"Greetings, officers!" The Military Mage entered the tent and saluted all the high-ranking officials.
"Mm... tell us the results of your investigation," said Ling Tiancheng, his tone calm but authoritative.
"I didn't find any trace of Bloodthirsty Ants on the outer edges of Golden Mountain," the mage reported.
Everyone in the tent breathed a sigh of relief—until the next words fell.
"However, once I went deeper into Golden Mountain, I discovered active Bloodthirsty Ant colonies."
The expressions of every commander and dean turned grim. So it was true—there really were Bloodthirsty Ants inside Golden Mountain.
"My negligence." The middle-aged officer in charge clenched his fist. "We've had patrols around that mountain for months and never noticed anything unusual!"
Ling Tiancheng waved a hand. "Now isn't the time for blame. What matters is how to eliminate this hidden threat."
Everyone nodded. They all knew the solution lay in killing the Ant Queen, but locating her in a place as vast as Golden Mountain would be no easy feat.
The Hunter King, standing off to the side, listened quietly. He had already guessed the seriousness of the situation.
Ling Tiancheng turned to him. "You heard it. Can you help me find the Queen?"
"I can't promise anything," the Hunter King said honestly. "But I'll do everything I can."
Ling Tiancheng nodded. "I'll mobilize the army's Flying Eagles and the Advanced-Level Wind Element Mages. You'll have full command over them."
"Good." The Hunter King agreed solemnly.
Then Ling Tiancheng's sharp gaze shifted to Song Jie and his group.
"I heard that you discovered a flower capable of repelling Bloodthirsty Ants?"
"Yes," Song Jie replied, seated in the front row.
Ling Tiancheng stood, fixing his piercing eyes on him. "We'll need one of you to guide us to where those flowers grow. Rest assured, your safety will be guaranteed."
Huo Yumeng and Mu Lei immediately averted their eyes—they didn't want to return to that cursed forest.
Jiang Shaoxu didn't know the flower's location, while Ding Yumian did. But before she could volunteer, Song Jie had already stood up.
"I'll take you."
"Well done." Ling Tiancheng's voice carried clear approval.
Jiang Shaoxu's eyes softened as she looked at Song Jie's back. Her admiration for him grew once more.
Coming from a military family, she had always respected those with courage and a sense of duty—and Song Jie fit both perfectly.
First, he'd ordered them to escape while he stayed behind; now, he was willing to risk his life again.
Ling Tiancheng turned to the Hunter King. "This is an important task. Have one of your men escort him."
If the silver-white flower could truly repel Bloodthirsty Ants, it might prove vital later, especially if a large-scale battle broke out.
The Hunter King nodded, glancing toward a tall, broad-shouldered man beside him. "Xu Chu, go with him."
Xu Chu gave a brief nod.
"Alright," Ling Tiancheng concluded, "the academy representatives will stay. Everyone else, dismissed."
Since Song Jie would be heading back into Golden Mountain with Xu Chu, he was escorted to a separate area to prepare.
Unbeknownst to him, Jiang Shaoxu quietly followed.
"You know the route, right?" Xu Chu asked, his tone steady.
"I have a map," Song Jie replied. "With it, I can find the exact spot."
Ding Yumian had slipped the map to him earlier inside the tent.
"Good. I'll rely on your lead then." Though expressionless, Xu Chu's tone was polite.
Just then, he summoned his Summoned Beast.
A massive bird appeared in a burst of seven-colored light, each feather glinting like a prism beneath the sun.
It was easily twice the size of a Wind Riding Sky Eagle—large enough to carry eight people.
"This is my Contract Beast—the Seven-Colored Sacred Finch," Xu Chu said.
Song Jie nodded, not envious. He knew that one day, he would stand at this level as well.
Xu Chu suddenly turned his head and smirked faintly. "Is that your girlfriend over there? She seems to be looking for you."
"Girlfriend?" Song Jie blinked, confused. Turning around, he saw Jiang Shaoxu standing nearby.
He walked over to her. "Why did you come?"
"I came to see you off," she said softly.
"And?" Song Jie tilted his head.
"And what?" Jiang Shaoxu blinked, not catching on.
"You kissed me before when you left," Song Jie said with a teasing grin. "Now that I'm the one leaving, shouldn't you return the favor?"
"You—!" Jiang Shaoxu froze, her cheeks flushing red. She hadn't expected him to bring that up.
Song Jie smiled faintly. "Don't worry. When I come back, I'll take back the advantage you got last time."
"You—! It wasn't even— You were clearly the one who—!" She stammered, unable to finish her sentence as there were others nearby.
Song Jie chuckled, turned, and climbed onto the back of the Seven-Colored Sacred Finch. Moments later, the majestic beast spread its radiant wings and soared toward Golden Mountain.
Meanwhile, the army's mages began mobilizing, spreading out in search formations across the mountain range.
On the Sacred Finch's back, Song Jie took out a small item wrapped in cloth—the General's Soul—which Dean Xiao had prepared for him and Old Deng had handed him personally.
This particular soul would grant a poison attribute to one of his Summoned Beasts.
Poison could induce paralysis, corrosion, and even hallucination—an ideal enhancement for Little Green.
"Little Green," Song Jie called softly.
With a flash of light, the familiar wind spirit emerged from the Dimensional Space, blinking its orchid-colored eyes curiously.
"Let's evolve you," Song Jie said, holding up the General's Soul.
"Ring ring ring!" Little Green chirped excitedly, nodding.
Song Jie entered the Dimensional Space to begin the advancement ritual. After channeling the energy of the General's Soul into Little Green, he exited and waited patiently—it would take time for the transformation to complete.
Xu Chu's Seven-Colored Sacred Finch was a Commander-level beast, close to the peak of its tier. Its speed was incredible, reducing their travel time to a third.
After checking the map and noting their current position, Song Jie pointed ahead. "The silver-white flowers should be around that area."
Xu Chu nodded and urged his Sacred Finch forward.
Soon, they descended upon a familiar clearing—the same campsite from before.
Clusters of silver-white flowers shimmered faintly under the sunlight.
Xu Chu approached carefully, harvesting most of them but leaving a few untouched to preserve the source.
"Let's head back," he said, stowing the flowers safely away.
But just as he turned to mount the Sacred Finch again—
A low, chittering roar echoed through the forest.
Xu Chu's expression darkened instantly. "Get on—now!" he shouted.
...
Author's Note:
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