Playing inventor in a cultivation world-Chapter 26: Entrance Examination (3)

"There are three stages to this examination. The first stage is the Open hunting examination. Here, each participant is tasked to hunt three Peak Beginner Stage Spirit Beasts."

The man said calmly, surveying the youngsters with a serious expression.

"No guardian is allowed to step onto the Open Hunting Ground, else they are expelled from this city along with their respective participant."

The tension heightened instantly, and a few expressions turned ugly.

The man ignored this change at turned to the disciples.

"Send the participants into the Open Hunting Ground. The examination starts now."

The sect disciples moved immediately, leading the participants to a controlled space at the back of the city.

With the Sect Elder acting as an invigilator, no one could do anything suspicious.

Elder Cassius patted Seraph and Ariana’s shoulders, then brought out their weapons.

To Seraph, he gave a dull brown spear, and to Ariana, he gave a transparent glass sword. The two weapons were treasures of the Moonveil Clan, and given to them by the Patriarch as parting gifts.

"Go."

The two youngsters nodded, rushing after their mates and heading towards the Open Hunting Ground under the lead of the Soul Cross Sect disciples.

’Killing three Peak Beginner Stage Spirit Beasts each? That should be easy for I and Ariana.’

Seraph thought, holding the spear as he ran beside Ariana. The girl’s silver braided hair fluttered freely in the wind, accentuating her serene beauty.

"Do not act rashly. Just act as I’ve taught you."

He said to her in a low voice.

Surprisingly, her expression became serious. "I understand. I won’t disappoint you."

Seraph was surprised to see this serious side of her and smiled. "Good."

Very soon, they arrived at the large gates of the Open Hunting Ground, where the sect disciples stopped them temporarily.

"No in-fighting amongst yourselves. If you’re caught or reported, be ready to be disqualified."

As the lead disciple said this, the gates were opened, and the participants were allowed to enter.

"East."

Seraph said curtly, turning east. Ariana followed immediately, keeping up with his speed quite easily.

’Is he going easy on me?’

Narrowing her brows, she increased her speed, moving faster than him.

"Oh?"

Seraph smiled, then increased his speed too. The other kids had also spread out into the seemingly endless forest.

Seraph and Ariana ran deeper into the forest, almost reaching its core, then stopped.

"Wait." Seraph stopped.

Ariana almost ran into his back, but controlled herself to a halt.

"Why the sudden stop? I thought you had a place in mind."

Seraph rolled his eyes. "Welps, it’s over here."

Grrrr-!

Suddenly, threatening growls echoed around them, with seven beasts appearing around them.

"This... you brought us to their hunting ground?"

Ariana looked around warily. The beasts resembled normal wolves, though they had unnaturally long canines.

"Six Peak Beginner Stage, and one Initial Advanced Stage." Seraph said as he assessed them. "You handle three of them Beginners, I’ll handle the rest."

She turned to him in surprise. "You can handle that?"

She pointed at the bigger beast, her gaze serious.

Seraph smiled lazily and shrugged. "Just do what I say."

Without giving her a chance to reply, he launched an attack at the beasts.

’Tch. If you like, get injured!’

Snorting inwardly, she turned and faced the three beasts facing her.

’The name is a bit strange, but...’

"Seraphim Sword: First Form—Split the Solid."

She slashed at the first one, her speed a blur. The sword cut a large gash on the beast’s skin, spilling blood.

The beast immediately recoiled, while the other two beasts moved to attack her.

"Hmph!"

Ariana snorted, creating a wall of water to block off one of them while she dealt with the other one.

Not far away, Seraph casually held back the Peak Beginner Stage Spirit Beasts while avoiding the Initial Advanced Stage Spirit Beast.

"Seraphim Spear: Second Form—Piercer!"

Abruptly, he switched to an aggressive stance, stabbing one of the beasts through the heart. A pained wail left its maws as it collapsed to the ground—dead.

Grrrr-!

Witnessing the death of their comrade, the remaining three beasts grew wary, while their pack leader became agitated.

"Come!"

Grinning, Seraph waited and let the Initial Advanced Stage beast attack him. He blocked the claws with his spear, contesting with it using pure strength.

’Oops, looks like I’m still a bit behind.’

Feeling the beast gradually push him back, Seraph smiled and changed tactics.

’Water blade.’

He channeled his spirit energy, creating two water blades and firing them at the unsuspecting beasts. Two of them were caught off guard, injured and bleeding from deep injuries.

Roar!

The injuries of its pack members made the Alpha enraged, and it attacked Seraph more ferociously. The boy weaved between its attacks, his eyes tracing every hint of movement.

"Seraphim Spear: First Form—Cyclone."

The spear spun in a deadly arc, grinding deep into the beast’s skin. It roared in pain, recoiling from him and growing wary. He took that moment to glance back. Just as he expected, only one of the Beginner Stage beasts was still able to fight Ariana.

’Ariana will be done soon. I should round up too.’

Turning back to the Alpha and its remaining pack members, Seraph took a deep breath.

"Wind blade."

Behind him, over ten wind blades manifested, spinning with deadly precision.

"Go."

The blades shot in a deadly arc, striking the beasts before they could even move. The weaker beasts died easily, while the stronger one was riddled with injuries.

It growled at him threateningly, still strong enough to attack. However, Seraph didn’t give it the chance. He clenched his fist and whispered.

"Storm."

The wind blades enveloped the beast, mercilessly cutting at its skin and causing it pain. It lashed out wildly, destroying the wind blades.

When it emerged, it was already covered in blood and moving unsteadily.

"That’s enough."

His spear moved once, and the creature’s head fell off its neck. At the same time, he saw Ariana finish the last beast.

"There are talismans attached around their necks, take it."

Seraph said calmly, picking up the red talisman that had dropped from the Initial Advanced Stage beast.

’A red one?’

Just as he was studying it, he sensed some people approach them. An arrogant voice spoke loudly to them.

"Drop the talismans and scram!"