ASER - Chapter 76
Chapter 76: Three Cicadas
Shi Dagang looked like a rough fellow, but his mind was delicate. Not to mention he hadn't seen the administrator's super gossipy information broadcast in the group; just from the students' expressions, he could discern a few things.
Aiyo, youthful recklessness, just like when they were young.
However, today was indeed a good day for a fight.
"Last week, I said there would be one combat skills class per week. You've already had two classes. Today, we begin true mutual combat. However, direct competition is a bit crude, so let's add some fun."
Shi Dagang raised his hand, and three spheres floated in his palm. They all looked metallic and were distinguished by three different colors and sizes: blue (large), red (medium), and gold (small).
"This thing is Forbidden Item C-53562. It doesn't look high-level, but its effectiveness is specific. It was specially developed to train your tracking abilities. Its name is 'Flying Cicada'. Among the three types of Flying Cicadas, the smaller they are, the more formidable, the faster their speed, and the harder they are to catch. However, you also know that in the Spirit Power cultivation class, mastering Spirit Power earns you 20 points, right? It's not just your head teacher's class that offers such extra rewards. Look, today's opportunity has arrived."
"Catching the blue cicada earns 50 points, the red cicada 100 points, and the gold cicada 200 points."
"Today is special. You are allowed to fight. As long as no one dies and no one's cultivation is crippled, combat is unrestricted."
"Begin!"
While everyone was still digesting the news, Shi Dagang released powerful golden Spirit Power from his palm, crackling as it was injected into the three floating Flying Cicadas.
At the same time, he controlled the training room. Clatter, clatter, all windows and doors opened.
Wind came.
The originally quietly floating spheres suddenly trembled agilely. Then, thin, nimble cicada wings emerged from within the spheres. Buzz, buzz, buzz. The faint sound of flapping wings had just reached the air when, whoosh, whoosh, they darted out. In the blink of an eye, the three of them rushed out of the training room's doors and windows.
Holy crap!
Tuoba was the fastest. With a tap of his foot, he shot out of the window and directly chased after them.
"Quick!"
"Go!"
The others reacted and quickly followed.
Was this a cicada? No, these were points, extra rewards!
How could A'Diao fall behind? She didn't have the mindset of a novel's heroine to deliberately lag behind and then make a stunning debut at the end. When Tuoba rushed out, she was thinking of following, but then!
Tang Zhou and those bastards, as if they had planned it, suddenly blocked the front, sealing off the path ahead, which conveniently allowed Zhongchuan Mingxiu and Dai Qiang to catch up.
Simultaneously, the weapons on the weapon racks were either controlled to fly out or taken by various means. In an instant, people and weapons flew together, whistling away.
Bastards!
A'Diao rarely suffered a loss, but when she did, she remembered it. This time, she wasn't in a hurry to chase after them.
She didn't chase, but Tang Zhou and his group went out. Noticing A'Diao wasn't moving, they found it a bit strange. They glanced back and met A'Diao's casual gaze. Their hearts skipped a beat, feeling something was off. But thinking that their leader, Zhongchuan Mingxiu, had already passed the second layer and his strength far surpassed Chen A'Diao, there was no need to fear this troublemaker. So, Tang Zhou and the others gave A'Diao a threatening look and then left.
What they didn't know was that A'Diao wasn't actually looking at them, but had given Song Ling and the others a look.
At that moment, A'Diao was blocked for an instant, but Song Ling and the others noticed. They immediately realized that Zhongchuan Mingxiu and his group were planning to team up to get the Flying Cicadas; they just didn't know which one they were targeting.
But blocking A'Diao meant they didn't want her to get any of them.
However, their main target was definitely not A'Diao. Otherwise, they would have blocked her a bit longer just now, allowing Zhongchuan Mingxiu to directly cripple A'Diao. But they didn't, which meant their main targets were still Tuoba and the couple, Ming Zeye and Zhou Xiuhe.
The recognized top four in Jinling Academy's strongest Class 1 had never changed, at least not yet.
So, were these top four now all targeting the gold cicada?
With Class 1's building as the core, after Shi Dagang's command, more than forty afterimages flew out. Their movement techniques were mainly based on their individual talents, but some directly rode out on flying devices.
Wealth and background were also assets, not shameful.
