Chapter 43

"Three days from now, a group of disciples will come to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains for a trial. You fur-covered beast slaves must fully cooperate with them." Elder Huhuo said with a blank expression.

Yuan Ming and Wulu exchanged glances, their faces showing a mix of surprise and concern.

"May I ask what the specific content of this trial is?" Wulu paused and then asked.

"You don't need to know that now. Just remember to gather here three days from now. Understood?" Elder Huhuo commanded in a tone that brooked no refusal.

"Yes." Wulu bowed his head in response, while Yuan Ming nodded somewhat listlessly.

"I know what you are worried about. Such trials are common in the sect, but not every time do you have the chance to show your worth. Listen carefully: after this trial, based on your individual performance, you can earn between one hundred to three hundred shares of blood food. If anyone makes significant contributions, there is a possibility of being directly admitted into the sect as a registered disciple." Elder Huhuo glanced at the two and continued.

Upon hearing this, Wulu's breathing became heavier, and Yuan Ming's eyes lit up.

"I have said all I need to say. Don't miss this opportunity." Elder Huhuo said coolly.

"Yes." The two responded in unison, their voices much louder.

Next, Elder Huhuo took back their beast blood and gave them the antidote for the month, then quickly leaped onto the giant eagle and flew away, leaving Yuan Ming, who had intended to report the dead bodies in the valley, speechless.

Wulu then bid farewell to Yuan Ming and hurriedly left, his figure quickly disappearing in the distance.

Yuan Ming did not stay long and headed towards the canyon, his mind preoccupied with the disciple trial mentioned by Elder Huhuo, his expression growing increasingly serious.

At first glance, this trial seemed like a good opportunity for the fur-covered beast slaves scattered throughout the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, but upon closer thought, something didn't seem right.

The disciples Elder Huhuo referred to must be registered disciples, who are far more talented and cultivated than they, the fur-covered beast slaves at the fringes of the sect. The only value the fur-covered beast slaves had for them was their familiarity with the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, which could help guide the way.

He didn't believe that the sect would simply have them guide the way and assist with minor tasks and then reward them with a significant amount of blood food.

The matter was not that simple.

"Still, I need to be careful," he warned himself.

...

Three days later, by the boundary marker.

In the early morning, figures gathered from all directions, and before the sun had fully risen, more than thirty people had assembled there.

Some were quite excited, eager to begin, while others looked bewildered, seemingly unclear about why they were required to gather.

After Yuan Ming arrived, Hagon soon approached him.

"Have you heard? It seems the sect has sent a group of registered disciples here for training." Hagon whispered.

"If they are here for training, why do we need to cooperate?" Yuan Ming asked, puzzled.

"Can't you figure it out? Those who are pampered in the sect every day, how could they know the dangers of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains? They will definitely need our assistance." Hagon rolled his eyes and said.

"Like when nobles go hunting and bring along some attendants?" Yuan Ming asked.

"Calling them attendants is too kind. More like dogs and lackeys." Hagon shook his head and said.

As they were talking, a group of about ten people arrived, led by a tall man with black hair and a fierce, sinister face—U Bao of the Green Wolf Gang.

Upon their arrival, they all looked at Yuan Ming and Hagon, their eyes filled with anger.

Yuan Ming's expression remained calm, and he met their gaze without any sign of fear.

"Whatever is coming, can't be avoided," Hagon said, pulling the corner of his mouth.

Just as he finished speaking, another group of about ten people arrived, led by Jin Kun of the Hyena Hall.

When their eyes met, Jin Kun's expression was not pleasant. Previously, when he and the Green Wolf Gang had targeted Yuan Ming and Hagon, not only did the two escape, but several of his subordinates were also seriously injured.

For these two forces, especially U Bao, they had not given up on Yuan Ming. They were just waiting for the right opportunity to strike.

Jin Kun's beady eyes kept darting between Yuan Ming and Hagon, and he said to U Bao, "Since you still have plans, why not take advantage of the fact that Elder Huhuo hasn't arrived yet and we have enough people? Now is a good time, isn't it?"

"I have my own plans. Don't cause trouble. Yuan Ming will surely die this time, and I'll deal with Hagon later," U Bao licked his lips and said with a cold laugh.

"That's good, that's good," Jin Kun nodded and smiled.

Hagon, seeing the two of them colluding, frowned, while Yuan Ming remained unperturbed.

At that moment, a loud whistle came from the sky.

A huge shadow covered the area and descended.

