“Hm? What did you say?” Mo Xuan hummed, confusion lacing his tone as he lifted his gaze.
Within the indistinct Touchpoint, a solid white mist suddenly surged from the ground.
The white mist lashed against the edges of the Touchpoint, only to be repelled. The scene was oddly reminiscent of God exhaling into a bottle.
“What is this thing?” Fang Miaoging asked, her voice echoing her earlier question.
“I don’t know!” Mo Xuan shook his head, a hint of panic in his eyes.
This was clearly an unforeseen emergency. Yet, the cloud mist showed no other changes.
The supervisor bellowed orders, and one by one, the diligent staff returned to their posts.
“That supervisor is incredibly capable!” Fang Miaoging remarked.
“Indeed,” Mo Xuan agreed. “That’s why the Great Xia Nation has relied solely on Awakened individuals for so many years.”
He turned to look at Fang Miaoging, her image, bright with light, reflected in his eyes.
“You, I, and they—we are all a small part of maintaining everyone’s lives!”
“See, the sky has cleared, hasn’t it?” He pointed into the distance. “Trust the school. This Dragon’s Den has been here for years. If a random incident could cause problems, it would have been gone long ago.”
He was, in truth, speaking these words to reassure himself as much as her.
As he spoke, the cloud mist inside the Touchpoint grew visibly denser.
Moreover, an incredibly faint, subtle sound began to emanate from within, reaching the outside.
Mo Xuan froze, a stunned expression on his face as he listened.
The space inside and outside the Touchpoint was so distorted that even loud noises struggled to escape.
Yet, to hear sound outside the Touchpoint now could only mean one thing: something colossal was rapidly approaching the exit.
Whatever it was, it was certainly not something they were equipped to handle or confront.
“Quick, retreat!” He was just about to pull Fang Miaoging away when an utterly absurd sight unfolded before them.
The cloud ring, which had spread from one zone to another, had already transformed into a thick wall of clouds.
This cloud wall now connected heaven and earth, stretching from the end of the street, and on it, a humanoid figure hung suspended.
Pfft!
With a soft sound, like air escaping, the cloud wall slammed violently against the edge of the Touchpoint.
Instantly, the smoke dispersed.
The entire cloud wall vanished into thin air, and figures, one after another, tumbled from above onto the ground outside the Touchpoint.
Some who had fallen from a greater height landed with considerable force, eliciting a chorus of groans and cries.
The logistics personnel were initially startled, believing a major incident had occurred.
However, upon recognizing the fallen as Tiandu University students, they breathed a sigh of relief, though still puzzled as to why they had suddenly emerged.
The supervisor, taking the lead, stepped forward to inquire about the specific situation inside, hoping to ascertain if the Touchpoint had begun to clear.
But the answers he received were consistently vague or unhelpful, causing the middle-aged man, his face already etched with wrinkles, to furrow his brow even deeper.
“You don’t even know how you came out?” His initial tone was sharp, but he ended with a sigh. “This really… sigh!”
Unbeknownst to him, the first wave of the cloud wall had only sent out freshmen or weaker peripheral teams, none of whom truly understood the situation.
Just as the students chattered amongst themselves, asking questions, another cloud wall arrived.
He questioned them as before, but still, no one knew. The supervisor finally gave up.
Though Fang Miaoging and Mo Xuan knew about the existence of the Star Brocade Rank, they hadn’t yet decided whether to speak up.
After all, it was still merely their conjecture, unconfirmed by any solid proof.
Soon, the third, fourth, and even fifth waves of cloud walls arrived in quick succession.
The third wave brought the most people, and Huang Xiu’s group was among those sent out by it.
By the fifth wave, only a handful of individuals remained, all of them well-known figures among the student body.
After waiting a while longer and confirming there would be no sixth wave, they began to take a headcount.
“Zhuang Bu isn’t here!” the Vice President of the Extreme Fist Society quickly announced. “Our Student Union President, Hong, isn’t here either,” a member of the Student Union added, unwilling to be outdone.
Everyone seemed to believe that remaining within the Touchpoint signified recognition of one’s strength by the teachers.
Suddenly, various societies began comparing themselves.
Names of various club presidents and high-ranking members were called out like a roll call.
This feeling was peculiar.
It made Huang Xiu feel as though she were an ancient emperor, presiding over a concubine selection contest.
Just over a minute later, the headcount was complete. Out of more than three thousand people, only five remained inside the Touchpoint.
They represented the Extreme Fist Society, the Student Union, the Endeavor Society, the Weapon Combat Department, and a member of the former Blood Rose Society.
Wen Erya, now out of her beast form, smiled, her right elbow nudging Huang Xiu’s soft waist.
“See, I told you! Join our Blood Rose Society. We’re really strong, and mostly girls, so you don’t need to be afraid.”
She had witnessed Huang Xiu’s outstanding potential and immediate combat prowess firsthand.
