Jiang Nan’s words gave Xing Da quite a fright.
He had even staked his own vouchers? Those were for mandarin duck hotpot.
If anything went wrong, he would lose big.
Was he really that confident in his strength?
But spoken words were like spilled water, and Xing Da could say nothing to take them back.
With the competition rules confirmed, the hundred students below flushed with excitement, itching to start immediately.
Even the students in the stands looked forward to the live broadcast.
After all, a training session starting this explosively was a first in all previous years.
Xing Da wasted no time and led everyone towards a domed building.
It was the entrance to the spatial gate of Sword Mountain Spirit Ruins.
A top-tier academy like Kyoto Spirit University naturally controlled a spirit ruin on campus as a training ground.
The core control rested with the academy, though it lacked the mastery that someone like Han Menglu possessed.
Sword Mountain Spirit Ruins was a genuine golden-level spirit ruin.
Most spirit beasts inside were golden level, though platinum-level ones existed too.
It was perfectly suited as a competition arena.
Xing Da led the way at the front, drawing countless gazes along the route.
With each step, the flipped wig tucked behind his head fluttered.
Every student who saw Xing Da went through three distinct facial expressions.
Σ(ﾟдﾟ๐)
(⑉ԾжԾ⑉)
ꉂꉂ(˃᷄ꇴ˂᷅๐)
“D… Dean, good day!”
“Pfft. The dean looks extra cool today!”
“So dazzling!”
Xing Da looked puzzled. Why did he feel especially popular today?
Every student who saw him beamed with bright smiles.
It must be because I have been working too diligently as dean lately, earning unanimous praise from all students. They now respect me from the bottom of their hearts.
This feeling is truly wonderful.
It even makes my head feel cool and my ears and eyes clear.
Yet Jiang Nan and the others walking behind, watching the flapping wig, were close to losing it.
Xia Yao whispered, “Ugh. Little Nan! Is it really okay not to tell Uncle Da?”
Jiang Nan’s expression turned serious. “Shh. The dean wants to save face, okay? We have to be considerate little sweethearts.”
They crossed the entire campus and entered the domed building.
Many staff members were busy collecting spirit ruin data.
Xing Da waved grandly. “Open Sword Mountain Spirit Ruins. The training competition begins immediately. Broadcast the spirit ruin footage live on the campus website. Everyone…”
Before he could finish, every gaze in the hall fixed on him.
A moment of stunned silence, then laughter echoed through the entire hall.
┳━┳◟(˃᷄ꇴ˂᷅ૂ๑)
Some slapped tables in hysterics, some even laughed until they slid under them.
“Pfft hahaha! Dean, your wig! The wig!”
“It’s flipped open! Bad review for the double-sided tape. Let me laugh a bit first!”
Xing Da’s smile froze. Wig?
He instinctively reached up to touch his head.
!!!
What the hell? How did it flip?
Was it blown by the wind when Jiang Nan landed earlier?
So I gave a speech at the ceremony with a flipped wig, then walked across the entire campus like that?
I…
[Resentment value from Xing Da +1000!]
[From…]
Resentment values instantly maxed out.
No wonder my head felt so cool. How could it not?
Respect? My stern and majestic dean image has completely collapsed!
Xing Da’s face darkened. “Why didn’t you remind me?”
Jiang Nan: (´◔з◔`) You never let me speak…
Xing Da covered his face, yanked off the wig, and flung it to the ground in frustration. Why bother wearing it anymore?
Why did it have to be Jiang Nan who came?
What rotten luck for eight lifetimes!
Seeing Xing Da furious with embarrassment, the staff quickly composed themselves and opened Sword Mountain Spirit Ruins.
The heavy doors of base niobium-titanium-magnesium alloy slowly swung open. Such fortifications prevented spirit beasts from accidentally escaping and causing danger.
Jiang Nan grinned, pulled out the information on his five teammates, and handed it to Xing Da.
“Copy it and let them see. An opportunity delivered to their hands. It would be a waste not to use it!”
With that, he led Zhong Yingxue and the others straight into the ruins.
At this moment, the training students’ faces turned green.
“This is humiliation. Naked humiliation. I won’t look!”
“Giving us their information? That’s showing us all their cards.”
“It’s like handing us the boss clearance guide. A slap in the face!”
“I’d rather starve than accept charity. No need to prepare. Dean! Let us in now!”
Yet Xing Da, flipping through the documents, looked grave. “All of you shut up! Anyone who doesn’t want to see the information can quit the training right now!”
“They give you the clearance guide. Can you actually clear it? Study it properly!”
He handed the documents to staff for copying and distribution.
Xing Da was inwardly shocked. The information was extremely detailed, down to skill ranges and effects.
But the more detailed it was, the more worried he became.
All the data is laid out. So what if you know it?
Can you beat them?
Can golden-level spirit warriors really be this powerful?
