31: Good luck

"Boom—!"

A blinding golden light tore through the sky, piercing the head of the Green-Winged Demonic Condor like a heavenly punishment.

Its massive body suddenly stiffened in mid-air, then crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up dust everywhere.

The New Students who had been scattering and fleeing all stood frozen in place, staring wide-eyed at the scene.

That was a Third-Tier Magical Beast, a terrifying existence comparable to an eight-star Great Dou Master among humans. It was instantly killed in one move?!

"Everyone calm down!"

A steady voice rang out.

Following the sound, the crowd saw a tall, middle-aged man slowly approaching. He wore the instructor's robe of Jia Nan Academy, with golden sword patterns embroidered on the cuffs. His face was resolute, and his eyes were as sharp as blades.

"It's 'Golden Edge' Instructor Mo!"

Mo Cang scanned the area. Wherever his gaze landed, the panicked New Students quieted down. His tone was calm, yet carried undeniable authority.

"Why panic? Since you chose to come out and hunt Magical Beasts, you should have this awareness!"

He walked over to the corpse of the Green-Winged Demonic Condor, stepped on its head, and said coldly.

"The trial grounds of Jia Nan Academy are never some sort of greenhouse! Those who run slowly, those whose strength is lacking, can die at any time!"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone's heads.

The New Students, who were still shaken, lowered their heads and clenched their fists.

Seeing that the crowd's emotions had stabilized, Mo Cang softened his tone slightly.

"However, since you are still alive, it means your luck is good."

He pointed towards the distant forest.

"Now, everyone gather, count heads, and send the injured back to the Academy immediately for treatment!"

Only then did the New Students snap out of their daze and begin to move.

Some helped the injured, some gathered scattered equipment, and others secretly sized up Mo Cang, their eyes filled with awe.

"Instructor Mo, why did that Green-Winged Demonic Condor appear in the trial zone?"

A bolder student couldn't help but ask.

Mo Cang narrowed his eyes, looked toward the depths of the forest, and said lightly.

"There have been some anomalies deep within the forest recently, and the Academy is already investigating."

He paused, his tone serious.

"Remember this: you must be even more cautious in the trials ahead! Retreat immediately if you encounter anything unusual!"

Everyone nodded, feeling both lingering fear and gratitude.

Fortunately, the instructor was here, otherwise, they would likely have suffered heavy casualties today.

Mo Cang withdrew his gaze, turned, and flew toward the edge of the forest, leaving behind one last sentence.

"Now, pull yourselves together! True experts don't survive by hiding behind others!"

The three of them, Jiang Donghua, had just emerged from the dense woods and happened to witness the golden Dou Qi piercing the sky.

Their pupils simultaneously contracted, and they all instinctively held their breath.

"Dou Qi Transformation Wings!"

Liu Mingyu's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice as dry as sandpaper rubbing together.

"Although it's very faint, it definitely is Dou Qi Transformation Wings!"

Liu Yuting unconsciously gripped her ice crystal pendant tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"It's at least Peak Dou Ling... no, he might have already taken half a step into the Dou King realm."

Jiang Donghua narrowed his eyes, looking at the tall figure in the distance.

Instructor Mo Cang was retracting the faint golden light wings behind him. Those wings, condensed from pure Dou Qi, flickered in the sunlight, radiating a suffocating pressure.

"Tsk, now that's a true expert."

Jiang Donghua clicked his tongue, a trace of longing flashing in his eyes, but then he grinned and patted Liu Mingyu's bulging storage ring.

"But we didn't do badly this trip either!"

Indeed, compared to the other New Students who fled in panic, the three of them could be called fully loaded.

Liu Mingyu touched the wood-type magical core in his pocket and felt the abundant Dou Qi in his body after his breakthrough, unable to suppress a smile.

The camp they passed through along the way was a mess.

Many students were sitting slumped on the ground in tattered clothes. Some were sobbing softly while holding injured companions, and several were covered with white cloths, clearly having remained in this forest forever.

"Move aside! Everyone move aside!"

Several senior students rushed past carrying items for healing, and the student lying on the stretcher had a bloody, mangled abdomen and had already fallen unconscious.

Liu Yuting turned her face away, unable to watch.

Jiang Donghua, however, looked normal, though his pace unconsciously quickened slightly.

He knew very well that in this world where the strong prey on the weak, being able to return alive was already the greatest fortune.

"Stop!"

A student from the Law Enforcement Team stopped them.

"Please show us your spoils. The Academy needs to tally casualties and losses."

Jiang Donghua generously pulled out his storage ring and poured out the corpses of over a dozen Wood-Swallowing Rats and two wood-type magical cores.

The Law Enforcement Team member raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"You... didn't encounter the beast tide?"

"We did! But we ran faster."

Jiang Donghua shrugged, pointing to his own scorched cuff.

Liu Mingyu added at the appropriate time.

"Thanks to Senior Brother Jiang, he led us to a safe cave."

His tone was sincere when he said this, his eyes carrying unconcealed gratitude.

After registering the items, the Law Enforcement Team member gave the three of them a meaningful look.

"Good luck. You can go back after getting a simple check-up at the medical tent."

As they walked out of the camp, Jiang Donghua stretched widely, his joints cracking loudly.

"Let's go! Second floor of the cafeteria! We're not going home until we're drunk tonight!"

Liu Mingyu and Liu Yuting exchanged smiles and said in unison.

"Okay!"

On the Fighting Qi Continent, strength and luck are both indispensable.

The three went straight to the Mission Hall of Jia Nan Academy, an ancient stone-built hall with a plaque hanging at the entrance bearing the three vigorous characters for 'Merit Pavilion'.

People came and went inside the hall, and many students were currently submitting their missions.

"Submitting a mission."

Jiang Donghua stood casually in front of the counter, slapping his storage ring onto the surface.

The deacon in charge of registration was a senior student with a goatee. He carelessly accepted the storage ring, swept it with his spiritual sense, and immediately widened his eyes.

"Seventeen... seventeen Wood-Swallowing Rats? And two wood-type magical cores?!"

His voice unconsciously rose by an octave, causing several New Students waiting in line nearby to look over.

"What? Is there a problem?"

Liu Mingyu asked, feigning composure, but the smile on his lips couldn't be hidden.

The deacon quickly shook his head and frantically pulled out the registration ledger.

"No, no, no, it's just—"

He lowered his voice.

"You are New Students, right? This is so much after only one day and one night!"

Liu Yuting smiled faintly and handed over the mission scroll.

"Please verify, Senior Brother."

The deacon took the scroll and carefully verified it. After confirming it was correct, the surprise on his face deepened.

He couldn't help but look up and size up the three of them.

"In previous years, it was considered good if New Students completed their first mission within five days."

The deacon took out three bronze tokens and engraved merit points onto them.

True to their promise not to go home until they were drunk, the three went straight to the second floor of the cafeteria.

"We're ordering!"

Jiang Donghua slapped down a bag of gold coins.

"Flying Cloud Crane, Drunken Immortal Brew, and a roasted Cold Water Fish!"

Liu Mingyu rubbed his hands together.

"Finally, we get to eat something good."

He grabbed a freshly served roasted pheasant leg and started gnawing on it, the grease dripping down his chin.

Liu Yuting sipped her soup slowly and suddenly chuckled.

"It's much better than dry rations."

Jiang Donghua tilted his head back and guzzled a large mouthful of Drunken Immortal Brew, the liquid spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Refreshing!"

A good meal was enough to comfort these young people who had just experienced a brush with death.