The Timid Starve, the Bold Feast

Jia Nan Academy's dormitory district was brightly lit.

The new students in every room gathered in twos and threes, all discussing the same topic.

"Did you hear? A Tier 3 Azure Wing Demonic Eagle appeared in the Trial Area at noon today!"

A tall, skinny new student lowered his voice as he gestured with his hands.

"Its wingspan was several meters wide!"

The fat student in the next bed abruptly sat upright.

"Seriously? Isn't that a Demonic Beast on the level of a Da Dou Shi?"

"Absolutely true!"

The skinny student leaned closer mysteriously.

"My cousin was on duty with the Enforcement Team. He saw Mentor Mo Cang carrying the eagle's corpse back with his own eyes."

At the corner of the corridor, several girls had gathered in a circle.

A girl with a ponytail had gone pale.

"I was planning to go for the trial tomorrow, but now that I think about it, forget it."

"Exactly! It's a flying Demonic Beast. You wouldn't even be able to run away!"

The bespectacled girl beside her pushed up her glasses.

At the stone tables beneath the dormitory building, several older students were drinking.

A Senior Student with a scar on his face snorted.

"This year's new students are really lucky. They ran into such a grand gift on their very first day."

"Give it a rest, Old Dao. When we went on our first mission back then, didn't that Tier 1 Crimson Flame Tiger chase us until we pissed ourselves?"

His companion filled his cup.

The entire academy was shrouded in a peculiar atmosphere.

The new students were both excited and frightened, while the older students watched with the mentality of enjoying the show.

Meanwhile, atop Qingyun Peak, where the mentors resided, several mentors sat around the council hall with grave expressions.

"This is already the third incident this month."

The white-haired elder tapped the table.

"High-level Demonic Beasts appearing in the Trial Area is no coincidence."

Mo Cang stood by the window with his arms folded, light falling across the side of his face.

"I examined that Demonic Eagle. There were traces of dark-element energy left inside its body."

As soon as he said this, the hall fell silent.

The gray-robed old man seated at the head slowly opened his eyes.

"The Blood Demon Sect?"

No one answered, but everyone already knew the answer in their hearts.

On the second floor of Jia Nan Academy's cafeteria, several rounds of drinks had passed.

Jiang Donghua suddenly leaned forward and moved close to the Liu siblings with a mysterious look.

"Pack your things tonight. At daybreak tomorrow, we'll go hunt Demonic Beasts again!"

"Pfft—"

Liu Mingyu sprayed out a mouthful of soup and widened his eyes.

"Are you crazy? There are Tier 3 Demonic Beasts roaming around there now!"

The chopsticks in Liu Yuting's hand clattered onto the table as she reached out to touch Jiang Donghua's forehead.

"Brother Donghua, did you drink too much?"

Jiang Donghua slapped her hand away, glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention, then lowered his voice.

"Use your brains! After something this big happened today, do you think the academy would just let students walk into their deaths?"

He lifted his wine cup and took a sip, his eyes gleaming.

"I'd bet the elders have already cleared out all the high-level Demonic Beasts by now. The timid won't dare to go, but the bold..."

He grinned.

"They'll probably feast until they burst!"

Liu Mingyu frowned in thought, his fingers unconsciously tapping the tabletop. "You mean the academy will strengthen its patrols?"

"Not just that!"

Jiang Donghua lowered his voice and rubbed his fingers together.

"As long as we're careful, we can definitely get even greater gains than we did today!"

Liu Yuting bit her lower lip, the ice crystal pendant at her neck faintly glowing in the candlelight.

"But what if—"

"There are no what-ifs!"

Jiang Donghua cut her off.

"We'll stay around the outskirts. The moment anything looks wrong, we retreat."

He raised his cup.

"After we finish this job, you two probably won't have to worry about your monthly assessment missions for the rest of the year!"

Hearing Jiang Donghua's words, the siblings both looked a little embarrassed.

Liu Yuting unconsciously clenched the corner of her clothes, while Liu Mingyu lowered his head to stare at his wine cup, lightly tapping the table with his fingers.

"Brother Donghua, actually, you don't have to go out of your way—"

Liu Yuting's voice was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.

"Stop right there!"

Jiang Donghua suddenly slapped the table, making the bowls and plates clatter. He scratched his head and revealed a somewhat awkward smile.

"What are you two thinking? Do I, Jiang Donghua, look like the kind of person who helps others just to repay a favor?"

He picked up the wine jug and poured each of them a cup, the wine glowing amber beneath the light.

"To tell you the truth,"

Jiang Donghua lowered his voice.

"I've seen too many idiots in the academy who only know how to bury their heads in cultivation. When it comes time for practical assessments, they don't even know the most basic teamwork."

He curled his lip.

"That's what you call miserable."

Liu Mingyu raised his head, a trace of confusion flashing through his eyes.

"But..."

"No buts!"

Jiang Donghua waved his hand grandly.

"The three of us work so well together! When we killed that Withered Leaf Snake today, everything went as smoothly as flowing water!"

He suddenly winked.

"Besides, if you really feel bad about it..."

He deliberately drew out the words and leaned closer with a mysterious expression.

"If you find any valuable treasures later, just remember to think of me first!"

"Pfft—"

Liu Yuting finally could not hold back her laughter, and the gloom in her eyes vanished.

She raised her wine cup, the ice crystal pendant glimmering softly in the candlelight.

"Then it's settled. If we find anything good in the future, Brother Donghua will be the first one we offer it to!"

"Hey, hey, that's not what I meant..."

Jiang Donghua cried out in mock grievance, only to see Liu Mingyu already laughing as he raised his cup.

The night had yet to fade, and Jia Nan Academy's dormitory district was still steeped in silence.

Jiang Donghua abruptly opened his eyes. A sharp gleam flashed through his dark pupils as he gently exhaled a breath of turbid air. The lingering alcohol in his body was instantly dispersed, turning into a wisp of white mist that vanished into the air.

"Phew—"

He silently grinned as he felt the abundant Dou Qi within his body, secretly delighted.

This AFK System can only cultivate automatically, but its stability is its strength.

Ever since he had inexplicably bound himself to this system, his cultivation speed had become several times faster than that of ordinary people.

Even when he slept, ate, or simply daydreamed, the Dou Qi in his body circulated automatically and slowly increased.

It was time to visit that place again and see if there was anything worth picking up.

The Trial Area was shrouded in a thin mist that morning. The surroundings were terrifyingly quiet, with even the chirping of insects and birds greatly diminished.

Jiang Donghua and the other two stood at the entrance, staring at the deep forest ahead as they swallowed in unison.

"Hiss... Why is it so quiet today?"

Liu Mingyu rubbed his arms, feeling a chill down his back.

Liu Yuting tightened her collar, the ice crystal pendant emitting a faint blue glow in the morning light as she said softly.

"After news spread that yesterday's Tier 3 Demonic Beast was slain, I guess no one dared to come."

Jiang Donghua grinned, excitement gleaming in his eyes.

"Isn't that perfect? No one to steal our prey, so we can get even more benefits!"

The three carefully stepped into the forest, dry leaves rustling softly beneath their feet.

Jiang Donghua walked at the front, his sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings as he said in a low voice.

"According to yesterday's information, the Tier 3 Demonic Beast has already been dealt with, but there may still be Tier 2 Demonic Beasts deeper in the Trial Area. Don't get too reckless."