Chapter 31: For Them, I Must Face It!

This time, under the lead of Xiao Qi and others, the path they took formed a ninety-degree angle with the direction Xiao Bei had gone before, which could be said to be a different route.

Xiao Bei also knew that this direction was closer to where humans gathered. Moreover, this area was where the Xiao family's strong cultivators practiced, so there were far fewer demonic beasts compared to the direction Xiao Bei had gone before. To make the trial as realistic as possible while minimizing casualties, the Xiao family's strong cultivators had previously conducted a thorough investigation of a large area of the forest. As a result, unless it was the deepest part of the forest, there were no particularly powerful demonic beasts, and the danger to the Xiao family's young disciples was naturally reduced.

However, through the memories of the previous Xiao Bei, Xiao Bei knew that the family trial was indeed meant to be real.

You could form a team to kill demonic beasts or go alone, but no elder would help you, even if you were about to be killed by a demonic beast. In the past, there was a record of three family disciples being swallowed alive by a demonic beast that seemed to have reached the innate realm during a family trial.

However, Xiao Bei knew that while the elders of the Xiao family claimed they wouldn't help, they wouldn't really abandon you.

When you ventured deep into the mountains and forests to hunt demonic beasts, even a strong cultivator like Manager Xiao couldn't always protect you. If you encountered a powerful demonic beast by accident, being swallowed and killed was inevitable.

However, if some of the Xiao family's disciples were seriously injured, they would certainly receive help from the elders.

Besides, if you really encountered a demonic beast that wanted to harm you at the campsite, would the family's strong cultivators just watch you die?

"Here is our base camp. Every day, you need to return here to gather and bring back the heads of the demonic beasts you or your team have killed. Of course, you don't have to return every day, but the total number after three days will determine your ranking and whether you qualify for the final arena."

"Also, don't cheat, such as bringing pre-killed demonic beast heads or using poison to kill them... If cheating is discovered, you will be disqualified from the trial and confined to the back mountain. In severe cases, the family elder command team, consisting of the five of us, will revoke your cultivation!"

"Those are the requirements for the trial. Now, the family trial officially begins!"

Xiao Qi and Manager Xiao sat on the ground, and not long ago, under their lead, the Xiao family's disciples had set up simple tents here, which would serve as the gathering place for the disciples returning each night.

"Being able to return every night makes this trial much less brutal," Xiao Bei looked at the tents, shook his head, and sneered at the so-called trial.

The Xiao family's disciples, who were standing beside Xiao Bei, scattered like birds and beasts after listening to Xiao Qi's words, either going alone or forming small groups, heading in all directions around the tents.

Xiao Bei hesitated slightly, then, under the malicious gazes of Xiao Yun and Xiao Bing's group, he went in another direction.

That direction led to the waterfall where Xiao Bei had been before.

"They actually followed me. Hmph, don't make me want to act, or else..." Feeling the aura of Xiao Yun and others behind him, a cold light flashed in Xiao Bei's eyes.

After a few quick movements, Xiao Bei disappeared amidst the fierce curses of Xiao Yun and others.

Only when Xiao Bei felt no one behind him did he directly soar into the air.

Soon, Xiao Bei returned to the area near the waterfall.

Xiao Bei planned to stay here for a day, and after a day, he would go to hunt demonic beasts.

Holding the Star Stone, Xiao Bei felt full of confidence.

"Go!"

With Xiao Bei's command, the Star Stone, like a summoned weapon, flew toward the target Xiao Bei pointed at... When the sky just began to brighten the next day, Xiao Bei finished his cultivation.

Looking at the red sun rising on the horizon, Xiao Bei knew he had to do something.

That was to face the powerful demonic beast that had impressed him and obtain its inner core!

Originally, Xiao Bei didn't want to do this, but the appearance of the Hengxiang Academy forced him to prepare everything... There were too many uncertain factors on this continent, and there were too many things Xiao Bei didn't understand. Bianzhou was a medium-sized state, and there were definitely more strong cultivators there, just as many rumors suggested, the dean of the academy might be a cultivator beyond the Imperial Realm!

If there was one, there could be a second!

It was possible that there were even more cultivators beyond the Imperial Realm in Bianzhou!

Based on this, Xiao Bei knew he had to work hard. The path to becoming a strong cultivator must be accelerated, just as on Earth, to be the best, one must lead the way.

On Earth, he worked hard for his parents' wishes, striving to be the best to make them proud in the afterlife. Here, he worked even harder to protect Zhang Lan, his mother, and Jiang Yuan, whom he loved and lived with, to ensure they were not bullied, he had to become stronger!

Although the Star Stone could provide Xiao Bei with a steady stream of energy every thirty seconds or so, allowing his central star to steadily grow stronger, Xiao Bei also found that this did not hinder his own cultivation. Therefore, he firmly decided to absorb the inner cores of demonic beasts to quickly enhance his power.

Xiao Bei discovered that the more powerful the demonic beast's inner core, the purer the energy he could absorb. The weaker the demonic beast, the more impurities in its inner core, which would waste more time when absorbed.

Therefore, Xiao Bei decided that in the future, he would target the most powerful demonic beasts he could handle, not only to obtain good inner cores but also to hone his combat awareness and skills.

Holding the ink-black Star Stone, Xiao Bei's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the location of the demonic beast's steady breathing.

He flew through the air, moving swiftly.

When he was about two hundred meters away from the demonic beast, Xiao Bei's expression remained calm, his eyes indifferent, and his aura completely concealed.

"Bang!"

Xiao Bei's speed suddenly increased!

Faster than lightning!

In less than a few seconds, Xiao Bei flew to the demonic beast's vicinity.

What he saw was a massive, tiger-like demonic beast, about ten meters long, with a white body and blue stripes. However, unlike a tiger, it had a prominent golden horn on its forehead instead of the usual "Wang" character.

When Xiao Bei entered the fifty-meter range, he smelled a medicinal fragrance. Before he acted, he keenly noticed a three-meter-wide clearing beside the demonic beast, where a plant with a bright green stem and a bright red flower at the top grew.

Seeing this, Xiao Bei's mind was set. Without a word, he turned and retreated.

Anyone would know that this plant was a top-grade medicinal herb, so Xiao Bei couldn't destroy it. He had to move the battlefield elsewhere.

The tiger-like demonic beast's eyes were already open, staring at Xiao Bei, who was challenging it, with a cold light in its eyes!

Seeing Xiao Bei about to retreat, the tiger-like demonic beast followed!