Besides the Kendo Club and the Tea Party, there was another club called the Martial Arts Club.
These three were known as the three major clubs, the most influential factions within the God and Demon Academy.
The Martial Arts Club advocated for training magic beasts to the peak of physical strength.
Although their combat power might not match that of the Kendo Club or the Tea Party, their membership far exceeded the combined numbers of the other two.
By the way, the Golden Fang Beast Sisters were the Martial Arts Club’s brilliant newcomers.
This wasn’t just some small class clique; they received substantial support from the academy and enjoyed various privileges.
Every Magical Beast Apprentice had to find their own place or be shown the door.
However, with the upcoming holiday break, the beast apprentices all brightened up.
This period could be considered a cooling-off phase.
Once classes resumed, the apprentices would enter endless conflict.
Before that, everyone could go home to visit their families and strengthen their weapons and equipment.
—————
Ten-Step Hall Simon secretly returned to her hometown.
That was the ever-sandstorm-ravaged Dragon Cauldron Mountain.
The storm carried sharp shards of stone; getting close felt like being cut to pieces.
Naturally, such a place became the secret refuge of the Crimson Dragon Clan, known for their incredibly robust physiques.
But although people often spoke of “clans” and “tribes,” only two Crimson Dragons remained in the world — one was Ten-Step Hall herself, and the other was Simon’s mother, the Mistress of Dragon Cauldron Mountain.
Ten-Step Hall stepped into the sandstorm, activating a Flame Shield to block the wind and dust.
This mountain had only one path leading straight to the summit — the Ascension Path.
All other sides were sheer ninety-degree cliffs, covered with razor-sharp spikes; climbing elsewhere was impossible.
The Ascension Path itself was treacherous, as the fiercest sandstorm raged here year-round.
A nonstop, raging horizontal storm swept the entire mountain road, with jagged stones flying like explosive shrapnel.
Ten-Step Hall braved the sandstorm and finally reached the summit, where the storm ceased.
At the peak stood an ancient, decaying Human Castle built atop a Sword Grave, the ground sprouting clusters of crimson Steel Flowers.
The scene was both magnificent and terrifying — like the lair of a final boss. In fact, it truly was.
The Mistress of Dragon Cauldron Mountain was one of the most powerful Beast Lords in the entire demon realm.
Even the Northern Demon King Ten-Step Hall took a deep breath and, stiffly, pushed open the door to her home.
“Child, welcome home.”
Upon entering, she heard her mother’s gentle, calm voice.
Simon was a one-armed noblewoman who looked strikingly like Ten-Step Hall, except her hair wasn’t as bright.
She wore a wrinkled white dress, draped with a faded coat whose right sleeve fluttered empty.
“Mother, long time no see,” Ten-Step Hall bowed slightly in greeting.
“Hurry in, I’ve prepared a feast for you,” the Dragon Mother smiled softly and turned back inside to continue preparing.
“Yes,” Ten-Step Hall replied, a bit puzzled but obediently following.
If the Northern Demon King feared anything in this world, it could only be her mother.
Seeing the empty right sleeve reminded her that it was the result of being parasitized by the Demon-Slaying Sword.
But surprisingly, her mother didn’t react at all to the absence of the sword.
Ten-Step Hall had expected a grilling — if her mother found out she’d gotten rid of the Demon Sword, there would surely be a battle.
Her mother was unlike her — she worshipped the power of the Demon-Slaying Sword and was a stubborn, old-fashioned woman.
Yet now, she said nothing. That was strange.
Ten-Step Hall was ready for a showdown to determine who was truly the Crimson Dragon King.
She sat at the large dining table in the small hall, anxiously waiting, unable to sit still.
“Eat more, child.”
The Dragon Mother brought in dozens of bowls filled with fragrant roasted meat, yet asked no questions, looking at her daughter with a satisfied smile.
In the end, mother and daughter simply enjoyed the meal together without any conflict.
Several days passed like this…
Ten-Step Hall dared not ask too much; it was good that her mother remained calm.
She didn’t want to be her enemy.
Dragons were solitary creatures who hated even their own kind; being able to meet meant their relationship was quite good.
After all, her grandfather had been killed personally by the Dragon Mother.
Filicide and matricide were not unheard of among dragons.
As the world’s top race, only parents could make a dragon fight with their all.
Especially among the Crimson Dragons, known for their ferocity, brutality, and unstable minds.
But starting from her, the world would rewrite this stereotype.
After resting several days on Dragon Cauldron Mountain, Ten-Step Hall prepared to say goodbye to her mother.
Since her mother hadn’t asked about the Demon-Slaying Sword, she wouldn’t bring it up.
Delay! Yes, delay as long as possible.
“Daughter, next time you come home, bring your child along so I can see her. Goodbye.”
At the valley’s entrance, the Dragon Mother waved to her daughter’s retreating figure, smiling as she said farewell.
“Huh?”
Even at such a distance, Ten-Step Hall clearly heard her mother’s words.
She froze, frowning — the meaning was utterly unclear.
When she turned back, the Dragon Mother had already returned to the mansion and closed the door.
Ten-Step Hall left Dragon Cauldron Mountain with a heart full of questions.
The only thing she could be sure of now was…
The Demon-Slaying Sword, the Demon Parasite, and Phoenix were not truly dead.
—————
The perspective shifted. Let’s see what another unlucky father was doing.
After the holiday began, Qingshamu remained alone guarding a rarely smoky graveyard as a tomb keeper.
This suited her disguise as the Headless Rider.
One late night, several shadows flickered in the graveyard.
An adventurer party appeared.
Adventurers daring to come here were at least S-rank, top-tier Human Race warriors.
“Hero-sama!” they called outside the wooden door.
A sword’s intent swept past, and the door slowly opened.
They quickly entered and shut the door behind them.
They had come to resupply and exchange intelligence with the Hero.
In truth, no one was very impressed by this young Hero.
They called her “Lord” out of respect but privately looked down on her.
If not for the King’s orders, none would have risked coming here or accepted such a ridiculous task.
Yet when these S-rank adventurers faced the Hero, their anger bottled up with no outlet.
She sat silently by the window, her exquisitely beautiful face bearing a hint of world-weariness and maturity.
Qingshamu handed over her diary to the adventurers, containing all the intelligence and records she had gathered about the God and Demon Academy.
“Is there anything you need our help with?” an adventurer asked.
“Please tell my teammates this,” Qingshamu said calmly, “Sorry I can no longer adventure with them.”