192: You wouldn't even call me Dean.

As soon as Qi Tian and Little Ape arrived at the cafeteria entrance, they ran into an acquaintance.

"Yo! Old Mo? Long time no see, you've regressed again!"

Qi Tian said with a grin.

The person who arrived was their mentor, Mo Ming.

Mo Ming sized him up and gave a half-smile. "Not bad! You've already reached the Fourth Rank."

Qi Tian immediately looked smug. "Aya, it's just basic operations. With my talent, it's hard to keep a low profile!"

Mo Ming raised an eyebrow. "With your current cultivation, you can already apply for graduation."

Qi Tian waved his hand. "No rush, no rush. I haven't finished act—oh, I mean, I want to linger at my alma mater a bit longer and bond with everyone."

Mo Ming was speechless.

This guy was getting cocky just because his cultivation had improved a bit!

Qi Tian chuckled. "Old Mo, with my strength, I should be ranked in the top five among all the students in the Martial Academy, right?"

Mo Ming rubbed his chin and shook his head. "Hard to say."

"Huh?"

Qi Tian was stunned. "What's the situation? Is there someone even more badass than me?"

Mo Ming smiled. "I can't even count them on one hand. What do you think?"

Qi Tian's face froze.

That many?

Didn't they say the graduation requirement was the Third Rank?

Could it be that they were all laying low too?

Damn! That's too much!

Mo Ming said with a smile, "There are many geniuses in the Martial Academy, and plenty who are no worse than you. Just in our Gemini Class, there are already four students who have surpassed the Fourth Rank!"

Qi Tian's expression instantly tightened. "I can understand Old Bai and Class Monitor Su, but who are the other two?"

Mo Ming shrugged. "They went to the front lines. Actually, they already met the graduation requirements, but the front lines are currently in a state of emergency and desperately short of hands. So, to achieve the highest rating, they headed to the front."

Qi Tian frowned. "You can go to the front lines even before graduating?"

Mo Ming said, "Before, of course not. But the situation is different now. The Demon Race's offensive is very fierce this time, and several gaps have been breached in the wall. The Human Race is short on troops. Anyone who has reached the Fourth Rank or above can volunteer for the front lines. Moreover, the probability of gaining merit there is very high, and if you're lucky, you'll be swimming in resources."

Hearing this, Qi Tian was also a bit tempted.

The resources in the Alien Space were almost all snatched up. To continue improving, one had to go to the more dangerous front lines.

As the saying goes, risk and reward are proportional!

Qi Tian suddenly asked, "By the way, any news of Old Bai lately?"

Mo Ming's face stiffened, and then he shook his head.

"What does shaking your head mean?"

Qi Tian's brow furrowed tightly.

Mo Ming didn't hide anything and recounted Fang Bai's encounter.

"You... you're saying Old Bai was sucked into an Alien Space rift and transported to the Demon Realm?!"

Qi Tian's pupils shrank.

Little Ape, who was standing by, also showed a look of worry. "Can Brother Bai still survive?"

Mo Ming said slowly, "Since Fang Bai's body hasn't been found, it proves he might not be dead. I've already asked the Dean to look for him. If there's any news, I'll pass it on."

Qi Tian muttered, "With Old Bai's current strength, being sent to the Demon Realm... won't he just become monster fodder?"

Mo Ming replied, "Not necessarily. With Sixth Rank strength, if he's lucky, the probability of survival is still quite high."

"Eh? What do you mean? How—how much?!"

Qi Tian suddenly realized something was wrong. His face froze, and he asked in disbelief.

Mo Ming said calmly, "Oh, didn't you know? Fang Bai has already broken through to the Sixth Rank."

Qi Tian: ... Little Ape: ... Qi Tian's lips were trembling. "Is he still human? How can the gap between people be so large?"

He was only at the Fourth Rank, while his brother had already hit the Sixth Rank!

You're afraid your brother will suffer, but you're even more afraid he'll drive a luxury car!

"Brother Bai is awesome!"

Little Ape was actually quite happy. Hearing that Brother Bai was so strong, he was genuinely glad!

Mo Ming looked at Qi Tian's devastated expression, a sly smile curling his lips. "Oh, right, I forgot to mention. Su Su is also currently in seclusion, preparing to break through to the Sixth Rank."

Qi Tian: ... The series of blows caused the joy and pride Qi Tian felt from his recent breakthrough to vanish completely.

Neither of them said anything, right? Just working hard in secret, huh?

Qi Tian's expression turned fierce. "I want to go to the front lines too!"

Little Ape quickly raised his hand. "Me too!"

Mo Ming said indifferently, "Denied!"

Qi Tian was stunned. "Why?!"

Mo Ming said without changing his expression, "The Martial Academy is short-handed right now. Since you just came back, I have things for you to do."

"Huh? I don't want to! I want to go to the front lines to kill demon beasts!"

Qi Tian's face was full of refusal.

"Besides, Old Mo, you can't be so unfair! There are so many teachers in the academy, why do you need us?"

Mo Ming spread his hands. "You're wrong about that. Most of the Martial Academy's teachers have gone to support the front lines. Even the Dean and the others have gone."

"Ahem! Let's put it this way: right now, I, Mo Ming, am the Acting Dean!"

As he spoke, Mo Ming pulled out a badge and hung it around his neck, putting his hands behind his back with the air of a high-ranking official.

However, combined with his sloppy temperament, it was indeed a bit comical.

"Huh? You? Dean? Dean of a psychiatric hospital, maybe?"

Qi Tian mocked him with disdain.

Swoosh!

Thud!

A terrifying pressure instantly pinned Qi Tian to the ground.

Mo Ming showed a sinister smile. "Little Qi, you seem to have a lot of opinions about me, your Old... Dean! You want a disciplinary record, don't you?"

Qi Tian: ... Little Ape quickly took a few steps to the side, fearing he would be caught in the crossfire.

Qi Tian quickly begged for mercy. "I was wrong, Old Mo! This humble one failed to recognize your greatness!"

Mo Ming said with a sighing expression, "You're not even willing to call me Dean Mo..."

God dammit!

Qi Tian cursed in his heart. This son of a bitch can act even more than This Young Master, can't he?

"Dean Mo! Please have mercy!"

Mo Ming finally dissipated the pressure and said with a smile, "Young people may have decent talent, but their strength is still a bit lacking. You must learn humility!"

Would a dignified Seventh Rank allow himself to be offended by a little Fourth Rank? How could he tolerate that?

Qi Tian stood up with his mouth twitching.

The surrounding students cast strange glances, which felt like needles pricking his skin and hurting his heart.

Damn! This is so embarrassing!

He secretly vowed that once he broke through to the Seventh Rank... no, the Eighth Rank, he would hang Old Mo up and beat him!

"Little Qi, is there something you're unhappy about?"

Mo Ming asked with a half-smile.

Qi Tian's face instantly changed, revealing a flattering smile. "Of course not. Dean Mo, just tell us, what do you want us to do?"

Mo Ming smiled. "Actually, it's nothing much. It's just that there's no one to lead the little rookies over in the First Year. You two can take over the mentor positions and help lead them for a bit."

As soon as these words were spoken, Qi Tian's eyes lit up!

"This is great! Why didn't you say so earlier!"

Is it finally his turn to show off?!

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