Preparation for Military Training

Huang Xiu, though also a ‘can’t live without my phone’ type of person, at least still had the foundation from high school.

Going a month without using a phone was indeed painful, but she could grit her teeth and force herself to endure.

Huang Xiaoxian, on the other hand… he was a super invincible internet-addicted cactus!

Relying on the fact that he couldn’t suddenly drop dead, he hugged his tablet twenty-four hours a day, surfing the web wildly all year round with no breaks.

Huang Xiu had taken a look at the tablet a few days ago.

After only five weeks, the battery capacity had already been drained to a mere eighty-five percent.

Apart from calling it ridiculous, she didn’t know how else to describe it.

“Anyway, Huang Xiaoxian has to come with me. This is a perfect chance for him to kick his internet addiction.”

Huang Xiu could almost picture the scene of Huang Xiaoxian wailing in despair without his tablet, and she couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.

Serves you right!

“Alright, everyone quiet down. I’ll continue.”

Yuan Fei pressed his hand down slightly, signaling the students to settle down.

Although he was usually joking around with the students and often slacked off by skipping classes, he still held considerable prestige among them—after all, the fame of the Hundred Saints Ranking was just too great…

As his right hand pressed down, the training room, which had been a bit noisy, quickly fell silent.

Seeing this, he continued:

“This military training is different from previous years. I think you’ve all heard some rumors over the past few weeks, so I won’t bother with the basics. Let’s get straight to the point.”

“The person in charge of this military training is Guang Hongfang from the Expedition Bureau. He’s cunning, sly, and aggressive in strategy. With him in charge, the difficulty and danger level will definitely be high.”

After speaking, Yuan Fei paused, his tone turning serious.

“If our guess is correct, this military training will mainly focus on lineup battles, simulating real void realm incursion wars. Everyone must not only showcase the excellence of Tiandu University but also pay attention to safety.”

Hearing this, everyone in the class felt a chill in their hearts.

Focusing on lineup battles meant they would inevitably have to spar with newcomers from other institutions.

Since joining Tiandu University, their two actual combat experiences had been against void realm creatures.

They had no experience fighting against Awakened ones at all…

One last thing: we gather at the school gate at ten o’clock on Saturday morning. Each person’s luggage weight limit is 10kg, and only essential items, a change of clothes, weapons, and items related to abilities are allowed.”

…

In the end, Huang Xiu still didn’t learn the location of this military training from Professor Yuan Fei.

However, she did receive a hint from him.

His last remark about bringing ability-related items was undoubtedly directed at her.

After all, the only thing in the void realm that required consumables was her [Morass].

Could it be that the training ground had no plants?

Huang Xiu furrowed her brow. If the training was in the void realm, that was indeed possible.

But they couldn’t stay in the void realm for a whole month, could they?

Unable to figure it out with so little information, she decided that following the teacher’s advice was the safest bet.

When class ended and she returned to the dorm, Huang Xiu first told her parents that she would be going on a closed military training and be out of contact for a month.

“Xiu Xiu, you must be careful…” Her mother looked worried on the other end of the video call.

Being isolated for a month, and on top of that, an Awakened military training… she truly didn’t believe there was no danger.

“I will. You two take care of yourselves. I’ll come see you when the training is over.”

Only after she finished did they start to believe her.

Huang Xiu put on a bright smile, trying to cheer her mother up.

In the end, she had to swallow her embarrassment and act a little spoiled before her mother laughed and temporarily forgot her worries.

After ending the video chat, Huang Xiu rubbed her stiff cheeks, almost crying: “I really went all out this time.”

If it weren’t to make her mother happy, she would never act like a little girl and beg like that.

Thinking about how she wouldn’t be able to play games or use her phone for a month, Huang Xiu lost all interest in sleeping. She retaliated by staying up all night, gaming until dawn.

She didn’t wake up until Saturday afternoon.

After eating the lunch that Ying Zhiyu and Jia Qianrou had brought back, Huang Xiu rubbed her sleepy eyes.

Then, with her hair a mess, she started packing her luggage.

Ten small bags, totaling about five thousand plant seeds—from vegetables to common plants—bought online in advance;

Five changes of clothes, including underwear and shoes;

One set of toiletries, plus skincare products. As for makeup—she didn’t need it; she always went bare-faced;

And some necessary odds and ends like sanitary napkins and toilet paper.

