Chapter 439: Counter-Probe and Information (4k)
As Instructor Luo Dong’s voice rang out, the field fell silent. Then, like a firecracker being lit, the students erupted, with countless voices scolding Su Jiu, this young lady, and Luo Dong.
In an instant, Luo Dong’s imposing figure seemed to gain a touch of righteousness, like a brave warrior challenging the evil dragon, Su Jiu.
“Chief Instructor Luo wants to test your strength. Don’t feel pressured, and you’re not allowed to use alchemical items. As long as you demonstrate the strength of an Advanced Stage Warrior, he won’t make things difficult for you.” Hearing Luo Dong’s voice, Mr. Lu Nan was slightly taken aback, then he cautioned Su Jiu.
“Don’t worry, Instructor Lu, I have the strength of an Advanced Stage Warrior. I’m definitely not here through connections.”
Facing Mr. Lu Nan’s warning, which was ostensibly strict but actually protective, Su Jiu smiled and waved her hand. She knew his words weren’t just for her, but rather…
Then, smiling again, she looked at Luo Dong, who was walking towards the martial arts arena. She then raised the small token in her hand and flashed it in front of him, explaining softly, “You can’t sense my cultivation because my family gave me this token to conceal my aura and cultivation. It’s just an Advanced Stage Warrior, so I have no reason to hide it.”
“Indeed, it’s a special material for concealing aura.”
Slowly walking onto the stage, Luo Dong’s gaze swept over the token in Su Jiu’s hand, his brow furrowing slightly. Then his gaze fell on the center of the 2.5-meter radius circle, which served as the competition area, and he pointed there, saying, “To prevent the students from saying we faked it, how about we use that spot as the boundary? I will only use the power of an Advanced Stage Warrior, and we will exchange three moves. If you step out of the circle, you will be eliminated, what do you say?”
Mr. Lu Nan frowned slightly at the opponent directly modifying the trial rules but couldn’t find any grounds to object, as the modified rules were technically not problematic.
“Of course, there’s no problem.”
Nodding with a light laugh, Su Jiu leisurely strolled into the circle. She could feel that Chief Instructor Luo Dong was already a bit wary of her, perhaps trying to probe her.
He likely wanted to test her strength. If she were an ordinary Advanced Stage Warrior, it would dispel his remaining concerns.
“Jiusu, classmate, I hope you will also use a weapon, otherwise, it would be too unfair.”
After Su Jiu entered the circle, Luo Dong walked over with a smile, appearing harmless. Facing her, a white light flashed, and he held a massive iron halberd that matched his physique. Just looking at it, it seemed to weigh a thousand jin. He struck the stage with the butt of the halberd, making a “boom!” sound.
Seeing this display, the surrounding students who disliked Su Jiu erupted with a sea of cheers. Many hoped this “brave warrior” could defeat the “evil dragon.” Su Jiu’s attitude of having privileges that others didn’t was infuriating.
“Okay.”
Hearing this, Su Jiu narrowed her eyes. In her spiritual space, she glanced at E Huo, who had eaten her fill. She lightly flicked its head with her mental power. While it was still groggy, she brought out the small flaming blade used for prying open macadamia nuts.
“Chief Instructor Luo, please make your move.”
Another flash of white light appeared. She held the flaming dagger in a reverse grip, half-bowed, as if ready to receive his first attack.
“I can sense a terrifying aura from the weapon in her hand. The intensity of the flames on it has almost reached the War General Level.”
Clenching his fists and watching the two on the stage, Chuan Guang’s eyes flashed with shock, but soon followed by calmness.
“Heh heh, you still say you’re not relying on your parents’ influence. This kind of demonic bloodline weapon likely requires a Battle King Level from that race.”
As both sides harbored their own intentions, the trial finally began. The scene became lively, with eyes darting between Su Jiu and Luo Dong.
“Student, please be careful! I won’t use external qi augmentation. Take this first strike.”
As the words fell, the long halberd whistled through the air. In an instant, everyone below the stage felt their vision blur. Two streaks of light flashed, followed by the clang of metal and a burst of sparks from within the 2.5-meter circle at the center.
“Clang!”
The crowd could hardly see what was happening. Upon closer inspection, Su Jiu was seen half-bowed, her flaming dagger held at an angle like a nimble antelope, deflecting the edge of the heavy halberd. Dust rose from beneath her feet as she retreated only two steps.
