Chapter 233: A Difference of Opinion

Holy Void Star Academy, Three-Star District.

In a training ground.

A middle-aged woman named Tutor Huo Xu, after checking the cultivation progress of the three people before her, revealed a satisfied smile on her stern face: "It seems none of you have slackened in your cultivation. Especially Jiang Jiang Qinge—at your pace, by year's end there's a very good chance you'll break through to the Tiangang General Stage, and when that happens, your success rate in challenging the Seven Star Pillars will greatly increase."

Facing the tutor's praise, Jiang Jiang Qinge gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, her expression quite calm.

Tutor Huo Xu's expression suddenly turned Solemn as she said: "You must have already received the news—the Dark Cavern will open this month, and this year's Purification Mission will follow. When the time comes, you will inevitably have to enter it."

"You're no longer freshmen, and this isn't your first Purification Mission, so I won't waste words. But the dangers of the Dark Cavern are clear to all of you—when you enter, you must be doubly careful."

"We Purple Radiance tutors will enter the Dark Cavern ahead of you, to clear out some powerful aberrations in the depths."

"Additionally, when you carry out the Purification Mission this time, the Academy will most likely have you bring along a team from a lower Star District. How you choose these lower Star District teams will be up to you to decide."

"......"

After Tutor Huo Xu finished saying these things, she waved her hand and turned to leave.

As Tutor Huo Xu departed, two relieved exhales came from beside Jiang Jiang Qinge: "The tutor is as strict as ever."

Jiang Jiang Qinge's gaze turned to the two companions beside her—one male, one female.

The youth was lean in build, his features rather dashing, though what drew attention was his complexion—his swarthy appearance as if he'd just rolled out of a charcoal pile.

His eyes were exceptionally bright, and when he smiled, his pearly teeth flashed with a gleam.

The youth was named Senior Qiu Bai.

The other girl had a pretty face, with a ponytail hanging down. She was rather petite in stature, dressed in a white training outfit, and even though the clothes were somewhat loose, they still couldn't quite conceal the surging contours beneath the fabric.

The girl was called Tian Tian.

And this young man and girl were the other two members of the Black Swan team.

"Captain, impressive! If you successfully challenge the Seven Star Pillars by year's end, you'll have broken the record of our Holy Void Star!" Tian Tian said with a smile to Jiang Jiang Qinge.

Senior Qiu Bai beside her nodded admiringly, then pulled a mirror from his chest and studied his complexion intently in it.

Jiang Jiang Qinge looked at her two teammates and asked: "If we need to bring a lower Star District team for the upcoming Purification Mission, do you have any thoughts?"

Tian Tian spread her hands and smiled: "Captain, someone's already volunteered."

Jiang Jiang Qinge's brow lifted slightly: "Oh? Who?"

"Who else could it be... of course it's your little admirer from the Two-Star District, Ye Ye Qiuding," Tian Tian said teasingly.

Senior Qiu Bai raised his gaze from the mirror and nodded: "This Ye Ye Qiuding's strength is quite decent. His 'Landscape Cauldron Squad' took second place in this Two-Star District ranking battle, just behind the 'Fire Immortal Squad'."

Tian Tian added: "Besides, Ye Ye Qiuding has cooperated with us on missions before. If we choose his squad for this Purification Mission, it should be a good fit."

Jiang Jiang Qinge said coolly: "I don't plan to look for him this time."

Both Tian Tian and Senior Qiu Bai were taken aback, asking in confusion: "Not looking for Ye Ye Qiuding? Then who? Are there other squads in the Two-Star District? If it's the Fire Immortal Squad, that would of course be even better."

Jiang Jiang Qinge said calmly: "I want to find the 'Justice Squad'."

"Justice Squad?" Senior Qiu Bai frowned in thought, unable to recall any particularly famous squad in the Two-Star District with that name.

Tian Tian, however, quickly remembered something and said in some astonishment: "Could it be that Justice Squad from the One-Star District? I recall the captain of that squad is Li Luo, right? With you, Captain, he..."

Prompted by Tian Tian, Senior Qiu Bai also caught on. He put away his small mirror now, his brow tightly furrowed: "Captain, choosing a One-Star District squad—wouldn't that be a bit inappropriate?"

If it were any other matter, he wouldn't have opposed Jiang Jiang Qinge's proposal, but the Dark Cavern was truly no place for jokes. A single misstep there could see even them fall, so if they had a choice, they naturally leaned toward a Two-Star District squad—after all, the latter's strength was greater than that of a One-Star District squad.

In all previous entries into the Dark Cavern, there had never been a precedent of bringing a One-Star District squad.

"I admit I have personal motives in choosing Li Luo's Justice Squad, but the Justice Squad also has no weak strength—they're the number-one ranked squad in the One-Star District."

Jiang Jiang Qinge said frankly: "I trust they won't hold us back, and within the Dark Cavern, I will do my utmost to compensate for their shortcomings."

Tian Tian sighed: "No matter how decent their strength, they're still just from the One-Star District..."

"Captain, won't you reconsider?" Senior Qiu Bai also said slowly.

Jiang Jiang Qinge fell briefly silent, then finally shook her head: "I'm sorry, but as I said—even if they have shortcomings compared to Ye Ye Qiuding's squad, I believe I can make up for them. On this point, I hope you can trust me."

Senior Qiu Bai and Tian Tian exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes. They hadn't expected that this usually calm and rational captain would be so stubborn when it came to matters involving Li Luo.

"Captain, you know the dangers of the Dark Cavern. Of course we trust your strength, but if something really goes wrong, how would you compensate?" Senior Qiu Bai said.

Jiang Jiang Qinge looked at him and smiled: "With my life. Would that do?"

Tian Tian sighed. For that Li Luo, Jiang Jiang Qinge could actually go this far—truly an eye-opener. Wasn't there a rumor that the engagement between the two was merely a formality? But judging by Jiang Jiang Qinge's demeanor, her relationship with Li Luo was clearly no ordinary bond—after all, she could so easily stake her life on it.

Just what kind of fortune did this Li Luo have?

"If you truly insist on this choice, Captain..."

"Then we can only follow the rule we set when the squad was first established to make the decision." Senior Qiu Bai said no more and stepped back several paces. Black flame phase force ignited on his body, and in the next instant, the black flames flowed, and a fire-tipped spear appeared in his hand.

Tian Tian also spread her hands and stepped back. Green phase force flowed around her body, and a green bird light-shadow manifested behind her, its wings flapping and whipping up a hurricane.

When the squad was first established, there was a rule: if opinions couldn't be unified, then force would be used for the final ruling.

Seeing this, a smile rose in Jiang Jiang Qinge's golden eyes.

"If you'd done this from the start, wouldn't that have been better? You made me say all that useless stuff." she said.

"Still, thank you."

Because both sides understood that once it reached this stage, Jiang Jiang Qinge's proposal was as good as passed...

Why?

Because damn it—even if the two of them teamed up, they'd most likely still lose to Jiang Jiang Qinge!

But losing or not, the procedure still had to be followed.

Senior Qiu Bai and Tian Tian's eyes flashed with grief and indignation, then phase force surged like a gale, their figures shooting toward Jiang Jiang Qinge like lightning.