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After looking over the task list, Li Yuanzhao immediately asked Li Hao, clearly hoping to accompany him and provide mutual support.

“The one in Qi State,” Li Hao said, a hint of coldness hidden in his eyes.

Li Yuanzhao scanned the task, didn’t think much about it, and nodded, “Then I’ll choose that one too.”

“You are all going to Qi State?”

Next to them, Du Qiuyue glanced at the task and said immediately, “Can you take me with you? I’m also heading there.”

“Me too, I’m going as well,” Zheng Bai quickly added, seeing the chance to be close to the young master of the Divine General Mansion, a rare opportunity to foster intimacy.

If he could become a good friend, that would be an enormous networking opportunity.

“Hao, what do you think?”

Li Yuanzhao decided to consult Li Hao first.

Li Hao replied, “I don’t mind.”

“Since Hao has no objections, then you can all join,” Li Yuanzhao stated.

Du Qiuyue and Zheng Bai exchanged glances, both seeing the joy in each other’s eyes.

At that moment, Su Yehua at the front suddenly said, “Let me explain the rules now. Each task can be taken by no more than five people. I will start counting off. The first task is to go to the Cangzhou Demon Subjugation Department to assist in resolving a demon-caused disturbance in a village. The task is worth five academic credits. Who wants to take it?”

“Me.”

“Me.”

Immediately, seven people raised their hands.

Among these tasks, the highest score was only 15 points, and that also carried the highest difficulty level, indicating a very high chance of encountering demons at Cycle Heaven Realm Perfection.

And for this first task, the intelligence only suggested the possibility of demons at the second to fifth levels of the Zhou Tian Realm, making it relatively easy.

“We have too many people. You either need to discuss it among yourselves or decide based on the Martial Arts Ranking – those with lower ranks should change to another task,” Su Yehua said.

The seven people looked at each other, and two of them voluntarily sat down.

Then Su Yehua continued to read out other tasks.

Those interested raised their hands to select accordingly. Some tasks attracted three people, others only one, and some tasks went unchosen and were left open.

“Hao, they’re going to undertake a task in Yunzhou. That area was just cleared of demons not long ago, and they’re going over to help eliminate the remnants,” commented Li Yuanzhao, who paid special attention to the Li Yun siblings and noticed their choice of a task worth the full 15 points, his face unwittingly displaying a trace of concern.

Although they didn’t see eye to eye within the mansion, after growing up together, he still didn’t wish for any misfortune to befall them.

“Tell them to be careful, not to be reckless in seeking merit,” Li Hao glanced at the sibling duo, seeing their faces full of eager excitement, and frowned as he spoke.

“Understood.”

Li Yuanzhao nodded, planning to give them a heads-up after getting his own task.

Soon after, Su Yehua mentioned the Qi State task.

Li Hao immediately expressed his intention, and Li Yuanzhao, together with Du Qiuyue and Zheng Bai, also raised their hands one after another.

Meanwhile, two other people, a male and a female, also raised their hands in a different location.

“She’s going too?”

Du Qiuyue caught sight of the girl who raised her hand, momentarily surprised. The girl was Ren Qianqian, ranked fourth in the Martial Arts Ranking, the daughter of a Grandmaster, with divinely skillful swordsmanship.

Zheng Bai’s expression changed. He looked at the young man whose ranking on the Martial Arts Ranking was higher than his own, and was not a newcomer but a senior student.

Now, with six people interested, it meant that Zheng Bai, who was last in line, would have to step down.

However, their main reason for choosing the Qi State task was because of Li Hao’s decision.

If Li Hao stepped down, Li Yuanzhao would probably do the same.

Zheng Bai looked at Li Hao, his eyes filled with hope, wishing he would choose a different task.

At the same time, Ren Qianqian and the young man also noticed Li Hao and others. Ren Qianqian just glanced at them, her expression unchanged as usual, calm and collected.

The young man, on the other hand, was stunned, and then his face lit up with happiness.

“We are over the limit,” Su Yehua swept her gaze over the group and said, “Discuss it among yourselves to decide who will step down. If no one is willing, we’ll have to follow the rules.”

Ren Qianqian sat down without paying much attention, as she had to go regardless.

The young man’s gaze skimmed past Li Hao, aware that he couldn’t afford to offend the young lord of the Divine General Mansion—even if he was at the bottom of the Martial Arts Ranking. Being able to attend Alpha Academy meant he couldn’t be too bad, he just hadn’t shown his full potential yet. His gaze then landed on Zheng Bai, and he said with a smile, “Qi State is dangerous; it is my homeland, and I can lead the way for them. How about you back out?”

Zheng Bai’s face flushed slightly. With those words, if he persisted, it might offend others.

“Alright then.” Zheng Bai’s complexion went through changes, but he quickly managed his emotions and said to Li Yuanzhao and Li Hao, “I wish you a smooth journey. We’ll take on a task together another time.”

“Okay then,” Li Yuanzhao, upon hearing this, gave up on persuading the young man and patted Zheng Bai’s shoulder to offer comfort.

“You also need to be careful out there,” Du Qiuyue said.

