The bus rolled steadily forward. Teacher Li took a small clip-on speaker from her bag, fastened it at her waist, stood up, and looked around.
“Is Pu Qing from the Combat Department here?”
Pu Qing?
The prodigy of the senior Combat Department class!?
The agriculture students were instantly stirred, craning their necks in excitement until their gazes converged on the back row.
Jiang Luokui noticed that everyone’s eyes passed right over her head. She instinctively turned around—there he was, dressed in an advanced protective suit, hand raised.
“Here.”
Teacher Li let out a relieved “Oh,” then explained, “Since most of you don’t have experience leaving the base, I’ve invited Pu Qing from the senior Combat Department to escort us. He has extensive field combat experience. If anything unexpected happens, follow his instructions.”
“Today’s class requires you to become familiar with the morphology of the five staple crops—both their normal forms and several common mutation forms. So our destination is the Forward Farm near the outskirts of the base.”
“It’ll take about an hour to get there. You can read or rest.”
With a yawn, she sat back down and closed her eyes.
Whether it was official cleanup squads or civilian exploration teams, combat-type ability users were indispensable pillars.
With Pu Qing around, the agriculture students felt nothing but excitement—and reassurance.
This was an S-rank ability user!
Rumor had it that in two months, he would represent the Third Academy’s Combat Department at the quadrennial Ability Competition held at the Central Base. With his strength, he might even bring back a championship.
Of course, that glory belonged to the Combat Department. It had little to do with Agriculture.
Agriculture students could participate too, but only as teams—the competition focused on collective results rather than individual strength, and frankly, it wasn’t very exciting to watch.
Among the current first-year agriculture cohort, only Li Jue ming was likely to qualify.
Lin Zihan leaned closer and whispered, “The competition’s always held at the Central Base, so First Academy has the home advantage. We’ve never had much luck there. But this year, with Li Jue ming, things might be different.”
Compared to First Academy, which drew talent from the Central Base, Third Academy’s student intake was far less competitive.
Li Jue ming’s potential S-rank breakthrough was their only real hope.
Across all four years of the Agriculture Department, his ability potential ranked highest—he just lacked the experience of upperclassmen.
Jiang Luokui suddenly grew curious. “By the way, does anyone know what Li Jue ming’s ability actually is?”
Abilities were considered private, and the school didn’t disclose them during admissions. Everyone only knew his ability was A-rank, possibly rising to S—but not what it was.
Among agriculture-related abilities, [Cultivation] accounted for half. The rest were a wide variety—over a hundred types.
Abilities also had some hereditary tendency.
Having lived with Uncle Li for nineteen years, Jiang Luokui vaguely knew his ability was fire-related. The Li family seemed more inclined toward combat-type abilities.
So… would Li Jue ming’s ability be [Cultivation]?
Lin Zihan lowered her voice conspiratorially. “He’s never said, but most people think it is. His uncle has that ability.”
The “uncle” she referred to was Li Xianhua—Li Jue yan’s father, an A-rank ability user and senior researcher at the Crop Science Institute. At his level, his ability was basically an open secret.
The bus exited the South Gate of the inner district. About 500 meters out, another white bus caught up, the two traveling side by side on the wide road.
Lin Zihan was about to continue gossiping when she spotted someone on the other bus waving at her.
Though the protective suits obscured faces, she recognized the familiar eyes—it was their roommate.
“Huh? The Combat Department is going outside the base today too?”
Jiang Luokui glanced over. Some people on that bus were waving—not at them, but at Pu Qing.
Pu Qing merely raised a hand in acknowledgment, then ignored them.
“Not just freshmen on that bus,” Jiang Luokui said. “Probably some kind of mixed training.”
The other bus sped off quickly, disappearing from view.
Forty minutes later, they reached the South Gate of the outer wall.
Gates between districts were unguarded, but exits from the base were strictly controlled by the military. Entry was far stricter than exit—any item exceeding radiation limits was prohibited.
Radiation levels were divided into ten grades. Only Level 1 and 2 items could be exposed in public. Levels 3 and 4 had to be sealed and reported, and couldn’t be brought into crowded areas. Above Level 4, control was even stricter—those items had to remain outside the base.
