"Wait, you went on a demon-clearing mission?" someone exclaimed in shock after hearing Song Jie's story.
Song Jie nodded calmly.
Just then, Zhan Kong stepped forward and addressed the group, recounting everything that had just happened.
"In other words… everything earlier was just a test for us?" someone finally realized.
"Have you forgotten about that demon?" Zhou Min, the squad leader, suddenly said. "The Chief Instructor just said that the demon had lost control!"
At her words, everyone recalled the terrifying Phantom Wolf Beast and fell silent.
If that creature had chased them instead, the consequences would've been disastrous.
The students who had been regretting their earlier performance quickly dismissed those thoughts—thankful to still be alive.
"But fortunately, Mo Fan killed the demon and prevented a tragedy," Zhan Kong said, nodding in approval.
"What! Mo Fan killed the demon?!" someone shouted in disbelief. None of them had expected that!
Zhan Kong waved his hand. "Alright, you'll all receive an A for this mission. Take a short rest and prepare to return."
Once the announcement was made, he immediately began investigating why the Phantom Wolf Beast had lost control.
Song Jie already had a guess—but explaining it without sounding suspicious was difficult.
"Everyone who was near the cave earlier, come here," Zhan Kong ordered. "Tell me what you observed about the Phantom Wolf Beast."
This is my chance, Song Jie thought.
"Song Tao, you start," Zhan Kong said.
Song Tao quickly explained what he'd seen. After questioning a few others, Zhan Kong finally turned to Song Jie.
"Song Jie, did you notice anything unusual?"
"I did," Song Jie answered truthfully. "After the Phantom Wolf entered the spring, its behavior suddenly changed. Its eyes turned strange too."
"Spring water?"
Zhan Kong frowned, turning toward the small pool nearby.
"Now that I think about it," Song Tao added, "the Phantom Wolf did drink the spring water before it went berserk."
Zhan Kong's expression hardened. "The problem likely lies in the spring. Take a sample back for testing immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
A soldier nodded and carefully filled a vial with the suspicious water.
The End of Training
The training exercise soon came to an end.
Song Jie followed Zhan Kong and the others back to the small village at Xuefeng Mountain.
Before long, Mo Fan stepped forward boldly under everyone's gaze.
"Chief Instructor, about my defensive magic tool…" he said expectantly.
A defensive magic tool worth hundreds of thousands of yuan—there was no way he'd let the instructor forget!
Zhan Kong sighed heavily, his temples throbbing. He really was going to bleed this time!
Then, Song Jie walked up beside Mo Fan. "Chief Instructor, I'd like to collect my defensive magic tool as well."
Everyone froze.
What? Song Jie also gets one?!
Zhao Kunsan frowned. "Wait, why would you have a defensive magic tool? The blue bracelet was found by Mo Fan!"
The other students murmured in agreement. Song Jie hadn't even participated in their training exercise!
But then someone remembered Zhan Kong had sent Song Jie on a separate bounty mission earlier.
"The Chief Instructor said before that if Song Jie managed to kill a demon, he'd be rewarded with a defensive magic tool!" someone explained.
Realization dawned.
"Damn! So, he did complete his bounty task too?!" another student exclaimed.
Zhan Kong's expression darkened. These brats won't let me catch a break, will they?
"I'm so jealous! I want a defensive tool too!"
"Yeah, right! I saw you wet yourself when you saw a demon last time."
"What the hell! Do you have to bring that up again?!"
The camp erupted in laughter.
Zhan Kong's Painful Generosity
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Zhan Kong reluctantly handed over two defensive magic tools.
Song Jie and Mo Fan both reached out to take them—but Zhan Kong stubbornly refused to let go.
These two items had cost him more than a million yuan! Even his private savings were gone.
"Chief Instructor, there are so many people watching…" Song Jie reminded him politely. "Please let go."
"..."
Zhan Kong's heart screamed in agony as he released his grip.
Finally, Song Jie and Mo Fan each received their well-earned defensive tools.
"You two are quite talented," Zhan Kong said with a strained smile. "Consider joining the army after graduation. You'd fit right in."
Mo Fan chuckled. "Sorry, Chief Instructor, but the military life isn't for me."
Zhan Kong immediately kicked him in the rear. "Get lost, you brat!"
Then, turning to Song Jie, he tried again. "Student Song Jie, joining the army is actually—"
"Chief Instructor, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave too," Song Jie interrupted politely.
"Go on, both of you ungrateful brats!" Zhan Kong waved them off;
his face twisted in regret. Two magic tools—completely wasted!
The Ride Back
On the way home, a few classmates sitting near Song Jie couldn't help but ask:
"Song Jie, did you really kill a demon?"
"I was just lucky," he replied modestly. "The demon was barely breathing. I picked up a stone and finished it off."
"Seriously?!"
"Man, that's still amazing!"
"What luck—you actually got a defensive magic tool out of it!"
The bus filled with chatter and envy.
Tang Yue, however, stayed quiet.
She found Song Jie's words… suspicious.
Twice now, he had encountered demons—and both times, he'd participated in killing them. Yet, he was just a beginner Light Mage.
Could he really have finished off a demon with just a stone?
If that were true, Zhan Kong would never have rewarded him with a defensive tool.
No—there had to be more to it.
Although she remained silent, Tang Yue decided she'd find out Song Jie's secret in due time.
Back at Tianlan Magic High School
The bus finally returned, marking the end of their training.
Back in his dorm room, Song Jie examined the defensive magic tool he'd received.
Magic tools were generally divided into several categories:
Offensive (Slash-type) tools,
Defensive (Shield-type) tools,
Protective (Armor-type) tools,
Speed (Boot-type) tools, and
Flight (Wing-type) tools.
What Song Jie had obtained was a Defensive Shield Magic Tool called the Magic Bone Shield.
He knew how to use it—by channeling his spiritual energy into the item, he could form a mental connection.
Once bonded, the magic tool would leave a mark within his spiritual world.
In battle, he only needed to activate that mark with his mind, and the Magic Bone Shield would appear instantly!
"With this, at least my defense is secure," Song Jie said with a relieved smile.