As Scheduled

No one would believe that a peerless tenth-tier treasure could be conjured out of thin air without encountering a high-level demonic beast.

That monster core was the perfect shield.

"As for the specific operation of handing over that monster core, I will submit it directly in the name of our squad."

An Changqing continued to arrange, "Afterward, we'll equally divide the credits or resource compensation given by the academy."

Long Ao scoffed at this. "I don't need it. That thing is useless to me. Just divide it among yourselves."

"How can we do that!"

Hong Yuan was the first to object. Although she loved money, she acquired it through proper means. She immediately widened her eyes and looked at Long Ao.

"You were the one who brought it out to save the day, so it's entirely your credit. Even though you said you picked it up, we weren't the ones who found it. The bulk of the compensation must go to you, otherwise, what kind of people would we be?"

Yin Chen rarely agreed with Hong Yuan. "Hong Yuan's words make sense. This is a tenth-tier treasure, and the compensation it brings will absolutely be an astronomical figure. Long Ao, if you push it all to us, we won't feel at ease."

Long Ao frowned, feeling helpless about this atmosphere of pushing and yielding.

"I said I don't need it, so I don't. Do whatever you want with it." He turned his face toward the window, completely ending the topic.

In fact, he knew very well that this monster core was given by White Tiger. If he really took the academy's compensation, he would feel an indescribable sense of discomfort.

Although he didn't have much sense of belonging to that mysterious organization, White Tiger ultimately brought out such a treasure to help his friends overcome their difficulties.

Seeing this, An Changqing didn't press the matter further. He just kept it in mind, planning to find an opportunity to compensate Long Ao in other forms after receiving the reward.

At this time, the pilot's voice, full of deep joy, rang out from the spaceship's internal broadcast.

"Attention students, we will be entering the airspace of the Northern Territory First Academy in ten minutes. Please fasten your seatbelts and prepare for landing. Thank God, this hellish journey is finally coming to an end."

Hearing this, the atmosphere in the cabin instantly relaxed.

Chen Guan looked out the window. The grayish-white clouds were broken apart by the spaceship's protective shield, and the vast expanse of land covered in endless ice and snow below came back into view.

For them, who had walked on the edge of life and death and through the ruins of unknown gods, seeing that familiar campus naturally gave rise to a sense of security in their hearts.

"We're finally back," Su Yuehe said, looking out the window with a hint of relief in her tone.

Yin Chen stretched and leaned back in the soft leather seat. "The first thing I'm doing when I get back is taking a nice, comfortable hot bath to wash off all this bad luck from the ice and snow."

The spaceship's speed began to noticeably slow down, and a slight vibration came from the fuselage—the sound of the landing gear being lowered in the cold wind.

With a muffled thud, the spaceship landed steadily on the exclusive landing pad of the First Academy.

The wind and snow outside the window were isolated beyond the thickened glass. At the edge of the landing pad, several black vehicles bearing the emblem of the academy's security department were already waiting.

Obviously, the return of the squad that had been out of contact for three days had alarmed the academy's higher-ups.

If any of these people had an accident, it would be a troublesome matter.

"It seems trouble is already waiting for us outside," Yin Chen raised an eyebrow as he looked at the black vehicles.

"Let's go. Just say what we agreed upon. There's nothing to worry about," An Changqing led the way toward the cabin door.

Long Ao was the second to stand up, still maintaining that cold, unapproachable demeanor. With his hands in his pockets, he slowly followed behind.

Hong Yuan and Su Yuehe tidied up their appearances together and walked over side by side.

Yin Chen patted the Frostbone Wolf at his feet and followed with his usual elegant pace.

Chen Guan walked at the very end. He stood up, a heavy weight pressing on his shoulders, yet it made him feel incredibly at ease. Baobao followed closely behind as always.

The cabin door slowly opened, and the unique freezing air of the Northern Territory mixed with snowflakes rushed in, instantly blowing away the warmth inside the cabin.

Chen Guan stepped onto the solid metal gangway. Looking at the backs of his companions ahead and the security personnel walking briskly towards them from a distance, his expression remained normal.

There would be plenty of time to slowly investigate the Yin family's stone tablet later. For now, he needed to properly play the role of an academy student who had survived a great disaster.

At the end of the gangway, several black bulletproof cars bearing the academy's security department emblem were parked side by side.

Several instructors in uniform black suits were standing by the cars. The leader was an old acquaintance, Black Crow. Chen Guan looked around and noticed that White Tiger was surprisingly absent.

He had thought he would have to face the ubiquitous White Tiger as soon as he landed.

At this moment, Black Crow kept a straight face, his hands behind his back, as his gaze swept back and forth over the people stepping off the spaceship.

Black Crow's falcon-like eyes lingered on them before shifting into a trace of helplessness. The cold wind of the Northern Territory rolled with snowflakes, brushing past the hem of his black uniform.

He was truly afraid of these privileged prodigies. He couldn't control them, but how could he not try? It was his duty.

Black Crow forced himself to maintain a stern face.

"Missing contact for seventy-two hours."

"The academy dispatched two search and rescue teams that scoured a three-hundred-kilometer radius on the outskirts, but they found absolutely nothing."

He paused. "Since you are all standing here in one piece now, I'd like to hear exactly where you have been for these past three days."

"I apologize, Instructor Black Crow," An Changqing stood at the front and admitted their mistake first. His tone was sincere, and his attitude was neither haughty nor humble. "Causing the academy so much trouble was our fault."

Black Crow didn't reply to this, quietly waiting for the rest of the story.

As long as An Changqing's explanation was plausible, he would be able to report back. When the time came, he could make a big deal out of it initially but let them off lightly in the end.

Right now, it was entirely about putting on a show for those observing from the shadows. As long as they played along, he would play along.

"On the first day of our exploration, we encountered a high-level spatial demonic beast that had wandered into the outer region."

An Changqing didn't pause and continued, "When it noticed us, it actively deployed an alternate dimension, and we were swept inside without any preparation."

He paused for a moment to let the other party process this information.

"After entering the alternate dimension, all communication devices failed, and the laws of time were severely disrupted. Inside, we estimated that only a dozen hours had passed. We had no idea that three days had gone by on the outside."

Black Crow fell silent for a moment.

A spatial demonic beast? That was incredibly rare.

Especially one that could directly deploy an alternate dimension. This was not something a small-time creature like a Lightning Cheetah could compare to.