"As you said yourself, this rule is from over a hundred years ago. Times have changed, and so have our ability to assist," Xu Jintang persisted. "I can't guarantee anything beyond the Third Tier, but right now, we want to fight for a chance to participate in the selection."
Zhuang Silin crossed her arms and placed them on the table. "What do the other teachers think about this?"
The teachers nearby exchanged glances and gave each other helpless smiles.
"It's good that the students have this rebellious spirit; it proves they're ambitious. But school rules are school rules, and they can't be easily changed. Besides, even if they really want to change them, you at least need to prove first that, at the same level, support-type ability users are no weaker than combat-type ability users."
"Otherwise, no matter how much you argue, this rule will never be changed."
A kind-hearted teacher emphasized one point.
Zhuang Silin nodded in agreement, "If you want to break the rules, you have to demonstrate the ability to do so. The Military Academy League selection doesn't officially start for another two months. You can think carefully about how to prove yourself to me and the other teachers."
Having said all that, Xu Jintang could sense that these teachers were actually biased towards her; otherwise, they would have definitely rejected her outright and wouldn't have given her any chance.
But how exactly to break this rule seems to be something they themselves have to figure out.
"Understood, thank you for reminding me, teacher." Xu Jintang nodded, turned and walked out of the room.
Xue Zhongqi cleared his throat and quickly greeted the teachers, "Thank you for your understanding, teachers. We'll be leaving now."
After watching Xu Jintang and the other person walk away, Zhuang Silin smiled and looked away, "It's good to be young, you dare to say anything."
The other teachers chimed in with laughter, "Yes, when I first came to Leikedasi, I didn't dare utter a sound."
"However, what that student just said coincides with our thoughts. After the results of this year's joint exam were released, more than 30 of the top 100 students were auxiliary-type ability users. This data is even more astonishing than before."
Zhuang Silin nodded, "Now, many official competitions allow the use of inscriptions and magical artifacts. This has indeed improved the self-protection ability of support-type ability users. Coupled with their own amplification abilities, their overall strength is indeed not much worse than that of combat-type ability users."
The teacher on the left showed a hint of interest. "We were originally planning to revise this rule anyway, but since she brought it up, let's see what kind of trouble their support class can cause."
"What are you planning to do next?" Xue Zhongqi couldn't help but ask as they walked out of the office building.
Xu Jintang pondered for a moment, "I haven't decided yet either."
Xue Zhongqi immediately staggered and turned around, "Sister, who were you trying to impress with that confident and arrogant look on your face just now?"
"Of course it's for the teachers to see. The battle hasn't even started yet, so we can't show weakness beforehand," Xu Jintang said matter-of-factly.
"Everyone says school rules are hard to change, but this matter involves breaking the rules, so we need to plan this carefully."
Xu Jintang waved his hand, "Let's eat first. I heard the food at the Leikedasi cafeteria is pretty good."
Xue Zhongqi looked at him in disbelief, "At a time like this, you can still eat?"
"We can't let them starve to death." With that, Xu Jintang turned and walked towards the cafeteria.
Xue Zhongqi sighed and rubbed his temples. "That's true, we can't let this worry us to death. Wait for me, I'm going to eat too!"
After saying that, he hurriedly went to chase after Xu Jintang.
During the holiday, the military academy canteen was closed, so Xu Jintang had to eat out every day.
Today, as soon as she stepped into the cafeteria, she smelled a rich aroma of food.
Xu Jintang rubbed his hands together expectantly and went to the cafeteria window.
The electronic menu displays today's offerings: braised pork ribs with cartilage, salt and pepper roasted white phoenix eggs, and chilled Snow Spirit Grass...
Each dish incorporates spiritual plants and monster meat and bones as ingredients, and even specifically indicates the enhancement effect that each dish can provide.
For example, long-term consumption of braised pork ribs with cartilage can enhance physical strength.
Cold-dressed Snow Spirit Grass is suitable for those with ice-attribute supernatural abilities, etc.
"No wonder so many people want to eat Brother Long's meat," Xu Jintang muttered to herself, picking up her tray and going to the cafeteria window. "Auntie, one serving of cold Snow Spirit Grass, please."
The food in the canteen is also charged, but the prices are very reasonable. A single Snow Spirit Grass costs forty or fifty Star Coins outside, but in the canteen, a serving of cold Snow Spirit Grass only costs ten Star Coins.
She ordered several more meat dishes, carried her full plate, and turned to sit down at an empty table.
Xue Zhongqi arrived shortly after, saying, "Please save me a seat, I'll be there after I get my food."
Xu Jintang sat down with his plate in hand, picked up his chopsticks, and was about to start eating.
A familiar voice came from behind, " Sister Jintang, you're eating in the cafeteria too."
Wei Zixuan and Yu Wanyao walked in from behind, carrying trays of food.
Seeing that there were still empty seats, Wei Zixuan and his companion didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly opposite each other.
