C47 Hunting Begins!

Above the square, just outside the array.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The Great Ginkou Array shimmered with spiritual light as contestants were steadily eliminated. Leng Baiyu and the burly youth were no exception, soon finding themselves teleported outside of the array.

Yet, the crowd's focus had shifted away from them. No one spared a thought for the defeated; all the glory and applause were reserved for the victors. It was the classic tale of triumph and downfall.

Atop the high platform, all eyes were drawn to the misty screen showcasing Liu Xingchang.

Zhao Youqing couldn't hide his amazement, "It seems this year's Hunting Contest has unveiled quite a few dark horses! And this one is particularly notable! It's rare for peripheral forces to cultivate such formidable talents, and it's already an achievement to bring a cultivator of the Second Layer of Spirit Mastery Realm to the contest. But who would have thought he could stand against five opponents, all of whom possess strength not far off from his own?"

Cui Buyi arched her enticing eyebrows, adding, "Moreover, one of them is a cultivator at the Third Stage of Spirit Master Realm."

Zhao Youqing agreed, "Indeed, Sixth Senior Brother truly lives up to his reputation, with such an astute eye!"

Upon hearing this, the Third Elder gave a wry smile and confessed, "Honestly, my interest in this young man isn't because I knew of his strength. In fact, I've been unaware of his capabilities, which is precisely what piqued my curiosity. He caught my attention when he boldly eliminated a member of the Hunter Squad."

Zhao Youqing's eyebrows shot up, "The Hunter Squad? They're the ones that all teams avoid on their way to the contest. Is this young man really that fearless?"

The Third Elder nodded with a smile, "Now it appears that this young man has not only the courage to confront the Hunter Squad but also the strength to back it up."

As Yan'er watched Liu Xingchang standing tall on the misty screen, a flicker of admiration crossed her gaze.

Initially, she had pegged Liu Xingchang and his team as underdogs, but his performance had completely upended her perceptions and expectations.

Liu Xingchang fearlessly saved his teammates and, under Leng Baiyu's coercion, he decisively eliminated Zhu Ziyu. Now, he has impressively defeated five opponents single-handedly, far surpassing any of her predictions.

Liu Xingchang had now piqued her curiosity.

She was eager to see just how far Liu Xingchang could go.

...

At that moment, within the formation.

Liu Xingchang's one-man victory over five opponents made many opportunists hesitate to move forward.

There was no helping it; Liu Xingchang was simply too formidable. They lacked the capability to snatch any advantage.

Even those who believed they could match Liu Xingchang's prowess didn't want to deplete their combat strength so early in the competition, lest they fall prey to another's advantage.

Little Beggar also emerged from the cave in a frenzy and dashed off.

The woman in red leaped from the mountain peak, her light-footed skills a mystery, and in a blur of motion, she appeared before Liu Xingchang.

The woman in red smiled, "I didn't expect to encounter a dark horse right at the start of the competition."

Liu Xingchang glanced at the woman in red and chuckled, "You may have just met me, but I've encountered you more than once. A woman who chooses to sit on a whip resting on a window instead of a bench or bed in a tavern, especially one as striking as you, is hard for anyone to overlook."

The woman in red's laughter rang out once more.

She had the air of a fiery temptress, like a devilishly spicy chili that could kill without remorse, yet her laughter was sweeter than honey.

The woman in red chuckled, "With such flattery, you must be surrounded by many girls, right?"

Liu Xingchang replied with a smile, "Even faced with the Weak Water Three Thousand, one scoop is all I need to quench my thirst."

"Tsk tsk, now you're quoting poetry," she teased.

The woman in red said with a grin, "Whether you take a scoop or a bucket, it's of no consequence to me. I just find you fascinating and would like to befriend you and propose we team up for the time being."

Liu Xingchang remarked, "I'm open to making friends, but I must apologize—I already have four friends I need to find."

The woman in red replied, "I'm aware you have four friends. I took note of you the day you spoke with those five individuals alongside Da Song. My intention isn't to form a five-person squad with you, but rather... a hunting team!"

Liu Xingchang's eyebrows lifted in curiosity. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

With a smile, the woman in red gestured to the surrounding caves and teased, "What do you think it means?"

Liu Xingchang's eyes sparkled with realization.

The existence of these Demonic Beasts was akin to a generous gift from the Hidden Dragon Sect. With so many Demon Cores within reach, their eagerness was palpable.

"Do you propose an alliance?" Liu Xingchang inquired.

"Then we'll split the bounty equally," the woman in red proposed with a smile.

Exchanging a knowing look, Liu Xingchang and the woman in red struck a deal with a handshake.

While Liu Xingchang was capable of hunting the Demonic Beasts on his own, the numerous caves presented unknown risks. Partnering up would not only be safer but also more efficient.

Thus, the woman in red and Liu Xingchang embarked on their hunting expedition.

Demon Cores could be utilized for alchemy, sold at the Cultivation Market for Spirit Stones—the Cultivation World's universal currency—or consumed to enhance one's cultivation level.

However, since Demon Cores were derived from Demonic Beasts, they lacked the purity of Spiritual Energy found in Spirit Stones. Consequently, many preferred to exchange Demon Cores for Spirit Stones before proceeding with their cultivation practices.

During their hunting endeavors, the woman in red and Liu Xingchang exchanged names.

She learned of Liu Xingchang's identity and background but only revealed to him that her name was Chun Erliu, withholding her origins.

Nonetheless, even without her disclosure, Liu Xingchang surmised that she must hail from a powerful faction at the heart of the Azure Sky Realm. Her formidable strength and the unique spiritual artifact she used to mask her aura made it impossible for others to ascertain her true level.

Liu Xingchang wasn't bothered in the slightest, as his collaboration with Chun Erliu was incredibly enjoyable. Anyone who attempted to kill them for the sake of harvesting Spiritual Light would inevitably become "food" that unwittingly came knocking at their door. The number of Demon Cores they had collected along the way was immeasurable, and they had certainly made a fortune.

During this adventure, Liu Xingchang also reunited with Yan Tianni and Fatty Gong, who had both been transported to a desolate mountain.

The only ones yet to regroup with Liu Xingchang were Hu Gewan and Tong San.

Within the confines of the Ancient Array, the distinction between day and night was nonexistent. Time's passage was a mystery to all. Liu Xingchang was only aware that he had depleted and then fully replenished the Spiritual Energy within his three Spirit Seas, yet he still hadn't located Hu Gewan and Tong San.

As Liu Xingchang and his companions were preparing to take a break, a fearsome roar that shook the heavens erupted from deep within the mountains.

Liu Xingchang and Chun Erliu exchanged a glance, instantly recognizing the alarm in each other's eyes.

"That roar... a Third-Tier Demon Beast!"