C7 Hunting Mission

At the entrance to the ancient forest, a multitude of Martial Academy students intermingled with Alchemists who were setting up their stalls. These Alchemists offered low-level healing pills—both affordable and practical—and were also in the market to buy various materials.

Lee Mo watched the simply dressed young Alchemists with a gentle smile, as memories of his own youth surfaced. He had spent years just like them, selling medicine on the outskirts of the ancient forest.

Without lingering on those memories, Lee Mo, accompanied by three others, joined the large group of students and quickly entered the forest. The light soon faded as the towering ancient trees obscured the sky, with only occasional specks of sunlight piercing through.

The ground was blanketed with layers of leaves, and the snap of a dead branch underfoot could easily startle someone. As they delved further, the other teams that had entered alongside them gradually disappeared. Sounds of combat were sporadically heard. Approaching the edge of the dense woods, a sudden burst of barking shattered the quiet, and a pack of Corpse Eating Dogs appeared.

"These are Barbarian Beasts? They don't seem very fierce," Lee Gaoyuan observed, his sword at the ready, poised to rush forward.

"Junior Brother, wait!" Lee Xiaoyong quickly stopped him, then yelled at the Corpse Eating Dogs.

More than a dozen black-skinned mountain pigs were gathered by the stream, each one robust with razor-sharp tusks.

"These are juvenile mountain pigs. We just need to avoid their charges, and we can handle them. My sister and I will take the ones on the left. Junior Brothers, try to lure one or two mountain pigs on the right. If it feels too risky, wait until we've cleared our side before you join in," Lee Xiaoyong instructed, then he and his sister made their way to the left bank of the stream.

Lee Xiaoyong laughed heartily and said, "Junior Brother, don't rush. These Corpse Eating Dogs are merely the lowest of the Barbarian Beasts, naturally timid and feeding on rotting flesh. Once we reach the level two Barbarian Beast Area, you'll encounter even more formidable creatures."

"Then let's hurry up!" Lee Gaoyuan called out excitedly.

Lee Xiaoyong and his sister had enrolled a year earlier, so they had already undertaken numerous beast-hunting missions and were quite familiar with the paths through the Darkvine Oldwoods.

To save time, they skirted the territories of various level one Barbarian Beasts. After half a day's journey, they finally arrived smoothly at the level two Barbarian Beast Area.

It was a valley with a stream.

On both sides of the stream, there were more than a dozen black-skinned piglets, each robust and fat with tusks sharp as sword blades.

"These are young piglets; we just need to avoid their charge. My sister and I will handle the ones on the left, and you two Junior Brothers can draw out one or two piglets on the right. If you feel it's too dangerous, wait for us to finish on our side before joining in," Lee Xiaoyong instructed, then led his sister toward the left side of the stream.

"I'll go and test the mettle of these Barbarian Beasts," Lee Gaoyuan said, immediately after Lee Xiaoyong and his sister had left.

"Go ahead," Lee Mo responded coolly.

Lee Gaoyuan, brimming with excitement, unsheathed his long sword and bounded 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 turned, spotted Lee Gaoyuan, and charged at him furiously.

"Bring it on!" Lee Gaoyuan exclaimed with a laugh. It was his first encounter with a Barbarian Beast, yet he was utterly fearless.

He nimbly sidestepped the piglet's charge and, with a backhand stroke, cleaved through its neck.

The young beast stood no chance against his powerful strike, the sword slicing a third of the way through as blood gushed out.

"A level two Barbarian Beast is hardly a challenge!"

Bolstered by his success, Lee Gaoyuan didn't bother with luring the beasts this time. He plunged into the midst of them, single-handedly taking on five piglets.

Meanwhile, Lee Xiaoyong and his sister were easily dispatching eight piglets on their side.

In stark contrast to the trio's intense battle, Lee Mo strolled by the stream like an outsider, aware that these not-yet-matured piglets posed no threat to Martial Apprentices at the Middle Period of the Monolith Stage.

Rather than joining the fray, he decided to look for medicinal herbs in the vicinity.

In just a brief moment, over a dozen young pigs had perished.

Upon witnessing Lee Gaoyuan single-handedly slay several young pigs, Lee Xiaoyong laughed heartily and said, "Junior Brother, this may be your first battle against Barbarian Beasts, yet your performance is impressive. I truly admire you."

While speaking, Lee Xiaoyong also glanced at Lee Mo.

Lee Mo stood quietly in the back, not engaging in the fight. Lee Xiaoyong gave a slight nod of approval, considering that Lee Mo had enough self-awareness to know his limits. Typically, those at the Qi Condensation Stage like Lee Mo tend to be the weak link in a team. They weren't worried about Lee Mo not contributing; they were more concerned that his lower cultivation level combined with a tendency to rush to the front lines could endanger the entire group. Therefore, Lee Mo's choice to simply observe was actually beneficial to everyone.

However, Lee Xiaoyong's brow furrowed slightly. Lee Mo's calm demeanor by the creek, as if he were strolling leisurely in his own courtyard, seemed out of place in the forest charged with the aura of slaughter. For a newcomer to the Martial Academy, he possessed an extraordinary air of detachment.

Lee Gaoyuan humbly demurred before asking, "Do these juvenile beasts have Inner Cores?"

Lee Xiaoyong shifted his gaze back and shook his head, "Juvenile beasts don't have Inner Cores. However, the tusks of the wild boars can be used in medicine; we should collect some of those."

The group then gathered the boar tusks and continued on their way. Not long after, upon cresting a small hill, they spotted a large pack of gray foxes.

"These adult gray foxes are agile, and their claws are sharp, but as long as we avoid them, we won't be in danger," Lee Xiaoyong explained.

