040 Hunting Their First Beast

As they walked, closer and closer to the gigantic trees, everyone that was seeing the grand forest for the first time, their eyes almost popped out of their skull.

"How is this even possible." One of the disciples said.

"This isn't even magical, it's just horrifying" Another one said.

The cultivation world was full on bizarre and wondrous things, every cultivator was used to some degree of strangeness, but this, this was on another level. Trees as tall as mountains. The disciples arrived before the enormous trees, as they looked up, they could not see the to

Just standing before one such tree made one feel as insignificant as an ant. It would take 5 minutes, just for someone to walk around the tree. Is this really even a tree?

"Disciples, listen up." The grand elder flew over the disciples to the front.

"The grand forest is split into the outer inner and core area; you are only allowed to go as far as the outer area. Understood? The beast inside the outer area ranges from third to sixth human realm which is more than enough for your strength. Stick close with your group and don't separate, the inner court disciples already have a hard time looking out for you, if you split up even more, you're just asking for death." The grand elder continued.

Liam looked into the unforeseen depths of the grand forest, the eeire area where he'll be spending the next 7 days. "Just what type of creatures exist here."

It really was a scary thought, what kind of creatures could live inside such a place, are they enormous just as the trees in their habitat.

"Try and collect as many beast crystals as you can, at the end of the expedition, you can exchange them for beast crystals at the same rate as in the sect. The only addition of the sixth human realm beast crystal which is worth . Now, hunt!" The grand elder said.

"Such a scam." Ralph looked annoyed.

"What do you mean?" Liam asked him.

"Beast crystals are worth more than those prices, nobody at the sect says anything about it, because the sect owns the forest so you're just paid for hunting them. But they don't own the grand forest." Ralph explained.

"Then just don't sell the beat crystals to them." Liam said simply, a bit confused.

"If you decide to not sell them your crystals, they take 10% of them for themselves and you get nothing in return." Ralph said. "This is their way of making money, having 70 000 disciples kill beasts for them."

"Disciples, I forgot to mention, the group with the most points will be rewarded, each beast crystal is worth the same in points. Try to come out on top."

After that, every team rushed inside the grand forest, wasting no time.

"Hayley, this is my chance to speak to her." Liam looked around and he saw no sign of her. "She must have already entered the grand forest, I have to find her while she's still near here. If what Ralph said is correct, I'll never find her later on." Liam remembered Ralph's words.

"The grand forest is 50 000 kilometers across, or at least that's the estimate. It takes up the whole center of the southern continent and no one has reached its's center. The first two layers are 5 000 kilometers wide each and that leaves the core area a massive 30 000 kilometers. Even a cultivator at the peak of the human realm, would require just over 2 full days to fly over it.

Liam shivered at the thought of just how massive this forest was, but he did not stop running, still hoping to see Hayley.

"Wait, where is Liam going!" Peter said when he saw Liam rush of inside the grand forest.

"Should we follow him? What has gotten into him?" Aria said as she began running after Liam, along with Peter.

"Why did he have to run off." Ralph said before he began running towards Liam.

Olivia was left standing there, she was wondering in what kind of group has she gotten herself into. With no other choice, she decided to run after them as well.

There was no way to move fast in between the massive trees, there is no way to weave in between mountains. They really were massive obstacles, that impaired movement and vision. You couldn't see very far as there was sure to be a massive tree blocking your vision.

Once Liam got deep into the grand forest, he realized he wasn't going to find Hayley like this. The others managed to catch up to him.

"Liam, what got into you?" Aria started scolding him, and the others expressed their dissatisfaction. Only Ralph looked at Liam differently. He knew what Liam was going through, he figured that Liam tried to find his sister, but to no avail.

Ralph neared Liam, he spread his arms and gave him a hug. Liam did not refuse. He was happy all the time, also diligent and focused on getting stronger, but even Ralph did not know the weight he carried behind all of that.

"I just want it to be over, I want to go home." Liam tried to refrain himself from crying, but a few tears still slipped by,

Everyone remained silent, but then Olivia broke the silence. "I didn't know I signed up into a team of crybabies. The beasts aren't going to be killed by themselves." She said.

"Olivia!" Ralph looked at her, as if he was ready to end her right then and there.

"No, she's right. I can't slow you all down because of something only affecting me. It's not fair. Let's go hunt!" Liam forced a smile, but it was enough for the others. They all listened to his words and prepared to go out to hunt.

"Hey, Liam." Ralph whispered to him. "Since we didn't bring any bait, I am hoping on your swamp. Try leaving behind a small puddle and I'll guide them to walk around the puddle. When the monster comes, we'll jump out and attack it. Okay?" Ralph continued to whisper Liam his plan.

"Sure." Liam responded before he placed a small swamp puddle before one of the massive trees. It really was a perfect plan, no one would know about his ability, but they would still be able to hunt beast efficiently.

The next 20 or so minutes, Ralph lead them around in a circle, no one noticed because of their unfamiliarity with this area, and the constant duplicates of trees. One wouldn't be able to tell the difference between each of them unless one inspected them further.

"There, I hear I beast." Ralph pointed towards where Liam had placed his swamp. Everyone had heard the growl, without wasting any time, they rushed quietly towards the beast. Trying not to scare it away.

Their small group walked towards the beast. They looked at the wolf like creature, the only difference was its size. The wolf had to be at least 7 meters tall and more than 13 meters long.

It was now that they realized, this was the first time they fought together. They had no plan or tactic about how they should defeat the beast.

"It's a fifth human realm, gigantic gray wolf. I'll hold it, but I can only for a few seconds. Who has strong firepower?" Olivia asked as she wrapped vines around the wolf's legs.

"Ralph, we're up!" Liam said to Ralph as he quickly prepared his water torpedo, hoping it's piercing strength will be enough to pierce the wolf's tuff fur.

Ralph knew this was their best chance to get a clean hit, so he prepared a big attack as well.

Liam thrusted his hand forward and out came a fast-moving torpedo of water. Moving directly towards the wolf's stomach.

While Ralph had rushed towards the Wolf and started performing an uppercut at the other side of the wolf's stomach. Before his fist reached the wolf, it burst into flames that seemed to burn hotter than the sun.

Their two attacks landed just as Olivia's vines let go of the wolf. The water torpedo hit dead on, piercing its fur and drawing deep blood from the wolf's stomach. While Ralph's hit burnt of the whole fur on the left side of the wolf's stomach, the hit sent the wolf up in the air slightly. The whole on the other side of its stomach, made by Liam's torpedo was overflowed with blood. As it continued to pour out nonstop.

"Careful, it's heavily hurt but it's still a fifth human realm beast. Remain cautions." Olivia said. Liam and Ralph were strong, but it was clear that Olivia had the most experience among them when it came to fighting beast.

Everyone was thinking about how they should finish of the wolf, remaining careful, so it doesn't charge on any of them. When something flew from afar and hit the wolf straight in the neck, knocking it to the side and pinning it to the ground.

"What was that?" Olivia and Ralph said at the same time, while Liam rushed towards the beast and pulled out the spear and stabbed it a few more times. The wolf cried out a few more times before its voice was gone forever.

"I saw that you were struggling with the beast so I decided to save you and help you out. I hope you won't mind me taking the beast crystal as a way thank you gift.

A smug looking blond man, clad in golden armor came along with his 4 other teammates behind him.

"We had everything under our control. You can't do this." Olivia shouted at the man.

"But the one who kills it, keeps it. Try and stop me if you can." The man looked even more smug as he walked towards the dead corpse of the former powerful creature.