Chapter 23: The Practical Test Unfolds

The valley was eerily quiet, with only the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant sound of rushing water echoing through the dense forest.

After three groups of twenty students had cautiously passed through the valley, a man wearing a straw hat suddenly jumped down from a large tree within the forest. His movements were swift and silent, almost as if he had blended into the shadows of the trees themselves. In his hand, he held a small scoreboard, its surface gleaming faintly under the filtered sunlight.

The man quickly glanced at the scoreboard, his eyes narrowing as he noted down some important details. Satisfied with what he had recorded, he swiftly turned and disappeared into the forest, heading towards an empty meadow beyond the valley.

"All three of the groups have passed," the man murmured as he approached a large tent standing in the center of the meadow. He entered the tent, where a middle-aged man sat behind a desk, scanning a map spread out before him. "Amongst them was a Wind elemental student named Zhang Xiaohou. He's been particularly remarkable."

Inside the tent, Chief Instructor Zhankong raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" he muttered, surprised. From what he remembered, there wasn't any Wind elemental student named Zhang Xiaohou with particularly high cultivation in the group.

Still, that wasn't unusual. Cultivation was merely the foundation. What truly mattered for a magician was their intelligence and courage, especially during dangerous practicals like these.

"Note this name," Zhankong instructed, turning to his assistant military instructor, Pan Lijun, seated beside him. "We should give him a high grade."

Pan Lijun nodded in agreement, quickly jotting down Zhang Xiaohou's name. If the students who thought they were merely being tested had known how closely their instructors were watching and grading them from afar, they might have been more cautious—or less paranoid.

The teachers and military instructors had deliberately been harsh with their students, pushing them to their limits. After all, these students needed to experience the dangers that lurked in the wilderness outside the city's protective walls. If they weren't given a taste of real peril, they would never learn how to survive in such an environment.

"Chief Zhankong, I must admit, I almost believed that you were truly going to be heartless and fail every single student," Pan Lijun said with a chuckle, her eyes twinkling.

"You're wrong there," Zhankong replied bluntly. "Those who are truly useless during the Practicals will not pass."

Pan Lijun pursed her lips but didn't argue. She knew that Zhankong wasn't one to mince words when it came to evaluating the students' performance.

"Still," Pan Lijun continued, "this bounty test is a bit extreme, don't you think? It's practically impossible for any of the students to complete it."

"Yeah," chimed in another military instructor, Chen Weiliang, who was standing near the entrance of the tent. "I'd say it's already impressive that they've managed to get through the Monster Vine region."

Zhankong allowed himself a small smile. "Naturally, if this were a real bounty, none of the students would be able to finish it. In fact, most of the military instructors here wouldn't be able to complete it, either."

Chen Weiliang looked puzzled. "Wait, even the military instructors wouldn't be able to finish the task? What exactly do you mean by that?"

Zhankong leaned back in his chair, the faintest hint of amusement on his face. "We made the den of the One-Eyed Magic Wolf the final destination for the students. However, there's no real One-Eyed Magic Wolf in that den."

Luo Yunbo, another instructor, stepped forward, a sly grin on his face. "Instead, we placed a Summoner Mage to guard the den. The den itself doesn't have a magical beast, but the Summoner Mage has summoned a creature to act as the students' final test."

Xue Musheng, the teacher of the Elite class, nodded enthusiastically. "It's the perfect setup! If we allowed the students to face a real magical beast, the casualties would be too high. This way, they get the experience of facing a 'magical beast' while still having the safety net of it being a summoned creature. We can gauge their reactions under pressure without putting them in mortal danger."

"Let's hope the students don't crumble under the pressure of the Summoned Beast Stage," Tangyue, another instructor, added softly. She was worried about the hundred elite students they had sent into the wilderness. "As long as they manage to cast even a single spell against the beast, they'll receive an A grade."

An A was the highest grade a student could receive in the Practicals. It had been years since anyone had been awarded such a high score.

