Xue Mo secured the blood storage bottle he sought by exchanging 16 contribution points. With the bottle in hand, he set off for the forest, eager to enhance his cultivation with blood from stronger beasts. He had accumulated most of his contribution points from previous hunts, and now he was ready for a more ambitious target.
His mind focused as he entered the lush, shadowy depths of the forest. The dense foliage around him whispered secrets of the creatures hidden within. This wasn't just a hunt; it was a calculated endeavor, one that could yield great rewards as long as every detail was meticulously planned.
Having dealt with weaker beasts in his past encounters, Xue Mo recognized the diminished returns they offered. He required a more potent source of blood—preferably one from a higher-tier creature that could propel him closer to the seventh level of cultivation. The memory of the Iron Hide Wolf's blood lingered in his mind, having served him well, but today, he intended to exceed that.
As he navigated through the underbrush, he kept his senses sharp and analyzed the ambient sounds and scents around him. He had no intention of entering this confrontation blindly. In his past life as a demonic faction leader, calculating risks was second nature, and it was no different now.
A low, menacing growl broke his concentration, sending an electric thrill of anticipation through him instead of fear. It emanated from a thicket nearby, underscored by a foul odor—either the scent of an injured beast or a predator alert to his presence.
Xue Mo crouched low, employing his acute awareness to peer through the foliage. There it was—a massive, brutish figure—a Bloodthirsty Bear. Its fur was a tangled mass of matted patches, and although it radiated an unmistakably dangerous aura, this was precisely the beast he had targeted.
Spirit Awakening Beast, level eight. Perfect, he thought, recognizing the challenge ahead. He had dealt with such situations too often in his past life; emotion held no power over him now.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he began preparing his strategy. A frontal assault would be ill-advised given the bear's formidable strength. Instead, he thought of a straightforward tactic that had served him well in prior hunts: distraction.
To successfully lure the creature away from its territory, he needed to create a diversion.
He picked up a rock, calculating his throw to ensure it would generate a loud noise. With precise aim, he hurled the stone toward a dense cluster of bushes about fifteen feet to his north.
Thud!
The loud sound resonated through the stillness of the forest, causing the bear to turn its head, curiosity overriding its aggression.
Seizing the opportunity, Xue Mo moved silently to the right, slipping behind the thick trunks of trees and inching closer to the bear's position. His heart remained steady; this was chess, not checkers, and he was orchestrating each move with purpose.
As the bear lumbered away, he felt a surge of certainty course through him. Everything was going according to his design.
He readied his sword, but more crucially, he mentally prepared a binding scroll he had acquired. Although it was a low-level immobilization spell, in his hands, it would serve its intended purpose efficiently.
The moment the bear's focus diverted enough, Xue Mo erupted from his cover, charging at the beast. "Bind!" The words flowed effortlessly, and he focused his Qi into the scroll, sending a shimmering net toward the bear's legs.
The binding spell briefly took effect, momentarily slowing the bear's movements. Xue Mo recognized this as his decisive moment. With precision, he lunged forward, sword glinting in the filtered light, targeting the bear's neck—the quickest path to securing his prize.
However, the bear's instincts proved sharper than expected. Roaring in defiance, it twisted its bulk, disregarding the spell with brute force. Xue Mo had anticipated this possibility and sidestepped instinctively, feeling the rush of wind as the bear's claws whistled past.
Whoosh!
This was merely a setback; he had not allowed emotion to cloud his judgment. The plan remained intact. He recalibrated quickly.
The beast was furious and clearly preparing to charge at him. Xue Mo took a few steps back, remaining observational and analytical as he studied the creature.
The rage in its eyes presented a weakness he intended to exploit.
As the bear charged at him with a thunderous roar, he took a brief glance at his surroundings, processing every detail in an instant. Bolting towards a sturdy tree, he led the bear in pursuit.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The ground shook beneath the bear as it barreled forward, its massive paws pounding the earth. Just as he reached the side of the tree, he ducked to the side, avoiding a collision. The bear's claws dug deep into the tree trunk, becoming snagged and providing Xue Mo with a valuable opportunity.
Crash! The tree shook violently as the bear tried to pull its claw free. Xue Mo wasted no time. "Now!" he thought, springing back toward the bear as it struggled.
"Grrrrrr..." The bear let out a deep growl that echoed through the forest, its frustration palpable. Xue Mo recognized that the creature was in a frenzy, its judgment clouded by rage, and this was the moment to strike.
With resolve, he charged at the bear. He could feel the adrenaline surge as he approached, sword poised and ready. This time, he infused more Qi into the binding scroll, causing it to shine brighter and pulse with energy. He had prepared for this moment, optimizing his strategy to ensure success.
"Bind!" he shouted, directing all his focus into the scroll. The words resonated with power as he unleashed the enhanced binding spell. The air shimmered with energy as the shimmering net encircled the bear's massive limbs, ensnaring it with unparalleled strength.
The bear thrashed violently, growling in frustration, but the enhanced bindings held firm. Xue Mo saw his opportunity and with a fluid motion, he plunged his sword into the beast's neck, aiming for a clean strike.
Swoosh!
The blade slid through the tough hide, and as blood gushed forth, it filled his blood storage bottle almost instantly. The lifeblood of a level eight beast surged into the container, and Xue Mo realized that this blood was invaluable for his cultivation.
"Perfect," he muttered, allowing a smirk to form on his lips as he collected a sufficient amount. The bear thrashed one final time before succumbing to the injuries inflicted, but Xue Mo felt no rush of adrenaline—only satisfaction from having executed his plan effectively.
Stepping back, he wiped the blade against the grass, ensuring no remnants of the bear lingered. He understood the necessity of extracting every ounce of value from it, down to the last drop of blood. With the blood storage bottle securely in his possession, he felt a confidence surge within him.
Having succeeded in this calculated venture, he acknowledged the importance of planning and strategy.
As he turned away from the fallen beast, he glanced back, taking in the sight as a reminder that it could very well be him if he didn't strive for greater strength.
Navigating through the forest, he felt normal, his thoughts shifted to the possibilities ahead. With the blood from a higher-tier beast now at his disposal, he envisioned the increase in his cultivation speed and the reduced time needed to break through to the next level.
Xue Mo moved swiftly through the forest, careful not to draw attention to himself despite the weight of victory clinging to him.
The blood storage bottle, warm and pulsing with the vitality of the slain Bloodthirsty Bear, was safely strapped to his belt. He kept his aura suppressed, slipping through the trees like a shadow until the familiar terrain leading to his cave came into view.
He used his token to open the door, then after closing it behind him, he proceeded to start.
With practice ease, he unfastened the blood storage bottle and placed it in front of him. The bear's blood glowed faintly, pulsing with latent energy. He sat cross-legged before it, entering a meditative pose as Settling down cross-legged again, he began a slow breath cycle, regulating his qi as he silently activated the Blood Deity Art.
As the energy from the blood flowed through his meridians, a faint heartbeat thrum could be heard as the energy gathered at his heart, then from there flowed to fill his limbs.
Minutes passed. Then hours.
Opening his eyes slowly, Xue Mo exhaled. The bottle was now empty, the once-vibrant blood reduced to inert residue.
He flexed his fingers, feeling the subtle increase in strength, but for now, he once more went back to cultivating to consolidate his realm.
In the following days after his hunt, Xue Mo led a very regular and planned life. He would go to the beast garden in the morning to obtain blood and then go to the forest to hunt. Then he would visit Internal Affairs Hall to take his daily Qi gathering pill, and stay in the cave to cultivate every single day.
Soon, the day of the sect's assessment arrived.