151: Departure to the cave!

After the start of the new semester, the atmosphere throughout the campus was completely different.

Last semester, the campus was still filled with students' carefree and relaxed expressions, much like an ordinary university.

Study hard in high school, slack off in college.

After all, once admitted to a Martial Arts University, whether or not one could advance further, they would still receive treatment and benefits beyond ordinary people upon entering society.

But now it was different from before.

The nation's management of Martial Artists had undergone significant changes; not only students, but even societal Martial Artists were treated equally.

From the nation's perspective, as long as resources were held in its hands, Martial Artists would inevitably have to comply with the relevant reforms.

This was the general trend under the wheels of time.

Now, First-Rank Martial Artists had been removed from the national welfare system.

One must reach Second Grade to enjoy the relevant benefits.

To reach Second Grade, one must enter a Dungeon, otherwise there was no difference from First Grade.

With both paths blocked, students had no choice but to Cultivate desperately for their Martial Artist status.

Students loitering around were no longer seen on campus.

Almost all of them crowded into the training halls, refining their foundations and uncovering their attributes.

Shen Bei had not rested during this period either.

His odd jobs were temporarily suspended.

He focused his efforts on Cultivating the “Hidden Breath Technique”.

This was the most important trump card in a Dungeon.

The last time he suppressed a Dungeon, it was a lightweight operation.

This time, upon entering the Dungeon, Shen Bei intended to explore towards the Sea of Hopelessness.

Along the way, he might encounter any kind of danger.

Therefore, the Hidden Breath Technique could truly save his life at critical moments.

But the premise was to Cultivate it to Major Achievement.

Before the Martial Arts University holiday, Shen Bei had made progress in Cultivating the Hidden Breath Technique.

But he had not yet reached Perfection.

On the third day of the new semester, his practice of the Hidden Breath Technique had almost never stopped, and now he was becoming increasingly adept at concealing his life force aura.

On the fifth day, he had mastered the Hidden Breath Technique even more proficiently and profoundly; the profound aura emanating from his True Qi fluctuations was deeply contained within his body, usually like a completely dormant dead volcano.

“Achieved!”

Shen Bei awakened from his Cultivation.

Now he was confident that even if he encountered an irresistible Dungeon creature that he could only flee from, he could instantly retract all his life magnetic field.

His heart beat once every five minutes.

His body temperature could drop to zero degrees without issue.

He could completely deceive Dungeon creatures with low intelligence into thinking he was just an ordinary humanoid rock by the roadside, causing them to lose interest.

In the following days, Shen Bei attended classes on time, with only one subject: learning the Dungeon language.

It was rote memorization and hard cramming.

Shen Bei's brain cells constantly died and regenerated, and with a perseverance that even Professor Gu Xinrou found astonishing, he finally—learned simple conversations…

For example: “Kuli Meng Ca” means “Fight your mother.”

…

This day.

Lingnan City Martial Arts University auditorium.

All Second Grade students from the entire school gathered.

Compared to the number of students last time, it was neither more nor less.

But Shen Bei could see that, in fact, several second-year students had given up their Martial Artist status.

Because…the Zha Tian Gang four, Jian Tong, Yu Qiuyi, and several first-year students who ranked high in the Martial Arts Exam had also advanced to Second Grade, filling the ranks.

All the students were fully armed to the teeth.

Their battle weapons gleamed brightly in their hands.

Only Shen Bei was somewhat unconventional, dressed in casual clothes with a backpack.

From his appearance and posture, it looked like he was going on an outing.

At this moment, Principal Zhang took the stage and wasted no words:

“If I talk to you about national sentiment, you’ll think it’s all nonsense.”

“Whether your goal is to become a strong person or to obtain the status of a Martial Artist, that is your freedom.”

“But, a Martial Artist who doesn’t go down into a Dungeon is not a Martial Artist!”

“I only hope that as many people who go, return.”

After a simple speech, Principal Zhang said again:

“Now, you have three minutes to check your equipment and form your own teams!”

There was no need for Principal Zhang to say more about forming teams; after the semester began, students had already found their own organizations and teammates.

The Zha Tian Gang, needless to say, naturally centered around Shen Bei.

Jian Tong was originally going to join.

But Jian Tong's side had organized a female battle team called Popcorn, and she wasn't interested in playing with Shen Bei's Zha Tian Gang.

Du Ziteng was very disappointed that he couldn't mix in and adventure with the Popcorn members.

In his words, a mix of men and women makes work less tiring.

He even complained that Shen Bei wasn't forceful enough and couldn't even manage the Popcorn.

This made Shen Bei's nose crooked with anger.

This was going down into a Dungeon, not a blind date convention!

After some commotion.

Principal Zhang slammed the table: “Everyone, move out!”

All the Second Grade students stood up, and a desolate aura spread.

Leaving the auditorium, the bus at the school gate was already parked and waiting.

