Training

After hearing this, Han Changming suddenly understood.

Every few years, large numbers of low-rank demonic beasts would head for the border between the Red Algae Sea and the Green Carp Sea to breed. This event was known as the Ten Thousand Monsters Pilgrimage.

Under normal circumstances, finding a group of low-rank demonic beasts took a great deal of time. People had to be sent out to gather intelligence, and sometimes, by the time they reached the location, the beasts had already scattered.

During the Ten Thousand Monsters Pilgrimage, low-rank demonic beasts were easy to find. It was a golden opportunity to make a fortune.

Whenever it took place, every faction organized Monster Hunting Squads to hunt low-rank demonic beasts. But cultivators weren't the only ones who came—high-rank demonic beasts also arrived to prey on the low-rank ones. During the pilgrimage decades ago, a third-rank demonic beast appeared and killed or wounded dozens of cultivators. In the end, several Golden Core Masters had to step in and slay it.

The Han Clan had lost two Foundation Establishment cultivators that time, suffering heavy losses.

Fortunes were won amid danger. Despite the risks, the Han Clan still organized hunting parties during every Ten Thousand Monsters Pilgrimage to hunt low-rank demonic beasts. A Foundation Establishment cultivator always led each party. Though they were supposed to hunt low-rank beasts, encountering a second-rank beast or a Foundation Establishment cultivator was nothing unusual.

"This time, our clan will organize a Monster Hunting Squad of more than thirty people. Changming, you can join them. But in the meantime, the Spirit Talisman Pavilion will have to make more talismans," Han Debiao added.

Han Changming nodded. "Fifth Uncle, Seventh Aunt, since we're going to hunt demonic beasts, what preparations should I make?"

"Since you're coming with us, report to the Hundred Refinements Pavilion tomorrow for training. This time will be different from before. There'll be too many demonic beasts for us to charge in recklessly. We'll need to set up formations, and everyone will have a specific duty. Experienced clan elders will train you, with specialists teaching everything from the beasts' habits and abilities to each person's responsibilities. We're a clan, not rogue cultivators. We need a plan when hunting demonic beasts, and we have to keep our losses as low as possible."

Han Changming suddenly understood. He had gone hunting with Han Debiao before and assumed they would simply gang up on the beasts as they had in the past.

The Han Clan had a long history and had accumulated rich experience hunting demonic beasts—far more than rogue cultivators could match. Rogue cultivators also formed teams to hunt, but few squads could afford second-rank formation flags, second-rank talismans, and second-rank magical artifacts.

Han Changming had reached the seventh level of Qi Refining and could wield second-rank magical artifacts, though not for long.

He had spent eight hundred spirit stones on a set of magical artifacts.

The Blazing Flame Blade set contained five blades, each a first-rank, high-grade magical artifact that could unleash flames to injure enemies.

Together, the five Blazing Flame Blades were a set of magical artifacts. When used at the same time, their power far exceeded that of a second-rank, low-grade magical artifact.

Sets of magical artifacts were difficult to refine. The main reason Han Changming had managed to buy this one was that he was a member of the Han Clan.

Most of the powerful magical artifacts refined by the Han Clan were kept for its own use, with only a small portion put up for sale.

During the Ten Thousand Monsters Pilgrimage, sales of all kinds of cultivation resources soared. Talismans, pills, and magical artifacts all rose in price. Sets of magical artifacts sold especially well, and the Hundred Refinements Pavilion had already sold out. With more than a dozen sets on back order, eight artifact refiners were working overtime to make them.

After leaving the Hundred Refinements Pavilion, Han Changming strolled down the street.

"Hundred Beasts Atlas! Don't miss it as you pass by! Detailed information on the abilities and habits of over a hundred low-rank demonic beasts. Come in and have a look!"

"Thirty-Six Lure Beast Methods! Ways to lure demonic beasts! Come and see—you can reduce your losses!"

"Spirit Recovery Pills to quickly restore your magic power! Toxin Avoidance Pills to counter poison! Crimson Flame Pills to heal injuries caused by ice-type demonic beasts! And many more pills—come take a look!"

The street was full of vendors' cries. Every shop was doing its utmost, sending shop assistants to stand at the entrances and shout to attract customers.

