They activated the teleportation by rubbing their fingers against their storage rings. Two beams of light descended from the sky, swallowing them whole, and the next instant they were hurled through space before crashing onto the cold floor of the Beast Hall.
Tianlei expected silence ,the usual eerie quiet but instead the hall was crowded with healers, most wearing the emblems of the Hall of Mages. The air smelled of blood, burned flesh, and disinfecting herbs.
The moment the light faded and Tianlei and the Feather Lady appeared, every gaze in the hall snapped toward them.
The instructor rushed forward, eyes wide.
"You're alive," he said, sounding genuinely surprised.
Once the glare fully dispersed, the scene sharpened. The students who had gone with them were scattered across the hall, bodies broken and incomplete. Some were missing hands. Others lay unconscious. Bai Kun stood among them, bruises blooming across his skin like rot.
Even the contract beasts hadn't been spared. Healer spells wrapped around wounded forms, pale light struggling to keep death at bay.
It seemed the hell Minotaurs indeed didn't spare the students . If it wasn't for the hell of the bodhi vein grass ,they could be among the injured students or even worse .
"Good," the instructor breathed. "I thought we lost you two."
"What happened?" Tianlei asked, his gaze moving slowly from one injured student to the next.
"All assigned students were targeted by Hell Minotaurs. Healers from the hall of mages are responding to them . This attack on our students was… unexpected."
"Unexpected?" Tianlei took a step forward, his voice hardening. "You must be joking. I was nearly killed by a Hell Minotaur. Isn't it your responsibility to ensure our safety instead of sending us into an area you didn't even bother to supervise?"
"How was I supposed to know?" the instructor snapped back. "Do I look like a god? Even gods can't predict the future."
"No," Tianlei said flatly, "but they can put in effort. Surveying the forest before deployment would have helped. Instead, you sent us to deal with things we knew nothing about."
The instructor's fists clenched.
"Enough. I am your instructor. This incident was unexpected. That's the end of it."
"Death is unexpected when someone actually tries to prevent it," Tianlei replied.
For a moment, the instructor looked like he wanted to strike him. But the glares from the surrounding students burned into his back, forcing him to rein himself in. As an instructor, supervision was his duty—no matter how inconvenient accountability felt.
"If you're injured, go receive treatment," he said stiffly.
"Treated?" a mocking voice echoed through the hall. "Does he look injured? Maybe he just hid somewhere with his girlfriend instead."
There was no need to look.
Tianlei's eyes sharpened as they locked onto Bai Kun, who met his gaze while being tended to. Before Tianlei could speak, the Feather Lady let out a soft chuckle.
"The Hell Minotaur that bruised you was stupid," she said lazily. "If it were me, I'd have cut off your tongue first—make sure I bruised your ego along with your body."
"Enough of this nonsense!" the instructor barked.
"Enough of your carelessness," the Feather Lady shot back.
"This kind of immoral behavior is prohibited. Say another word and I'll remove you from the Hall of Beasts."
Her jaw tightened, but Tianlei's hand settled on her shoulder. She turned to him. He shook his head once.
"It's not worth it."
"Instructor Zhang," a calm voice echoed through the hall, "what gives you the right to harass my students?"
The instructor froze. Color drained from his face as recognition struck, and he turned abruptly.
Slow, deliberate footsteps echoed across the hall. Even the healers halted their spells as a figure entered.
She wore a black robe lined with white stripes, her eyes hidden behind a black metal plate. The pressure she carried wasn't oppressive—it was worse. Absolute.
Except her aunt , in the previous years , Tianlei hadn't encountered someone who carried an absolute pressure . It was like standing at the edge of a tall mountain knowing that any mistake would send you to hell .
Golden Earth Academy looked simple on the outside but surely hid powerful experts .
"This isn't the first time students have been injured due to your negligence," she said evenly. "I expect an explanation."
"T-this was unexpected," Instructor Zhang said. "No one knew Hell Minotaurs would roam the outer regions."
"Unexpected. Carelessness." Her tone was flat. "You seem fond of those words."
"Sixth Elder, I apologize for my negligence. I promise on my power to never allow such a misfortune to ever happen again,a" he pleaded.
"Don't apologize to me, Surely you know who deserves that apology."
The instructor turned toward Tianlei and the Feather Lady, anger and humiliation twisting his expression but still he bowed.
"I apologize for my carelessness."
The Feather Lady sneered, folding her arms
The Sixth Elder's gaze then shifted to Tianlei and his companion.
"All students are injured," she said. "Except you two. Do you mind to explain."
There was no threat in her voice , only calm authority. Elders stood just beneath the Hall's leadership except the leaders and the first elder , their word was law.
Even the students turned expecting to Know how they survived such a misfortune of being torn apart by hell Minotaurs .
"Forgive the junior's rudeness," Tianlei said, bowing. "I greet the Sixth Elder."
The Feather Lady followed suit.
"Interesting," the Sixth Elder said. "Go on."
Tianlei hesitated. Exposing the Bodhi Vein Grass and the treasures would paint a target on his back. Especially with many greedy bastards surrounding him ,he couldn't even trust the instructor with such information .
Noticing his hesitation, the Sixth Elder raised a hand. Space froze ,still and silent, like the Hell Minotaurs' stillness illusion.
She radiated no killing intent, no spiritual pressure. Just an unsettling calm, as if nothing in this world could disturb her.
"It seems you have something confidential to say."
Tianlei nodded.
"I wasn't injured because my contract beast is a Destiny Star healing beast."
"A Destiny Star?" she replied. "From what I see, your beast is barely Level One. How could it heal you?"
His breath hitched. Whatever this woman's cultivation was , surely it was terrifying . There was no way he could see through him or his storage ring by just looking like him .
" indeed , I also received help from an Emperor Bodhi Vein Grass. It was being hunted by Hell Minotaurs."
"An Emperor bodhi vein grass is a rare soul plant even I couldn't find one when I searched the great Di Forest" she said. "But that doesn't explain their interest ."
"According to bodhi vein grass, the Mad Bull King is attempting a cultivation breakthrough using Bodhi Vein Grasses."
The Sixth Elder's body stiffened.
"A breakthrough by such a wicked creature would endanger every student."
"Elder," Tianlei said, remembering his promise, "is there anything you can do to stop the massacre of the Bodhi Vein Grasses?"
She nodded once.
"The Mad Bull King walks the edge of collapse. Do not underestimate the power of the Beast Hall. Make proper use of the treasures you were given."
She turned and walked away.
The stillness shattered. Time resumed
"Instructor Zhang," her voice echoed, "for your negligence, you are dismissed and will receive punishment."
His face went pale. He clenched his fists, glanced once at Tianlei, then left without a word.
"That was… unexpected," the Feather Lady said, stretching lazily. "Ignorance really doesn't pay. Now that that's settled, I suppose it's time to collect our merits."
Tianlei frowned.
"But we didn't obtain any soul cores."
She smiled faintly.
"But we did get soul crystals, didn't we?"