Anyway, Yuan Shu, relying on his ten-million-priced flying device, managed to get ahead. After flying out of the teaching building, like a long rainbow, he soared past the corridor, gained altitude in the sky, and also activated his armed equipment at high altitude, allowing his high-end AI to conduct a full-scale search.
Buzz!
Three red energy dots instantly appeared in the activated goggle's field of vision. Their flight speed was terrifying, and they had separated and spread out across the vast Jinling Academy. But Yuan Shu also received an AI prompt, informing him that several black dots were chasing them.
"The fastest one near the gold cicada must be Tuoba. The two dots behind are Ming Zeye and Zhou Xiuhe. Although they can't beat Tuoba, there are two of them, and if we only look at speed, Tuoba might not be too far ahead of them. They also have an advantage."
"And looking at the fourth black dot behind, it should be Zhongchuan Mingxiu. They are all targeting the gold cicada."
Yuan Shu wouldn't dare covet the gold cicada even if his brain was flooded. So, the red cicada it was.
He had the best flying device in the class. If he didn't dare to go for the gold cicada, it wouldn't make sense if he couldn't even get the red cicada, right?
Yuan Shu turned his head to focus on chasing the red cicada, unaware that Zhongchuan Mingxiu was chasing behind him. Zhongchuan had originally wanted to try for the 200-point gold cicada, but he happened to see Tuoba at the very front suddenly stop and wave his hand backward... Spirit Power pulsed at his fingertips, controlling the fire element to instantly form five powerful crimson flames, coalescing into shape—they were five Crimson Flame Owl Wings, each one meter in diameter. Although they didn't look solid and there was some gap compared to the techniques controlled by Qu Jiangnan and others, being tangible but lacking spirit, fire itself was an element naturally lethal to living beings. As long as it was tangible, as long as it touched something, the burning pain was imaginable.
The most terrifying thing was its speed. From formation to attack, Zhou Xiuhe and Ming Zeye's expressions changed drastically, and they both maneuvered their flying devices to dodge... But at the same time, those two were no pushovers.
Ming Zeye formed hand seals in the sky, and a dozen flying knives swish-swished through the air. Zhou Xiuhe's pupils turned a deep, eerie green. She spread her hands, and her Spirit Power released ten emerald green rays of light. Then, the vine-type green plants in this area grew wildly, twining towards Tuoba.
At that time, Zhongchuan Mingxiu had two paths before him: one was to lie low and wait for the snipe and clam to fight so the fisherman could benefit; the other was to retreat and go for the red cicada.
Zhongchuan Mingxiu was skilled in scheming, prone to overthinking, and had to make many decisions a day. But today... he decisively chose the second path, turned around, and piloted his flying device to avoid the area where the gold cicada was.
Why?
Because one of the five Crimson Flame Owl Wings controlled by Tuoba was coming towards him.
Once he got involved, Tuoba, Ming Zeye, and Zhou Xiuhe would definitely choose to deal with him first. Zhongchuan Mingxiu was very sure of this, so he immediately fled.
Since he was so sensible, Tuoba wouldn't be distracted by chasing him. Anyway, Tuoba was determined to get the gold cicada!
The five firebirds in the sky were too conspicuous. All the students in the school heard them, including those in the first and second years. However, school management was strict now, so the students, though alarmed, didn't dare to cause a commotion. The teachers, on the other hand, seemed to have known in advance. "You can watch from the balcony, just don't run out. Broaden your horizons; you might have such courses in the future."
The first and second years could watch from their windows, but the other 9 classes of the third year were allowed to go to the rooftop or watch from open areas. Teachers were nearby, so they generally wouldn't encounter danger. However, if there was real danger... they should also experience it.
How could cultivation not be dangerous?
The people from Class 2 had the best position, closest to the battle site. As soon as they left their classroom, they saw Yuan Shu and others flying out on their devices. But the biggest commotion was still the five large firebirds in the distant ginkgo forest.
"Tuoba from Class 1 is so strong."
"He's really strong. No wonder he could clear the third layer of the Clearance Points Tower. The teacher said you can't find many geniuses like him in other prefectures."
"So every prefecture has them?"
"Of course. A vast prefecture will naturally have its peerless geniuses, mostly in various academies. However, Tuoba alone against Ming Zeye and Zhou Xiuhe will probably be a fierce battle."
