172: Shen Bei...death?

Qianjin Camp.

Time returned to one day ago.

It had been exactly ten days since students from various Martial Universities descended into the earth's surface Cave.

More and more students began to return.

Among them, there was a mix of sadness and joy.

Some students were either killed by Vicious Beasts or by sudden attacks from Stranger.

There were even students who were captured by Stranger, their fates unknown.

Every team suffered some losses.

Of course, some students also reaped considerable rewards, returning to Qianjin Camp with their spoils of war, showing off their prowess.

This included Liu Hanfeng from Shen City Martial Arts University.

His achievements were even more remarkable.

He killed ten Vicious Beasts and five Stranger!

He hung the heads of the Stranger on his waist and stood at the main entrance of Qianjin Camp.

As soon as any student returned, they would immediately see the grotesque and terrifying Stranger heads hanging from Liu Hanfeng's waist.

He looked exactly like a demon from Hell!

The surrounding students couldn't help but voice their sincere admiration:

"Hiss~~~ Liu Hanfeng is indeed incredibly fierce!"

"Did he kill all of these by himself?"

"Nonsense! Who wouldn't want to show off like this? Would he let others show off the Stranger they killed?"

"Awesome, awesome!"

"I'm so envious. My first reaction when I see an Stranger is to run away."

"Nothing wrong with that. While you're timid, you saved your life."

...

It must be said that Liu Hanfeng's combat record, even for a Military Martial Artist, was explosive.

After all, he was just a student, with huge room for growth in the future!

Envy and praise were his due.

At this moment, Liu Hanfeng stood at the entrance of Qianjin Camp, like a young wife, looking eagerly into the distance.

He was waiting for someone.

He didn't care about others' praise; he just wanted to show that person his strength and win back some Face!

At this time, Iron Dome was also holding two Stranger heads, with an expression that seemed to say, 'Although I'm not as awesome as Liu Hanfeng, you should still praise me.'

Other classmates also gave him Face, flattering him in various ways, and Iron Dome chuckled foolishly, accepting the students' fervent admiration.

At this moment, Iron Dome approached Liu Hanfeng and whispered, "Isn't it about time? I'm getting a little tired of holding these."

Liu Hanfeng felt inexplicable.

Are we from the same Martial University?

Are we on the same side?

Did I ask you to stand here?

"I know who you're waiting for."

Don't be fooled by Iron Dome's appearance, which is even more simple-minded than Liao Zhongyang; he's actually a Ming Mirror in his heart.

"I think, at this point, he might have fallen."

Hearing this, Liu Hanfeng glanced at Iron Dome, his expression somewhat ugly: "Do you think that's possible?"

Iron Dome said truthfully, "In the Earth Cave World, nothing is impossible. Even an Eighth Rank Martial Warrior can die. This place doesn't care about whether you're a Genius or not, plus his reckless way of doing things. If he really hits a brick wall and doesn't know when to retreat, hehe."

Liu Hanfeng frowned.

Iron Dome's words were not without reason.

That person's conduct and hot-blooded personality truly were 'life and death are trivial, just fight if you're not convinced.'

But the earth's surface Cave was not the Freshmen National Exchange Competition, where everyone's rank was similar.

The earth's surface Cave was a melting pot!

It wasn't impossible for a fourth-rank or fifth-rank Stranger to suddenly appear; it was all too common!

Liu Hanfeng had encountered such situations these past few days.

He had also been chased for over ten kilometers, and only when he was close to Qianjin Camp did the opposing Stranger retreat.

Moreover, Liu Hanfeng had also tried to cross the 30-kilometer safe zone.

He had been to a large crack (fissure).

This large crack extended from a Red Valley cliff.

As soon as he entered, a Black Bat Giant Beast, as tall as an eighth-rank, fell from the cliff.

Immediately after, a Four-Winged Night Dragon also descended from the sky.

The two Giant Beasts tangled and fought, inextricably linked.

Liu Hanfeng almost peed his pants, running faster than a dog.

He was afraid of being caught in the aftermath and suffering an innocent death.

Therefore, in the Earth Cave World, whether it was an Stranger or a Vicious Beast, there were extremely high-level existences, appearing in unpredictable places.

And looking at those fallen students...

If they could die, what made that person so special?

Impulsiveness was no match for the slap of a powerful existence.

Liu Hanfeng once again gazed out at the earth's surface Cave.

At this point, all the students had returned; those who could come back had already come back.

Those who couldn't come back truly couldn't come back.

At this moment, Liu Hanfeng felt very lost, as if he had lost his life's goal.

It was like he had worked very hard, but his goal suddenly disappeared.

It felt off.

...

On the other side.

Jian Tong squatted on the ground, crying loudly.

Her back twitched, her cries like a flute in the deep night.

It truly made those who saw her sad and those who heard her shed tears.

"Don't cry! Maybe he's not dead yet!"

Yu Qiuyi furrowed her shallow eyebrows: "Maybe he'll be back in a little while."

Jian Tong opened her mouth, but due to her agitated emotions, she couldn't speak and burst into tears again.

She suddenly felt a sense of insignificance and powerlessness.

A day had passed.

No one from Zha Tian Gang had returned!

There were even rumors that Shen Bei had died...

Jian Tong instantly froze, her limbs weak, her eyes darkening. Besides crying, she didn't know what else she could do.

