Seeing Wang Zhan's proper attitude, Duan Kun was very satisfied. He took out a letter from his drawer and handed it to Wang Zhan.
"Teacher, what's this...?"
"This is a recommendation letter for the Administrative Department," Duan Kun explained. "The Administrative Department is the most important department in our Academy. It's in charge of issuing training missions and exchanging academic credits. The Academic Credits Exchange Office where you previously exchanged credits for cultivation techniques is a branch of the Administrative Department."
"Training missions are the primary source of academic credits. The school provides suitable missions and also accepts missions issued by society and the military, rewarding corresponding academic credits based on their difficulty."
"Generally, the school doesn't allow first-year students to accept missions. That's why I wrote this letter explaining your situation. And I've already arranged your mission."
Wang Zhan curiously asked, "What mission?"
"You'll know when you go." Duan Kun waved his hand dismissively, shooing Wang Zhan away like a fly.
「...」
Having left Duan Kun's office, Wang Zhan quickly arrived at the Administrative Department.
After submitting the recommendation letter, a staff member soon appeared carrying a box.
"Student Wang Zhan, this is a full set of protective gear and weapons, lent to you under Mentor Duan's guarantee. The details of your mission have been sent to your personal terminal. We wish you a victorious return."
Wang Zhan, somewhat dazed, took the box. Opening it, he found a full set of protective gear, including gauntlets and a breastplate, and what looked like an incredibly sharp and sturdy dagger.
Did Teacher give me these things too? Wang Zhan was somewhat surprised.
The staff member shook his head. "They've only been lent to you under Mentor Duan Kun's guarantee. This is a set of soldier-level equipment. It costs five thousand academic credits, and you'll have to return it."
"Soldier-level equipment?" Wang Zhan keenly noticed this unfamiliar term.
The staff member explained, "Freshmen usually haven't been introduced to this yet. The beasts in the wilderness are one of the major sources of cultivation resources for us humans, including but not limited to elixirs and weapons."
"Soldier-level equipment is made from the physical bodies of soldier-level beasts. Warriors and stronger Martial Artists bring it back from the wilderness, and it's quite valuable."
Wang Zhan understood. As he looked at the box brimming with equipment in his hands, he suddenly felt its considerable weight.
The Martial Artist Stage corresponded to ordinary beasts from level one to nine. Beyond those were soldier-level beasts.
Further still were General-level, leader-level, and King-level beasts—tiers he couldn't even begin to comprehend at his current stage.
Yet, this single set of equipment alone represented the painstaking efforts of countless senior Martial Artists.
And he, simply due to his so-called Talent, had obtained such fine gear without earning it.
No wonder Martial Artists must strive, yet they shouldn't fight amongst themselves. In places unseen, countless individuals are fighting for humanity! Everything I enjoy today was bought with the flesh and blood of those who came before me.
Thinking of this, Wang Zhan solemnly thanked the staff member. "Please rest assured, I won't fail this equipment."
The staff member chuckled softly.
"Student Wang Zhan, we wish you a victorious return."
「...」
Wang Zhan returned to his dormitory with the equipment.
First, he put on the gear and practiced a set of fist techniques. He found the armor fit exceptionally well and didn't hinder his combat movements at all.
The dagger was even more suitable. The Killing Fist Duan Kun taught originated from military close-quarter combat techniques, and the dagger was the weapon that best complemented it.
After testing the equipment, Wang Zhan finally opened his personal terminal to learn about the mission Duan Kun had arranged.
A few minutes later, Wang Zhan finished reading the mission description.
Kill ten Demonic Dogs of the Plains and bring back ten beast cores?
Wang Zhan had a rough idea. He then accessed the Academy's forum to search for information on the Demonic Dogs of the Plains.
He quickly found results.
The Demonic Dogs of the Plains were among the most common beasts in the wilderness near Chu State, with an average strength between a level 1 beast and a level 3 beast.
Because beasts' bodies are generally stronger than humans, Demonic Dogs of the Plains were typically hunted by Martial Artists from level 2 to level 4.
Their strength isn't high, but their preference for living in groups is a problem, Wang Zhan mused.
Apart from that, Wang Zhan also learned something else on the forum.
The so-called Essence Pills were obtained by humans extracting beast cores from the bodies of beasts.
No wonder Essence Pills are valuable and hard to obtain externally. Acquiring even one of these precious resources requires killing a beast equivalent in strength to a Martial Artist.
At this thought, Wang Zhan grew impatient. He had always been the one benefiting from resources. Now, he finally had a chance to contribute to humanity, and even a minor contribution was enough to thrill him.
「...」
Early the next morning, Wang Zhan left the Martial Arts Academy.
Not far from the Martial Arts Academy were the Military Camp and the towering walls of Base City.
From the city's layout, it was clear that if a beast tide occurred, the walls and the army would be the first barrier, and the Martial Arts Academy the second.
