Chapter 263

"The levitation train has resumed operation. Those who wish to travel to the Demon Beast Forest for training can purchase tickets on-site."

"Phew, after being locked down for so long, we can finally leave the city."

"So the military has successfully wiped them out?"

"I heard it wasn't successful. The Green-Membrane Bird tribe's leader returned halfway through the extermination, and then the army retreated."

"The Green-Membrane Bird tribe leader must be at the Peak Eighth Tier, right?"

"Yes, there definitely is."

Upon entering Star City, the atmosphere immediately became lively.

Xu Jintang listened silently to the murmurs of the crowd.

She actually wanted to find out more about how the army was going to deal with the Ice Soul Dragon, but she guessed that the army hadn't leaked any information yet, and after listening for a long time, she still hadn't heard a word.

"Little Xu, we need to go straight back to school later to report the mission results to the teacher. What are your plans?" Song Ziqian asked as she walked over.

Xu Jintang snapped out of her reverie, looked up, smiled, and waved her hand, "I have some things to take care of. I'll go back to school after I'm done."

"Alright, we'll head out now. See you again sometime." Song Ziqian waved and quickly led her team away.

After watching them walk away, Xu Jintang withdrew his gaze and turned to walk towards a nearby teahouse.

Teahouses are the places where gossip spreads most and are also good for getting information.

Xu Jintang ordered a bowl of dim sum and sat down in a corner of the hall.

I had barely sat down when I started hearing all sorts of gossip and discussions around me:

"Have you heard? The Ice Soul Dragon seems to have escaped from the Blizzard Forest. It appeared in the Demon Beast Forest near us this morning."

"Huh? Really? Does that mean our city is at risk of being wiped out? Should we run away right now?"

"It shouldn't be that bad. If there were real danger, the border troops would definitely notify us to evacuate first."

"Too."

"Oh, right, I also heard that the Green-Membrane Bird and the Blazing Flame Lion clans are fighting each other, which is quite unusual."

"I'll tell you a secret, but don't tell anyone else. I heard that some humans seem to be colluding with demonic beasts..."

They chatted about all sorts of things, and Xu Jintang listened to all the recent news while drinking tea.

News of the Ice Soul Dragon's appearance in this Demon Beast Forest has clearly spread, but the army's plans for response are still unclear.

Secondly, some people also mentioned the collusion between humans and monsters.

Xu Jintang lowered his head and looked down, toying with his teacup in his hand.

"It must have been when we went back to rescue our people that someone saw you on my back," the Green-Membrane Archaeopteryx said.

Xu Jintang pursed her lips. "It's alright, I doubt anyone saw me."

If the surveillance satellites had captured her image, someone would have come knocking on her door long ago. The fact that everything is calm now clearly means that those people haven't figured it out yet.

After understanding the whole situation, Xu Jintang raised his teacup, drank the tea in one gulp, and then got up to pay the bill.

After a half-day flight, Xu Jintang returned to the Federation Star Region before sunset.

Inside the villa courtyard.

Song Tianqi and the others had just finished training and were preparing to go back to their rooms to rest.

"The squad leader is back." Yan Yuting spotted Xu Jintang immediately.

All eyes turned to them.

Song Tianqi rushed over with a gossipy look on his face, "Squad leader, what fun things have you been up to this time?"

Xue Zhongqi also looked over curiously.

Xu Jintang was gone for two days, and he didn't tell anyone what he was busy with before he left.

It's hard not to suspect that she's done something bad again, just like before.

Xu Jintang waved his hand and quickly recited the lie he had prepared on the way back. "The day before yesterday, I felt I had reached a bottleneck, so I wanted to go to the Demon Beast Forest for some practical experience to see if I could make a breakthrough. But I didn't expect to encounter train cancellations and various other unexpected events, and it took me a long and complicated journey to get back."

Song Tianqi's eyes lit up with stars. "So, the class monitor's strength has improved again this time?"

Xu Jintang sighed and shook his head, "Not yet, but I've gained some new insights, and I plan to digest them properly tonight."

"You guys practice first, I'm going back to my room to rest." With that, she waved her hand.

Upon hearing this, the others naturally dared not disturb them any further and nodded in agreement.

After returning to her room, Xu Jintang locked the doors and windows, sat down in the living room, and took out the ice-type spirit herb she had previously snatched.

The branches and leaves of the spirit herb formed an S-shape, and wisps of cold air swirled around it, causing the temperature in the entire room to drop suddenly.

Xu Jintang turned on the communicator and took a picture of the spiritual herb.

A few seconds later, information about the medicinal herb was retrieved.

[Name: Spirit Frost Vine Grass]

[Rarity: Extremely Rare]

[Year: Over a thousand years old]

[Efficacy: Suitable for users with ice-type abilities. After consuming and absorbing the medicine, it can increase the strength of one's abilities and the purity of one's mental power.]

