Snow Peak Mountain Post Station.
Though it was called a small stockade, it was actually just a rudimentary village that had been improved and built up.
On both sides of the stockade stood nearly vertical cliffs, a hundred meters high, like two natural barriers. At the front and back were two enormous stone gates.
From afar, the Posthouse Small Stockade looked like a fortress wedged between the mountains.
Five buses arrived, and the Elite Class students and several teachers got off one after another.
Among the teachers, Zhang Jianguo sighed before introducing the place to the Elite Class students. "This is Snow Peak Mountain Post Station. Thanks to the natural terrain, aside from flying demon beasts and those skilled at climbing, most demon beasts can't get through."
As his voice fell, some of the Elite Class students excitedly stepped forward and exclaimed in amazement.
"This is practically a fortress town!"
"So cool! It's almost exactly like a defensive outpost from a game!"
"I heard these stone gates were built by Bocheng's famous Intermediate Earth Element Mage, Zhang Yuheng."
The students began discussing it animatedly.
Qin Yuan's gaze shifted as he too looked over the Posthouse Small Stockade.
His eyes moved from top to bottom before finally settling on a scruffy middle-aged man with a face full of stubble, who was not wearing a Military mage uniform.
He was a Fire Element Mage. Flames danced in his hand like lively sprites, circling his fingertips and fluttering around him, elegant and wondrous.
"Zhan Kong?"
Qin Yuan murmured.
The middle-aged man seemed to sense something and looked over. Seeing Qin Yuan, he gave a slight nod and revealed a faint smile.
Clearly, he knew Qin Yuan.
Several instructors stepped forward and spoke with the middle-aged man for a while, then waved at the group and shouted, "Pay attention, everyone. Follow us."
The group followed the instructors into the Posthouse Small Stockade.
As flowers raised in a greenhouse, the arrival of the Elite Class naturally drew the attention of the Military mages and hunters in the stockade.
"Heh, these brats are here again."
"Coming here for training—aren't they afraid they'll piss themselves?"
"I have to admit, I'm looking forward to seeing their faces when they spot demon beasts."
These people all wore mocking expressions and spoke in flippant tones.
Amid the constant chatter, Qin Yuan and the others arrived at an area specifically meant for stalls, filled with hunter mages selling Magic Tools.
Of course, whether the goods were actually worth the price was another matter.
Aside from Magic Tools, there were also magic stones.
As one of the All-Magic World's important resources, magic stones not only provided humanity with countless conveniences born of wisdom, but also served as food for most demon beasts.
Magic stones were formed through all kinds of special natural environments—wind and rain, tempering by thunder and fire, freezing snow and cold winds, and more.
These things were mostly found in the wilderness, and extracting them was impossible without mages.
After walking for a long time.
The group arrived at the open ground plaza in the center of the stockade.
The students stood in twos and threes, looking around curiously, wandering about, and chatting.
Qin Yuan, meanwhile, went to an unoccupied corner and quietly looked over the Military mages coming and going.
"You're Qin Yuan, right?"
At that moment, a mature voice came from beside him.
Qin Yuan turned and saw Zhan Kong, the stubbly middle-aged man, looking at him with a smile.
"Senior Zhan Kong."
Qin Yuan nodded and greeted him.
Zhan Kong was a Military mage who defended the country, and he had also once been Qin Yuer's captain.
Qin Yuan should naturally address him as "Senior." It was the most basic courtesy.
A person could be proud, but never arrogant enough to disregard everyone else.
"Mm."
Zhan Kong nodded with a smile. "You're Qin Yuer's younger brother, which makes you my younger brother too. Don't worry, I'll look after you."
"Although I'm not usually in Bocheng, if you run into any trouble, feel free to contact me."
He had come this time to greet Qin Yuan.
Qin Yuer had been his teammate and his lifesaver. By both sentiment and reason, he should look after Qin Yuan and make sure he was not wronged.
"Thank you, Senior Zhan Kong."
Qin Yuan smiled and said.
The two chatted for a few more moments before Zhan Kong finally left.
"Gather up! Gather up!"
"Everyone, please gather in the center of the plaza!"
Instructor Luo Yunbo shouted loudly.
The students scattered around the area quickly gathered in the center of the plaza and waited for instructions.
The hundred or so people were still divided into five groups, with twenty people in each group. Two examiners and one practical-course teacher stood at the front of every group.
"The Chief Instructor is here!"
A moment later, a group of uniformed Military mages marched neatly before everyone. The stubbly middle-aged man leading them was Zhan Kong.
Though Zhan Kong looked unkempt, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.
With just one glance, everyone reached the same conclusion.
Zhan Kong was no simple man.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Zhan Kong, your Chief Instructor for this two-month training period."
"You should consider yourselves fortunate, because you are the first group of trainees I've led since taking this post."
Zhan Kong's voice carried considerable authority, forming a stark contrast with his unkempt appearance.
The students were genuinely intimidated for a moment. Every one of them stood straight, and no one dared whisper or talk among themselves.
Seeing this.
Zhan Kong nodded in satisfaction and said loudly, "Since you are the first batch of rookies under my command, I can give you a little preferential treatment."
"Don't worry, the assessment won't be difficult. I believe that, as Bocheng's finest young mages, you will certainly be up to the task..."
As he spoke, Zhan Kong revealed a harmless smile.
Some students thought Zhan Kong truly intended to give them special treatment. Their eyes lit up, and they were delighted.
However, only the two instructors, Luo Yunbo and Pan Lijun, knew that their boss was about to stir up trouble again.
Zhan Kong continued, "I've just accepted the simplest bounty mission. Among the hundred of you, as long as one person completes it, everyone will pass the training evaluation and receive an A rating."
The moment those words came out.
An uproar broke out!
The students were stunned and could hardly believe it.
A bounty mission?
Even the simplest bounty mission required an experienced team of mages to complete.
They were merely a group of inexperienced students. Even with their numerical advantage, their experience could not compare to that of a seasoned mage squad. How were they supposed to complete it?
Preferential treatment?
Wasn't this outright abuse?
Everyone grumbled inwardly, but Zhan Kong's voice was too booming and his presence too imposing, so they did not dare question him aloud.
"If a hundred people can't even complete the simplest bounty mission, then you truly don't deserve the words 'Elite Class.'"
Zhan Kong's voice rang out clearly. Then he changed the subject. "Of course, for this bounty mission, I will personally give an additional Mortal Grade defensive Magic Tool to anyone who performs exceptionally well."
As the saying went, heavy rewards always inspired brave men.
Most of the Elite Class students came from ordinary backgrounds. Their families generally had no connections or resource support to offer them.
A Mortal Grade defensive Magic Tool was enough to make them take this seriously.
"Holy shit, a Mortal Grade defensive Magic Tool! That's something that can save your life!"
"Magic Tools have always been expensive. Even the cheapest ones cost at least a hundred or two hundred thousand!"
"A Mortal Grade defensive Magic Tool... wouldn't that be worth four or five hundred thousand?"
The group discussed it enthusiastically. Their earlier dejection was swept away, replaced by excitement.
And so, the hundred-person group split into several smaller teams and set off toward the location Zhan Kong had designated.
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