The Leopard Hunting Team sprang into action, targeting the demon snake horde surrounding them. Despite the formidable defenses of the eighth-rank snakes, they focused on the seventh-rank and below.
Within minutes, the 200-strong snake horde was nearly decimated by the team, leaving the ground stained with blood and a mound of blood-scented cores beneath the White Fox's feet.
The eighth-rank Jiao, pinned to the ground, watched helplessly as its underlings were slaughtered, trembling with rage.
Ten or so eighth-rank snakes lay subdued, shivering with fear as they witnessed their companions being killed, terrified they would be next.
"Roar!!"
In a desperate outburst, the eighth-rank Jiao unleashed its innate skill against the Leopard Hunting Team:
**[Water Coiling Force: Controls surrounding water molecules to form a steam tornado, attacking multiple targets]**
A scorching steam tornado formed, sweeping towards the Leopard Hunting Team.
The surrounding air, distorted by the steam tornado, vibrated with a hissing sound.
Bang! The eighth-rank Jiao collapsed weakly, having forced its blood essence to use the move, only to have it suppressed by the sacred pressure.
"Damn it, why does this world have a divine dragon!" The Jiao lowered its proud head, roaring in humiliation.
Xiao Ye: "Let's end this."
**[Water Element Mastery: Absolute control over water elements, you are the king of water]**
An invisible shockwave emanated from the golden dragon.
"Freeze!" the golden dragon commanded calmly.
Before the words faded, the steam tornado conjured by the eighth-rank Jiao instantly froze, the temperature plummeting, bringing a chill to the air.
"What!?" The Jiao's eyes widened in shock, its innate skill attack effortlessly countered by the golden dragon.
Then the golden dragon silently commanded: "Boil!"
Another invisible shockwave spread out.
The water elements in the area, including those within the beasts, responded as if they had a master!
The blood temperature within the eighth-rank Jiao and the dozen eighth-rank snakes rose rapidly!
"Ahh!" "Roar roar roar!"
Their skins turned red-hot, their bodies writhing on the ground in agony, wailing pitifully.
"Extract!" the golden dragon silently commanded, sending out another shockwave.
Under the shocked gaze of the Leopard Hunting Team, the blood of the eighth-rank Jiao and snakes was forcibly extracted through their scales!
The overheated blood emitted steam into the air, hissing as it rose.
The eerie sounds chilled the Leopard Hunting Team to the bone.
"Is this the power of a divine dragon? Control over water!"
"Is there any foe for him in the Demon Snake Forest?"
The Leopard Hunting Team was stunned.
Soon after, all the demon snakes present lay dead.
The Jiao also succumbed, dried into a husk in its humiliation!
"Hahaha! We've struck it rich!"
The Sacred White Fox laughed, its face beaming, as it surveyed the pile of cores at its feet.
Sixteen eighth-rank cores, twenty seventh-rank cores, thirty-four sixth-rank cores, over fifty fifth-rank cores, and more than a hundred fourth-rank cores!
They stuffed the heavy, blood-scented bag into their backpack, full to the brim.
With their harvest secured, they boarded an off-road vehicle, heading back to the youth training camp.
At the youth training camp dormitory, the day's training had just concluded, and the trainees were gathered, waiting for the instructor's dismissal.
Yi Luren had regained his former confidence, becoming the core of the contractor group in the youth camp, surrounded by fellow trainees.
"Can Xiao Ye enjoy the glory I have? The seventh-rank hunting team undertakes perilous tasks; he must have wet his pants in fear!" Yi Luren imagined Xiao Ye, unable to keep pace with the seventh-rank hunting team, being scorned and berated by their captain.
Retake student Jing Ran watched the spirited Yi Luren and the chubby girl beside him, reminiscent of Xiao Ye.
"Tomorrow is the beast-eared maiden training, dismissed!" The bald instructor waved them off.
Just then, the Leopard Hunting Team and Xiao Ye's group arrived at the dormitory, assembling neatly for the bald instructor's inspection.
The youth camp contractors didn't hurry off; they were curious to see what a seventh-rank hunting team was like.
**[Leopard Hunting Team]** was the strongest seventh-rank hunting team, having won the excellence award for twelve consecutive months! Very prestigious.
The Leopard Hunting Team's captain reported to the bald instructor.
"Xiao Ye did well."
"Reporting, instructor! Xiao Ye and his group aren't suited to be our team members!"
Hearing the captain's words, the bald instructor's face darkened. Was the SSS-ranked summoned beast's performance so poor they were being kicked out?
"Are you serious?" he demanded.
The captain nodded, "Reporting, instructor, I'm serious! No joke!"
The team members chimed in, "That's right!"
"We agree!"
"I think so too!"
"The captain finally gets it!"
Seeing the unanimous opinion of the hunting team captain and members, the instructor's frown deepened.
"Heh heh heh! So what if they're SSS-ranked, they're still rejected, not as good as me, Yi Luren!"
Yi Luren, watching from the sidelines, grinned like a blooming flower, overjoyed.
The youth camp contractors watched with mixed feelings.
Even though Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi were SSS-ranked, they were deemed unsuitable by the strongest seventh-rank hunting team, otherwise, they wouldn't be expelled!
The male bald instructor snapped at the hunting team captain, "Are you sure you want to kick Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi out? You're defying orders!"
The captain was taken aback, protesting, "Reporting, instructor! Xiao Ye isn't suited to be a team member; he's suited to be our captain!"
"I'm reporting this to you first, then I'll formally request that Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi be appointed as captains of the Leopard Hunting Team!"
"What?" The bald instructor was dumbfounded. Instead of expelling them, they wanted Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi as captains!!
The vice-captain added, "That's right! Xiao Ye is perfect as our captain!"
The team members spoke up, "Exactly! As fellow seventh-ranks, we can only assist him!"
"Yeah! The Two-Tailed White Fox is awesome, I love it!"
"Agreed! With him, we'll be the strongest eighth-rank and then ninth-rank hunting team!"
The bald instructor's mouth twitched. Had they gone mad, appointing two high school students as captains of the strongest seventh-rank hunting team?
Yi Luren's smile froze, his blossoming flower of joy wilting instantly. Why did he feel like... yes, a clown?
He admitted he had spoken too soon.
The youth camp contractors were dumbstruck. The strongest hunting team captain personally requested to change captains, with Xiao Ye as the replacement!
They had been lamenting earlier, but for what? Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi were prodigies, shining wherever they went!
Apologies, we underestimated them!
(The story continues with more exciting developments, stay tuned)