C7 The Mission to Hunt Beasts!

At the entrance of the ancient forest, a throng of Martial Academy students mingled with Alchemists who had set up their stalls.

These Alchemists peddled low-level healing potions—affordable and practical—and were also purchasing various materials on the spot.

Lloyd, catching sight of the plainly dressed, youthful Alchemists, couldn't help but smile as memories of his own past came flooding back.

In his younger days, he too had spent years peddling medicine just outside the ancient forest, much like them.

Without dwelling on the nostalgia, Lloyd and his three companions briskly followed the large group of students into the ancient forest.

The sky quickly grew dim as the towering ancient trees blotted out the sun, allowing only specks of sunlight to filter through occasionally.

The forest floor was carpeted with layers of leaves, and an inadvertent step on a dead branch could send a shiver of fear through anyone.

As they ventured deeper, the other teams that had entered with them slowly vanished from sight. Now and then, the sounds of battle echoed through the trees. Just as they were nearing the edge of the dense woodland, a cacophony of barking erupted, and a pack of Carrion Hounds materialized.

"These are Barbarian Beasts? They hardly look fierce," Joshua observed, sword in hand, ready to charge.

"Junior Brother, hold on!" Draco quickly intervened, shouting at the Carrion Hounds.

Scattered by the noise, the hounds bolted and vanished as quickly as they had appeared.

Joshua watched, bemused. "Are these Barbarian Beasts more cowardly than cats?"

Draco burst into laughter and explained, "Junior Brother, patience. These Carrion Hounds are merely the most timid of the Barbarian Beasts, scavengers by nature. Once we enter the level two Barbaric Beast Zone, you'll encounter far more formidable creatures."

"Then let's get moving!" Joshua called out, his excitement palpable.

Having enrolled in the academy a year earlier, Draco and his sister were seasoned in beast-hunting missions and knew the paths through the Old Growth of Black Vines like the back of their hands.

To save time, they skirted the domains of various level one Barbarian Beasts. After half a day's journey, they successfully reached the level two Barbaric Beast Zone.

They found themselves in a valley, where more than a dozen burly, black-skinned mountain pigs roamed by the stream, their tusks as sharp as sword blades.

"These are juvenile mountain boars. We just need to dodge their charges to handle them. My sister and I will take on the ones to the left. Junior Brothers, why don't you head to the right and draw out a couple of them? If it gets too risky, you can always wait for us to clear our side before joining in," Draco instructed before he and his sister hurried off to the stream's left bank.

"I'm going to gauge the mettle of these Barbarian Beasts," Josh declared as Draco and his sister departed.

"Go ahead," Lloyd responded coolly.

With a burst of enthusiasm, Josh unsheathed his longsword and bounded over to the right side of the stream. He picked up a stone and hurled it at the nearest piglet.

Struck by the stone, the piglet whirled around, spotted Josh, and charged at him.

"Bring it on!" Josh bellowed with a laugh, unafraid despite this being his first encounter with a Barbarian Beast.

He nimbly sidestepped the piglet's rush and countered with a swift sword strike to its neck.

The young creature stood no chance against his powerful blow, the sword slicing deep and sending blood spraying.

"Level two Barbarian Beasts are hardly a challenge!"

Bolstered by his success, Josh's confidence soared. This time, he didn't bother with luring them out and plunged straight into the fray, taking on five piglets single-handedly.

Meanwhile, Draco and his sister were effortlessly battling eight piglets on their side.

In contrast to their intense skirmish, Lloyd strolled by the stream like a bystander, well aware that these immature pigs posed no threat to Martial Apprentices in the mid-Monolith Stage.

He figured it was more worthwhile to scout for medicinal herbs in the vicinity than to join the fight.

Within moments, the dozen-plus piglets lay defeated.

Watching Josh single-handedly dispatch several piglets, Draco couldn't help but laugh and praise him, "Junior Brother, for your first battle with a Barbarian Beast, you're performing exceptionally well. I'm impressed."

Draco's gaze shifted to Lloyd, standing serenely at a distance, hands untouched by battle. Draco gave a slight nod, acknowledging Lloyd's prudence.

For someone at the Qi Condensation Stage like Lloyd, being the weak link in the team was often expected.

They weren't worried about Lloyd shirking his duties; their concern was that his lower cultivation level combined with his tendency to charge ahead might put the whole team at risk.

In this case, Lloyd's choice to simply observe the battle was actually to everyone's benefit.

Yet, Draco's brow furrowed once more.

Lloyd's relaxed stance by the creek, as if he were leisurely strolling through his own backyard, starkly contrasted with the ominous aura of the forest.

It was remarkable that a freshman, new to the academy, possessed such a detached demeanor.

Josh modestly inquired, "Do these juvenile beasts possess Inner Cores?"

Draco's attention returned from the scenery, and he shook his head, "The young beasts lack Inner Cores. But the wild boar tusks have medicinal value, so we could gather some of those."

With that, the group collected the boar tusks and moved on. Before long, after cresting a small hill, they encountered a large pack of gray foxes.

"These adult gray foxes are quick and their claws are sharp, but we'll be safe as long as we steer clear of them," Draco advised.

"Do they carry Inner Cores?" Josh asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

Draco chuckled, "Not every adult beast harbors an Inner Core, but among these dozen or so, we can expect to find two or three."