As the instructors continued their discussion in the tent, the students were slowly making their way through the treacherous terrain of the Hundred Grass Valley. The valley was filled with tall, overgrown weeds that obscured the narrow paths winding through it. Twisted vines and tree roots littered the ground, making it difficult to navigate.

"Ahh! What the heck? Help me! HELP ME!" a sudden scream broke the eerie silence of the valley.

The students turned in alarm to see Wang Sanpang, one of their classmates, tangled up in a mass of writhing vines. His large, round body was hoisted into the air as the vines twisted around him, their thorns digging into his flesh.

"Sanpang!" someone shouted, but before anyone could react, the vines began tightening around Wang Sanpang's body, ripping into his skin. Blood trickled down his legs as he thrashed helplessly.

"Save me!" Wang Sanpang's cries for help were muffled as a thick vine wrapped itself around his mouth, silencing him.

The scene quickly descended into chaos as the other students panicked, unsure of how to help.

"Don't panic! Let me handle it!" the class representative, Zhoumin, shouted, her voice cutting through the panic.

A string of fiery stars formed around Zhoumin's body as she began casting a spell. "Fire Burst!"

With a roar, a burst of flames shot from Zhoumin's hand, engulfing the Demonic Vines that had captured Wang Sanpang. The flames spread quickly, incinerating the vines and forcing them to release their grip on Wang Sanpang. He fell to the ground with a heavy thud, groaning in pain but alive.

"That was amazing, Class Rep!" one of the students cheered as the remaining vines retreated into the shadows of the valley.

"Fire element is definitely the best for handling these things," another student agreed, nodding approvingly at Zhoumin's quick thinking.

Back in the tent, Zhankong stroked his mustache as he observed the situation through a magic screen. "Zhoumin, Fire Element. Hmm, that one has potential."

As the students regrouped, ready to continue their trek through the valley, a sense of accomplishment washed over them. But they knew the hardest test was yet to come.

The Hundred Grass Valley had always been a challenging place for the students of Bo City, but this year's Practical Examination was unlike any they had faced before. It wasn't just about overcoming Demonic Vines and testing their magical abilities; it was a trial of mental endurance, cooperation, and, above all, survival.

"Currently, the first group should be the fastest," Zhang Jianguo observed, looking at the projections from the monitors that tracked the students' progress. His voice was measured, but there was an underlying tension in his words. He knew how unforgiving the valley could be. "Amongst the first group, there are many exceptionally talented students."

Pan Lijun nodded thoughtfully, her eyes darting from one monitor to another. "The first group's Fire Magician is a loser. He was unable to cast any spells when he was up against the Demonic Vines. In the end, it was that student called Mu Bai who froze the Demonic Vines. They are the fastest ones to reach the Hundred Grass Valley. Soon enough, they will encounter the summoned Wolf Beast! The real test for them is finally here!"

"The summoned Wolf Beast won't injure the students, right?" a teacher asked, concern creeping into his voice.

Pan Lijun laughed softly, shaking her head. "Being injured is inevitable. Breaking a few bones is also very common. However, our Summoner Mage and his summoned Wolf Beast will behave appropriately."

"In that case, how about we give him a call to remind him?" Zhang Jianguo suggested, a bit of nervousness slipping through. "If the students are injured too heavily, it could affect their chances at getting into a good university."

"There's no signal in the valley. Don't worry," Luo Yunbo interjected, his tone firm. "Baiyang knows the severity of this. He won't let it get out of control."

The tension among the instructors remained, but there was little they could do but watch. The valley itself was serene, deceptively peaceful. To the south, a lake stretched out like a hand reaching toward the horizon. To the north, a bulging mountain pass marked the entrance to more treacherous terrain. Somewhere out there, the students were making their way toward the cavernous den where the real danger awaited.

Mu Bai led the first group with the air of someone who knew exactly what he was doing. He moved swiftly, his movements precise, the confidence of his ancestral heritage evident in his every step. Behind him, the other students followed, some of them whispering amongst themselves about his prowess.

The cavern loomed ahead of them, a dark, gaping maw that seemed to swallow the light around it. The wind blowing from inside was cold and unnatural, raising the hair on the back of Mu Bai's neck. But he didn't let it show.