"Do they have Inner Cores?" Lee Gaoyuan asked, his eyes brimming with curiosity.

Lee Xiaoyong chuckled, "Not every adult beast has an Inner Core, but among these ten or so, we should find two or three."

Lee Gaoyuan's spirits immediately lifted. Turning to Lee Mo, he said, "If we take these Water Fox Inner Cores and you refine some Cultivation Pills, consuming them could equal months of our training efforts."

Upon hearing this, Lee Xiaoyong curiously inquired, "Can this Alchemist refine pills?"

Lee Gaoyuan laughed heartily, "Of course, he's an Alchemist."

Although Lee Gaoyuan didn't specify Lee Mo's Alchemist rank, this was enough to make Lee Xiaoyong reassess Lee Mo with surprise, "Junior Brother, so you're skilled in both alchemy and martial arts. If I ever need your assistance in the future, please don't hesitate to help."

Lee Mo responded with a light smile, "I'll do my best."

Soon after, Lee Gaoyuan joined Lee Xiaoyong and his sister in battling the Water Fox pack. After an intense fight, they slew over a dozen Water Foxes and, upon searching, indeed found three Inner Cores.

This was Lee Gaoyuan's first time obtaining Inner Cores, and he was thrilled, while Lee Mo appeared much calmer. He recalled the days when his treasury was filled with boxes of level eight Barbarian Beast Inner Cores.

The group continued on their journey, encountering Giant Rats, Black-eared Cats, and other level two Barbarian Beasts, their collection of Inner Cores and materials steadily growing.

Lee Mo remained out of the battles, instead searching for various medicinal herbs within the Barbarian Beast territory, which proved to be quite fruitful.

By noon, they finally arrived at the territory of the Crimson Horn Ox. Standing on a rocky ledge, they looked down at the valley below where five or six Crimson Horn Oxen were grazing at the edge of the grassland. Each beast was muscular, with crimson horns over a foot long, standing straight and sharp like twin daggers.

"Is that the Crimson Horn Ox? It's quite large," Lee Gaoyuan whispered.

Lee Xiaoyong nodded, "The Crimson Horn Ox is one of the fiercer level two Barbarian Beasts, with strong attacks and the ability to spit fireballs. However, once we figure out their attack patterns, they won't be difficult to deal with. Gaoyuan, follow my sister and me closely. Once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to handle them on your own."

Lee Gaoyuan nodded his understanding, and Lee Xiaoyong turned to Lee Mo with a word of caution, "Mo, stay back from the battlefield. These Fire Bulls have a long charging distance and can spit fireballs quickly. You could get hurt if you're hit or impaled."

Despite being underestimated throughout their journey, Lee Mo simply smiled, offering no retort.

"Mountain Crushing Axe!"

"Floating Flower Sword!"

Lee Xiaoyong and his sister led the attack against the Fire Bulls, with Lee Gaoyuan following closely. The once tranquil grassland became a battleground of fierce combat.

The Fire Bulls charged and intermittently launched fireballs. The trio skillfully dodged and countered with powerful strikes.

Meanwhile, Lee Mo continued his search for valuable medicinal herbs in the vicinity. It wasn't long before the trio overcame a group of Crimson Horn Oxen and extracted an Inner Core.

Lee Xiaoyong, with a generous spirit, didn't claim the Inner Core for himself but casually tossed it to Lee Gaoyuan.

Lee Gaoyuan accepted the Inner Core with gratitude, securing it carefully.

The four then ventured further into the grassland, avoiding the larger herds of Fire Bulls and focusing on smaller groups instead.

Throughout the late afternoon, the trio had successfully collected over ten Inner Cores from the Fire Bulls, marking the venture as an undeniable triumph. When they reached the valley's depths, near a small river, they came across a Fire Bull that was significantly larger than the average Crimson Horn Ox, its body etched with vibrant red patterns.

"Crimson Horn Ox elite!" Lee Gaoyuan exclaimed in a hushed, thrilled voice, his face flushed with excitement.

"I've finally found you," Lee Xiaoyong declared, a grin spreading across his face. He then became serious and strategized, "I'll engage it head-on. Gaoyuan, sister, you two attack from the sides." He then addressed Lee Mo, "Mo, stay back at a safe distance."

With a plan in place, they stealthily approached the Crimson Horn Ox elite from three directions. Lee Xiaoyong sprang into action, hurtling towards the elite with determination.

The Fire Bull, detecting the threat, spat out a fireball.

Lee Xiaoyong, large but nimble, deftly dodged the fireball and quickly closed in, his axe poised to strike.

The elite Fire Bull was a tough adversary, retaliating with its horns. The impact of their collision rang out like metal on stone, forcing Lee Xiaoyong back two steps.

In that instant, Lee Gaoyuan and Lee Jing launched their attack from both sides.

Lee Mo, safely away from the melee, watched the battle unfold, nimbly avoiding any stray fireballs.

The elite Fire Bull, far stronger than its common counterparts, resisted the group's onslaught. Its thick skin resisted penetration, and Lee Jing's repeated thrusts only left superficial marks.

However, Lee Gaoyuan found an opening, driving his sword deep into the Fire Bull's shoulder, drawing blood.

The wounded Fire Bull became even more aggressive in its counterattacks.

"Flying Flowers and Scattered Leaves!" "Broken Halberd Sinking into Sand!" "Stars Moving like Chess Pieces!" The trio remained undeterred, each unleashing their most powerful martial skills in a relentless assault.

From his vantage point, Lee Mo could see their tactical precision and knew their victory was assured.

His gaze then fell upon a patch of Water Spirit Grass by the river's edge, and he moved to collect it.

Lee Mo stood at a distance, observing the battle. He casually shifted his feet now and then, easily dodging any fireballs that came his way.