Chapter 116: The Hunt That Changed Everything

The Hunt That Changed Everything

Inside the Heavenly- tier hunting ground, every creature was boss-level. The soul energy they provided was immense.

The mist-covered wilderness had become a battlefield.

Everywhere Leon looked, enormous beasts were moving through the fog. Their roars shook the trees, claws tore through the earth, and the spiritual energy in the air surged violently whenever one of them fell.

For ordinary examinees, encountering even one of these creatures would have been dangerous.

For Leon’s team, h o w e v e r, they had become walking sources of soul energy.

Selena’s white-silver hair fluttered behind her as she moved through the battlefield. Her snow-white robe was already dusted with dirt, but her golden eyes remained calm.

Every time she struck, something died.

A Phantom Blood Bat tried to dive toward her from above.

Selena didn’t even look up.

Her hand moved.

A flash of white energy cut through the mist.

The enormous bat’s body split apart and crashed into the ground.

A system notification appeared immediately.

[Congratulations! Killed boss-level creature — Phantom Blood Bat. Absorbed Soul Power +820]

Another Shadow Leopard rushed out from behind a tree.

It was fast.

Too fast for an ordinary Level 28 cultivator to react to.

But Selena was no ordinary beast-girl.

She turned her body slightly.

The leopard’s claws missed her shoulder by less than an inch.

Selena grabbed its foreleg.

Her golden eyes flashed.

With one powerful movement, she slammed the beast into the ground.

[Congratulations! Killed boss-level creature — Shadow Leopard. Absorbed Soul Power +1220]

Another leopard attacked from the side.

Selena twisted around and drove her fist directly into its chest.

BOOM!

The impact sent a shockwave through the mist.

[Congratulations! Killed boss-level creature — Shadow Leopard. Absorbed Soul Power +1220]

Leon watched Selena’s experience bar climb and couldn’t stop grinning.

"You’re leveling incredibly fast, Dear Selena."

Selena glanced back at him.

A faint smile appeared on her beautiful face.

"Because the prey here is much better than outside."

Evelyn landed beside them, her long green hair falling over her shoulder.

She looked at Selena’s rapidly climbing experience bar before letting out a small sigh.

"At this rate, Selena is going to leave me behind completely."

Leon turned toward her.

"Don’t worry, darling Evelyn."

Evelyn looked at him.

Leon smiled.

"You’re still contributing. Without your webs, Selena wouldn’t be able to clear the battlefield this efficiently."

Selena nodded.

"He’s right."

She looked at Evelyn seriously.

"Your control is important. Don’t compare yourself to me."

Evelyn blinked.

Then she smiled.

"Selena... you’re surprisingly good at comforting people."

Selena’s expression became slightly awkward.

"I was only stating the truth."

Leon chuckled.

"That’s why I like both of you."

Selena’s cheeks warmed slightly.

Evelyn looked away with a tiny smile.

After Level 25, leveling required massive amounts of soul energy.

There were no dense clusters of boss-level creatures like this in the wild or in ordinary dungeons.

Most cultivators would have to spend days or even weeks hunting before obtaining enough soul energy for another breakthrough.

Here, however, boss-level creatures were everywhere.

The hunting ground was practically overflowing with them.

With so many beasts falling, Selena leveled up instantly!

Leon stared at the rapidly changing numbers.

This was incredible.

But then something unexpected happened.

Leon suddenly felt warmth spreading through his body.

His breathing paused.

A strange current of energy flowed through his soul.

He immediately realized something.

His own aptitude was also being pushed toward advancement by the massive influx of soul energy.

Hiss.

The Heavenly-tier hunting ground was terrifyingly effective.

Leon slowly clenched his fist.

"If this continues..."

His eyes narrowed.

"Even my aptitude might keep improving."

He opened Selena’s status panel to admire her progress.

[Character Status]

Name: Selena

Beast-Soul: Divine Beast White Tiger

Contractor: Leon (Forced Soul Contract)

Level: LV.28 (1.4%)

Aptitude: SSS-Rank (Divine Beast Body)

Spirit Power: 820 (Current Growth: 40/level, Rating: Supreme)

Combat Power: 1200 (Current Growth: 60/level, Rating: Supreme)

Attack Effects: ① Lightning Strike, ② Golden Radiance, ③ Execution, ④ Frenzy Dance, ⑤ Bloodthirst, ⑥ Curse Break, ⑦ (Sealed)...

Equipment: None

Breakthrough Skills: ① Mana Wellspring (5-Star)

Beast-Soul Skills:

[Sacred Beast Domain · White Tiger]

[Sacred Beast Skill · Tiger’s Thunderous Roar]

[Sacred Beast Skill · White Tiger Judgment]

[Sacred Beast Skill · Thunder Blade]

[Limited Skill · Sacred Beast Heavenly Fall] (Forbidden Curse Level)

...

Equipment: None

Hidden Evolution Progress: Already at Final Evolution Form!

Leon stared at the panel for several seconds.

These stats were absolutely insane.

Selena had already reached Level 28.

Her Spirit Power was 820.

Her Combat Power was 1200.

Those numbers were completely beyond what most students of their age could imagine.

Evelyn—an S-rank spirit-power specialist—had a total Spirit Power of only 58.3 at her level.

Two whole ranks apart.

The gap in base stats was enough for complete domination.

Leon glanced toward Evelyn.

She was standing several meters away, controlling several strands of venomous web at once.

She was doing her best.

But beside Selena’s overwhelming power, the difference was obvious.

In the arena matches, Selena had been holding back.

If she had gone all out, the stage would have been soaked in blood.

Leon rubbed his chin.

If Selena was already this strong, Leon couldn’t fall behind.

Once he entered university, he could start training as a beast-soul master.

If he was too weak, he’d become the only weak link in the team.

He didn’t like that thought.

He wanted to stand beside Selena and Evelyn.

Not behind them.

Fortunately, his aptitude could also be improved by absorbing soul energy.

At this rate, reaching B-rank was only a matter of time.

The official records still listed him as D-rank.

But in reality, Leon had already reached C-rank through soul absorption.

That alone was enough to make him smile.

"Looks like this hunting ground really was worth coming to."

Evelyn walked over.

"Leon, what are you smiling about?"

"My aptitude."

Her purple eyes widened.

"You can improve it too?"

Leon nodded.

"Apparently."

Evelyn’s expression brightened.

"Then that’s good."

She stepped closer and lightly tugged his sleeve.

"You have to keep getting stronger."