Most ancient ruins were originally places where powerful experts entered secluded cultivation, often risking their lives in pursuit of breakthroughs.
To ensure their safety during seclusion or to prevent disturbance after death, these experts would set up soul tools around the area and construct complex, maze-like passageways inside.
When a ruin eventually opened, even if the group guarding it entered immediately, they would still need time to deal with the traps and security measures left behind.
By the time they made progress, the members of the Seven Treasure Team would likely arrive and run into them.
Since the team already intended to train by fighting Spirit Beasts in the forest, forming a Spirit Beast hunting team was a good choice.
Litton Town.
Wu Qi and the others arrived at an inn.
"Guests, judging by the weather, there's probably going to be a blizzard tonight. Would you like to stay the night and have some strong liquor to warm yourselves up?" the waiter asked.
Sun Buyu agreed and then inquired, "Are there any Spirit Beast hunting teams operating nearby? If so, how many are permanently stationed here?"
Having received payment, the waiter replied with a cheerful smile,
"You've come to the right person."
"The area around here is covered in forest, but there aren't many structures to block the wind. The cold air blows constantly, and without shelter, people can freeze to death at night."
"Since staying at an inn costs money every day, only one hunting team is permanently based nearby, the Hualong Team."
"They have their own base here, which gives them an advantage over other teams."
"Other teams occasionally come through, but none stay for long. If you need help hunting Spirit Beasts, I can contact the Hualong Team for you."
Wu Qi shook his head.
"No need. We're actually here to operate as a Spirit Beast hunting team ourselves."
"By the way, if we rent rooms here long-term, how much of a discount can you offer?"
The waiter twitched at the corner of his mouth.
Spirit Beasts over ten thousand years old were rare in Litton Forest.
Most clients came looking for their first three Spirit Rings, while those seeking a fourth Spirit Ring were relatively uncommon.
Operating in a place like this wasn't cheap.
Unless Wu Qi's team received commissions every day, they would definitely lose money.
Seeing their expensive clothing, the waiter assumed they were wealthy young nobles playing at adventuring.
A simple employee could not decide on lodging discounts, so he quickly called over the innkeeper.
After seeing the group pay six months' worth of lodging fees upfront, the innkeeper smiled from ear to ear and gladly agreed to help them attract clients.
As for the team's name, they could not use anything that would reveal their origins.
Since Wu Qi was the captain, everyone unanimously agreed to name the team Azure Luan.
The group sat around the fireplace in their room.
Chen Ping said excitedly,
"My dream used to be joining a Spirit Beast hunting team. I never thought it would actually come true."
Spirit Beast hunting teams were somewhat similar to wandering adventurers.
Even though the lifestyle was dangerous and often left people penniless, many still chose to follow that path.
In the eyes of ordinary people, hunting teams carried an almost heroic image.
Wu Qi laughed.
"You're pretty easy to satisfy."
"Still, we're only here for training, and we're unfamiliar with Litton Forest. If someone hires us, we'll just charge a token fee."
After all, none of them relied on this work to make a living.
However, if they accepted commissions for free, they would inevitably offend the local hunting teams.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
With the innkeeper's help and recommendations, the Azure Luan Team finally received its first commission.
The clients were a father and daughter.
Through sensing their auras, everyone could tell that the father was an ordinary person, while his daughter possessed Level 10 Spirit Power and was still quite young.
When the father saw the youthful faces of the team members, he visibly relaxed.
At the very least, young people were far less likely to engage in robbery or other criminal activities.
"My daughter's martial spirit is a spear. Do you have any recommendations for suitable Spirit Beasts? And how much will it cost?"
Huo Wu took the initiative to speak with the little girl.
"Little sister, did your teacher ever tell you what kind of Spirit Ring would suit your martial spirit?"
As she spoke, she gently held the girl's hand.
With a careful sense of the girl's Spirit Power, she easily discovered that the girl had already reached Level 10 some time ago, yet had only come to obtain a Spirit Ring now.
The girl appeared to be around eight years old.
No one knew exactly when she had reached Level 10, but delaying her first Spirit Ring for so long would undoubtedly affect her future cultivation.
This was the reality for most people on the continent.
Ordinary people did not earn money as easily as Spirit Masters.
The cost of obtaining a first Spirit Ring could range anywhere from four to five hundred gold spirit coins. Those who wanted a better Spirit Ring often had no choice but to save money for years.
Wu Qi said casually,"Will only your daughter be going, or will you accompany her? If both of you go, there will be an additional charge."
The father hurriedly waved his hands.
"Just take my daughter."
"How much does a hundred-year Spirit Ring cost?"
"A hundred-year Spirit Ring costs fifty gold spirit coins. If you only want a ten-year Spirit Ring, it'll be five gold spirit coins."
The father let out a long sigh.
With an apologetic expression, he looked at his daughter before taking out all of his savings.
It amounted to roughly ten gold spirit coins.
"Honored Spirit Masters, please help my daughter obtain the best ten-year Spirit Ring possible."
The girl looked disappointed, but she quickly adjusted her emotions.
After accepting the payment, Wu Qi waved his hand.
"It's still early. Let's leave now and try to return before nightfall."
After entering the forest, Huo Wu asked, "Little sister, what's your name?"
The girl's name was He Niannian.
According to her, she had been born with Level 8 innate Spirit Power and reached Level 10 after only six months at the academy.
"The teachers don't like Niannian."
"They wouldn't help me hunt a Spirit Beast."
"Our family is poor. Dad worked in the mines for a very long time before he managed to save up these ten gold spirit coins."
"If Niannian gets a Spirit Ring, I'll be able to receive a monthly subsidy from Spirit Hall. Then Dad won't have to work so hard anymore."
After hearing her story, everyone gained a rough understanding of her situation.
However, her view was somewhat naïve.
The subsidies provided by Spirit Hall were primarily intended to help young Spirit Masters save money for future Spirit Ring hunts.
Once a Spirit Master reached the Spirit Ancestor level, they generally possessed enough ability to protect themselves and could cooperate with others to hunt Spirit Beasts. At that point, the subsidies ended.
In other words, if people relied on money the way the Shrek group did, then without help from their elders, their cultivation would likely become stuck at some stage for the rest of their lives.
Teachers rarely disliked students without a reason.
As a teacher himself, Sun Buyu was the most qualified to comment.
"There were probably noble students at her academy who were jealous of her talent."
"The teachers likely wanted to curry favor with those nobles, so they chose to ignore her."
"Why didn't you seek help from Spirit Hall?" Huo Wu asked.
Changkong reminded everyone,"Spirit Hall's influence in the northern regions of the empire isn't particularly strong."
"Many nobles compete to discover talented children and often help commoners awaken their martial spirits. This girl hasn't told us the whole story. Something must have happened to her."
Since she clearly did not want to discuss it, no one felt it appropriate to pry further.
Afraid that she might be abandoned, He Niannian hurriedly explained, "It was one of Lord Charles's subordinates who helped Niannian awaken her martial spirit."
"Lord Charles originally said he would take Niannian to Heaven Dou City."
"But the next day, he was killed."
"Later, the mine where my father worked was taken over by another noble."
"That noble was very cruel. Not only did he withhold my father's wages, but he also beat him."
She clenched her fists tightly.
Deep resentment appeared in her eyes.
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