After exchanging a few pleasantries with a group of classmates, each master took their respective students to designated training sites.
The teachers from the other schools seemed to have suddenly aged several years over the past few days. Especially Xu Jin, the dean of Pinghong Middle School, who looked utterly dejected.
In contrast, Grandma Qiong looked radiant.
Someone who didn’t know might think she’d found a boyfriend.
Qiong Jiu led Baiyu to Training Ground No. 3.
This place had a distinctly postmodern technological feel.
Alloy floors, huge lounges, and observation rooms—out front lay a vast green forest, its boundaries lost beyond sight.
The Armed Department was located on the outskirts of Linjiang City, adjacent to a vast forest outside the city. This forest was usually off-limits and must have been transformed by the Armed Department into a dedicated training base.
"This is the Living Iron you won. I crafted it into a Fighting Blade according to your specifications, adding a bloodletting groove and a hook, and its size is convenient to carry.
The sharpness of Living Iron can easily cut through a martial artist’s skin."
Qiong Jiu flipped her hand, and a delicate dagger-like knife slid out from her sleeve.
Baiyu toyed with it in his hand for a while, quite satisfied.
He knew about Living Iron, of course.
It was one of the sharpest and most durable metals discovered by humanity, typically produced in shelters, and the Living Iron mines on Canglan Star were very scarce.
This Fighting Blade, nearly twenty centimeters long, would fetch an exorbitant price on the black market.
The material of this dagger, the more he looked at it, the more it resembled his family’s Great Guan Blade.
"Now that you’ve got your weapon, let’s start training."
Pang Fei, who had been looking at the expanse of the forest through the transparent glass wall at the front of the lounge, turned around:
"The Ancient Martial Arts of the Human Body aren’t just about refining Blood Qi or practicing Spirit Techniques to enhance the body.
There’s also an indispensable part.
That is Fighting Skill and Fighting Art!
Many spirit techniques nowadays are variants of these ancient martial arts passed down through the ages.
What I want to train now is your close combat ability and adaptability in the wild."
Baiyu’s R8, which was at his waist, was caught by him from a distance:
"This forest is your training ground, as real combat is the best master. You can only take one blade inside and survive in the forest.
We will monitor your progress at any time.
If we judge that you’re in life-threatening danger that you can’t handle, we will intervene to rescue you.
You also have one chance to call for help actively.
You need to live in there for a week to pass.
Today, I will arrange for an instructor to teach you systematic survival knowledge.
Once you enter a shelter in the future, you might encounter all sorts of harsh conditions, so adapt now in advance."
Pang Fei’s expression was stern.
Baiyu also became gradually serious: "What’s in this forest? I remember, this forest in Linjiang City is not allowed for anyone to approach, with soldiers guarding the edges."
Pang Fei smiled meaningfully:
"There are many interesting creatures.
This is a training forest specially created by our Armed Department.
I can tell you that many death row prisoners are exiled inside.
Although most are ordinary people, those who survive in this forest have each developed their own skills, some of which are impressive even by our standards.
Just yesterday, each of them was given ample food and a message.
To catch you would mean they could leave the forest and return to prison.
As long as they spare your life, I won’t forbid other actions.
These prisoners, locked up for over a decade and having never seen any women, are terrifying.
I’m not trying to scare you.
Given your looks, if they capture you, you might not be able to walk normally!"
Baiyu felt an ache: "Hey, hey, you’re my uncle. Is this really necessary?"
"I’m trying to make you sweat more in training so you bleed less in real life, kid. Consider yourself lucky."
Pang Fei patted his shiny bald head.
Baiyu rolled his eyes, clutching the dagger, "I understand the principle, but why did you shave your head?"
Pang Fei responded with slight embarrassment:
"Hasn’t there been a string of kidnappings targeting bald heads by criminal organizations recently?
That fishing enforcement idea you mentioned last time, I tried it, and it worked well.
Every time I went for late-night roadside barbecue, there were results..."
"I see, I thought you had awakened some extraordinary attribute."
Baiyu remained expressionless.
Qiong Jiu held back her laughter, keeping a straight face.
Pang Fei’s face darkened: "Go on, your two survival instructors are waiting outside for you. You only have one day to gain survival knowledge."
Baiyu wasn’t one to hesitate. He picked up his combat blade and headed out.
This kind of training was just what he needed.
The door closed shut.
Only then did Qiong Jiu curiously inquire, "Why aren’t you following the usual procedures? Isn’t this survival training part of the schedule a week before the college entrance exam?"
Pang Fei shook his head, "Baiyu has already been exposed to most of the theoretical knowledge he can access.
Practical combat training is what’s most important. If we discover any of his shortcomings now, we can promptly address them.
Survival training also hones mental toughness, and he will need an extremely strong willpower if he wants to take on Erza’s responsibilities in the future.
Baiyu’s training plan was a result of discussions between your sister and me, as he’s different from regular students.
Your education over the past three years has been successful, but you’ve only taught Baiyu how to become an excellent student, not a true warrior."
Qiong Jiu opened her mouth but couldn’t find any words to refute.
Baiyu had already gotten to know the two survival instructors, both of whom were veterans from the Armed Department named Qi Jie and Chang Fu.
Both had taken many lives of different races and Exotic Beasts, and were people worthy of respect.
The knowledge they imparted wasn’t difficult.
Basic wilderness survival and some emergency wound bandaging.
Baiyu donned a backpack and stepped onto the edge of the forest.
Inside the backpack were a simple tent, compressed biscuits, an emergency medical kit, and an emergency rescue phone.
He slowly disappeared from their sightlines.
"This kid, isn’t he Linjiang First Middle School’s top student this year?"
Chang Fu squinted his eyes, a bit curious.
Qi Jie nodded, "He seems to be quite an important figure, with a good relationship with General Pang. But it’s not something we should be concerned about; we just need to ensure he’s not killed by anything inside."
Once stepping into the forest, the refreshing air long missed filled his lungs.
Baiyu gripped his knife, preparing to first find a safe place to settle.
After all, he needed to survive for a week.
He couldn’t stay constantly on high alert without sleep.
He needed to find a safe and concealed place to stay, with a stable water source at the same time.
The whole forest was not small.
During this time, Baiyu passed through several bushes and saw some peculiar creatures.
A giant wolf with six legs.
A lizard with two heads.
These... seemed to be Exotic Beasts!