"The cavern is right there. I thought this bounty was going to be difficult, but it seems like we easily found our destination!" Zhao Kunsan said with a laugh, though his voice had a slight tremor to it.

Zhao Kunsan had always been an opportunist, and his sudden rise into the Elite class at the last quarter of the year had surprised no one. He had quickly fallen back in with Mu Bai, his old ally, and now the two were once again working together. But unlike Mu Bai, Zhao's bravado was more for show than anything else.

"Be careful," Mu Bai warned, his tone clipped. "The bounty can't be this easy."

Mu Bai's upbringing had taught him many things, not the least of which was that nothing was ever as simple as it seemed. His instincts were practically screaming at him that danger was near.

The group of twenty students followed the winding path up the hill, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement. As they neared the entrance of the den, they came upon a small spring. The water glistened under the dim light, the pond only half-full. It would have been serene if not for the oppressive sense of dread that hung in the air.

The entrance to the den was massive, like the subway tunnels beneath Bo City. The darkness beyond was suffocating, a deep black that seemed to devour any light that tried to penetrate it. A gust of wind, filled with the scent of damp earth and something else—something foul—wafted out from the den, causing a few students to recoil.

"How about we wait for some more people before we go in?" He Yu suggested, her voice shaking.

"I agree," Zhao Kunsan added quickly, his usual arrogance absent. "It looks scary."

The group hesitated at the entrance, fear flickering in their eyes. The thought of what might be lurking inside was enough to make even the most confident among them falter. If there really was a Magical Beast inside, walking in unprepared would be a death sentence.

As the students debated amongst themselves, another group emerged from the trees in the distance.

"It looks like the third group," He Yu said, her voice filled with relief. "That's good!"

The third group was led by Xu Zhaoting, a formidable Lightning Magician, and Light, another S-rank student. They were among the strongest in their year, and their arrival brought a sense of security to the first group. Even so, Mu Bai couldn't help but smirk. Xu Zhaoting and Light might have earned S-rank status during the annual examination, but Mu Bai knew that the real test wasn't academic—it was in the field. And in the field, his heritage gave him an edge that neither of them could match.

Soon enough, the two groups were reunited. The remaining groups were nowhere to be seen, likely eliminated during the Demonic Vine stage. Not every Wind Magician had the courage or the skill to navigate the valley.

"We need to move," Mu Bai ordered, his voice cutting through the chatter. "Wind elementals, search for paths in the front. You have the Wind Trail spell; if anything happens, you can quickly retreat."

The Wind elemental students didn't argue. Zhao Kunsan, Zhang Yinglu, and Yang Xintian stepped forward, their faces pale but determined.

The atmosphere in the cavern was suffocating, the dim light from the Light Magician's spell barely cutting through the oppressive darkness.

As they advanced into the cavern, a sudden gust of foul-smelling wind erupted from within, slapping the students in the face with its moisture. The stench was overwhelming, like rotten meat left to decay in the sun. Several students gagged, covering their noses and mouths.

Then, from the depths of the cavern, a terrifying sound echoed.

"Awoooh!"

The howl was unlike anything they had ever heard. It wasn't just a sound; it was a presence, something ancient and deadly. The hair on the back of their necks stood on end as the realization hit them all at once.

Magical Beast.

Their hearts pounded in their chests, fear clawing at their minds. They had trained for this, but nothing could have prepared them for the sheer terror of facing a real Magical Beast.

Heavens! That breath—it wasn't just wind. It was the saliva of a Magical Beast!

The forty students stood frozen, their eyes wide with terror. The instinct to run was overwhelming, but their bodies refused to move, as if paralyzed by the presence of the creature lurking in the shadows.

Another howl echoed from the depths, louder this time, more menacing.

And then, from the darkness, two glowing eyes appeared.

The creature's eyes, glowing faintly with malevolent hunger, peered from the depths of the cave, locking onto its prey. The students could feel those eyes burning into them, an insatiable hunger oozing from the shadows. Their minds, once filled with dreams of heroic battles and glorious victories, now went utterly blank. Fear gripped them like icy chains, freezing every muscle, suffocating every thought.

