Chapter 121: Auntie, Dare You Bet With Me?

The competition during this study trip will begin at 9:00 a. m. tomorrow.

Score tallying will conclude at 9:00 a. m. on December 10, one month from now.

Everyone is encouraged to actively hunt down ferocious beasts during this period.

Of course,

you must act according to your own strength and capabilities.

Alright, that's all for today—dismissed.

After the vice principal of Qingjing Institute of Esoteric Abilities announced dismissal,

the freshmen from the three universities did not leave, but instead began shouting excitedly.

The Qingjing Institute's five-member team still needs one support-type esoteric ability user.

Requirement: First-rank upper tier; students from our school or other schools are both acceptable.

The two-member elite team requires absolute offensive-type esoteric ability, rank A or higher.

Of course, if an S-rank is willing to team up with me, I won't object.

There were no restrictions on team formation for this study trip competition.

Most freshmen also knew they had no chance of securing a top ranking.

So they simply treated it as a training opportunity and began inviting others to form teams.

Even some social enthusiasts started inviting freshmen from other schools.

Suddenly, the entire square was filled with a clamor of voices.

"Ming-ge, our Class 2 is forming several adventuring teams to operate around the Demon Cavern. Want to join us?"

At that moment, a tall girl approached Xu Jingming, asking with hopeful eyes.

"I won't join—you guys form your team," Xu Jingming smiled.

The girl's name was Ding Yu, class monitor of his Class 2.

She routinely assisted the counselor in organizing all class activities.

According to Mo Da's rules, the class monitor should be the strongest student in the class.

But since this position offered little benefit to power advancement and consumed vast amounts of time, Xu Jingming naturally had no interest.

Thus, Ding Yu, who ranked 16th in the freshman competition, was appointed.

Although Ding Yu had anticipated Xu Jingming's refusal, confirmation still brought a flicker of disappointment.

Yet she concealed it well, instead punching the air in encouragement:

"Since we can't team up, then I wish you'll take first place—crush that S-rank from Qingjing!"

"I will," Xu Jingming replied with a smile.

After learning that the Qingjing Institute of Esoteric Abilities had an S-rank external support with third-rank power,

most people had little faith in him, though none voiced it openly.

Only those close to him and his usual classmates from Class 2 still held unwavering belief.

Class monitor Ding Yu was one of these staunch supporters.

"Alright, then I'll keep looking for teammates—see you later, Ming-ge."

Ding Yu waved and left.

Beside him, Song Qiuyun blinked curiously at Xu Jingming:

"Tomorrow, when you enter the Demon Cavern, you're still going alone?"

"My goal is the Demon Cavern's central zone—traveling with others would slow me down."

Xu Jingming nodded.

Demon Cavern No. 7 is divided into distinct zones: the outer zone mostly contains first- to third-rank ferocious beasts.

The central zone is dominated by third- to fifth-rank ferocious beasts.

With my current strength, I can handle at most a fourth-rank lower-tier ferocious beast.

I can still escape from fifth-rank beasts, so the central zone is ideal.

"The Demon Cavern's central zone..."

Song Qiuyun's face bore a look of awe.

She was certain that if she entered the central zone now, she would almost certainly die...

After a pause, she asked with hopeful anticipation:

"But walking from the outer zone to the central zone should take one or two days, right?

Can I travel with you during that time?"

"With me?"

Xu Jingming raised an eyebrow slightly, thought for a moment, then nodded: "Alright."

Though Song Qiuyun is only second-rank lower-tier, her actual combat power can match a third-rank lower-tier ferocious beast.

Taking her along in the outer zone won't be a burden.

But this will delay our arrival at the central zone by about half a day.

Based on the aura I observed this morning in the training hall from that S-rank,

though his aura is indeed powerful, it lacks refinement and coldness.

This proves that this Jilan has never spent extended time in the wilderness.

Even as a third-rank S-rank, I still have full confidence in crushing him.

Delaying half a day won't matter.

"Alright, when you leave tomorrow, just ring my doorbell."

Song Qiuyun's eyes curved into crescents, her charming face looking utterly adorable at that moment.

After confirming their plan for tomorrow, Xu Jingming returned to the training venue to continue his practice.

Song Qiuyun, however, parted from Xu Jingming and walked straight into the main building of the supply base.

Like the Yuan Shui Supply Base, the top floor of the Shun'an Supply Base's main building housed the chief supervisor's office and the VIP reception room.

It was generally not open to the public, but Song Qiuyun pulled out a black gold card.

