The landline talismans from Wanbaoge cost several hundred taels of silver each, and they were not easy to buy...

The tenth senior brother, who was poor and out of touch with the news, was stunned after hearing this, and his leg also became injured.

Several hundred taels of silver!

"When...when will I be able to pay it back?"

Jia Xitong hadn't even thought of this, but since he brought it up... "Go back and write an IOU, and pay it back slowly."

After saying that, she patted the honest Tenth Senior Brother on the shoulder, and then returned to the side of her biggest lender and host.

##

The eldest brother's plan was full of idealism, but the second brother's team's experience made them realize the disadvantage of being outnumbered.

At this point, Thunderstorm Swamp no longer held an advantage, so they prepared to quickly clear it out before moving on to the next trial site.

But this is truly a fantasy world.

Although the Thunderstorm Swamp appears small from the outside, shrouded in thick fog, the space inside is surprisingly large.

Jia Xitong roughly estimated that the swamp might be about the size of a small town at the foot of Holy Capital Academy!

Go deeper in, and the smell of decaying and fermenting plants and animals becomes stronger and stronger. Staying there for a long time will make you feel dizzy and lightheaded.

"This is miasma."

The second senior brother took out a piece of cloth cut from his clothes and gestured for everyone to cover their mouths and noses. "This can only temporarily protect against the miasma. Staying inside for too long will easily cause both humans and magical beasts to faint or even die."

Because of this, they could only search for half an hour each day in the depths of the swamp before returning to the edge of the swamp.

After hearing what he said, the tenth senior brother couldn't help but look at the raccoon.

It wasn't wearing any protective gear.

But compared to its current discomfort and lethargy, it is full of energy.

Once the seed of doubt is planted, it will uncontrollably take root and sprout.

The tenth senior brother, recalling the mysterious background of junior brother Yan, as well as the fact that Xitong could talk and had intelligence beyond that of ordinary contracted beasts, looked at Jia Xitong again and seemed to see a veil of mystery covering the little monster.

##

This was the final search for the trial tokens, and the group stayed longer and searched a wider and more thoroughly than before.

Unfortunately, an hour later, they still hadn't found anything.

"Let's go."

When the time came, Shang Yanting made a decisive decision.

As Jia Xitong maneuvered the raccoon alongside him, she suddenly saw a square, hard object.

It almost blended into the withered, yellowed, and blackened leaves, half of it sunk into the mud. The raccoon was on all fours, just 20 centimeters above its eye level, and could see it perfectly.

Jia Xitong grabbed the exposed part of the token and pulled it backward with all her might—and there she was!

She looked at Shang Yanting while holding the token, which was still covered in mud.

Shang Yanting: ...

Other disciples: ...!

"A third card?!"

The second senior brother was overjoyed and excited, but he kept his voice very low, afraid that outsiders would hear him.

"This is amazing!"

"This is...this is amazing!"

Their highest record at Qing Shuang Peak was only two trial tokens.

Amidst the revelry of a group of disciples, the tenth senior brother hid to the side, wearing an expression that said, "I am the only one who is sober while everyone else is drunk."

Amidst the fervent gazes of the crowd, Jia Xitong felt an even more intense gaze upon her. She looked up and met the eyes of her tenth senior brother.

We've been discovered!

What keen observation skills!

The tenth senior brother was startled and quickly composed himself.

"What's wrong?"

Shang Yanting noticed that she had been staring at one spot for too long, so he looked in that direction.

The tenth disciple of Qing Shuang Peak.

When the system uses the burst and solidify symbols, he is the person who witnesses and uses them at close range.

Has he discovered the system's secret?

Shang Yanting looked over again, his expression subtly changing.

“I told my tenth senior brother that I bought the solidification talisman from Wanbaoge, and he now owes me several hundred taels of silver. Suddenly being burdened with such a huge debt must be a bit difficult for him right now.”

Jia Xitong said calmly, "I just owed money to someone, so I might not be used to it yet."

This strangely familiar experience left Shang Yanting speechless. He looked away and offered a reminder.

"Don't do anything reckless."

##

There were a total of ten trial tokens, and only five days had passed, yet they had already found three.

Based on past experience, three of them are basically guaranteed second place. If they find two more, first place will definitely be theirs.

In the dense forest.

The second senior brother, who was sitting in front of the campfire with a map in his hand, couldn't help but sigh, "The trials are always in the same few places every year, but the situation is different every time. I really don't know how the teachers manage to do it."

"that is."

The fourth senior brother turned around and nodded, completely agreeing with what he said.

He looked down and turned the rabbit in his hand, then held the rabbit meat up. "It's cooked. Who wants some?"

The rabbit meat was roasted to a perfect crispy exterior and tender interior, with oil still dripping from the crispy skin.

It smelled delicious, but it didn't even taste salty. The rabbit also had a gamey smell, and it wasn't as good as the pancakes my senior brother made.

Unfortunately, the eldest brother had already eaten all the cakes.

Jia Xitong squatted down next to Shang Yanting and made him take off his upper clothes to reveal the previous wounds, and then she changed the external medicine.

Most of his burns had scabbed over, but the skin around them remained red and swollen. Even the slightest movement could cause the wounds to reopen.

Just in case, she mixed the incantation talisman with water and gave it to him to drink again.

Finally, she took out her secret stash of her senior brother's sesame cakes and secretly gave Shang Yanting a special treat.

This is a unique kind of care.

Shang Yanting held the large pancake, attracting envious glances from those around him.

##

Shang Yanting was not the only one who was injured.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!