"It wasn't a wasted trip after all." Xu Jintang rubbed his hands together expectantly. "Brother Long, please protect me."

Ice Soul Dragon gave a steady "hmm".

After saying hello, she went into the cultivation room without worry.

Night fell.

The lights were still on in every room of the villa.

Compared to the relaxed atmosphere of everyone staying up late playing games and laughing in the past, Xu Jintang and the other three spent this holiday working exceptionally hard.

Training begins the moment I open my eyes each day and doesn't end until evening.

Occasionally, when I'm in a good mood, I'll have an extra training match.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

The start of the new school year is just around the corner.

Inside the cultivation room.

Xu Jintang sat cross-legged, her hands resting on her dantian. Dense strands of spiritual energy swirled around her body until, at a certain moment, all the strands of spiritual energy suddenly condensed, then burst forth with a blinding light, illuminating the entire room.

"Phew~ I've finally reached the Peak of the Fourth Tier." Xu Jintang slowly returned his hands to his sides.

She took a deep breath, stood up, felt her spiritual power more than double its previous size, and stretched.

"Yes, a portion of my Power of Dragon Blood has also been unsealed. Your physical strength should be stronger now. You can try it out later," the Ice Soul Dragon said in unison.

Xu Jintang waved his hand. "Okay."

As I pushed open the door to leave the room, I ran into Yan Yuting, who was coming downstairs.

"Class monitor, school starts tomorrow! New semester, new look! Shall we go shopping and buy some new clothes?" Yan Yuting looked over expectantly.

Xu Jintang thought for two seconds, "Okay, I'm free now."

"Let's go, let's go. This time we're not bringing Song Tianqi and the others, they're too noisy. Let's have a girls' get-together with Sister Shiyi." Yan Yuting chuckled and took Xu Jintang's arm.

Not long after, Jiang Shiyi also came out of the room.

The three met in the downstairs living room and quickly set off.

Located in the commercial street of the central urban area.

Banners for the Military Academy League event are plastered all over the streets, and even the large screen above the central square is showing highlights of the five major military academies' exhibition matches, creating a very lively atmosphere.

"I feel like this year's Military Academy League is going to be really exciting; even the exhibition match between the five major military academies was played so well."

"Sigh, I'd much rather see a dark horse military academy make a comeback than the top five military academies, hahaha."

"You never know, after all, the policy changed this year, and many newly established military academies can participate now."

"Take a look at the odds from the underground casinos. Right now, Leikedasi has the lowest odds, so they probably have a lot of cards up their sleeve."

"Wasn't there a Mask Squad were trained by Leikedasi?"

"Huh? Aren't the Mask Squad Clifford's?"

Xu Jintang listened intently as he walked.

Yan Yuting's attention was focused on the clothing on display in the shops on both sides.

"Oh my god, this is so beautiful, and the style is so trendy right now, and the price is so affordable."

"Sister Shiyi, this headdress suits you very well. Would you like to try it on?" Yan Yuting pointed to a silver beaded headdress in the glass display case.

Jiang Shiyi has a cool and aloof temperament, which suits this kind of plain-colored headdress very well. Wearing it enhances her icy beauty.

Xu Jintang looked over and carefully examined the silver beaded headdress, then nodded, "It really suits Sister Shiyi."

"Okay, I'll give it a try." Jiang Shiyi stepped into the shop.

The shop owner immediately stepped forward to greet them warmly, "Hello, gentlemen, how may I help you?"

"Let me try this one on." Jiang Shiyi pointed to the silver beaded headdress she had just seen in the glass display case.

The shop owner smiled broadly, "Okay!"

Yan Yuting and Xu Jintang dispersed and began to examine the jewelry in the other display cases.

Xu Jintang pointed to a row inside, "Could you please get these ones for her to try on as well?"

The shop assistant beside her smiled sweetly, "Okay."

Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Shiyi stared at the row of jewelry displayed on the counter and fell silent.

The headpieces I just tried on were all quite pretty, but the total price was indeed a bit expensive.

Yan Yuting spoke up first, "I feel that the silver beaded headdress suits you best, why don't you choose that one?"

Xu Jintang nodded, "Indeed."

Jiang Shiyi hesitated for two seconds before saying, "Never mind, let's just wrap them all up; they don't cost much."

This generous attitude stunned the shop owner. After regaining his composure, a look of surprise appeared on his face. "Alright, alright, I'll pack it up for you right away."

All the headdresses here are made of rare alloys, which are indeed costly and therefore expensive. Normally, it would be rare to sell even one of them, but today he has encountered a very important customer.

The shop owner was overjoyed and happily turned around to help pack the food.

Xu Jintang stood beside Jiang Shiyi, stroking his chin as he sized her up.

I almost forgot that this is the young lady of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.