Starting Cultivation in Wasteland

The students in Jiuchuan Academy have indeed been affected by the search operation.

The searches over the past couple of days sparked some interest because, after all, it's a rare experience during the academy's life.

However, as time went on, the students couldn't take it anymore. The academy should be a relaxed, lively, and vibrant place.

But these people have made the atmosphere in the academy very tense. Just seeing them from afar feels suffocating.

It also indeed impacted the students' studies. Not being able to go home during the holidays is the least of their worries; they can't even go on internships.

After all these days, the academy has finally resumed internship work.

Internship application forms were submitted that day, and by the next morning, school buses began to leave the academy.

Because of different majors and departments, the students' internship locations vary.

One-third of the internships are within Jiuchuan City, and the rest are elsewhere.

The last checkpoint for the inspectors is at the academy's "bus terminal," and once the inspection is complete, they can drive out of the academy freely.

That afternoon, it started raining again, but it didn't dampen the students' enthusiasm. Those about to intern laughed and joked loudly on the school bus.

Qu Jianlei had long noticed this situation and was determined to leave as soon as possible.

The large-scale search in the academy was very thorough, using various methods and instruments. The fact that they didn't find him could only be attributed to his good luck.

There were two times when he was almost exposed, which really frustrated him: I've already hidden 100 meters underground!

Now that the interns are allowed to leave the campus, he feels it's his opportunity. If he waits any longer, who knows when he might get discovered!

However, he didn't rush to leave but decided to observe first to figure out the actual procedure.

What if they were baiting him? So, he had to be cautious.

After observing for half a morning and into the afternoon, he roughly had a plan. Getting out wasn't very difficult.

Then it unexpectedly began to rain in the afternoon, which was perfect.

However, he immediately sensed something unusual: Was this fine drizzle actually artificially made?

Clearly, they might have realized he liked to operate in the rain, so they created a drizzle to lure him out.

So, he decided not to act yet and to see how things developed.

The drizzle lasted for about two hours, and the signs of artificial water element manipulation disappeared, yet the rain actually got heavier.

Qu Jianlei wasn't surprised by this; Jiuchuan was originally a rainy place, and the water vapor in the air was always abundant.

Though using techniques to make it rain would reduce water vapor, the speed of external replenishment might be even faster.

Nevertheless, Qu Jianlei believed he still shouldn't act rashly... this could still be bait.

He was indeed being overly cautious. Although the Supreme was thoroughly inspecting the academy, the situation outside the academy was more complex.

Outside, the search area covers more than 2,000 square kilometers, with key regions exceeding 100 square kilometers.

Not only is the search area vast, but the various forces are also numerous and not as straightforward as the students, with all sorts of peculiar things constantly emerging.

For example, the academy could prevent students and teachers from leaving, and that could be enforced.

But outside the academy, try casually restricting others' movement?

In the short term, limiting movement isn't very difficult, but over time, no one can stand it.

It's not that it's intentional provocation; it's necessity. People need to earn money, get medical care, travel for business—who's responsible if they lose their jobs?

So, after the Supreme cast the bait for some time without any reactions, they voluntarily gave up—they had other matters to attend to.

Qu Jianlei didn't know this and patiently waited another hour or so.

Because of the rain, the sky was a bit gloomy, and it wasn't even evening yet when the daylight started to diminish bit by bit.

At this moment, a school bus arrived, filled with lively students.

The bus stopped in the parking lot, and then someone boarded to inspect, while others opened the luggage compartment to search bit by bit.

There were over fifty students on the bus, and checking irises and fingerprints didn't take long.

The luggage compartment inspection was also simple; they didn't need to open the luggage—just a visual inspection, followed by a scan with a life detector.

The entire inspection process took about ten minutes.

After the inspection, a staff member stayed on the bus, and though they didn't need a seat, they were responsible for supervising the bus as it left the academy.

In short, the bus was not allowed to stop along the way; otherwise, it would be re-inspected at the academy gate.

Just as everyone disembarked, and the vehicle was about to start, a dull "thump" sound came from not far away.

Everyone turned their heads to find that two school transport buses... had collided.

There was no one on one bus, parked neatly but empty in its spot.

The other bus had only the driver, who was trying to park, but somehow, a moment of negligence led to a crash.

Such incidents are rare, but not hard to understand. Who hasn't had a moment of distraction?

However, in the brief moment when everyone turned to look, a shadow flashed by and slipped under the internship bus.

Then, it was back to normal procedures. The inspecting officer went over to ask the driver what had happened.

The driver was a bit clueless, finally stating that he had gotten up quite early that day and might have been a bit tired, and now it was raining.

