The group went back to the cave after the hunt, while on the way, Yan Xiu was thinking. The whole hunting trip felt too easy for him, none of the hunts were remotely dangerous. It was not like he thought it was bad, it was good if there was no danger.
But he had a bad feeling that this was not the end of this trip. And he was right. Before they even sat down, Xiao Musheng dropped an announcement.
"Rest well, you three. At dawn, we will head out and you will go through a test. Pass and I will recognize and approve you as a hunter. Fail and you either quit as a hunter or try again until you pass." (XM)
Without waiting for the three junior hunters answer, Xiao Musheng walked deeper into the cave and sat down. The other two senior hunters followed suit. Yan Xiu sighed, as expected.
Xin Guodan and Shuang Jingu panicked, they dropped to the ground. Sitting crossed and tried to recover their energy, forgetting that they barely expanded their energy in the last hunt.
Meanwhile, Yan Xiu calmly sat down and wiped his needles and javelin. When he was done, he put them away and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and adjusted his state of mind. His father used to say that a stable and calm state of mind was the most important thing in every situation. Bai Yuan, on another hand, was copying Yan Xiu before he grew bored and just laid down beside Yan Xiu.
Xiao Musheng nodded when he looked at Yan Xiu's action, it was apparent that he agreed with Yan Xiu's papa. He sighed at the other two junior hunters, why can't they follow his example, wondered Xiao Musheng.
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When the sun peeked out from the horizon and the sky brightened, the group left the cave and headed north under Liu Feng lead. While they were not panicked anymore, Xin Guodan and Shuang Jingu were very nervous.
Yan Xiu was also nervous but he tried to calm himself down so that he would not freeze up later. No matter what the test would be, he would do his best.
They walked for quite some time before Liu Feng slowed down. Liu Feng looked at Xiao Musheng while the latter nodded.
"We have now entered the territory of a ferocious demon beast. Later, your test will be to withstand the suppression from the beast. You will pass if you can still move under the suppression, you failed if you can't." (XM)
After saying that, the group walked again albeit slower. Liu Feng in the front was moving forward while sensing his surroundings. Chen Hanchen was also doing the same, his hands were ready to draw his dagger whenever the need arises.
While he looked relaxed, Xiao Musheng showed no opening and never let his guard down. Hearing what the test was just to withstand pressure and not fighting, Xin Guodan and Shuang Jingu were relieved. They relaxed and became normal again.
While Yan Xiu thought that it would not be that simple and kept himself alert but calm. Bai Yuan was looking around while growling. He didn't have territory himself as he thought it was unnecessary, but as demon beast, he was clear about the risk of intruding into another demon beast's territory. Especially a demon beast stronger than himself.
There were only two outcomes to this scenario, either he gets himself out or the owner would. But the latter didn't guarantee he went out in one piece. As they were connected telepathically, Yan Xiu felt the anxiety and fear in Bai Yuan's heart. Yan Xiu comforted Bai Yuan, saying that with Xiao Musheng around, they would be safe.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Hearing that, Bai Yuan calmed down a little. But he didn't relax, he heightened his senses. While he was indeed weaker than the owner of this territory and Xiao Musheng, he would be the one to protect his master.
Suddenly, Liu Feng in the front dropped to the ground and put his hand on the ground. He could feel a subtle vibration on his palm, the vibration was getting stronger and the sound of trees cracked could be heard. He stood up abruptly and yelled.
"Dodge! It's coming!" (LF)
CRACK! CRACK! CRASH!
A giant gray ball heading toward them while bulldozing the trees in its way. Chen Hanchen followed Liu Feng and jumped sideways, Bai Yuan grabbed Yan Xiu and quickly leaped away. Xiao Musheng moved as he grabbed both Xin Guodan and Shuang Jingu behind him.
The ball trampled the place they were standing before, the ground was gouged and marked with a huge straight mark. After missing its target, the ball opened up and transform into a huge armored monster.
An armor-like hide covered its body up to its tail, but it didn't cover the face and body front. Its palm was big and four huge claws were attached to it, its feet was also the same. The beast, the Baller, glared at the group. It stood on its feet and roared, it demonstrated its power.
Yan Xiu felt like a big stone just fell on top of him, every part of his body was heavy. His heart was gripped with fear. He wanted to run but he couldn't move his body as if he was bound. The other two junior hunters didn't fare any better.
It was understandable, the Baller was an Inner Foundation realm last stage beast. It was a whole realm stronger than Yan Xiu and the others. While the Gudol bird and One-horned bull was also an Inner Foundation realm beast, it couldn't muster such suppression.
This was the difference between normal and ferocious beast. The ability to use their realm and blood lust to force others to submit. The suppression of realm Yan And the others felt was nothing to scoff at.
"Uho uho (master, be strong!)" (BY)
While he was also affected by the suppression, it wasn't as bad. Detecting the state Yan Xiu's in, Bai Yuan encouraged him and shaped him but it had little effect. Yaan Xiu was truly shaken right now.
Already expecting the situation, Chen Hanchen and Liu Feng attacked the baller at the same time to buy some time for their juniors to recover or run away.
"...In a real hunt, you never know what kind of beast you'll encounter. If you are frozen up and can't move under the suppression of a beast, there is only death waiting for you. Worse yet, you can endanger your brothers.
This is a test that separates the hunter and wannabe. If you are determined to become a hunter, then prove it now. If you can't handle it and want to quit, be my guest. I won't look down on you." (XM)
Xiao Musheng said those words while facing Yan Xiu and the others. A thought crossed Yan Xiu's mind, yeah, let's give up. He was about to speak up when his parents face flashed in his mind. Yan Xiu clenched his small fist, he remembered his purpose of why he wanted to become a hunter.
It was for power. If he became a hunter, he could ask guidance from Xiao Musheng. Guidance from strong people like Xiao Musheng would be really helpful for someone who cultivated without a teacher like him. And if he became stronger, it would improve his chance of entering a good sect.
He must become a hunter! He needed power! To search for his parents! Yan Xiu grit his teeth.
"(Xiao Yuan, don't shake me anymore.)" (YX)
"Uho? (Master, are you okay now?)" (BY)
"(Yeah, sorry for making you worry.)" (YX)
Yan Xiu curled his lips into a smile. He was still afraid and his body was heavy, but he would not be suppressed any longer. Determination filled his eyes. Looking at Yan Xiu who slowly reached for the javelin on his back, Xiao Musheng nodded.
Xin Guodan and Shuang Jingu were about to collapse and give up. But seeing Yan Xiu, they grit their teeth and threw away every thought of running away. How could they run away if the youngest of them, Yan Xiu, were about to fight?
Albeit a little sluggish, they also reached for their weapons. A rare smile appeared on Xiao Musheng face, usually only one would pass this test as shrugging off a suppression of an entire realm is very very difficult. There were many times where none passed. For all to passed, this was the first time and probably the last time it happened.
Yan Xiu slowly took his aim, the Baller who was in a scuffle with Chen Hanchen and Liu Feng. The trembling in his hand disappeared and a smile bloomed on his face.
"Thank you. I have become a hunter thanks to you." (YX)
He let loose his javelin.