Protect the environment—everyone’s responsibility.
Teacher Li showed the permit, and the bus was allowed through.
The crowd gathered at the gate parted to make way. These were the base’s true underclass—living on the edge. Many didn’t even have protective suits, yet still risked scavenging outside.
What they found had value—but high radiation. Without equipment to reduce it, they could only try to smuggle things in.
Through the window, the agriculture students fell silent.
Most had grown up in the inner districts. Few had seen this.
Burn-like red patches on skin. Sparse hair. Swollen limbs…
The sight hit hard.
Someone exclaimed, “My god… why aren’t they wearing protective suits?”
“Can’t afford them,” Pu Qing replied calmly.
Silence deepened.
Teacher Li tried to reassure them. “Don’t worry. This year, each gate will be equipped with neutralizers. Once people can safely bring items in, they’ll be able to afford protection.”
Pu Qing let out a faint scoff.
He didn’t argue—but the meaning was clear.
Jiang Luokui wasn’t so optimistic either.
Even if neutralizers were installed—would they be free? Maintained? Accessible?
There was only one production line in the entire country, located at the Central Base. Even after cost reduction, each unit still cost about five million—and maintenance was expensive.
The air circulation system brought in outside air. Even filtered, Jiang Luokui caught a faint metallic smell.
This damned radiation… when would things return to normal?
Then—
Her brow furrowed.
The spiritual energy inside her body suddenly became more active. Her cultivation technique accelerated slightly.
What was going on?
Inside her pocket, hidden beneath the suit, Bubu stirred.
Jiang Luokui discreetly tugged her collar and looked down.
Bubu was sniffing the metallic scent—and seemed to… like it.
It liked radiation?
But this wasn’t spiritual energy!
Confusion replaced her gloom.
She fell into deep thought.
Ten minutes passed, and she still had no answer. The question nagged at her relentlessly.
She was even considering whether removing her protective suit and relying on her cultivation could withstand Level 5 radiation—
When the bus arrived.
“We’re here. Everyone, off the bus.”
Teacher Li got off first, stretching her stiff back, and began organizing the students.
Just then—
A cage full of mutated chickens tipped over from a cart. The door burst open.
More than a dozen chickens flapped wildly, scattering in all directions.
Livestock mutations were classified differently:
Still edible → low-level mutation
Inedible → mid-level
Inedible + aggressive → high-level
These were clearly high-level.
Red eyes. Blue-brown feathers.
They charged straight at the students.
Advanced suits could withstand their pecking—but ordinary ones couldn’t.
Cries erupted.
Jiang Luokui reacted instantly. “Anyone in standard suits—get back on the bus! Watch radiation exposure!”
The handler rushed over. “My chickens! Teacher Li, have the students help catch them!”
Teacher Li shouted, “Follow her instructions! Those in advanced suits can help if willing—others stay on the bus!”
A chicken suddenly lunged at one of the last students boarding.
“Watch out! Their beaks are poisonous!” the researcher yelled.
“Luokui!” Lin Zihan cried.
Jiang Luokui leapt up the steps. The driver slammed the door—but too late.
The chicken squeezed in.
From the bus’s shadow, something black surged out like liquid—wrapping around the chicken and pinning it down.
The driver opened the door again. Jiang Luokui kicked it out. The door shut.
She collapsed into her seat, sweating.
That was close.
Radiation she might handle—but this suit cost 1,500 credits. Ruining it in one go would hurt.
Pu Qing stood outside, tapping on her window.
“You okay?”
So close, she finally recognized him.
“Hey—you’re—”
“Looks like you’re fine. Stay inside until we finish catching them.”
Chaos reigned outside.
“Damn, that hurts!”
“Come here!”
“I got one—hey, don’t run!”
Pu Qing didn’t move—but his gaze sharpened.
Shadows stretched.
Black tendrils shot out, binding each chicken’s legs and pinning them down.
Inside the bus, students stared in awe.
S-rank ability.
Terrifying.
Teacher Li exhaled in relief.
Inviting him had been the right call.