On the training ground, more than half of the people were fanning the flames.
Wu Ye remained still, a hint of difficulty on his face.
To make a name through battle upon arrival was, naturally, simple and brutal.
If one's strength was sufficient, they would immediately gain the respect of their peers and quickly integrate into the class.
But conversely, if one's strength wasn't enough… was it really necessary?
Ning Zhu had, after all, only just begun cultivating.
The students here, any one of them, had been cultivating for over a month and a half.
The gap was too wide.
Sometimes, protecting a student's self-esteem was also something an instructor needed to consider.
But at this moment…
He was in a difficult situation, unable to back down.
Too many people were eager to try; if he deliberately avoided the fight, and ended up with the nickname "coward," the potential drawbacks would be even greater.
Thinking of this, Wu Ye's gaze gradually firmed:
"Since the students' cheers are so strong, then let's have a fight!"
"However, Ning Student is still a fledgling. To ensure a certain degree of fairness and reasonableness, I will select five students in poorer condition, and he will draw one of them to battle against."
"Instructor Wu, my stamina is at rock bottom, I'll go!"
Bull Hercules, who had once tried to move the bronze cauldron, raised his trembling right hand and eagerly signed up.
"Alright, you're in."
Wu Ye nodded, then looked around, taking in everyone's expressions and gestures.
Then, he picked up five fallen leaves and carved characters onto them with his fingernail.
"Five into one, let's see your luck."
Whoosh— The leaves flew like arrows, losing momentum as they neared Ning Zhu's head, then free-falling.
Ning Zhu casually grabbed one, turning the side with the carved number towards Wu Ye.
"Number 23, step forward!"
As Wu Ye roared, everyone's gaze searched around, finally locking onto the lawn at the edge of the training ground.
There, a lithe woman was lying on the ground, basking in the sun, looking relaxed.
"What the heck? I wasn't even joining the fun, how did I get dragged into this…"
The woman opened her eyes and slowly got up.
She was 1.75 meters tall, with a large frame, brown skin, and a well-proportioned figure, a standard athletic girl.
Facing the gazes of a crowd of people, she stretched, her proud curves on full display.
Then… her expression instantly changed!
Laziness vanished from her face. She rotated her wrists and ankles, then bounced several times, already entering a high-spirited preparatory stance for battle.
"Let me be clear first, I'm not good at controlling my strength, especially during the fatigue period after training."
"Also, since we're fighting, let's fight to our heart's content. If the Minion gets injured because of it, it's not my problem."
"No problem, what's your name, student?" Ning Zhu asked with a smile.
"Liu Hong." The athletic girl said indifferently.
"Alright, Liu Student, regarding the battleground…"
"You're afraid of sunlight, your Minion must be a Dark Species, right? Let's just fight in the shaded area. It makes no difference to me."
Before Ning Zhu could finish, Liu Hong interrupted him, then urged:
"Hurry up and start, I still want to sunbathe a bit longer, let's finish this quickly."
"...Okay."
Ning Zhu said no more, walked to the shadow of the building, folded his bamboo umbrella, tossed it to Xu Lihao, and calmly said:
"Please."
Poof—
At Liu Hong's standing position, a yellowish-white hen appeared.
It stomped the ground with its chicken feet;
Its lower legs were long and covered in thick down;
Its thighs were thick and powerful, connecting to a high-raised chicken rump, making it appear proud and confident;
At the same time, its chicken head was also held high, its sharp gaze fixed on Ning Zhu, that look of regarding prey, its desire to attack was very strong.
【Species】: Fist Fighter Chicken
【Evolution Level】: Inferior Species Initial Stage
【Talents】: Stable Head / Directional Perception / Vigorous Metabolism
【One-star Skill】: Heavy Punch (Minor Accomplishment)
"Cluck cluck da!!"
Huang Ji charged.
Its wings were twisted and atrophied, shrinking into human-like arms. When its wingtips clenched, they formed a pair of massive fists. As it exhaled, the wind stirred, and a fierce aura rushed directly towards Ning Zhu's face.
"Ah, Sister Liu's Minion is still a bit too abstract. A bird-type that doesn't fly in the sky, doesn't peck people with its beak, but punches people with a pair of fist-shaped wings, it's really damn violent."
"Who isn't? I also don't have much confidence when I encounter Liu Hong in a fair duel. I don't know how a newcomer will cope."
"Cope with what? Can't you tell Instructor Wu wants Ning Student to lose gracefully, so he doesn't lose too much face as a newcomer?"
"As long as he can last five to ten rounds, suffer some minor injuries, and then concede cheerfully, that's enough. Everyone will be satisfied."
…
The discussions were endless.
Ning Zhu tried his best to block out external disturbances and focus on himself.
As a mage, what is most important?
Answer: Distance.
Especially before mastering defensive spells, with only summoning spells, distance is of utmost importance.
"Minion, come out!"
Ning Zhu transformed into a Necromancy Apprentice in an instant.
As the deep green soul fire flickered, wisps of deathly fluctuations lingered around him, and a circular formation opened. The first Skeleton Soldier appeared first.
"Undead? No wonder he was holding an umbrella in broad daylight."
"His form is a bit strange, isn't it? Is this a variant of a Skeleton Soldier? Why does it have a cloak?"
"The color of his soul fire is actually deep green? Don't all Inferior Species undead corresponding to Tier 1 have light green or pale green ones?"
"Yeah, it's so strange. An undead unit that can summon Minions, a never-before-seen form and characteristics. It can't be a rare monster, can it…"
"Could it be that his hundred-day corpse sealing wasn't because his pseudo-Earth Species talent was weak, but because his Minion was too strong, and he was fighting for his life, trying to carve out a brilliant and prosperous path? Then has he succeeded now? He's already crossed the initial starting line!"
Nearly half of the students, who had been laughing and joking, wanting to watch the show, now frowned and stood on their tiptoes, showing solemn respect.
"Abba?" (ﾟ▽ﾟ)
The Baby Skeleton, invited to appear, moved by climbing on all fours, its skull forward, much like small animals such as cats or dogs.
Because it had no flesh or blood, and its skeleton was pitifully small, its presence was very low, and at first glance, one didn't feel a strong threat.
"Abba abba abba—"
The Baby Skeleton used 'Bite', pouncing like a mad dog directly at the Fist Fighter Chicken, which was rushing over with small, quick steps.
"Bang!"
The Fist Fighter Chicken's instinctive reaction was a punch, but the Baby Skeleton successfully dodged it by virtue of its smaller size.
"Awooo!!"
The Fist Fighter Chicken's thigh was bitten, and a spurt of blood shot out.
The Baby Skeleton pulled again with force, and instantly, yellowish-white chicken feathers flew everywhere.
"Hmph, I underestimated you."
Liu Hong threw a punch, the second punch faster, directly hitting the Baby Skeleton's skull.
This time, Ning Zhu heard the crisp sound of bone cracking.
The Baby Skeleton flew backward, fell to the ground, and struggled to get up.
Its skeletal body, combined with 'Loss of Pain', naturally prevented fatal injuries.
But its soul fire dimmed a bit, and it swayed as it walked, its gait already unsteady.
"Tap tap tap—"
Liu Hong still wanted to press her advantage and clear the battlefield with her fists.
Two more Skeleton Soldiers, one in front and one behind, stood in a normal human posture, guarding Ning Zhu.
Liu Hong narrowed her eyes, and for a moment, couldn't find a suitable angle of attack, forced to slow down.