A Bad Idea.

"Oh? Even the Jin tribe is going to implement changes to their system..." Rue Bu couldn't say he was surprised, but it still shifted his perspective slightly.

'We previously assumed that the alliance was planning something to catch the Jin tribe off guard, but they don't seem as clueless as we thought. Jin Shun's words suggest that they intend to make things more difficult because they need more capable Gu Masters. Even if that causes the number of official team captains and squad leaders to decrease, it won't affect their overall strength. And unlike the elder position, it wouldn't cause significant damage to their morale. Still, it will likely lead to some dissatisfaction in the long run,' the voice began.

'So, what you're saying is that the Jin tribe is also preparing to attack, willing to risk unrest in their army's structure in exchange for stronger Rank Twos and even encouraging advancement to Rank Three...' Rue Bu summarized.

'It's only a guess, but that's what it looks like. Either the Jin tribe is already anticipating the alliance's attack, or they're the ones planning to strike first. Either way, both the alliance and the Jin tribe seem interested in initiating things only in the distant future.' it concluded.

'That would explain why the alliance is suddenly investing in us seemingly out of nowhere...' he agreed.

"Yes, Jin Shun wouldn't lie for no reason, and he didn't need to if he was going to offer those incomplete recipes in the first place. Besides, the higher-ups have already been acting strangely, raising the number of Rockman missions and their rewards. Even Elder Qin Jing took one himself," Luo Niu said casually.

"Well, you'll probably learn more as you climb your way up the ranks, so let's not jump to conclusions just yet. Anyway, we'll take those two recipes gratefully, haha." He laughed, not bothering to hide his satisfaction.

"They're also important for my understanding of the Enslavement Path. I've already submitted an official request to advance to team captain, and the first missions they offered are just collecting random refinement materials. When they start needing me to actively hunt wild beasts, I'll let you know." It wasn't that she needed assistance, but Rue Bu had already decided to help her either way.

"Good. You can go now; I need to be at the academy in about an hour." He hadn't needed to attend before due to the missions they'd been taking and completing, they provided real-life experience and also Primeval Essence Stones.

Even though they hadn't learned everything there was to know about cultivation, they had covered the basics and what was needed to start their journey. Still, despite arguably having more early experience than the previous generation, this one would be more ignorant when it came to many aspects of refinement and advanced cultivation knowledge, at least those who chose to take on missions early.

But the alliance had chosen raw experience over theoretical knowledge for a simple reason: in war, in a fight to the death, it didn't matter how much you knew—if you lacked the power to kill your enemy, nothing else mattered. Even if you were a genius born once in a thousand years, if you didn't capitalize on that talent and convert it into real combat ability, someone less talented could still trample you and end your brilliance before it even began.

But the reason Rue Bu was returning to the academy had nothing to do with any of that. His team was short one member, and they had to recruit someone themselves to continue taking missions, but they hadn't found anyone willing to join yet.

And he wasn't entirely optimistic about finding someone in the future either. "If I could get anyone to join us, it wouldn't be this hard... but it has to be someone from the Shui tribe. Who from there would just agree to join me like that?"

It wasn't something he could change, the alliance had made it clear that no team could have two members from the same tribe. And within the Shui tribe, who would join the two of them?

"Aren't those the two teammates of Shui Tao?"

"Poor guy. He had to die this early because of one bad decision. How can we take on missions without Rank Two or experienced Rank One Gu Masters?"

"What are you talking about? We're doing just fine. The missions the alliance is giving us are way easier and almost risk-free compared to what the official teams deal with."

"Then how do you explain Shui Tao's death?"

"Isn't it obvious? It's because his teammates abandoned him. Didn't you hear how that Ma student sacrificed an arm to save the other one? But when Shui Tao was in danger, they were just too late..."

Conversations like these were common among the students of the Shui tribe. And even if not all of them fully believed these conspiracy theories, they still subconsciously avoided Rue Bu and Chen Huan like the plague.

