A Scare?

Transport vehicles had already been prepared outside the academy, glowing with a faint blue light as they hovered fifty centimeters above the ground.

The huge metal carriage reeked of rust as everyone took their seats.

Boom!

Cries of alarm rang out. Accompanied by a sensation of weightlessness, the vehicle took off and merged into the elevated multi-level traffic lanes.

"Three things..." Hu Xiang paced back and forth through the carriage, drawing everyone's attention. His slightly hoarse voice carried absolute killing intent:

"First, obey orders without question. Outside the city is neither the academy nor your home. Anyone who disobeys orders, I have the right to kill directly."

"Second, only unity ensures survival. You must never act alone!"

"Third, accidents can happen at any time. Never play the hero!"

Su Chen noticed that as soon as those words were spoken, quite a few people had turned deathly pale with fright.

These were also written in the instructions they had received, specially highlighted in red.

He emphasized again, "Outside the city is nothing like inside it. Even a flower might contain deadly danger. Any abnormality must be reported. If your actions lead to someone else's death, your family will be responsible for the compensation."

Every sentence contained the word death and strong implications of it. A few people were already trembling. Hu Xiang secretly shook his head. These people had really been protected too well.

His gaze discreetly swept over that fellow named Su Chen again, only to find him expressionless, without the slightest ripple in his eyes.

As expected of a drifter. These words could not frighten him.

Hu Xiang held no prejudice against drifters. He even believed such unusual experiences could be beneficial.

"Unfortunately, he offended someone he shouldn't have." He secretly shook his head.

Hu Xiang was not much of a talker. After issuing the warning, he fell silent.

The atmosphere was quiet, and for a while, no one spoke.

Zhou Zong and the others had already gathered into a small circle, including Shen Ying'er, that exceptionally gifted girl. There were also several others who did not seem ordinary. At the very least, Hu Xiang's words had not frightened them.

Because of where she was seated, Bai Fengxi was perhaps not considered part of their group—or rather, she remained on its fringes.

"...In a while, Zhang Yunqing will be holding a Southwind Academy alumni gathering. They say it might have something to do with Yingfeng..." Zhou Zong suddenly brought up something.

Though he was some distance away, Su Chen's senses were extremely sharp, and he heard it clearly.

The people around Zhou Zong looked eager. Shen Ying'er had leaned especially close, repeatedly hinting that she hoped he could introduce her to someone, but Zhou Zong merely changed the subject.

Not long after, the transport vehicle came to a stop. The moment Su Chen stepped out, a massive city wall filled his view.

It stood more than ten meters tall, built from black crystals that faintly glowed white. It stretched so far to either side that its ends were nearly impossible to see.

So this was Morningstar Stone, Su Chen thought as he examined it.

Hu Xiang was speaking with the officer at the city gate. Naturally, the main gate would not be opened for them, so they headed to a smaller gate on one side.

It was called a small gate, but it was still three or four meters tall.

"Get ready!" Hu Xiang shouted. With a series of clicks, the smaller gate slowly opened, and a chill suddenly rushed in.

Everyone tensed. They could not help peering through the opening at the world outside. Su Chen did the same.

It was currently daytime, the "Sun Mist" phase. Everything was still cast in a gray haze.

Desolate, barren, decayed.

Those were the first words that came to Su Chen's mind, though visibility was not particularly poor, and they could see quite far.

"Move!" Hu Xiang shouted, taking the lead as everyone followed behind him in a single file.

Boom!

A tremendous crash came from behind them, making everyone's hearts leap. The city gate had closed.

"Mom..." Someone's voice trembled. Within the endless mist, the fear in their hearts seemed to be infinitely magnified.

"Turn around every ten to fifteen steps. Report it if anyone is missing or if you notice anything unusual," Hu Xiang gave his first order.

Bai Fengxi suddenly moved back to Su Chen's side and said quietly, turning her head, "Zhou Zong should not be in this team. Whoever sent him may have bad intentions. Be careful."

