In the training fields, three distinct groups stood under the watchful eyes of Instructor Refire and the other instructors. The largest of these groups was comprised of Elemental's and other species of the energy cultivation path, this group contained nearly 1100 students.
The two other smaller groups contained roughly 300 people each, they were separated into the Floral cultivation path and the Beast cultivation path.
Those few races who cultivated unique paths would be taught elsewhere due to their specific needs.
As the students waited for Instructor Redfire's instructions, as they would at the beginning of every day.
They couldn't help but glance curiously at the large cloaked container sitting nearby. This object was over three meters in height and covered an area of nearly 40 meters, as to what it was, the students had all but confirmed that it was a large cage containing a ferocious beast.
Even though it was cloaked, the corners of the object were still visible allowing one to see a row of thick metal bars and combined with Instructor Redfire's previous comments that they would be shown a live ferocious beast today.
It was obvious to all but the most dim-witted of students, that cage containing a ferocious beast.
As the students wondered what terrible beast lay in this cage, Instructor Redfire finally began to speak.
"YOU HAVE ALL DONE VERY WELL LAST WEEK! MOST OF YOU HAVE ALREADY REACHED THE THRESHHOLD OF 20% QI FLOW MEANING YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO REACH 10% BY THE END OF THIS WEEK." Instructor Redfire said in praise.
At this point Instructor Redfire pointed towards the nearby cage with a long spear he had been holding.
"AS A REWARD, I HAVE A TREAT FOR YOU TODAY! ASSEMBLE AROUND THE CAGE!"
The students quickly formed a circle around the cage however no one dared cross the invisible 3 meter line around the cage, partially out of tacit understanding to allow their fellow students to see the cage but mostly out of fear for what the cage contains.
All of the students here were young and impressionable. Only a few dozen had the knowledge or bravery to not be afraid of a ferocious beast but all of them had grown up under the influence of stories and myths surrounding the ferocity of the beasts.
Casmir himself vividly remembers a certain bedtime story about a vicious wolf who hunted down a group of unruly children, a story designed to instil obedience into children using the savagery of ferocious beasts.
After the students had finished surrounding the cage, Instructor Redfire leaped off of the pavilion he was standing on, drifting lightly through the air and landing on the cage gently.
His simple action aroused the students excitement, to a trained cultivator such as Instructor Redfire this feat was simply and meaningless. Yet to the young cultivators here, it was a skilful display of strength and understanding towards cultivation.
With a flick of his spear Instructor Redfire removed the cage's cloak allowing the students to see into the cage.
As the students watched in anticipation as the cloak fell, their expressions gradually changed from cautious, to curious and finally into confusion.
Inside of the cage was not a savage 'ferocious beast' but a somewhat majestic Snow Leopard, it's lustrous pure white coat shined brightly under the sun's light. It laid on it's belly in a seemingly lazy fashion as it's head raised up from it's body, observing it's new surroundings.
The students looked at the Snow Leopard with curiosity and admiration. This ferocious beast was very beautiful and none of the students sensed any threat from it, it seemed like a large pet or a circus animal designed to attract and awe their audience.
Yet a few moments after the students collectively let their guard down, a few dozen of the more astute students suddenly tensed up as their instincts shouted at them to stay alert.
It was at this time that a particularly curious student had stepped forward, walking closer to the cage he subconsciously raised his hands to hold onto the cage bars.
He felt that nothing was wrong, the Snow Leopard was on the far side of the cage compared to him and it's alluring appearance caused the student to think lightly of this apparently ferocious animal.
Suddenly, the Snow Leopard's seemingly lazy countenance changed.
From it's paws that seemed to be soft and delicate, razor sharp claws appeared as they clutched the metal floor of the cage, deforming it slightly. Using the leverage from it's paws, it's slightly thin legs suddenly bulged as thick muscle's squirmed underneath it's fur unleashing a tremendous force that propelled the Snow Leopard forward.
Before the curious student could even blink, the Snow Leopard's paw was inches away from clawing him through the gaps in the Cage's metal bars.
However just before the Snow Leopards Claws could reach the student, a long spear pierced into the Snow Leopards claw halting it and allowing the student time to jump backwards in fright.
It took this leopard a fraction of a second to pounce from over 7 meter's away and nearly take that students life, all of the students watching stepped back in fear as they witnessed this scene.
Instructor Redfire simple watched on as he retrieved his spear from the growling Snow Leopard's paw, after a few seconds he even dropped a piece of meat through the cage as if rewarding the beast for putting on a show.
The Snow Leopard seemed to acknowledge Instructor Redfire's repayment for harming it, it no longer growled at him choosing to lay back down in order to eat it's treat and lick it's wound.
