Chapter 39: Crisis in the Distance

Today’s sky was no longer as clear and sunny as yesterday.

Layers of thick clouds spread across the sky, blocking the dazzling sunlight.

Su Li’s gaze crossed over the wall.

The vibrant wilderness stretched far ahead, with no end in sight.

But the distance was no paradise; it was a hell filled with demon beasts that were like killing machines.

“Su Ge, Alice, I got them.”

Cheng Yehai squeezed out of the crowd, holding three small mechanical devices in his hand.

These were the devices the teachers had just called them to collect.

It was said that this device was a Safety Locator; if they encountered danger in the wild, they just had to press this button, and no matter what situation they were in, a distress signal would be sent out without any interference from other devices.

The Safety Officer located near the students would immediately rush to the scene to conduct a rescue, ensuring the students’ safety.

Su Li took the small device from Cheng Yehai and weighed it in his hand.

It wasn’t heavy.

“It’s really light. Does it actually work?”

Cheng Yehai played with the device in his hand, turning it over and over as he examined it.

After getting her locator, Alice clipped it to her waist.

“I’ve used something similar before. This might be a derivative of some kind of linked-function Supernatural Ability. It’s basically a one-way communication beacon.”

She glanced at Cheng Yehai and warned him.

“Stop playing with it. Carry it properly. If you break it, you’ll be crying later.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop.”

Cheng Yehai gave an awkward smile, immediately stopped his actions, and stuffed the locator into his pocket.

As for Su Li, he clipped the locator to his waist—the spot that would allow him to react the fastest in a crisis.

At that moment, Anbian Du strode over with a serious expression.

However, such a serious look didn’t match his scruffy, unshaven face at all.

“Next, we’ll still operate according to the original groups. Remember, for each semester from now on, you’ll mostly be operating in these same groups. If you want to exchange group members, you need to submit an application in advance.”

He swept his gaze over the students present, his voice steady and powerful.

“If you can achieve a good ranking this time, there are rich rewards. I’m sure you all know that. But I want to remind you: scores are important, but more important is your own life. If you encounter a demon beast you can’t handle, run. If you can’t outrun it, press the locator. After pressing it, hide well and wait for the Safety Officer to save you.”

Anbian Du stroked his chin.

“Although theoretically, the chance of encountering a demon beast above the Minor Hazard level is very small, it’s not impossible. So it’s better to be careful. Don’t force things when you run into trouble.”

“Got it?”

The students replied.

Anbian Du nodded and waved his hand.

“Okay, set off. Pay attention—you must be back before six o’clock.”

The team began to move.

Groups of students filed through the base gate and stepped onto the wilderness.

Cheng Yehai looked around.

“Alice, which way should we go? Maybe we should head where there are more people. It’s safer.”

Alice glanced at him, a hint of disdain in her eyes.

“If we go where people are, the ones ahead will have already killed all the demon beasts. What will we do? Just watch? You may not want a good ranking, but I do.”

Alice pondered for a moment and immediately made a decision.

“Let’s head northeast. Fewer people, quieter. We can focus on hunting demon beasts without any interference.”

“Wouldn’t that be too risky?”

Su Li had been feeling uneasy.

Out in the wilderness far from the city, he always recalled the demon beast that appeared in the mountains and destroyed the village.

Alice shook her head and explained.

“Remember what Teacher Anbian said? Basically, every area has Safety Officers stationed. They’re hidden, so we can’t see them, but as soon as they receive a distress signal, they can immediately come to the rescue.”

Alice’s tone was firm.

“So no matter what, it can’t be considered dangerous.”

Alice did have a point.

Su Li couldn’t find a reason to argue.

He didn’t know where the faint lingering unease came from.

He looked up at the sky.

Layers of clouds blocked the blue sky.

Maybe he was overthinking it.

“Alright.”

In the end, he agreed.

After all, they were a team, and he didn’t want to hold Alice back.

After deciding on their destination, the three set off.

“Su Li, watch out!”

Alice’s voice rang out from behind.

Su Li didn’t turn around; he just stared intently at the demon beast in front of him—it looked like a crow but was covered in sharp armor all over its body.

Su Li knew this type of demon beast was called an Armored Crow.

Most individuals were Minor Hazard level, and only a few powerful ones could reach Hazard level.

It could charge and attack from the air.

This kind of assault was hard to defend against, but its powerful attack also came with a fatal flaw: it couldn’t change direction in midair, and once it failed an attack, it had a long opening.

So as long as you dodged the Armored Crow’s first attack, you could basically take down this demon beast.

And that was precisely what Su Li could exploit.

So Su Li gathered light in his palm and aimed at the Armored Crow flying in the sky.

A blinding light beam shot straight into the Armored Crow’s eyes.

The Armored Crow let out a sharp shriek, flapped its wings violently, and immediately launched an attack at the spot where Su Li had just been.

In reality, Su Li had already repositioned after unleashing his Supernatural Ability.

In the end, the Armored Crow’s beak plunged deep into the ground, sending up a spray of dirt and gravel.

“Alice!”

At that moment, Su Li immediately called out.

The moment Su Li’s words fell, Wind Blades rained down, slicing into the temporarily immobile Armored Crow, stirring up a cloud of dust.

The three of them stared intently in that direction.

When the smoke cleared, the Armored Crow was completely still.

“We successfully took it down.”

Su Li said, panting.

“Thanks to you.”

Alice’s gaze fell on Su Li, carrying a hint of approval.

Su Li wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“It’s mainly because of good teamwork. I couldn’t have achieved this effect alone.”

“Right! Our three-person team is a perfect match!”

Cheng Yehai said excitedly, only to receive a glare from Alice.

“May I ask what valuable thing you did?”

Cheng Yehai scratched the back of his head.

“At least I didn’t cause you any trouble.”

“Indeed, that alone is worth being grateful for.”

Su Li teased.

“Alright, we’re all tired. Time to do your job.”

Alice ordered.

“Got it.”

Cheng Yehai replied, quickly pulling out a small knife.

This was the division of labor they had decided on earlier: after Su Li and Alice defeated the demon beast, Cheng Yehai was responsible for extracting the Ability Crystal from its body.

Every demon beast has an Ability Crystal inside it, but the size and energy contained within the crystal depend on the beast’s own level and degree of growth.

These crystals were proof of how many demon beasts they had killed.

So far, including the Armored Crow they just killed, they had collected three crystals.

If they kept up this pace, they should be able to get three more.

But now they were a bit tired, so they planned to rest for a while.

They had just found a spot under a rock that sheltered them from the wind and sat down.

Su Li’s expression changed.

He then looked at the two beside him.

Their expressions were unpleasant too.

“Did you feel that?”

Su Li asked.

Cheng Yehai’s face turned pale.

“Earthquake?”

Alice’s voice also trembled.

“No… this vibration has a pattern. It’s…”

In their panic, the three of them came to the same conclusion.

It was… the tremors caused by some huge creature.

The three exchanged glances.

“Quick, use the Safety Locator to call for help.”

Alice said hastily.

Cheng Yehai showed his locator to the other two.

The indicator light had already turned red.

“I already pressed it!”