NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 180 - Training Exercise 28
After the people from the oasis left, Instructor Yan sent out a micro-robot to collect samples of the substances they had scattered. After testing, it was found that the substance was pollen from a flower, which, when inhaled, could cause hallucinations. In more severe cases, it could lead to unconsciousness.
However, this pollen was not toxic and would not harm the human body. Even if someone was knocked out, they would wake up naturally once the effects wore off.
After learning that the people from the oasis had scattered a sleeping drug around the Starlight Team, Instructor Yan became worried. He feared that the entire Starlight Team might have been affected.
Although they had higher expectations for the Sunlight Team, they also had high hopes for the Starlight Team.
The Sunlight Team was already in their fourth year and would be promoted to the fifth year next year, after which they would no longer stay at the school.
On the other hand, the Starlight Team would only be in their fourth year next year, and at that time, Ren Guang would become the highest-ranked student in the Combat Department.
If someone from the Starlight Team were eliminated the day after the team training competition, it would be a huge blow to them.
Fortunately, just as the Starlight Team was about to step into the area where the oasis people had scattered the sleeping powder, Ren Guang, who was leading, noticed something wrong. He immediately backed up and put on a gas mask, so he didn’t inhale much of the scent and didn’t experience any hallucinations.
In fact, no matter which direction they came from, they couldn’t avoid it because the oasis people had scattered the pollen around them. The only way to bypass it would have been to swim through the lake.
However, with the gas masks on, the pollen had no effect on them. Instructor Yan watched as the Starlight Team passed by the area where the pollen had been spread, and none of them showed any unusual reactions.
By taking this detour, the Starlight Team unintentionally avoided the traps set by the oasis people.
“Student Xi is indeed the best observer in your Combat Department,” Instructor Fang remarked. “Such talent is wasted in the Combat Department. He should be in our Command Department instead.”
Instructor Yan, dissatisfied, responded, “Your Command Department already poached another Student Xi, and you’re still not satisfied. Do you want me to talk to Instructor Lan?”
When someone knows too much about you, it can be a problem. A single poke can hit your weak spot.
His wife wasn’t unaware of his tactics, but when no one pointed it out, she pretended not to know out of respect. But if someone called it out…
Instructor Fang immediately straightened up and put on a proper, upright expression. “I was simply praising your Student Xi for his exceptional skills in the Combat Department.”
Instructor Yan didn’t feel like continuing the conversation because the oasis people hiding in the shadows had noticed their sleeping powder hadn’t worked and that the Starlight Team had avoided their traps. More than fifty people suddenly flew toward them in an ungraceful manner.
When the Starlight Team noticed the pursuers, they saw they had flying vehicles, while they were on foot and couldn’t escape by running, so they assumed defensive positions.
Leading the charge was a man who, although still relatively young, was close to middle-aged. The reason the oasis people had the confidence to chase them was that this man was a Level 7 warrior.
Moreover, their flying vehicle was equipped with a flying cannon, all of which were aimed directly at the Starlight Team.
The man stopped three meters away from Ren Guang and sized him up.
Although the man’s aura was imposing, Ren Guang showed no sign of backing down and bravely stared back at him.
“What do you want?” Ren Guang asked calmly.
“You are students from Imperial Capital University,” the man suddenly asked. He was speaking the common language of the Blue-Black Empire, with impeccable fluency and a slight accent from the Imperial Capital Star.
The Starlight Team didn’t relax because of the familiar accent. Instead, they became even more tense. This man was definitely not from Liva Star.
“We won’t tell you,” Ren Guang replied, maintaining his calm demeanor.
“You came to this planet for training. How many of you are there? Is it the entire group or just part of it?” the man continued to ask.
Ren Guang kept his composure, but after observing the expressions of the Starlight Team members, the man seemed to have gotten some answer. He smiled and lazily said:
“You’ve entered our territory. It’s impossible for you to just leave without leaving anything behind.”
For Ren Guang, he would have preferred the man to be here to rob them, rather than inquire about their background.
“What do you want?” Ren Guang asked.
“I want the space devices on you. I need four,” the man said.
“Two. After I give them to you, you leave immediately and don’t chase us. I can also promise you that there will be no repercussions,” Ren Guang decisively responded.
Not only did he have one space device, but he also had an extra blank one that he had originally prepared for Mai Dongzi.
Since Mai Dongzi was injured and recovering, he didn’t have time to communicate with her. By the time she returned to school, she already had a blank space device, so he kept it with him.
Though he didn’t know the reason, when aboard the starship, Ye Weilai had told him she also had a blank space device.
Giving the two blank space devices to the oasis people wouldn’t affect the Starlight Team’s future training activities; it would only be a small loss of money.
When they returned to Imperial Capital Star, he could compensate Ye Weilai by giving her a new space device.
The leader of the oasis people did not immediately agree. He studied Ren Guang for a while, and Ren Guang steadfastly met his gaze. After about thirty seconds of silent eye contact, the man finally extended his hand and said, “Kid, you’ve got guts. I’ll make the deal, just toss them over.”
After the oasis people received the two space devices, they indeed retreated as agreed.
The Starlight Team did not dare to linger, quickly moving away from the oasis. They only stopped to rest after the sky began to brighten and they confirmed no one was following them. The exhausted team members finally collapsed and fell into a restless sleep.
Ren Guang and Ye Weilai took the first shift as guards. Despite the strong winds and swirling sand in the desert, the weary Starlight Team slept in disarray.
“Captain, I think that man looks a little familiar,” Ye Weilai whispered.
She was also very tired, and if she didn’t keep herself occupied, she would unintentionally fall asleep. Gossip was undoubtedly the best way to stay alert.
Ren Guang seemed to be inspired by something, suddenly looking up at Ye Weilai.
When he had faced off with the man earlier, part of his mind had been occupied with resisting the man’s oppressive aura, and part of it had been focused on figuring out how to handle the situation, leaving him no time to think about anything else.
Now, hearing what Ye Weilai said, he also felt the man seemed familiar.
“Do you think he looks like someone?” he quietly asked.
Ye Weilai thought for a long while, then shook her head and said, “I can’t remember. I just feel like he looks very familiar.”
“From his accent, he’s probably from Imperial Capital Star. I might have seen him before,” Ye Weilai added.