Going over the rules once more, I recited, "Survive for two hours, the good guys are the girls, and the bad guys are the boys. One cannot die in here because it is a virtual world. There, that should do the trick."
Just then I heard a telepathic voice in my head, as a tiny print on my forearm lit up.
"The Ethereal Hall is founded by the founders of the Gifted academies. It is a mental folded space, just like your experience in the Ancient Reality continent. It is the best place to lay your martial foundation. This place is fashioned as a replica of the Acorn Forest. Devour this opportunity to the core, Young Mistress."
My eyes lit up in shock.
'Mystical Beast of Illusions!'
Just hearing its voice was like heaping off a heavy burden from my shoulders. Its timing was just perfect. Just the right time to show up!
"Does that mean I get to absorb the mystical beasts around?" I asked with revived vigour.
"Not really. They're all useless to you, since none of them have terrifying cultivation levels according to how your test was carved out."
"Oh," I said, the smile dropping off my cheeks.
"What should I do? I'm clueless."
There was silent for a moment before MBI replied.
"You do not have weapons or fighting techniques, so I'm afraid all you have to do is rely completely on your already grounded abilities and stay hidden in the shadows until there is an opportunity."
"Hmm." There was sufficient sense in that.
Time to get to work.
I shot up into a leap and landed feebly on a branch of a humongous tree, climbing up to get a larger view. With my recent cultivation improvement, these acts were a walk in the park. It took nothing out of me to climb quickly. Plus, my senses were much sensitive to my immediate surrounding. My ability on the other hand, helped me to stay a good distance from savage beasts lurking behind the shadows.
At this vantage point, all I could see around me was the lush greenery. An afterthought later, I shut my eyes trying to rely on my senses, sitting cross-legged as if in meditation.
My brows were furrowed and my nose raised slightly in deep concentration. Suddenly my eyes opened. I'd received a signal. There was a fluctuation in true essence, and it wasn't far off. Someone was close by. Whether or not it was a boy or girl, I'd have to find out.
I silently jumped down and followed the directions I'd received towards the southwest. Using the Eccentric Heavens cultivation technique, I was able to suppress any true essence fluctuation from leaving my body. For safety purpose, I moved hands and knees, on all four, to avoid detection.
Few metres from my destination, I felt a terrible shockwave spread from a coalition of two forces.
What to do, what to do?
"I don't have the liver to advance."
I looked about while thinking of another option when suddenly I noticed a chameleon staring at me. I almost leaped away in shock. So chameleons thrived in these type of regions?
I was about to cuddle it when I saw its tail. It was curved in a scorpion's sting... jeez. I slapped my forehead, quickly retracting my steps. Not today, buddy. It was a freaking savage beast!
A savage beast! A savage... wait a sec. Isn't my ability more influential and useful amongst savage beasts? They could understand me, as well as I could. That was my ability! I had to give it a try.
"A poison-type chameleon, known as the Scorpion Tail Chameleon, famed for its high intellect and reasoning ability," came the telepathic voice of MBI, "as long as it is not threatened."
My heart thumped hard. Another clash occured from above me, causing another of shockwave and slight vibration from the ground.
'I'm running out of time.'
"Thanks for the info, MBI, how did you know I was about to suppress the little beast with my aura?"
MBI scoffed.
"That 'little beast' is also in the Meditation realm, so I can't stress your need for caution."
"Huhn?" I directed a questioning gaze at the green beast transfixed on the same spot, carefully observing.
It might not understand the human tongue, I thought to myself, so it was for the best to encroach into its mind with my animal telepathic ability.
I raised my hands with the palms both facing both sides of my head, not touching. My eyes were locked with the chameleon.
Now that I was in the Mediation realm, my ability was even much easier. My eyes turned completely blue, all in all. The chameleon reacted with just as much speed, turning from leave-green to light blue.
"Do you hear me?" I asked telepathically, my mind making a connection.
The Scorpion Tail Chameleon tilted its head as though in an attempt to dust off my voice from its head... yet MBI said it was an animal famed for its high intellect.
"You seem quite peculiar," a startling, melodious voice slipped into my mind.
My cheeks raised into a smile. I flicked my wrist and a piece of cupcake appeared on my palm, from my storage ring. It was just a little piece out of the leftover I'd stowed away after breakfast. I extended my hand.
Yesterday in beast taming school, I'd learnt that one of the easiest way to tame a beast was to establish friendship. With my wide smile and gesture, it should be more than enough to convince it to take some steps closer.
"Come on, take it. It's still morning fresh."
Its curious head began to tilt forward in curiosity. I smiled. He's going to make a move now. Wait for it, wait for it, and...
Unlike I expected, the beast didn't take a single step from its initial position. Rather, what it did do, left my jaws falling apart and my eyes popping out from its sockets.
Its tongue had breached the distance between us and grabbed at the piece of cake as though snatching it before I could change my mind.
I seemed to have heard MBI snicker at my reaction, as though it was trying to hold its laughter.
Shaking my head, to snap out of it, I quickly flashed back my warm and friendly smile.
"Can you help me find out what's happening?" I said to the chameleon, pointing a raised finger over its head. I was trying to be as direct as could be.
"No, can't do."
Its reply, once again, startled me. But then, I remembered something else I'd learnt from the Beast Guild. I had to strike a bargain.
I flicked my wrist once more, bringing out a new piece of cupcake in place of the former. As expected, the Scorpion Tail Chameleon struck out its tongue. However, my Eye of Insight was faster. I sent the piece back into my storage ring with precision.
Making an unbothered face, I said, "Well, this place seems to have enough leaves for you to chew till your death. I'll just leave you to it. I still have a test to carry out."
From my peripheral vision, I saw how its eyes dilated in shock. It opened its mouth and spoke, but in the beast tongue:
"N-no, please don't go. I'm quite hungry."
I smiled, involuntarily. How it knew I'd understand it, was a mystery, but one thing for sure was, I was on the winning edge — in bargaining with a chameleon, that is.
"You'll help me scout and you can have the whole piece left in my storage ring."
Without a single word, it turned around and leap into the air, while using its tongue to rope itself to a tree and swinging there in no time.
'Huhn? It agreed that easily?'
My cultivation level allowed me to sense its agitation, and I was confident it was as a result of my proposal.