Her gaze was as clear as water as she looked at the long halberd. She could feel that this strike was already at the Advanced Stage Warrior level. If it were a non-strength-oriented Advanced Stage Warrior, they would likely have been sent flying.
Luo Dong was clearly stunned. He could feel that his opponent hadn’t used external qi either and had managed to block this Advanced Stage Warrior level strike with sheer strength. Was it a coincidence?
“Cough cough… Chief Instructor Luo, wasn’t that a bit too powerful?”
Ignoring the surprise from below the stage, Su Jiu lowered her head slightly, coughed, and gasped for breath as if deliberately trying to excuse herself.
The students below the stage were already incredulous that Su Jiu could withstand such a powerful blow without ill effect. Upon hearing her words, they felt a little relieved, thinking that their levels were all about the same.
“It’s definitely at the Advanced Stage Warrior Level… but that was just an appetizer. Try to take another move from me.” Luo Dong said with a faint smile. This person named Jiusu was too strange; it would be best to eliminate her.
He then swept his long halberd horizontally, colliding with Su Jiu’s Crimson Flame Dagger, emitting a dazzling light. It seemed like a lone wolf’s howl as it aimed directly at Su Jiu’s face, its speed and power incomparable to the previous strike.
Sensing the opponent’s deliberate increase in force to test her, Su Jiu’s eyes sank. She leaned back, watching the halberd narrowly miss her.
“How about you take a strike from me, Chief Instructor Luo?”
Then, with a low shout, she lunged directly at his face. The Crimson Flame dagger, wreathed in flames, carried the external qi unique to an Advanced Stage Warrior.
“Not bad…”
Seeing Su Jiu dare to counterattack, Luo Dong’s pupils sank, and a killing intent surged within him. However, he quickly suppressed it. Facing the dagger stabbing towards him, he disregarded their agreement and instantly summoned an energy shield.
Under everyone’s gaze, the moment Su Jiu touched the energy shield, there was a “bang!” She was sent flying like an ordinary high school student, with no power to resist, falling just a few centimeters from the circle’s edge. She lay half-sprawled on the ground, her hair slightly disheveled.
The lightning-fast exchange ended with such a result. The high school students watching were all solemn. Many put themselves in Su Jiu’s position, asking themselves if they dared to swing their sword at Luo Dong. The answer was no…
Chuan Guang, her brow slightly raised, could sense a different combat feeling from Su Jiu, but couldn’t quite articulate what it was.
At this moment, Lu Nan, as if by unspoken agreement, made a few swift movements and landed in front of Su Jiu. With a neutral expression, he said to Luo Dong, “Chief Instructor Luo, you just used force above the War General Level, which is a violation. This student has definitely reached the Advanced Stage Warrior level. Please let this matter rest.”
“Indeed, an Advanced Stage Warrior…”
Luo Dong glanced at Su Jiu, who was lying on the ground, and the doubt in his eyes finally dissipated. He quickly scratched his head and apologetically explained, “I saw her attack, and I instinctively used the energy shield to block. I’ll go call a doctor for her now.”
Saying this, he turned and walked towards the infirmary, even jogging, as if he were very concerned about Su Jiu’s condition.
“Jiusu, you have passed the test. You are appointed as the deputy leader of the Fourth Squad.”
Watching Luo Dong leave, Lu Nan announced loudly. Then he turned, squatted down, and instructed Su Jiu, “You can go back to your dormitory to recover from your injuries. You don’t have to participate in the joint training until you’re healed.”
He didn’t understand why Su Jiu was hiding her strength. Since she chose to do so, there must be a reason.
“Thank you, Teacher. My injuries should be mostly healed by the time of the field training.”
Hearing Lu Nan’s words, Su Jiu’s lips curved into a smile. She thanked him, then supported herself with her arm and stood up. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, she clutched her chest and staggered away from the martial arts arena towards the dormitory. She ignored the doctor and, after taking a few turns, headed to a shop.
After buying some snacks, she returned to her curtained bed and began her alchemy work. Because of the day’s battle, the high school students were much quieter and didn’t come to disturb her.
While she was alchemy, the communication pen lit up quite unusually in the middle of the night. Su Jiu quickly put down the half-finished alchemy materials, and Li Ziwei’s face appeared on the other end.
The background seemed to be a dilapidated toilet, with perpetual wind and snow blowing in through a ventilation duct. Everything about the place was in stark contrast to his formal suit.
After creating a barrier with external qi, he lit a cigarette and took a puff, then said softly, “I have been appointed as the formation master for a certain city’s divine descent. However, they don’t want me to preside over the formation myself. They need an Intermediate Battle King who will obey me to regulate the formation.”
