Chapter 42

In the grand and mysterious Hunting Ground No. 17 of the Tianyao Clan, massive, flat stones were piled up like the buildings of a prehistoric giant, turning the valley into a labyrinth of boulders. From behind a moss-covered stone door, Urasu emerged, drenched in sweat, his body as if washed by water, and he leaned against the stone wall, panting heavily.

So many days of training beyond his limits had made this young man grow rapidly. The naivety had faded from his body, and a sharp, lethal aura had transformed Urasu as if he had been reborn. At this moment, Urasu was no longer the same person he was two months ago.

In the No. 17 Hunting Ground, he had just faced three high-ranking hunters, fighting fiercely for a full fifteen minutes without falling behind. When he could no longer hold on, Urasu resolutely summoned the Iron-spined Gray Bear's battle soul.

The shadow of the Iron-spined Gray Bear appeared above Urasu's head, and the bear's strength merged with him in an instant, causing his brute strength to surge. Urasu even managed to force the three high-ranking hunters to take a step back simultaneously.

Only those who had cultivated the Tumantixinjing to the sixth or seventh level could be called high-ranking hunters.

Facing three high-ranking hunters, Urasu, determined to challenge his combat limits, went berserk. The black aura in his iron spear surged, and he launched relentless attacks, his momentum rising steadily, making it impossible for the three powerful hunters, each above the rank of centurion, to breach his defenses.

The four of them fought for over an hour, and no one could claim victory.

In the end, all four were exhausted, leaning against the walls, panting heavily. The three high-ranking hunters glared at Urasu in anger, but they lacked the strength to charge again. Hearing the summons of the Thirteenth Elder, Urasu knew he had completed his training for the day. He proudly leaned against the wall, inching out of the hunting ground, despite the fiery gazes from behind.

The Thirteenth Elder, Xiao Xiaohuo, smiled faintly and nodded, asking, "How was it?"

Urasu panted heavily, his face full of excitement, and he said loudly, "Thirteenth Elder, as you said, actual combat is indeed the best way to improve one's strength."

"After so many days of fighting, I feel that my brute strength, control, and combat experience have improved by at least thirty percent. Just like you said when explaining logistics, I used to have ten thousand oxen of strength but didn't know how to use it. Now, I have finally activated and utilized three thousand oxen of strength. I have found a way to use my own power."

Urasu's voice was filled with pride, "Thirteenth Elder, if I were to fight my former self now, I would probably defeat him in ten moves."

The Thirteenth Elder, Xiao Xiaohuo, smiled and nodded in approval, "Very good, excellent."

"Only excellent?"

Urasu was a bit unsatisfied, licking his lips and smiling, he asked, "Thirteenth Elder, I fought to a draw with three centurions. Is that only excellent? Where do you think I would rank on this year's Tianyao List?"

"You?"

The Thirteenth Elder's smile had a hint of mockery, and he nodded faintly, "If you continue to work this hard, in three months, you might be able to secure a spot in the top thirty of the Tianyao List. But that's only if you work even harder from now on, training every second of every day."

"What?"

Urasu felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, his face full of disbelief.

He had been making rapid progress, using his battle soul's power more skillfully, and he had thought he could easily enter the Tianyao List, perhaps even aim for a higher rank. He never imagined that, in the Thirteenth Elder's eyes, he was only on the edge of the list, and if he didn't work hard, he might not even make it.

Urasu was deeply discouraged, his face turning red as he asked, "Thirteenth Elder, are my opponents that strong?"

Xiao Xiaohuo's wrinkles around his eyes tightened, making him look more serious. The Elder said coldly, "What is the Tianyao List? The competition for each ranking is always intense and brutal. Do you think you are the only one with a battle soul?"

Seeing Urasu's discouraged look, Elder Xiao Xiaohuo's tone softened, and he shook his head, continuing, "The Tianyao List is open to all young men under twenty years old. Every year, there are many battle soul hunters like you, and our Tianyao Elite Hall has never lacked talented disciples. Therefore, the competition for the Tianyao List is always fierce and brutal. Every year, those who make the list are all exceptionally talented and have accumulated great potential."

"Urasu, among this year's battle soul hunters, you are one of the best, with both talent and cultivation potential far surpassing others. Perhaps after a few more years of cultivation, when you are twenty, you might have a chance to enter the top ten of the Tianyao List. But this year, if you work extremely hard, making it into the top thirty would be a remarkable achievement."

Hearing this, Urasu's mouth dropped open. He realized just how brutal the competition for the Tianyao List was.

He was one of the best among this year's battle soul hunters, and after two months of cultivation in the Tianyao Elite Hall, he could defeat his former self in ten moves. If he continued to train hard for a few more years, by the time he was twenty, his strength would be many times greater, and then he might have a chance to enter the top ten.

So, who were the people who could make it into the top three of the Tianyao List? What kind of prodigies could hold the top position in the Tianyao List?

Urasu swallowed hard.

He had always known that the top of the Tianyao List was strong, but now he realized just how difficult it was to become the top.

Urasu muttered dejectedly, "Heaven, it's so hard to even make the top thirty. What kind of strength must one have to make the top three?"

A faint smile appeared in the wrinkles around the Thirteenth Elder's eyes, and the tribal marks on his face trembled slightly. He turned and walked away, saying faintly, "Follow me."

Confused, Urasu followed the Thirteenth Elder deeper into the boulder labyrinth, turning around and around, until they stopped in front of a massive stone door. The door had a narrow gap, and Xiao Xiaohuo peered through it for a moment before stepping aside to let Urasu pass.

"Urasu, take a look..."

Urasu was extremely curious, wondering what the Thirteenth Elder wanted him to see. He leaned in, placing his face against the gap and looked inside. In that instant, Urasu drew a sharp breath, his face turning pale.

In the spacious stone room marked as Hunting Ground No. 46, two figures were engaged in a fierce battle, one with a sword and the other with a spear.

One figure was as bright as the moon, ethereal and graceful, wielding a black iron spear with great skill. The spear moved fluidly, thrusting and slashing with every move, each strike sharp and terrifying.

It was Mengtian.

On the opposite side, a rough-looking, muscular man was frowning, using all his might to launch relentless attacks.

Urasu's eyes nearly bulged out in surprise.

Because on the chest of the rough-looking man, he saw the distinctive golden emblem of a top-tier hunter: a bow with three arrows.

"A top-tier hunter?"

"Mengtian is fighting a top-tier hunter?"

Cold sweat broke out on Urasu's palms, and he shivered.