Snow Peak Mountain Post Station, Trial Mission

Snow Peak Mountain Post Station.

Though called a small stockade, it was in truth nothing more than a crude village that had undergone some improvements.

On either side of the small stockade, near-vertical cliffs rose a hundred meters high, like two natural barriers. Before and behind stood two enormous stone gates.

From a distance, the Posthouse Small Stockade looked like a fortress wedged between the mountain valley.

Five buses pulled up. The Elite Class and several teachers alighted one after another.

Among the teachers, Zhang Jianguo let out a sigh, then introduced to the Elite Class students: "This is Snow Peak Mountain Post Station. Thanks to the natural terrain, aside from flying demons and those skilled at climbing, most other demons simply can't get through."

As his voice trailed off, some of the Elite Class students rushed forward excitedly, exclaiming in awe.

"This place is practically a fortress town!"

"So cool—it's almost exactly like a defensive stronghold in a game!"

"I heard these stone gates were built by Bocheng's famous Intermediate Earth Element Mage, Zhang Yuheng."

The students buzzed with chatter.

Qin Yuan's gaze swept around, taking in the Posthouse Small Stockade as well.

From top to bottom, his eyes finally settled on a middle-aged man who wore no military mage uniform, his face covered in stubble, unkempt and scruffy.

He was a Fire Element Mage. Flames danced around his fingertips like playful sprites, twirling and swirling gracefully through the air.

"Zhan Kong?"

Qin Yuan murmured.

The middle-aged man seemed to sense the gaze and looked over. Seeing it was Qin Yuan, he gave a slight nod and offered a faint smile.

Clearly, he knew Qin Yuan.

Several instructors stepped forward, exchanged a few words with the middle-aged man, then waved at the crowd and shouted, "Everyone, pay attention. Follow us."

The group trailed the instructors into the Posthouse Small Stockade.

As 'flowers of the greenhouse,' the arrival of the Elite Class naturally drew the attention of the military mages and hunters inside the stockade.

"Heh, these kids are here again."

"Coming here for training? Hope they don't wet their pants from fear."

"Not gonna lie, I'm kind of looking forward to seeing how these people react when they spot a demon."

These people all wore smirks, their tones flippant.

Amid the murmurs, Qin Yuan and the others arrived at a designated market area, where hunter mages hawked magic tools everywhere.

Of course, whether the goods held their value was another matter.

Besides magic tools, there were also magic stones.

As one of the vital resources in the All-Magic World, magic stones not only provided humanity with countless conveniences and wisdom but also served as food for most demons.

Magic stones were born from nature's wind and rain, thunder and fire, biting snow and chilling winds—all kinds of extreme environments.

These things were mostly found in the wild, and mining them required mages.

After walking for some time.

The group reached an open ground in the center of the small stockade.

The students scattered in twos and threes, some curious, some darting about, some chatting.

Qin Yuan, however, slipped to a quiet corner and silently observed the military mages coming and going.

"You're Qin Yuan, right?"

A mature voice sounded beside him.

Qin Yuan turned his head. The stubble-faced middle-aged man, Zhan Kong, was looking at him with a smile.

"Senior Zhan Kong."

Qin Yuan nodded and greeted him.

Zhan Kong was a military mage who defended the nation, and he had once been Qin Yuer's captain.

It was only proper for Qin Yuan to address him as 'Senior'—basic courtesy.

A person could be proud, but not arrogant.

"Mm."

Zhan Kong nodded with a smile. "You're Qin Yuer's little brother, so naturally, that makes you my little brother too. Don't worry, I'll look out for you."

"I'm not in Bocheng much, but if you ever run into trouble, just contact me."

His purpose in coming was simply to greet Qin Yuan.

As Qin Yuer's teammate and the one who had saved his life, it was only right—both emotionally and logically—that he 'look out' for Qin Yuan and make sure he wasn't wronged.

"Thank you, Senior Zhan Kong."

Qin Yuan smiled.

The two exchanged a few more words before Zhan Kong left.

"Assemble, assemble!"

"Everyone, gather in the center of the square!"

Instructor Luo Yunbo shouted loudly.

The students scattered around quickly assembled in the center of the square, awaiting orders.

There were about a hundred people, still divided into five groups of twenty each, with two examiners and one practical lesson teacher standing in front of each group.

"The Chief Instructor is here!"

Moments later, a line of uniformed military mages marched neatly to the front of the crowd. The scruffy middle-aged man at the lead was none other than Zhan Kong.

Though Zhan Kong was unkempt, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

With just one look, everyone reached the same conclusion.

Zhan Kong was no ordinary man.

"Let me introduce myself. I am your Chief Instructor for this two-month training exercise, Zhan Kong."

"You should consider yourselves lucky, because you are the first batch of trainees I've led since taking this post."

Zhan Kong's voice carried an imposing authority, forming a stark contrast with his unkempt appearance.

The students were genuinely intimidated for a moment, standing straight as rods, none daring to whisper or murmur.

Seeing this, Zhan Kong nodded in satisfaction and said loudly, "Since you're the first batch of 'rookies' I'm leading, I'll give you a little special treatment."

"Don't worry, the assessment won't be too hard. I believe that as Bocheng's most outstanding young mages, you'll be more than capable..."

As he spoke, Zhan Kong flashed a harmless smile.

Some students actually thought Zhan Kong was going to give them preferential treatment, so their eyes lit up with excitement.

But only the two instructors, Luo Yunbo and Pan Lijun, knew that their boss was about to stir up trouble again.

Zhan Kong continued, "I just picked up the simplest bounty mission. If just one person among you hundred can complete it, everyone's training evaluation will pass, and you'll receive an A rating."

As soon as he said this, Whoa!

The students erupted in an uproar, unable to believe it.

A bounty mission?

Even the simplest bounty mission required an experienced team of mages to complete.

They were just a bunch of green students. Even with numerical advantage, when it came to experience, they couldn't compare to a mature mage squad. How could they possibly finish it?

Special treatment?

More like mistreatment, surely?

Everyone grumbled inwardly, but dared not voice their doubts, intimidated by Zhan Kong's booming voice and overbearing presence.

"If a hundred people can't even complete the simplest bounty mission, then you're unworthy of the name 'Elite Class.'"

Zhan Kong's voice rang out clearly, then he shifted gears, saying, "Of course, for this bounty mission, I'll also personally award an outstanding performer a Mortal Grade defensive Magic Tool."

As the saying goes, 'generous rewards' bring forth brave men.

Most of the Elite Class students came from humble backgrounds, with little family connections or resource support.

A Mortal Grade defensive Magic Tool was enough to make them take things seriously.

"Damn, a Mortal Grade defensive Magic Tool—that's a life-saving treasure!"

"Magic Tools are always expensive. Even the cheapest ones cost a hundred or two hundred thousand."

"A Mortal Grade defensive Magic Tool... that must be four or five hundred thousand, right?"

Everyone buzzed with discussion, their earlier dejection swept away, replaced by a wave of excitement.

And so, the hundred-strong team split into several squads and set off toward the location Zhan Kong had designated.