Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Water Element Mastery, Supreme Status
The Leopard Hunting Team sprang into action, targeting the demon snake horde surrounding them. Despite the formidable defenses of the eighth-rank snakes, they focused on the seventh-rank and below.
Within minutes, the 200-strong snake horde was nearly decimated by the team, leaving the ground stained with blood and a mound of blood-scented cores beneath the White Fox's feet.
The eighth-rank Jiao, pinned to the ground, watched helplessly as its underlings were slaughtered, trembling with rage.
Ten or so eighth-rank snakes lay subdued, shivering with fear as they witnessed their companions being killed, terrified they would be next.
"Roar!!"
In a desperate outburst, the eighth-rank Jiao unleashed its innate skill against the Leopard Hunting Team:
**[Water Coiling Force: Controls surrounding water molecules to form a steam tornado, attacking multiple targets]**
A scorching steam tornado formed, sweeping towards the Leopard Hunting Team.
The surrounding air, distorted by the steam tornado, vibrated with a hissing sound.
Bang! The eighth-rank Jiao collapsed weakly, having forced its blood essence to use the move, only to have it suppressed by the sacred pressure.
"Damn it, why does this world have a divine dragon!" The Jiao lowered its proud head, roaring in humiliation.
Xiao Ye: "Let's end this."
**[Water Element Mastery: Absolute control over water elements, you are the king of water]**
An invisible shockwave emanated from the golden dragon.
"Freeze!" the golden dragon commanded calmly.
Before the words faded, the steam tornado conjured by the eighth-rank Jiao instantly froze, the temperature plummeting, bringing a chill to the air.
"What!?" The Jiao's eyes widened in shock, its innate skill attack effortlessly countered by the golden dragon.
Then the golden dragon silently commanded: "Boil!"
Another invisible shockwave spread out.
The water elements in the area, including those within the beasts, responded as if they had a master!
The blood temperature within the eighth-rank Jiao and the dozen eighth-rank snakes rose rapidly!
"Ahh!" "Roar roar roar!"
Their skins turned red-hot, their bodies writhing on the ground in agony, wailing pitifully.
"Extract!" the golden dragon silently commanded, sending out another shockwave.
Under the shocked gaze of the Leopard Hunting Team, the blood of the eighth-rank Jiao and snakes was forcibly extracted through their scales!
The overheated blood emitted steam into the air, hissing as it rose.
The eerie sounds chilled the Leopard Hunting Team to the bone.
"Is this the power of a divine dragon? Control over water!"
"Is there any foe for him in the Demon Snake Forest?"
The Leopard Hunting Team was stunned.
Soon after, all the demon snakes present lay dead.
The Jiao also succumbed, dried into a husk in its humiliation!
"Hahaha! We've struck it rich!"
The Sacred White Fox laughed, its face beaming, as it surveyed the pile of cores at its feet.
Sixteen eighth-rank cores, twenty seventh-rank cores, thirty-four sixth-rank cores, over fifty fifth-rank cores, and more than a hundred fourth-rank cores!
They stuffed the heavy, blood-scented bag into their backpack, full to the brim.
With their harvest secured, they boarded an off-road vehicle, heading back to the youth training camp.
At the youth training camp dormitory, the day's training had just concluded, and the trainees were gathered, waiting for the instructor's dismissal.
Yi Luren had regained his former confidence, becoming the core of the contractor group in the youth camp, surrounded by fellow trainees.
"Can Xiao Ye enjoy the glory I have? The seventh-rank hunting team undertakes perilous tasks; he must have wet his pants in fear!" Yi Luren imagined Xiao Ye, unable to keep pace with the seventh-rank hunting team, being scorned and berated by their captain.
Retake student Jing Ran watched the spirited Yi Luren and the chubby girl beside him, reminiscent of Xiao Ye.
"Tomorrow is the beast-eared maiden training, dismissed!" The bald instructor waved them off.
Just then, the Leopard Hunting Team and Xiao Ye's group arrived at the dormitory, assembling neatly for the bald instructor's inspection.
The youth camp contractors didn't hurry off; they were curious to see what a seventh-rank hunting team was like.
**[Leopard Hunting Team]** was the strongest seventh-rank hunting team, having won the excellence award for twelve consecutive months! Very prestigious.
