Chapter 15: The Mission to Seduce the Empress – The Survival Battle Begins
The news of the Black Snake Mercenary Group losing contact was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool.
Upon learning of this, Zhao Tianba surprisingly did not fly into a rage, but instead fell into a long silence.
He realized that Jiang Chen had already come into his own. Ordinary assassinations were not only useless but were essentially just delivering experience points.
Consequently, for the next half month, Jianghai City fell into an eerie calm.
Jiang Chen, on the other hand, was happy to enjoy the leisure, living a life as carefree as an immortal.
This half-month was practically his 'Golden Cultivation Period'.
During the day at school, Mu Qingxue would pull him into her office under the guise of 'special training'.
Once the office door was locked, Jiang Chen would habitually lie on the sofa, enjoying the [Ice Mountain Goddess's Exclusive Lap Pillow].
While Mu Qingxue graded assignments, she allowed Jiang Chen to absorb the cold Qi from her body. Occasionally, seeing Jiang Chen's sleeping profile, she couldn't help but reach out and poke him.
At night, Su Qingyue would come over to share a meal under the pretext of 'reviewing schoolwork' and 'exchanging martial arts insights.' After eating, the two would 'Cultivate' in the cramped living room.
Of course, it mostly involved Jiang Chen leaning against Su Qingyue, using the [Phoenix Blood Resonance] to temper his bones.
Under the Dual Cultivation support of this 'Ice and Fire' combination, Jiang Chen's cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds.
Seventh level of the Qi and Blood Realm... eighth level... ninth level!
By the day before the Martial Examination, his Qi and blood value had reached a terrifying 9.9, just one step away from the true Bone Forging Realm.
This was even the result of his deliberate suppression.
He wanted to give everyone a massive surprise during the Martial Examination.
However, the melancholy of parting was also quietly brewing.
The night before the Martial Examination, in Mu Qingxue's office.
Jiang Chen's special training had ended. Just as he was about to leave, he noticed Mu Qingxue holding a gold-stamped letter, her expression somewhat dazed.
"Teacher, what's wrong? A love letter?" Jiang Chen teased.
Mu Qingxue snapped back to reality, hurriedly putting away the letter and shooting him a glare. "What does a brat like you know? This is... a transfer order from the Imperial Capital."
"You're leaving?" Jiang Chen was taken aback.
"Yes. My Family is pressing me hard." Mu Qingxue looked at Jiang Chen, a trace of reluctance flashing in her eyes. "Jiang Chen, you must take first place in this Martial Examination. Only by going to the Imperial Capital Martial Arts University will we... have a chance to meet again."
Jiang Chen fell silent for two seconds, then suddenly stepped forward and gave Mu Qingxue a light hug.
"Don't worry, Teacher. I haven't had enough of my pillow yet; how could you possibly run away?"
"Scram!" Mu Qingxue pushed him away, her face flushing crimson, but the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
...
The day of the Martial Examination.
The Jianghai City Sports Center was a sea of people.
As the gathering point for tens of thousands of high school seniors in the city, the area was already packed to the brim.
Armed helicopters circled in the sky, and the perimeter was guarded by soldiers with live ammunition.
The atmosphere was solemn and grim.
Jiang Chen wore a black combat suit and carried his signature equipment—a massive hiking backpack.
"Student Jiang Chen, may I ask what secret weapon you have in your bag?" A reporter thrust a microphone toward Jiang Chen's mouth.
Jiang Chen turned back and pointed at the backpack with a serious face. "Inside is a latex mattress, two down pillows, and a set of silk pajamas."
Reporter: "...Huh?"
"The humidity in the wild is heavy; it's bad for the waist. As a top scholar candidate, I must pay attention to health maintenance," Jiang Chen said righteously.
The entire audience was floored.
Su Qingyue stood beside him, blushing and pretending to look at the scenery, acting as if she didn't know this attention-seeker at all.
Just then, a commotion broke out in the distance.
Zhao Feng approached, surrounded by a crowd of people.
After the Zhao Family spent a fortune on his treatment, he had regained his mobility, but his cultivation had dropped to the fourth level of the Qi and Blood Realm.
At this moment, his face was as dark as water, and his eyes were filled with venomous malice.
However, he didn't clamor like before. Instead, he gave Jiang Chen a cold look and made a throat-slitting gesture.
"Jiang Chen... once you enter the Abandoned City, it will be your funeral!"
Zhao Feng touched a metal syringe in his pocket. That was the final trump card his father had given him—Beast Attractant No. 3.
This was a banned military drug. As long as it was sprinkled on someone, Demonic Beasts within a five-kilometer radius would attack the target like crazy.
"Silence!"
On the podium, the booming voice of the Director of the City Education Bureau spread throughout the field via loudspeakers.
"Students! I am the Director of the Jianghai City Education Bureau."
"I won't waste words. The rules for this Martial Examination are as follows: Everyone will be deployed to the outskirts of Abandoned City No. 03. You need to survive inside for three days and hunt Demonic Beasts to earn points."
"Remember! Any means can be used! It is even... permitted to snatch points from each other! This is actual combat, not a game of house!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd was in an uproar.
Permitted to snatch from each other? Didn't that mean that besides Demonic Beasts, the classmates beside them could also be enemies?
The cruel Law of the jungle was laid bare before these students from the ivory tower.
"Furthermore..." The Director's voice suddenly dropped a few notches. "Just last night, abnormal energy fluctuations were detected deep within City No. 03. Therefore, an absolute forbidden zone has been designated for this exam—entering beyond the red line is strictly prohibited! Violators are responsible for their own lives!"
Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes. Abnormal energy fluctuations?
At that moment, the System that had been silent in his mind for a long time suddenly emitted a piercing notification sound.
[Ding! High concentration of Abyssal aura detected.]
[Triggered Hidden Epic Mission: Roar of the Catacombs.]
[Mission Description: In the rift beneath City No. 03, an ancient Abyssal Empress lies sleeping. She has severe Waking Up Anger and is about to wake up and destroy the city. Please proceed to the depths of the red line during the exam to find and 'soothe' (or bed) her.]
[Mission Rewards: Divine Artifact Fragment x1, one Supreme Lucky Draw, unlock 'Empress Nurturing' clues.]
[Failure Penalty: The entire city will be destroyed, and the host will suffer from long-term insomnia due to the destruction of his sleeping environment.]
Jiang Chen's mouth twitched.
Good grief, I just wanted to take an exam and get some sleep, and you want me to save the world?
And 'bed' an Empress?
Is this a decent mission?
"Jiang Chen, what's wrong?" Su Qingyue noticed his strange expression and asked in a low voice.
"It's nothing." Jiang Chen tightened his backpack straps, his gaze looking toward the abandoned city shrouded in gray mist in the distance, a flash of excitement in his eyes.
"I just feel like in that so-called 'forbidden zone,' there seems to be a very soft bed waiting for me."
"Huh?" Su Qingyue was completely bewildered.
Just then, accompanied by a deafening cannon blast.
"The Martial Examination begins!!!"
Tens of thousands of candidates surged like a tide toward that steel jungle full of unknowns and dangers.
Amidst the crowd, Jiang Chen unhurriedly let out a yawn and took his first step.
The hunt had begun.