As the school opening day approached, Qi Xiaoshuang and her parents went to buy things needed for the new semester, while Фэн Юань, invited by Ци Чэнь, went to the department store to purchase daily necessities.
"Speaking of which, Xiao Shuang is entering high school, right? It’s a pity it’s not our Second High."
Casually browsing through the merchandise, Фэн Юань said regretfully. Qi Xiaoshuang’s grades were excellent, naturally allowing her to enter one of Maomu City’s good schools. Meanwhile, their Second High was not particularly outstanding. However, thanks to Фэн Юань’s previous Drudgeon mini classes, they had a slight advantage in Beast Taming.
"I think it’s pretty good. The teaching level at First High is much better than our Second High. If it weren’t for you, we might not have caught up during the academy assessment."
Glancing at Фэн Юань, Ци Чэнь said with a smile, while the other shrugged and said
"Maybe later I’ll find a way to bring our school up. After all, they’re still teaching at Second High."
"Are you serious?"
Skeptically scrutinizing Фэн Юань, Ци Чэнь was somewhat doubtful, as the other spread his hands and said
"I’ve thought about it, but haven’t decided yet. By the way, Long Boduo, why are you here?"
"Agunas and the others are preparing to wrap things up, estimating they’ll return in a couple of days. It asked me to relay this to you."
In human youth form, Long Boduo said helplessly. Originally, Drudgeon was supposed to deliver the message, but it became irritable due to frequent trips every few days. Although Фэн Юань indicated that he did not need to urgently know their whereabouts, Agunas continued with such frequency, unfortunately burdening Drudgeon with running back and forth.
This is how Фэн Юань learned about their purpose, discovering unusual situations among the leaders. Despite resource problems arising in the Divine Land Region, the number of participants was unreasonably high; they could not believe everyone had gone mad.
During the investigation, they noticed something amiss, humans manipulating everything covertly. Furthermore, this treacherous capturing wasn’t limited to Great Xia; it appeared in other countries, though they might not have realized it yet.
"Are you going to just deliver the message and leave? Won’t you join us for some food?"
Glancing at Long Boduo, Фэн Юань asked, unable to resist, while the other shook his head and replied
"I can’t, I need to help. Moreover, they’ve requested assistance from divine creatures in other regions."
"Is it so serious? What’s the situation?"
Upon hearing Long Boduo’s words, Фэн Юань’s expression changed. Though divine beasts often assisted each other, regional requests were rare unless faced with a major crisis.
"Not sure, but the future as seen by Agunas and Lorraine Tower is bleak. Despite this action, we haven’t caught the mastermind."
Long Boduo shook his head and said, although it’s merely speculative, the outcome seemed hard to change. Confused, Ци Чэнь glanced at Long Boduo and then at Фэн Юань, unable to leave the question
"So, did you let the mastermind escape?"
"Not yet, but Agunas and Lorraine Tower can’t see their figure in the timeline; their actions are obscured by Time Mist. This is dangerous."
Looking at Фэн Юань, Long Boduo explained, as Фэн Юань pondered momentarily, his hand resting on his chin before saying
"Indeed, it would take significant power to hide from time observation. This suggests their backing is not benign, possibly invaders from another world, but it shouldn’t be."
He was certain that Abyss’s power remained densely sealed across Chaos, yet invasions continued. This was not absolute; perhaps, Фэн Юань considered another possibility: residual powers from the past.
Even in the Jade Ruins, concealing forces from time was doubtful, yet remnants existed within the world. If the situation was akin to these artifacts, it remained possible.
After pondering for a while, unable to uncover the truth, Long Boduo swiftly bid farewell to Фэн Юань and left, aware that Agunas and the others were short-handed now and willing to help as it had the time.
"What else do you need, I’ll help you buy it."
Just then, Ци Чэнь said suddenly to Фэн Юань, blinking as Фэн Юань looked at Ци Чэнь puzzledly and said
"What are you talking about?"
"You want to help, don’t you?"
"No, let them pursue it first. Hopefully, it won’t be a major issue."
Sighing, Фэн Юань said helplessly. Taking action now might not lead to better results; a substantial number of divine creatures had already moved, and without special means, his involvement would not significantly enhance efficiency.
"Let’s go, and buy things first."
Shrugging, Фэн Юань patted Xiao Ji next to him and said. As matters moved forward, the impacts from the mass capture seemed to dissipate, although the news from Long Boduo indicated the problem might be more complex.
"Haha, there sure are a lot of people registering today."
On the opening day, Фэн Юань led Xiao Ji from the academy-provided dormitories to the registration area. He arrived a week early and explored every corner of the school, with Xiao Ji following closely, curiously gazing at the bustling campus.
Seeing those parents dropping off students and the fresh-faced newcomers experiencing everything anew, Фэн Юань felt distracted until someone lightly tapped his shoulder, making him turn curiously to see Yang Hongzhi scratching his head and saying
"Aren’t you going to train?"
"Now busy welcoming new students, plus it’s not urgent."
Yang Hongzhi smiled and said. Though his training duties were heavy, he still had some rest breaks, for neither he nor his Укротитель зверейs were indestructible, needing downtime.
"I wonder what’s really going on over there."
Najia, sitting on Xiao Hei’s head, said worriedly. Although wishing to help, it also had to consider Yang Hongzhi’s protection, resulting in not joining Drudgeon and others addressing this matter.
"Are there confirmed similar situations in other regions?"
Фэн Юань revisited Najia for confirmation, suspecting the matter might relate to enemies from the Outer World, but Najia shook its head and replied
"Everyone thoroughly investigated, finding nothing so far. Additionally, Agunas has nearly identified the mastermind. These methods of inciting desires seem..."
"Familiar. Do you think it might be orchestrated by insiders?"
Chin tucked in thought, Фэн Юань remarked looking at Najia, who nodded and said
"We do suspect that, but there’s no proof. Historically, all remaining knowledge should have faded away, even attempting contact by going back in time would alert Lorraine Tower and Agunas. Where did they connect to such things?"
"Maybe, we’ll only uncover the truth once Agunas interrogates it from them."
Sighing, Najia said, unable to comprehend the identities and motives behind orchestrating this. Yang Hongzhi looked at Фэн Юань and said
"Should we head over now? If nothing changes this year, there will likely be many registering students soon. You wouldn’t want to queue, right?"
"Hmm, let’s go. I’m not sure if Ци Чэнь and them arrived."
Prompted by Yang Hongzhi, Фэн Юань recalled his original goals for rising early, and they headed together to the stadium, where a considerable number of students were already registering. A student council member handling registrations, seeing Фэн Юань beside Yang Hongzhi, curiously asked
"Is he a new member of your team?"
"We don’t have the ability to recruit him. By the way, can you help him register?"
"A freshman?!"
The student council member exclaimed surprisedly, scrutinizing Фэн Юань. Noticing others glancing over, Фэн Юань said with a wry smile
"Is there really a need to be so surprised?"
"But aren’t you coming from the dormitory complex? Are freshmen already staying in dorms?"
She remarked suspiciously, though Ци Чэнь and the others had only officially identified their dorm allocation today. Unwilling to explain, Фэн Юань pulled out his admission letter and handed it over, saying
"Does this convince you?"

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