Chapter 22: Crisis

Long Yang gestured for Yingzhou to sit down, then began to speak: "Let us start by discussing the drawing of spirit talismans. Every person's drawn spirit talisman is related to their Back Spirit, but since your Back Spirit has never appeared, I cannot find the drawing method for a spirit talisman in the database to help you."

Upon hearing this, a look of anxiety appeared on Yingzhou's face, and he hurriedly asked: "But, Instructor, how can one know if there is a connection between them? Is there any experience I can draw upon?"

Long Yang nodded slightly and continued: "This is precisely the key point I was about to mention. Since your Back Spirit has no record in the database, you must strive to understand it. Perhaps you can learn about some events and Elemental factors related to it, and thereby draw the corresponding spirit talisman. When the Human Alliance first discovered the power of Back Spirits, it was also through this method that they gradually increased their own Spiritual Power caps."

Hearing these words, Yingzhou seemed to have an epiphany in his heart, as if he already knew what kind of spirit talisman he needed to draw.

"Instructor, then when should I be able to draw a spirit talisman? What level must my Spiritual Power reach?" Yingzhou began to ask the next question; he felt he should be able to solve the spirit talisman issue himself.

"It is when you are Gathering Spiritual Power, but discover that the Spiritual Power you have gathered can no longer be stored; that indicates you can advance to a Diji Lingnengzhe. In fact, as long as there is enough time, everyone can advance to a Diji Lingnengzhe. It is just that the Human Alliance is currently at war with the Alien Race, which has led to a shortage of Diji Lingnengzhe, not to mention the subsequent mid-level and High-Level Psionics. Our Human Alliance currently has only 20 recorded High-Level Psionics, but now only three High-Level Psionics remain. This is why once someone advances to a Diji Lingnengzhe, they graduate immediately and head to the Military District." As Long Yang spoke, he demonstrated to Yingzhou the situation where Spiritual Power dissipates after Gathering Spiritual Power.

Yingzhou watched with focused eyes as the Spiritual Power continuously gathered in Instructor Long Yang's hand, and he secretly marveled in his heart.

When that mass of dense Spiritual Power entered Long Yang's body, this Spiritual Power did not stay for long, but was quickly expelled from the body and finally dissipated into the air.

Yingzhou stood up, a look of gratitude appearing on his face. He bowed deeply to Instructor Long Yang to express his thanks. "Thank you for your guidance, Instructor! I will continue to work hard," Yingzhou said sincerely.

Instructor Long Yang smiled and nodded, feeling very satisfied with Yingzhou's performance.

After Yingzhou entered the cafeteria, the students from his own class were all gone. Now, those in the cafeteria were students from other classes; among them, Yingzhou even saw an acquaintance—Helao Da.

He saw the few students beside him wearing fawning smiles, acting obsequious as they stayed by his side.

"Let me tell you all this! Of the students who went to the Xitai District this time, I was the only one who didn't go to the elite class. That is because I didn't want to go, thinking I couldn't abandon you all, so I stayed in our class this time." On his swarthy face, Helao Da showed a bit of smugness, speaking loftily to the few followers beside him.

"Yes, yes, yes, with Brother Helao's talent, wouldn't going to the elite class be an easy matter?" one follower immediately chimed in.

"And, our Brother Helao is also a devoted man. If it weren't for Brother Helao, that Tan Xiaotong might not have necessarily been able to get into the elite class!" another follower followed up immediately.

Helao Da's smile stiffened noticeably, but he quickly returned to normal, laughing and joking with the few followers around him.

After this guy recovered, his skin was thick enough. Moreover, he seemed to have helped Tan Xiaotong secure quite a few points during the entrance test. I was wondering why Tan Xiaotong's points were so high; so it turns out someone was helping her.

Yingzhou watched Helao Da's departing back, complaining inwardly.

In the dead of night, all was silent. Moonlight spilled through the window into the dormitory, appearing somewhat eerie and terrifying. Helao Da suddenly sat up abruptly from his bed. His eyes were hollow and lifeless, his pupils dilated, as if he had lost his soul. His body stood up stiffly, and he walked mechanically toward his roommates in the same dormitory.

The roommate was lying on his bed fast asleep, completely unaware of any abnormality.

Helao Da walked to the bedside, watched the roommate quietly, and then slowly opened his mouth. One could see his throat beginning to heave, and then an egg-sized insect egg was spat out from his mouth.

The shell of the insect egg was pierced, and an insect with two sharp forelimbs crawled out from inside. This insect was pitch black all over, emitting a nauseating stench.

Helao Da closed his mouth, expressionlessly stretched out his hands, and forcefully pried open the roommate's mouth.

The roommate was startled awake from his sleep at this moment, but it was too late. When he opened his eyes, the scene before him made his hair stand on end—a pitch-black insect emitting a foul stench was right in front of him.

He wanted to break free from the hands clamping him, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not shake Helao Da's arms, which were as hard as Steel, by even a fraction.

Immediately after, his pupils dilated instantly, his eyes filled with endless fear and despair. He watched helplessly as that pitch-black insect slowly crawled onto his cheek and then burrowed into his mouth, yet he was powerless to stop all of this from happening.

Time passed second by second. After about two minutes, the pitch-black insect had completely burrowed into his mouth. Only then did Helao Da release his hands, and the roommate lying on the bed also stopped struggling.

At this moment, like Helao Da, his eyes became hollow and lifeless, and his body became incomparably stiff. Together, they sat up and cast their gazes toward the other two roommates.

After 17 days of training, Yingzhou had become more proficient in close-combat techniques than before, and coupled with his physical fitness improving every day, he managed to knock Instructor Long Yang's weapon away for the first time today.

"Sometimes, I have to wonder if your talent is a bit too terrifying," Long Yang said helplessly, looking at the huge broadsword Yingzhou was pointing at him.

Yingzhou smiled slightly and retracted the broadsword in his hand; he knew this was the result of his day-after-day hard training, not a gift of talent.

"Instructor, I just want to become stronger and protect the people and things I cherish," Yingzhou answered sincerely.

Long Yang looked at Yingzhou's firm gaze and nodded. "I understand your determination, Yingzhou. But remember, on the battlefield, never underestimate the enemy."

"I will remember that, Instructor," Yingzhou replied firmly.

"Alright! Today's lesson ends here! Dismissed!" Long Yang turned and shouted to the other sweating students.

After everyone dispersed, Bai Tao tried to pat Yingzhou's shoulder with his hand, only to find that to pat Yingzhou's shoulder, he would need to raise his arm high.

"Yingzhou, you guy, there should be a limit to growing your body," Bai Tao had no choice but to lower his arm, looking at Yingzhou's strong physique and saying enviously.

"Ahem, it should be soon, right? I don't want to become like a giant," Yingzhou coughed twice and said.

"But you're no different from a giant right now," Su Miao said, poking Yingzhou's arm with her slender fingers.