Joint Training

"I noticed this a long time ago. That's why, even before I became principal, I proposed establishing several universities to the Social Security Bureau, despite everyone else's objections.

Unfortunately, I was still too late. The tragedy orchestrated by the Void Order happened anyway."

Regret and sorrow dissolved into the wind, bringing a faint chill.

Most of the teachers sitting in the stands had never recovered from that tragedy.

Ding Ruixue drew a deep breath. "So what do you plan to do?"

"If we keep letting the students choose for themselves, it'll be just like before. Most of them will choose Four Symbols Academy."

Lan Huaiyu's lips curved slightly as she stood. A sweeping breeze lifted the strands of hair at her temples, tracing a sharp arc across her brow.

She parted her lips and slowly uttered two words:

"Joint training."

"The top twelve students in the Gaokao will receive joint training from all four major universities, regardless of which school they choose. The program will continue afterward, too.

Each university will have three slots, and those slots won't be permanent. They'll be updated once a month. Anyone who defeats a current slot holder in a challenge can receive joint training.

We'll start with twelve slots, then adjust according to the plan and gradually make more available."

Zhao Zhe abruptly raised his head. "That way, the candidates won't all flock to Four Symbols Academy. Compared to the fierce competition there, the other three universities might be a better choice."

Lan Huaiyu nodded. "We can't abandon the development of top-tier combat power, but we can't let some students lose hope, either.

By broadening our horizons instead of limiting ourselves to a single university, competition between the four major universities will give ordinary Awakened more attention and help them go further.

With the students spread out, we won't have all our eggs in one basket anymore. The future will be better."

Lei Yue looked at the students in the arena and raised a question:

"Not every student is good at fighting, right? Does that mean students with support abilities won't have a chance at joint training?"

Zhao Zhe shrugged. "Unfortunately, that seems to be the case. Besides, joint training is a little redundant for students with support abilities.

The universities' support departments already share most of their resources. Compared to combat students, support students are extremely rare, so teaching resources are largely shared. They don't need to compete for a joint training slot at all."

Lan Huaiyu disagreed.

"Don't underestimate support students. I think someone could break the mold."

"Ye Buyu?" Ding Ruixue pointed toward the center of the arena.

"Her ability certainly is unusual, but if she can't land a hit, it's meaningless, isn't it?"

"Let's wait and see." Lan Huaiyu had a persistent feeling that Ye Buyu could break the mold and secure a joint training slot.

Whatever guesses the teachers in the stands made, those in the arena could only focus on the battles in front of them.

Ye Buyu had no idea what Lan Huaiyu expected of her. She was happily nestled among a pile of materials, blissfully counting her points.

"Ye Buyu, catch!"

She looked up and reached out, catching the high-grade material Mu Bingge tossed from a distance, then excitedly fired a bullet.

"Here's my share!"

Another material dropped from above, and Ye Buyu cheerfully shot Lou Guanshan.

Watching Ye Buyu bustle around, Kou Ying's face darkened with exasperation.

"No matter how you look at it, this healing method is just bizarre."

The deployment of twice as many zombies was complete, and fierce battles raged throughout the arena.

Under the relentless onslaught, candidates were continually eliminated, their runs ending in disappointment.

Yet despite all the time that had passed, no candidates other than Mu Bingge and the other two had approached Ye Buyu for healing.

First, healing came at a cost. Those materials counted toward their own points, so exchanging them for healing felt like a loss.

Second, that healing method was still far too outrageous. They couldn't quite stomach it.

There was an exception, however.

A girl with plant abilities secretly watched Ye Buyu for a long time, then approached her with the materials she had collected.

"Could you help heal me?"

"Sure."

Ye Buyu took the materials and struck the girl with her palm.

"Urgh..."

Ye Buyu froze, her raised hand suspended in midair. Before her stood a pale-faced girl coughing up blood.

Ye Buyu instantly bristled and backed away several steps.

"You're trying to scam me!"

Kou Ying frowned and subtly stepped in front of Ye Buyu, watching the girl with a deeply furrowed brow.

A dark gleam welled up in Kou Ying's eyes, and the shadows underfoot stood ready to strike.

The plant-ability girl wiped the blood from her lips and said bitterly, "Sorry. My injuries were pretty serious."

Ye Buyu patted her chest. "You scared me half to death! I thought I'd hit your wound."

"My name is Bajiao. Thank you for healing me, Ye Buyu."

Bajiao gave Ye Buyu a long look, and another streak of startling red appeared at the corner of her mouth.

She coughed weakly, her pleasant voice turning frail and hoarse.

"Sorry, could I rest here for a while?"

Ye Buyu blinked. "Go ahead."

Bajiao smiled brightly. "You're such a kind person."

Bajiao sat on the ground to catch her breath, then looked at the still-vigilant Kou Ying and gave a slightly awkward smile.

"I don't mean any harm. You don't have to be so wary of me. Besides, I couldn't beat you anyway."

"Not necessarily," Kou Ying said pointedly.

Bajiao tilted her head in confusion, not understanding the implication.

She flexed her hands, sensing the changes inside her body, then looked curiously at Ye Buyu.

"Your ability really is unusual, Ye Buyu. I heard you only awakened recently. It's honestly quite surprising that you've come this far in such a short time."

Ye Buyu smiled bashfully. "You're exaggerating."

Bajiao shook her head, seemingly getting carried away with their chat. "You performed really well against the Wind-Thunder Cantor and the Void Cultist, too.

Even when the Void Cultist tried to capture you, you managed to handle it. If that's what you call being weak, you're far too modest, Ye Buyu."

Ye Buyu smiled awkwardly, but something felt wrong.

Haha... was that Void Cultist trying to capture me?

The instant her thoughts stalled, Bajiao vanished from where she stood, and a sense of danger crept up Ye Buyu's spine.

"That's not right!"

Even she wasn't certain what the Void Cultist's target had been. How could this person know?

Ye Buyu spun around. A hand entwined with green vines grew rapidly larger in her vision. Without hesitation, she fired several bullets and backed away.

As the healing bullets struck the tentacle-like vines, the vines instantly dissolved like butter beneath a hot knife.

Bajiao tossed out several materials and coughed up blood. "Your ability really is strange. It heals people, but it hurts me."

In the next instant, Bajiao appeared right in front of Ye Buyu, her claw-like hand suddenly filling Ye Buyu's vision.

No, I can't dodge it.

"Got you."

The icy voice reached her ears as her vision was gradually obscured.

At the critical moment, spikes rose from the darkness, blocking the hand that was mere inches away.

Black shadows pulled Ye Buyu back to safety.

Kou Ying stared coldly at Bajiao and spoke with perfect clarity.

"I won't let you get away with this, Void Cultist."