Su Chen looked at Bai Fengxi's delicate profile. His mind was unusually active, and an inexplicable sensation arose within him.

It was not attraction, but a kind of...

"The feeling of a professional." Su Chen's eyes widened in surprise. This woman had already become one so quickly?

Amid everyone's fear and panic, the group gradually headed deeper out into the wilderness, while Southwind City behind them slowly vanished into the mist.

The mist appeared ordinary enough. It had long been studied and confirmed to pose no danger.

However, it could block all kinds of communication equipment and even suppress spiritual perception. Su Chen could feel it. He had originally been able to sense the general situation within nearly ten meters, but now it only extended three or four.

Su Chen stretched out his hand through the thin mist. Hu Xiang periodically opened a virtual screen and used special equipment to fix their direction.

"Watch out..."

A sudden shout came from ahead. The ground trembled slightly. Due to the characteristics of a Sky-Rending Warrior, Su Chen keenly sensed the mist's flow abruptly quicken. A shadow also vaguely emerged from the fog before him.

Roar—

A deafening beastly roar rang out. Terror filled everyone's faces as the black shadow suddenly lunged from the mist. A stench washed over them, and black mane struck fear into their hearts.

It was a massive wolf. Su Chen saw it clearly. The students nearly scattered in panic; the attack had come too suddenly, and they had never experienced such a savage scene.

Su Chen narrowed his eyes. From the corner of his vision, he saw Bai Fengxi's expression turn solemn. With a flick of her hand, a metal disc unfolded around her arm and rapidly formed a small shield.

Su Chen could hear her slightly hurried breathing. Her expression grew increasingly grave, and his face shifted slightly as he backed away behind Bai Fengxi.

Bai Fengxi froze in confusion.

Boom!

Just then, a streak of fire shot through the air like a falling meteor and struck the black wolf squarely. Flames surged into the sky as the wolf's body convulsed, pinned dead in the middle of its charge.

"Get back here, all of you!" Hu Xiang leaped onto the wolf's body and swept his gaze around.

Another scare... Su Chen was not surprised in the least. With Hu Xiang here, it was not their turn to show off.

The City Patrol Guard had formed a defensive formation at once. The students were in a miserable state; some were even lying on the ground, shaking uncontrollably. Yet none had escaped their watch.

Hu Xiang observed them in secret. Only a few had barely remained calm. The only one worth noting was that girl, whose eyes contained a faint trace of madness, as though she were ready to fight for her life.

A professional? His brow rose. He reached out and seized the crimson spear embedded in the wolf's head. With a shake of his hand, the metal spear contracted inch by inch until it was as thick as an arm, then he flung it onto his back.

The people around them gradually calmed down as well. Their legs still trembled, and none dared look directly at the wolf corpse lying on the ground.

Zhou Zong only felt his heart pounding wildly. It took a great deal of effort for him to make himself move.

Why use a mutant to scare them this time? Hadn't they always deliberately let a few people get away before?

"Count heads." Hu Xiang issued an order, and Bai Fengxi put away her shield as well.

Only then did he notice Su Chen hiding behind Bai Fengxi, peeking around her.

The corner of this cold-blooded tough man's eye twitched slightly. He had clearly seen Su Chen hide behind Bai Fengxi just now.

Impressive. No wonder someone wanted him dead.

"You're in for a feast tonight." Hu Xiang called his people over and began dismembering the giant beast.

"Boss, what's going on? Using a mutant to scare these little brats, and you didn't even tell us." One of his subordinates quietly vented his dissatisfaction. "You gave us a scare too."

"Isn't it good to see how much edge you all still have?" Hu Xiang shot him a sidelong glance. The subordinate left with an awkward laugh, while Hu Xiang looked worriedly into the distance before lowering his head to the virtual screen in his hand.

No one had informed him, either.