novelraw Chapter 9 – Hunter Assessment
Chapter 9 – Hunter Assessment
Qingyun City covers a vast area and has a population of hundreds of thousands. The Martial Hall is located at the center of the city, with numerous facilities for practicing martial arts, occupying a large space itself.
For martial artists looking to make money, there are three fast-track professions: Alchemist, Forging Master, and Formation Master. However, the cost of entering these professions is astronomical.
Apart from these three professions, other martial artists seeking a path have one more popular option: Hunter!
In the remote mountains and great marshes, there are countless beasts and demonic beasts. These creatures are naturally endowed with strong physiques, and the materials from their bodies have various uses and are quite valuable.
Thus, the profession of Hunter emerged.
In Qingyun City, there is a Hunter Guild. To become a junior hunter, the minimum requirement is to be at the Body Refining level five. Previously, Luo Xiu's strength was too weak, so he never considered this path.
But to quickly enhance his cultivation and strength, his only option was to become a Hunter.
Hunters can accept various tasks from the Guild and receive rewards upon completion. Some powerful hunters earn incomes comparable to those in the three special professions.
***
The Hunter Guild is located in the bustling commercial district, the most lively and prosperous area of Qingyun City. A tall building bears the emblem of a Twin Sword Cross.
It was Luo Xiu's first time here. His thirteen-year-old face still carried a hint of youthfulness, attracting many gazes as soon as he appeared.
"Haha, kid, you look so delicate. Did you come to the wrong place? This is the Hunter Guild!"
A Martial Apprentice at the Body Refining Realm, Ninth Layer, laughed, pointing at Luo Xiu. He wore a Twin Sword Cross emblem on his chest, symbolizing his status as a Hunter.
"I bet he's a student from the Martial Hall, here to apply for a Hunter emblem to show off to his classmates."
"Heh, as if getting a Hunter emblem is that easy? I bet this kid will fail, maybe even lose his life in there!"
"Not necessarily, maybe this kid will pass?"
"Zhu Laoba, want to make a bet?"
Luo Xiu ignored them, but in this environment, he could feel the boldness, freedom, and unrestrained spirit of martial cultivators.
Every Hunter here lives a life on the edge, exuding a fierce and murderous aura. Yet, Luo Xiu felt not fear but a sense of yearning!
"Perhaps there's a stubborn passion and madness in my bones, maybe this is the life I truly want!" Luo Xiu clenched his fists and walked towards a counter in the Hunter Hall.
A graceful woman greeted Luo Xiu, her face adorned with a professional smile. But seeing Luo Xiu's youthful face, she couldn't help but pause.
She quickly recovered and said with a smile, "Hello, little brother, how can I help you?"
"Hello, I want to apply to become a Hunter," Luo Xiu said.
"What?" The receptionist was taken aback again. "Little brother, are you sure you want to apply to become a Hunter?"
Luo Xiu nodded without hesitation and added, "My name is Luo Xiu."
Jiang Shanshan said seriously, "Luo Xiu, applying to be a Hunter is no joke. For your safety, I hope you think carefully before deciding."
"I want to take the test," Luo Xiu said firmly, ignoring the advice of others.
Silence!
The entire hall of the Hunter Guild fell silent.
"Kid, are you out of your mind? Ever since a student from the Martial Hall's intermediate class at Body Refining level seven failed and died in the test three years ago, only students from the advanced class at Body Refining level eight or above have passed. Don't you understand?"
"Yeah, Luo Xiu, you're still young. You can wait a few years to take the test," the receptionist Jiang Shanshan also advised.
"As long as I meet the conditions, the Guild has no reason to reject my application for the test, right?" Luo Xiu was adamant.
"Haha, the kid's got some guts, I like it!" A burly man named Zhou Long laughed. "If you pass the test, I'll let you join my team!"
"What a joke, if he does, I'll give him my head to kick around like a ball!" A man with a scruffy beard scoffed.
"Zhou Long, dare to bet on it?" the scruffy-bearded man said loudly.
"Damn it, what do you mean, Guo Beard?" Zhou Long glared and shouted.
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Through his perception of the Vital Meridians, Luo Xiu sensed that both Zhou Long and Guo Beard were at the Qi Sea Realm. Their argument over his test was unexpected for him.
With Luo Xiu's persistent insistence, Jiang Shanshan took out an application form for the test.
Luo Xiu didn't hesitate. He believed that with his strength, he could definitely pass the test. Otherwise, if he couldn't even pass this level of challenge, how could he talk about advancing to higher realms in the Martial Dao?
With a flourish, Luo Xiu signed his name, and a staff member from the Hunter Guild led him to the testing area.
"I bet this kid won't pass the test!" In the hall, Guo Beard slapped the table, taunting Zhou Long with wide eyes. "Zhou Long, dare to bet?"
Both had small teams and often clashed, always at odds with each other.
With so many people present, seeing his old rival Guo Beard so arrogant, Zhou Long was also a bit angry. He stood up and kicked the chair aside, shouting, "I'll bet with you!"
"Come with me."
Leading Luo Xiu to the test site was an old man in a white robe.
Luo Xiu noticed two emblems on the old man's chest, one was the Twin Sword Cross Hunter emblem, and the other was engraved with a Hexagram Formation.
"A Formation Master emblem!"
Luo Xiu was slightly surprised, clearly indicating that the old man's identity was not simple, having dual identities. Although he appeared old, his Vital Meridians contained vigorous vitality and dormant power.
***
Walking down the corridor, torches hung on both sides. Pushing open a stone door, Luo Xiu followed the old man into a spacious room.
The floor of this room was etched with strange patterns, like ghostly symbols crisscrossing and connecting, seemingly without any order.
In the center of the room was a raised stone platform, about two feet high.
Seeing Luo Xiu looking around, the white-robed old man said calmly, "Once the formation is activated, demonic beasts will appear. The test for a Level One Hunter is to independently kill three Level One demonic beasts!"
Demonic beasts differ from beasts. The lowest Level One demonic beasts have strength comparable to a human Martial Apprentice at Body Refining level five.
But true strength is revealed in battle. Even at Body Refining level five, a Martial Apprentice without combat experience is no match for a demonic beast.
"Three Level One demonic beasts? I think I can do it!" Luo Xiu said.
The white-robed old man didn't say much, pointing to the stone platform in the middle of the room, "Stand on that, and you're ready."
Luo Xiu nodded and stepped onto the stone platform.
"Once I activate the formation, you'll enter an environment created by the formation. Everything you encounter will be almost indistinguishable from reality. If you feel you can't hold on, don't force it. Just a thought, and within three breaths, you can exit the formation," the white-robed old man said.
Three breaths may seem short, but in a life-and-death struggle, a lot can happen in that time. Many who were injured or killed during the test did so within this brief period.
"Let's begin!" Luo Xiu took a deep breath, adjusting himself to his best state.
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