novel bin Chapter 91 First Battle
Chapter 91 First Battle
Chapter 91 First Battle
The morning bell rang, dispersing the thin mist halfway up the mountain.
A chilling atmosphere permeated the air in the courtyard.
All the newly initiated disciples, no matter how lazy they were on ordinary days, stood obediently in the square in front of the main building at this moment.
Cao Wenjing stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a black outfit that made his figure appear even more upright and sturdy.
Beside him stood several disciples dressed in inner sect robes, each with an indifferent expression and a long, drawn-out breath.
"I'm sure you've all heard about it."
Cao Wenjing's gaze swept over everyone, his voice not loud, but clearly penetrating everyone's ears.
"The basic course is over."
"From today onwards, you will no longer be scholars who only sit in your studies drawing talismans."
"You are talisman masters, and also cultivators."
"Cultivators are bound to shed blood."
A slight commotion arose in the crowd, and the faces of several timid disciples turned pale.
"The training location for this session is the mass grave in the west of the city."
Upon hearing the words "mass burial ground," Jia Shouren's entire body of fat visibly trembled.
That was a place in the city where corpses piled up, with extremely heavy yin energy, and wandering ghosts often appeared. If you were unlucky, you might even encounter a vengeful spirit that had become powerful.
"Three people per group, led by a senior disciple."
"The task has two parts: clear out the ghosts or zombies in the designated area, and collect three Yin Soul Grasses."
Assessment focus: teamwork, talisman practice, and ————
Cao Wenjing paused, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips.
"Come back alive."
Those four simple words felt like a heavy stone was pressing on the hearts of everyone present.
"Let's start with grouping."
Song Qingyuan walked out with a smile, holding a roster in his hand.
He had a warm, smooth jade pendant hanging from his waist and was waving a folding fan in his hand.
He doesn't look like a cultivator at all; he looks more like a rich young master.
"The first group consists of Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Wu, led by Senior Brother Zhao."
"Group Two —"
Song Qingyuan read at a leisurely pace, but his gaze kept glancing towards Gu Shenyan.
Gu Shenyan remained calm, as if he hadn't seen the other party's provocative gaze.
"Group 10."
Song Qingyuan's voice suddenly rose.
"Gu Shenyan, Jia Shouren."
He paused deliberately, seemingly enjoying Jia Shouren's tense expression.
"And—Senior Brother Chen An is leading the team."
These words immediately sparked a murmur among the surrounding crowd.
"Chen An? That Chen An who failed the exam three times in a row?"
"Oh my god, this group is doomed now that it's been assigned to him."
"I heard that Senior Brother Chen only knows how to read miscellaneous books all day long, and he can't even draw the most basic amulet properly."
Jia Shouren's face fell instantly, and he looked at Gu Shenyan in despair.
Song Qingyuan's eyes were practically overflowing with pride as he continued reading.
"Next group, Han Sushuang————"
"Wait a minute."
A cool female voice interrupted Song Qingyuan.
Han Sushuang stepped out from the crowd, her fiery red dress standing out starkly in the drab courtyard.
"Does Junior Sister Han have any objections?"
Song Qingyuan asked with a smile, fanning himself.
"Your senior brother specially arranged for Senior Sister Zhao Xiaoman to be with you. She has the most practical experience in our department."
"I don't need it."
Han Sushuang didn't even glance at him, and looked directly at Cao Wenjing.
"Senior Brother Cao, since this is a practical assessment, we should either join forces or complement each other's strengths and weaknesses."
"I want to be in a group with Gu Shenyan and Jia Shouren."
The entire audience erupted in uproar.
The eldest daughter of the Han family actually volunteered to be in a group with that fat guy who only knows how to draw talismans and Gu Shenyan who offended Song Qingyuan?
This is incredibly disrespectful to Song Qingyuan.
Song Qingyuan's smile froze, he stopped waving his fan, and his face was so gloomy it could drip water.
"Junior Sister Su Shuang, you should think this through."
He said through gritted teeth.
"Chen An is a notorious 'burden,' aren't you afraid you'll fail the test if you follow them?"