After swiping it over the elevator's sensor, she took the elevator to the top floor.

Whoosh—

The elevator doors opened, and Song Qiuyun stepped out with long, graceful strides.

Two figures, resembling bodyguards, waiting beside the elevator seemed surprised by her arrival.

But they quickly recovered and bowed respectfully: "Young Lady."

Song Qiuyun gave a slight nod and entered the chief supervisor's office with ease.

Inside the elegant, luxurious office, only behind the desk sat...

A beautiful woman with a refined face, busy at work.

She was Zhou Ying, the chief supervisor of the Shun'an Supply Base.

Seeing Zhou Ying, Song Qiuyun's face lit up with a pleasant smile:

"Auntie, I'm here."

"Xiao Yun?"

Zhou Ying looked up, her face filled with surprise and delight.

She immediately rose from her seat, pulled Song Qiuyun down onto the sofa, and feigned scolding:

"You little rascal, I thought you'd forgotten your auntie now that you've got a boyfriend."

Song Qiuyun's face flushed slightly at this: "Auntie, what are you talking about? I was just busy with something else..."

"Don't pretend. Your Bin brother already told me—it's that Xu Jingming, right?"

Though Zhou Ying was already over forty, her beauty remained dazzling, and now a teasing smile lingered faintly on her face.

"N-no... there's nothing between us yet."

Song Qiuyun, the second-ranked newcomer of the Magic College,

under her auntie's teasing, blushed deeply and fidgeted nervously with her hair.

"Hahaha, Xiao Yun, you're just as adorable as ever."

Zhou Ying giggled softly, then stopped teasing her and turned to serious matters:

"You're entering the Demon Cavern tomorrow, right?

The Demon Cavern isn't like ordinary wastelands—it's extremely dangerous.

Fortunately, the Twelfth Squad is here. I'll have them accompany you inside tomorrow."

"No need to trouble yourselves—I can handle it alone."

Recovering from her embarrassment, Song Qiuyun quickly waved her hands in refusal.

"Using our own military unit? What's the trouble?" Zhou Ying raised a delicate eyebrow.

She spoke the truth—

The entire Glory Legion belonged to the Song family of Sichuan Province.

As the daughter of the current clan head, Song Qiuyun didn't even need to ask—

To mobilize the entire Legion would take only one sentence.

The Song family even held major shares in the entire Shun'an Supply Base; otherwise, she could never have become chief supervisor here.

"Auntie, really, no need. If we're caught cheating, the school will punish us."

"Besides, Father already gave me the Guardian Talisman—I'll be fine."

Song Qiuyun pointed to the necklace around her white neck.

The necklace glowed a translucent white, emitting a faint milky radiance and a heavy surge of energy.

"Guardian Talisman? So your husband already gave it to you—then you truly don't need anyone's protection."

Zhou Ying finally relaxed, then a teasing smile returned to her alluring face:

"What about your little boyfriend? Should I arrange someone to protect him?"

Song Qiuyun no longer bothered correcting her auntie's term. After a moment's thought, she said seriously:

"Jingming is very strong—he doesn't need anyone assigned to protect him."

In truth, she worried these people might lurk in the shadows, tailing them.

If they weren't noticed, fine—but if they were, it would be hard to explain.

"True—he's already Second Stage Upper, plus an S-rank ability.

As long as he doesn't go deep into the Demon Cavern, he won't face major danger."

Zhou Ying nodded slightly, then added with a hint of regret:

"It's a pity, though—this year, Qingjing Magic University brought in outside help.

Otherwise, your little boyfriend would've been number one."

"Even with outside help, he'd still be number one."

Song Qiuyun's expression was serious.

"Oh? You're that confident in him?"

Zhou Ying was slightly surprised.

Cave No. 7, as one of the wilderness zones of the Great Xia Kingdom famous for its extremely high danger level.

Not only did ability-users from within the country come here on its reputation, quite a few ability-users from abroad also came.

As a sixth-rank ability-user, and simultaneously the base's chief administrator, she had also seen several S-rank ability awakeners.

And when both sides were S-rank abilities,

A higher-ranked ability-user, to a lower-ranked ability-user, was basically a crushing force.

Let alone that the lower third-rank was a full major rank stronger than the upper second-rank.

Whether in one-on-one combat, or in slaying fierce beasts, there was an enormous gap.

"Auntie, you don't believe me? Then do you dare to make a bet with me?"

On Song Qiuyun's lovely face there was absolute confidence, and within her clear, pleasant voice, a trace of faint cunning was hidden.