That morning at Changzhi Twilight High School began with a sudden announcement over the school speakers. "All first-year students, please assemble in the main hall in 15 minutes for an important announcement!"
The school atmosphere immediately became bustling and noisy. Students hurried to the hall, speculating about what would be announced. Bao Zhe Fan, Wang Dawei, and Zhang Lei walked together. Zhang Lei, who was usually quiet, looked slightly anxious.
"What do you think it is?" Zhang Lei asked in a low voice.
Wang Dawei shrugged. "Maybe another surprise exam? Or maybe a special event?"
Bao Zhe Fan remained silent, but his eyes were watchful. He observed the emotions around him and saw light system notifications. [+10 EP - Negative: Anxiety from other students].
Upon arriving in the hall, Principal Huang was already standing at the podium with a broad smile. "Children, I have good news! Our school will hold a five-day study tour to Huangshan, Anhui!"
The hall immediately erupted with cheers and excited chatter. Huangshan or Mount Huang is one of China's famous spiritual destinations, known for its high concentration of spiritual energy and its breathtaking natural scenery.
Principal Huang continued, "This tour will focus on learning about the history of the Spiritual Rupture and practical training for Spirit Knights. We depart tomorrow morning, so prepare yourselves!"
Wang Dawei jumped for joy. "Wow, we're finally going on a trip! I've never been to Huangshan!"
Zhang Lei looked hesitant. "Five days? I need to talk to my parents first."
Bao Zhe Fan nodded. "This is a great opportunity for training. The spiritual energy at Huangshan is said to be very pure."
Li Hao, sitting in front, turned around arrogantly. "Huangshan? A fitting place to show real strength! You three better not come, you'll just embarrass the school."
Wang Dawei immediately got heated. "Hey! We have the right to go too!"
Bao Zhe Fan held Wang Dawei back. "Let it be. Let's focus on preparing."
[+20 EP - Negative: Arrogance from Li Hao]
[+15 EP - Positive: Excitement from Wang Dawei]
After the announcement, the three of them gathered in the cafeteria to discuss preparations. Zhang Lei still looked worried.
"I'm not sure I can go," Zhang Lei said. "My parents need help at home."
Bao Zhe Fan understood. "Try talking to the teacher. Maybe the school can provide help or make an exception."
Wang Dawei added, "Yeah, this is for education! Surely it's allowed!"
Zhang Lei sighed. "I'll try. But if I can't, just you two go."
Bao Zhe Fan thought for a moment. "If you come, we can use this as a chance to gather materials for our business. Huangshan has many spiritual plants that can be used."
This piqued Zhang Lei's interest a little. "That's true. I heard there are rare herbs there."
They agreed to prepare as best they could. Bao Zhe Fan would bring some items from his system just in case, while Wang Dawei was tasked with bringing snacks and other supplies.
In the afternoon, Bao Zhe Fan returned to his shabby home and started packing. He checked his system first.
```
[Host Status]
Name: Bao Zhe Fan
Spirit Knight Level: Bronze Wheel - 2 Star
Talent: Blood Control (Rank F)
EP: 9,850
BP: 100
Health: 95%
Spiritual Energy: 90/100
```
He decided not to do any gacha spins for now and to save EP for the 100-spin. For this study tour, he needed to be alert and ready for any possibility.
The next morning, all first-year students gathered in the schoolyard with their backpacks. Three large buses were waiting. Zhang Lei had managed to join after speaking with his homeroom teacher, who promised to check on his family's situation.
"My dad said it's okay, as long as I'm careful," Zhang Lei told Bao Zhe Fan and Wang Dawei.
Wang Dawei lightly slapped his back. "Great! Now the three of us can adventure together!"
They boarded the assigned bus. Bao Zhe Fan sat by the window, Wang Dawei in the middle, and Zhang Lei on the aisle. The journey to Huangshan would take several hours, so they prepared for a long trip.
Mrs. Chen, who was chaperoning their bus, gave a briefing. "Children, this trip is not just a recreation. We will learn about history and spirituality. Huangshan is an important site where many battles against monsters occurred after the Spiritual Rupture."
The bus started moving, leaving Changzhi behind. The city scenery changed to countryside and then mountains. Bao Zhe Fan watched out the window, feeling the spiritual energy growing stronger as they approached Huangshan.