"Do you fear it now?" Instructor Redfire asked in a somewhat solemn and unusual quiet voice.
The students almost subconsciously nodded at Instructor Redfire, he was right that they now felt an appropriate fear towards the Snow Leopard, after all it's attack was launched faster than any of them could have predicted.
"This is what ferocious beasts are, they are not pet's or farm animal's to be cared for, nor are they circus animal's to be used for entertainment. They are neither unintelligent nor intelligent, they are wise enough to take advantage of their prey while stupid enough to only follow their instincts."
"Of course this is only a low Grade ferocious beast, the stronger they grow the higher their intelligence to the point at which they are just as intelligent as we are."
"However their is one key difference between those intelligent ferocious beasts and us."
"Their strength is built on a foundation of thousands of corpses, beasts and cultivators alike, they are the second greatest cause for the loss of life amongst our many races. The first of course, is war."
"The reason i have shown you this beast, is to let you understand what it is you need to overcome. All have you have the potential to surpass this beast, whether you can or not, is up to you."
Instructor Redfire paused for a short time to let this information sink in.
He looked around at the various expressions on the students students face's that contained a multitude of emotions, fear, anger, loss..
Clearly many of these students had faced the consequences of the ferocious beast's existence.
Instructor Redfire went on to explain that the Snow Leopard was merely a Grade 1.5 ferocious beast and could be considered commonplace. It's speed however was superior to nearly all other ferocious beasts at this grade, had they encountered this animal in the wild, they would without a doubt, be dead...
Having achieved his purpose of instilling fear and caution towards ferocious beasts into the students, Instructor Redfire brought the students away from the cage but left them within sight of it.
Changing back to his usual booming voice, Instructor Redfire spoke.
"THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ACHIEVED 10% QI FLOW MAY PARTAKE IN A CHALLENGE OF MINE."
Instructor Redfire explained that, those students competent enough could take part in three optional tests.
The first test is a test of their cultivation talent, any student who can achieve 2% Qi flow can be said to have passed this test.
The second test is a test of strength, as to how this test would be carried out, Instructor Redfire simple said "IF YOU ARE STRONG ENOUGH, YOU WILL PASS."
The third test however was the most interesting one, it was a test of fighting ability and teamwork.
Two students will be paired up together and tasked with fighting off a ferocious beast, of course this ferocious beast would be much weaker than the Snow leopard otherwise the students lives might be at risk.
Upon completing any of these tests, the students would be rewarded with cultivation resources. For the first 2 test's one would be awarded with a choice of cultivation medicines or weapons and for the third test they would be awarded a special type of Qi catalyst.
Qi catalyst is the collective name for resources that cultivators can use to advance from each Qi Grade. Normal Qi catalysts are not rare or even hard to find, all you need is a source of Qi energy that is pure, however there are special types of Qi catalysts that can produce marvellous affects.
These Special Catalysts can only be used when a cultivator is assailing a major Grade boundary, for example the boundary between Grade 1.5 and Grade 2.
As for their effects, they can vary from healing major injuries, endowing Affinities, strengthening bodies and in special cases, they can enlighten cultivators to unique abilities.
After explaining the tests and the rewards, Redfire asked all the students who wanted to participate in the third test to move to one side so that they could be paired up.
Merely a quarter of the students opted to participate, the rest were told to continue their previous activities in order to further train their strength and Qi flow.
Of those who opted to participate in the third test, Casmir was among them. Although his cultivation Grade was one of the lowest, he could still take part in the test because of his excellent Qi flow.
Instructor Redfire personally chose the pairs of students so as to maintain a balance between their strengths and prevent any conflicts of interest.
However as he chose Casmir's partner, some of his fellow students couldn't help but look at Instructor Redfire strangely as if he had made a mistake.
Casmir was paired with a powerful Grade 1.5 cultivator by the name of Zaya. Zaya was from the Cheetah Race, with a typical human like build apart from her long slender legs that left her broadly taller than most other people, even Casmir was slightly shorter than her.
Her features were very human like apart from a pair of furry ears that protruded from her head and a small patch of fine hair that stretched down her back from her head seemingly extending her hair line.
She was quite pretty with her smooth amber coloured skin and her calm yet fiery demeanour. Many of the male students couldn't help but glance at her with sly smiles on their faces.
What stood out to others however was her hair, it was patchy with varying shade's of yellow, brown and black. The colour of her hair matched the patterns one would see on her ancestral beast, the Plains Cheetah, who's fur was a yellowish brown with dark black spots scattered upon it.
When Instructor Redfire introduced Zaya to Casmir, Zaya couldn't help but look at Casmir with dissatisfaction as if she had been wronged.