Shen Biqian slowly opened her eyes. A sharp gleam flashed through them before a satisfied smile appeared on her face.
After several days of fighting demonic beasts, her strength had improved significantly. The first leaf had completely solidified, and the second leaf had begun to take shape as a faint shadow.
Over the past few days, through conversations with Mu Ranzhu and the others, she had gained a general understanding of her current level of strength.
There were ten levels of Qi Condensation. After passing all ten levels, one would enter the Foundation Establishment stage.
One leaf roughly corresponded to the first level of Qi Condensation.
Since she had already formed the outline of a second leaf, her strength was now roughly comparable to the second level of Qi Condensation.
Having fought many demonic beasts, she also had a better understanding of their strength.
The weakest beasts were around half a level of Qi Condensation. Against those, Shen Biqian could defeat them without much effort.
The strongest beasts, however, were roughly equivalent to the fifth level of Qi Condensation. If she encountered one of those, her only option would be to run for her life.
The cultivation techniques the mysterious voice had taught her that day included far more than just Wood Binding. There were many other techniques as well.
Unfortunately, Wood Binding was the only one she could currently use.
Although her strength had risen to the second level of Qi Condensation, she still lacked enough spiritual energy to use the more powerful techniques.
A week had passed since the demonic beasts first appeared.
During that week, Mu Ranzhu and the others had driven around and practically emptied every supermarket near the campus.
Even so, the food they gathered would only last a few more days.
After all, there were thousands of students in the university and countless mouths to feed.
“You really aren’t worried at all.”
Bai Xue frowned when she saw Shen Biqian finish cultivating.
“You still have the mood to cultivate. After today, everyone will be out of food.”
Shen Biqian wasn’t offended.
She simply smiled.
“Worrying won’t solve anything.”
“Did Mu Ranzhu and the others go searching for food again?”
Bai Xue wasn’t a bad person.
The reason she disliked Shen Biqian was simply because Shen Biqian was close to Su Jianmo.
When Shen Biqian had been injured, Bai Xue had healed her without hesitation.
Because of that, Shen Biqian always yielded to her in minor matters.
“Mm.”
“It’s already been seven days.”
“If the rescue army doesn’t arrive soon, things will get ugly.”
Because she remembered her previous life, Shen Biqian wasn’t worried at all.
Today was the day the army would arrive.
And today, she would finally be able to go home.
She wondered how her parents were doing.
Before the beasts appeared, she had called her mother and told her to stockpile food.
She didn’t know whether her mother had listened.
“Bai Xue! Shen Biqian! The rescue army is here!”
Mu Ranzhu came running over excitedly.
He tossed a pack of biscuits to each of them.
“Eat up.”
“We won’t have to worry about food anymore.”
Shen Biqian caught hers.
“Thanks.”
At that moment, Li Nan spoke.
“The school doesn’t need our protection anymore.”
“I want to join the army.”
“What about you guys? What are your plans?”
“I’m going home.”
Shen Biqian answered without hesitation.
Mu Ranzhu and Bai Xue both said they wanted to return home and check on their families as well.
Only Su Jianmo remained silent.
Bai Xue bit her lip before finally asking,
“What about you, Su Jianmo?”
“Me?”
He glanced at Shen Biqian.
“I’m worried about her traveling alone.”
“I’ll escort her home.”
Bai Xue immediately became jealous.
“Why are you worried about her going home alone, but not me?”
“Because you’re stronger than she is.”
That was true.
Bai Xue was extremely powerful.
At first, Shen Biqian had thought Mu Ranzhu was the strongest among them.
But one day she witnessed Bai Xue kill an entire group of demonic beasts with a single sword strike.
Only then did she realize that Bai Xue was actually much stronger than Mu Ranzhu.
Shen Biqian estimated that Bai Xue’s strength was at least around the eighth level of Qi Condensation.
Moreover, she possessed healing abilities.
Bai Xue’s background was definitely extraordinary.
An ordinary awakened ability user could never possess such power.
Of course, this was only Shen Biqian’s speculation.
Everyone had their own secrets, so she had never asked.
At that moment, a soldier in military uniform ran over.
“Are you the awakened ability users?”
After seeing them nod, he continued,
“Our commander would like to see you.”
Following the soldier, Shen Biqian and the others arrived at a military jeep.
A capable-looking officer was waiting for them.
“I am Wu Ming, commander of the 911 Regiment.”
“Thank you for protecting the university during these past few days.”
Since Mu Ranzhu had been acting as their leader, he stepped forward.
“Commander Wu, you’re too kind.”
“X University is our school.”
“It’s only natural that we protect it.”
Wu Ming looked at the young man before him with approval.
The suddenly appearing demonic beasts were largely immune to ordinary firearms.
What the nation urgently needed now were awakened individuals like these.
Since he had encountered five of them, he naturally wanted to recruit them.
“Our regiment is currently forming a special squad composed of awakened ability users.”
“Would you be interested in joining?”
“The待遇 (benefits and compensation) are very good.”
Since they had already decided to return home, only Li Nan agreed to join.
No matter how hard Wu Ming tried to persuade them, he couldn’t convince the others.
Disappointed but understanding, Wu Ming took out five medals.
He handed one to each of them.
“This is your reward.”
“Mu Ranzhu, if you ever change your mind, this medal will allow you to join any military force.”
“Thank you.”
As he watched the four of them walk away, Wu Ming sighed.
He wondered whether he would ever encounter such outstanding awakened individuals again.
Under Bai Xue’s resentful gaze, Shen Biqian and Su Jianmo finally departed.
“Handsome Su,” Shen Biqian teased,
“Your charm is truly terrifying.”
“I’ve practically been killed by Bai Xue’s resentful looks every day.”
“At least now I’ll finally be free of them.”
Su Jianmo merely smiled and said nothing.
Looking at his handsome face, Shen Biqian sighed.
“Aren’t you going home?”
“Your parents must be worried about you.”
In her previous life, she had agreed to travel home with him because she had been powerless and needed his protection.
But this time, she was already cultivating.
Making him accompany her home would be selfish.
When Su Jianmo heard her question, a trace of coldness appeared on his face.
Worried about him?
More likely, they were worried that the demonic beasts wouldn’t eat him, allowing him to return to that so-called home and compete for the inheritance they cared so much about.
“It’s fine.”
“I’ll take you home.”
Seeing that his expression had darkened, Shen Biqian realized she had probably said something wrong.
Since he insisted, she could only nod.
“Alright.”
In her previous life, the military rescue force had actually arrived.
As long as she had followed the army into one of the survivor bases, she would not have died so early.
However, because she was worried about her parents, she insisted on going home instead.
Su Jianmo couldn’t persuade her otherwise and accompanied her on the journey.
Unexpectedly, they ended up dying on the way back.
Thinking of this, a cold glint flashed through her eyes.
Her home wasn’t very far from the city. It would only take about two days by car to get there.
But in her previous life, they had encountered a group of bandits who stole their vehicle.
Those bandits were the main reason behind their deaths.
If they dared to show up again in this life, she would make sure they never returned alive.