Inside the bus, the atmosphere was lively. Some students sang, others chatted. Li Hao and his group sat in the front and occasionally threw taunts at the trio.
"Look at them, like little kids on their first trip," Li Hao said loudly.
His friends laughed. Bao Zhe Fan ignored it, but Wang Dawei couldn't restrain himself.
"You're no different! Don't be arrogant!" Wang Dawei retorted.
Bao Zhe Fan took a breath. "Calm down, Dawei. Save your energy for later."
Zhang Lei, who was usually quiet, tried to mediate. "Stop it, don't fight. Look at the scenery outside, it's so beautiful."
The scenery was indeed amazing. Green mountains with thin mist shrouding their peaks. Bao Zhe Fan felt a sense of peace here, but also an aura of great spiritual power.
[+10 EP - Positive: Awe from Zhang Lei]
[+5 EP - Negative: Annoyance from Wang Dawei]
After several hours, they finally arrived at the foot of Huangshan. All the students got off the bus with shining eyes. The fresh air and thick spiritual energy were immediately palpable.
"Wow, now this is a view!" exclaimed Wang Dawei. "I can feel the spiritual energy flowing!"
Bao Zhe Fan nodded. "Yes, this is a good place for training."
Mrs. Chen led them to the prepared accommodation—a simple guesthouse near the national park entrance. They were given time to drop off their belongings and rest briefly before the first activity.
They shared a room for three: Bao Zhe Fan, Wang Dawei, and Zhang Lei. The room was simple but clean, with three beds.
"Five days here, huh?" Wang Dawei said, throwing his bag onto a bed. "I can't wait to explore!"
Zhang Lei sat carefully on his bed. "I hope there are no problems."
Bao Zhe Fan opened the window. "We should make the best use of our time. Besides studying, we can look for materials for our business."
In the afternoon, the first activity began: a light hike to the Welcome Pine area, one of the famous spots in Huangshan. A local guide explained the history of the place.
"The Welcome Pine is a symbol of resilience. After the Spiritual Rupture, this tree became a source of spiritual energy for Spirit Knights fighting monsters here," the guide said.
As he listened, Bao Zhe Fan felt something strange. He subtly used his Blood Eyes and saw a concentrated flow of spiritual energy around the tree. It made him feel stronger.
Li Hao and his group tried to show off by demonstrating their abilities. Li Hao shot a small fireball into the air, which impressed some students, but the guide immediately reprimanded him.
"Please do not use spiritual abilities recklessly here! This is a sacred area!" the guide said sternly.
Li Hao stopped his actions, embarrassed. Bao Zhe Fan saw an opportunity to gain EP.
[+30 EP - Negative: Embarrassment from Li Hao]
[+10 EP - Positive: Respect from other students]
That night, after dinner, they gathered in the guesthouse hall for a campfire and storytelling session. Mrs. Chen told stories about the great battles that took place at Huangshan after the Spiritual Rupture.
"This is where Long Ming, the first Blood Element Spirit Knight, fought an important battle against a giant monster," Mrs. Chen said. "He used his blood ability to defeat a much stronger enemy."
Bao Zhe Fan was interested in hearing this. As a blood element user, he felt inspired. Zhang Lei and Wang Dawei also listened attentively.
After the storytelling session, they were allowed to relax around the campfire. Bao Zhe Fan sat a little apart, watching the stars. Wang Dawei and Zhang Lei approached him.
"Pretty exciting stories, huh?" Wang Dawei said. "It makes me eager to train!"
Zhang Lei nodded. "Yes, but I'm a little scared. What if there are monsters like back then?"
Bao Zhe Fan replied, "It's safer now. But we still need to be vigilant."
Suddenly, Li Hao approached them with a sneering smile. "I heard there's practical training against simulated monsters tomorrow. You three will definitely be overwhelmed."
Wang Dawei stood up. "We're not afraid! We've been training!"
Bao Zhe Fan pulled him back to sit down. "Don't take the bait. We need to rest for tomorrow."
Li Hao left laughing. Bao Zhe Fan knew tomorrow would be challenging, but he was ready. He planned to use this study tour to improve his abilities and collect EP.
Before sleeping, he checked his system again. His EP was now 9,950, almost reaching 10,000. He wanted to save for the 100-spin, but if an opportunity arose, he might use some to face tomorrow's challenges.
With a feeling of anticipation, Bao Zhe Fan went to sleep, dreaming of adventures in Huangshan.