All the freshmen were frantically gathering supplies, acting like madmen.
The pressure from the Insect King Secret Place was immense; even the upperclassmen were sighing with dismay.
"This year is really crazy! Using the Insect King Secret Place as a military training location? Haven't enough people died there? How can these freshmen endure for two months?"
"Who says otherwise? Even I'd run away beforehand. Is it really necessary to throw my life away here just to cultivate martial arts? I'm here to become stronger, not to die!"
"Could this be another idea from our director? His ideas are inhuman!"
Inside the villa.
Wu Liang raised a paw and scratched his head, remaining calm even as he was about to enter the secret place.
He was the protagonist's... contracted beast! Could the protagonist die?!
"Little Xuexue, what are you panicking about? I can fight a Fifth Rank peak magical beast now. With your rascal tactics and my strength, we're still good."
Ling Qingxue frowned slightly. "Fighting might not work. The Seventh Rank Insect King is too strong, and there are some Sixth Rank insectoids as well. Even you can't fight against an endless horde of insect beasts."
"It's alright. If you can break through to the Fourth Rank early-stage, I can kill a Sixth Rank magical beast for you!"
Ling Qingxue chuckled.
"Enduring two months isn't the only goal. Breaking through our own limits is. We just need to do our best. Besides, I'm very interested in the Invincible Will."
A knock came at the door. It was Beiming Yan.
"Qingxue, it's time to go. We're about to enter the secret place."
Ling Qingxue stood up, and they walked together towards the entrance of the secret place.
"This time, I brought everything I could carry, and even stole some things from my brother. Since he's so ruthless, I won't feel guilty!" Beiming Yan said angrily.
"What did you steal from him?"
Beiming Yan smirked. "Something incredibly powerful, capable of instantly killing the Insect King. Anyway, he didn't say anything about not being allowed to bring these things; if it's not in the rules, then it's alright!"
Wu Liang silently gave her a thumbs-up.
That's some sharp thinking!
If she could kill the Seventh Rank Insect King, and Wu Liang devoured a large number of insect beasts, plus Ling Qingxue's abilities, they might be able to rival a Sixth Rank beast. That would turn a disadvantage into an advantage!
Ling Qingxue gave a thumbs up. "Well done!!"
"Hehe, I'm not good at real combat, but I'm a million times more cunning than brother Feng!" Beiming Yan said smugly.
Exploiting loopholes—she'd done it so many times it'd become a habit.
The entrance to the secret place.
Beiming Feng and Beiming Lengyue were already standing there.
Beiming Feng smiled, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on Beiming Yan and Ling Qingxue.
Then, he spoke slowly.
"This military training is very dangerous. Anyone who wants to withdraw can say so now; we won't force them."
Seeing no one step forward, he smiled faintly.
"Director Lengyue and I will also enter the secret place and will do our best to protect your lives. However, if we do so, your military training scores will be deducted.
At the same time, the better you perform in military training, the more resources you will receive later. Effort and reward are directly proportional."
Hearing this, Ling Qingxue's heart sank.
"I knew it…"
Wu Liang was puzzled. "That's normal. What's wrong with that? Good performance naturally leads to more resources."
Ling Qingxue sighed. "Everyone wants more resources. This will lead to discord. I'm afraid someone will step forward to claim the commander's position, weakening the overall strength."
The commander was the leader of a team, and their contributions were naturally the greatest. Whoever became the leader would receive more resources after military training.
No one wanted to be subordinate; everyone wanted more resources!
Ling Qingxue was a genius, the top scorer in the martial arts exam, but she still couldn't defeat a Seventh Rank Insect King. So, it didn't matter who the leader was.
Beiming Feng waved his hand, signaling everyone to enter the secret realm.
Beiming Yan stood at the back, trying to sneak in with the crowd, but a large hand landed and grabbed her collar.
She struggled a couple of times but couldn't break free, and immediately unleashed a torrent of expletives.
"Beiming Feng, you son of a bitch, if you don't let go of me, you'll be sorry!"
Beiming Feng raised an eyebrow as he snatched her storage ring and took out a metal sphere the size of a lead ball.
This was a Flameburst Spirit Energy Bomb—incredibly powerful and with enough destructive force to kill a group of Seventh Rank magical beasts!
"You brat, you've even stolen from my house! You think I didn't know?"
Coming to his door all smiles—how could that be any good?
If she hadn't done something wrong, she wouldn't be Beiming Yan.
Beiming Yan raised her leg to kick him.
"Who told you to make military training so difficult? What if I die because I didn't take precautions? I'm your only sister! You're so cold-blooded!"
Beiming Feng put her down with a smile on his face.
"Haven't you always thought you were a genius? But how many things have you actually done that meet the standards of a genius? If you want to be a genius, then go prove it to everyone!"
Beiming Yan gritted her teeth, her face filled with indignation.
"Fine, I'll go! They all say you're the most talented person in the Beiming Family in five hundred years. I'll prove I'm more talented than you!"
With that, she pulled Ling Qingxue through the entrance to the secret place.
Beiming Lengyue frowned. "She's right. She's your only sister. Aren't you worried?"
"Of course I'm worried, but if she doesn't change her temperament, she'll only die sooner. I accept that she hates me, but I can't let her... die!" Beiming Feng said calmly.
He didn't deny Beiming Yan's talent. As the one contracted with the Northern Sea Kunpeng, Beiming Yan's future potential was even higher than his.
However, she was too childish, or rather, immature, which was a major downside for a martial artist.
Born into a large clan like the Beiming Family, she would inevitably have to go to the battlefield sooner or later. Even Beiming Feng wasn't confident he could protect himself in such a place, let alone his sister.
Therefore, before she went to the battlefield, Beiming Yan had to change!
He didn't teach her Sword Intent because he wanted her to comprehend it herself, to become stronger on her own, and to forge her own path to becoming a strong person!
This was his first time being someone's older brother, and he could only protect his little sister with his own clumsy methods.
Beiming Feng sighed. "I can only be with her for four more years at most. I might even have to go to the battlefield before she graduates from university. I might not even see her truly grow up. So I have to push her!"
Beiming Lengyue patted his shoulder.
"Although our human race is somewhat weak right now, we're not at our wits' end. It's not as serious as you say. Besides, even if the sky falls, there are still people to hold it up. You kids, it's not your turn to shoulder the burden just yet."
Beiming Feng smiled as if he didn't care.
"Just in case. Yan has always been a wild child. She won't grow without experiencing hardship. I don't want to go to the battlefield and never see her again."
People die every moment on the Outer Realm Battlefield. He, Beiming Feng, might also be buried far from home.
But that was not his concern. What he was worried about was... his sister, whom he watched grow up, being trampled on by others!
He absolutely would not allow it!!
The hardships she endured now would only become her means of survival on the battlefield!