Chapter 137: The Trials of Xyl (Part-2)

After a while, Lin Fang managed to get out of the rest zone, walking into the camp he was supposed to report in.

Camp 2 was sprawling with rows of tents that stretched across the place, marked with colored flags fluttering in the evening wind.

People moved about busily — some tending to their monster companions, some sharpening weapons, others huddled together in heated conversation about strategies and rumors of the upcoming trial.

Lin Fang walked quietly through the crowd. Everywhere he looked, decently powerful monsters loomed — serpentine beasts coiled lazily in the shade, winged hawks perched on poles, and even armored beasts resting under tarps.

These weren’t average hunters.

They were all just like him, unlicensed hunters, each one of them having passed Feng Xiu’s private Hunter examination held over the past year all over the continent.

For the rest of the hunters, this was called the Trials of Xyl, basically named after one of the three SS-rank Hunters of the Continent. The winner of this trial will receive a special reward of becoming Xyl’s mentee for three months. But for these people, this is the fourth trial that they need to pass in order to get their license.

As Lin Fang reached the administrative area, a man in a dark-green military uniform was seen seated under a large umbrella beside a table stacked with files and a communication device. He was scribbling notes with a pen between his gloved fingers, looking every bit the no-nonsense officer.

Lin Fang approached and gave a short bow. “Cadet 23, reporting in.”

The officer lifted his gaze briefly, then reached for Lin Fang’s ID pass. The small card flickered as he scanned it, the number 23 glowing briefly on its surface.

“Number 23, Lin Fang…” the officer muttered, flipping open a thick file. His eyes moved over the printed pages — name, age, background, examination report. He stayed quiet until his finger stopped on a particular line.

After a moment, he looked up. “It says here that you had a monster companion during the Hunter examination.”

Lin Fang gave a calm nod but said nothing.

The officer frowned slightly, scanning the empty space behind Lin Fang. “But I don’t see one with you. Are you planning to participate alone?”

There was a brief silence.

Lin Fang’s gaze met his evenly. “Is that a routine question, or is it mandatory to answer?”

The officer raised an eyebrow, then smirked faintly, almost amused by the reply rather than being offended. “No, cadet. It’s not mandatory to answer that question. But if you intend to use a rented monster, you’ll have to register it first. That’s standard procedure. If you were found to have an unregistered monster companion that you weren’t contracted with, you will be disqualified right away.”

Lin Fang folded his hands behind his back and replied evenly, “I don’t intend to use any rented monster.”

The officer leaned back in his chair, clearly interested now. “Oh? Then, may I ask what class of hunter you are? Are you a Fighter or a Shapeshifter?”

Lin Fang’s expression didn’t change. “Tamer.”

The officer blinked, momentarily taken aback — and then laughed quietly under his breath, closing the file.

“A Tamer, you say?” The military instructor raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with skepticism. “That’s quite a bold claim.”

He stared at Lin Fang for a moment longer, as if trying to read something behind his calm expression. But then, with a shrug of indifference, he leaned back in his chair and pulled open one of the drawers beside him.

“Whatever,” he said, tossing a small metallic key toward Lin Fang. “Here, take this.”

Lin Fang caught it reflexively and examined the key. Nothing special about it.

“What is it?” he asked.

The instructor stretched his arms lazily and explained, “Once the trials begin, all hunters and cadets will be transported into the outer wilderness zones. There are several safehouses scattered across the map, specially built years ago for such trials. The key you’re holding opens all of them. Don’t lose it; you might end up sleeping under the stars.”

He then pointed toward the vast encampment around them.

“For now,” he continued, “you’re free to move around the camp. Stay in any empty tent, mingle with others, form alliances, pick fights — whatever suits you. Just one thing…”

His eyes turned sharp. “No one leaves this camp until instructed. The trial officially starts at 6 P.M.”

Lin Fang gave a slight nod and slipped the key into his pocket.

“A tamer without a visible companion, huh…” He tapped the desk lightly. “That’s interesting…”

The officer watched his retreating figure and murmured, half to himself, half to the soldier nearby, “Well, he seems to be a bit older compared to others in the camp, but still, he was given a high score by Master Feng.”

As he walked away, Lin Fang began to explore the sprawling campgrounds. Every direction he looked, something new caught his eye — groups of hunters training beside their companions, vendors selling high-calorie food and potions, engineers adjusting drones, and some hunters just playing with their monster companions.

