Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 166: Chapter 166. Four Groups

”What is the previous epoch?” Lei Gun asked.

”It’s the era when we have no history whatsoever, around ten million years ago,” Li Shi answered.

”Perhaps that’s when our ancestors were born.”

”No. A lot of ruins like this one had been found. Many were proven to have predated the current epoch. Which means our civilization started before ten million years ago.”

”Then why is there no recorded history?”

”That’s why all of us archeologists have been trying to figure out by studying these ruins. That’s why, Captain Xu Shi, it is extremely important to give us enough time to study it.”

”Tutor Li Shi, I’m not going to repeat it for the fourth time. Please send your complaint through the proper channel. My hands are tied. I can’t help you even if I want to.”

”But you don’t want to,” Li Shi said scornfully.

Xu Shi again replied with a shrug.

Amon picked up one of the debris from the ground. It was a fragment of the blackstone. The surface was rough. It was not exactly black on the surface, but the inside was. Probably its surface was coated with another material to give the wall a different color. Amon tried to exert power on the fragment, trying to crush it. But this blackstone was, as Li Shi described, very hard. Amon was unable to destroy it.

”Hey, put that down. That is the kingdom’s property,” Xu Shi said when he saw Amon’s holding the debris.

”Even such a small piece?” Amon asked.

”Everything! Even that small piece. We will check your space rings before you leave. If we find any of these blackstones inside, we will confiscate them, plus a penalty. You have been warned. Refrained from taking anything from this place. Especially from inside the ruins. Your job here is just to observe and study.”

”My students know what their jobs are,” Li Shi uttered.

”One of them clearly doesn’t,” Xu Shi said when Amon was still holding the blackstone fragment.

”Throw it away,” Li Shi said.

Amon sneered. He let the stone fall back to the ground.

Xu Shi took them circling the structure one time. As he had informed previously, there were several entrances. Holes on the wall that were large enough for them to enter. They counted four of them.

”I didn’t see anything that looks like a door,” Li Shi said. ”It is probable that this place had submerged. We might be standing on its roof.”

”Should we go in?” Jie Mei asked.

Li Shi turned to Captain Xu Shi instead. ”Has anyone tried to go in through these openings?”

”Our order is to guard its perimeter until you clear it for us to enter or after one month has passed,” Xu Shi replied.

Li Shi narrowed her eyes. He had no doubt the captain or his soldiers had tried going in before they arrived. She didn’t push the captain. She told her six students, ”All right, we will try entering from all four different entrances. We will divide you into four groups. Yong Lei, you go with Fan Niang. Lei Gun and Jie Mei, each of you enter alone. Amon will accompany Zong Kui.”

”Ah... Why do I have to accompany this brat? I want a cute girl for my company. Yong Lei, exchange with me!” Zong Kui uttered.

Yong Lei just grunted for a reply.

”Zip it! You do as I say,” Li Shi said.

”No,” an objection was heard. Everyone turned to the source of the voice. It was Amon. ”I will go alone,” Amon added.

”Hehe, I also prefer not to go with you, kid,” Zong Kui said.

Li Shi frowned. She purposefully divided the teams in a way that both the junior and freshman students would have senior students protecting them. Even though the ruins seemed harmless except for the mental pressure, no one was sure if there were no traps inside. There might be dangers. It would be better if students with weaker cultivation were accompanied by stronger seniors.

”I am the leader in this mission. You follow my command,” Li Shi said sternly.

”No. Either I go in alone, or I don’t go in at all,” Amon didn’t budge. ”If I am removed from this mission. Fine, I will find the way back myself.”

Li Shi gritted her teeth. First, the aggravating captain. Now, this insubordinate student. She had the urge to smack this stubborn student. If she was still young, perhaps she had. But from her experience of having many things not according to her wish, she had learned to control her emotions.

Remaining composed, she said, ”The reason I divide the team this way is for your protection. There might be unknown dangers down there. You have the lowest cultivation. Having someone with higher cultivation to help in time of need might save your life.”

”I am aware of the risk. I still prefer to go in alone,” Amon said.

Li Shi was speechless. The boy didn’t even hesitate. Was it because he didn’t know the danger of the real world? Was he underestimating this ruin?

Li Shi took a deep breath. She could see from Amon’s expression that nothing she said would sway the boy. ”Fine, do as you wish. But you need to follow exactly what I tell you. Do not touch anything recklessly! Is this understood?”

”That is acceptable,” Amon replied.

”Heh, now I hope he is caught by a trap inside,” Zong Kui said. ”Let’s see how he cries for help when that happens.”

”Brother Zong Kui, please don’t say such things,” Fan Niang uttered.

”Ah, you are such a fine little girl. Why can’t I go with you? Tutor Li Shi, can I go with her? Yong Lei will be fine going alone. He likes acting cool, the same as that brat. Didn’t you say so, Yong Lei?”

Yong Lei gave Zong Kui an irritated glance.

”You will go with Lei Gun,” Li Shi said.

”What? No,” Zong Kui uttered.

”Hell, no!” Lei Gun also objected.

”Let me with Jie Mei then. Even if she is not as cute as Fan Niang, it is still better than nothing,” Zong Kui said.

Jie Mei was visibly annoyed by Zong Kui’s words. She looked like she was about to lunge at him any second now.

”Everyone quiet...! This is my decision. Yong Lei with Fan Niang, Lei Gun with Zong Kui, then Jie Mei and Lin Mo go in alone. This is final! No more argument!” Li Shi exclaimed. She was not in the mood ever since Xu Shi informed her that she only had one month. Now, these students were testing her nerves as well.