Summoning System?
Mu Ningxue glanced at Ye Chenfeng in front of her.
The summoning system—what a formidable and versatile power. With it, a strong summoned creature could quickly become a powerful combat asset. Given Ye Chenfeng's strength, the beast he'd contract would undoubtedly start at the general level, already a significant force. If he reached the intermediate level and obtained a contracted beast, its strength would be unimaginable.
"Xuexue, what are you daydreaming about? Let's go!" Ye Chenfeng's voice broke her thoughts.
Mu Ningxue shook her head and walked forward, silently noting how Ye Chenfeng's confidence grew with his power. He had even begun calling her by increasingly informal nicknames—Ningxue, cousin, Xuexue... What next? The thought amused and irritated her.
She could already imagine a future where even her name disappeared entirely, replaced by "Baimao" just because he liked her white hair. Her eyes glimmered with determination. She needed to break through to a higher level soon—before even her name was erased!
The Destination: Jinlin City
"The destination for this training is Jinlin City, located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River plain," Dean Songhe announced.
"Jinlin City? Never heard of it," Jingjing murmured, puzzled.
"That's because Jinlin City was erased from the map fifteen years ago," Teacher Qiu Yuhua explained solemnly.
"Erased from the map?"
The students looked stunned. Few had ever heard of an entire city being obliterated.
"Fifteen years ago, a demon outbreak occurred on the Dongting Lake Plain. Over-proliferation of demons led to an overwhelming attack on Jinlin City. Luckily, a mage training in the wild foresaw the danger and alerted the government. The citizens were evacuated just before the demons overran the city, turning it into a lair. Those who didn't make it out were lost forever," Dean Songhe said, his tone heavy with regret.
"Isn't Jinlin City a deserted ruin now?" one student asked.
"Yes," Songhe replied. "For ten years, it was a paradise for demons. Even military mages avoided it. But recently, hunters have reported that most of the demons have migrated elsewhere. The demon population has thinned considerably. However, there are still wandering creatures in the ruins. Your task is to scout the city, record the number of slave-level and general-level demons you encounter, and assess its risk for possible reconstruction."
"Are we planning to rebuild Jinlin City?" Ye Chenfeng asked, frowning.
"That's correct," Dean Songhe confirmed. "The data you collect will be critical for publishing a paper on whether rebuilding the city is feasible. This is a significant step in evaluating the city's safety and future prospects."
"This is dangerous," Ye Chenfeng said bluntly. "If we encounter a commander-level demon, everyone except me is likely to die."
"Old Ye, you wouldn't just stand by and let us die, right?" Zhao Manyan quipped nervously.
Ye Chenfeng shot him a look. "There are two possibilities. One: I survive while all of you die. Two: I lure the commander away, you still die, and I live. Take your pick."
A chill swept through the group.
Was survival really only guaranteed for him?
"And don't worry," Ye Chenfeng added with a faint smile, "even if we don't encounter a commander-level demon, someone in the group will probably still die."
The students exchanged horrified glances.
Dean Songhe tried to restore calm. "He's joking, of course. Strength is limited individually, but if the students from Mingzhu Academy and the Imperial Capital Academy work together, I trust you'll return safely."
The reassurance felt hollow. The students grumbled internally. How could they not be afraid when Ye Chenfeng's calm confidence only heightened their unease?
The Ruins of Jinlin City
Dongting Lake, located in the northern part of Hunan Province, sprawled over 40,000 square kilometers. Known as one of China's most dangerous lakes, it was home to countless ecosystems and, unsurprisingly, an abundance of monsters.
The giant lizard-skulled monster tribe that had taken over Jinlin City once used Dongting Lake as their base camp.
After traveling to the nearest city, Ye Chenfeng and the group trekked toward the ruins on foot. Along the way, Jingjing from the Imperial Capital Academy shared details about demon types, their habitats, and their tribes.
"What kind of group does Old Ye's monster tribe belong to?" Mo Fan asked, confused.
Ye Chenfeng glanced at him. "You mean their numbers?"
"Uh, yeah. That's it!"
"When there are 50 or more adult demons, it's called a nest. Fifty nests make a tribe. Ten tribes make a demon clan," Ye Chenfeng explained.
Mo Fan began counting on his fingers. "So, a demon group must have at least 2,500 members?"
"Correct. A tribe has at least 2,500, not including non-combatants like cubs, the elderly, and those still growing," Ye Chenfeng said. "A tribe generally has between 2,500 and 10,000 demons, along with one to three commander-level creatures. If a tribe-level army invades, a city must immediately issue a red alert. That's exactly what happened to Jinlin City fifteen years ago."
Hearing this, Ye Chenfeng couldn't help but think to himself.
If he could break through two more high-level systems, those demons would all become spirits. Their essence alone would be enough to significantly enhance his powers.
Such a high-level hunting ground could elevate him to new heights!