"Look, Zhongchuan Mingxiu has left."
"Holy crap, a blue sphere is coming over!"
The people from Class 2 just wanted to watch the excitement and broaden their horizons, and they were happy to see Class 1 fight to the death. But they didn't expect the blue cicada to head their way after flying around randomly.
Their location was near Weiyang Lake, the central lake within the academy, with a ginkgo forest and a garden on the side. Further away, they could see the lush Fuxiang Garden.
The scenery was excellent, but the arrival of the blue cicada caused quite a stir.
The presence of the blue cicada attracted many students from Class 1, and it was the cicada chased by the most students, at least thirty of them.
The scene was grand and spectacular, with dazzling lights.
Because they didn't dare to think about the gold cicada, and Zhongchuan Mingxiu and his cronies were after the red cicada, these people had no choice but to fight for the blue cicada.
The melee had already begun.
Cheng Zhang and others were also mixed in, but Cheng Zhang was shrewd. He noticed Tian Zhongxiang's speed and felt a slight stir in his heart.
What's going on? Her speed has become so fast?
Before Cheng Zhang could react, he suddenly saw a blood-red glow in the sky.
The red cicada was coming!
The blue and red cicadas were actually converging in the Weiyang Lake area at the same time!
Cheng Zhang, who had been thinking about whether he could fish in troubled waters, felt his heart skip a beat.
Such a coincidence?
He subconsciously looked around... but saw no trace. He didn't know that the roof of a small building his gaze swept over, seemingly empty, was actually concealed by an invisibility barrier. Inside, quite a few people were standing.
Among them were Qu Jiangnan and other head teachers, as well as the higher-ups of Jinling Academy. A man with a stern and cold face stood behind the Dean, but above his head, three eyes were open.
Three mutated Daoist technique spirit pupils.
It was a technique, and also a talent.
He stood motionless, like a statue, but the teachers behind him couldn't help whispering.
"I wonder how many geniuses this assessment will screen out."
"Look, that Cheng Zhang is a smart one. He seems to be suspicious."
"Ah, Cheng Zhang? He's a good young man."
Class 1 contained geniuses from the entire Danzhou Prefecture, but the academy needed to pick the best seeds from this basket of geniuses to cultivate, concentrating resources, so as to maximize the academy's future benefits.
"Do we even need to screen? It's obviously Tuoba."
"Stop the nonsense. The higher-ups have their own plans. We just need to wait for news."
Logically, it should be these teachers themselves who selected their favored disciples, but the Dean of Jinling Academy had deep plans for this, hence this secret assessment.
Using the three cicadas to test these students after a month of study, to see who could rise, and who had the aptitude to rise.
However... the blue and red cicadas converging in one place just now was indeed not an accident.
Shi Dagang had just received a voice transmission from the Dean, temporarily controlling the red cicada to go towards Weiyang Lake. But he was puzzled: the people currently chasing the red cicada were basically Zhongchuan Mingxiu and his group, Tang Zhou and others. No one could be his match. Why lead it towards the blue cicada?
Could it be that the Dean wanted to help Zhongchuan Mingxiu get both the red and blue cicadas in one go? Did he favor him that much?
Zhongchuan Mingxiu was already chasing the red cicada. Seeing it fly towards Weiyang Lake, a glint flashed in his eyes. He immediately sent a message to Dai Qiang and Chen Zhongze: "You two, follow me to secure both the red and blue cicadas. Tang Zhou, you keep an eye on Song Ling and her group. Bai He, help me keep an eye on Chen A'Diao! She has disappeared; she must be hiding, wanting to snatch the red cicada."
Receiving the order, Tang Zhou felt slightly displeased. Logically, Song Ling was weaker than Chen A'Diao. Zhongchuan Mingxiu asking Bai He to watch Chen A'Diao was tantamount to tacitly admitting that Bai He was stronger than him.
Just because Bai He had now passed the first layer and caught up from behind, Zhongchuan Mingxiu thought Bai He had more potential than him?
But Tang Zhou didn't dare to show his dissatisfaction and immediately went to lock onto Song Ling's position.
She had avoided the melee from the beginning, standing on a tree, seemingly observing. She had initially targeted the blue cicada, but after the red cicada flew over, she realized she would be targeted.
