Ninth In the World

Despite the fact that Wu Cheng was carving a path at the front and the students were all members of the elite class, running in that primitive, path-less forest caused everyone to end up covered in injuries.

Two hours later, when the roars of the beast could no longer be heard, Wu Cheng slowed down his pace. By now, the team had reached a slightly open-spaced area.

When he noticed that the team members behind him were not able to stand straight, Wu Cheng stopped. “Let’s rest here for a short while. I will tell you about the trial method later.”

After running for a few hours in a forest filled with viney thorns, almost everyone’s clothes were torn and tattered. Although the cultivation levels of the students were not low, they had all lost their composure when faced with this unexpected, dangerous situation.

Fortunately, the materials their bags were made of were sturdy, so despite being heavily scratched, none of their bags had been torn open.

“How come your clothes are intact, Di Jiu?” Pang Fan said when he calmed down. Only then did he realize that Di Jiu’s attire had not undergone many changes. It actually still looked the same.

“I learned a lightweight movement technique and followed the path you guys carved, so I did not have to come into contact with those thorns,” said Di Jiu carelessly.

A female student standing in front of Pang Fan heard what he said and looked at Pang Fan in disdain. In her opinion, Di Jiu was someone that only knew how to pull tricks and take advantage of a situation.

Di Jiu did not take this to heart. Most members of the elite class were talented individuals close to the late-stage Yellow Grade Cultivation Level despite the fact that they had not even turned 20. The girl looking at him in disdain was one of them. She looked not a day older than 20 years old, so she had not even considered that walking behind the others, like Di Jiu had done, would indeed allow one to avoid touching the thorns.

The majority of the elite class students believed that Wu Cheng’s decision was not problematic. He Tai was in this condition because he had been bitten by a poisonous snake. Although the howls of the demon beast earlier had been really scary, who knew just how scary the beast really was when they had not fought against it?

The students began to group up. Most groups contained three people, while some were made up of four. Only select groups included five people.

Di Jiu did not attempt to form a group. Meanwhile, Pang Fan walked with a smile towards an early-stage Black Tier student who was in the midst of grouping up. “Brother Cao Quan, take me and Di Jiu with you. Di Jiu can use a lightweight body technique, and my father asked Chinese Blacksmith Master Ye to refine and forge this saber especially for me.”

Di Jiu’s gaze landed on Cao Quan. Although he was not tall, he looked capable and vigorous. In Di Jiu’s opinion, Cao Quan was at best as strong as Sang Sha, so he had to be at an early-stage Black Tier Cultivation Level.

“There are already three people in my group, so only one more person can join us. If you want to come with us, your mission will be to help us carry our bags while we deal with any demon beasts that may appear,” Cao Quan said with a shake of his head after taking a quick look at Di Jiu.

It would not be possible to take him along. Although Pang Fan was weaker, at least he was more obedient. Who was Di Jiu, anyway? Cao Quan did not recognize him. Plus, while Pang Fan had come over to beg, that newcomer called Di Jiu had just stood there unmovingly. Who did he think he was?

Pang Fan looked slightly disappointed as he thanked Cao Quan and returned. He believed that Di Jiu was too weak. He only knew a lightweight technique, so he would be in danger if he did not group up with more powerful people.

In the blink of an eye, the majority of the elite class students had formed their own groups and left one by one. Only Di Jiu, Pang Fan and the two teachers, Yu Jie and Wang Chuangtian, were left behind. Wu Cheng had said that he would head to the garrison first and left.

“Pang Fan, Di Jiu, you don’t have to participate in the trial. Just go to the garrison ahead of us and meet up with Director Wu.” Yu Jie knew that Pang Fan was weak, so no one would group up with him. As for Di Jiu, she had not treated him like her students from the very start.

Wang Chuangtian nodded his head and added, “That would be for the best. The distance to the first garrison is still considered safe.”

He was planning on grouping up with Yu Jie. Given his current strength, he would still need many opportunities before his strength could improve. Director Wu Cheng’s strength motivated him, so what he desired the most now was to enter the Connate Level.

“Alright then. He Tai is still here, though.” Pang Fan pointed at He Tai, who was on the ground.

Wang Chuangtian sighed and said, “The two of you could take him to the garrison so he can be buried…”

“Alright then,” Pang Fan answered reluctantly.

After the two teachers left, Di Jiu looked at Pang Fan speechlessly. This fella had not tried to find some powerful team members. Instead, he had chosen to take along some extra baggage to the garrison. Di Jiu started to wonder whether Pang Fan had really gone there to participate in the trial. It seemed like anyone could order him around and ask him to do stuff for them.