Yu Wanyao sat down, she pursed her lips and looked up at Xu Jintang. "You..." she seemed a little hesitant.
Xu Jintang finished chewing the cold Snow Spirit Grass in his mouth, "Speak your mind."
Yu Wanyao's expression became even more complicated, "Your superpower is really a support type?"
During the joint entrance exam, she and Xu Jintang fought off a riotous monster together.
In her opinion, Xu Jintang's close combat ability was in no way inferior to any combat-type ability user. However, it wasn't until today, when they were assigned to classes, that she realized that Xu Jintang had only awakened a support ability.
"Right now, it is indeed a support-type ability," Xu Jintang answered precisely.
But the future is uncertain.
Xue Zhongqi had just finished buying his food and was walking over. There was one empty seat left, so he immediately sat down with his tray. "What are you talking about?"
Wei Zixuan chimed in, "We were talking about Sister Jintang's auxiliary superpower."
Xue Zhongqi sized up the two of them. "What? You look down on us support players?"
Yu Wanyao glanced at him disdainfully, "Forget about you, you're still an Inscription Master, your combat strength is at least stronger than other support-type ability users."
Distracted by Xue Zhongqi, Yu Wanyao didn't press the matter further and lowered her head to start eating.
A sudden silence fell over the dining table.
Xue Zhongqi snapped open a folding fan that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, straightened up, and began fanning himself. "So, class monitor, how about we brainstorm and figure out how to change the school rules?"
Wei Zixuan, always eager for a good laugh, pricked up his ears. "What? Changing the school rules?"
Yu Wanyao also looked over.
"We can brainstorm some ideas." Xu Jintang quickly recounted how the two of them had protested to the teacher.
Finally, she looked expectantly at Yu Wanyao and the other woman, "What suggestions do you have?"
Wei Zixuan and Yu Wanyao both fell silent.
After a few seconds, Wei Zixuan chuckled dryly, "You support classes are all going this far? Challenging school rules on the first day of school?"
Yu Wanyao chose to remain silent and continued eating.
After a moment of silence, Wei Zixuan tentatively suggested, "Since the teachers didn't refute you, it proves there's room for maneuver. Didn't they say they wanted to prove that support characters aren't weak in the same tier? Why not just have a fight?"
Xue Zhongqi hesitated before speaking, "Then... how about a duel in the arena?"
Yu Wanyao objected. "Support-type abilities have too little room to be utilized in arena battles. If we want to highlight the power of support-type abilities, a simulated battlefield would be more suitable."
"That makes sense." Xu Jintang stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Wei Zixuan then realized, "Wait, the support class is going to be fighting against both of our classes, right? Why am I giving advice to the opposing team?"
Xue Zhongqi smiled and said, "I must say, Brother Wei has a broad perspective; he's magnanimous enough to offer advice to his opponents."
Yu Wanyao looked speechless, clearly disdainful of both of them, and continued eating with her head down.
After leaving the cafeteria, Xu Jintang felt warm all over.
The food made with rare ingredients is truly extraordinary; after eating it, I felt much more energetic and refreshed.
After parting ways with Xue Zhongqi and the other two, Xu Jintang hurried back to his dormitory.
She closed the door, entered the cultivation room, and sat down to circulate her spiritual energy.
Normally, it takes her about an hour to circulate her mental energy once, and the resulting increase in mental energy is less than one percent.
But today, she completed a full cycle of mental energy in just fifty minutes.
After finishing her cultivation, Xu Jintang gently exhaled a breath of stale air, slowly lowered her hands, and placed them on her knees.
"As expected of the First Military Academy, even the speed of my mental energy circulation has changed after just one meal," Xu Jintang remarked to himself.
The Ice Soul Dragon suddenly spoke up, "The food you just ate was made with Third Tier demonic beasts and spiritual plants of the same level. It does provide a significant boost to ability users below the Third Tier, but the effect gradually diminishes after the Fourth Tier."
Xu Jintang sighed, "Forget about the Third Tier, I just want to know when I can advance to the Second Tier."
After arriving in the Federation Star Region, many of my peers were already Second Tier ability users.
Even Wei Zixuan had reached the First Tier Peak rank a few days ago, and was only one step away from breaking through the bottleneck to advance to the Second Tier.
"At your current cultivation speed, you'll definitely reach the Second Tier in another six months," the Ice Soul Dragon replied.
Xu Jintang's eyes widened. "Another six months!"
"Alternatively, you could buy another bottle of dragon essence blood, which would also allow you to directly advance to the Second Tier. However, continuous use of drugs to improve your tier will weaken your foundation and won't be very beneficial."
The mere mention of the dragon's essence blood filled Xu Jintang's mind with thoughts of 380,000 star coins.
She rested her hand on her temple. "Forget it, I'll just stick to my cultivation."
The Ice Soul Dragon added, "Once you reach the Second Tier, you'll be able to absorb at least ten percent of the Power of Dragon Blood I stored within you. At that time, your strength will be at least equivalent to Third Tier ability user, no weaker than others."