A mass of water vapor passed through the woods and suddenly coiled towards her body.
Indeed, Tang Zhou had arrived.
The so-called red-blue battle erupted in an instant. Others hadn't even reacted when it began, starting from the second Song Ling was controlled by Tang Zhou. On the other side, Bai He scanned the area but couldn't find any trace of A'Diao. Frowning, he formed hand seals and released a reconnaissance Daoist technique. He had no other foundation; apart from resources obtainable from the catacombs, things like Daoist technique instruction all came from Qu Jiangnan.
His comprehension was good. He had mastered several practical Daoist techniques taught by Qu Jiangnan, and the one he used best was the reconnaissance Daoist technique—Sniffing Butterfly!
The Sniffing Butterfly was seventy percent transparent and thirty percent green, fluttering gracefully in the air. After Bai He infused it with Spirit Power, he silently chanted an incantation and placed a strand of hair A'Diao had left behind in the classroom on it.
The Sniffing Butterfly wrapped around the strand of hair. The hair burned, and the butterfly inhaled the smoke. Its transparent body now contained some smoky substance, but it flapped its wings and flew off!
Found her!
Bai He immediately activated his movement technique and followed.
Along both banks of the lake, on the left bank, the blue cicada was eventually trapped by a large number of students using techniques. But they attacked and fought each other for it. Some played it safe, waiting for an opportunity. Cheng Zhang grew suspicious. Observing that there were no security team members nearby, he became more certain of his guess. His eyes glinted, and he suddenly darted towards Song Ling!
If the school was assessing them, then he had to show his worth. Zhongchuan Mingxiu's side was full of experts; adding flowers to brocade was meaningless, but sending charcoal in snowy weather could be useful.
If he wasn't mistaken, Chen A'Diao's behavior today was too strange, and Tian Zhongxiang's sudden immense improvement also seemed to indicate something.
From the perspective of the teachers observing from above, this assessment now had five threads.
First: Tuoba and the couple fighting for the gold cicada.
Second: Zhongchuan Mingxiu, having dispatched subordinates to block others and secure an advantage, was chasing the red cicada alone, but Yuan Shu was also there.
Third: Tang Zhou entangling Song Ling.
Fourth: Bai He tracking A'Diao.
Fifth: Cheng Zhang wanting to rescue the entangled Song Ling, while Dai Qiang and Chen Zhongze were powerfully surrounding the blue cicada. But Guang Xiucheng and others didn't want to hand over the blue cicada either. Xu Luo's eyes flashed, and he suddenly shouted loudly: "We can't beat those two in a one-on-one fight! Everyone, let's team up to repel them first, then we'll compete amongst ourselves! 50 points is a lot, equivalent to 50 spirit cores, classmates!"
His words made sense, and the other students weren't fools. Just as they were about to end the melee and unite against the common enemy...
Suddenly.
On the rooftop, Qu Jiangnan's pupils suddenly twitched slightly as she looked towards a certain spot.
One thread had moved.
The fourth thread: Bai He saw the Sniffing Butterfly slow down and its body begin to change color. He knew Chen A'Diao was there!
A sharp glint suddenly appeared in his eyes.
Chen A'Diao, today I will defeat you and become number one in the entrance exam!
But Bai He didn't underestimate A'Diao. He mobilized all the Spirit Power in his body, aiming for a guaranteed hit.
Bai He had considerable aptitude for Daoist techniques, so naturally, he wouldn't focus solely on reconnaissance types. That day, Qu Jiangnan had taught many Daoist techniques, letting the students choose and learn based on their talents. Bai He was ambitious and proud, and at that time, he chose Sniffing Butterfly and Lightning Bind.
The so-called Lightning Bind: controlling lightning with a bind, a killing control, a thunderous bind.
Bai He concentrated all his Spirit Power at the tips of his index and middle fingers. Crackle, pop, a dark blue electric current instantly blasted towards the location indicated by the Sniffing Butterfly—that screen wall.
Lightning Daoist techniques consumed a lot of Spirit Power, but they were powerful and had a large kill radius. He was afraid A'Diao would move quickly and dodge the attack. However, as long as a lightning attack hit, the current would dissipate and explode, injuring someone regardless.
