The next day, Fang Bai asked Mo Ming for leave.
Normally, Fang Bai and Qi Tian were key students under the Gemini Class's special care and were not allowed to take leave. But Fang Bai still applied for it, gritting his teeth as he paid ten points.
Before long, Fang Bai found Huo Qi.
Zhang Zifeng was there too.
"Eh? You got stronger again? Been popping pills?"
Zhang Zifeng looked at Fang Bai in surprise.
Fang Bai said modestly, "It's all talent. Basic stuff, haha."
Zhang Zifeng was speechless.
"Is this the specially recruited newcomer?"
A voice rang out just then.
Fang Bai looked over. Besides Huo Qi and Zhang Zifeng, there were two others—a man and a woman.
The one speaking was the young man.
Zhang Zifeng introduced them, "This is Yu Bing, from the second-year Wind Element Class One. And this beauty is Li Xue, a third-year senior, a wood-element Tier 3 Martial Artist, and the captain of this mission."
Fang Bai looked at the girl. She wore a high ponytail, stood over 1.6 meters tall, and had a great figure. She was studying him as well.
"Hello, Senior Li."
Li Xue smiled. "Little Zhang told me about it after he came back from Willow Leaf Town. He said the martial academy had gotten several newcomers. I didn't expect you to be a Dual Element Awakener too. Not bad."
Fang Bai said modestly, "Just luck, just luck. I still have much to learn from you, Senior."
"Heh, you certainly do need to learn. Newcomers should have the self-awareness of newcomers."
Yu Bing spoke in a strange, mocking tone.
As soon as he said that, Zhang Zifeng and Huo Qi frowned.
Fang Bai raised a brow. He could tell that the other man was displeased with him—and looked down on him.
But Fang Bai had no intention of indulging him. He immediately smiled and asked, "This... uh, Student Yu. I don't think I've offended you, have I?"
Yu Bing said coolly, "No, you haven't. But you seem to have no manners at all. You saw a senior and didn't even know to greet him?"
Fang Bai grinned. "First, I'm a second-year too. We're in the same year. Second, what the fuck are you supposed to be? Who are you to judge me?!"
Li Xue narrowed her eyes, surprised by Fang Bai's backbone.
Yu Bing was at Mid Second Order. For Fang Bai to confront him like this was undoubtedly unwise.
Yu Bing's expression darkened as he stared coldly at Fang Bai. "A newcomer, yet you're this arrogant?"
"Hey, hey, hey! Yu Bing, that's enough. We're all second-years, so quit putting on airs like some senior. The mission hasn't even started, so why are you saying things that hurt the team's unity?"
Zhang Zifeng was blunt by nature and spoke up directly.
He disliked Yu Bing too. If Li Xue had not invited him, Zhang Zifeng would not have bothered teaming up with him.
Yu Bing glanced at Zhang Zifeng and sneered, "Zhang Zifeng, we're taking on an A-rank Mission. Are you sure a guy who hasn't even reached Second Order won't hold us back?"
As he spoke, he looked at Li Xue. "Sister Xue, I suggest we kick this brat out of the team and find someone else."
Just as Li Xue was about to speak, Huo Qi said, "Fang Bai isn't weak. He's also a Dual Element Awakener, and his second awakening is the dark element. He'll be helpful for this mission."
"No! Even if he has dual elements, First Order is still First Order. One mistake, and he could get us all killed!"
Yu Bing retorted.
Fang Bai was displeased. "Is your brain stuffed with shit? Everyone else agrees, yet you're the only one yammering on and on? Want to fight? If you lose, get the hell out."
Honestly, with an idiot like this on the team, Fang Bai wanted to quit the group himself. With this sort of trash around, their odds of dying would rise sharply. If Yu Bing stabbed them in the back, it would be no joke.
But Fang Bai was in a special period right now, so naturally, he wanted to improve as quickly as possible.
Hearing that, Yu Bing sneered. "Fine! You little bastard! I'll even give you one hand!"
"Enough!"
Li Xue finally spoke. Frowning, she said, "Calm down. We're only cooperating temporarily. This mission is urgent and highly dangerous, so watch yourselves. Otherwise, don't blame me for being merciless."
After a pause, she said, "Whatever grudges you have, once we leave the martial academy, settle them however you want."
Fang Bai and Yu Bing exchanged a look, both calculating how to deal with the other.
Classmates? In this world where the weak were meat for the strong, only hard fists made sense!
I don't like the look of you, so I'll kill you!
Zhang Zifeng and Huo Qi also shot Yu Bing unfriendly looks.
They had a fairly good impression of Fang Bai. Besides, Yu Bing was notorious among the second-years for being narrow-minded, and they found him unpleasant too.
"Let's go accept the mission."
The five of them arrived at the Mission Hall.
Li Xue went straight to the counter and said, "Hello, I'd like to accept Mission No. 58."
The staff member glanced at her, then said, "This mission requires a team of at least five people, and its danger rating is as high as four stars. Are you sure you want to accept it?"
Li Xue nodded. "I'm sure!"
The staff member nodded. "All right. Please register your information along with your teammates'."
Before long, the five of their details were entered into the system.
The staff member handed Li Xue a card and an A4 sheet. "This is the mission card. It must be returned when you hand in the mission. This is also the mission briefing. Good luck."
Fang Bai and the others gathered around and looked at the A4 sheet.
The mission information was printed on it:
[Mission Name]: Hunt a Tier 3 monster, the Thunder Spotted Python. Ensure the Monster Cores are intact and all internal organs are complete! [Mission Rank: A-rank] [Mission Reward: 5000 points!] [Requirements: As the Thunder Spotted Python is a pack-dwelling monster, this mission is highly difficult and requires a team of at least five people! The team leader must also possess at least Tier 3 cultivation!] [Time Limit: Within one month.] [Warning: Thunder Spotted Pythons usually appear in A-rank or higher dimensional spaces. The death rate is extremely high. Those accepting this mission, please proceed with caution! Repeating! The death rate is extremely high! The death rate is extremely high!!]
"Hunting a Tier 3 monster..."
Fang Bai's gaze sharpened. As expected of an A-rank Mission. No wonder they needed a team.
Yu Bing sneered from the side. "What, scared? If you don't want to be reincarnated, just stay curled up in the martial academy."
Fang Bai said blandly, "Student Yu should worry about himself. After all, the death rate in dimensional spaces is very high~"
Yu Bing sneered.
Brat! Once we enter the dimensional space, let's see who plays whom to death!
Li Xue said flatly, "Make your preparations. A dedicated vehicle will pick us up in an hour. Of course, all of you need to be ready. This time, we're heading to an A-rank dimensional space!"
Everyone nodded.
Fang Bai left midway and went to find Qi Tian.
"You're going to an A-rank dimensional space?!"
Qi Tian stared at him in shock.
Fang Bai nodded. "Yeah, I'm carrying out a mission. There's a Tier 3 carrying us."
Qi Tian said, "Then be careful. It's fucking dangerous in there. Don't get yourself killed."
Fang Bai nodded. "Of course. By the way, Old Qi, do you still have any Spirit Burst Beads left from last time?"
"Yeah. What do you want them for?"
"They'll be useful. Don't ask."
Before you continue