“We surrender.”
“No more fighting.”
The Tooth Beast Sisters, defeated by a single decisive move, realized that despite their best efforts, they couldn’t break free from Ten-Step Hall’s small hand.
Knowing the vast difference in strength, they silently conceded.
“Well played,” Ten-Step Hall said politely, releasing her grip.
“The outcome is decided. The winner is Tea Party,” the Witch Judge announced, signaling the duel’s end.
Ten-Step Hall had swept through all the first-year members of the Martial Arts Club with absolute invincibility.
Both Qingshamu and Bai Yuge were silent.
For Qingshamu, Ten-Step Hall was the greatest rival of her club life, someone she would inevitably face in battle.
For Bai Yuge, Ten-Step Hall was also one of the enemies who had harmed her mother—second only to Evil Father in her hatred.
Ten-Step Hall’s overwhelming strength was bad news for both of them.
“Hmph.”
After her victory, Ten-Step Hall slightly turned her head toward Qingshamu, showing a haughty, confident expression.
But when she saw Feini standing beside Qingshamu, her smile gradually faded, and she coldly waved her hand before walking away.
“You’re next.”
Meanwhile, Xueyuedai was watching the stunned expressions of the Kendo Club members and suddenly noticed Feini.
Her gaze sharpened as she stared intently at Feini—such pettiness and grudges.
The Tea Party members followed Ten-Step Hall as she turned and left, with no one injured—a complete and utter victory.
A large group of them happily headed to the Advanced Beast Restaurant to hold a celebration feast.
Taking advantage of the Kendo Club members’ glum faces, Feini quietly pulled Bai Yuge away.
“Feini, it’s time to consider letting Little Bai join our Kendo Club.”
Qingshamu wanted to say something else, but when she turned around, they were already gone.
“The pressure is on us now.”
Feini hurriedly took her daughter home to practice magic, cramming as much as she could.
Because she knew she would definitely have to pay for her recent boastful words soon! It wasn’t safe to stay out long! Trouble was sure to find her!
……
The next day, another major event occurred at God and Demon Academy’s high school department.
The Golden Fang Beast Sisters, along with the first-year club members, outright defected from the Martial Arts Club and pledged allegiance to Ten-Step Hall’s command.
They even established a new club named the Tea Ceremony Society.
The Tea Ceremony Society was a subordinate club to Tea Party, more accurately a guild under Ten-Step Hall’s authority, obeying only her orders, specializing in guarding Tea Party members.
After all, magicians still needed front-line protection to exert their power.
The recent large-scale duel on the playground had thoroughly exposed this weakness.
However, this also signaled that the club war between Tea Party and the Martial Arts Club was far from over.
The matter had already drawn the attention of higher-year Martial Arts Club members.
Fighting over territory was minor, but fighting over people was serious.
Normally, senior students wouldn’t interfere in conflicts among lower years, but now, Ten-Step Hall and Xueyuedai were subtly uniting the underclassmen’s influence, severely threatening the seniors’ status.
This progression was almost identical to a typical power fantasy: beat the juniors, then take on the seniors, eternal showmanship with no end in sight.
But that was all later. What came next was the first-years’ long-anticipated Extracurricular Hunt.
—————
Early in the morning, all first-year students gathered on the playground, each carrying a large backpack.
Under the guidance of the Witch Instructors, class after class left God and Demon Academy.
Without the protection of civilized walls, all apprentices instantly switched to battle mode, becoming cautious and vigilant.
“Wow~” Bai Yuge was leaving God and Demon Academy for the first time, looking around curiously like a little explorer.
“The whole place is just black stone. What’s so great about it? There’s not even a blade of grass,” Feini complained.
But soon, an incredibly dense and giant tree sea appeared before them, filled with towering, sky-covering ancient trees that seemed to drain the sunlight.
This was the famous magical domain landmark, the Devil Tree Sea.
No Demonic Beast Lord could control this area—it was truly a lawless land, home to countless frenzied, violent giant Demonic Beasts.
Even in broad daylight, it was dim under the canopy, with only beams of light piercing through the leaves, creating a strange visual effect.
Before entering the tree sea, there was some free time for students to form teams on their own.
The Magical Beast Apprentices wouldn’t be grouped by class—whether they found good teammates depended entirely on their own skills.
The Witch Instructors handed out Teleportation Bottles, which, when shattered, would activate the Transmission Array and instantly return them to God and Demon Academy.
The Extracurricular Hunt would last a full month, requiring students to survive thirty days inside the tree sea, hunt monsters, and collect loot.
All Tea Party and Tea Ceremony Society members gathered to form a legion of over two hundred people, then subdivided into companies, and further into squads.
These units coordinated hunts, advanced and retreated together, sticking close to maximize their earnings for tuition.
The Golden Fang Beast Sisters directly sided with Ten-Step Hall and Xueyuedai, forming an unbeatable first-year foursome.
It was a bit ridiculous—this was supposed to be a trial, but it looked more like a highly efficient military tour.
As for Feini? She had only one teammate, Bai Yuge, and they entered the Devil Tree Sea early, refusing to mingle much with others.
Feini’s eyes were resolute—it was crucial not to let her daughter perish here.
“Mother, don’t walk so fast. Wait for me.”
Bai Yuge was thinking the same thing, quietly vowing to protect her mother.
She had also switched to a new weapon—a Rune Steel Sword given by the Faceless Witch.
No more wooden sword; she had upgraded from a toy to real firepower.
The Faceless Witch didn’t yet know her hidden stash of savings in the Small Wooden House had been stolen, but after making money, Feini had already slipped her share back, deceiving her with sleight of hand.
This Rune Steel Sword had magical amplification effects, functioning like a small wand—it could slash enemies and cast spells.
“Don’t call me ‘mother’ outside. Be careful not to be overheard,” Feini said.
“So what if they hear?” Bai Yuge retorted.
“You’re still young. The worldly view is complicated, and Magi-Heart is unpredictable. If people know a terrifying little magical creature like me could give birth to a genius like you, do you think I won’t be targeted by villains?” Feini explained.
“Our witches are honest and understand cooperation and mutual benefit, but others might not be so kind.”
“That makes sense. Mother, you’re truly wise and knowledgeable,” Bai Yuge nodded, then quickly corrected herself, “Feini-sama is right.”
“In that case, I’ll call you Big Bai from now on,” Feini joked.
“This…” Bai Yuge barely held back a smile.
The two strolled leisurely through the Devil Tree Sea, completely lacking any sense of tension. Along the way, they encountered no Demonic Beasts at all.
As dusk fell, the sky darkened, and the Devil Tree Sea was plunged into pitch blackness.
Feini lit a campfire and was preparing soup for her daughter when she suddenly caught a flicker of light in the corner of her eye. She immediately called out, “Come out, I know you’re here.”
A figure darted out of the darkness.
Bai Yuge instantly went on guard. Even after identifying the newcomer, her gaze grew sharper.
The visitor was none other than the relentless Eternal Stalker Demon—
Evil Father—Qingshamu·Ailuma.