And so it was. The lightning struck the screen wall, which directly exploded, sending many stone fragments flying. Following these stones, the electric current sizzle-sizzled out, instantly erupting into a two-meter diameter spiderweb-like electric net. If any strand of this net hit flesh, it could instantly scorch it to charcoal.
On the rooftop, the three-eyed man narrowed his eyes and said to the Dean, "It's been less than 15 days since he mastered Spirit Power. Spirit Power G6, and his comprehension is not bad either. He directly mastered Sniffing Butterfly and Lightning Bind... Director Qu, you taught this in your class, right?"
Qu Jiangnan hummed in acknowledgment, glanced at Bai He, but wasn't overly impressed. "This student is indeed alright."
Hearing this, the other teachers secretly thought that Qu Jiangnan's standards were truly high.
This Bai He was a student from a purely humble background. It was said his circumstances were pitiful. His tested talent wasn't among the top in Class 1, but he worked hard, was enterprising, and managed carefully. Achieving this showed his potential.
However, that wasn't the main point.
This lightning technique looked good, but the question was—where was the target?
These teachers all saw its power, but before they could praise it, they felt something was wrong.
Bai He's face also changed.
Where was she?
Didn't the Sniffing Butterfly find the place? Could it be she wasn't here?
Bai He couldn't figure it out and immediately became vigilant. In the next second, he gathered his remaining Spirit Power and condensed a square shield in front of him.
His sense of crisis was sufficient, his reaction speed adequate, but he only heard the sound of tearing silk.
From where?
He didn't know. Anyway, he had the same feeling as on the first day of combat skills class: unable to see the mechanical soldier's position but clearly being locked onto... a sense of crisis.
His scalp tingled, his heart stiffened, and his whole body shivered. Then, whoosh, a spear instantly tore through the air, as if an invisible bow had suddenly been drawn in the sky, shot, pierced the void, and in an instant... Clang!!!
It pierced the center of Bai He's shallow shield, from top to bottom at a 60-degree angle...
When the shield shattered, Spirit Power dissipated. Bai He felt a cold light flash before his eyes and then disappear, but it was fixed on his left leg.
Crack!
The spear tip was sharp. It pierced flesh, penetrated bone, and then, stained with blood, its tip plunged into the earth. The round shaft pierced through and pinned Bai He's thigh, essentially nailing him to the spot in an instant.
From Bai He +6666!
Bai He let out a bloodcurdling scream, so shrill it alarmed everyone.
Turning to see this scene, my god!
From Yuan Shu +4444!
From...
Everyone was so scared their Spirit Power almost went haywire. Yuan Shu directly ended his invisibility and fled as if flying, not daring to approach that area again.
But just as they all turned to look...
"Chen A'Diao!" Zhongchuan Mingxiu roared angrily. A bloody line appeared between his eyebrows, and a white light emerged. The white light opened into a pupil. This was the "Eye Opening" technique in Daoist arts, much more difficult than Sniffing Butterfly and the like. It belonged to the True Eye techniques and could, without the help of forbidden items or treasures, directly see through invisibility and other such techniques.
He saw her. He saw A'Diao's figure hidden in the tall ginkgo tree. So, he raised his right hand and manipulated elements towards the spot from where the spear had just shot out.
"Lightning Bind! Go!"
If Bai He's Lightning Bind had a lethality of 10 points, then Zhongchuan Mingxiu's had a lethality of 100 points.
It directly twisted into a deadly bolt of lightning, writhing and pulsing, instantly leaping in front of A'Diao.
Bang... The lightning exploded, on a larger scale, but what exploded wasn't lightning, but beautiful yellow butterflies.
So beautiful, amidst the dense electric net, elegant butterflies bloomed one by one.
"Substitution Technique!!"
Not good!
But Zhongchuan Mingxiu was still formidable. His speed and reaction were too fast. His real body had already flashed swiftly towards the red cicada. Releasing Spirit Power and bursting with speed, he also specifically sealed off the area around the red cicada.
Caught it!
The agile red cicada was caught in Zhongchuan Mingxiu's hand. Just as he was about to find Shi Dagang to hand over his achievement, he suddenly sensed something behind him... Bang!!
A dark shadow suddenly appeared, and a cool mid-air kick landed on his back.
His chest felt a bit tight.
Pfft... Zhongchuan Mingxiu opened his mouth and coolly sprayed blood into the sky.
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