Chapter 32: The Ultimate Challenge

Following the intricate path through the stalactite-filled cave, Yang Fan saw the cave’s exit just a few minutes ahead.

He turned back to look at the hidden underground cave.

Without the guidance of the mysterious voice, he was now entirely on his own, back to the previous state where every step could be treacherous, with the constant possibility of encountering exotic beasts.

If he turned back now, he could easily wait out the remainder of the trial in this underground hideout.

“Having completed the second objective and achieved a physical breakthrough, even if I end the entry assessment with my current results, I should still be able to join someone,” he mused.

If conditions allowed, no one would want to stay in the world of Shan Hai Jing a minute longer!

The exotic beasts here were too powerful, and humans were too insignificant in comparison.

Even fellow humans could become the killers. Living in such constant fear was nothing short of a nightmare.

But after thinking it over, Yang Fan still walked towards the cave exit.

“The ultimate goal!” Yang Fan’s gaze became resolute once more.

For others, reaching this point might be enough, but for him, it was not enough!

With his current performance, he was certain someone would want him, but the issue was that he still had no choice in the matter.

He needed to join Qin Hao’s Team 5; only then could he continue investigating his mother’s killer!

Emerging from the cave, Yang Fan had all five senses fully alert. He cautiously concealed himself in the underbrush, not daring to be careless, and moved westward.

Having survived in the world of Shan Hai Jing for nearly eight days, relying on his extraordinary sensory perception and some tracking skills he picked up from Liu Qi and Zhang Jie, Yang Fan managed to stay safe for now.

“You are five hundred meters away from the Bodhisattva Blue Lotus,” the mysterious voice announced, providing no further guidance. It was as emotionless and monotonous as when it had indicated the location of the Qilin Lair.

The closer Yang Fan got to the Bodhisattva Blue Lotus, the more focused he became.

After advancing another two hundred meters, Yang Fan caught the scent of an exotic beast.

This time, the scent was very clear, much stronger than the one from the juvenile Mengji. He was a hundred percent sure that there was an exotic beast to his west!

“Roar!” A deep, powerful roar came from the distance, shaking him to his core!

The sound came from the vicinity of the Bodhisattva Blue Lotus!

Yang Fan’s eyes widened in disbelief as he muttered, “It’s an adult exotic beast!”

An ordinary exotic beast like Mengji could reach Rank 3 in adulthood, which meant that near the Bodhisattva Blue Lotus, there was at least a Rank 3 exotic beast!

What were the attributes of a Rank 3 Mengji again? Yang Fan hurriedly checked his wrist screen.

Strength: 1800, Speed: 1200, Stamina: 700.

Seeing these stats, Yang Fan took a sharp breath.

“What kind of joke is this?! The ultimate goal is to snatch the Bodhisattva Blue Lotus right under the nose of a Rank 3 exotic beast?!”

It was important to note that this trial only supported a Level 1 breakthrough.

A Level 1 physical breakthrough was like paper against a Rank 3 exotic beast!

Compared to the ultimate goal, the first and second objectives were child’s play.

The First Goal can be achieved through accumulated effort over time. Afterward, they can seize an opportunity to kill a first-rank juvenile beast.

With some luck, one might even obtain some Beast Essence Pill and Rank 1 Exotic Beast Spirit Flesh, enhancing their physical body to achieve the first breakthrough.

The Second Goal presents the challenge of descending to the bottom of the Abyss, stealing the Crimson Qilin Fruit from the core of the Demon Lotus Thousand Hands, and then evading the enraged demon lotus. Although this is dangerous, it is not impossible.

However, the Ultimate Goal is on an entirely different level. This requires facing a fully-grown exotic beast!

A fully-grown exotic beast is far more difficult to deceive than a juvenile.

“Damn it, now I understand why Old Bai said that in the national Scavenger entrance assessment, it’s rare for even one person to complete the Ultimate Goal in a year. This difficulty level is simply unachievable!”

***

“What a joke! Can anyone actually complete this Ultimate Goal?!” Liu Qi, hiding behind a small hill, looked in horror at a massive exotic beast.

It was a one-horned giant beast resembling a bull, covered in long fur.

About ten meters away from the beast, a purple plant stood out among the green vegetation.

Liu Qi’s gaze couldn’t help but fall on that purple plant.

That was the Remnant Fragrance of Ghost Annihilation. As long as he plucked that flower, returned to the Qilin Lair, and tossed it into the abyss, leaving the rest to the fragrance, his ultimate goal would be achieved.

The mysterious voice hadn’t mentioned the reward for the ultimate goal, but it was certain that it would be definitely better than the Qilin Claw.

