Night had already fallen.

Within the Sea City Military Academy, the cadets recently confirmed as academy seeds were seizing every second to improve their combat strength, preparing for the arena challenge the next morning.

On a wide training ground within the Nature Series Professional Association, Meng Hongzhuang gently waved her Magic Staff. A brilliant emerald glow emanated from her animal companions, finally converging onto Giant Bear Vini.

Giant Bear Vini roared toward the sky, and her already massive body suddenly expanded. A faint emerald sheen appeared in her eyes and on her fangs and sharp claws. The entire bear's aura was significantly stronger than before.

"Vini, use Giant Claw Fierce Strike!"

With a somewhat pale face, Meng Hongzhuang gripped her Magic Staff tightly and gave the soft command.

Under her master's command, Giant Bear Vini extended her right claw, which was wreathed in a green glow, and fiercely struck the test dummy in front of her.

BOOM.

A huge bear claw mark appeared on the test dummy. The display screen fluctuated for a moment and then stabilized.

"Attack Index: 150!"

"Not bad! Not bad at all!"

Beside Meng Hongzhuang, a young female student with a dignified and peaceful demeanor nodded in satisfaction. She was dressed in an emerald Magic Robe and wore an emerald tiara.

"Giant Bear Vini's regular Attack Index is only about 80. By exerting her full strength, she can reach 100, which is just enough to tear through the Scale Armor Defense of a similarly leveled Little Inferior Demon. This Natural Crown Skill concentrates the strength of your other animal companions onto Giant Bear Vini, causing her attack damage to soar by fifty percent. That's more than enough to crush Little Inferior Demons."

In front of this female student, Meng Hongzhuang no longer appeared as the fierce combat maniac she usually was. She smiled demurely and said, "I must thank Senior Sister Die Wu for her meticulous guidance. It's only because of her that I managed to grasp the basics of the incredibly challenging Natural Crown Skill in just one day."

Shaking her head lightly, the young female student known as Senior Sister Die Wu brushed a stray strand of hair from her ear and chuckled. "I dare not take the credit. If you hadn't somehow obtained a rare Evergreen Fruit, which greatly enhanced your affinity with the Natural Attribute upon consumption, it wouldn't have been possible to learn Natural Crown so quickly, even with the help of Skill Insights."

Meng Hongzhuang read between the lines and instantly understood that Senior Sister Die Wu wanted to ask about the source of the Evergreen Fruit. However, for a Nature Series Apprentice like her, only the first Evergreen Fruit consumed was effective. Besides, Fang Zhou had given her a task aboard the airship to help sell Evergreen Fruits to other Nature Series Professionals.

Thinking of this, Meng Hongzhuang looked at Senior Sister Die Wu and said, "Senior Sister, in our year, there's an incredible Undead Mage named Fang Zhou. He had unbelievable luck during the last Cave Hunting and somehow found four Evergreen Fruits. I paid a great price to exchange one from him. He should still have three left."

"Three Evergreen Fruits?!"

Senior Sister Die Wu's originally calm expression suddenly became lively. She said incredulously, "An Undead Mage? Isn't that the weakest human Profession? This Fang Zhou can participate in the seed selection too? And he can defeat powerful Demons guarding a Heavenly and Earthly Treasure like the Evergreen Fruit?!"

Hearing this, Meng Hongzhuang was taken aback. She didn't expect that within the small circle of the Sea City Military Academy, there were still students who hadn't heard of Fang Zhou. Even if Senior Sister Die Wu was a second-year student, she should have heard of Fang Zhou's legendary deeds.

Seeing Meng Hongzhuang's expression, Sister Die Wu realized she must have missed some crucial information and explained, "I've been away from the academy on a mission for over a month. I was only allowed to return because I'm approaching a breakthrough to the Black Iron Tier. So, apart from you newly awakened Nature Series Professionals, I haven't been following the happenings in the academy for a while."

A look of realization dawned on Meng Hongzhuang's face. In truth, she and this senior sister, a Natural Druid, had only recently met online. Meng Hongzhuang had no idea Die Wu had been away from the academy.

Meng Hongzhuang glanced thoughtfully at Senior Sister Die Wu.

No wonder she was so eager to help me. She wanted to find out where I got the Evergreen Fruit. It turns out she's on the verge of breaking through to the Black Iron Tier.

Although Sister Die Wu possessed enough talent to reach the Peak of Apprentice Upper Rank in just one year and could break through to the Black Iron Tier without aid, she would be foolish to do so. Relying on her own strength would mean missing the rare opportunity to consume an Evergreen Fruit for its potential enhancement and increased affinity.

For an apprentice-level Heavenly and Earthly Treasure like the Evergreen Fruit, its effects were greatly diminished if consumed by a Black Iron Tier Professional. It wasn't completely ineffective, but the benefit would be significantly reduced.

As she realized this, a flash of excitement lit up Meng Hongzhuang's eyes.

This time, I've really landed a big client for Fang Zhou. I wonder if this will be enough to offset some of Bai Xiaochan's first-mover advantage?

Lifting her head to look at Senior Sister Die Wu, Meng Hongzhuang said, "Fang Zhou's talent for the Undead Mage Profession is simply monstrous. In less than a month since his Awakening, he independently developed an entirely new Skill Tree for the Skeleton Series. The academy even started a special Undead Mage research project group for him, and I'm his research assistant now. What's more, Fang Zhou has already broken through to the Apprentice Middle Rank and completely dominated the Cave Hunting leaderboard with a crushing point advantage..."

Meng Hongzhuang recounted Fang Zhou's legendary achievements over the past three months in detail. As she listened, Sister Die Wu's elegant eyes grew wider and wider, and her calm demeanor vanished completely.

As Fang Zhou's little assistant, Meng Hongzhuang felt a secret thrill of satisfaction seeing Sister Die Wu so shocked she lost her composure.

Hmph, not just anyone gets to cling to Fang Zhou's golden thigh! As long as I can find a chance to kick out that useless, pretty vase Bai Xiaochan, I, Meng Hongzhuang, can have his patronage all to myself. He's only at the Apprentice Middle Rank, and I've already gotten a rare resource like the Evergreen Fruit from him. Once he grows even stronger in the future, who knows how many benefits I'll be able to get?!

Sister Die Wu pressed a hand to her chest and swallowed, barely managing to calm her shock. She subtly opened the apprentice-level Skill Library for the Undead Mage Profession and saw that it was now filled with several times more new Skills than before. Any trace of doubt she had vanished instantly.

Junior Brother Fang Zhou... He's terrifying!

Sister Die Wu took a step forward and excitedly grabbed Meng Hongzhuang's hand. Her expression was urgent as she asked, "Junior Sister Hongzhuang, do you have Fang Zhou's contact information?"

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