Although such a severe accident had occurred, in reality, apart from Gu Yueyan and her two companions, the other students were not affected. They were still being relentlessly pursued by Peach Blossom Cultivators, and the "Stealing Heavenly Secrets" Plan continued.
Hiding was useless for the students because the stickers applied to them before boarding the vehicle, in addition to Protection Spells, also contained a GPS tracking device. No matter how well they hid, they would still be caught.
In just thirty minutes, the students experienced being chased, meeting reinforcements, the reinforcements getting entangled, and then being chased again. During this time, their emotions swung wildly; it was an incredibly intense experience that caused their adrenaline to surge rapidly.
Every time the students thought they were about to be caught, a heroic and beautiful woman would Teleport in front of them, blocking the Peach Blossom Cultivators attacking them and giving them a chance to escape.
Almost all the students had been saved by her at least once. When they had exhausted their last bit of energy and endured the longest thirty minutes of their lives, this woman would appear again, announcing that they had been rescued and that this was all just an experiment.
If the Peach Blossom Necromancers chasing the students had said, "We’re just acting; you don’t need to run anymore," the students definitely wouldn’t have believed them. But faced with this powerful woman who could Teleport, all the students were immediately convinced.
When the students got back on a perfectly intact bus, they felt as if a lifetime had passed.
"Congratulations to everyone for safely passing the test."
Seeing Teacher Tian, who had been split in half, appear again on the bus, many students still turned pale with fright, even though they knew it must be some sort of Supernatural Ability.
"Haha, this is my Awakening Ability, Innocent Division," laughed Teacher Tian. "I split myself in half just now. Didn’t it seem like I had died?"
A normal person definitely would have died if split in half like that!
"I know you have many questions. Once we arrive at the school, the person in charge will answer them all for you," said Teacher Tian. "Rest assured, the school will provide ample compensation for this unannounced experiment. But please understand that the school did everything in its power during the experiment to ensure your safety and made sure you faced no real danger."
"And the initial intention of this experiment was also to push our prodigies even further. All ten Cultivator Universities nationwide conducted similar experiments; it was not an action taken solely by our school."
Since Teacher Tian had put it that way, the students couldn’t argue and could only arrive at Heavenly Lotus Academy filled with Endless doubts and dissatisfaction.
The time was exactly six in the evening. Teacher Tian took the students directly to the fourth floor of the cafeteria for a meal to calm their nerves—the construction team had added a new restaurant floor to the cafeteria, which was not usually open to teachers and students and was specially reserved for banquets by campus organizations.
Upon entering, the students saw Peach Blossom Necromancers, dressed to look human but still with incredibly frightening faces, sitting at the banquet tables.
However, the students had been informed on the bus that this was an experiment and all the villainous Peach Blossom Necromancers were played by teaching staff, so they weren’t too surprised.
Ren Suo’s table wasn’t full; it was just him and Zhao Huo. The other teachers, mostly with military backgrounds, got along well and sat together.
Ren Suo was a gaming otaku and Researcher; Zhao Huo was a clay figurine enthusiast and also a member of a subtitle group. Therefore, although they weren’t unpopular, they weren’t exactly social butterflies either.
Gu Yueyan and her two companions, as well as a couple, also came to their table. Lin Xianyu asked, "Big Brother Ren, Teacher Zhao, why aren’t you washing your faces?"
"To prevent our makeup from smudging and giving us away, it’s fixed with Spells," Ren Suo explained helplessly. "It will only wear off in a few more hours."
"That’s pretty good," said Zhao Huo, munching on a roasted sweet Mantou. "It’s a pity this makeup-fixing Spell has limitations; otherwise, I’d want to learn it. Then I wouldn’t need touch-ups for cosplay in the future."
"By the way, Brother, this is Du Liwei, and this is Huang Xuehui," Ren Xingmei introduced. "They’re both Awakeners, but you probably figured that out already, right?"
The couple greeted them awkwardly. Ren Suo looked at them a few times, unable to shake the persistent feeling of familiarity.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall why. Perhaps it was the young man’s extremely short buzz cut that seemed so familiar—many of the former military personnel among the teaching staff had that hairstyle.
At that moment, Gu Yueyan and Lin Xianyu, looking at Ren Suo, took a deep breath and bowed their heads together, saying,
Ren Suo was slightly startled, then waved his hand. "Don’t worry about it. This was our... ah, right, it wasn’t my fault; I was just a temp. But in any case, saving you was part of my job."
"You risked your life to save us," Gu Yueyan said seriously. "It’s not the same."
"Right! From now on, Big Brother Ren, you’re my big brother! Just tell me who to take down, and I’ll do it!" Lin Xianyu declared, thumping her chest with such vigor that it bounced, pledging loyalty like a devoted follower.
At that moment, Ren Suo heard a clear voice:
「Gu Yueyan Bond Increased.」
「Lin Xianyu Bond Increased.」
I can increase two Bonds at once? Ren Suo was slightly startled, then said, "Oh, in that case... Gu Yueyan, you can do the dishes from now on."
"Huh?" Gu Yueyan was baffled.
「Negative emotions from Gu Yueyan, +233」
Confused, Du Liwei quietly asked Lin Xianyu, "What does that mean?"
"The class president and Big Brother Ren often eat together at his place. Ever since the class president learned to cook, Big Brother Ren has been the only one washing the dishes!" Lin Xianyu explained frankly.
Du Liwei and Xiao Hui’s perception of Ren Suo instantly changed. Has the school become this lax, or is this man just incredibly audacious? Actually dating a female student and even living with her?