"So, without the financial support from missions, I need to go back to the academy with the rest of the students who didn't participate..." he explained to Luo Niu.

"I can get you the Gu worm food and primeval essence stones you need to cultivate, though."

"Haha, that's only natural~" he chuckled. "But in the eyes of the academy elders, I have no means of supporting myself. If my Gu worms don't start dying one by one, it'll raise their suspicions immediately." Chen Huan had her family to rely on and cover for her, but him? His family was barely getting by as it was, and they wouldn't be able to support him for long without skipping a meal or two each day.

"It'll mostly be theory, about refinement, fire and strength paths, and a few fights to secure some primeval essence stones. I'll inform you if I need anything else, so you don't need to worry." He 'reassured' her with a smile.

"Then I'll take my leave." She smiled back, and after he nodded, she disappeared.

...

The scorching rays of the summer sun blessed all living beings with light and heat, providing the warmth and guidance life needed to thrive and survive. But the sky wasn't as clear as it had been in spring, with heavy clouds hanging above, ready to drown the land the moment the heavens grew angry. For now, though, the clear weather came only with a gentle breeze.

"It's going to start raining soon. We need to finish quickly."

A group of six young Gu Masters made their way through a marsh, their clothes a mix of attires from three different tribes.

A rough-looking, broad-shouldered youth led the way, though he followed directions from someone safely positioned in the middle. When one of them started to complain, he reminded them,

"I know it's dangerous out here, but if we don't finish this today, we won't get the rewards. Do you want last week's work to be in vain? And what's the problem, Long Mei? Can't handle a little water on your delicate skin? Or is it your hair that can't take it, little princess..." At first, he sounded sincere, but it quickly turned into a mocking jab aimed at the one who had mentioned the rain.

"...Umm, Rue Gang... I don't want you to be mad, but he is... right..." The one giving directions tried to explain but seemed too nervous, or too afraid, to finish the sentence.

"What are you stuttering for?" someone snapped, clearly displeased with how she spoke, and ridiculed her. Which made her blush, "Anyway, you muscle-headed brute, the Thunderous Jaw Turtles' bites can get as strong as a Rank Two Gu worm if we're careless. It wouldn't take much effort for them to finish us off after that. Our only hope then, like before, is to escape. But if it starts raining, even that will be a lost cause, dumbass," he explained with little patience.

"Shui Zou Xiaoli, you don't need to be so harsh on Zhao Xiu like that. It's that brute's fault," said another girl, wearing a green academy uniform marked with the Lin tribe's distinct pattern—black and gold lines elegantly embroidered across the fabric.

Rue Gang didn't respond to the obviously provocative remarks aimed at him, but he still looked ready to throw hands at any moment, and the atmosphere grew tense.

"Okay, everyone calm the fuck down. We don't have time for this right now, alright?" The one who started the conversation stepped in again, "And you too, Rue Gang, what Zou Xiaoli said is right. Almost every Thunderous Jaw Turtle has an Illusory Whirlpool Beetle living inside it. Their natural habitats are practically the same as each other. When the turtle's in danger, the beetle activates and gives it a speed boost. But that speed increase depends on how much of its body is touching water. Normally, they're too dumb to use this ability on their own, but if it starts raining, that problem solves itself. And we won't be able to outrun them if things go south."

He paused before adding, "And like you said earlier, if we don't finish this today, we won't get the rewards. So let's hurry and wrap this up before the heavens decide to curse us."

The one speaking had long, silver-white hair reaching his waist, and pure white eyes that gave him a blind appearance, yet enhanced his beauty by complementing his hair. His nose bridge was long and straight, giving him an air of authority, but his feminine features, like his large, wide-set eyes, high cheekbones, and full lips, softened his expression. His name was Ma Long Mei.

'Maybe this was a bad idea after all...' He began to regret his decision.