The problem was it was cursed by a 9th rank monster. Even the fearsome Blizzard Wyrm had only been in the 8th rank!

______

Samuel saw Van float down from the top of the coffin was surprised.

[Hn. From the battalion captain's reaction, it seems like he really wants one of the treasures in the coffin but can't obtain it?]

Samuel wondered what glorious treasure lay within that even their ill.u.s.trious captain could not pilfer. A dragon's egg? A phoenix's tail? What was it guarded by? Perhaps a nine-headed hydra with the ability to spit flames…

Samuel's active mind conjured up a million colourful scenarios. Little did he know that the treasure his captain was most interested in obtaining was a little dull key!

The next one and a half hours, the Cedar Sect's battalions trailed the red-haired youth as he carefully targeting 7th ranked beasts. He chose them based on the level of their followers and how many they had, which he was able to find out due to Jet's ability to read ancient languages.

In this time, the Cedar Sect dispatched four 7th ranked beasts, and gained three treasures. The Star-Cutting Sword Sect and Boulder Sect finally figured out the trick behind the beast hordes and managed to defeat just one 7th ranked beast each. The Zephyr Sect was severely crippled with Cordelia and Daphne out of action, but that did not mean that their combined strength was weak. They defeated two 7th ranked beasts and obtained two treasures.

None of the teams were willing to go up against an 8th rank beast before even reaching the 5th round, allegedly the 'chokehold' point of the Monster Mausoleum, which usually eliminated over 70% of remaining disciples in one shot.

The fifth wave's exact format changed each time, but it always emphasised one thing – the more people remaining in the battlefield, the greater everyone's chance of making it to the sixth round. It was always a large-scale battle in which every able-bodied person present was valuable.

In previous years, some sects had grown c.o.c.ky and decided to eliminate the others' groups before the fifth wave so they could monopolise all the points. However, in the fifth round, they could not cope with the flood of monsters and were eliminated.

This was a good precautionary tale – despite getting the Last Standing Medallion for that battlefield, the sect did not win first place in the compet.i.tion. This was because they only acc.u.mulated points up to the fifth round, other sects advanced several stages past that, earning them much higher points. When multiplied by a factor of twenty, the gap between scores grew bigger.

This was the biggest reason why each battalion was careful to preserve their numbers at least until the fifth round. It was also why every sect's focus was to advance through as many rounds as possible, and not interfere with other sect's progress unless it was critical.

 [Heavy Axe Art!]

The 7th ranked python's eyes went dim as the immense force behind Van's obsidian battle axe cleaved its head off its long torso.

The battalion cheered loudly, waving their weapons in the air. After fighting alongside Van for so many continuous hours, they had gained experience and confidence. They felt that most beasts weren't that difficult to defeat as long as they coordinated well and kept calm. Additionally, if anything went wrong their captain would be there.

Van smiled shallowly; his expression showed that he was not entirely present. Occasionally, his eyes drifted over to the largest coffin in the clearing.

Samuel saw his captain's faraway look and slightly shook his head.

[When I asked the captain earlier, he said the treasure he wanted was cursed by a 9th rank beast. 9th rank! It's just impossible unless he wants to be made into shrimp paste.]

Samuel saw the red-headed youth suddenly sit down in a cross-legged position. With his hands lying open in his lap and his eyes closed, he started breathing in a slow and rhythmic pattern.

[The captain is meditating to prepare for the next round, he must have given up on obtaining more treasures in this round. A wise decision.]

The other Cedar Sect battalions followed suit. They sat down on the ground and began to meditate. They were glad to have an opportunity to catch a breath and consolidate their experiences.

The other sects had already been inactive for a while. When they saw the Cedar Sect stop and rest, they felt better. They just wanted the next wave to begin already.

[The tenth hour is drawing to a close.]

The s.p.a.ce between Van's brows was calm and tranquil. His breath and heartbeat were steady and loud in his ears.

Bdum.

One.

Bdum.

Two.

Bdum.

Three!

