Chapter 10: Hunting Spirit Beasts

Outside the Purple Mist Hall, it was already a sea of people, with hundreds of Flowing Cloud Sect's outer sect disciples gathered together, chatting and laughing in small groups, each with an expression of boundless longing on their faces.

Although there was only a one-character difference between the inner and outer sects, the treatment and opportunities were worlds apart.

Inner sect disciples received a fixed monthly supply of ten Body Tempering Pills, could freely choose intermediate-level human-grade cultivation techniques and martial arts without restriction, and had inner sect elders regularly giving lectures and guidance. Moreover, outstanding inner sect disciples had a high chance of being noticed by inner sect elders and taken as personal disciples.

The status of personal disciples was even higher than that of ordinary inner sect disciples, with better treatment, allowing them to learn the Flowing Cloud Sect's true top-tier, advanced human-grade cultivation techniques.

Generally, as personal disciples of inner sect elders, as long as there were no accidents, they would become the new inner sect elders of the Flowing Cloud Sect when the current elders grew old or met with unfortunate ends, truly becoming the powerful figures who held sway in the Flowing Cloud Sect.

Therefore, all the outer sect disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect were vying to join the inner sect, going to great lengths to achieve this goal.

Just after the third hour of the morning, under the escort of a group of outer sect officials, an old man with hair as wild as weeds, a face full of ferocity and arrogance, slowly walked up to the high platform of the Purple Mist Hall.

The old man did not speak but instead glared around with wide eyes. The hundreds of outer sect disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect immediately felt as if they were being stared at by a fierce and ruthless wolf, a chill running down their spines and into their brains. They instantly fell silent, lowering their heads, and dared not meet the old man's gaze.

This old man was none other than Lu Hao, one of the five inner sect elders, a peak eleventh-level Blood Fusion Realm cultivator known as the Green-faced Wolf.

Even among the five elders, the Green-faced Wolf Lu Hao could rank in the top three, his reputation for cunning and ruthlessness having spread throughout all the sects within a thousand miles of Luo Yun City.

Seeing that his mere glare had silenced everyone, a hint of satisfaction appeared on the Green-faced Wolf Lu Hao's face.

"Today is the Flowing Cloud Sect's biennial inner sect entrance examination. All outer sect disciples can participate, but ultimately, only twenty of you will have the chance to enter the inner sect. This examination is divided into two parts. The first part requires you to enter Blackstone Ridge within three days and hunt a spirit beast of at least the first rank. Only those who obtain the skull of a first-rank spirit beast can proceed to the second part. Now, let the first round of the examination begin! By the third hour of the morning the day after tomorrow, those who have not obtained a spirit beast skull or who exceed the time limit will lose the qualification for the second part." The Green-faced Wolf Lu Hao announced loudly.

"Wow..." As soon as Lu Hao finished speaking, the outer sect disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect were immediately in an uproar.

Spirit beasts were powerful beings that surpassed ordinary wild animals, having varying degrees of intelligence. Some powerful spirit beasts even had intelligence comparable to humans, and there were even legends of spirit beasts that could speak human language and transform into human form.

It should be noted that even the most ordinary first-rank spirit beast had the strength of a third-level Blood Fusion Realm human warrior. Combined with the spirit beast's innate strength and physical attributes far surpassing humans, and the fact that a first-rank spirit beast had already developed intelligence, it might choose to flee if it encountered a human it could not defeat. Therefore, even a fourth-level Blood Fusion Realm warrior might not have the absolute confidence to kill a spirit beast.

This was much stricter than the previous tradition, where reaching the third level of the Blood Fusion Realm was enough to participate in the inner sect entrance examination!

No wonder the faces of the Flowing Cloud Sect disciples were filled with disbelief.

However, as an inner sect elder, the Green-faced Wolf Lu Hao had spoken, and even though the outer sect disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect were inwardly dissatisfied, no one dared to raise any objections.

After Lu Hao finished speaking, the outer sect disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect looked at each other, then lowered their heads and walked toward the back mountain, which was Blackstone Ridge.

Shen Chen had not yet spoken, but Wang Yue was already eagerly and resolutely following behind him.

Faced with the requirement to hunt a first-rank spirit beast and obtain its skull, many Flowing Cloud Sect disciples understood that relying solely on their own strength to kill a spirit beast was almost impossible.

Moreover, Elder Lu Hao did not specifically state that the outer sect disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect had to act alone or that they could not compete for the spirit beast skulls among themselves. This was considered an implicit acknowledgment that the Flowing Cloud Sect disciples could form teams and compete with each other.

Therefore, many familiar outer sect disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect gathered together, whispering to each other. Many called their friends and companions, and soon, the hundreds of outer sect disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect were divided into dozens of small groups of varying sizes.

There were also a few outer sect disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect who knew Shen Chen and Wang Yue and wanted them to join their group, but Shen Chen rejected each of them.

In Shen Chen's view, a first-rank spirit beast was equivalent to a third or fourth-level Blood Fusion Realm warrior, and he could handle it alone. Why waste time and energy working with others?

Many people did not know that Shen Chen had defeated Liu Yong, an inner sect disciple with third-level Blood Fusion Realm strength. Shen Chen had no intention of publicizing this, and Liu Yong's side would never admit such a humiliating defeat.

Therefore, in the eyes of the outer sect disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect, Shen Chen was just an ordinary second-level Blood Fusion Realm warrior. Even Wang Yue, who displayed peak second-level Blood Fusion Realm strength, was much stronger than Shen Chen.

Thus, many Flowing Cloud Sect disciples looked at Shen Chen and Wang Yue with confusion, not understanding why Wang Yue, who was clearly much stronger than Shen Chen, acted like a loyal follower.

Of course, more people did not actually have high hopes for the duo of Shen Chen and Wang Yue, waiting to see their failure in three days.

However, Wu Gang, who was also among the outer sect disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect, did not dare to look down on the duo of Shen Chen and Wang Yue.

It should be noted that even before breaking through to the second level of the Blood Fusion Realm, Shen Chen had already defeated the third-level Blood Fusion Realm Liu Yong. Now, having broken through to the second level, Shen Chen might even be a match for a fourth-level Blood Fusion Realm warrior.

But who could know that Shen Chen, even if he encountered a fifth or sixth-level Blood Fusion Realm warrior, still had the strength to fight!

The distance from the Flowing Cloud Sect to Blackstone Ridge was only a few dozen miles. After a few hours, the hundreds of outer sect disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect had already arrived at the foot of Blackstone Ridge.

"Look! A Wind Shadow Leopard!"

"And a Flame Tiger!"

...

One by one, the sharp-eyed outer sect disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect discovered their targets and shouted as they charged forward.

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