The Leopard Hunting Team's captain reported to the bald instructor.
"Xiao Ye did well."
"Reporting, instructor! Xiao Ye and his group aren't suited to be our team members!"
Hearing the captain's words, the bald instructor's face darkened. Was the SSS-ranked summoned beast's performance so poor they were being kicked out?
"Are you serious?" he demanded.
The captain nodded, "Reporting, instructor, I'm serious! No joke!"
The team members chimed in, "That's right!"
"We agree!"
"I think so too!"
"The captain finally gets it!"
Seeing the unanimous opinion of the hunting team captain and members, the instructor's frown deepened.
"Heh heh heh! So what if they're SSS-ranked, they're still rejected, not as good as me, Yi Luren!"
Yi Luren, watching from the sidelines, grinned like a blooming flower, overjoyed.
The youth camp contractors watched with mixed feelings.
Even though Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi were SSS-ranked, they were deemed unsuitable by the strongest seventh-rank hunting team, otherwise, they wouldn't be expelled!
The male bald instructor snapped at the hunting team captain, "Are you sure you want to kick Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi out? You're defying orders!"
The captain was taken aback, protesting, "Reporting, instructor! Xiao Ye isn't suited to be a team member; he's suited to be our captain!"
"I'm reporting this to you first, then I'll formally request that Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi be appointed as captains of the Leopard Hunting Team!"
"What?" The bald instructor was dumbfounded. Instead of expelling them, they wanted Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi as captains!!
The vice-captain added, "That's right! Xiao Ye is perfect as our captain!"
The team members spoke up, "Exactly! As fellow seventh-ranks, we can only assist him!"
"Yeah! The Two-Tailed White Fox is awesome, I love it!"
"Agreed! With him, we'll be the strongest eighth-rank and then ninth-rank hunting team!"
The bald instructor's mouth twitched. Had they gone mad, appointing two high school students as captains of the strongest seventh-rank hunting team?
Yi Luren's smile froze, his blossoming flower of joy wilting instantly. Why did he feel like... yes, a clown?
He admitted he had spoken too soon.
The youth camp contractors were dumbstruck. The strongest hunting team captain personally requested to change captains, with Xiao Ye as the replacement!
They had been lamenting earlier, but for what? Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi were prodigies, shining wherever they went!
Apologies, we underestimated them!
(The story continues with more exciting developments, stay tuned)
Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Yi Luren's Breakdown, Willow Sways in the Northern Wind
The male and female bald instructors' mouths twitched. If the entire Leopard Hunting Team wanted Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi to be their captains, why were they even asking?
Could they even stop them from applying if they disagreed? And besides, the application process was just a formality! No one would bother to stop them unless the highest command or the city lord specifically decided to revoke the application.
"Ahem!" The male bald instructor cleared his throat under the hopeful eyes of the Leopard Hunting Team, saying, "For the remainder of this month, the Leopard Hunting Team will have Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi as captain and vice-captain!"
The team cheered joyfully upon hearing this!
The youth training camp contractors were dumbfounded. Why were the former captain and vice-captain so happy about being replaced?
It seemed Xiao Ye had left them far behind, now leading veteran warriors!
Yi Luren was consumed with envy and jealousy. Xiao Ye had actually become the captain of the strongest seventh-rank hunting team, the Leopard Hunting Team!
Retake student Jing Ran patted his chest with relief, thinking it was wise not to oppose Xiao Ye constantly. Xiao Ye was the kind of person who should be a big brother, not an adversary! He vowed to seize any chance to ally with Xiao Ye!
"Coach! I want to join the Leopard Hunting Team too!" Nangong Siyao eagerly jumped in, her innocent eyes blinking as she made her request.
The male bald instructor flatly refused, sternly saying, "Nonsense! You haven't even formed a contract. Stay in the youth training camp and train!"
Cheng Bingxi pouted and said, "Coach! I'm now the vice-captain of the Leopard Hunting Team, and I agree to Nangong Siyao joining the team!"
Xiao Ye nodded, "As captain, I agree too!"
Nangong Siyao cheerfully hugged Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi's arms, saying, "The captain and vice-captain of the Leopard Hunting Team agree, coach, what do you think?"
