Chapter 687: Hunting Grounds
"I have been an outer court disciple for an entire year now, yet I am still a fourth level Spirit Apprentice. At this rate, it will take another 3 years before I reach Spirit Warrior…" Tian Yang sighed as he sat inside his living quarters within the outer court of the Immortal Monastery.
"I thought that by becoming an official disciple, I would receive the sect's support by receiving plentiful resources to help my cultivation, but alas, how naive was I back then to believe such a thing…"
"As an outer court disciple, I am given a single spirit stone every three months to assist with my cultivation, but that spirit stone will only last us about a week if we cultivate sparingly. In order to acquire more resources, we must go into the hunting grounds or become an inner court disciple."
"However, I must enter the Spirit Master realm in order to apply for the inner court examination, and who knows how many years that will take me…"
"If I want to grow stronger, I must enter the hunting grounds and find my own resources."
With that in mind, Tian Yang decided to enter the hunting grounds for the first time since he became an outer court disciple.
The hunting grounds is a special area within the sect's territory where disciples go to hunt magical beasts and acquire treasures.
Of course, all of this is within the sect's control, meaning that every magical beast and treasure found inside the hunting ground was put there by the sect to help their disciples.
However, while the territory is under the sect's control, that didn't mean it wasn't a dangerous place.
In fact, disciples can still lose their lives there, and it happens quite often.
And with a single sword in hand, Tian Yang left his living quarters to enter the hunting grounds.
"I would like to enter the hunting grounds." Tian Yang said to the sect elder sitting outside the entrance.
The sect elder glanced at him before scoffing, "You're only a fourth level Spirit Apprentice. Even the weakest magical beasts inside are at the fifth level. Although there are sect elders inside to keep the casualties as low as possible, there is still a good chance that you could die. Do you still want to enter?"
"I still want to enter." Tian Yang nodded with a serious face.
"Show me your disciple identification badge."
After handing the sect elder his badge, the sect elder recorded his name, badge number, and the day he entered the hunting grounds into the log book. This way, they will know that he died inside the hunting grounds if he doesn't return.
"You may enter the hunting grounds. If you don't return within three days, the sect will consider you dead." The sect elder said to him.
"Thank you, sect elder."
Tian Yang didn't say anything else and entered the hunting grounds with an ordinary sword already in his grasp.
Once he was inside the hunting grounds, Tian Yang moved with caution, and his eyes would continuously look around with wariness.
Although he has hunted animals before, he has never encountered a magical beast, so he was very nervous.
After walking around for about half an hour, Tian Yang encountered his first magical beast.
It had the appearance of a wolf, and it was emitting a powerful aura at the fifth level Spirit Apprentice.
Tian Yang swallowed his nervousness and slowly approached the magical beast.
The magical beast noticed the killing intent in Tian Yang's eyes, so it pounced at him in retaliation.
"Ha!"
Tian Yang subconsciously swung his sword at the magical beast, and the magical beast swung its powerful paws in return.
Clang!
The sword flew right out of Tian Yang's grasp and landed many meters away when he underestimated the magical beast's strength.
"Oh, fuck…"
Tian Yang realized that without his sword, he was pretty much defenseless in front of the magical beast.
He could turn around and run away, but something inside his heart told him to stay and fight the magical beast, and that's exactly what he did.
However, because of his reckless decision, Tian Yang ended up lying on the floor with blood all over his clothes, and they were his own blood.
"Why didn't you run away when you lost your sword?" A calm voice resounded beside him.
Tian Yang turned his head to look at the beautiful woman standing beside him.
She was wearing the sect elder's uniform, and she was also the one who saved his life when he was about to be killed by the magical beast.
"I… don't know…" He responded in a low voice while staring at the sect elder's confused face.
"What you did today was very reckless. Don't do it again if you value your life." The sect elder said to him before taking out a medicine pill and stuffing it inside his mouth.
"Go home. You're not ready for this place yet." She said to him.
Tian Yang silently nodded his head and returned home when he could walk again.
However, three days later, after recovering from his injuries, Tian Yang returned to the hunting grounds.
And once again, he was nearly killed by a magical beast before being saved by a sect elder.
"Thank you for saving me again, elder."
The sect elder's eyes widened with surprise after recognizing him.
"You… Why are you here again? I thought I told you that you aren't ready for the hunting grounds," said the sect elder who happened to be the same person who saved him three days ago.
"That's why I returned, and I will continue coming here until I am ready or I am dead," he said in a calm voice.
"You're not afraid of dying?"
"No, I don't fear death. I only fear being powerless in a world where the strong rule the weak."
The sect elder became speechless after hearing his words.
"You're reckless… and crazy." She left him alone after saying those words, but for some reason, she continued to watch over him from a distance.