Fang Zhou could imagine that Instructor Lu Hu must have made many efforts for him in places he couldnât see.
For example, Instructor Su Xinyan told him that the reason she quickly returned from the Mythical Battlefield to the Sea City Military Academy was all thanks to Instructor Lu Hu begging and pleading with Principal Su.
Also, for this undead mage research project group, thereâs no doubt Instructor Lu Hu contributed behind the scenes.
Fang Zhou was a person who repaid kindness.
As he looked at Lu Huâs towering figure, he couldnât help but ponder on how he could repay Instructor Lu Hu.
At this moment, Lu Hu finally calmed his excited mood.
He smiled at Fang Zhou and said, "Fang Zhou, your performance lately has been outstanding.
Although Principal Su didnât say explicitly, I can feel that your position as the number one seed is almost confirmed.
This is recognized not only by the instructors but also by all the first-year students."
Fang Zhou nodded slightly, about to express his gratitude to Lu Hu, when he heard him continue, "However, being the number one seed is both a great honor and a heavy responsibility.
We are a military academy, not just a typical university; you are soldiers, not mere students, and will face various real combat tasks in the future.
As the number one seed, while enjoying the resources of the military academy, the responsibilities you bear are naturally more daunting.
Although you have great potential, before that potential is fully realized, you must not be careless."
Faced with Lu Huâs earnest teachings, Fang Zhou naturally wouldnât take them lightly.
He seriously asked, "Instructor Lu, what forms do these real combat tasks mainly take?"
Lu Hu replied, "There are many forms, like killing fierce beasts, capturing demon worshipers, clearing spatial fragments, and so on.
The military academy will assign tasks that match your strength, trying to ensure safety.
But since itâs actual battleground scenarios with real weapons, every year there are students who get injured or even die for various reasons.
Moreover, for you seeds, once the final list is determined, there will be a round of real combat special training soon.
The aim is to select the strongest 10 individuals to form a team and represent our Sea City Military Academy in the national military academyâs new recruitsâ competition."
Fang Zhou wasnât afraid of any real combat special training; every day his skeleton clone was undergoing real combat in the Undead Realm, with combat experience far exceeding that of other newcomers.
However, some unintentional information revealed in Instructor Lu Huâs words made him very curious.
He turned and asked, "New recruitsâ competition? Is it a competition among the Longxia Federationâs top ten military academies?"
Lu Hu nodded, "Yes, itâs a tradition among the ten military academies over the years.
Beyond competing for pride and determining the rankings through the new recruitsâ competition, the rankings also affect the subsequent yearâs resource allocation proportions by the Federation.
The higher the ranking, the more resources you can get."
Fang Zhou nodded slightly.
No wonder the Sea City Military Academy places such importance on selecting seed students; the strength of the seeds directly determines the financial allocations for the following year.
He then asked, "What was our Sea City Military Academyâs ranking last year?"
Lu Hu shook his head slightly, "Our academy has consistently been mid-tier nationwide, generally fluctuating around 5th or 6th place.
Only a few years ago, after a female student named Wen Jiu awakened the Flame Dragon Knight profession, did we surprise everyone and achieve 3rd place â our academyâs historical best."
Hearing the familiar name Wen Jiu again, Fang Zhou was surprised, "Isnât Flame Dragon Knight a powerful profession capable of contracting a fire dragon; even she couldnât secure first place?"
Lu Hu replied solemnly, "We had Wen Jiu, the Flame Dragon Knight, but other academies also had geniuses awakening strong professions like the Punishing Holy Sword, Cloud-Ascending Ascetic, and Master of Arcane.
Moreover, the new recruitsâ competition not only looks at individual combat power, but more importantly at the teamâs overall strength.
Under Wen Jiuâs command, achieving 3rd place was already quite good.
Fang Zhou, donât underestimate the heroes of the world."
Fang Zhou nodded, a rare excitement rising in his heart.
Then Lu Huâs expression turned cheeky as he asked, "By the way, Fang Zhou, how did that girl Xinyan boast to you last time?"
When it came to Instructor Suâs black history, Fang Zhou cautiously said, "Instructor Su asked me if her hair looked good, and then said that ever since she awakened as an undead mage, her hair has turned silver.
She also said that my talent, being capable of breaking through the apprenticeâs middle rank in a month, was slightly better than her, who took a month and a few days."
"Hahaha!" Lu Hu burst into laughter, unable to stop.
After a long time, he finally caught his breath, saying, "In a way, she wasnât lying.
Her silver hair indeed became like that after awakening.
However, this isnât a mark of talent for an undead mage.
It was because when she was 18, she secretly dyed her hair silver, claiming it matched the mysterious aura of a future legendary undead witch.
Lu Hu wiped his tears and said, "As for the month and a few days breakthrough, itâs not entirely wrong.
Except those âfew daysâ might mean sixty or seventy days."
Despite having guessed earlier, Fang Zhou couldnât help but laugh after hearing Lu Huâs explanation.
Instructor Su Xinyanâs creativity indeed was quite whimsical and unrestrained, deserving of the word spontaneous.
Compared to her serene demeanor akin to an ephemeral night bloom, it was an unexpectedly charming contradiction.
Given her status as a Golden Tier powerhouse, Fang Zhou was wary of knowing too much about Instructor Suâs black history, fearing that he couldnât regard her normally later, so he tried to change the subject.
But Lu Hu found a rare opportunity to share his amusement.
He winked at Fang Zhou, saying, "Principal Su has always wanted Xinyan to dye her hair back. Theyâve argued countless times over it.
People say daughters are their fatherâs little comforter.
But I think Xinyan, even if sheâs a comforter, is one that lets the wind in and has a darkened heart.
Because of this, Principal Su has always had opinions about the undead mage profession.
Fang Zhou, you must be attentive in the project group.
Xinyan, despite her appearance..."
Before Lu Hu finished his sentence, a blurred shadow issued a sharp cry in the dark night sky, charging straight at him.
Lu Hu became alert and quickly pulled Fang Zhou back several meters.
The shadow didnât continue its attack, hovering in the spot where Lu Hu initially was, and bared its teeth menacingly.
Seeing this, Lu Huâs expression turned bitter, "This is bad, bad!
Itâs Xinyanâs summoned vampire!
I must have been overheard when I spoke ill of her just now."
Fang Zhou also caught on, scrutinizing the vampire-like undead creature before him.
This vampireâs bat wings constitute roughly eighty percent of its body, the edges shimmering with a sharp cold light, possessing some aggressiveness.
Its head is about the size of an adultâs fist, with pale soul fire in its eye sockets, and four sharp teeth in its mouth which can extract blood from targets and steal their life energy.