Part 3
Several small Wood Spirits immediately flew up to meet it like they were welcoming a hero, clustering around it as they flew away.
Luo Shizhen watched without blinking, reluctantly withdrawing his gaze only after they had flown far away.
Chen He’an smiled. “They can purify some pollution and are considered to have a cooperative relationship with humans. They love sweets and live in trees. If you become a Guardian in the future, when you return from a mission, these little Wood Spirits will be the first to fly over and welcome you, helping you clear the pollution tainted from Anomalies.”
Luo Shizhen nodded but said, “They are very cute, but I think Big Yellow is cuter.”
The little Spirit Essence named poked its head out from Chen He’an’s cuff, looking timidly at Luo Shizhen. When Luo Shizhen looked over, it quickly retracted its head.
Walking inside, Luo Shizhen looked up in amazement.
Above, a giant, translucent dome like a formation array covered the entire building complex, flowing slowly. Inside, symbols Luo Shizhen didn’t recognize swam like living things.
“Hello Mr. Chen He’an. Verification passed. Please proceedā”
Chen He’an led them inside. When they reached the entrance, the large gate carved with complex patterns actually spoke.
Startled, Luo Shizhen grabbed Chen He’an’s arm.
Chen He’an patted his shoulder. “Don’t be afraid. This is a gate reinforced by a user with a Defense Sequence ability. It can automatically identify who enters and exits. Just think of it like the security check for the high-speed train.”
The gate was open, but Luo Shizhen noticed that after Mr. Chen walked in, the open doorway had an extra layer of transparent runes, like an invisible door.
Chen He’an walked through and beckoned Luo Shizhen over.
“I’ve already entered your information. The protective shield won’t stop you, Shizhen. Just walk through.”
Luo Shizhen was timid and didn’t dare to step forward.
Qin Yinian strode over. “Small guts again at a time like this? Watch, I’ll demonstrate for you.”
He walked through the gate, ignoring the layer of transparent runes. As he passed, the runes indeed didn’t stop him. A pair of closed eyes on the door slowly opened and looked calmly at the visitor.
The gate emitted a voice again:
“Hello Qin Yinian. Verification passed. Please proceedā”
Chu Xiao, leaning on his crutch, walked while looking back at Luo Shizhen. His light-colored eyes, usually cold, revealed a trace of encouragement.
“Just walk. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“Hello Chu Xiao. Verification passed. Please proceedā”
The three of them looked at Luo Shizhen from the other side of the gate. Chen He’an extended his hand. “Come, Shizhen, come here.”
Luo Shizhen carefully took a step. He passed smoothly through the transparent runes. It felt like a layer of water separated by a plastic bag sticking to his legāa bit of sensation, but nothing uncomfortable.
Emboldened, he walked through.
“Hello Luo Shizhen. Verification passed. Please proceedā”
Luo Shizhen responded in a small voice, “Hello.”
Those eyes watched him calmly, then slowly closed after he passed.
He walked to the three of them. Chen He’an rubbed his head. “See, nothing to be afraid of, right?”
Luo Shizhen nodded with a bit of excitement. Even after walking a long way, he kept looking back at the talking gate.
The roar of several motorcycle engines approached. Luo Shizhen turned and saw several motorcycles stop at the entrance. Men covered from head to toe, faces masked, got off, took off their helmets, and walked through the gate.
They were all tall and slender. The black combat uniforms made their legs look exceptionally long. Everyone carried the smoky scent of having just left a battle.
The Wood Spirits flying in the sky immediately welcomed them, actively pecking all over their bodies.
Luo Shizhen watched, his feet unable to move. “So cool.”
Chu Xiao and Qin Yinian also looked over, both showing more or less some yearning in their eyes.
Seeing him looking back, Chen He’an looked too and smiled.
“Those are Guardians who just returned from a mission. When you graduate, you can become one of them.”
Luo Shizhen nodded earnestly.
Qin Yinian said, “Becoming a Guardian isn’t easy; you have to take exams. Luo Stone, can you do it?”
Luo Shizhen immediately went silent. Growing up, aside from PE exams, he had never gotten good grades in any other subject.
Chen He’an smiled. “The Guardian exam isn’t the same as high school questions. It tests other things. Don’t worry, I believe you all can pass.”
Qin Yinian asked, “Teacher, what exactly does the Guardian exam test? I haven’t seen any review subjects.”
Chen He’an didn’t answer. “Teacher can’t say. If I tell you in advance, wouldn’t that be leaking the questions?”
Luo Shizhen thought that made sense and nodded in deep agreement. “Yes, cheating is bad.”
Qin Yinian was speechless. Mimicking Mr. Chen, he rubbed Luo Shizhen’s head. “Talk less, you!”
Wait, the texture really was good.
The group at the gate was also discussing them.
“Those are the new students, right? Even from this far away, I can feel the stench of fire and ice clashing. Sequence is probably the Five Elements. Tsk, young cubs, don’t even know how to hide their aura.”
“Captain, aren’t you being transferred to the Awakener School as an instructor? You should pick a few good ones then and bring them to our team.”
“But speaking of which, why is our Captain, with such a high Sequence level, being assigned to a school as an instructor? Isn’t that a waste of talent?”
“I think high-sequence Guardians take turns. Our Captain just had bad luck and drew the first lot.”
A baby-faced Guardian teased the little Wood Spirits while stretching his limbs:
“It’s because of that incident in Wangyun City, right? I heard dozens of Awakener students were pulled into an Anomaly Field during training and didn’t make it out alive. That was a Rank 25 Anomaly. The teacher who went in was just a Sequence 56 Guardian with a support ability. Heard they self-destructed just to stop the Anomaly Field from expanding.”
The other Guardian teammates realized, “Oh, that incident. I heard about it too.”
“No wonder they’re switching to high-sequence instructors. These Anomalies are getting smarter, targeting students who haven’t grown up yet.”
They had all come from their student days. Awakeners at that time often couldn’t control their abilities well and were at their weakest.
They indeed needed powerful high-sequence instructors for protection.
“Captain, you only know how to fight. Can you handle protecting students? How about this: take me along. I can persuade these students on the way and pick some good seedlings for our team.”
Hearing this, the man who had been lazily spreading his arms to let the Wood Spirits clean the pollution opened his eyes slightly. He wore a dark combat uniform, his muscles clearly defined under the tight fabric. His whole being exuded a sense of danger.
With just one look at the others, the team members who had been chatting casually immediately restrained their expressions.
This was an instinctāthe instinctive alertness of Awakeners facing a high-sequence Awakener.
“Take you for what? A bunch of brats. I’m leaving. You guys keep taking missions. Don’t slack off just because I’m not here.”
After he spoke, the team members relaxed and laughed again.
“Then Captain, don’t forget to pick a few good seedlings. Keep the goodies within the family.”
The man looked calm and relaxed, turning around to let the Wood Spirits clean his back. He kept playing with a multifunctional tactical knife in his hand, spinning it so fast it left afterimages.
He looked in the direction Luo Shizhen and the others had left, narrowing his eyes slightly.
“Sure.”
“This batch of students is very special. Maybe I really can pick out a few good seedlings.”
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