Chapter 139: Chapter 69: Battle with the Demon Tribe Again_1 Chapter 139: Chapter 69: Battle with the Demon Tribe Again_1 Wednesday, Combat Day.

This was a new addition to the lower grades of the Spirit Furnace Academy. In the past, only higher grades emphasized real combat simulations. The younger grades were more focused on laying a solid foundation.

However, it was clear that this cohort of lower grade students was growing rapidly, particularly the first grade. In the last real combat assessment, the ultimate champion even surpassed the third grade. Or perhaps, the upper echelons of the Spirit Furnace Academy had other thoughts, but regardless, the weekly combat class was set.

Students from all classes were brought to the square. In total, there were more than one hundred and eighty students from the first, second, and third grades.

Students had already completed their temporary teaming up and gathered together, waiting for the assessment to start.

Long Dangdang and Long Kongkong naturally stood by their elder cousin. Long Dangdang scanned the crowd and saw that compared to the last assessment, their fellow students seemed much more spirited, no doubt due to the effects of the spirit furnace providential selection ritual. Everyone was filled with confidence.

Not far off, the Elements Saintess, Zisang Liuying, was standing with Tang Leiguang, Chu Yu, and Cai Caijuan. Her demeanor seemed colder than before, she only glanced at Ling Menglu’s side once before moving her gaze away.

Long Kongkong chuckled, whispering: “Cousin, why does this Zisang classmate seem like a small resentful woman? If she wasn’t a girl, I would think she fell in love with you and got rejected.”

Ling Menglu offered a slight smile and said: “Younger cousin Kongkong, you sure have a lot of drama inside you. The world is so large and there are so many who harbor a crush on me, what can I do? After all, I only have one heart.”

Long Kongkong shivered, “Oh my, cousin, can you not talk to me in such a sweet tone? It gives me goosebumps.”

A shy look appeared on Ling Menglu’s face. “No way. This is my ability to change face expressions to deal with those guys, so they won’t bother me.”

Long Kongkong anxiously took two steps back, “Why? Why does this feel so familiar? I remember my brother used to be like you. He seems to have become more restrained outwardly now, but it feels like he’s gotten worse.”

“Cousin, Kongkong just told me that as a protection knight, he is prepared to stand in front of us today to shield us from woes.” Long Dangdang deadpanned to Ling Menglu.

Ling Menglu’s eyes lit up, “That’s great, Kongkong, you truly are a reassuring, true knight.”

Long Kongkong looked at her, then at Long Dangdang, his face full of terror: “Is it too late for me to quit the team now?”

Long Dangdang put his arm around his shoulder, “What do you think?”

Yu Yunqiong arrived. As the director of education, his arrival on the square immediately drew the attention of the students. The previously somewhat noisy square quieted down somewhat.

“You all should have divided into teams already. What I can tell you is, real combat will be the focal point of the academy’s cultivation of you in the future. No matter how strong a professionist is, if their combat ability is lacking, they won’t be a true strong person. This year’s final examination, regardless of the grade, will be a unified real combat test. You will face strong opponents in the same simulated space. At that time, you will face a much more severe examination than usual. Anyone who doesn’t pass will be eliminated. Therefore, I hope you take the weekly combat training seriously and strive to enhance your real combat abilities. In the combat examination, individual ability, detailed performance in combat, and teamwork will be comprehensively graded. Daily grades account for an important part of it. The final examination is the other part.”

Hearing Yu Yunqiong’s serious words, the lower grade students’ expressions all became serious as well. To enter the Spirit Furnace Academy required passing numerous examinations and it took a lot of effort. Only very few people hadn’t gone through this process to ultimately join this top academy full of geniuses. To graduate from here guaranteed a bright future, but to be eliminated meant they may become ordinary people. This is why the Spirit Furnace Academy offered such a high degree of freedom in teaching its students since practically no one here wouldn’t strive hard.

Especially after just completing the spirit furnace providential selection ritual, obtaining a spirit furnace was the goal everyone aspired towards, to acquire more spirit furnaces in the future and become a true strong person. Each person wanted to see how much stronger their strength, enhanced by the spirit furnace, was in real combat. Hence, they were all ready and excited.

A pale purple spirit furnace floated out from in front of Yu Yunqiong. It clearly wasn’t his spirit furnace. Most students still remembered that it belonged to one of the Nine Great Sages.

The next moment, a purple light gate three meters high and two meters wide opened next to Yu Yunqiong.

“Enter in an orderly fashion. Students from the same team must enter hand in hand. To confirm your grouping. Start now!”

Ling Menglu willingly reached out to grab Long Dangdang’s hand. Long Dangdang was slightly taken aback, a hint of embarrassment surfaced on his handsome face. This was the first time he had held a girl’s hand. Ling Menglu’s hand was warm and delicate, her fingers long and graceful, palm neither cold nor hot, as soft and smooth as jade.

Ling Menglu didn’t look at him, instead, she was focusing on the direction of the light gate.