The flickering light in the cave revealed more and more of the beast. First, a massive, hairy blue foot emerged from the darkness. The claws, each as sharp as a butcher's cleaver, sank into the stone floor with ease, gouging deep furrows into the rock. A low, guttural growl echoed off the cavern walls, sending a shiver down every spine.

The creature stepped fully into the light, revealing itself in all its grotesque glory. Its body was a terrifying contradiction of sleek, predatory strength and feral, beastly brutality. A long, sinewy neck supported its wolfish head, which was adorned with rows of jagged, saw-like teeth. Two sword-like fangs jutted downward, dripping with green saliva that hissed ominously as it splattered onto the stone floor.

Every muscle on the creature's body was rock solid, covered by fur that seemed sharper than needles, its dark blue coat bristling with malevolent energy. Its massive, muscular form towered over the group of forty students, its eyes gleaming with the promise of a swift and bloody feast. The beast licked its chops as it stared at the terrified group, the pupils of its eyes narrowing into slits as it picked out its next meal.

"R-R-RUN!" someone screamed, their voice cracking as it broke through the silence. The dam of fear burst.

Panic seized the group, sending them into a wild, uncontrolled scramble. Students shoved and collided with one another in a desperate attempt to escape, their bodies tripping over stones and stumbling through the uneven terrain of the cavern floor.

Fear had paralyzed most of them, rendering their magic useless. Spells they had practiced for years, training until their muscles could form the casting gestures on reflex, now seemed impossible to summon. Their minds, consumed with terror, couldn't focus long enough to align the stars for even the simplest of spells.

He glanced to his left and saw He Yu standing motionless, her face as pale as a ghost, her eyes wide and unblinking. Fear had completely taken over her, freezing her in place.

"Quick! Run! Why are you still standing there?!" someone else shouted, the panic in their voice mirroring Zhang Xiaohou's desperation.

"Wind... Wind... WIND TRAIL... SHIT!" he cursed under his breath, his frustration mounting.

Zhang Xiaohou, who had always excelled at Wind Magic, found himself fumbling as his heart pounded in his chest. His hands shook as he tried to align his Star Paths, but the fear in his veins turned his usually fluid movements into stuttering jerks.

Without a second thought, Zhang Xiaohou reached out, grabbing her arm and pulling her with him as he tried to run. But even as he dragged her, he could feel his legs weakening, the realization settling in that they were no match for the beast now lurking behind them.

A blood-chilling snarl echoed through the cavern, followed by the sharp sound of claws scraping against stone. The students didn't need to look back to know that the beast was moving closer. Every hair on their bodies stood on end, their survival instincts screaming at them to run faster, to get out of the cave before the monster could catch them.

No one knew what to do. The horror of the situation was like a suffocating fog, blurring their thoughts and making it impossible to focus on their training. They had all imagined themselves in battle, casting powerful spells and triumphing over fearsome Magical Beasts, but this... this was something entirely different.

Some students collapsed, fainting from sheer terror. Others tried to climb down the ropes they had used to descend into the cave. But when they reached the edge, they realized the ropes were gone. Panic rose to a fever pitch. The only way down was to jump, and that would mean certain death on the jagged rocks below.

"We're trapped!" someone screamed.

Zhao Kunsan, his face as pale as a sheet, looked around wildly. His body trembled uncontrollably as the reality of their situation sank in. The creature wasn't just a fearsome beast—it was a predator, and they were its prey. It had chased them from the depths of the cave, not satisfied with the students who had already fainted inside. Why? Why was it coming after them instead?

"Why isn't it eating the others?" Zhao Kunsan stammered, his voice shaking with hysteria. "Why is it coming for us?!"

No one had an answer, but the terror in the air was palpable. The students were losing control, succumbing to their base instincts of survival.

"Running is useless," someone called out. It was Mu Bai, his voice steadier than the others, though there was an undercurrent of fear in his words. "We need to stand and fight!"

"How?" another student shouted, their voice cracking. "How do we fight that thing?!"