Super Gene Hunting Ground-Chapter 1042 - 1036: Vice Captain

Dean Xinghai was taken aback, utterly unprepared for the fact that Yang Xiao would refuse his recommended Xiao He and Xiao Gang.

Xiao He didn't say anything, but Xiao Gang sneered directly,

"Kid, both of us are at the Empire Level Advanced and Empire Middle Level; we are willing to team up with you, and you're still not happy? Are you nuts?"

"No, I'm not!"

Yang Xiao replied calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.

Dean Xinghai smiled and asked:

"Yang Xiao, why are you unwilling to take them both?"

Gong Yu, Wang Qian, and Cui Yuan also looked at Yang Xiao, wanting to understand his reasoning.

Yang Xiao glanced at Xiao He and Xiao Gang and said:

"The reason is simple: their Genetic Evolution Level is much higher than ours."

"Isn't being higher a good thing? A higher combat power could reduce some of the dangers for you, right?"

Dean Xinghai inquired.

Yang Xiao gave a slight smile:

"That's true, but there are quite a few downsides too."

"Oh?"

"Because their Genetic Evolution Level is higher than ours, during hunting expeditions, they may often act presumptuously, displaying personal heroism by charging headlong without even considering how we feel.

If we four follow them in their charge, we might end up surrounded by high-level Demon Beasts; if we don't keep up, they might accuse us of moving too slowly or being cowardly,

so having them would actually put us four in a difficult position, and we're not suitable to team up."

Upon hearing this, Dean Xinghai and the others nodded, acknowledging that Yang Xiao was right.

Xiao He smiled slightly and said:

"If Xiao Gang and I join your team, with you as captain, we'll both listen to you; how about that?"

Everyone was stunned, looking at Xiao He.

This even caught Yang Xiao by surprise.

Yang Xiao glanced at Xiao He; he didn't seem like someone who would accept a subordinate role, especially Xiao Gang, who exuded an air of arrogance, not someone an ordinary person could easily subdue.

Yang Xiao pulled Dean Xinghai aside and asked in a low voice:

"Dean, what's going on?"

Dean Xinghai chuckled and said:

"Yang Xiao, I'm just worried about you and fear something might happen to you, so I found two senior students with higher Genetic Evolution Levels to help you. Don't be ungrateful."

"Ah, can't I refuse?"

"I still suggest you take them in. This is your first time in such an activity, and I'm concerned you'll run around recklessly and encounter danger,"

Dean Xinghai paused for a moment and said:

"Kid, this is because I value you; I went through all the trouble to persuade them to team up with you, so at least give me some face. They even said they recognize you as captain."

Since Dean Xinghai put it that way, Yang Xiao would seem somewhat impolite not to agree.

So he smiled and said:

"Alright, then I thank the dean."

Yang Xiao turned around and said to Xiao He and Xiao Gang:

"Thank you both for joining our rookie team. If you're not afraid of us holding you back, I'd be happy to have the assistance of experts like you."

Xiao Gang snorted,

while Xiao He laughed heartily and extended his hand to Yang Xiao,

"Yang Xiao, I saw your fight with Long Jing from the Heavenly Dragon Academy last time. I was impressed by you, and it's an honor to team up with you for this hunt."

"Not at all,"

Yang Xiao smiled humbly, introducing Gong Yu and the others to Xiao He and Xiao Gang, forming them into a team.

Dean Xinghai said:

"I have some matters to attend to, please take care of each other and stay alert for dangers."

Yang Xiao and the others thanked the dean as Xinghai turned to leave.

"So, have you both prepared your gear and equipment for the outdoor hunt?"

Gong Yu asked.

Xiao Gang replied:

"Isn't it just camping tents, medicine, and food? We've prepared long ago."

"Alright, since we're prepared, let's set off now. Before we go, I'll announce that I'm the team leader. I hope everyone maintains team cooperation during the hunt, and be sure not to leave the group without permission,

also, Xiao He is our deputy leader. If I encounter any mishap, everyone should listen to Deputy Leader Xiao He."

Xiao He looked at Yang Xiao with some surprise.

Xiao Gang intentionally questioned,

"My Genetic Evolution Level is higher than Xiao He's; why is he the deputy leader and not me?"

"You want to be deputy leader? Then Xiao He can give it to you."

Yang Xiao said calmly.

With Yang Xiao's response, Xiao Gang had no complaints; he wasn't really intending to vie for the position of deputy leader. After all, Xiao He is his master, and he is Xiao He's servant.

Xiao Gang's challenge to Yang Xiao was just a matter of not understanding why Yang Xiao would appoint someone with a lower Evolution Level than himself as deputy leader instead of him.

Xiao Gang muttered awkwardly,

"I wasn't really trying to contest for deputy leader, just said it offhandedly; whatever suits you."

"Alright, before we set off, does anyone else have any questions?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"Okay, then let's hit the road. The leading team is probably already several kilometers into the Flying Leopard Mountain Range. We're in no rush; today we'll follow them slowly. We have a month, and we shouldn't aim for first place, but rather focus on honing our skills and gaining experience in fighting Demon Beasts to enhance our combat abilities."

The six of them left the academy gate, heading toward the Flying Leopard Mountain Range.

From time to time, groups of students flew past them.

Within a few minutes, they landed in the forest of the Flying Leopard Mountain Range.

According to academy regulations, from this point, everyone has to traverse through the forest rather than fly in mid-air.

Where Yang Xiao and the others landed, five to six instructors were hovering in the air, directing everyone to land.

The primitive forest of the Flying Leopard Mountain Range, with towering ancient trees and dense woodlands, was covered with thickets and brambles beneath the large trees, and everyone flew over these thickets and shrubs.

Yang Xiao saw many monsters along the way, all cleaved in half, slain and abandoned in the forest.

With thousands of Empire Level powerful individuals from the Advanced Academy Department of the Flying Leopard Academy, it's an overwhelmingly formidable force. The low-level Demon Beasts in the outer forest of the Flying Leopard Mountain Range couldn't put up any resistance.

As everyone crushed the path, by evening, they reached a valley about a hundred kilometers from the forest's edge.

At this time, the sky had already darkened.

When Yang Xiao and the others arrived, Deputy Dean Deng Nan and others were guiding the students to camp on the spot, preparing for the first night's camping.

This was an open valley area, with nearby streams and ponds, serving as the first campsite for the annual hunting activities of the Flying Leopard Academy.

Gong Yu said:

"Yang Xiao, let's rest here today; during past hunting activities, everyone camps here on the first night."

"Alright, let's find a spot, set up our tents in a circle, arrange night watches, with two people on each shift for three hours, and also gather some firewood nearby to prepare a campfire for the night."

Wang Qian said:

"Yang Xiao, do we really need to stand watch? Tonight is a collective campout for the main group, and the academy's instructors will arrange patrols around the forest. We can sleep soundly; it's always been like this in past years."

"From now on, we need to rely on our team's strength to survive in the forest, and always remain vigilant, never entrusting our safety to others,

this being the base camp only guarantees we won't be attacked by large Demon Beasts, but what if small Mutated Creatures silently attack us while we're asleep?"