"I heard that a few Little freaks have appeared among this year's new students. If nothing goes wrong, they will become our teammates in the future."
The dark-haired girl's tone remained flat.
"Just a reserve team, just like us back then."
The white-haired girl was noncommittal.
Just then, a gentle voice sounded from behind them: "Luochen, Xi Xi, why are you here?"
The two girls turned around and saw Han Ruoruo walking towards them with a smile.
"Sister Ruoruo."
The frost on the white-haired girl, Ling Luochen's, face melted slightly.
"I heard you came to the Outer Court to be a teacher, so it's true."
"Yes, it's the Academy's arrangement, and I've already graduated, so I need to find something to do."
Han Ruoruo smiled and then asked with concern.
"Never mind that, how did your mission go this time?"
Mentioning the mission, Ling Luochen's brows immediately furrowed, and her tone carried obvious displeasure:
"It didn't go well, that guy got away. According to the Academy's follow-up intelligence, he fled towards the direction of Dragon City in the north of the Heaven Dou Empire. Moreover, it's been a bit strange over there recently; we discovered traces of many Nirvana Corpses, and they all seem to be gathering in the direction of the Extreme North Land."
"The mission target lost its trail in Dragon City, and while we were tracking it, we encountered obstruction from other unidentified Nirvana Corpses, which led to our failure."
Xi Xi, who had a weak presence, added, her tone also carrying a hint of gravity.
Upon hearing this, Han Ruoruo's expression became serious as well: "Nirvana Corpses gathering in large numbers in the Extreme North Land? This is indeed abnormal."
Xi Xi continued:
"Yes, Sister Ruoruo. The Academy has reissued the mission to us. This time, not only do we have to continue hunting down the target and its accomplices, but we also have to investigate why the Nirvana Corpses are gathering towards the Extreme North Land. Moreover... the mission requires us to take a few Outer Court Core Disciples with us to let them experience and adapt to the Inner Court's mission mode in advance. Do you have any suitable candidates to recommend?"
This added requirement did not surprise Han Ruoruo.
After all, she came to the Outer Court specifically to prepare for this.
Nowadays, the continent is rife with undercurrents, and the Inner Court is short-handed. The Academy wants to accelerate the cultivation of core talent.
Her gaze involuntarily turned back towards the large group of new students heading to the cafeteria, and several figures instantly appeared in her mind.
Perhaps this is an excellent opportunity to observe and hone those "Little freaks".
"Candidates... I do have a few preliminary ideas in mind."
Han Ruoruo's gaze became profound.
"However, we still need to see their willingness; we cannot force them."
Meanwhile, Caelus, who was walking at the very front of the group, was smiling and responding to the chatter of the students around him, but in his heart, he was calmly calculating how to use this dinner to further consolidate his position in this elite group of new students.
The next morning, as the class bell just rang, Wang Yan and Han Ruoruo walked into the classroom of new student class one together.
However, what surprised all the students was that following behind the two teachers were two figures dressed in the striking red Inner Court uniforms.
A slight commotion immediately broke out in the classroom.
Inner Court Disciples were like legends to the Outer Court students. Their sudden appearance in the new students' classroom undoubtedly brought about huge questions and curiosity.
Wang Yan looked at the students in the classroom, his brows slightly furrowed, and said in a low voice to Han Ruoruo beside him:
"Teacher Han, isn't this too fast? After all, they have only just enrolled not long ago..."
He was not against practice, he just thought that letting new students directly come into contact with high-difficulty missions posed too high a risk.
Han Ruoruo understood Wang Yan's worry and replied calmly:
"I understand your concerns, Teacher Wang, but for true Geniuses, we cannot use ordinary growth trajectories to bind them. A towering tree that has weathered storms cannot be grown in a greenhouse. Moreover, this mission has Inner Court Disciples bearing the main force; it is not asking them to directly clash with strong enemies, but more for observation and learning."
After comforting Wang Yan, Han Ruoruo turned to the puzzled students, first introducing the two Inner Court senior sisters beside her with different temperaments — the Ice-type Control Martial Soul Master Ling Luochen and the agility-attack system Martial Soul Master Xi Xi.
Subsequently, she loudly explained the purpose of their visit:
"In order to accelerate the growth of Core Disciples, the Academy has decided to select some outstanding Outer Court Disciples to participate in a combat mission led by the Inner Court. This participation is entirely voluntary. After the mission is completed, the Academy will provide generous rewards based on contributions, including Cultivation resources and the credits needed to enter the Inner Court in the future."
Her gaze swept over a few Core Disciples, and her tone turned serious.
"However, there is a hard prerequisite for signing up: the Soul Power must reach the Soul Elder Rank. Core Disciples below the Soul Elder Rank will not be considered this time."
Once these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the classroom instantly became subtle.
Most of the students realized that this matter had nothing to do with them, and their gazes turned unanimously towards the only few Soul Elders in the classroom — Caelus, Gu Yuena, Ye Guyi, and Dai Huabin.
As soon as Han Ruoruo finished speaking, Caelus took the lead to speak, his voice calm and clear:
"Teacher Han, Senior Sister Ling, can you tell us the threat level of this mission's target? We need to have a basic assessment of the potential risks."
Although he was confident, he was by no means a reckless brute. Before he had fully grown, necessary caution was the Law of survival.
Of course, he also knew that since Shrek Academy dared to let new students participate, it must have left a backup plan. As for whether this backup plan was reliable or not, it varied from person to person.
Caelus's question voiced the inner thoughts of all those who met the conditions.
Before Han Ruoruo could answer, Ling Luochen, who was on the side, said in her unique cold voice:
"The target's cultivation is at the Soul King Rank. If you're afraid of death, don't participate."
Her words did not have the slightest intention of provocation; they were more like a discouragement.
In her view, taking a group of new students to execute a mission to track a dangerous target was undoubtedly increasing uncertainty and burden.
"Soul King?!"
A sound of gasping for air rang out in the classroom.
For the vast majority of students who were still at the Spirit Grandmaster Realm, the Soul King was an unreachable existence. A direct encounter would likely result in not even being able to take a single move.
Upon hearing this, Dai Huabin's eyes also instantly became serious.
If it were a Spirit Ancestor, he might be able to cope with the strength of his White Tiger Spirit, but a Soul King, especially a Soul King specifically listed as a mission target by the Academy, must have its thorny aspects. A slight carelessness could lead to the danger of losing his life.
As one of the heirs of the Duke of White Tiger's mansion, he had no need to take this risk.
More importantly, Zhu Lu's cultivation had not reached the Soul Elder Rank, so she could not accompany him. Lacking the Martial Soul Fusion skill, his biggest trump card, made him instantly dispel the idea of participating.
"And."
Ling Luochen seemed to feel it was not enough, and added another sentence, a flash of gravity flickering in her ice-blue eyes.
"This time's target is very troublesome. Although it is only a Soul King, it possesses a certain degree of 'immortal body' and is extremely difficult to be thoroughly killed. You had better consider it clearly."
------------------------
I've posted 40+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/DaoistRoeoNQ
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"