Chapter 11: Hunter Badge!

"Damn, is this fake?"

Kaira's eyes widened as he stared at the assessment application, where the word "pass" seemed to slap him across the face.

"Motherfucker! Who dares to cheat in the Hunter assessment?" Tatum sneered, glaring at Kaira. "The application form is signed by Elder Jeremy himself. Are you really going to question the Elder?"

From the murmurs around them, Dustin Li learned that the white-robed elderly man who had just administered his test was Jeremy, a respected third-order Array Master from Novaridge City's Hunter Branch. A third-order Array Master was a rare rank—fewer than five in the entire city—and Jeremy was one of the most influential figures in Novaridge.

Shannon stood there in stunned silence, especially since she had just teased that if the young man passed, she would chase after him. Now, seeing Dustin Li gaze at her with a knowing smile, her cheeks turned red.

"Hmph, little brother, we'll talk once you've grown up." She pouted, her lips curving sensually, a playful glint in her eyes.

The room filled with laughter.

"Ha! This kid must've done it on purpose. He's so young and already passed—daring to be with the number one beauty in Novaridge City's Hunter Branch? A bright future ahead!"

"Hey, Kaira, didn't you just say you'd cut your head off and use it as a ball if he passed?"

"That's right, cut your head off, Kaira, let's see it!"

The crowd continued to poke fun at Kaira, who stood there, his face a stormy shade of black. Not only had he lost a thousand taels of silver, but he was also the subject of ridicule from his peers.

However, it was clear that no one took the teasing seriously—it was all in good fun.

Slap!

A purse landed in front of Dustin Li. Tatum grinned broadly. "Little brother, this is five hundred taels. Kaira and I made a bet—he said you wouldn't pass, but since you did, half of it's yours."

Dustin Li hesitated. Five hundred taels was a large sum for him. Tatum's bet was between him and Kaira, not Dustin.

"Big Brother Tatum, I can't accept this money." Dustin Li politely declined. He wasn't one to take what wasn't his.

"If it weren't for you, little brother, I wouldn't have won the bet. Don't refuse—it'll hurt my pride!" Tatum insisted, his tone light but firm.

For Tatum, money wasn't the main prize—it was the satisfaction of seeing Kaira lose face. Dustin Li smiled and, not wanting to press the matter further, accepted the purse.

"Thank you, Brother Tatum. I appreciate your kindness."

Though Dustin Li was barely fourteen, his presence stood out among the other hunters. Most hunters here were over twenty-five, and his youth made him an oddity in the room.

Tatum insisted on inviting him for a drink, but Dustin had never tasted alcohol. He almost found himself dragged to a table filled with other hunters.

At the table, Tatum introduced him to the others. "Let me introduce you, Dustin Li."

The cold-faced man was Becket, and the twin sisters were Makila and Malisa. Together with Tatum, they formed a hunting team. Tatum was a second-level Energy Gathering warrior, Becket had reached the ninth level of Body Refinement, and the twin sisters were at the eighth level.

"Dustin Li," Tatum continued, "I said I'd invite you to join our team if you passed the exam. How about it?"

Just hours ago, no one had believed Dustin would pass the test, but here he was—holding a one-star Hunter Badge, a remarkable achievement for someone at the fifth level of Body Refinement. A boy so young and already bearing such a badge had definitely turned heads.

Normally, hunters joined teams to face the dangers of the deep mountains, where monsters were fierce. Even those skilled in martial arts rarely ventured alone.

However, Becket frowned at the suggestion. "Captain, are you sure about this? He's only at the fifth level of Body Refinement. Adding him to our team might just slow us down."

Becket was the second-strongest member of their team, and his words carried weight.

Tatum didn't back down. "How many can pass the Hunter Exam with only the fifth level of Body Refinement? Dustin Li is young, and his potential is huge. He might become stronger than me in the future if we give him the chance. Think long term, Becket."

Becket still looked skeptical. "Sure, but he's too young. He doesn't even have a weapon to fight . Is he really going to be useful in battle?" He looked Dustin Li up and down with a hint of disdain.

Many experienced hunters like Becket had seen their fair share of so-called "geniuses" who had high potential but little practical ability in the field. Their inexperience often led them to underestimate the dangers they'd face in the mountains.

Dustin Li, however, didn't intend to argue. He had no intention of joining any team.

"Brother Tatum, I appreciate the offer, but I'll have to decline. If there's nothing else, I should be going."

Without waiting for further discussion, he stood up and walked toward the door.

"Becket, you didn't have to speak so harshly," Tatum said, giving Becket an unhappy look.

Becket shrugged. "I'm just looking out for him. If we take him hunting now, there's a real chance he might get killed. Not everyone can handle the mountains."

Dustin Li stepped out of the Hunter's Guild and, as he passed through the streets, his thoughts turned inward. He'd make his own path. There was no need to join a team at this stage.

As he walked, he passed a street vendor selling array devices. One caught his eye—a white disc no bigger than the palm of his hand, engraved with intricate runes.

"Damn! The first-order Spirit Gathering Array costs ten thousand taels of silver?" He couldn't believe it. For a martial artist at the Body Refinement level, this device could triple their cultivation speed. Only the elite, such as noble families, could afford it.

Dustin Li glanced at his purse. Five hundred taels in it—far from the ten thousand he needed for the Spirit Gathering Array. But he wasn't discouraged. If anything, this encounter only sparked his resolve.