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Chapter 96: Return to the Beast Forest

After thinking for a long time, Ashura still did not dare open the door; he guessed why those male students were looking for him, and the thought of those two girls made cold sweat bead on his forehead.

Ashura’s cultivation had advanced rapidly, yet the two girls were not behind him in realm, and with their powerful families they probably possessed several Yellow-Tier Martial Techniques.

When they faced the tier-6 Red-Lotus Serpent King their performance had been commendable, and it was obvious they still had strength in reserve.

Ashura knew they might resent him for not visiting them after returning, and his heart thumped uneasily.

Although his current strength could handle them, one could never reason with pretty girls, and he certainly could not treat two delicate beauties with the newly learned Z-Slash, could he?

In fact, the person Ashura most wanted to see after coming back was Instructor Yuan Da, but he had never found the time, and now with people blocking his door again he lowered his head in thought, seemingly making up his mind about something.

Next morning, before Magic Class 13 officially began, Ella received a leave slip delivered by fellow magic student Jin Ze.

Seeing the vigorous handwriting yet infuriating message, Ella felt the veins on her forehead pop.

She suppressed her anger, forced a smile, said she understood, and waved the bewildered Jin Ze out of the office.

The moment Jin Ze left, Ella wanted to rip the slip to shreds, yet when she picked it up her hand halted; after staring at it for a long while she put it back in the drawer, aggrieved.

Ella felt wronged; although it was her first romance, she had seen how other couples stuck together sweetly during the honeymoon phase, so why could she not even see his face?

Even if he had business outside, he could at least tell her in person or leave a message with his student badge, yet he had someone bring a leave slip to brush her off… what did that mean? She would teach him a lesson when he returned!

While Instructor Ella fumed, Arthur and Angelo spread the word that Ashura had taken leave from the academy, causing the male students who wanted him as a shield to sigh in frustration, and making those two young ladies’ expressions turn even colder.

By then Ashura had shed his magic robe, changed into a black combat outfit, and arrived at Triumph Town on the edge of the Beast Forest.

Triumph Town was still bustling; mercenaries and adventurers from all over gathered here to seek fortune in the Beast Forest, a rush that kept the town prosperous.

Ashura’s purpose in re-entering the Beast Forest was to finish off the wounded, blinded Red-Lotus Serpent King; first, that creature had almost taken his and Ella’s lives, and Ashura was not the forgiving sort.

Second, now that he wielded the powerful Yellow-Tier Martial Technique Z-Slash, he covetted the Red-Lotus Serpent King’s beast core.

Even so, caution was wise when venturing deep into the Beast Forest, lest he meet other high-level beasts, so this time he intended to enter with a party and act according to circumstances.

Ashura pushed through the crowd to the town’s mercenary tavern, where the din was deafening and brawny mercenaries bragged at the top of their lungs.

Quite a few women were drinking there as well, yet any woman bold enough to frequent a mercenary bar was no pushover, and drunk men who tried to hit on them often left with bruised faces amid roars of laughter.

Ashura stopped before a large wooden board covered with team-up requests and job listings.

After reading carefully he found a party seeking young elites, requiring at least 1st-rank Grand Martial Masters or Grand Magicians, intending to enter the forest with no set goal once seven members were gathered.

Ashura’s eyes lit up; he liked high-level teams, and this one met that standard, so he noted the meeting spot and walked to the third stone pillar in the left corridor, where six people were chatting somewhat awkwardly.

Of the six… three men and three women… one man and one woman wore magic robes; the man was wiry and slightly hunched in a fiery red robe, clearly a fire-element magician.

The woman wore a grass-green robe with a high slit that revealed long pale thighs, her gaze carrying a hint of allure that made the fire magician beside her swallow nervously.

Nearby stood a young man and woman in silver light armor, about Ashura’s age; their extraordinary bearing and similar features suggested they were siblings.

The brother was tall and powerfully built, while the sister’s refined, heroic features and statuesque figure filled her armor beautifully; taller than most men, she drew countless sidelong glances from nearby mercenaries.

At that moment a long-haired male warrior from the team was fawning over the woman, while her tall brother watched the scene with amused eyes.

The flirting warrior was a burly brute, his arms as thick as a woman’s waist and a hefty greatsword strapped to his back.

Off to one side a taller, even more striking girl with pale-gold hair leaned against the pillar, a longbow on her back and an icy look that warned strangers away, though her loose hair could not hide her exquisite face.

Ashura’s eyes shone: three stunning beauties in one small party, and if he had to rank them, the female magician was actually the least attractive of the trio.

He unconsciously adjusted his clothes, flashed a brilliant smile, and walked toward them.

The group by the pillar saw a tall, lean black-haired youth approach; while they exchanged glances Ashura asked, “Are you the team from listing 16 looking for members? May I join you?”

They sized up the smiling boy, and the tallest man in silver armor stepped forward and said, “Hello, I’m Clay; I posted the listing. Did you read the requirements clearly?”

Ashura nodded to him and replied, “Hello, Clay, I did, and I meet them. Do you need me to prove it?”

Clay looked him over again and said, “Could you introduce yourself? May I ask your age?”

Ashura nodded and said, “My name is Ashura, I’m 17, a 1st-rank Grand Martial Master who specializes in strength and speed. Pleased to meet you all!”

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