Zheng Bai smiled and nodded.

Although he was somewhat regretful that he wasn’t able to team up with Li Hao and the others, it was, after all, only the first task of the school year, and there would be other opportunities in the future.

Once the headcount was confirmed, Su Yehua continued to distribute other tasks.

Soon, everyone had made their selection.

Those who received the same tasks gathered together under Su Yehua’s instructions.

“When do we set out?” The youth named Yu Wei, who recognized Du Qiuyue, asked, but his gaze was on Li Yuanzhao and Ren Qianqian.

“Now,” Ren Qianqian said calmly.

However, Du Qiuyue was looking at Li Hao.

“Hao, what do you think?” Li Yuanzhao asked.

“Let’s go now, the sooner the better,” Li Hao replied.

“Alright, I’ll go prepare the carriage.”

Li Hao shook his head, “Prepare five Red Blood Horses; a carriage is too slow.”

Li Yuanzhao was slightly startled but nodded in agreement.

Yu Wei was surprised and looking at Li Yuanzhao’s demeanor, it was as if he was Li Hao’s little follower.

Yet, Li Yuanzhao was ranked sixth on the Martial Arts List, an exceptional talent, reportedly possessing an Eighth Layer Battle Body quality, only slightly inferior to those true prodigies.

After coordinating with the mansion, Li Yuanzhao went to the siblings, Li Yun, who were preparing to descend the mountain.

“Hao has instructed you both to be careful and not to be recklessly ambitious,” Li Yuanzhao told the siblings.

Li Yun raised an eyebrow and snorted coldly, “You just take care of yourselves.”

Li Zhining turned her head and glanced at Li Hao, who was conversing with a few others. Her eyes flickered as she said to Li Yuanzhao, “Thank you, Yuan Zhao, you guys also have to be careful.”

Li Yuanzhao grinned and replied, “You too, take care, Sister Zhi Ning.”

After giving his instructions, Li Yuanzhao returned to Li Hao’s side, and the group set off down the mountain immediately.

Riding the Red Blood Horses, the five of them galloped out of Qingzhou.

The youthful experience of riding horses and brandishing swords upon entering Jianghu filled Yu Wei and Li Yuanzhao’s faces with delight and excitement, feeling liberated and carefree.

“Indeed, a first-rate steed of the battlefield. Such speed is hard to come by at any price,” Yu Wei exclaimed, marveling at the scenery flying past the roadside.

Du Qiuyue was also riding a Red Blood Horse for the first time. Even though she was an upperclassman, she was ultimately just an eighteen-year-old girl trying to maintain composure in front of several freshmen. But her slightly flushed cheeks betrayed her excited and lively thoughts.

“Red Blood Horses are not for sale; it’s a capital offense to attempt to purchase them privately,” Li Yuanzhao said, still harboring a young man’s nature, unable to hide a hint of pride and superiority in his eyes.

Yu Wei and Du Qiuyue looked envious. Some people are born standing at a finish line others could never reach in a lifetime — that is the disparity.

With the Red Blood Horses’ fleetness, it would take less than two days to reach Qi State from Qingzhou.

High above Qingzhou City, a black bird resembling a crow flew past.

The bird reflected the image of five swift horse figures on the official road in the wilderness below.

Suddenly, the bird blinked, and it saw two figures following closely four or five miles behind the five horses.

What was surprising was that the two figures were leaping on foot without horses, yet they moved leisurely and managed to keep up without falling behind.

The bird blinked again, let out a low caw, and flew into the higher clouds.

Later, the black bird emerged from another part of the clouds, plummeted down rapidly, and flew into a certain forest.

Upon landing, the black bird transformed into a child about seven or eight years old in appearance, with a crown of feathers on its head. It ran towards the Black Water Pool ahead directly after landing.

“Lord Xuan Jiao, that person has come out,” the child called out to the Black Water Pool.

The voice reached into the depths of the pool. Suddenly, a dark shadow emerged from the still waters as if alive. Then it rapidly broke the surface, revealing a large serpent-like head, gently flicking its tongue amidst razor-sharp teeth, appearing quite ferocious.

“Did you get a clear view? Is it the son of that Execution Martial Marquis?” the serpent-like creature asked.

“I’m sure of it, my Thousand God Eyes Skill would never misidentify,” the child shuddered briefly before hastily bowing and saying respectfully, “Also, there are two people following them. It seems that someone from their side is protecting them in secret. One is at the Divine Travel Realm, and the other… I can’t see through.”

As his voice fell, the Black Water Pool stirred, and another black shadow suddenly surfaced — another serpent, slightly more slender with a white scale on its belly.

“Four years have passed since we were dispatched here to assassinate the son of that Execution Martial Marquis, and we have waited for four years,” the serpent spoke human words, then with a flash of their figures, they leapt from the water, landed and transformed into a pair of cloaked individuals, a man with a demon-like face and a woman with a bewitching look.

Both seemed to retain some serpentine aspects, their thin tongues stretching out to lick their lips and chins, both revealing smiles:

“They must think we have given up. But we, as Demons who have cultivated for a thousand years, have plenty of what we need most… patience.”