Chapter 108: Martial Trial
The first two rounds of the combat trial ended uneventfully for Li Lang. He had already been doing similar tasks when testing out his poisons on the Qi beasts. The task that came after hunting the Spiral Stags was simply to hunt several Crimson Simians.
With the strength of approximately a third stage Energy Gatherer, they weren’t much physically stronger than the Spiral Stags. However, they were definitely more threatening. This was due to their relatively superior intelligence and traveling in larger troops. They employed group tactics that wore down their enemies.
While they were smarter, it also worked against them in this case. Those who relied on wits meant they had duller instincts. Li Lang’s current skill set didn't include any notable skills besides the Veiling Shroud technique.
It was an unusual technique for someone who was so young to practice. It lacked the power and flashiness the younger generation preferred. In return, the utility of the Qi art was unquestionable. The smokescreen it produced effectively neutralized the simians’ coordination as they primarily relied on their sight. With their most vital skill in teamwork dealt with, Li Lang could easily dispatch them one by one.
Having completed the first two rounds, Li Lang expected the next one to move up in difficulty, facing Qi beasts comparable to middle-stage Energy Gatherers. His expectations were betrayed in short order.
Li Lang wore a frown as he stared at the lights that formed his new instructions.
“Hunt down the Shock Tortoise and retrieve its shell.”
The new task was unexpected due to the sudden increase in the strength of his opponent. He had been warned by his companions before, but it was still unsettling to go from hunting down third stage Qi beasts to fifth stage. Based on the recounting by his friends, it was becoming more and more obvious that something capable of thought monitored everyone during their trials.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t be able to provide such targeted rewards or customize the task at hand.
Li Lang was not too excited about this new round of the martial trial. It wasn’t because he expected a hard fight, but instead, the species he hunted.
Shock Tortoises were solitary creatures. This meant he would only attain one shell. He wanted to have Ruby take a sample as he had been doing. Hunting another Shock Tortoise was always an option, but these solitary beasts weren’t easy to find. It would affect his evaluation unless he got lucky.
Also, the tortoises were huge. Just their shell were several sizes larger than a king-sized bed. It would prove difficult to carry two shells out of the rugged terrain of the forest due to their bulkiness alone.