Liu Qi looked at the bone claw hanging from his waist. The bone claw, as long as his arm, had three extremely sharp claws. He had to bind them with roots to avoid injuring himself.

According to the information on his wrist screen, this was the claw of a three-clawed Qilin cub, considered the worst among Qilins.

But even though it was considered the worst, it was still a divine beast’s claw! With this claw, he could easily leave deep marks on giant trees without damaging the sharpness of the claws.

As long as he brought the Qilin Claw back, the Scavenger Team should be able to process it into a weapon, providing him with great convenience for future adventures!

Was there a possibility that he could use the Qilin Claw to kill the Si?

^[1]Si refers to a mythical creature in Chinese culture, often described as a type of ox or bull with a single horn. It is sometimes depicted as a symbol of strength and power.

After some consideration, Liu Qi immediately gave up on this idea.

“Although the Qilin Claw is sharp enough to kill others with a single blow, it’s worth a try if I encounter something else.”

“But the Si is covered in thick fur, and with my current strength, it’s difficult for me to use the Qilin Claw to kill it in one strike.”

“Weapons don’t kill people; it’s the person wielding the weapon!”

Liu Qi was well aware that with his modest strength of just over 200, he couldn’t possibly kill an adult Si with a single strike. Even hitting it accurately was questionable, and his speed of 1600 wasn’t just for show.

“What’s even more troublesome is the exotic beast that’s always guarding the purple plant. It’s highly likely that it’s already cultivated. Otherwise, why would it be guarding the spiritual plant?”

The wrist screen couldn’t evaluate the specific data of the exotic beast, but Liu Qi speculated that this Si might be more than just Rank 3.

“The attributes of a Rank 3 are already terrifying; if it’s Rank 4, I wouldn’t stand a chance!”

“While the rewards for the ultimate goal are undoubtedly better, I simply cannot defeat an adult Si!”

“The formidable physical attributes of adult exotic beasts are one thing, but what’s even more terrifying is their combat prowess!”

“Without a doubt, they are much deadlier.”

“With my current performance, I’m already a sought-after candidate by various teams. Besides, I’ve already obtained the Qilin Claw, and with just one more day, I can complete the assessment. There’s absolutely no need to take such a risk!”

After careful consideration, Liu Qi quietly retreated from the earth mound and moved in the opposite direction.

Before long, he found the hiding spot he had used before.

It was a secluded crevice in the rocks, too narrow for exotic beasts but just right for humans to take shelter in.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Qi let out a sigh of relief. “Forget it, there’s no need to take this risk. It’s more important to stay alive.”

“As long as I wait here for one more day, I can complete the entry assessment. With a weapon made from the Qilin Claw in the future, I’ll still have an absolute advantage!”

With this idea in mind, all the pressure on Liu Qi disappeared, and he felt exceptionally relaxed.

Completing the second-level goal, achieving the first physical breakthrough, and obtaining the Qilin Claw had already yielded satisfactory results in this trial.

The only downside was that Yang Fan, that kid, managed to escape!

After completing the physical breakthrough, he returned to the depths of the Qilin Lair, but no matter how hard he searched, he couldn’t find Yang Fan.

He even dug up Zhang Jie’s grave after discovering it, but still found no sign of Yang Fan.

“Perhaps he’s hiding in some cave… There are too many caves. If it weren’t for the Demon Lotus, I would search every one of them, even if I had to forgo the ultimate goal. I must kill him!”

“Oh well, let him be lucky this time.”

…

Faced with this ultimate challenge, this top candidate, after weighing the pros and cons, had sensibly given up on the ultimate goal.

As for the other one, he was lurking in the bushes, cautiously approaching the target.

Finally, Yang Fan saw the giant beast.

[Adult Sand Wolf: Common exotic beast. Upon reaching adulthood, it can naturally reach Rank 3. If it can practice breakthroughs, it can also surpass Rank 3.]

【Reference attributes for Rank 3: Strength 1800, Speed 1800, Stamina 2200.】

“It’s ten times mine!” Yang Fan stared fixedly at the sandy-yellow giant sand wolf pacing back and forth. “The key is, I’m afraid it might be higher than Rank 3!”

Then Yang Fan’s gaze shifted from the sand wolf to the center of the pool behind it, where a plant was growing.

In the center of the green leaves, there bloomed a flower resembling a lotus, serene and beautiful.

The Bodhisattva Blue Lotus grew in the water! If he wanted to harvest it, it would take even longer!

But it was utterly impossible to buy that much time under the sand wolf’s watch!

Thinking about this, Yang Fan felt a headache coming on. He had no idea where to start.