Putting it all together, Huang Xiu realized her luggage wasn’t a lot, but it wasn’t little either.

Well, that’s about it. Just Huang Xiaoxian left.

Huang Xiu looked at her big bed, her gaze seemingly piercing through the mattress and board to see Huang Xiaoxian still playing on his tablet underneath.

‘I wonder if he counts as luggage. If so, my 10kg limit might be a bit tight.’

She sighed softly. If only that special partner certificate could be obtained.

She had first heard about this special partner certificate from Yun Ning on the plane that day—it supposedly allowed void realm creatures to enjoy some rights of Da Xia citizens.

After returning from the mission, it took her a long time to remember.

When she checked on the Void Net, she found the requirements for this certificate were ridiculously high.

First, the applicant’s three generations of ancestors must have no criminal records and no marriage records with void realm creatures;

Second, the applicant must have one hundred percent control over the void realm creature, with a minimum requirement of Gold rank. If the creature violates the Manifestation Management Law, the applicant would be held jointly responsible;

Third, the void realm creature must pass a series of tests, including obedience tests and IQ tests.

Actually, the second and third conditions were manageable for Huang Xiu.

Gold rank was just a few months away.

Those tests would be a piece of cake for Huang Xiaoxian’s intelligence.

But the first condition made her despair.

Checking three generations of ancestors… and they meant biological ancestors.

For most people, this requirement was simple.

But this simple requirement had Huang Xiu stuck…

…

Not to mention that she didn’t even know who her biological parents were.

Moreover, she had long decided not to search for them. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have refused Teacher Fei so decisively that day.

‘If I can’t get the certificate, so be it. If worst comes to worst, I’ll use my ability to shrink Huang Xiaoxian and put him in my pocket, then restore him when we arrive. A live person can’t be choked to death by urine,’ Huang Xiu thought.

She dragged Huang Xiaoxian out from under the bed.

She told him about the upcoming military training and that he wouldn’t be able to play with his tablet for a month.

As expected, Huang Xiaoxian collapsed to the ground, hugging his tablet, grieving beyond control.

“Heavens! Earth! Why is this happening to me, a cute and pitiful cactus?!”

He was so heartbroken that his body changed from its usual emerald green to a withered yellow.

Yet, even in such despair, Huang Xiaoxian never said he didn’t want to go. Instead, he accepted it.

This made Huang Xiu feel a bit relieved. She reached out her fair and delicate hand to pat his head, comforting him: “Good boy!”

Huang Xiaoxian immediately squinted in pleasure.

Then, under the effect of his void energy and ability, his body turned from withered yellow back to emerald green.

His original height of about eighty centimeters quickly shrank to less than ten centimeters.

As his vision rapidly lowered and his owner appeared toweringly tall, Huang Xiaoxian realized something was wrong.

Looking down, he saw that his handsome and heroic figure was gone—he had turned back into the short, squat ball he was at the start.

Huang Xiaoxian completely broke down, crying even louder than before.

“It’s… it’s okay, stop crying. When we get there, I’ll change you back. I promise you’ll look even better than before.”

Huang Xiu comforted him for a long time and even promised to buy him a membership for a streaming app when they returned before she finally managed to calm him down.

This kid is getting harder and harder to soothe.

Sister Xiu held Huang Xiaoxian, gently stroking him, feeling helpless.

From needing just a pat to calm him at the beginning, to now needing a phone, or even a streaming membership—next time, she didn’t dare think about what he would demand.

She had planned to seriously refuse and scold him…

But she was too soft-hearted. Seeing Huang Xiaoxian cry made her unable to bear it.

When the little guy acted spoiled, she was completely defenseless.

Oh well, I’ll deal with discipline later. If it comes to it, I’ll send him to someone else to educate.

Huang Xiu shook her head and looked out the window.

The sunlight was bright. A breeze from the hills blew, rustling the leaves.

Serrated leaves detached from the branches, drifting down slowly like rowing oars in the air.

Driven by the wind, they eventually floated toward the ancient gate and landed on a green suitcase.

A pair of fair and slender hands gripped the suitcase handle. Her nails were pale pink with a hint of red, each with full moons.

