Immediately, he opened the scroll and began to read.

The scroll described an epic quest.

"Slay the Giant Serpent Demon."

Then came the description of the Giant Serpent Demon.

Tang Zhong and his companions were already aware of this, so they carefully read the rest.

The scroll mentioned possible locations for the Giant Serpent Demon.

"Poisonous Swamp."

After reading all the contents, Tang Zhong turned to A Ding and asked, "Do you know where this Poisonous Swamp is?"

"I know," A Ding replied, glancing at Tang Yan and continued asking, "Yi Zhong, are we really going?"

He knew how formidable the Giant Serpent Demon was.

Moreover, the Giant Serpent Demon definitely had other means, and there were surely other Great Demons under its command.

When they went there, they would definitely face more than just one Giant Serpent Demon, for sure other Great Demons too!

"We’ll go!" Tang Zhong said.

"Alright!" A Ding was also no longer afraid.

Having witnessed Tang Zhong’s strength, A Ding wasn’t fearful anymore; he thought there might really be a way!

Moreover, A Ding knew that the person in front of him had once lived with Great Demons and understood their habits!

So, there’s a real possibility of completing this quest!

Though difficult, A Ding wanted to give it a try, after all, completing an epic quest would be quite impressive!

After all, not many graduates currently occupying key positions in the Ancient Kingdom might have completed an epic quest!

Set off!

Poisonous Swamp!

Most of the Star Sword Association members were almost dead by now.

So, they had nothing to stand in their way.

They just needed to travel.

After leaving the Spring Autumn Academy, they entered the Great Wilderness!

The Great Wilderness was terribly dangerous, and exceptionally bleak,

if one tried to survive alone in this place, it would be as hard as climbing to the sky!

Unless a group ventured out, which is also why the Academy encouraged group training outside rather than individuals!

Because the likelihood of perishing alone was too high.

Moreover, the high-level personnel in the Academy were also aware of the contests among students.

A group outing would cut down on many conflicts!

And now, after several days of speedy travel, Tang Zhong and A Ding were close to the Poisonous Swamp!

Along the way, they encountered quite a few Demon Beasts, but in the hands of these two, those beasts were nothing.

They were quickly defeated.

They covered themselves with the fresh blood of Demon Beasts!

Many of the beasts, upon smelling the blood, would no longer trouble Tang Zhong and his group.

Thus, they could reach the Poisonous Swamp!

Otherwise, it would have been tough to take even a single step!

The Poisonous Swamp, situated deep within the Great Wilderness!

This place was peculiar.

It’s where the swamp borders the Great Wilderness!

Clearly, the wilderness was still land, but up ahead, it turns into a swamp.

Moreover, miasma floated above the swamp, which was strange!

The swamp couldn’t drown the land, nor could the miasma drift onto the land.

Now, they could see many skulls floating in the swamp!

Even heads of Demon Beasts.

It was evident that both humans and beasts had ventured into the Poisonous Swamp and met their end.

Seeing those skulls made A Ding’s body tremble a bit, being that this place was close to their Tribe, and he had heard tales of the Poisonous Swamp since childhood!

There was a legend that said the Poisonous Swamp was impossible to penetrate to its very center— not even a hair strand could drift across it!

Beneath the center of the swamp lay something very strange, some said it housed a giant whale.

This giant whale devoured everything in its path!

Some believed it was a Treasure!

Rumors flew around, but no one truly knew what it was, which led to surrounding Tribes migrating away!

"Is this the place?" Tang Zhong asked, looking at the swamp ahead.

"Yes!" replied A Ding.

"Let’s go!" Tang Zhong said.

"Just go like this? The miasma inside could probably devour us whole!" A Ding stopped Tang Zhong.

Miasma was nothing to Tang Zhong, his physique was special, how could he fear such a thing?

But A Ding couldn’t handle it!

Though he now recognized A Ding as a friend, Tang Zhong wouldn’t reveal his true strength yet.

Before, killing Jian Jiu had left him no choice! 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Do you have a way to penetrate the miasma then?" Tang Zhong asked.

A Ding probably had a way!

"I do, but we’ll need to drop by our Tribe!" A Ding said.

"The miasma is powerful and requires something to block it. Our Tribe produces a thing called a Clear Heart Stone, if you keep this stone in your mouth, it can fend off the miasma!"

"Then why didn’t you mention it earlier? If you had, we could have just headed to your Tribe first!" Tang Zhong said.

"Aren’t we out here for the quest? We can’t just return home willy-nilly!" A Ding scratched his head.

Tang Zhong burst into laughter, realizing this kid probably just wanted to revisit home!

Immediately, he laughed, "Then let’s go, visit your tribe first!"

Upon hearing this, A Ding’s eyes widened: "Alright, let’s go!"

The two set off for A Ding’s Tribe.

A Ding seemed familiar with the route.

At every place they passed, he introduced it to Tang Zhong!

Tang Zhong wasn’t that interested in the place, but since it was A Ding’s hometown, he was curious!

Soon, the two saw a Tribe ahead, surrounded by billows of green smoke.

It was situated amid the mountains, hard to find without a guide leading the way!

It resembled the Qimen Dunjia of Xuan Country back in the day.

Unexpectedly, someone on Lingyuan Continent still knew of it!

Soon, they reached the Tribe’s gate.

A Guard was manning the gate!

Upon seeing A Ding, he shouted, "Who goes there? Why have you come to our Tun Shi Tribe?"

A Ding waved at him and called out, "Er Leng Zi, it’s me, A Ding!"

The soldier froze at the mention of Er Leng Zi, taking a moment before he blinked at A Ding, and eventually confirmed, "A Ding?"

"Yes, it’s me, Er Leng Zi!" A Ding shouted.

"You... What are you doing here? That’s odd, didn’t you go to the Spring Autumn Academy? Our elders said you could only return after graduation, how are you back now?" Er Leng Zi shouted.

A Ding replied, "I came out for a quest, so I returned early, come on, open the gate, I want in!"

After hearing this, Er Leng Zi immediately opened the tribe’s gate.

With a rumble.

Later, Er Leng Zi shouted back, "A Ding is back, everyone come out and greet him!"

Instantly, many people from the Tribe rushed out, mostly to see A Ding.

Because A Ding was the only one from the Tribe to venture out and gain admission into the Spring Autumn Academy, making him a source of pride for the Tribe!