C11 The Assessment Assembly!

Over the last ten days, Han Feng had repeatedly flaunted the might of the grass mud horse before the Zhou sisters, while also hunting over forty Demonic Beasts. However, these beasts were mostly around level ten and not particularly valuable.

Notably, thanks to the Demonic Pet System, Han Feng could distribute the grass mud horse's experience to other spiritual pets. He smartly transferred some of the hard-earned experience from the grass mud horse to level up his chinchilla. But with the upcoming examination, he cautiously shared just enough to elevate the chinchilla to level one.

The chinchilla, though merely a premium-grade spiritual pet, astonished Han Feng with its level one awakening skill. Named "Dragon Roar," this mental attack not only packed a punch but also had a significant chance of briefly stunning the enemy—a truly formidable ability.

After ten days, Han Feng and the Zhou sisters emerged from the rock forest, divided their spoils, and headed straight back to their respective dorms at the Hunting School. Spiritual pets could not only level up by hunting monsters but also through active cultivation. For this reason, the school provided single-occupancy dorms to foster an excellent environment for training.

"Yao Yuan is a tough nut to crack, and there's Liu Yong too. I need to be ready," Han Feng mused.

The grass mud horse had reached level 19 after several days of hunting, just shy of level 20. However, Han Feng didn't have the luxury of time to chase after its level any further.

Back in his dorm, Han Feng retrieved the Ironbone Grass he had acquired in the forest. This beast spirit material was meant for spiritual pets; Beastmasters couldn't consume it.

"Open up," he instructed.

The grass mud horse complied, and Han Feng tossed the entire Ironbone Grass into its mouth. The creature chewed with a peculiar crunching sound, as if munching on dry leaves rather than grass.

The effects of the spiritual material were swift. Almost immediately, Han Feng sensed an unusual energy coursing through the grass mud horse's body. Its expression twisted into a grimace, and it let out cries of agony.

The ordeal lasted a grueling half-hour. Once the Ironbone Grass's effects wore off, the grass mud horse was soaked in sweat, a puddle forming beneath it. Exhausted, it collapsed, tongue lolling out as if on the brink of death.

According to the Demonic Pet System, the grass mud horse was brimming with life; it was merely exhausted. Han Feng wasn't concerned for its well-being; instead, he was intrigued by the potential changes the Ironbone Grass might induce. After all, that represented a significant investment, and a poor outcome would mean a substantial loss.

As Han Feng reached out to touch the grass mud horse, he jerked his hand back as if shocked. The creature's fur had become as hard as iron, each strand sharp as a needle. It was like touching a bed of nails.

"Hahaha..." The grass mud horse emitted a sinister chuckle upon seeing Han Feng's expression.

"Can't this thing retract?" Han Feng's brow furrowed deeply.

If it couldn't retract, did that mean he'd no longer be able to touch the grass mud horse? Considering its considerable size, sometimes it was even rideable! Plus, riding the grass mud horse always netted Han Feng a hefty boost in experience points. If it couldn't retract, the grass mud horse's progression would be seriously hindered.

With a mischievous snicker, the grass mud horse nodded, and before long, its fur softened and fluffed up to its previous state.

Han Feng cautiously reached out to touch it, and once he was sure it wasn't prickly, he eagerly parted the fur to examine the changes in the grass mud horse's skin.

The once tender white skin of the grass mud horse was now a dull color with a metallic sheen. Han Feng punched it and found it as hard as an iron plate; the grass mud horse seemed fine, but his hand throbbed with pain.

Han Feng nodded in approval.

Previously, the grass mud horse had to rely on long-range skills for combat, as its physical attributes were rather weak, leaving it vulnerable in close quarters. But now, thanks to the Ironbone Grass transformation, its skin was as tough as iron, giving it some close combat prowess. Suddenly, Han Feng's expression shifted dramatically, turning grave as he quickly reached for the grass mud horse's hind legs.

He breathed a sigh of relief after a moment, "Thank goodness this part's still soft. Otherwise, I'd be out of options!"

The grass mud horse wasn't one to always heed Han Feng's commands. When it got stubborn, Han Feng's go-to move was the "One-Shattering Egg" strike. If the Ironbone Grass had hardened the grass mud horse's eggs to steel, Han Feng would've been at a loss. Thankfully, the Ironbone Grass only toughened the skin, not the eggs, so his signature move remained effective.

After ten restless days in the rocky woods, Han Feng was relieved to be back in the safety of his dorm. He left the chinchilla with the grass mud horse for their own training while he sprawled out on his bed, drifting into a peaceful slumber.

As Han Feng slept, the Demonic Pet System continuously absorbed the lazy trait, converting it into experience points all for the grass mud horse, bringing it ever closer to the coveted level 20.

Five days later, while Han Feng was still deep in sleep, the resonant toll of a bell echoed from the Hunting School's outer campus. Students streamed out of their dorms, converging on the school's martial field.

Today marked the Hunting School's annual assessment day—a pivotal occasion!

The assessments were designed to evaluate whether students possessed the requisite strength to move up to higher levels of study and also served as the sole opportunity for students to move from average to top-tier classes.

On this day, students from all over the outer district would gather for the assessments. Advancing to higher grades and better classes meant access to more advanced knowledge, combat techniques, and, of course, a greater share of the Hunting School's resources.

Students in Class A were rumored to receive second-tier spiritual materials as an annual reward from the academy, along with a monthly distribution of spirit crystals.

Spirit crystals, minerals imbued with spiritual energy, were highly sought after by Beastmasters, as they could significantly enhance the evolutionary potential of spiritual pets when used consistently over time.

By the time most of the residents in the outer district dorms had departed, Han Feng leisurely awoke from his slumber.

It was only when the clamor from the martial arts field reached his ears that Han Feng realized the assessment competition was about to commence. Without any rush, he dressed, grabbed the leftover bread from the previous day, and leisurely mounted his grass mud horse, heading toward the martial arts field.