As soon as Ji An entered the private room, he began evaluating the strength of the squad before him.
Chu He and a slightly plump cultivator surnamed Tian were both at the eighth level of Qi Refining, while the other two had reached the ninth level; none of them was weak.
From their every movement lingered a faint killing aura, and from time to time a ruthless glint would flash in their eyes. Clearly, they had slain many beasts before.
Not bad. The squad looks pretty fierce. I'll follow them for two months and see what kind of harvest I can get, Ji An thought to himself.
Finding a reliable team was no easy task. If not for Zhang Yuanshan's ties with Chu He, a squad of this caliber would never have accepted him.
Hearing the female cultivator's remark, Ji An smiled warmly and said:
"My skill in talisman crafting is passable. All the spirit stones I earn go straight into buying pills to improve my cultivation, so this minor achievement hardly deserves Senior Sister's praise.
You seniors, on the other hand, fly your swords and slay beasts; that is the true bearing of cultivators."
After all, if people had other ways of making a living, who would willingly risk their lives fighting beasts every day just to earn spirit stones?
Chen Moxuan secretly shook his head.
When he first entered the sect, he had joined the Artifact Hall. Three years later, he still hadn't achieved success. His clan pulled strings for him to enter the Pill Hall. After three more years of alchemy, all he could make were Spirit Bud Pills and Fasting Pills. On bad days, he even lost money.
His family's support plummeted. Unwilling to give up, he joined a beast-hunting squad at the sixth level of Qi Refining. Fortunately, he had some skill in combat arts, and over time, life began to improve.
Over the years, he'd fought alongside more than twenty teammates, but how many had left their bones in the wilderness?
He'd seen talisman masters with combat experience, though not many. But a spirit farmer with combat experience? Not once.
If someone had already resigned himself to being a farmer, then at most he'd study planting techniques and agricultural spells day in and day out.
Could this junior be a fool who just wants to "experience" slaying beasts?
Chen Moxuan's voice turned low and heavy, his gaze sharp:
"Junior Brother, beast hunting is no easy trade."
On hunts, unexpected situations were inevitable. No one ever knew whether tomorrow or disaster would arrive first.
As the squad's captain, it was his duty to ensure everyone's safety.
This hunt would serve as Ji An's test. If the newcomer couldn't meet his standards, then even if it meant offending Zhang Yuanshan, he would not allow him to remain in the squad.
The room grew quiet.
Ji An's expression was calm:
"I'm here to earn spirit stones, not to loaf around.
Hunting beasts and gathering herbs to more quickly exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill is my goal."
"Seeking a Foundation Establishment Pill? Ambitious!"
Chen Moxuan let out a faint chuckle, though in his heart he remained unconvinced.
Beasts didn't stand around in open fields waiting to be slaughtered. Sometimes, they would even stumble upon Foundation Establishment–stage beasts that had slipped past the sect's scouts.
"Hunting's dangers, Chu Junior Brother has told me often."
Zhang Yuanshan spoke up. "Let Ji Junior Brother accompany your squad on two missions. If he lacks talent in combat, I'll personally send him back to the sect to focus on talisman crafting and farming."
After years of sweeps, the easy prey around Mo Cliff Mountain was gone. Any beast still alive was no pushover.
He understood Chen Moxuan's concern well: to secure worthwhile spoils, a team could not have weak links; every member needed to pull their weight.
Jiang Qiuyue stepped in to ease the tension, her voice gentle:
"Enough talk. Come, eat and drink, everyone."
The atmosphere lightened again, and the table regained its earlier lively chatter.
After the meal, Zhang Yuanshan swept his gaze around the room and said:
"Junior Brothers, for the time being, I won't be taking any commissions for refining or repairing artifacts.
I can feel my mana nearing perfection. My uncle has ordered me to decline all work and enter seclusion, polishing my foundation in preparation for breaking through."
A flash of envy crossed Chu He's eyes. He laughed loudly:
"The next time we meet, I'll have to address you as Uncle Zhang!"
Preparing for Foundation Establishment meant that he already had a Foundation Establishment Pill in hand.
Everyone's eyes filled with envy. For many, the chance to exchange for such a pill was still far, far away.
All disciples knew that only after forming a foundation could one truly be said to have stepped onto the immortal path. No matter how talented a Qi Refining cultivator might be, in the eyes of the sect, he could never compare to even the most aged Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"Then I'll borrow your good wishes. When I come out of seclusion, let's share another drink."
Zhang Yuanshan rose to his feet with a smile.
"I'll be going on ahead. You all surely have matters left to discuss. Until we meet again."
"Farewell, Senior Brother."
After sending Zhang Yuanshan off, the others returned to their seats.
"Junior Brother Ji," Chen Moxuan said, his voice steady but softer now, "I've hunted beasts for many years, walked through life and death more times than I can count. I may have spoken harshly just now. Please don't take it to heart."
He pointed to the scar along his brow.
"This scar was left a year ago, the closest I've ever come to death. If I'd been just a moment slower, my head would have been skewered.
Things are different now than when Junior Brother Chu first joined us. These days, if we want real gains, we must take greater risks to earn them.
Junior Brother, why don't you lay your cards on the table? Give us an honest measure of your combat strength."
Only by understanding each member's abilities could they make proper plans.
"I understand Senior Brother's concern. A squad can't afford dead weight.
What I lack most is real combat experience.
As for spells, I mainly cultivate Geng Metal Finger for offense and Water Curtain Technique for defense.
As for artifacts, I possess a mid-grade defensive artifact and a low-grade offensive one."
As he spoke, Ji An stood and demonstrated his control over the Stone Turtle Shield.
Twelve pieces of tortoiseshell, each glowing with earthy light, spun and weaved through the air in dazzling patterns.
All present were experienced eyes, and they immediately recognized his skill. Praises rang out around the room.
What a perfect shield bearer, Chen Moxuan thought with relief, smiling now.
"With Junior Brother's ability to command such an artifact, our squad's strength has risen considerably."
Beast-hunting squads divided roles clearly: one to provoke and defend against the beast, one to restrain it, one to deliver the killing blows. Only with such cooperation could they hunt efficiently.
Now, with a member holding a mid-grade defensive artifact, they could attempt beasts they wouldn't have dared touch before.
"And Junior Brother's offensive artifact?"
Ji An dismissed the turtle shield, and a dark, square iron seal one foot on each side floated before him.
"This piece has power. Against a large beast, if I land a solid strike, it'll be half-dead."
"Good artifact," Chu He said with a laugh. "At last, someone to share the burden of attacking with me."
He himself wielded a hammer-shaped weapon and filled the squad's role of smashing through large beasts.
"I've always wondered why everyone prefers swords and sabers?" Ji An asked.
Against large, tough-skinned beasts, blunt weapons were the obvious choice. Even if they consumed more mana to wield, surely every hunter should keep one on hand.
Chen Moxuan cleared his throat.
"Often, our enemies aren't only beasts. Heavy weapons are far less agile, and in a clash between cultivators, seizing the first move is everything."
"I see."
Ji An drew a deep breath. In both his past life and this one, he had never truly witnessed bloody combat between people. But now, he knew it was inevitable.
"I also have a beast companion," he added. "A Spirit-Seeking Rat at the fifth level of Qi Refining."
He pulled out a golden-brown rat demon, its body wriggling inside a cloth bag. Without spare spirit stones to buy a proper beast pouch, he had stitched the bag himself.
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