"You two will eventually leave the sect to temper yourselves. If you face a mortal strike and the talisman activates, you must find a way to take that person's life. If the opponent's cultivation surpasses your master's, then at least use your life-saving talisman to seriously injure them. Disciples of Jian Lu do not act like weaklings."
"Yes, we will strictly obey Master's command!"
Both youths straightened, solemnly accepting Jian Dan's requirement.
"I am not making things hard for you. When you meet a powerful enemy, preserving your life comes first. But if you dare to maim the assailant, the next time someone covets you, they will weigh the cost. That increases your chances of survival."
"Yes, we understand. We will cultivate diligently and not disgrace Master's name."
"Good. Your first live-combat trial begins now."
The Eye of the Dream Beast opened. A wash of blue light swept out, and Mao Dou and Yu Zongfan plunged into a towering ancient forest, the roars of beasts echoing in their ears.
They landed apart. After contacting each other via transmission jades, Mao Dou and Yu Zongfan began to converge. Along the way they met first-rank beasts, harassing spirit plants, and even ambushes from fellow Qi Refinement cultivators.
Yu Zongfan possessed a single earth spiritual root. He used earth arts with polished skill. Earth Spikes for offense, Earth Wall for defense, and, in between, Earth Rift Technique to split the ground. A first-rank Snow Hare fell into a crevasse, and Yu Zongfan drove a spike through its eye, preserving the pelt. He casually hunted a few brocade pheasants as well.
Mao Dou had metal, water, and wood roots. He had drilled all three systems to instant-cast. Low-rank beasts posed no threat. His attacks followed clean patterns. Spirit plants that struck at him and had medicinal value he harvested on the spot. Those without he uprooted and cleared out.
Once Mao Dou and Yu Zongfan regrouped, a second-rank beast appeared. Second rank matched the human Foundation Establishment realm, raising the trial's difficulty.
"Senior Brother Mao Dou, we must coordinate, or this second-rank One-Horned Bull will break us apart one by one," Yu Zongfan said, spirit sword in hand. The two-meter-tall gray bull pawed the ground, eyes fixed on them, ready to charge.
"Agreed, Junior Brother Yu Zongfan. We trap it first, then kill it. If it runs rampant, we cannot combine our strength, and it will scatter us."
"Right."
After settling on a plan, Yu Zongfan formed seals and cast Earth Rift Technique, splitting the earth beneath the bull's hooves. Mao Dou followed with Golden Arrow Technique, lancing at the limbs to snap a leg and blunt its charge.
They had underestimated a second-rank beast. The gray hide was a natural carapace. The golden arrows struck joints and threw off golden sparks, yet failed to wound the One-Horned Bull.
The bull bunched its muscles and leapt clear of the crack, wheeling toward them to begin its assault.
"Move!"
At Mao Dou's shout, Mao Dou and Yu Zongfan unfolded Lightfoot Technique, weaving through the dense woods.
"Junior Brother Yu Zongfan, a Twin-Headed Python claims the ground up ahead. Lure the bull into its territory, let them fight, and we play the fisherman," Mao Dou called.
"Understood. Listening to Senior Brother Mao Dou."
With the One-Horned Bull thundering behind, Mao Dou and Yu Zongfan led it straight into the python's range.
A glimmer of amusement flashed in Jian Dan's eyes outside the illusion. These two still had heads on their shoulders. Knowing they were outmatched, they diverted disaster, drawing the bull into another second-rank beast's lair.
The Twin-Headed Python was brooding over its eggs. Sensing the intruder, it lifted both heads and hissed warnings, telling the One-Horned Bull not to overstep.
The bull could not care less. It barreled after the two figures' lingering scent trails.
Mao Dou and Yu Zongfan split left and right, leaping into the surrounding giants. In perfect sync, both slapped on Invisibility Talismans.
With a wood root, Mao Dou pressed his palm to the trunk, running spiritual power to blend into the giant tree, becoming part of its body.
Yu Zongfan was just as clever. After activating the talisman, he slowly sank into the ground, hiding himself away.
Deprived of a target, the One-Horned Bull rampaged in frustration. It lowered its head and slammed a nearby giant, "bang, bang, bang," each impact making Mao Dou hold his breath, not daring to twitch.
A thunderous crack. The giant toppled at last. Mao Dou remained fused to the trunk, utterly still. A rank, fishy stench rolled closer through the brush.
In the next breath, the Twin-Headed Python coiled the bull's belly, both heads yawning wide to bite into the soft underbelly from left and right.
The bull bellowed and hurled itself side-on into a low boulder, hoping to smash the python loose.
Dirt, rock, and splinters filled the air. The bull's bellowing and the python's wet, hissing tongue sounds mingled in Mao Dou's and Yu Zongfan's ears. Neither dared release divine sense; they watched with naked eyes, waiting in silence for a perfect moment.
The cunning python edged out the win, ripping the bull's lower belly. The One-Horned Bull went mad with pain, ducked, and drove its horn through one of the python's heads. The coiled body slackened, softened, and finally thumped to the ground.
The bull's viscera spilled in ropes, and it staggered, eyes glazing. It crashed and lay still. The stench of blood drifted through the trees.
They waited the length of half a stick of incense. Only when Mao Dou and Yu Zongfan were certain both beasts were truly dead did they leave cover.
They exchanged a cautious glance and crept toward the corpses.
Yu Zongfan prodded the bull with his sword. Confirming its death, he immediately started to harvest the most valuable parts, the horn and hide.
"Mao Dou, keep the meat too. Dried, One-Horned Bull jerky staves off hunger," Mao Dou said, reminding Yu Zongfan as he drew a slim knife from his storage bag. It was a beast-dismantling blade gifted by their master, extremely sharp and perfectly balanced in Mao Dou's grip.
"Yu Zongfan, dodge!"
Mao Dou shouted, the knife flashing from his hand. He was a heartbeat late. The python's other head burst from the bull's torn belly and bit Yu Zongfan in half at the waist.
Mao Dou's knife buried itself in the vertical pupil. The severed python head convulsed grotesquely and spat a stream of colorless fluid. It drenched Mao Dou, and Mao Dou dissolved into blood-water. The python head slammed down and lay still at last, truly dead.
"Yu Zongfan!"
"Mao Dou!"
They jolted awake calling each other's names, chests heaving, sweat running down their foreheads. Only after confirming the other was fine did they look around and see they were still before their master's cave dwelling, Jian Dan smiling at them with half-lidded eyes.
"Master!"
"Mmm. Good boys. How was your first taste of death?"
Both looked crestfallen, heads lowered. Their answers were weak.
"Not good."
"That's enough for today," Jian Dan said. "There's no need to be discouraged. A second-rank beast is Foundation Establishment. It was already good judgment to set beast against beast and play the oriole. You lost to carelessness."
"Yes, Master. Your lesson is right."
"Go back and summarize every failure point. Think on better methods. I'll give you ten days. Then we do live-combat again."
"Yes, Master!"