Five days after his tryst with Mu Ningxue, the Institute officially announced the joint training exercise between Pearl Institute and Imperial Capital Institute.
The mission for this exercise was to go beyond the safe zone and complete a designated task without any support.
For these students, who had always lived in an ivory tower, this was undoubtedly a huge challenge.
To ensure the students could cope with this exercise, the Institute gave them a few days to prepare.
This included collecting magic tools, medicines, and other necessary supplies.
...
...
On the day of the exercise meeting, Dean Song He of Imperial Capital Institute personally took the stage to explain the location, mission content, and precautions for the exercise to the students.
Wang Feng looked at Song He standing on the podium, a hint of coldness flickering deep in his eyes.
As a transmigrator, he naturally knew Song He's true colors.
This seemingly respectable dean was actually a deep-scheming, unscrupulous "old fox."
Song He was not only the dean of Imperial Capital Institute but also a mentor for the National Government Team.
However, he repeatedly sacrificed the safety of students for his own benefit.
In the original work, Song He clearly knew that Qin Yu'er was a disaster victim of the ice element, yet he still allowed her to join the National Government Team.
Ultimately, Qin Yu'er's identity was exposed, she was judged by the Holy City, and sealed in Tianshan by the Arbitration Institute, becoming a tragedy.
Similarly, as a dean of an institute, facing a disaster victim, Dean Fu of Pearl Institute protected Ding Yu'er perfectly.
It wasn't until a year after Dean Fu's sacrifice at the hands of the Demon Gully Fiend that Ding Yu'er committed suicide due to secret schemes and the pressure of righteousness.
And Song He, however, turned a blind eye to Qin Yu'er's tragedy, even personally pushing her into the abyss!
But Song He's actions were far from over!
Just like this joint exercise, he clearly knew that Lu Nian intended to use Mo Fan as an experimental subject, yet he still chose to tell Lu Nian the location of the Institute's exercise, leading to the tragic deaths of students from Pearl Institute and Imperial Capital Institute at Lu Nian's hands.
Even the later conscription to the Southernmost Land was suggested by Song He to Mu Ningxue.
Coupled with the fact that Qin Yu'er and Mu Ningxue were very similar, and Mu Ningxue was precisely invited by Song He to join Imperial Capital Institute.
It was hard to believe that this old man wasn't planning to sell Mu Ningxue again, just as he had sold Qin Yu'er.
"This scourge must not be kept, but this old fellow is an old Super-level, and I'm not strong enough to deal with him yet..." Wang Feng thought to himself, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.
Soon, Song He finished explaining the important matters for the Jinlin City exercise.
"Individual strength is certainly very limited. For this data collection in the desolate city, I hope that both the students of Pearl Institute and Imperial Capital Institute can assist each other and return safely and soundly!" Song He said.
...
After the two Institute exercise teams were ready, they boarded a flight to the city closest to Jinlin City.
Shortly after the plane took off, the students' moods gradually relaxed. Some began to converse in low voices, while others closed their eyes to rest, conserving their energy for the upcoming exercise.
However, at the same time, inside the Dean's office of Imperial Capital Institute.
A man wearing a military overcoat and smoking a pipe pushed open the door and walked directly to Song He.
"Commander Lu, didn't Pearl Institute already reject your request? What, still not giving up?"
Song He looked at the man, a gentle smile on his face, but with a hint of profound meaning in his tone.
Lu Nian took a deep drag from his cigarette. Amidst the swirling smoke, his expression appeared somewhat gloomy. He said in a low voice:
"Dean Song He, the experiment has reached its final step, only lacking a mage with dual innate talents for the final experiment. How could I be willing to give up!"
Song He frowned slightly, his tone carrying a hint of admonition: "But, the demon experiment has been ordered to be banned by the Five Major洲 Magical Associations. What you're doing doesn't conform to the rules."
"Rules?" Lu Nian sneered, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes:
"How can those high-ranking officials who merely occupy their positions understand the hardships of us common people? Dean Song He, you should understand that this experiment is a great creation that can truly change the fate of humanity!"
His voice became increasingly agitated, and he raised it a few octaves: "Isn't it because mages are inferior to demons in terms of physique? The demon experiment has perfectly solved this problem!
It can not only give mages a powerful physique comparable to, or even surpassing, demons of the same level, but also amplify magic without needing to draw any star patterns! Is such power not worth pursuing?"
"Back then, many forces, the military, and the Magic Association in the country all agreed to the research. Now, it's just encountered some difficulties midway, and you want to retreat?"
"Which magic creation wasn't born after paying a huge price? If Black Magic can be listed as normal magic from forbidden techniques, why can't demons! Dean Song He, we are truly just one step away! As long as Wang Feng is given to us, the demon experiment will surely be completed!"
Song He listened to Lu Nian's words and remained silent for a long time.
A moment later, he slowly spoke: "I know everything you said, but have you considered the consequences? If you continue like this, you will be an enemy of the Five Major洲 Magical Associations."
Lu Nian snorted coldly, his tone resolute:
"Hmph! If it's for humanity's contribution, what if the whole world is my enemy! As long as the demon experiment succeeds, the world will naturally vindicate me! As for Dean Song He, you only need to tell me the exercise location of my brother, Lu Zhenghe."
Song He looked at Lu Nian, sighed, and then slowly said:
"The exercise location is in Jinlin Desolate City."
Upon hearing this, Lu Nian turned and left without a word.
After leaving Imperial Capital Institute, Lu Nian pulled out a voice recorder from his pocket.
He pressed the play button, and it clearly recorded the conversation between him and Song He.
"Old man, you want to reap the benefits without effort? There's no such good thing!" Lu Nian sneered.
...
After arriving by air in Kangning City, the city closest to Jinlin City, the seventeen people from Pearl Institute and Imperial Capital Institute had to proceed on foot.
After all, in such an area infested with demons, using transportation was tantamount to seeking death, as it would attract a large number of demons to attack in minutes.
Along the way, because they were relatively idle, Qingqing, known as the Imperial Capital Demon Encyclopedia, began to popularize the situation in Jinlin City and the potential dangers they might encounter for everyone.
A moment later, Qingqing finally concluded: "If we follow the abandoned railway, we definitely won't go in the wrong direction!"
In the past, railways belonged to safe zones. With the fall of Jinlin City, the territory extended by this railway naturally became a demon territory.
So now, the railway tracks are a natural automatic pathfinding marker; following them will always lead to Jinlin City!
...
The team walked for about half a day and arrived at a tunnel with unusually dense vegetation.
With Jinlin City becoming a demon territory, places like tunnels were even more natural nests in the eyes of some demons.
Just standing outside the tunnel and seeing the strangely dense vines was alarming.
"This tunnel is two kilometers long. From the frequency of demons we've encountered before, it's very likely that demons are nesting in this tunnel. Now we have two choices: fight our way through or climb over." Song Xia said, looking at the map.
"Captain, what do you think?" Zhao Mingyue asked Mu Ningxue.
Mu Ningxue didn't speak; she just turned her gaze to Wang Feng.
"Climbing the mountain is too troublesome; let's fight our way through."