Naturally, she wasn’t about to let such a promising talent slip away.
‘All girls…’ Hearing those four words, Huang Xiu instantly recalled the Spider Demon Cave from Journey to the West, and the various all-girls clubs depicted in anime.
Sometimes, girls interacting with other girls could be far more uninhibited than when they were around boys.
Lewd jokes, boob-grabbing… nothing was off-limits.
These were lessons her mother and anime had taught her.
Miss Huang Xiu’s small face flushed slightly, and she silently crossed out the club’s name in her mind.
‘Precisely because it’s all girls, I’m afraid! Afraid I can’t handle it!’
Unable to articulate her thoughts or reasons, Huang Xiu simply offered a few casual responses, successfully deflecting Wen Erya’s persistence.
At this moment, the logistics supervisor, seeing that most people had emerged, stepped forward again to inquire about what had truly transpired inside.
This was a persistent headache for nations worldwide: the Touchpoint and the outside world were sealed off, making communication difficult.
Unless one possessed a specific special ability, information could only be relayed by person.
This time, however, he had finally found the right people to question.
Both the team and the squad who knew the truth of the matter were present.
Upon hearing the supervisor’s question, Yun Ning, Wen Erya, and Huai Nannan all turned to Huang Xiu, signaling for her to step forward and explain.
This was an excellent opportunity for her to make an impression in front of everyone.
After their freshman year, they would undergo class divisions and committee elections, and university committee roles were highly important.
At Tiandu University, they were even more crucial. For Tiandu’s committee selections, besides strength, leadership and charisma were also vital considerations.
“Go on, you tell them. You’re today’s hero,” Yun Ning said with a smile, encouraging Huang Xiu.
“…”
Huang Xiu hesitated. She wasn’t someone who enjoyed public speaking or being the center of attention.
The gaze of an expectant audience always made her feel as though she had daggers in her back.
But…
‘To get a scholarship from Tiandu University, I must become outstanding!’
Huang Xiu thought of her goal.
If she couldn’t even bring herself to speak in front of a crowd, she would undoubtedly miss out on many opportunities. And the thought of a scholarship brought to mind money, and her wish to buy a house as a gift.
At that moment, courage surged from the depths of her heart.
The crowd had long noticed Yun Ning and his group’s gazes, and followed their line of sight to Huang Xiu.
The arrow was on the string; it had to fly!
She took a deep breath, stepped forward, and recounted everything she had seen and heard.
She carefully concealed the specific uses and details of her own special ability.
“A King-rank Dragon Abomination, and house-sized claws?” Everyone who heard this was stunned.
Even with a flicker of doubt in their hearts, they knew this was not an occasion for lies, so no one voiced their questions.
‘House-sized claws? A stronger Dragon Abomination? Is the Turbid World Rank the only one left before Star Brocade Rank?’ Mo Xuan’s focus was different, more concerned with the shortcomings of the product he had developed.
This was precisely why he had brought the detector for practical combat testing. “Besides its endurance, there are many areas that require improvement. Currently, it can detect the presence of entities up to the Turbid World Rank, but nothing higher.”
While Mo Xuan stood with his arms crossed, pondering improvements, Fang Miaoging beside him wore a somewhat strange expression.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that the radiant young woman, speaking animatedly in the crowd, looked incredibly familiar.
Yet, she couldn’t recall who she was.
Subconsciously, she took a step forward, easing herself to the back of the crowd for a clearer view of the girl’s face.
But at that moment, the girl’s gaze swept through the crowd, and for an unknown reason, she saw something.
She suddenly reacted like a startled deer.
Her face visibly blanched with panic, and she bolted, turning to flee back into her group.
Everyone tends to be forgiving of girls.
Witnessing this, good-natured laughter rippled through the crowd, everyone assuming the girl was simply shy from all the attention.
But Fang Miaoging was certain it wasn’t shyness; in all likelihood, it was because she had seen Fang Miaoging that she had fled in such a panic.
She distinctly felt the girl’s gaze linger on her face for nearly a second—far longer than on anyone else.
Moreover, it was only after their eyes met that the girl completely panicked and took off running.
“Is there something on my face?” Fang Miaoging wondered, tentatively touching her cheek.
“Or am I ugly? Did I scare her?”
There was nothing on her face.
And while she wouldn’t claim to be a beauty of peerless or nation-toppling caliber, she was certainly not unattractive. Without boasting, she was a beautiful girl, even school-belle material.
“So, something’s fishy!” Fang Miaoging narrowed her eyes, and the logical mind of a top student began to whir.
Mathematics was her forte, and analytical reasoning was her passion.
First, a girl this beautiful, once seen, would surely not be forgotten by her memory. The feeling of familiarity most likely stemmed from her resembling someone Fang Miaoging knew well.
Furthermore, this girl most likely knew Fang Miaoging, and harbored some guilt or other strong emotion towards her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have fled in such a panic.