As they were conversing, Bai Ji and Dong Chengling took the stage. They didn’t use microphones, nor did they need to shout, yet their voices reverberated clearly throughout the banquet hall.
"I am Bai Ji, head of the Cultivation Teaching Department at Heaven Lotus University, and a Third-turn Cultivator."
"I am Dong Chengling, deputy head of the Cultivation Teaching Department at Heaven Lotus University, and a Third-turn Cultivator."
"Welcome, new students, to Heavenly Lotus. Everyone here is a prodigy recognized by both the state and the school..."
"The recent Peach Blossom Cultivator attack on the bus was part of the ’Stealing Heavenly Secrets’ Plan, a state-led initiative executed by the school. The ’Stealing Heavenly Secrets’ Plan is..."
"As compensation, all students will receive 8,000 Bracelet Points and further cultivation-related rewards..."
As the school’s strongest Third-turn Cultivators, and both handsome and beautiful respectively, Bai Ji and Dong Chengling quickly Soothed the students’ emotions. When the compensation was mentioned, cheers even erupted—they had already realized that Bracelet Points were almost equivalent to money on campus.
"The ’Stealing Heavenly Secrets’ Plan is not without purpose," Bai Ji said. "In just the thirty minutes of the attack, four students demonstrated Awakening Abilities. Those who haven’t Awakened shouldn’t lose heart. After settling into your dormitories tonight, calm your minds and recall everything that happened today. There may still be a chance for Awakening."
The freshmen were momentarily stunned, while the faculty members continued eating calmly—they had known the results all along.
Out of sixteen unawakened students, four Awakeners had emerged thanks to the Stealing Heavenly Secrets Ceremony!
Even if some students might be hiding their Awakening Abilities, this result proved the feasibility of the Stealing Heavenly Secrets Ceremony. The curriculum of the Cultivator Universities was bound to change because of this.
Dong Chengling said, "Students, please check yourselves carefully when you return tonight. If you have severe injuries, go to the school hospital immediately for Healing. If you have any other issues, you can call Teacher Bai or me, and we will do our best to resolve them."
"Also, the Stealing Heavenly Secrets Ceremony is classified. Apart from your families, please do not spread any related information online. Otherwise, if discovered, minor offenses will result in a demerit, while major offenses could lead to expulsion! Understood?"
As soon as Dong Chengling finished speaking, the students scrambled to respond, "Understood!"
Dong Chengling’s Teleportation skills and combat abilities had left a deep impression on them. Her demeanor was also very serious, and in just a few minutes, she had established a commanding presence in the students’ hearts.
Bai Ji, on the other hand, was handsome, dressed impeccably, amiable, and always smiling, which made the students feel a natural fondness for him.
"Teacher Dong and Teacher Bai make such a good pair," Huang Xuehui couldn’t help saying. "One is handsome and gentle, the other beautiful and strict, and both are so powerful. They complement each other perfectly with their teamwork. Yueyan, you studied at the academy before, do you know any Gossip about them?"
Gu Yueyan blinked. "Well... I’ve never heard any. Teacher Dong is always diligent in her Cultivation and rarely leaves home."
"Right, Xiaoyu, didn’t you say Teacher Bai saved you?" Huang Xuehui asked again.
"No, it was Big Brother Ren who saved us. Teacher Bai only turned his back to try and protect us when that sports car was about to crash down," Lin Xianyu replied honestly.
"He faced danger without panicking and instead used his own body to protect female students!"
Huang Xuehui’s eyes sparkled. She tugged on Du Liwei’s sleeve. "See that? Learn from him! We should strive to become a divine couple like that in the future!"
Du Liwei rubbed his buzz cut. "I can’t learn that, no way... Besides, isn’t it a bit inappropriate to just decide two people are a couple like that?"
"Pfft! Teacher Bai is handsome, gentle, considerate, and responsible. Teacher Dong is beautiful, strong, self-respecting, and ambitious. They’re a natural match! What right do you, a monster, have to object?" Huang Xuehui playfully poked Du Liwei’s side as she teased.
Meanwhile, the other three girls, aside from Huang Xuehui, glanced sideways at Ren Suo. At the same table, Zhao Huo, one of the only two "Demons and Ghosts" at the banquet, sighed quietly, his deadpan face unchanging. "Brother, perhaps... you should just let it go?"
"...Why are you trying to end my story prematurely?" Ren Suo, his zombie-like makeup making his face seem stiff and emotionless, appeared unaffected.
Because at that moment, he heard another voice.
"This will do," Bai Ji said.
He had led Dong Chengling to a moonlit corridor outside the banquet hall. It was quiet, with no one else around, and the lively sounds from the hall seemed far away.
Bai Ji turned around, looking earnestly at Dong Chengling. She maintained her tranquil demeanor, seemingly unshakable.
"This is a bit embarrassing to ask... but, do you have a significant other?"
So, it’s finally happening, Dong Chengling sighed internally. She had always been careful in her actions, trying not to give anyone the wrong impression, and yet...
However, Dong Chengling had anticipated this and was prepared. Composing herself, she asked softly, "Are you serious? You shouldn’t let others’ comments influence your own heart."
"Of course, I’m serious! And I don’t care what other people say!" Bai Ji took a deep breath, clenching his fists. He looked at Dong Chengling, his eyes almost sparkling, his expression filled with more Determination than ever—
"I think Ren Suo is a truly excellent person!"