There aren't many reasons to find really, in any case, on rainy days, vehicles can easily lose traction, which is not surprising.

The internship school bus started, heading towards the academy gate, and upon arrival, another inspection team boarded to check again.

Technically, with a supervisor on the bus, another inspection isn't necessary, but the recent accident was somewhat peculiar, so it's normal to check again.

However, this time, no one bothered to check the luggage compartment again—feeling it wasn't necessary.

After all, no one can maintain high intensity concentration all the time, honestly, laziness is truly innate.

So, naturally, no one checked under the bus either.

The school bus restarted, racing down the road in the rain.

In Qu Jianlei's mind, a voice spoke, "Actually, I can control that life detector."

"No need to show off," Qu Jianlei objected, "Why expose yourself when things can be resolved discreetly?"

"And although your intelligence level is high, with Imperial technology, do you think you would certainly not be conquered?"

"So really, don't get cocky, it's better to stay humble."

Chatting casually like this, the school bus suddenly stopped, and then the inspector got off the bus.

It turns out they had exited the cordoned area, and this person needed to return to continue working.

The voice pondered the route, "It seems it's heading to the spaceport, are these students going to intern on other planets?"

"They're going to other star realms," Qu Jianlei, through perception, already knew the students' destination.

"Internships can even go to the Outer Star Realm?" The voice was a little puzzled, but quickly caught on.

"Indeed they can, I remember that old dean of Green Water wanted you to go to the Celestial Hook Star Realm to protect the students, haha..."

The old dean proposed this request was to let Panda enter Green Water Academy more quickly.

Now Qu Jianlei is wanted, not to mention formal academy positions, he doesn't even dare to use his original identity.

The world's affairs are truly ironic, no wonder the voice chuckled.

However, an even greater irony lay ahead as Qu Jianlei spoke quietly, "They're going to the Celestial Hook Star Realm."

"Hmm?" The voice was initially stunned before muttering, "It can't be such a coincidence, right?"

It even forgot to laugh, actually its mockery was originally just a joke—Qu Jianlei's fate is tied with it.

"Just in time for us to leave as well," Qu Jianlei sighed, with a hint of regret in his voice, "Some grudges aren't settled yet."

"Safety first," the voice comforted him, then also sighed, "The rent for Star No. 2... wasted."

Upon hearing this, Qu Jianlei couldn't help but roll his eyes: you still care to think about that?

The school bus arrived at the spaceport, taking more than three hours, by the time they arrived, the sky was already dark.

Qu Jianlei had the voice check the outgoing flights, there were quite a few flights departing at night, but only a little over twenty were cross-galactic.

To the Celestial Hook Star Realm, there was only one flight, departing at midnight, no wonder this school bus was leaving late.

The voice sifted through for a while, then asked, "To which star system?"

"Do we have a choice?" Qu Jianlei sighed again, "We're not familiar with any other star realms."

The voice retorted, "But aren't we also unfamiliar with the Celestial Hook Star Realm?"

"At least it's more familiar than other star realms, some star realms I've never even heard of."

"True too," the voice acknowledged, "The information barrier is too strong, but... maybe we'll run into students from Green Water Academy."

Qu Jianlei could only smile bitterly, "What about students from Green Water, does it even relate to me?"

This time entering the spaceport, Qu Jianlei, still using spiritual influence, passed through the checkpoint with ease.

Entering the waiting area, he unexpectedly saw two life support pods with medical staff nearby.

Qu Jianlei only glanced at them lightly, not giving it further thought, heading straight to the cargo area.

Reapplying his old technique, he entered the cargo hold of a starship heading to the Celestial Hook Star Realm, finding a concealed spot to hide.

Then he unexpectedly found stowaways in the cargo hold this time.

There were quite a few stowaways, seven in total.

Because Qu Jianlei's spiritual power surged, he detected their presence.

These seven people were also quite cautious, hiding inside containers motionless, no one stuck their head out to peek.

Qu Jianlei never liked meddling, since they hadn't discovered him, he stayed quietly hidden.

No other incidents occurred, when departure time arrived, the starship launched on schedule.

A day later, those seven people slipped out of the containers one by one, though their hiding spots differed, they were actually a group.

Four ordinary people, two modified warriors, and one C-level warrior with a wood attribute.

The leader was the C-level warrior, but the seven of them didn't talk much, starting to silently rummage for food.

After finishing eating and drinking, led by the two modified warriors, the six people began quietly dismantling the cargo containers.

Before long, the cargo hold had seven life support pods, clearly, they were preparing for the impending space jump.