9: conflict

Under Lin Feng's persuasion, Wang Yin ultimately went to the teleportation array with Wang Wenying and the other two. During this process, they did indeed find a six-star Shield Warrior, just as Lin Feng had said, thanks to Wang Wenying's reputation as a healer.

Their team had a Warrior with high defense, a Berserker who could both deal damage and tank, plus an Assassin, a Mage, and a Healer! A perfectly balanced setup!

As Lin Feng watched Wang Yin and his team disappear into the white light of the teleportation array, he was about to step forward to enter it himself when a voice suddenly rang out from behind him.

"Oh, isn't this Lin Feng, our class's 'great genius'?"

Just as Lin Feng was taking the short-hilted staff, a voice full of mockery and disdain came from the side. The volume was not low, immediately attracting the attention of many nearby Students.

Xiong Gang, accompanied by Su Wanqing and a group of his subordinates, strutted over to Lin Feng and Wang Yin, like stars surrounding the moon.

"'Great genius' Lin Feng, where's your one-star demon pet? Summon it and let everyone see it. I've never seen a one-star Soulbound Demon Pet in my life!"

"Exactly, exactly, we're all Students, don't be so stingy."

Xiong Gang's face was filled with undisguised contempt, and his subordinates around him cooperatively burst into laughter.

He wore a pair of alloy steel claws on his hand, glinting slightly, clearly a weapon of good quality!

Although the weapons of the subordinates behind him didn't gleam as brightly as Xiong Gang's, judging from their appearance, they were definitely not comparable to the plain two-handed battle axe in Wang Yin's hand.

Su Wanqing covered her mouth and shrieked in feigned surprise: "Oh, Lin Feng, we're all classmates, why don't you bring out that oddly shaped egg of yours? Did it accidentally break when The Fallen ambushed you yesterday? That would be such a shame. I remember the first demon pet awakened by a Summoner is a Soulbound Demon Pet, right? I also remember that if a Soulbound Demon Beast dies, the Summoner themselves will be permanently stuck at their current level and can never advance."

She deliberately emphasized the words "can never advance," her eyes full of schadenfreude.

"Where's your follower? Did he also look down on you and go team up with others for a dungeon?"

"I knew it. After all, he's a five-star Berserker, why would he always follow a good-for-nothing like you?"

After speaking, Su Wanqing's eyes flickered, and with a hint of coquetry, she turned to Xiong Gang. At the same time, an extremely subtle, almost imperceptible wisp of pale pink smoke quietly wafted from her fingertips, silently drifting towards Xiong Gang's nostrils—this was an ability she gained after awakening as an Enchantress, capable of subtly influencing others' minds.

At the same time, her voice carried a strange allure, attempting to manipulate Lin Feng's emotions.

Lin Feng was not affected in the slightest. Instead, he turned and looked coldly at Xiong Gang, with a hint of warning.

"I advise you, this woman, just have some fun, but don't get serious."

"You..."

"Brother Xiong!!"

Su Wanqing shook Xiong Gang's arm, her voice seductive, and her sensitive body parts subtly brushed against Xiong Gang. The pale pink smoke also thickened imperceptibly.

"Look at him! A useless Summoner, he's practically challenging your dignity as an eight-star Beast King! Are you just going to let him be so arrogant? Teach him a lesson!"

Anger surged on Xiong Gang's face, his eyes somewhat hazy under Su Wanqing's enchantment, and he was about to give in to the urge to act... Just then, a small commotion arose on the outskirts of the crowd, and a cool, elegant figure pushed through the crowd with some difficulty.

The newcomer was Qin Yuyan. She had changed into a simple, practical training outfit. Her originally exquisite and peerless face was now undeniably pale and tired, her breathing was a little more rapid than usual, and her steps were even somewhat unsteady.

Forcibly activating the Ice Crystal Phoenix's bloodline power last night to cast a spell and block The Fallen had severely overdrawn her already limited professional energy. Although she had rested for a night, Qin Yuyan was still very weak at this moment.

In her current state, she was clearly not suitable for entering the beginner dungeon.

Even the nine-star demon pet, Ice Crystal Phoenix, perched on her shoulder, had noticeably dimmer feather radiance, and its ice-blue eyes also showed signs of fatigue.

Qin Yuyan's appearance attracted everyone's attention.

Not only because she was the school beauty of Weiyang No. 1 High School, but also because she had saved the lives of several Students during The Fallen's ambush yesterday!

The moment he saw Qin Yuyan, Xiong Gang's already somewhat dazed eyes instantly burst with intense light, and the consciousness he was about to lose to Su Wanqing's enchantment suddenly cleared!

He abruptly shook off Su Wanqing's tight grip on his hand and quickly walked to Qin Yuyan's side, his tone filled with undisguised concern.

"Yuyan! Why are you here? Your face is so pale! You don't have to force yourself to participate in the beginner dungeon!"

"As for the Silver-level weapons the principal mentioned, I can buy you as many as you want, but I imagine you wouldn't even look at Silver-level weapons."

"I think you should go home and rest quickly, recover from your injuries. There's also the outdoor training led by the principal himself five days later; if you want to go, isn't it just a matter of a word?"

When Su Wanqing saw Xiong Gang's fervent concern for Qin Yuyan, even to the point of breaking free from the enchantment she had secretly cast, the fake smile on her face instantly vanished, replaced by almost overflowing jealousy and venom.

She looked at Qin Yuyan's peerless beauty, which was still evident even in her weakened state. The sourness and hatred in her heart could no longer be suppressed, and she couldn't help but sneer.

"Brother Xiong, our great school beauty Qin is a nine-star Summoner, she's very proud and might not listen to an eight-star Beast King like you..."

"Shut up! Su Wanqing!"

Xiong Gang suddenly turned around, his eyes as cold as knives, glaring at her with a violent oppressive aura, his tone chilling to the bone.

"You have no right to speak here! If you dare to be disrespectful to Yuyan again, don't blame me for being impolite! Get lost!"

Su Wanqing was reprimanded so mercilessly in public, especially seeing the undisguised disgust in Xiong Gang's eyes. Her face instantly turned from green to white, then from white to red, overwhelmed with shame and indignation.

She bit her lip tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, her venomous gaze like a poisoned knife, fiercely carving into Qin Yuyan, but she dared not utter another sound.

Qin Yuyan ignored Xiong Gang's enthusiasm, her gaze passing through Xiong Gang and the group of subordinates behind him with their varied expressions, finally settling on Lin Feng and Wang Yin. Her clear, cold voice rang out.

"Lin Feng..."

She paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully.

"I know with your personality, you definitely won't give up this opportunity to obtain Silver-level weapons. Even if no one invites you, you will definitely try your best to contend for a top ten spot!"

"But, given your situation..."

Qin Yuyan didn't say the rest, but everyone understood.

Given Lin Feng's identity as an awakened one-star Summoner, no team except for Wang Yin would let him join!

What's more, Wang Yin had just been pushed by Lin Feng to enter the dungeon with another team!

"My body is too weak. How about you don't enter the beginner dungeon today? We can team up and go together tomorrow when I'm feeling better?"