The bald instructor's face darkened, his voice firm, "No means no! Nangong Siyao, you're still a trainee here. For this month, I'm responsible for your management and training!"
As the city lord's daughter, Nangong Siyao's safety was a priority he had to oversee.
Yi Luren chuckled to himself, sensing an opportunity. With Nangong Siyao staying in the camp and away from Xiao Ye, he might have a chance!
Great, just great! Fate seemed to be favoring him—his white moonlight was returning!
The bald instructor turned to the Leopard Hunting Team members, asking, "Can you tolerate a girl without a contract joining the team?"
In unison, the Leopard Hunting Team replied, "Yes!"
"What?" The bald instructor's smile froze, incredulous. "Say that again, can you?"
Once more, the team shouted, "Yes!"
The bald instructor twitched, hastily stepping aside to call the city lord. A steady voice answered, "Hello!"
"City Lord, Nangong Siyao wants to join the Leopard Hunting Team. What do you think?"
The city lord asked, "What does the team captain say?"
The instructor felt a bad premonition, "The entire team just requested a change in leadership; now Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi are the captains, and Xiao Ye agrees!"
"Then let Siyao join!" The city lord laughed heartily.
The bald instructor was stupefied, finding it incredible. "Are you serious, City Lord?"
"Truer than gold! That's settled then, goodbye." With that, the city lord hung up.
Holding the disconnected device, the bald instructor stared blankly for several seconds before sighing deeply and returning to the group.
"From now on, Nangong Siyao is no longer a youth training camp trainee. She joins the Leopard Hunting Team under Captain Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi's supervision. Dismissed!"
"Yay!" The fruit girl exclaimed, jumping into Xiao Ye's arms.
The Leopard Hunting Team's smiles grew even broader. This was the summoner of a divine dragon!
A golden divine dragon with supreme bloodline—what's a noble Jiao compared to that?
It was a day to celebrate, with two SSS-ranked summoned beasts joining their ranks.
As the crowd dispersed, Yi Luren, watching Nangong Siyao clinging to Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi, anxiously called his father, the head of the military pavilion:
"Old Yi! I've got a big problem here."
Military Pavilion Head: "A big problem? Yes, indeed, there's an important issue concerning you!"
Yi Luren felt elated, convinced his father was looking out for him. Surely, he knew about Nangong Siyao joining the Leopard Hunting Team!
"Then what are you waiting for? Order Siyao to leave the team and return to the camp!" Yi Luren's heart raced with anticipation.
"Uh!" The military head paused, sighing as he realized he had to break the news about Nangong Siyao and Xiao Ye's contract.
"Yaoyao has restored her SSS-ranked summoned beast template."
"What?" Yi Luren was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed. "That's great news! You're saying I should form a contract with Siyao, right? I agree!"
Before her failed awakening, their families had intended for them to form a contract, but it hadn't worked out. Now, with her template restored, things seemed possible again.
"Then let Siyao leave the team and contract with me!" Yi Luren was ecstatic, barely able to contain himself.
Hahaha! Xiao Ye, you already have a contractor—my white moonlight is coming back to me!
"Sigh!" The military head sighed, recognizing his son's immaturity. But boys must grow up eventually, Yi Luren needed to mature.
Just as Yi Luren reveled in his excitement, the military head intervened: "Son! Nangong Siyao has already formed a contract!"
Still lost in his fantasy, Yi Luren absentmindedly said, "Great, forming a contract is good..."
"What? What did you say?" He froze, his body turning to ice as reality set in.
Old man, are you joking with me?
"Nangong Siyao has already contracted with someone—Xiao Ye! Forget about her from now on!"
"Boom!"
The words hit Yi Luren like a bolt from the blue, shattering his heart.
His gaze turned vacant, murmuring:
Siyao's contracted... with Xiao Ye...
With Xiao Ye...
With Xiao Ye...
"No!!" Yi Luren collapsed under the willow tree, a breeze stirring the branches as the northern wind howled.
Falling to his knees, he raised his head, crying out:
"Ah!"
"My white moonlight, my Siyao!"
At this moment, a flamboyant figure avoided the cameras, approached him, and patted his shoulder, saying:
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