After the time it took to brew a cup of tea, Han Changming arrived at a five-story golden pavilion.

The Thousand Talismans Pavilion was a shop that specialized in selling talismans. It had been open for a thousand years and was run by the Azure Cloud Sect. It sold first- and second-rank talismans and also accepted orders.

Han Changming stepped inside. The hall was packed with cultivators buying talismans.

"I want a dozen—no, three dozen Chain Fireball Talismans!"

"I want a dozen Great Wind Blade Talismans and two dozen Chain Fireball Talismans!"

"Honored customer, here are your three dozen Hundred Ice Talismans."

Han Changming was secretly amazed. Talismans were selling like hotcakes during the Ten Thousand Monsters Pilgrimage, with people buying them by the dozen.

He didn't linger on the first floor and headed straight for the third.

The third floor was much smaller and quieter.

Behind a long golden counter stood more than a dozen attendants dressed in silver robes.

A dozen or so cultivators stood before the counter, collecting their orders with their receipts.

Han Changming went to one section of the counter, took out a receipt, and handed it to a silver-robed attendant.

"Please wait a moment, honored customer." The attendant took the receipt and turned to leave.

Han Changming had ordered five second-rank talismans. He had originally bought them for Han Daohe, who had encountered a second-rank demonic bird while escorting goods. But since Han Changming was going out to hunt demonic beasts, he would naturally take them along.

"I'm here to collect my order." A somewhat familiar woman's voice reached Han Changming's ears.

He turned and saw the sisters Ye Xin and Ye Xue.

Ye Xin was at the eighth level of Qi Refining, while Ye Xue was at the sixth. They made their living hunting demonic beasts, living on the edge of a blade. Their lives were much harder than Han Changming's.

"Honored customer, here are the talismans you ordered." The silver-robed attendant handed Han Changming a green wooden box.

He opened it and saw five talismans inside.

There was one Thunder Cloud Talisman, one Hundred Blades Talisman, one Water Escape Talisman, and two Fire Cloud Talismans.

Han Changming took out fifteen hundred spirit stones to pay the remaining balance, then turned to leave.

Han Changming bought three hundred dozen first-rank, high-grade Blank Talisman Paper and a batch of materials for refining Cinnabar. He didn't know when he would return from this hunt, so having talisman-making materials on hand would let him replenish his supply whenever he needed to.

Back at his lodgings, Han Changming began making talismans.

He could now make ten kinds of first-rank, high-grade talismans, covering offense, support, and defense.

The night passed in the blink of an eye.

Early the next morning, after breakfast, Han Changming went to the Hundred Refinements Pavilion.

Twenty people attended the training, mainly members of the De and Chang generations. They had just joined the Monster Hunting Squad, and three experienced clan elders were training them.

At the start, the elders asked each clan member to honestly state their cultivation method, skills, cultivation level, and how many times they had hunted demonic beasts.

They would form teams based on this information.

Each team had four Qi Refining cultivators. Han Changming, Han Changying, Han Debiao, and Han Delei were assigned to the same team.

Different teams had different duties. Some handled formations, some lured demonic beasts, some killed them, and others managed supplies. Within each team, every member also had a different role.

Han Changming's team was responsible for killing demonic beasts. Han Debiao would engage them at close range, Han Delei would handle defense, and Han Changying would direct the Puppet Beast to attack. Han Changming would assist from the sidelines, and if their firepower proved insufficient, he had to quickly unleash a large number of attack talismans to finish off the beasts.

Everyone had multiple duties and was responsible both to their own team and to the entire squad.

Take Han Changming, for example. He had to help his clan members kill demonic beasts and make first-rank talismans to replenish their supplies.

The Monster Hunting Squad had thirty-one members. Excluding Han Deling, the other thirty were Qi Refining cultivators, divided into seven teams: two attack teams, one luring team, two formation teams, one logistics team, and one reserve team. Each team had four Qi Refining cultivators, there were two deputy captains, and Han Deling was the captain.

"Nowadays, every job requires training before you can start. I think when members of a cultivation clan or sect go out to hunt demonic beasts in an organized way, they should be trained."