Everyone looked up to see Elder Huhuo riding a hawk-like mount, with four unfamiliar figures standing behind him.

After the hawk landed, Elder Huhuo leaped down first, followed by the other four.

The appearance of these four immediately drew the attention of all the fur-covered beast slaves.

The first to jump down was a rugged, short-bearded man with a robust and muscular build. His black robe was stretched tight, and he carried a large black axe on his back, clearly not someone to be trifled with.

Next was a plump, full-figured woman with an ordinary face. Her attire was almost identical to the short-bearded man, suggesting a uniform style, even the beast head emblem on her chest was the same.

Yuan Ming noticed that below the beast head emblem was a line of small text that read "Beast Control Hall."

Although the woman's face was plain, her figure was extremely alluring. When she jumped down from the hawk's back, her chest bounced like two white rabbits, drawing the eyes of the fur-covered beast slaves, who hadn't seen a woman in a long time.

The woman seemed completely unconcerned with their lecherous gazes, puffed out her chest, and struck a seductive pose beside the short-bearded man.

Following her was a young man in a green robe, slender and lean, with a shy smile on his face, but his eyes were fixed on the ground in front of him.

His robe, though a different color, had the same style as the previous two, with a furnace-shaped emblem on his chest, and below it, in Southern Border script, it read "Alchemical Furnace Hall."

The last person was a woman in a short, fiery red dress, different in style from the previous three. Below the emblem on her chest, it read "Fire Refinement Hall."

This woman had delicate features and a beautiful face, especially her almond-shaped eyes, which were full of vitality. Her short outfit accentuated her perfect figure, making her appear both graceful and efficient.

Her appearance immediately drew most of the attention away from the seductive woman.

Unlike the seductive woman, she was very displeased with the lecherous gazes and placed her hand on a green vine whip at her waist, glaring at the crowd.

The fur-covered beast slaves, intimidated by her sharp gaze, quickly lowered their heads.

Yuan Ming, however, stared at the "Fire Refinement Hall" on her chest, slightly lost in thought, remembering that Zhao Tong had mentioned that the Fire Refinement Hall was responsible for refining magical artifacts in the sect.

That guy had said he would ask someone to see if there was a senior from the Fire Refinement Hall who could help engrave an array pattern on the Green Fish Sword, but it had been like a stone thrown into the sea, with no response.

"Snap"

At that moment, a sound of something breaking the air suddenly came.

Yuan Ming instinctively dodged, seeing a whip flash by his side and then retract.

He was puzzled, not understanding why the woman had suddenly attacked him.

The red-dressed woman, seeing that his gaze had moved from her chest, didn't bother to pursue it further, coiled her whip, and hung it at her waist.

"What a bad temper," Yuan Ming muttered to himself.

Elder Huhuo ignored this and, seeing that the woman was no longer upset, said:

"Here are the fur-covered beast slaves under my command. You can choose freely, even take them all if you wish."

The fur-covered beast slaves were confused, as he had not explained anything to them.

"Elder Huhuo, just a couple of guides should be enough. There's no need for so many," the red-dressed woman spoke first.

"Senior Chen Wan, why not take a few more? If we encounter danger, more people can provide a buffer," the slender young man in the green robe suggested, looking at the red-dressed woman.

What kind of buffer? Just cannon fodder.

Yuan Ming, hearing this, felt a surge of dissatisfaction, and the other fur-covered beast slaves also looked unhappy, though they dared not show it.

"Badar, with us here, what do you have to worry about? This mission, whether we take one or two or ten fur-covered beast slaves, makes no difference," the short-bearded man grinned, speaking with disdain.

"Exactly, bringing more people would just be a burden," the seductive woman added, her voice soft and alluring, making the fur-covered beast slaves shiver with desire, wishing they could follow.

"Kun Tu, Yang Chan, this training is not a game. Think carefully," Elder Huhuo warned.

"Elder, there's no need to worry. This is our training; how can we rely entirely on the fur-covered beast slaves?" Kun Tu, the short-bearded man, waved his hand, showing no concern.

Then, he casually pointed at the crowd: "You, you, the two of you come with us."

He pointed casually, and everyone's attention focused on the two "lucky" ones selected.

U Bao grinned, looking at Yuan Ming.

Yuan Ming couldn't help but frown.

"Brother Yuan, I don't think this is a good assignment," Hagon said, worried.

The two people selected by Kun Tu were none other than U Bao and Yuan Ming.