Chapter 1861: Chapter 1861

Elder Ruoyu’s blessing is very powerful.

This starkly contrasts with his speech—after his ’do not be proud, reflect on yourself’ speech ended, the atmosphere on site was quite bleak. Even Zheng Qing and others, who had just been praised, felt a bit unenthusiastic.

Fortunately, a series of blessing magic cast by legendary wizards then fell upon these young wizards, dispelling the fatigue around them, purifying deep-rooted ailments within them, and even their slightly low spirits were reinvigorated.

"If he didn’t speak and just cast a few spells, the effect would be a bit better."

Watching Elder Ruoyu transform back into a beam of light and disappear into the clouds, Xin Fat Man finally mustered the courage to lean in and whisper something to Zheng Qing.

Zheng Qing tilted his head and glanced at him, plugging his ear with one hand.

"Didn’t hear, don’t know, what did you say?" The young scholarship student’s triple denial made the Fat Wizard’s face turn a few shades paler as he withdrew to his seat silently.

The speaker flowers on the little hill raised their necks again, and Old Verne’s loud voice came from between the petals: "The Level 2008 New Student Trial Conference is now concluded. Students from each academy, please exit orderly in class order..."

Looking at those hardworking speaker flowers, Zheng Qing suddenly realized a problem.

"Why waste so many speaker flowers?"

He nudged Xiao Xiao, who had been taking notes, with his elbow and curiously asked, "Even excluding Vice Principal Ruoyu, even Old Verne can easily make these hundreds of people hear him..."

As he spoke, he made a big circle with his arm to encompass the bustling heads in the small square.

Before Xiao Xiao could respond, Xin Fat Man squeezed in again.

The Fat Wizard evaluated with his usual sharp tone: "Of course, because the speaker flowers are prettier! You know, this kind of broadcast speaker flower patent technology belongs to the school, and each use can provide a small patent fee to the school’s laboratory. Many small amounts add up, why not use it, using your loud voice won’t generate revenue for the school... It also involves the school’s budget and financial statements, there’s so much inside!"

"It’s not that complicated." Xiao Xiao finally looked up, glanced at the socially soaked black-faced Fat Man, adjusted his glasses: "Ultimately, it’s just to enhance the ceremonial feeling at the end. Similar to our opening ceremony, hunting party blessings, and Luo Tian Festival, society connects through various rituals."

Honestly, Zheng Qing found Doctor Xiao’s ’not that complicated’ to be far more complex to understand than Xin Fat Man’s ’revenue creation theory.’

Before he could think more clearly, the Fat Wizard’s brash voice rang out again.

"Compared to the speaker flowers, I feel that Old Verne’s closing remarks are more newsworthy." He rubbed his smooth chin, pondering: "He said ’Level 2008 New Student Trial Conference,’ this is clearly a wrong term..."

"We are indeed Level 2008 new students."

Zheng Qing didn’t see anything wrong with Old Verne’s choice of words: "And this is also a trial conference... Do all of you who report news nitpick ?"

"No no no, you’re not focusing on the core issue."

Xin Fat Man waggled his short thick finger, replying seriously: "Using ’Level 2008 New Student Trial’ versus our actual ’2009 School Year Opening Trial’ has subtle nuances... This indicates that the older members of the School Works Committee prefer the original trial plan... There’s a conflict between the policy implementers and the school’s policy philosophy, this is a big problem... in journalism, one must have this sensitivity."

The young scholarship student looked at the Fat Man beside him in shock, feeling that beneath that white chubby skin was a stranger’s soul, giving him an urge to rip open his skin to see what was inside.

The ravens’ racket once again interrupted the idle chat of young wizards, as a dozen Grey Robe Wizards raised their law books in unison, pointing towards the swirling flock of ravens overhead:

"Destiny’s Bird, descend and soar!"

One by one, ravens left the flock, forming a long winding ’chain,’ descending from the sky to land beside the young wizards.

Each student got one. The most update n0vels are published on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁

The one that landed beside Zheng Qing was a grey Three-Tailed Raven, it tilted its head, black bead-like eyes assessing the young scholarship student, opening its beak and letting out a hoarse yet friendly invitation.

Zheng Qing looked around confused.

He heard the school workers’ simple but slightly perfunctory explanation. The young scholarship student could only mimic others and reach out to touch the raven’s head. Then, in his sight, the raven’s form suddenly swelled, instantly transforming from chicken-sized to horse-sized.

He wasn’t sure if he had shrunk or the raven had grown. Attempting to use the hills surrounding the small square as reference, he glanced around, seeing only big and small ravens everywhere, many already in mid-air, their extended wings like dark clouds overshadowing everything, and along with the cawing of nearly a thousand big birds, Zheng Qing immediately abandoned this idea.

The Three-Tailed Raven shook the feathers on its back, spread its wings, revealing the saddle on its back.

Zheng Qing took a deep breath and mounted the bird.

The Three-Tailed Raven took two steps back, bent slightly as if bowing to the earth, then suddenly exerted its legs, took a few steps for momentum, spread its wings, and shot into the sky.

Zheng Qing had to hold tightly to its neck, feeling like he would tumble headfirst to the ground in the next second.

"Swallows soar in flight, up and down in harmony!"

Beside his ear came Jiang Yuqing’s cold incantation, a spell to help wizards communicate during flight, more effective than ’birds chirping.’

Soon, the voices of the other members of the Absolution Hunting Team—including those not from Jiuyou Academy, like Lin Guo, Dylan, Blue Bird, and Shi Yuan—also appeared beside Zheng Qing’s ear.

"Riding a bird back? That’s far more strenuous than I imagined!" Mister Werewolf complained elegantly: "The school should give students more freedom of choice!"

"Be content with a free ride home!" Xin Fat Man snorted twice: "To my knowledge, the school’s budget will be particularly tight this year... The material costs for the cross-border Array far exceed those of a flock of birds."

"To be accurate, riding a raven." Lin Guo student corrected earnestly, full of excitement: "It’s my first time riding such a big bird... Are there things to watch out for?"

"Grip tight with hands, clamp with legs, squint your eyes, talk less."

Zhang Ji Xin’s slightly hoarse voice promptly sounded: "If the raven under you tries to roll in mid-air or perform a cobra maneuver, don’t hesitate, kick its belly hard, it will be safer."

"I can’t reach its belly!" Li Meng student said indignantly—at this assertiveness, an inexplicable smile appeared on Zheng Qing’s lips.

"Amitabha, you could try reasoning with it." Monk Shi Yuan kindly suggested.

Laughter rang out immediately beside Zheng Qing’s ear.

Amidst this laughter, nearly a thousand big birds spread their wings, transforming into a torrent, rushing into the thick clouds of the Black Prison World sky. In the depths of the clouds, far away, there was an oval ’gate’ constructed of thunder and lightning.

Brilliant, magnificent, and dazzling.