While the students were boarding, Professor Gu Xinrou pulled Shen Bei aside and earnestly admonished him: “Going down into a Dungeon is no joke; you must stay low and don't be a troublemaker.”

Shen Bei retorted: “Is this your idea?”

“The Principal's idea,” Professor Gu Xinrou replied truthfully: “If others fall, they fall, but you are different; if anything happens to you, the nation will question the Principal.”

Shen Bei's state of mind was unmoved.

Stay low?

He had to stay low, but his method of staying low would definitely be different.

Shen Bei remained silent and got directly on the bus.

…

A few hours later.

The bus entered Luan County territory.

At the same time, more and more buses merged into the lane.

Shen Bei glanced out, seeing that all were vehicles transporting students to the Dungeon.

It seemed the entire nation was playing a unified game.

Many buses from neighboring provinces were also arriving.

Shen Bei even saw vehicles from Shen City, Liaobei Province, just ahead.

This made Shen Bei suddenly think of Qiu Qianren.

According to national arrangements, regardless of whether they were Second Grade, Third Grade, or higher-grade students, as long as they hadn't been into a Dungeon, they had to experience it once.

Qiu Qianren was also very likely on the bus.

“What does it have to do with me…” Shen Bei muttered: “If that guy dares to cause trouble, I'll deal with him directly!”

…

Soon.

The Lingnan City Martial Arts University bus stopped.

Principal Zhang waved his hand: “We’re here. Check your equipment again. Do not carry electronic products or useless items to avoid increasing your load. As for why, I believe everyone learned it in class, so I won't say more here.”

After speaking, Principal Zhang even glanced at Shen Bei.

Shen Bei: …

Why are you looking at me!

I also study very hard, okay.

But that little enchantress named “academics” was truly too tormenting, making it impossible to get close to her.

Under Principal Zhang's leadership, everyone got off the bus.

Shen Bei glanced around.

Good heavens.

The entrance to this Permanent Dungeon in Luan County was truly awe-inspiring.

He saw a boundless flat plain, where suddenly a huge fissure appeared, as if the entire earth's surface had split open in the middle. The fissure was pitch black, with no end in sight. Occasionally, shadows of bats flew in the darkness, as if the depths of this fissure were a bat's nest.

This was the entrance to the Dungeon.

At the same time, the entire area around the Dungeon was a Military Forbidden Ground, constructed with barbed wire and electric fences.

There were guards every three steps and sentries every five, with Military personnel armed with guns everywhere.

Inside the barbed wire, everyone could see tanks everywhere, almost without any concealment.

Artillery and rocket launchers also made fleeting appearances from various defensive fortifications.

These were only the visible Military forces.

Underneath, who knew what heavy firepower lay hidden.

For Dungeon creatures, Martial Artists could eliminate them, and hot weapons also had a certain effectiveness.

Of course, the premise was that the Dungeon creatures charged out.

And not that hot weapons were sent in.

After all, inside a Dungeon, even batteries would fail, and any man-made power would go silent.

But on the earth's surface's surface, they could still be used.

Artillery shelling the ground, followed by Martial Artists sweeping, would be much easier.

Principal Zhang led the Lingnan City Martial Arts University students to start lining up for registration.

During the queuing process, the team on the other side happened to be from Shencheng Martial Arts University.

Coincidentally.

Shen Bei casually glanced over and saw Qiu Qianren's malevolent and concealed gaze fixed on him.

“What are you looking at?”

Shen Bei retorted unceremoniously.

Qiu Qianren's deep, murderous eyes flickered, and he directly replied: “What's it to you if I'm looking!”

Good, good, good!

Shen Bei rolled up his sleeves; this was a signal for war.

Shen Bei confirmed again: “Try looking again?”

“Try it then!”

At this moment, Qiu Qianren had already left his team, walking towards Shen Bei with a surge of Evil Qi.

This was intolerable.

In Liaobei Province, if these four sentences were uttered and a fight didn't break out, everyone else would look down on you!

Shen Bei also lunged forward, his battle blood beginning to boil.

In a tense atmosphere.

A loud shout came from the Void Realm: “You two little brats, if you have too much energy to vent, come play with me!”

Shen Bei suddenly looked up.

He saw a figure flying rapidly through the air.

Like a crane spreading its wings, he crashed down in front of the two.

On the man's face, every line etched out a unique ruggedness and sternness.

His hair was short and neat, like a black iron forest.

“You two like to fight, do you?”

Saying that, the man stretched out both hands, directly grabbing Shen Bei and Qiu Qianren by their necks, easily lifting them up.

He said with a fake smile: “My name is Miller. How about I let you use only your hands and feet?”

Qiu Qianren didn't know who Miller was.

But Shen Bei had heard that name.

A name that had embarrassed General Training Instructor Cheng Liaoyuan!