While passing through a wide open area, Lin Fang stopped in his tracks.

Ahead, a young couple was sparring — the woman wielding a halberd, the man carrying a pair of short swords.

But what truly caught Lin Fang’s attention were the two wolves sitting calmly a few meters away, watching their masters in silence.

One had golden fur, shimmering faintly, with amber eyes, while the other had its fur glowed with streaks of red, and faint wisps of flame escaped its nostrils with every breath

Both of them carried a faint but distinct aura that Lin Fang immediately recognized. His eyes narrowed. “These two… Aren’t they direwolves?”

He used his inspection ability right away. Lines of data shimmered before his vision, confirming his suspicion.

Luminous Direwolf

Age: 3 months, 6 days

Level: 29 (max)

Grade: Legendary

Element: Light.

Potential: Level-50 (King Tier)

Status: Friendly

Note: This monster has the clone spirit of Direwolf. No rewards are awarded upon killing. Cannot be tamed by the user.

*

Blazing Direwolf

Age: 3 months, 6 days

Level: 29 (max)

Grade: Legendary

Element: Fire

Potential: Level-50 (King Tier)

Status: Friendly

Note: This monster has the clone spirit of Direwolf. No rewards are awarded upon killing. Cannot be tamed by the user.

*

Lin Fang’s brows furrowed slightly. “Level capped? I guess it is because of the age. They are only three months old, after all. However, 3 months old means…”

He immediately realized that these were the two dire wolves sold by Shang Wei, who had probably purchased them online, back when Lin Fang posted them for a cheap price. He remembered their age and traits clearly.

“Hmm…”

He folded his arms and watched quietly as the wolves’ masters continued sparring.

For a moment, a small, knowing smile touched his lips. “Since they brought such young cubs to this place, I bet they have already seen what these two babies can do. Anyway…”

He turned away, hands in his pockets, intending to continue his roaming.

But just a few steps after, a faint rustle echoed behind him. He paused.

The two Direwolves, who had been watching their masters spar, suddenly lifted their heads. Their golden and red eyes gleamed as they stared directly at him.

And then a second later, they charged toward him at full speed.

“What the…” Lin Fang’s eyes widened. His instincts flared, and his right hand twitched slightly, ready to unleash Alpha’s Aura to subdue them before they could pounce.

But before he could act, a calm, familiar voice echoed inside his head. “Relax, Kiddo. They’re not hostile.”

At the same time, the couple sparring nearby noticed what was happening. Their weapons froze mid-air. “NO!” both shouted in unison, abandoning their fight and sprinting toward the wolves.

But they were too late to stop.

The Luminous Direwolf and the Blazing Direwolf reached Lin Fang and, instead of attacking, contrary to their expectations, they sat down in front of him, barking excitedly. Their tails wagged like eager puppies as they proceeded to circle him, sniffing his body with their eyes full of affection and familiarity.

Lin Fang stood frozen, utterly confused by the scene. “What’s going on…?”

Alpha chuckled within his mind. “It’s the power of the system.”

“The system?”

“Yes. These wolves were basically the clones of the Direwolf spirit created by the system. And you, the holder of the system, are the last person on the planet that they feel wary to approach.”

Lin Fang’s eyes widened slightly at the revelation.

“Unless you attack them yourself,” Alpha continued, “or their masters’ hatred for you overwhelms their will, they will always see you as a friend. And if you were to summon Xuan Hei in front of them, which was their original soul…”

Lin Fang could almost sense Alpha’s faint smirk. “Even if their owners wanted them to kill you, they wouldn’t be able to do it. They’d kneel and submit to its authority.”

Lin Fang blinked in astonishment.

A grin crept across his lips in the next instant as he knelt down, extending his hand toward the wolves. “Hey, little ones.”

Both Direwolves leaned forward, pressing their heads against his palm as they let out soft, affectionate growls. Their fur was quite warm to the touch.

Just as he started petting them, their masters — the young couple — rushed over in a panic.

“Hey!” the man shouted, sounding half-offended, half-confused. “Who are you? These are our monster companions! What did you do to them?”

Lin Fang glanced at their owners and sighed inwardly, “Ugh… whether I be friendly or show defiance to the monster companions, their aggression toward me is just… sigh…”

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