"That's my business."
Han Sushuang raised her chin, like a proud peacock.
"Besides, I made a prior agreement with Senior Brother Gu, how can I go back on my word?"
Cao Wenjing watched this scene with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
He naturally knew Song Qingyuan's little scheme and also saw the subtle relationship between these people.
"Since Junior Sister Han has taken the initiative to request it, then so be it."
Cao Wenjing made the final decision.
"Gu Shenyan, Han Sushuang, and Jia Shouren are now part of Chen An's team."
Song Qingyuan gripped the roster tightly, his knuckles turning white. In the end, he could only snort resentfully and continue reading the names below.
With the groups assigned, everyone dispersed to find their respective team leaders.
Gu Shenyan met Chen An under a crooked tree in the far corner of the square.
He was a young man of about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, wearing a faded blue shirt, with messy hair and an unshaven beard.
He was holding a yellowed ancient book in his hands, engrossed in reading it without even lifting his eyelids.
"Senior Brother Chen."
Gu Shenyan stepped forward and bowed.
Chen An turned a page of his book, as if he hadn't heard.
Jia Shouren felt a little awkward, so he leaned closer and called out, "Senior Brother Chen?"
Chen An finally raised his head.
What kind of eyes were those? They were cloudy with bloodshot veins, as if the person hadn't slept well for days, and they also conveyed a sense of weariness towards the world.
"Is everyone here?"
His voice was a little hoarse, as if he had swallowed a handful of sand.
"All done."
""
"oh."
Chen An closed the book, casually stuffed it into his pocket, and yawned.
"Don't hold us back."
After saying those four words, he closed his eyes again and leaned against the tree trunk, pretending to doze off.
Jia Shouren was dumbfounded. That was it?
No pre-battle mobilization? No experience to share?
"We're doomed, we're really finished this time."
The fat man muttered under his breath, his face contorted with grief.
Gu Shenyan didn't say anything, but just stared at the way Chen An handed the book.
Just a moment ago, he saw that Chen An's fingers were extremely long and slender, with a thin layer of calluses on the fingertips.
Those weren't calluses from doing manual labor, but rather from years of grinding them with talisman-making brushes.
"Since Senior Brother Chen wants to rest, let's discuss our tactics first."
Gu Shenyan turned around and spoke to Han Sushuang and Jia Shouren.
The three people formed a circle.
"The terrain of the mass burial grounds is complex, filled with a gloomy atmosphere, and the visibility is extremely poor."
Gu Shenyan picked up a twig and drew a simple map on the ground.
"Senior Sister Han, your talismans are mainly offensive, especially the Golden Light Talisman and the Blazing Sun Talisman, which are most effective against ghosts."
"You'll be in charge of the main attack, and you'll also be our spearhead."
Han Sushuang nodded, offering no objection.
"Brother Jia, your Earth Talisman may lack offensive power, but it is heavy and powerful."
"If you encounter danger, the first thing you should do is erect an earthen wall. This will not only protect you but also block the attacks of ghosts."
"Your task is to defend and divide the battlefield."
Jia Shouren swallowed hard: "I...I'll do my best."
As for me—
Gu Shenyan pointed to himself.
"I used water element talismans to control the situation."
Water can conduct electricity and also refract light.
"I will use Sister Han's golden light talisman to create a mirror-like reflection," thus expanding the lighting area.
"If we encounter a large number of ghosts, I will trap them with a water prison talisman to buy you time."
"besides----"
Gu Shenyan took out several talismans that had already been drawn from his pocket.
"I have also prepared a simple Three Powers Light-Stabilizing Array."
"Although its power is not great, it can protect an area of three zhang in radius from the erosion of yin energy at critical moments."
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Han Sushuang's eyes.
Formations are much harder to master than talismans.
Gu Shenyan is not only exceptionally talented at drawing talismans, but he also has a dabbling in array formations?
"Okay, we'll do it your way."
Han Sushuang readily agreed.
Chen An, who was dozing under the tree, twitched his ears slightly.
A fleeting, almost imperceptible glint flashed in those half-closed eyes before they returned to their stagnant state.
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