Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 227: Chapter 227. The Cultivation Target for the Academy Students

”In that case, I’ll take my leave,” Lao Zen said. ”I wish you all good luck on the mission and that you return safely.”

He flew away after saying that.

Ha Gild took the group to another part of the academy. It was where the Specialization buildings were located. He took them to where the freshman students were prohibited from entering. It was the Specialization section for the senior students.

For freshman students who were here for the first time, the thing that took most of their attention was the sound. They heard all kinds of voices from living things except not humans. This was the sound they normally only heard when they were outside in the wilderness. The voices they heard were from spirit beasts.

Even in the wilderness, they never heard the voices of so many kinds of spirit beasts in one place. They couldn’t see those beasts, though. The voice came from a massive building before them. The building had an open roof, based on the sound they heard. Its tall walls prevented the people from outside to see what was inside.

”I would like to welcome you, freshman students, into this place, but this is not why I bring you here,” Ha Gild said with a chuckle. ”This is the place for students interested in learning the method of spirit beast taming, but you will have to be senior students for that. So, this is as far as you go for now. As for why I bring you all here...”

Ha Gild made a shrill whistle. Those with sensitive senses could detect the aether incorporated in his whistle. Almost immediately after his whistle, a piercing shriek was heard.

A large shadow came out from behind the walls surrounding the building. It flew over the tall wall before coming down to where Amon and the others were. The shadow revealed itself to be a giant eagle. It had a wingspan of around a hundred meters.

”This is a great eagle,” Ha Gild introduced. ”It is one of the widely domesticated spirit beasts. They were mostly mid-superior beasts. They provided excellent transport services after being tamed.”

Amon now understood why Ha Gild said he could bring them to the mission site in only two days. The great eagle was incredible for traveling. Below mythical beasts, they had the fastest flying speed and possessed great endurance. They could remain flying at top speed for a whole week without resting.

When the great eagle landed, they saw something on its back. It was some sort of structure, a howdah. It looked like a covered platform that could accommodate several people. The eagle crouched low on the ground to let people climb onto the howdah.

”We have more people than originally planned, but this great eagle can carry around thirty people. So, it is not a problem,” Ha Gild said. He then gave Gao Xi a whistle made of bone. ”Tutor Gao, I leave this whistle to you. This great eagle already knows where it needs to go. It will bring you to the mission site and wait for you all there. When the mission is complete, blow this whistle. It will come to you and carry you all back here again.”

Gao Xi received the bone whistle with a nod.

”Okay, everyone. Hop on!” Ha Gild said. ”Food and water have been placed inside the howdah. You can all relax until you reach the mission site.”

”This is my first time riding atop a great eagle. I’m so excited!” Wu Di exclaimed. He was the first to jump into the howdah.

”It’s not the first for me but I’m still excited, haha!” Tuang Yin was the second to rush inside.

”Look at those childish freshman students, so ridiculous,” Xian Mei smirked.

”That embarrassing bastard is truly a disgrace to the Wu Clan,” Wu Chun spat.

”You better deal with him, Wu Chun,” Gao Xiong said. ”If that guy causes a problem with our plan, Boss Gao Tien won’t be happy.”

”Don’t worry. I will take care of that bastard,” Wu Chun said.

Everyone jumped to the howdah. It had a roof but was open on all sides, so there was no problem for everyone entering at the same time. After everyone entered, Ha Gild whispered something to the great eagle’s ear. It chirped as if communicating back.

”Okay, everyone! Godspeed!” Ha Gild waved his hand.

The great eagle stood and stretched its wings. With a flap, they ascended. With a second flap, it shot into the sky. Such a sudden burst of speed should have thrown everyone onto the floor, or worse, caused some people to fall outside. Yet, the people inside didn’t feel any motion.

Amon looked around. The howdah had words of power carved into its structure. The enchantment from these words must have been the reason for the stability inside this place.

Tuang Yin came to the fence and gazed at the sight of the city that was getting smaller. She called for Amon to come and look. Amon ignored her. He had seen many such sights during his old life when he piloted a fighter aircraft. He instead sat cross-legged and started cultivating.

Wu Di was checking the scenery with Tuang Yin. But after seeing what Amon did, he came to his side and joined him in cultivation.

The senior students were huddling in one corner as they discussed among themselves. Tutor Gao Xi and Gao Sou joined their group. The freshman students grouped in the opposite corner. There was a clear separation in the team going on this mission.

Yong Ling stayed away from both. She wondered why she was instructed to accompany these brats. She originally had another assignment. She didn’t know why it was suddenly changed. All she knew was Lao Zen came to her and told her to protect the freshman students in this mission.

The journey progressed without an incident. The great eagle was a trained steed. It took the path that avoided dangerous wilderness regions. Hence, they didn’t encounter any strong flying spirit beasts.

During the journey, Zhuan San chatted the most among the freshman students. Amon didn’t join their conversation. He never stopped cultivating, but it didn’t mean he didn’t pay attention to their conversation. When the topic mentioned Gao Tien and Xian Yang, who were there with the senior students during their departure, Amon stopped cultivating and asked a question.

”Do you know why those two didn’t join this mission?” Amon asked. The points awarded by this mission were much better compared to normal missions. It also didn’t take long to complete. If those two wanted, he believed they could easily earn the spot for the mission.

”That’s because they were preparing for the final test,” Zhuan San said.

”Final test?”

”Unlike the freshman and junior classes, the top ten for the senior class isn’t decided by the academic points alone,” Zhuan San explained. ”The top ten is decided using a martial art contest. Only fifty students with the highest academic points are eligible for the contest. The contest decides ten of the best students and their rankings.”

”I see. In other words, academic points aren’t that important anymore so long as you get into the top fifty,” Wu Di concluded.

”That’s right. Gao Tien and Xian Yang had no problem amassing the academic points to be among the fifty. Rather than collecting more academic points, their time is better spent cultivating and training to make sure they get a good rank in the top ten during the graduation contest. That’s why they had no interest in undertaking this mission. It’s the same with the other best students from the senior class. In other words, the senior students who come with us are second rates.”

”What did you say, freshman?!” Gao Xiong stood and yelled. The howdah wasn’t that large. As cultivators, everyone’s ears had no problem hearing the conversation from the other corner, even when the speaker wasn’t loud.

”Gao Xiong, sit down...,” Yong Ling said.

Gao Xiong clenched his teeth. He turned to Gao Xi, who shook his head. He sat back while grumbling.

”Do you know what Gao Tien and Xian Yang’s cultivation level is?” Amon asked Zhuan San. He completely ignored Gao Xiong’s uproar.

”They are both at the Peak Transformation Stage,” Zhuan San answered. His expression also never changed. He didn’t act like someone who had offended his seniors.

”Peak Transformation...,” Amon muttered.

”Haha! Are you scared already after hearing about our leader’s cultivation level?” Gao Xiong laughed.

”Is that the highest cultivation level among senior students?” Amon asked. He acted like he didn’t hear Gao Xiong’s ridicule, which pissed the guy.

”My friend. After the Peak Transformation Stage, one enters the martial realm,” Zhuan San replied. ”If any student enters the martial realm during their time in the academy, that will be a first.”

”That’s right. Forget about the martial realm. Every student’s target should be the Peak Transformation Stage,” Yong Ling told them.

”For your additional information, there are only five senior students with the cultivation level at the Peak Transformation Stage,” Zhuan San added. ”These five are the main leaders of the five factions.”