Huang Xiu pulled the suitcase, its four wheels grinding against the gravel with a creaking sound.

“Everyone’s here pretty early.”

September Sunday, August fifteenth, nine forty in the morning.

Outside the school gate, Huang Xiu stopped, looking at the bustling crowd in front of her. Her face, free of makeup, carried a faint smile.

She wore the short-sleeved uniform from Tiandu University’s four sets of uniforms, paired with light green casual pants.

On her feet were light blue dad sneakers.

The thick soles made her appear two centimeters taller.

Her short hair covered her ears, the ends curled inward with a hint of brown.

Her right hand held the suitcase, her left hand her Morass spear.

Her whole being exuded the unique youthful energy of a teenager—cool yet somewhat cute.

Under Ying Zhiyu’s repeated emphasis and guidance, she had abandoned her usual strategy of only buying white clothes and black pants.

She began to try simple outfits.

After all, as Xiao Yu said, “Sister Xiu is so pretty, not dressing nicely would be a crime.”

And looking good can also make oneself happy…

Overall, today’s simple outfit was quite effective.

Huang Xiu noticed her turn rate had increased a bit, and many people looked at her with surprise.

She tightened her grip on the spear and joked half-seriously: “Suddenly being stared at by so many people—I’m a bit embarrassed.”

“This is nothing! If Sister Xiu is willing to wear a skirt, even if she grows her hair long, no one else can compare. Even the number one, Nanmen Xiu, would fall at your feet.”

Ying Zhiyu wrinkled her small nose.

“Stop, stop, stop!” Huang Xiu made a stopping gesture. “A skirt is absolutely out of the question. No way!”

“Xiao Yu, don’t you know A Xiu yet? Asking her to wear a skirt is harder than getting her to stop staying up late,” Jia Qianrou said with a faint smile. She was wearing slim-fit jeans and carrying a long sword on her back.

After two weeks of getting along, she had a deep understanding of Huang Xiu.

This girl, apart from having a pretty face and being female, had nothing feminine about her behavior or thoughts.

She loved playing games and calling strangers on the internet brothers.

On weekends, she’d stay up wildly and neglect her skin.

Even if her period was about to start, she’d still go all out on spicy food and iced cola.

She could even forget her period and make a fool of herself.

‘If it weren’t for her pretty face and good personality, with the way A Xiu is, she might never find a husband in this life,’ Jia Qianrou sighed inwardly.

“A skirt? Too weak! It’s inconvenient to move. Besides looking good, it’s useless. And it’s drafty—no sense of security.” Huang Xiu raised her index finger and shook it. “Not as good as a pair of casual pants.”

“Whatever makes you happy!” Jia Qianrou turned her head, too lazy to argue with her.

They waited a while longer.

Before ten o’clock, the homeroom teachers of each class gradually arrived at the school gate from all directions.

For this military training, to protect the students of Tiandu University, the homeroom teachers needed to accompany them throughout, constantly communicate with the training organizers, and deeply participate in the training.

So naturally, Yuan Fei was dejected.

He looked like a weed exposed to the scorching sun, hanging his head low, completely spiritless.

“I shouldn’t have become a homeroom teacher,” he muttered.

But since he was in the middle of the class crowd, it was inevitable that Huang Xiu and the others heard him.

Everyone: “… So capricious, Professor Yuan!”

Perhaps considering the high danger level of this training and that it was a rare joint training of four institutions, the school also sent a group of senior students as volunteers to join the training queue.

These senior volunteers were mostly outstanding sophomores. However, Huang Xiu only recognized Wen Erya and Yun Ning.

The two wore Tiandu University uniforms, the guy handsome and the girl pretty.

Standing among the volunteer team, they seemed to be talking about something.

Huang Xiu’s gaze was completely undisguised.

They both noticed her gaze almost simultaneously and looked over.

Wen Erya smiled slightly and raised an eyebrow.

Her eyes were full of gentleness and goodwill, but for some reason, Huang Xiu couldn’t see any trace of anything hidden.

As for Yun Ning, he smiled calmly and unabashedly waved his hand, greeting her from across the distance.

‘These two…’

Huang Xiu pouted, turned her head, and decided not to look at them anymore, so as not to affect her mood.