“If there’s a regulator, I can secretly infiltrate the Dragon Country forces within this city and collude with the Black-clad Bishops dispatched by the Ancient God Sect to trap and kill those Dragon Country forces.”
“Intermediate Battle King…”
After listening to Li Ziwei’s words, Su Jiu pondered for a moment and then asked, “Can’t your family send someone?”
“You know, the moment I left the country, the people from the Ancient God Sect demanded that I communicate with my family. When my family saw me associating with the Ancient God Sect, they wanted to sever ties with me… I don’t dare to tell the Ancient God Sect that, for fear they’ll think I’m worthless.”
Leaning against the dirt wall covered in graffiti and phone numbers, Li Ziwei exhaled a cloud of smoke, resembling mist, sighed, and shook his head with a wry smile. “If someone can be pulled through connections to be a clean Intermediate Battle King, we can secure a city. Not only will we be much safer, but we can also disrupt the casting of the top-tier divine descent spell.”
“…Alright, an Intermediate Battle King will arrive soon.”
Su Jiu pondered for a moment, nodded, and her gaze swept over the light visible through the ventilation opening. Her eyes condensed slightly, and she said softly, “Are there any other problems? It seems someone is approaching.”
Taking out a small paper notebook filled with cartoon drawings, Li Ziwei also glanced at the light, dimming the glow of his external qi slightly. He flipped through several pages of the notebook, finally revealing a page full of names, his voice becoming quieter. “Record all these names. These are some of the relatives who have defected. The Ancient God Sect’s moves this time are very large, involving at least dozens of dignitaries.”
“Their cultivation is not as high as mine, so arranging them is simple. Once the Dragon Country forces arrive, they will use their advantageous positions to gain authority or deceive those in charge of the teams.”
“Indeed, this is very important. For this alone, your contribution might reach the Grand Temple Elder…”
Hearing this, Su Jiu nodded and quickly took a picture with her phone. This information was undoubtedly equivalent to a list of traitors. Intercepting them or monitoring them would reduce casualties significantly.
“Heh heh… Elder, I hope so. Tell the person coming to say they are from the Li family. The address is No. 196, Xicidong Street, Gunazha City.”
With a laugh, Li Ziwei extinguished his cigarette and closed his pen. He could sense someone approaching from outside…
Another sleepless night passed. She only managed to make a few Meng Hua, and the rest of the time was spent exchanging list information with Youyou and assigning personnel.
Early in the morning, Su Jiu headed towards the place where she had made an appointment with someone.
Last night, after discussing with Youyou, she realized she didn’t know many people with clean identities. If she asked the Night Watchers, those Intermediate Battle Kings were rarely unknown within the Ancient God Sect. Figures like Ren were quite prominent within the Ancient God Sect.
And asking others was difficult due to their unclean identities. In the end, her target fell upon…
“Spider Granny, are you out of your mind?! You gave away the cake I bought you for breakfast!”
“Heh heh, I feel like it… And that handsome guy, he’s good-looking, just a bit too burly for my taste. I prefer more refined men, those who look good in ancient attire.”
“Heh heh, you nympho…” Bai Zhi retorted mercilessly.
Lin Mei crossed her arms and looked at Bai Zhi’s stomach with a look of disdain, saying, “Says you.”
“You…”
Looking at the pair arguing on the bench not far away, Su Jiu was speechless. These two must have become friends through fighting, right? They would quarrel whenever they met.
“Cough cough…” Su Jiu walked up to them, coughed twice, and watched them stop their actions. Then she looked directly at Lin Mei and said,
“Last night, I called Bai Zhi, and what I told her, are you interested in going?”
Hearing Su Jiu’s words, Lin Mei was slightly taken aback. She turned to look at Su Jiu, remained silent for a moment, and then asked tentatively, “If I do this kind of thing, does the Dragon Country provide marriage? I need to overcome this worldly calamity, or I won’t be able to break through to the War God Level in this lifetime.”
Su Jiu, who had been expecting the other party to state her demands, was left speechless by this. She looked at the woman in the qipao, who had a cold and elegant appearance and exuded an air of sophistication. In the end, she reluctantly said,
“Of course, we do…”
If it weren’t for her exceptionally high standards, she probably would have a line of suitors stretching three streets long. She hoped Li Ziwei could seize the opportunity and win over this seemingly cold husky who constantly fought with her own little kitten.
“Let’s go!”