Now, looking at Jiang Nan and the others’ information, the training students fell silent, scalps tingling.
Jiang Nan had even listed his Eight Gates Release and Blood Burning duration.
Almost no weaknesses. All-round development.
Any one of them pulled out alone could stand on their own.
When they reached Xiong Er, everyone’s brains short-circuited.
“No… Can someone explain? A platinum-level spirit beast?”
“Damn! That clothed black bear has three innate spirit skills?”
“No mistake? I remember it spoke just now. Has it become sentient?”
“A spirit beast is here as our mentor? I’m not even as enlightened as a bear?”
Xing Da covered his face. “Who knows what’s going on. No one enters Sword Mountain Spirit Ruins before eight. All of you go to the preparation room and plan tactics!”
“Don’t complain about losing face! Otherwise, losing will cost Kyoto Spirit University even more face!”
The students, however unwilling, could only obey Xing Da.
…
Inside Sword Mountain Spirit Ruins, atop a platform on a several-hundred-metre columnar stone mountain.
The five figures of Jiang Nan and his group appeared abruptly.
Sword Mountain Spirit Ruins was not vast, but its spirit energy was dense.
Looking out, towering columnar stone mountains stretched everywhere, classic water-erosion sandstone terrain.
Bushes dotted the valleys. Piercing beast roars echoed faintly. Golden-level flying creatures soared in the sky.
Jiang Nan chuckled. “Lang Mie and Xuexue one team. One melee, one ranged. Balanced enough.”
“Xiong Da and Xiong Er one team. Tank and heavy artillery. Solid too.”
Zhong Yingxue smiled sweetly. “Okay. Yao Yao and I will find a high point right now.”
Wu Liang thumped his chest. “Rest assured! I won’t let Brother Nan down!”
Xiong Er stretched vigorously. “This feels like home! We still have time. Big Brother and I will recruit some underlings to bolster numbers!”
Jiang Nan covered his face. Xiong Er’s local emperor mode activated again?
He then pulled out several glass jars of durian flesh and little ginsengs, distributing them.
“Carry these, just in case!”
Xia Yao’s pretty face lit with excitement. “Little Nan, what about you and Xiao Jiuwo?”
Jiang Nan grinned. “Me? Gatekeeping.”
“Giving this training competition a perfect opening!”
Seeing Jiang Nan’s smile, everyone shivered.
Perfect opening? This sounds more like hell mode.
Xiong Da and Xiong Er headed east. Soon, miserable beast roars rose from that direction.
Xia Yao and Zhong Yingxue found a sturdy stone mountain to hold a position.
Jiang Nan grinned. “Xiao Jiuwo.”
The ever-observant Xiao Jiuwo smiled sweetly. “Is Master tired? Rest in my arms. I’ll wake you when they arrive!”
Her body grew to over twenty metres and she lay on the peak.
Jiang Nan dove into her embrace, lying on the soft, warm fur.
｜⁼̴ᴗ⁼̴๐)
As if worried Jiang Nan might be cold, Xiao Jiuwo extended wings to cover him, shielding him completely.
“Master, Master. Shall Xiao Jiuwo sing you to sleep?”
Jiang Nan nuzzled his cheek. “If you keep being like this, I’ll fall in love with you, I swear!”
Xiao Jiuwo: ଘ(੭ˊ꒳ˋ)੭✧
Fall in love with me? Then Master won’t eat me, right?
“Xiao Jiuwo will work hard to make Master fall in love with me!”
At eight in the evening, the students who had studied all the information on Jiang Nan’s group brimmed with confidence.
Each carried their usual weapons.
The documents showed real strength, but not invincibility. Opportunities existed.
The problem was Jiang Nan’s overconfidence in revealing all his cards.
As the gates slowly opened, the students’ hearts raced with excitement.
“No more talk. Rush in and take Jiang Nan. Just scratch him for the vouchers! Big chance!”
“Humph! He’ll pay for his arrogance!”
Wang Zhan narrowed his eyes. “Son of Death, don’t compete with me later. Others fear you, but I don’t!”
Xiang Zu said leisurely, “Whoever gets him, gets him.”
His gaze fell on Ye Xingxuan, and he smiled gently. “Stick with me later. I’ll help you grab a few vouchers.”
Ye Xingxuan looked pained. “That’s Nan God! Do you realise what you’re saying?”
Xiang Zu sneered. “Nan God? Heh. As long as you like him, even if he’s a god, I’ll kill him for you to see!”
Ye Xingxuan: (ﾉ)﹏(ヾ)
Damn! This guy is so chuunibyou!
How does he say such cringey lines without shame?
It’s killing me from second-hand embarrassment!
Xiang Zu watched Ye Xingxuan cover her face, a smile curving his lips. Shy, huh?
Finally won over by my gentleness and looks?
Heh. Women.
Jiang Nan, wash your neck and wait!
