The Strongest Talent Tree

"Don’t worry, I’m fine." Feng Hao smiled and glanced behind Xi Yueyao, his expression turning odd.

He realized that the several hundred people were all Yao Girl’s underlings. In other words, they were all freshmen from the Five Provinces Academy, with strength around level forty. Their combat effectiveness was laughably bad.

"This... These are the reinforcements you found?" Feng Hao asked, dumbfounded.

"Yeah, what’s wrong?" Xi Yueyao asked, blinking.

Feng Hao shook his head, unsure whether to laugh or cry. He gave a helpless sigh and said, "It’s nothing, it’s nothing."

To be honest, he was completely floored when he saw the strength of these reinforcements. With the combat power of these freshmen, they were no match for the Celestial Eagle Team. No matter how numerous they were, they would just be cannon fodder.

He had thought Yao Girl would bring some powerful backup, like the academy’s teachers or leadership. If all else failed, even getting Xiyue Frost and Man Tiaotiao would have been fine. But he never, ever expected her to just drag a bunch of her underlings over.

’Good grief, it’s a good thing I didn’t stop the Celestial Eagle Team just now. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.’

Still, he had to admit, the sight of several hundred Magic Energy Flying Vehicles bearing down on them was genuinely intimidating. Even Feng Hao had been fooled, let alone the members of the Celestial Eagle Team.

All in all, forcing the Celestial Eagle Team’s Mages to retreat was purely the result of a series of bizarre coincidences.

As for Xi Yueyao, after confirming Feng Hao was safe and sound, she quickly turned her attention to Zhang Meng and the other two. Filled with righteous indignation, she asked, "Fatty, how are you guys?"

"Thanks for your concern, Boss. We just have some minor injuries," Li Mufeng replied with a faint smile.

"Good, as long as you’re okay." Xi Yueyao nodded, then said fiercely, "Don’t you worry. Anyone who dares to bully my people... one day, I’ll destroy them."

The group of underlings behind her roared their agreement, projecting an air of "live together, die together."

Watching from the side, Feng Hao was again caught between laughter and tears. "We should leave here first," he urged, "in case those guys come back."

"Hmph! If they come back, that’s even better. I’ll beat them to a pulp!" Xi Yueyao declared, brimming with fighting spirit.

"Stop fooling around. Let’s go now." Feng Hao gave her an exasperated look, pulled her directly into the Man Sa, and then tossed Zhang Meng and the other two in as well.

And so, led by the Man Sa, the mighty convoy of several hundred Magic Energy Flying Vehicles headed back to Five States City.

On the way, Feng Hao couldn’t help but ask Zhang Meng and his friends, "Seriously, what were you three thinking? You knew how chaotic it is out there, so why did you have to go out?"

"Exactly! You didn’t even tell me you were leaving. If the medicine seller hadn’t pleaded on your behalf, I wouldn’t have let you off so easily," Xi Yueyao added, nodding in agreement.

Hearing this, Zhang Meng and the other two exchanged a glance, then shook their heads with wry smiles. "Well... we had no choice but to leave the city."

"What do you mean? Don’t tell me someone forced you to go?" Feng Hao asked, stunned.

"Not exactly," Li Mufeng said with a wry laugh. "Remember how we said a while ago that we wanted to make a big move?"

"And what does that have to do with you leaving the city?" Feng Hao asked, confused.

"Of course it’s related," Zhang Meng said, rubbing a bruise on his face as he picked up the conversation. "After discussing it over and over, we decided to smuggle some items purchased with academic credits. That way, the amount we smuggled would determine the punishment we received. And that’s what led to the incident just now."

Feng Hao’s mouth twitched. He was torn between anger and amusement. ’These three underlings of mine are really something else,’ he thought. ’Of all the things they could have done, they had to choose smuggling.’

"Even if you were going to smuggle academic goods, you didn’t need to leave the city, did you? I remember there are plenty of Black Markets in Five States City," Feng Hao said, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"You don’t understand, Boss," Li Mufeng explained. "No matter how you look at it, Five States City is the Five Provinces Academy’s turf. Who would dare to openly accept goods smuggled out of the academy?"

"That’s true." A smile of realization dawned on Feng Hao’s face. He looked up and asked with a grin, "So, does this mean you’re all about to be expelled?"

"That’s right," the three of them said, nodding excitedly. "We arranged everything before we left," Zhang Meng added. "We deliberately told a classmate with a big mouth about our plans. With his loose lips, he’s probably already reported us to the academy. Once we get back, all we have to do is cooperate with the investigation."

"Heh, that’s a pretty clever little scheme you’ve got there," Feng Hao chuckled. "Alright then. After you get expelled, come find me at the general store. I’ll get you into the organization."

"Understood!" his three underlings replied in unison, their eyes shining with excitement and anticipation.

...

As it turned out, the plan of Zhang Meng and his friends was a resounding success.

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

A few days later, Zhang Meng and the other two were found guilty by the academy of smuggling academic goods. And the person in charge of handling the matter was none other than Feng Hao’s old acquaintance, Shi Lingyun.

Shi Lingyun had always been fair and strict, so the entire matter was handled exactly according to the academy’s rules. Even though the dean of the Demon Pattern Department repeatedly pleaded on Zhang Meng’s behalf, it was no use.

And just like that, his three underlings got their wish and were expelled, becoming students with no official standing, just as Feng Hao himself once had been.

Aside from that, another major event that shook the entire Ancient Cang Realm had occurred in the past few days: the announcement of the [Demon Poison Antibody].

When Sun Yaowen reported his research findings to the Student Union Headquarters, they were taken extremely seriously. After numerous Student Union Alchemists verified its efficacy, the effect of the [Demon Poison Antibody] was formally confirmed. The Student Union then announced the result to the entire Ancient Cang Realm in its name.

In an instant, all eyes in the Ancient Cang Realm were fixed on the Five Provinces Academy’s Alchemy Department.

It was only natural. The advent of the [Demon Poison Antibody] meant humanity no longer had to fear the toxins of demons—an absolutely historic breakthrough!

Although the Ancient Cang Realm hadn’t suffered from demonic invasions thanks to an ancient seal, this didn’t diminish the importance people placed on the [Demon Poison Antibody].

After all, many Mages from the Ancient Cang Realm would leave to seek greater opportunities beyond its borders after reaching level 100. At that point, confronting demons was an inevitability.

The Five Provinces Academy also reaped significant benefits, being directly promoted to a first-tier academy by the Student Union.

Furthermore, the Alchemy Department became a holy land for academic Alchemists. Countless Alchemists, drawn by its fame, tried every means possible to join the Five Provinces Academy’s Alchemy Department.

As for Sun Yaowen, upon his return from Xueyun Country, he was immediately recruited by the academy’s Elder Council. The very next day, the Elder Council appointed him as the new dean—that’s right, the head dean of the entire Five Provinces Academy!

No one objected to this outcome. Even the student body was filled with voices of support.

The original dean, Xuchang, however, was in a pathetic situation. He had inexplicably been demoted to vice dean and would occasionally overhear students comparing him to Sun Yaowen. In short, he felt utterly aggrieved and miserable.

Feng Hao already knew about the [Demon Poison Antibody], so he wasn’t surprised when the news spread throughout the Ancient Cang Realm.

However, Xuchang’s demotion left him secretly gloating. Just the thought of Xuchang’s aggrieved expression made him inexplicably happy.

Of course, happy as he was, there was still work to be done.

For instance, right now he was leading his three underlings to the Thief God Hall, preparing to bring them into the organization...