The team's opinion was unanimous; they would charge directly through the tunnel.
Zheng Bingxiao summoned her summoned beast, the Rock Demon, to clear the way as the vanguard.
The Rock Demon was slow compared to others of its level, but it was thick-skinned and tough, with strong defense.
Of course, its large size could only be used like a bulldozer in this situation.
Next were Liao Mingxuan and Shen Mingxiao, two Wind Element mages, forming the front line, able to retreat in the shortest possible time.
In the middle were three Light Element mages acting as 'light bulbs', dispelling the darkness around them.
Cheng Xiao and Mu Ningxue, the two Captains, were at the very back, able to respond no matter what happened.
"The matter about you in Bo City, I asked someone about it after our spar," Mu Ningxue said softly.
"What, investigating me secretly?" Cheng Xiao laughed.
"No, I was just curious about what you experienced to become so powerful in just a few short years," Mu Ningxue explained.
"Even I find it hard to believe myself; if I had to say, maybe I was just lucky," Cheng Xiao clearly didn't want to reveal too much.
Hearing the word 'lucky', Mu Ningxue felt envious.
She had awakened her magic at fourteen and had been cultivating for six years now.
Her cultivation had now reached the late Middle-Rank, but even so, she had still lost to Cheng Xiao.
Lost to Cheng Xiao, who had once failed his awakening.
Although she was happy for Cheng Xiao, her childhood playmate, it was impossible to say she didn't care at all.
Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by strange cries.
Not far in front of the team, many hunched monsters holding bone clubs were attacking.
"They're Cave Demon Slaves!" Jingjing recognized the species of these demons at a glance.
Cave Demon Slaves were only slightly larger than normal humans, with unusually thick arms, and they loved to smash living things to death with their bone clubs.
"Ice Lock."
Just as Mu Ningxue was about to act, Cheng Xiao stopped her:
"Leave it to me."
Mu Ningxue looked at him with a puzzled expression but didn't ask further.
Cheng Xiao released sixteen Shadow One-Eyed Magic Wolf Soldiers to escort the team!
These sixteen Shadow One-Eyed Magic Wolf Soldiers had accompanied Cheng Xiao in battle since Bo City until now.
Cheng Xiao could feel that they were about to advance to the War General Level, and this training could be used for that.
"Sixteen? That's six more than during our spar before. Did he really not use his full strength?" Liao Mingxuan couldn't help but say.
"Not only did he not use his full strength, our Captain went easy on you guys," Zhao Manyan laughed:
"You should know that when we entered the Main Campus assessment, the Captain released a hundred Undead, making a thousand Intermediate-level mages jump around in panic!"
"A hundred?"
The people from Imperial Capital Academy clearly didn't believe it; this was simply impossible.
But seeing the people from Mingzhu Academy looking at them like idiots, the Imperial Capital exchange student team wavered.
Could it... be true?
But how could someone release a hundred Undead in the Middle-Rank domain?
Even a High-Rank Necromancer would find it difficult, right?
"What they said... is it true?" Mu Ningxue also couldn't imagine it and asked Cheng Xiao beside her for confirmation.
"Yes," Cheng Xiao nodded with a smile.
Mu Ningxue recalled the question she had asked Cheng Xiao during their previous spar.
She had asked if the strength Cheng Xiao displayed was his full strength, and Cheng Xiao's answer was just 'barely'.
Now, she completely understood.
He said 'barely' because he had summoned his two strongest War Generals.
As for the remaining ninety Undead he hadn't released, it was to save face for Imperial Capital Academy!
Mu Ningxue's pride was struck again; she stared at Cheng Xiao and spoke faintly:
"You're simply a monster!"
"How can you curse people?"
Cheng Xiao was secretly pleased; seeing this proud daughter of heaven 'break down' was quite interesting.
The two's conversation was naturally noticed by their teammates.
Although there was some distance, they couldn't hear the details of what they were talking about.
But just from the expressions on their faces, it looked like they were flirting.
These two Captains had only just sparred a few days ago, how did they suddenly become so familiar?
"Why is our Captain talking so happily with the Captain of the Imperial Capital exchange student team? They couldn't have gotten together in just a few days, could they?" Zheng Bingxiao couldn't help but ask.
"I heard before that the Captain has great charm and girls around him actively approach him. Looking now, the Captain really has a way with them," Zhao Manyan also started gossiping.
"Don't guess wildly, Cheng Ge and Ning Xue knew each other since they were little," Mo Fan came out to explain.
...
Mu Nujiao walked in the middle of the team, and hearing the news about Cheng Xiao and Mu Ningxue flirting, she felt incredibly uncomfortable.
No matter what, she was Cheng Xiao's woman, yet now she felt like the wronged party, and she didn't know how to explain, so she could only hold it in.
Hearing Mo Fan come out and explain, she felt slightly better.
The gossip on the Imperial Capital Academy side was different.
"I think it was the Captain who actively sought out Cheng Xiao to talk. What do you think, could the Captain have fallen for Cheng Xiao?"
"That's highly probable. The Captain usually seems cold, but that's just because she's not familiar with us."
"They say women admire strength, and it seems true now. Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that the Captain might turn love into hate."
Lu Zhenghe's face began to twitch upon hearing his teammates' gossip.
Ever since Lu Zhenghe entered Imperial Capital Academy, he had been secretly in love with Mu Ningxue.
Although Mu Ningxue completely ignored Lu Zhenghe, the latter had already come to see Mu Ningxue as his own.
Hearing his teammates' gossip now, Lu Zhenghe felt worse than if he had been cheated on!
Lu Zhenghe's face gradually darkened, and he thought to himself:
"Cheng Xiao, huh? Offending me time and again, and now you even want to steal Ning Xue. You're truly courting death. I will definitely make you pay!"
With Cheng Xiao's Shadow Soldiers escorting them, everyone passed through the tunnel smoothly without casualties.
Everyone searched for a place near the railway tracks with a water source and checked if there were any demons lurking nearby.
After confirming it was safe, they began setting up tents.
Mu Nujiao found Cheng Xiao and asked:
"You and Mu Ningxue knew each other since you were little?"
"Yeah, we were quite close when we were kids." Cheng Xiao saw through her little thoughts and couldn't help but laugh:
"Jealous?"
"No, I'm not that petty, it's just... I don't want to hide our relationship like this anymore," Mu Nujiao said very softly.
"I didn't plan to hide it either. Wasn't it you who was always shy and hiding it?" Cheng Xiao said with a face full of helplessness.
Mu Nujiao couldn't refute him; it was indeed her own cowardice that led to their relationship being so awkward.
"I, I don't want to hide it anymore," Mu Nujiao said.
"Then shall I announce it?" Cheng Xiao asked.
Mu Nujiao looked puzzled, hesitated slightly, then nodded.
Just then, Zhao Manyan walked over and asked:
"Captain, when do we eat?"
"Eat?" Cheng Xiao raised an eyebrow and asked: "Want some dog food?"
"Huh?"
Zhao Manyan didn't understand the meaning of that sentence.
And then he saw Cheng Xiao cup Mu Nujiao's face and kiss her.