After verifying his identity with his personal terminal, Wang Zhan entered the Military Camp smoothly.
The atmosphere in the Military Camp was quite relaxed, not as solemn as Wang Zhan had imagined.
He even saw many veteran-looking soldiers sitting together playing cards, their guns nearby, while elsewhere, someone had even set up a barbecue stall.
However, Wang Zhan, as a Martial Artist, could also keenly perceive that these seemingly relaxed soldiers constantly maintained a certain level of vigilance.
If an order came from the watchtowers on the walls, these men would undoubtedly drop everything and respond instantly.
Even if that involved sacrifice, they would not hesitate!
After pausing silently for a moment, Wang Zhan continued deeper, arriving at the gate leading to the wilderness.
The gate wasn't closed, and he could see many people coming and going.
Although humans and beasts weren't engaged in large-scale wars, constant skirmishes were a reality.
Wang Zhan saw many people returning from the wilderness, wrapped in bandages. Some were even disabled. They dragged enormous beast corpses or carried the bodies of their comrades.
Whenever a Martial Artist returned within the walls with a fallen comrade, everyone nearby would stop to pay their respects.
This was the spine of humanity.
After watching several Martial Artists who had just returned from the wilderness depart, Wang Zhan gazed at the wilderness beyond the gate. Much of his initial excitement had faded, replaced by a burgeoning sense of responsibility.
Soon, it was his turn to pass through the checkpoint.
"Martial Arts Academy student, Wang Zhan."
The soldier at the gate carefully checked Wang Zhan's information, then saluted him. "Student, may your return be triumphant."
"Thank you, I will," Wang Zhan replied, nodding solemnly.
Upon entering the wilderness, Wang Zhan detected the earthy fragrance of the soil, a smell entirely different from that within Base City.
The massive walls and the light screen completely separated the human living areas and the wilderness into two distinct worlds on the same planet.
The Demonic Dogs of the Plains gather in the Valley Plain to the west, about seventy kilometers from here.
Wang Zhan opened the map on his personal terminal. After briefly confirming his direction, he headed west with determination.
Wang Zhan had originally planned to reach the Valley Plain the same day, then wait for an opportunity to find his targets and begin hunting.
But after only half an hour on the road, having traveled less than ten kilometers, he had to stop.
At that moment, a plump rabbit, easily a meter tall, blocked his path.
Wang Zhan quickly checked his personal terminal for information on the chubby creature before him.
Big-eared Rabbit. Impaired vision, but extremely keen hearing and sense of smell. Omnivorous beast, not noteworthy. Wang Zhan muttered.
"Not noteworthy" meant the Big-eared Rabbit's strength wasn't even sufficient to be classified as a level 1 beast; it was an ordinary beast that any Martial Student could handle.
Additionally, the personal terminal's data included a clearly user-edited comment: "Meat quality: excellent?"
When he saw those words, Wang Zhan looked up at the Big-eared Rabbit, an unprecedented light gleaming in his eyes.
There was nothing more to say. Wang Zhan charged forward with his dagger in hand.
In the blink of an eye, Wang Zhan reached the Big-eared Rabbit. But just as he was about to strike a killing blow, the rabbit kicked off with its hind legs and leaped a dozen meters into the air.
It can jump that high? Wang Zhan tilted his head back, watching the large figure arc through the sky.
No wonder the data said Big-eared Rabbits are extremely difficult to capture alive. This speed is faster than most Martial Artists! Wang Zhan was amazed and, without hesitation, threw his dagger at the airborne rabbit.
The dagger accurately struck the Big-eared Rabbit's neck, apparently severing a major artery.
Fresh blood sprayed into the air like a fountain. The Big-eared Rabbit died instantly, its large body plummeting limply from mid-air.
After all, it was just a not noteworthy beast. No matter how mutated or fast it was, it stood little chance against Wang Zhan.
The power gap was too vast.
Wang Zhan deftly pulled out the dagger, wiped it clean on the Big-eared Rabbit's white fur, and slid it back into its sheath.
Hoisting the carcass, he found it wasn't too strenuous. So, Wang Zhan decided to carry the Big-eared Rabbit's body and continued onward.
He now had reserve food.
So that's why the wilderness exploration guide recommended bringing seasonings, Wang Zhan thought gleefully. Turns out reserve food can deliver itself to your doorstep!
The wilderness was never a place to be entered lightly. Human transportation equipment couldn't reach deep into it, so Martial Artists venturing into the wilderness always carried ample supplies for survival.
Wang Zhan had found a guide on the Academy forum. Following its minimalist advice, he had packed lightly, bringing only a backpack with some practical tools and seasonings.
According to the guide's author, as long as one wasn't foolish in the wilderness, they generally wouldn't lack food.
However, Wang Zhan hadn't expected that food would present itself to him without him even needing to search.
Carrying the large rabbit, Wang Zhan's speed didn't decrease in the slightest as he pressed on towards the Valley Plain.