Chapter 138: Reject the Ugly Girl! Get Lost!
"This is it!"
Southern Phoenix Mountain.
The Dark Miasma Marsh.
Unlike the rest of the vibrant mountain range, this place was barren—bare hills coated in poisonous fog. Thick fumes rolled continuously through the air, dyeing the entire landscape in a ghostly gloom.
Sima Jinchi faced his students, his expression grave.
"This is your first mission. Eliminate the ten-thousand-year soul beast—the Miasma Poison Jiao Dragon!"
"You have one month. Kill it, and you'll each earn at least ten thousand credits."
Everyone gasped.
Ten thousand credits!
That was enough to exchange for a decent soul bone at Douluo University—and that was the minimum. The main contributor could easily earn even more.
"Of course, if it's still alive after a month, the mission is considered a failure."
"What happens if we fail?" Xie Xie asked suddenly.
Sima Jinchi sneered. "What do you think? If another class completes its task and yours doesn't, do you really believe the university will treat you all equally afterward?"
The "three-month training" was, in truth, an extended examination.
Resources were limited, and merit would decide distribution. Fairness was a myth. Not everyone could enjoy equal benefits under the Federation's or Spirit Transmission Tower's standards.
This was a chance for the hidden tigers disguised as pigs to finally show their claws.
If you wanted to keep pretending, then keep hiding—and stay forgotten.
"This mission carries real risk," Sima Jinchi continued coldly. "There will be danger, casualties, and at times no backup. If anyone's afraid, speak now. You may withdraw."
No one moved.
Even if they were weak, none would duck out. Facing a ten-thousand-year soul beast might be suicide—but pride burned hotter than fear.
Besides, in a team full of elites—and with Qian Gu Zhangting among them—killing one beast didn't seem impossible.
"Instructor, are we supposed to kill it... or just defeat it?"
Zhangting's voice trembled with thinly veiled caution. The memory of his last fight had left a psychological scar.
"Kill," Sima Jinchi said curtly.
Though humans now lived in relative peace with soul beasts, not all beasts were friendly. Among them, sea soul beasts and those dwelling within poisons and miasma tended to be untamed and destructive.
The Poison Miasma Jiao Dragon was one such monster.
Even Di Tian had approved this mission—it was one of those "rogue" soul beasts that the kings of the Star Dou Forest had stopped caring about.
The name itself told the story: a venomous dragon-bodied beast shrouded in poisonous mist.
Toxic. Corrosive. And carrying dragon blood.
Far stronger than common ten-thousand-year beasts.
Zhangting swept his gaze over the group. "Then I'll lead this operation. Any objections?"
Given his strength, no one dared challenge him. A ten-thousand-year beast was too much for one person—teamwork was crucial.
And who better to command than the class's strongest?
"No problem," Tang Wulin and Xie Xie both said quickly. Against a Soul Emperor in two-word battle armor, what else could they say—"Let me lead"? Ridiculous.
No one else objected.
Zhangting's sharp eyes turned toward the trio in the back: Jiang Chen, Gu Yue, and the Snow Empress.
The three waved lazily, indifferent. None of them cared about "command."
For them, killing a ten-thousand-year beast was barely a warm-up.
Zhangting nodded in satisfaction, then turned his smirk toward Le Zhengyu.
"Well then, you—our little angel—how about it?"
Le Zhengyu's expression darkened, a black line metaphorically forming on his forehead. Still, he nodded stiffly. "I just want to complete the mission."
"Good," Zhangting said. "Then you'll handle cleansing the miasma and neutralizing the poison."
Perfect choice—the Holy Angel martial soul, natural nemesis of corruption and toxins.
"Alright," Le Zhengyu agreed calmly.
"Move out!"
Brilliant golden light flared from Le Zhengyu's body as his Holy Angel form activated, divine radiance sweeping forward to purify the air and part the miasmic veil.
The others followed in formation, treading deep into the deadly marsh.
Jiang Chen, the Snow Empress, and Gu Yue brought up the rear, guarding against ambush. A place like this couldn't possibly host only one beast—the Miasma Jiao wasn't lonely.
As the second-strongest group after Zhangting's lead, they were responsible for securing the rear.
To Zhangting's credit, he displayed no petty cunning, no attempts to sabotage his "rivals" in the class.
He was an arrogant heir, but not despicable.
Still, the real reason he stayed distant from certain teammates, particularly "that ugly girl Gu Yue," was simple—he was repulsed.
He'd seen what blind infatuation could do to men, like his own grandfather's obsession with Leng Yaozhu—how it made even great men act irrationally.
He refused to let that happen to him.
If that ordinary-looking girl ever dared fall for him, clinging because of his handsome face and status as the Spirit Transmission Tower's heir—ugh, disgusting!
He wanted nothing to do with her.
In Zhangting's eyes, the "ugly" Gu Yue was someone to avoid at all costs.
Average looks in a gathering of prodigies was no different from ugliness.
If Jiang Chen had heard that thought, he would've burst out laughing.
The Silver Dragon King… ugly?
My guy, you've got guts.
If Gu Yuena ever heard that, he wouldn't live to tell the tale.
Well, maybe it was for the best—it spared him the fate of being charmed to death.
Because Gu Yue was leagues beyond him.
Thick mists rolled toward them again, only to shatter against Le Zhengyu's golden barrier. The holy glow surrounded the team as they advanced.
Silence stretched—too quiet, unnaturally so.
Zhangting's brow furrowed. "Jiang Chen, anything behind us?"
Jiang Chen, who'd been strolling leisurely along with Gu Yue and the Snow Empress, simply patted Gu Yue's shoulder.
The mental powerhouse could handle it better.
Gu Yue shot him a glance, then closed her eyes, extending her spiritual sense.
Moments later, she shook her head slightly. "Nothing unusual."
Zhangting frowned deeper.
"Nothing? That can't be right."
"It's too quiet. Far too quiet!"
"We're thirty people marching through a monster's lair—there should be a reaction by now."
"This isn't right. Something's off—very off!"
(END CHAPTER)
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