"She's a distant relative of mine," Qin Huaibei explained helplessly in response to the relentless questioning from the other members of the main team.
Hearing this, everyone instantly lost interest.
Chloe curled her lip. What a letdown, not the slightest bit juicy.
Seeing everyone's listless expressions, Qin Huaibei sighed and started lecturing: "We're still young. What you're thinking about is very distant from us. What we should focus on first and foremost is improving our own abilities..."
Once he started lecturing, he couldn't stop in a short while.
Daniel let his wolf ears droop, pretending not to hear as he continued digging a hole in the sand.
Because Chloe had been eager to hear the gossip earlier and was close to Qin Huaibei, she now had no way to avoid it. Unable to refrain any longer, she interjected: "But Avi already had five girlfriends in kindergarten."
Qin Huaibei's voice halted. After recalling this Avi person, he continued: "So do you see him accomplishing anything great now?"
Chloe thought hard about it: "...No."
"There you go," Qin Huaibei's voice rang out. "Premature relationships will only affect how fast we can draw our swords."
Chloe completely agreed with this sentiment: "You're right."
The two reached a consensus and smiled at each other.
During their conversation, people from the Sasley Military Academy also arrived late.
Even wearing the bulky white protective suits, these elves somehow still exuded gorgeous figures.
Chloe ogled them with eyes shining brightly.
Happening to walk over, Ren Yunying saw this and frowned, forcibly turning Chloe's head back: "Little pervert, snap out of it."
Chloe: "...Oh."
Qin Huaibei, on the other hand, watched them pensively for a while before commenting: "They seem stranger than Katherine and the others, appearing even more arrogant."
"That's true," Katherine said from where she had laid out her sleeping bag and stood up. "Elves place extreme importance on the purity of their bloodlines. Those from the Sasley Military Academy even more so. The elves inside are basically all under the Council of Elders' control, always carrying that annoying conservative aura."
Hearing this, Chloe nodded: "Then why did you choose to attend the No.1 Military Academy?"
Katherine raised a brow: "Because I'm rebellious."
Chloe instantly admired her.
By now, Chloe had a general understanding of the other three military academies and was just waiting for the competition to start...
...The staff didn't keep them waiting for long.
Three days after the adjustment period ended, students from the various military academies were herded out of their tents like ducks, arriving at an open space.
Chloe was still a bit drowsy.
She wiped her eyes then blinked blearily at the stage ahead.
In front was an artificial spatial vortex. By entering this vortex, they would be transported to the other side of Planet Sand, where the competition would take place.
The rules were also very simple. Each main team from the military academies would be randomly dropped at a location. They had to rely on the clues left by staff to reach the finish line on this treacherous barren planet.
There could only be one winner per competition. The first team to arrive at the finish line would be victorious.
The entire competition would be projected onto a giant screen in midair and simultaneously broadcasted on major video platforms for all Terrai inhabitants to watch.
After hearing these rules, Chloe fell into thought.
Her gaze landed on Ren Yunying in the crowd.
The other's deep dark eyes were fixed steadily on her.
Chloe held Ren Yunying's gaze for a moment before revealing an extremely confident smile, indicating that with her here, there would be no accidents, presumably.
Seeing this, Ren Yunying lowered her eyes, too shy to say that during this competition, Chloe was the only one she worried about.
In the next moment, the spatial vortex let out a heavy roar, sucking in the students from all four military academies.
Chloe felt a spell of dizziness. When she finally regained clarity, she found herself lying prone on the sandy ground.
Beside her cheek was an eager beetle trying to take a bite of her.
Chloe swiftly drew her blade and sliced the tiny beetle cleanly in half before getting to her feet and peering around.
Sand flew everywhere in this place, the colors of the sky and land indistinguishable, blurring boundary lines and evoking a sense of dread.
Chloe closed her eyes briefly then brushed the dust off her protective suit as she stood, going to check on her companions who had collapsed around her.
Not far away, Anderson's fingers twitched, showing signs of awakening. Chloe observed for a while. After he fully came to, she extended a hand and pulled him up from the sand.
She then proceeded to literally kick everyone else awake one by one. When it came to Katherine, Chloe was unexpectedly gentle, lightly rousing her awake.
This was the special treatment reserved for beauties. Chloe didn't feel she'd done anything wrong at all.
Daniel got up clutching his butt, yelping loudly.
Taking in their surroundings, he cried out in astonishment, eyes shining brightly: "Damn, this is thrilling!"
Chloe ignored him and started digging a hole in the sand where a red flag was inserted. Inside, she discovered the first batch of supplies.
There was a map, rations, nutrient fluids and water.
Chloe's eyes lit up as she evenly distributed these items.
After everyone was ready, Chloe had them take out their weapons and be on guard at all times. Then they set off toward the marked spot on the map.
With the greatest courage, Daniel took the lead, Qin Huaibei and Katherine were in the middle looking at the map together, while Chloe brought up the rear with Anderson.
The shrieking gale whirled past their ears. Gripping a huge iron hammer, Daniel surveyed their surroundings vigilantly.
Chloe tried her best to ignore the wind's effects on herself, extending her perception as far as she could.
Behind her mask, those dark red eyes emanated a dim glow, easily peering out several hundred kilometers.
Chloe's eyes revealed scenery invisible to others. She softly exhaled and said, "Heads up, there's a sand viper a hundred meters ahead."
Hearing this, everyone was instantly invigorated.
Katherine hesitated. "Should we take a detour?"
Qin Huaibei licked his chapped lips. "No detours. The other academies must have started moving forward too. If we detour, we'll waste countless meaningless time."
"I agree," said Daniel at the forefront, tightening his grip on the hammer. "It's just a sand viper. I'll kill the damn thing."
With things already this clear, the No.1 Military Academy team continued ahead.
Without the slightest stagnation.
After some unknown amount of time, Chloe felt vibrations beneath the sand. She looked up. "Watch out, scatter!"
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone leapt outward.
A triangular snakehead emerged from under where they'd just stood, about thrice an adult's hug in size. Fangs flipped outward and eyes glowed red.
Seeing such an enormous creature, the light in Daniel's eyes flickered uncertainly before he finally yelled loudly: "Hey, don't this snake's fangs look kinda like a wild boar's? Hahahahaha!"