Baomihua's other Young Misses also comforted Jian Tong:

"Yes, wipe away your tears first. Maybe he's just playing around."

"How could Shen Bei die? He's so handsome, his luck must be very good."

"If everyone else can live, let that Du Ziteng die."

"Still holding a grudge?"

...

Qianjin Camp, Military.

Miller's brow was furrowed, his expression clouded with gloom.

In his hand was an intelligence document.

It showed that several cities, including Qianlin City and Blade City, had simultaneously seen Stranger armies appearing and advancing towards Qianjin Camp.

"Is this to be a fight to the death?"

Miller mumbled.

The officer beside him voiced his thoughts: "It doesn't seem like a desperate stand. Each city has dispatched anywhere from five hundred to over a thousand Stranger. This scale might still be a bit short for dealing with Qianjin Camp."

Miller nodded: "Another harassment."

"They might have smelled the Martial University students and just want to cause trouble."

"Have all the students withdrawn?"

"Those who could return have returned." The officer gave a sad answer.

Miller took a deep breath: "Martial Artists cannot be mere show-offs. Without experience, there is no growth. Who doesn't climb up over a sea of blood and mountains of corpses?"

The officer was silent for a moment, not speaking.

"But there is one thing that must be done."

Miller then began to arrange deployments and countermeasures: "It's estimated that the Stranger will reach our Qianjin Camp in about a day. Send people out to gather all the civilian Martial Artists scattered in the earth's surface Cave and prepare for defensive combat."

For civilian Martial Artists, entering and exiting the earth's surface Cave was free.

But at the same time, they bore a responsibility: to answer the Military's call at any time to resist Stranger invasion.

Of course, communication in the earth's surface Cave, besides shouting, also included setting off fireworks.

This also served as an alarm and warning.

"Also." Miller continued: "Although the students' training is over, ask them if they want to participate in the defensive battle."

"If they don't participate, the students can leave. Those who participate will stay."

The officer nodded and immediately ran out to execute the order.

...

For this training, many students died.

After statistics, the number reached 75!

And these students who died in the earth's surface Cave generated no discussion.

Only Shen Bei's topic was the most popular.

All students were inquiring about Shen Bei's whereabouts.

They wanted to know where Shen Bei had last disappeared.

After all, Shen Bei was undoubtedly the most popular among the freshmen.

Any gossip or news about Shen Bei was a topic everyone relished.

After much inquiry, some students did indeed see Shen Bei and his group.

The last sight was Shen Bei and his group heading towards the Red Valley...

Good heavens!

Liu Hanfeng heard this news and was completely convinced that Shen Bei and his group were dead!

After all, that Black Bat Giant Beast had come down from the Red Valley cliff!

An eighth-rank!

A single slap could send Shen Bei and his group to the springs (death).

Liu Hanfeng sighed, 'Heaven envies Genius.'

Just then.

The sound of horns wailed, heavy footsteps, shouts, and the clanging of armor rang out, and the camp was a flurry of activity.

Clusters of fireworks exploded at the main entrance of Qianjin Camp.

Military Martial Artist soldiers were dispatched, with people constantly shouting.

The Military formed ranks, swords glinting, and a heavy atmosphere of pre-war tension spread.

At the same time, civilian Martial Artists continuously returned, joining the Military ranks.

"Classmates!"

An officer shouted, straining his neck: "The Stranger are attacking! Students willing to kill the enemy, please join the ranks. If not, please leave Qianjin Camp immediately and return to the earth's surface!"

The students immediately bristled.

The Stranger are attacking... This formation, it's a damn organized force, isn't it?

Since there was no mandatory requirement, the students made a decisive choice.

Run!

Within minutes, ninety percent of the students collectively ran away.

However, people like Liu Hanfeng, Iron Dome, Luke, Jian Tong, Yu Qiuyi, and others all joined the Military ranks.

For Jian Tong, she wanted to use her utmost effort to kill the enemy and avenge Shen Bei!

As for the others, they simply used this war to temper themselves.

After a period of rest.

Miller, clad in armor, stood majestically at the front of the large formation.

He scanned the crowd, his brow furrowed.

He wasn't disappointed that most students ran away.

That was understandable.

But the reason for his frown was that he hadn't seen General Training Instructor Cheng Liaoyuan!

Hadn't that guy also entered the earth's surface Cave?

"Where's Captain Cheng?" Miller asked the officer beside him.

Although General Training Instructor Cheng Liaoyuan was a Martial Artist soldier.

And Miller was the Military officer commander.

But privately, Miller still showed General Training Instructor Cheng Liaoyuan respect, calling him "Captain Cheng."

However, in public, Miller would call him "that damn dog."

The officer beside him scratched his head: "Why hasn't he returned? Nothing happened, did it?"

Miller's expression paused, then returned to normal. He took a deep breath and shouted to the crowd:

"No more nonsense. Everyone knows why we're fighting the Stranger; talking about grand sentiments is useless."

"I'll just say one thing: if Qianjin Camp is gone, none of you damn well think you can make money in the earth's surface Cave!"

"Five kilometers ahead, in a fan-shaped formation, we will meet the Stranger."

"Damn it all."

"My old friends, raise your weapons!"

"Move out!"

"Fight!"