Josh's spirits lifted, and he turned to Lloyd, "If we harvest these Gray Fox Inner Cores and you refine some Cultivation Pills, consuming them could equate to months of our cultivation efforts."

Upon hearing this, Draco looked at Lloyd with newfound interest, "This Junior Brother can refine pills?"

Josh beamed, "Absolutely, he's an Alchemist."

Though Josh left Lloyd's level as an Alchemist unspoken, it was enough to make Draco reassess his initial impression. Surprised, he remarked, "Junior Brother, you're skilled in both alchemy and martial arts. I hope you won't hesitate to assist me if I ever need it in the future."

Lloyd responded with a mild smile, "I'll do all I can."

Subsequently, Josh joined Draco and his sister as they plunged into the fray with the Aqua Vulpine.

After an intense skirmish, they had slain over a dozen Aqua Vulpine. Upon searching the carcasses, they indeed discovered three Inner Cores.

This was Josh's first time acquiring an Inner Core, and his joy was palpable. Lloyd, on the other hand, remained composed; he recalled a time when his vault brimmed with several large chests of level eight Barbarian Beast Inner Cores.

The quartet pressed on, encountering Giant Rats, Black-Eared Cats, and other level two Barbarian Beasts along the way. The Inner Cores and materials they collected steadily accumulated.

Lloyd refrained from joining the battles, focusing instead on gathering various medicinal herbs within the Barbarian Beast territory, and he found quite a bounty.

By noon, they had reached the domain of the Blaze Taurus. Perched atop a rocky outcrop, they gazed down at the valley's grassy edge where five or six Blaze Taurus grazed.

Each beast was robust, sporting red horns over a foot long that jutted out like twin blades.

"So, this is the Blaze Taurus? They're quite sizable," Josh murmured.

Draco nodded in agreement. "Blaze Taurus are among the fiercest of the level two Barbarian Beasts. They pack a powerful punch and can even spit fireballs. But if we can decipher their attack patterns, they won't pose much of a challenge. Josh, stick close behind my sister and me. Once you've got the hang of it, you'll be able to take them on yourself."

Josh nodded, and Draco turned to Lloyd, advising, "Lloyd, keep your distance from the fray. The Fire Bulls charge at breakneck speeds, and their fireballs come fast. You could get seriously hurt if you're not careful."

Despite being underestimated, Lloyd simply smiled and kept his peace.

"Peakcrusher Axe!"

"Blossomstream Saber!"

Draco and his sister leaped into the fray among the Fire Bulls, with Josh right on their heels. The once peaceful grassland erupted into a scene of chaos.

The Fire Bulls charged and lobbed fireballs intermittently.

The trio adeptly dodged and launched fierce counterattacks.

Meanwhile, Lloyd persisted in his search for valuable herbs nearby. Before long, the trio had vanquished the Blaze Taurus and extracted an Inner Core.

Draco, ever magnanimous, had no desire to hoard the Inner Core and tossed it casually to Josh.

Josh accepted the gift without fuss, expressing his gratitude before tucking it away.

The group then delved further into the grassland, steering clear of the larger herds of Fire Bulls and strategically targeting the smaller ones.

By late afternoon, the trio had amassed over ten Inner Cores from the Fire Bulls. The day's efforts had indeed paid off.

Upon reaching the heart of the valley, they encountered a Fire Bull, larger than the typical Blaze Taurus, standing before a stream, its body adorned with fiery red stripes.

"An elite Blaze Taurus!" Josh whispered excitedly, his face aglow with anticipation.

"At last, I've found you," Draco said with a smile, then added in a stern tone, "I'll draw its attention head-on. Josh, you and your sister flank it from the sides." Turning to Lloyd, he instructed, "Lloyd, make sure you stay further back."

The trio then stealthily advanced on the elite Blaze Taurus from three sides. Without hesitation, Draco leaped forward, charging at the formidable creature.

The Fire Bull, sensing an approach, unleashed a fireball from its gaping maw.

Despite his size, Draco was surprisingly agile. He sidestepped the fireball and, with a few bounds, was upon the elite Fire Bull, his axe raised for the strike.

The elite Fire Bull proved a challenging adversary, retaliating with its horns. Their clashing attacks rang out with the sharp clang of metal on stone, pushing Draco back two paces.

At that moment, Josh and Aliana joined the fray from the left and right.

Lloyd observed the skirmish from afar, casually stepping aside to dodge the occasional fireball.

This elite Fire Bull was far more formidable than its common counterparts. Despite the combined assault, it remained undaunted. Aliana's repeated thrusts left only superficial white marks on its hide, drawing no blood.

Josh, seizing an opportune moment, thrust his sword into the Fire Bull's shoulder, eliciting a spray of blood.

Wounded, the Fire Bull's onslaught grew even wilder.

"Flying Flowers and Scattered Leaves!"

"Broken Halberd Sinking into Sand!"

"Stars Moving like Chess Pieces!"

Unshaken by the elite Fire Bull's ferocity, each warrior executed their techniques with full force.

Lloyd, watching the battle unfold and noting the trio's methodical approach, sensed victory was imminent.

Glancing left and right, he spotted a cluster of Water Spirit Grass by the riverbank and made his way over to harvest it.

As Lloyd completed gathering the herbs, a dull thud echoed through the air, signaling the fall of the elite Fire Bull to the earth.