head. She looked towards the dead and them looked towards the calm face of Zhan Chen. Her warrior spirit ignited by the words of Zhan Chen.

She didn't speak anything but looked towards Zhan Chen with determination in her eyes. A smile crept to Zhan Chen's lips as he understood the meaning behind Kai Min's gaze.

It was as if she was saying, No matter how dangerous I will follow you. If you can do it, then I can also do it.

Kai Min took out her sword and followed behind Zhan Chen. A shadow like thing jumped towards him, when he got past the poisoned warriors.

Same was for Kai Min. A shadow jumped towards her when she was distracted by the Shadow that jumped towards Zhan Chen.

"Be careful. These are Flower striped sand boas

", Zhan Chen warned as he waved his hand to launch an attack towards the leaping shadow.

Kai Min didn't have time to listen the words of Zhan Chen. He waved her sword and hurriedly meet the attacking Flower striped sand boa with her sword tip.

Zhan Chen's gaze became cold as another four Flower striped sand boas leaped towards them. Kai Min hurriedly deflected one of them and Zhan Chen launched three essence energy attacks to kill the other three Flower striped sand boas.

Kai Min's heart was beating loudly as all of her nerves were tense. Even if a valiant general was at her place, then he would be at similar state to her. Flower striped sand boas were no jock!

(To be continued......)