Samuel felt a gust of wind brush past his face. When he turned his head, he saw that the red-haired youth had disappeared. His heart dropped down to the bottom of his stomach.

He had a bad feeling…

The young boy's eyes shot to the top of the coffin, and sure enough, the flame-haired youngster was das.h.i.+ng within.

_____

Cordelia sensed the moment that Van suddenly rushed towards the half-opened coffin. Her concentration was immediately broken, halting the progress of her meditation but she did not care. A cynical grin stretched across her youthful face.

Fool!

What did he think he could achieve, facing off against a 9th rank beast on his own!?

Laughing on the inside, Cordelia turned her eyes to watch the spectacle that was about to occur.

______

A soon as Van's fingers closed around the dull black key, his body rattled from the force of energy that suddenly poured out from the small nondescript key.

Immediately, Van sensed the immense presence of the 9th rank beast behind his back. The skin on the back of his neck p.r.i.c.kled; he knew immediately that the fearsome monster behind him outcla.s.sed him in every way. He had never felt the full power of a 9th rank beast focused on him before, and now that he had, he felt fear slide up his spine.

[Van, move!] Jet shouted.

Van didn't hesitate. He revolved Scattering Smoke Steps and instantly vanished from his position.

But it was too late.

Red sprayed out of his mouth. A hot sensation seared his back.

Van's body cultivation was the only thing that downgraded the lethal blow into a long wound about 4cm deep that stretched from his left shoulder to right hip bone. Red blood trickled out.

Van's expression was grim.

[A 9th rank monster sure is different. I reacted so quickly and yet it was still able to injure me even as I rotated Scattering Smoke Steps. Just what kind of beast is it? It must be some sort of cheetah-like beast…]

Van spun around.

RAAAAAAAOOOOOORRR!

A tiny white rabbit with intensely glowing red eyes appeared in front of him. The fearsome roar that sounded like it was being emitted from the mouth of a dragon was actually coming from its small mouth!

However, Van didn't dare laugh at it. The stinging wound on his back was deadly proof of its strength!

The 9th ranked Ghost-White Rabbit beast was only about the size of two palms, but it possessed a domineering and arrogant aura. With such an immense cultivation, speed and intellect, it didn't believe it couldn't annihilate the red-haired boy in front of it!

The red-haired youth looked back at it with an odd expression on his face.

The Ghost-White Rabbit roared again. Suddenly, it's two front teeth lengthened into s.h.i.+ning sharp sabres.

Van's blood chilled in his veins.

[Why did I have to trigger a speed-type demon beast! If it were any other type of monster…]

______

From far away, Cordelia was looking gleefully at the scene. Her bloodl.u.s.t was at an all-time high. How dare that brat scheme against her and her sister, perfectly baiting them so that they lost face in the third round? If he didn't get slapped to death by this 9th rank beast, then she would die unsatisfied!

The 9th ranked demon beast's body blurred. Its speed was so fast that it was almost invisible to the naked eye.

There was no way that the red-haired youth was going to be able to avoid it without suffering a fatal wound this time!

Cordelia clenched her teeth. Yes!

I want to see his guts spilled across the ground!

Cordelia's ears suddenly picked up on a noise nearly obscured by the loud rus.h.i.+ng of her blood.

Her face turned a ghastly colour when she realised what it meant.

"NO!" She shouted loudly, losing her composure, "I won't accept this!"

_____

Van stared gloatingly at the 9th rank Ghost-White Rabbit that had suddenly frozen mid-attack. Its red eyes betrayed its furious inner struggle.

"The third round has ended. The fourth round will commence in six hours."

The ghostly voice rattled the eardrums of everyone present.

No way… was that kid really about to get away with this? Was stealing a 9th ranked beasts' treasure from under its nose really this simple?

Half the sects admired Van's cunning; the other half were full of vinegar.

Van saw the muscles of the Ghost-White Rabbit bunch furiously as it tried to resist the will of the ghostly voice. Its powerful aura grew more potent by several times.

Suddenly, the Ghost-White Rabbit moved forwards a few centimetres.

Van's smile was wiped clean off his face.

This was bad...