The keywords “Tiandu University” and “acquaintance” suddenly brought a person to Fang Miaoging’s mind.
Her high school classmate, who had once secretly admired her but was too much of a blockhead to act on any opportunities given—Huang Xiu!
With this thought, Fang Miaoging suddenly felt that the girl did indeed resemble Huang Xiu somewhat.
The expressions in their eyes and brows were almost identical.
‘He said he got into Tiandu University but hasn’t shown up. I guessed he went to another institution, but he doesn’t reply to messages. Now, a girl who looks a lot like him has appeared at Tiandu University.’
Fang Miaoging rubbed her earlobe, a small, habitual gesture she made when deep in thought. The answer was right before her, on the tip of her tongue.
Yet, she felt her conclusion was wrong, and her sixth sense buzzed with unease.
‘Could she really be Huang Xiu’s elder sister, younger sister, or a relative? But I heard Huang Xiu was adopted and still doesn’t know who his birth parents are. And even if she were a sister or relative, she wouldn’t feel such guilt upon seeing me!’
“Something’s wrong!” Fang Miaoging knew her current deduction was stuck, lacking crucial evidence. She began to move slowly through the crowd, heading towards the group for a closer look.
“Huang Xiu, what’s wrong?” Yun Ning’s voice suddenly reached her ear, causing the somewhat startled Huang Xiu to shiver.
She quickly lunged, pressing her right hand over Yun Ning’s mouth, and spoke in a rapid whisper, “From now on, you’re not allowed to call my name.”
After speaking, she turned to the others. “The rest of you too, don’t call my name.”
Yun Ning didn’t know what was happening, but what harm was there in agreeing to the cute junior female student?
Wen Erya nodded with a smile.
And Ying Zhiyu, though utterly bewildered, deeply understood that friendship was paramount, so she also nodded seriously without hesitation.
“Even if you put me through the eighteen tortures, I won’t call your name, Big Sister Xiu Xiu.”
“That’s not allowed either!” Huang Xiu exclaimed, startled. “Just call me classmate, and please, no need for the eighteen tortures.”
After saying this, she silently wiped a bead of sweat from her brow.
If it truly came to inflicting the eighteen tortures on someone, she’d rather just go and confess to Fang Miaoging! After all, it would only be social death!
“Saw an acquaintance?” Yun Ning asked in a low voice. He was the only one in the vicinity who understood Huang Xiu’s situation.
“Saw a classmate,” Huang Xiu whispered back.
“Alright!” Yun Ning replied.
His height of 1.78 meters allowed him to scan the crowd easily, quickly spotting Fang Miaoging steadily approaching.
“Let’s go!” He took Huang Xiu’s wrist and retreated backward.
The entire process began to resemble guerrilla warfare, or perhaps Jing Ke attempting to assassinate Qin Shi Huang.
Fang Miaoging pursued Huang Xiu, who, along with Yun Ning, moved through the crowd, leaving Ying Zhiyu and the others astonished. In summary: three people circled the crowd.
After chasing for a short while, Fang Miaoging realized something was amiss: this girl was clearly avoiding her.
The crowd was dense; it would be impossible to catch her by simply giving chase.
She stopped pursuing Huang Xiu and instead began searching the crowd for freshmen with a Yunshang Province accent.
She hoped to ascertain Huang Xiu’s identity by questioning them.
Fortunately, while all the freshmen from Yunshang Province recognized Huang Xiu, very few actually knew her name.
Only Liu Lu and Yang Qu knew it for certain, and at that moment, they happened to be absent from the crowd.
Instead, they were squatting in a corner outside the main crowd, lost in self-reflection and contemplating their own weakness.
The brutal war within the Touchpoint had taught them a harsh lesson. With their current strength, even fighting to the death, they could only eliminate a single Soldier-rank Dragon Abomination, a mere cannon fodder.
Meanwhile, the elite students or senior students from other provinces could slay such creatures as easily as killing a dog.
Liu Lu stood up, turning to look at Huang Xiu and the other outstanding freshmen from various provinces who were already beginning to make a name for themselves.
The indignation in her heart threatened to erupt like a volcano.
Liu Lu, in her entire life, would not be inferior to anyone!
And she was even less willing to be left far behind by Huang Xiu!
“Yang Qu, let’s work hard together!” she declared fiercely.
While Yang Qu didn’t harbor the same sentiment of refusing to be inferior to others, his resolve to become stronger was equally unwavering.
To capture Huang Xiu’s heart, he needed to possess strength that matched hers.
“Good!”
He looked at Liu Lu, and Liu Lu looked back at him.
Under the witness of the sun and clouds, they clasped their right hands together, pressing down firmly!
“Go! Go! Go!”
Liu Lu and Yang Qu chanted three times in a row, and instantly felt all the pent-up frustration in their bodies dissipate. A temporary strength-building group, each with their own distinct motivations, had been formed.