A year and a half since our training began, and finally, field experience time.
I sat at the back of the bus watching nervous classmates. No wonder; first time seeing monsters.
And they think they'll just see them, after asking seniors about practice. Seniors said they'll teach forest walking, then under military watch show monster killing, and end with a crippled one to practice spells and overcome fear. That's how most normal schools do it.
Naive. You're going on practice with a guy who, temporarily undead at mid-Emperor level and knowing his mind fading, didn't go fight top monsters to reduce threats to mankind and put the ancient necromancer's hordes to rest for good.
No, first he rescued his love from the ice mountain. Then left her unguarded or even without ghost watchers—Holy City will surely hunt her again post-release—and went to sit on the dead realm throne, slowly losing himself.
If Pharaoh Hu Fu hadn't hit China first, then Holy City taken his beloved hostage, he'd still be sitting there till mankind got a new threat: revived ancient necromancer. So screw normal practice.
When the bus hit a bump, my thoughts returned to the important—my growth. With the pendant boosting cultivation acceleration to 30% via constant soul absorption, parallel world resources, and constant sewer fights, I need just over two months to raise an element from second to third tier.
Now ice, healing, and space at second tier; light, spirit, and time broke to third. In half a year all elements hit third tier, and nearly a year till Holy Spring battle, I'll saturate them with magic for fastest breakthrough there.
So, before disaster, I'll control ice stars, with the bracelet I traded parallel resources for to aid control. It's for shortening cast time, but works here too.
Eh, if I didn't need legal proof of Holy Spring visit for my plans, I'd breakthrough way earlier, but for cover and schemes, I endure.
Lost in thoughts, I rode to Xuefeshan station, military base.
As top class, we went first for practice.
To pass practice, need at least "C." But all want higher; this practice grade partly decides uni admission.
Special admission only for standout unicorns; normal admission below "A" means no Imperial University or Mingzhu.
Our group finally marched the main road between shops and stalls where hunters sell mission trophies outside city to avoid hauling them in. So resources 10-15% cheaper here, but no official market mark, and they can scam you easy.
"Gather at the square!" Just as everyone looked around, Luo Yunbo's voice rang—one of the practice leaders. Luo Yunbo—instructor leading the team this time. Skin slightly dark, looks like a middle-aged uncle who cares for himself.
Assisting was instructor-adjutant Pan Lijun—woman above average height, looks 27, dark skin.
Hearing the teacher's voice, students quickly gathered at central square.
Hundred genius-class students split into 5 groups of 20, facing two instructors and one practice teacher.
Once formed up, we drew spectator attention fast.
Idle sorcerers eyed us with weird smirks. They think us school mages will freak at monsters, faint from shock.
They're partly right; usually someone faints from monster aura each practice.
Once lined up, a group of soldiers approached, led by a slovenly-looking guy—Zhang Kong.
And despite his appearance, he was only 27 years old. That's what lost love with a member of one of China's great clans does—you completely fall apart and let yourself go.
"You are the first students I'm teaching practice to after taking this position," Zhang Kong told us with a kind and harmless smile. "So to help you pass it successfully, I'll give you some advantages."
The students grinned happily, anticipating an easy practice, while the instructors tensed up instead. Not because they wanted to fail us, but quite the opposite. Knowing this big guy's character, they started worrying for us.
"I'll give you a task. If at least one of your five groups completes it, I'll give you all the highest grade," Zhang Kong said with a friendly smile, asking his assistant to hand out sheets with the task to our leaders, who paled upon reading them.
"And if they don't complete it?" Luo Yunbo asked, swallowing hard.
"I'll disqualify all of you," Zhang Kong replied without changing his expression.
When the leaders explained the task to us—which was to go ourselves, without instructor supervision, through wild terrain into a magical beast's cave and retrieve a blue bracelet—a rebellion started brewing among the students.
"To motivate those who complete the task, I'll reward you with a magical weapon," Zhang Kong added, sensing the restless mood among us and sweetening the deal.
Most voices quieted at that, since such an item cost at least several hundred thousand yuan. And here we mostly had middle-class family kids studying, not hereditary mages—they'd have to save for years for such an artifact.
"Instructor Zhang, do I understand correctly that if we all band together and complete the task, everyone gets a magical artifact?" I asked, aiming to strip this poor guy down to his underwear. The eyes of the poor students lit up with greed.
Maybe with such a hole in his budget, he'll get moving and restore some combat skills before the fight with the Winged One wolf.
"Of course!" he immediately seized the chance to fully calm our restless moods. Of course, he had no intention of buying anything for us—he didn't believe in us one bit. And logically speaking, he wasn't wrong.
Without me or Mo Fan here, only a handful of students could release magic under the pressure of a mid-tier servant, let alone pass the trial.
Well, I won't disillusion this naive Chinese youth. Let him keep thinking his money is safe and he's fooled the naive students. A sly little smile crept onto my face.