135: One match, one mission

"So, what do you need me for?" Xie Ning looked at Qin Tianyu.

Since the latter took the moke grass but didn't leave, Xie Ning knew he must have come for something else.

Sure enough, Qin Tianyu nodded and said, "There is a high-priced bounty for you in the Monster Hunting Ground—thirty million."

Xie Ning was stunned upon hearing this, and after a moment, he said, "I almost handed myself over for that bounty."

"Be serious."

"Fine," Xie Ning shrugged, then asked, "Does it specify dead or alive?"

"Dead."

"Oh, looks like I can't turn myself in then."

Xie Ning mocked himself, and the atmosphere fell into silence for a moment.

After the silence, Xie Ning asked again, "Is there any way to lure out the person who issued the mission?"

"No."

Xie Ning asked, "Faking my death and then luring the mission issuer to show up?"

"That won't work. After the target is killed, the Monster Hunting Ground verifies the authenticity; the mission principal doesn't need to appear."

Xie Ning asked again, "Can the person who accepts the mission learn the information of the mission principal?"

"No, the mission details do not include the mission principal's information."

Xie Ning asked further, "What about registering as a Monster Hunting Ground Assassin, accepting the mission, and then deliberately failing to complete it for a long time?"

"That's a bad idea. If the mission is not completed by the deadline, the assassin will be eliminated."

"How ruthless..."

Xie Ning shrugged. The strictness of the Monster Hunting Ground exceeded his expectations.

"Who wants to kill you?" Qin Tianyu asked.

Xie Ning replied, "Who knows? The Monster Hunting Ground, the Zhao Family, the Flower Sect, Lingbei Academy—it could be any of them."

"Your overall combat power is Silver Rank, and those accepting the mission will be at least Silver Rank. Take care of yourself." Qin Tianyu finished speaking, a black light flashed, and he vanished.

After a while, Xie Ning recovered his senses and said, "It seems I should also apply for a guardian."

With his strength, he could still put up a fight against an ordinary Silver Rank, and even hold his own against Zhao Long, but if the enemy really sent a Gold Rank, he would be finished.

If he could apply for a Gold Rank guardian, it would be a great safeguard for his life... That night, Xie Ning sparred with Yan Ruyu. Yan Ruyu continuously launched tricky attacks, while Xie Ning had to use the Martial Arts Techniques he had recently learned to parry and respond.

As the two swords clashed, streaks of cold light flickered, and the ringing of swords sounded occasionally. Yan Ruyu merely moved her hand, but Xie Ning dodged everywhere, often getting hit, essentially dodging for nothing.

Unlike Zhao Long's powerful and heavy attacks, Yan Ruyu's moves seemed slow but were actually fast, tricky, and strange—not on the same level at all—leaving Xie Ning completely defenseless.

Ten minutes later, Yan Ruyu withdrew her sword, and Xie Ning collapsed directly onto the ground, panting heavily.

"You've improved since last time. You blocked at least one of my swords." Yan Ruyu said seriously.

Xie Ning: "..."

Are you sure you're praising me and not yourself?

After resting for a while, Xie Ning climbed up from the ground.

"You don't need to worry about the Monster Hunting Ground bounty; I will handle it. The priority now is raising your strength." After Yan Ruyu finished speaking, she looked at the bracelet Xie Ning wore on his wrist and added, "Applying for a guardian before reaching Gold Rank is a good idea. That bracelet can't block many attacks."

"Understood."

Then Yan Ruyu asked, "There's a Breeder Friendship Competition coming up. Do you want to participate?"

"Friendship Competition? What are the rewards?" Xie Ning asked.

Yan Ruyu shook her head: "There are no rewards. This is a friendly competition jointly organized by our Nurturing Academy and several other academies, including the Imperial Capital's. It's divided into Instructor Group and Student Group."

"Oh, then forget it." Hearing there were no rewards, Xie Ning immediately felt bored. He said, "It's a Nurturing Academy event; it wouldn't be right to steal the spotlight. It's enough if Xiao Yu participates among the students."

"Yes, but if the competition goes poorly, I hope you can step in and salvage a round."

Hearing Yan Ruyu's words, Xie Ning was startled and asked, "Is the Imperial Capital Nurturing Department very strong?"

She nodded, her expression slightly grim: "The relationships involved are very complex. The person leading the team from the Imperial Capital Nurturing Academy has some grievances with both me and the Academy. I'm afraid this won't be as simple as just a friendship competition."

"I see. I understand. If we lose, I will participate." Xie Ning replied with a smile.

Just then, the Xingshui Lynx circulated water flow and brought over two bunches of crystal clear Pearl Grapes. Xie Ning skillfully took them and handed one bunch to Yan Ruyu.

Yan Ruyu nodded, plucked a grape and put it in her mouth, moving her small lips. She swallowed and said, "There is one more thing."

"What?" Xie Ning asked, his words muffled by food.

"In a few days, the Monster Taming Alliance will assign a batch of Demon Extermination Missions to the Academy. Our class's mission will be completed by you." Yan Ruyu said.

After speaking, without waiting for Xie Ning to ask, she answered first: "The reward this time is merit points."

"merit points? Sounds useless."

After Xie Ning finished speaking, Yan Ruyu immediately glared at him: "merit points is not just a symbol; it's a more Advanced currency."

"Could it be..." Xie Ning was stunned first, then grew excited: "Can it be used to exchange for items from a specific place?"

Yan Ruyu nodded: "Yes. The Materials sold on the market are ultimately few. More and more Advanced Materials are held by the Monster Taming Alliance, and these can only be exchanged using merit points. Not just Demon Tamers Beast Materials, but also rare Yao Beast eggs and Ancient Martial Weapons manufactured by Great Masters—the Alliance holds them all."

"I understand. I guarantee I will complete the mission!" Xie Ning said with a smile, then couldn't help but ask, "Who usually undertakes this mission?"

Yan Ruyu paused for a moment, then sighed: "Last year it was Class Monitor. Unfortunately, the mission failed, causing varying degrees of casualties in a town. The year before, it was another student. Tragically, the mission failed, and he died in battle, leaving no remains."

After hearing this, Xie Ning's joking expression froze, gradually becoming serious.

"Since the mission risk is so high, why does the Monster Taming Alliance still assign it to the Academy?" Xie Ning asked.

Yan Ruyu replied: "This is the Demon Tamers Beast Era. The world seems peaceful everywhere, but secretly countless Yao Beasts or Fallen Demon Tamers are lurking. Every year, various academies assign the mission to the strongest person in their respective classes. This both reduces casualties and serves as military training."

"But if the strongest person in the class fails and dies, isn't that also a loss for humanity and the class?" Xie Ning asked again.

Yan Ruyu looked at him and said, "Isn't the life we have now bought by millions sacrificing their lives and shedding their blood? As for mediocre students, they mostly become Demon Tamers just to secure their future survival; how would they dare to take on these high-risk missions?"

Xie Ning nodded, gaining a deeper understanding.

After a moment, he looked at Yan Ruyu with a resolute expression: "Master, don't worry! I will complete the mission and return alive."

"Mm, eat something."

Afterward, Xie Ning ate some fruit with Yan Ruyu, and Yan Ruyu explained some of Xie Ning's shortcomings during their recent spar.

Xie Ning listened very carefully, and after hearing everything, he stood up and practiced alone, over and over again.

Yan Ruyu watched his progress, feeling somewhat distracted.