Chapter 240

Chapter 240

As everyone relaxed after defeating the girl-beast, Brother Wang’s face changed. He pointed shakily out the window: “What’s… that?”

They turned to see dust rising from the distant woods, with odd-shaped “birds” soaring—clearly Nightmare Beasts, not startled wildlife.

“Beasts drawn by the high-level one’s vision,” Jiang Tianming said gravely. High-level beasts shared sight—they knew their group had the Life Stone and were rushing in.

Worse, their Mental Energy was nearly gone. A mid-level beast would be tough, let alone the high-level ones in the mix. Brother Wang panicked, flooring the gas, but the beasts closed in. What now? Faster! If they reached them, death was certain.

As despair gripped them, a loud dragon’s roar echoed from the sky.

A shadow loomed, like a massive cloud covering the car.

“That sound!” Jiang Tianming looked up, seeing a huge black dragon circling above, spitting black flames to repel the pursuing beasts.

Meng Huai had arrived!

The author was humane in this regard—their Academy teachers were reliable, likely unmatched among peers until they graduated. The government was proper too, handling issues publicly and cleaning up after them, unlike some comics where such figures dragged the protagonists down.

After Meng Huai acted, a black horse-headed Nightmare Beast stepped out: “Hand over the Life Stone, and we’ll mercifully let you go.”

Meng Huai ignored it, standing atop the dragon, looking down at the group peering from the windows. He gave Su Bei’s group a subtle “we’ll settle this later” glare, then told the stunned Brother Wang: “Keep driving. Get them to Endless Ability Academy.”

“Oh, yes!” Brother Wang nodded, hitting the gas.

As the car sped off, they saw Meng Huai fighting through the rear window. Beside his black dragon was a silver one! Two dragons fought alongside him to hold off the horde, a one-man fortress.

“Your teacher’s are amazing,” Brother Wang said, envious. “When I learned I was an Ability user, I dreamed of this.”

“Driving with a swarm chasing is a scene many would envy,” Jiang Tianming said with high EQ.

It wasn't just flattery—it was true. Both Meng Huai and Brother Wang’s actions deserved a cinematic close-up.

On the way back, they met more Ability users who came to support. Meng Huai had used Lei Ze’en’s [Teleportation] to arrive first—others lagged behind.

Meng Huai’s reliability shone. With him holding the front, no beasts ambushed them, and they reached the Academy smoothly.

Less than a kilometer from the Academy, Lan Subing, Zhao Xiaoyu, and Wu Mingbai were waiting. Seeing their battered car, they gave wry looks.

As they parked, Zhao Xiaoyu grinned: “You guys made waves. Heard you got the Life Stone—the government and Academy sent tons of support. Let’s go—they want you back quick. Once the government takes the stone, we’re done.”

“The Academy doesn’t want it?” Jiang Tianming asked, curious.

Wu Mingbai scoffed: “It’s a hot potato.”

They got it. Whoever held the Life Stone drew beast attacks—a true hot potato. The Academy wasn’t suited to guard it, or the government wouldn’t take it.

But with their discovery, the Life Stone might not be shunned anymore—it may even be considered a coveted treasure.

“Let’s find the person in charge,” Jiang Tianming said directly.

In the meeting room, the senior-year Director Li and government staff waited. Jiang Tianming handed over the Life Stone and recounted Longevity Town’s events.

Learning it could extend life shocked everyone. Longevity was a timeless human obsession, sparking waves of interest.

Old Ancestor’s method was limited—only long-term exposure to a large Life Stone worked, and small ones likely didn’t. But living to 150 was drool-worthy.

After brief shock, the government staff’s eyes gleamed. Before, the Life Stone was a burden; now, it was a prize.

“Since we’ve got the details, we’ll take the Life Stone. Leaving it here risks attacks, disrupting classes,” the government lead said righteously.

The Academy’s Director Li gave them a stern look, her authority making even grown students quiver. The government lead stepped back, realized it looked weak, coughed, and stayed quiet.

Director Li nodded, adjusting her glasses, looking at Jiang Tianming’s group firmly but kindly: “We discussed the Life Stone’s ownership, but you brought it, so you decide.”

She looked at the government lead: “No objections?”

“None, none,” he shook his head.

Jiang Tianming studied Director Li, confirming that she genuinely wanted their input, not a ploy to keep the stone. After glancing at the others, he said: “Let the government keep it.”

The Life Stone needed long exposure for minimal life extension. At the Academy, unless they became teachers, they’d stay three years max—which would have a negligible effect.

Its risks were clear—keeping it meant constant beast harassment.

Since the cons outweighed the pros, there was no need to keep it. Giving it to the government earned favor. The Academy staff negotiating nearby would likely secure a good deal.

With that settled, the teachers and government left to discuss further. Director Li asked about Zhou Min, Longevity Town’s sole survivor.

“Is she still there? We’ll send someone to go get her and find a temporary guardian,” Director Li said, frowning. Googlᴇ search novel{f}

She was a minor, now alone. Her family’s wealth made her a target.

Jiang Tianming nodded, agreeing: “She’s waiting in Longevity Town. Officer Zhou’s there—he could be her temporary guardian.”

Cops were generally trustworthy, and as the village’s only survivors, they were like family. Zhou was perfect.

“When sending someone, have them check if Zhou Min has an Ability,” Su Bei said casually, dropping a bombshell.

Director Li grew serious: “You suspect she has an Ability? Any evidence?”

“Just a guess,” Su Bei shrugged. Zhou Min likely knew Old Ancestor’s plan, but he wouldn’t have told her or written it down.

Strong Ability users rarely got eavesdropped on—even without high Mental Energy, they’d sense nearby listeners.

On the way back, Su Bei considered her age—fifteen or sixteen. He suspected she awakened an Ability, overhearing Old Ancestor’s plan.

Comic protagonists were this age, and fifteen was prime for Ability awakening. A peer of the protagonists might be special.

“Got it. I’ll have it checked,” Director Li said, taking it seriously despite it being a guess.

With everything settled, she stood up to see them out: “You must be tired. Rest for two days—I’m giving you a break.”

Exhausted, they returned to their dorms without delay. Su Bei, having slept well, was fine. After a quick shower, he went to Wu Mingbai.

“Not resting? What’s up?” Wu Mingbai asked, surprised to see him.

Su Bei got to the point: “Check this material for me.”

He handed over the Life Stone fragment, reverted to its original form.

Seeing the plain, flat stone, Wu Mingbai studied it, not answering immediately: “What is it?”

Why check an ordinary stone’s material?

Su Bei tested with a vague answer: “A stone.”

Wu Mingbai laughed, exasperated: “You think I don’t know it’s a stone? Do you want my help or not?”

Caught, Su Bei admitted: “It's a Life Stone fragment.”

Even if he lied, Wu Mingbai likely wouldn’t know—Su Bei was confident in his deception. But there was no need; he had a plausible excuse for having it. Why lie?

If the Life Stone tied to meteorites, letting Wu Mingbai know could help his plan.

“Life Stone?” Wu Mingbai was shocked. “How’d you get it?”

He realized it was a dumb question—Su Bei had just brought one back with Jiang Tianming.

But another arose: “Isn’t the Life Stone indestructible? How’d you get a fragment?”

With the beast frenzy tied to the Life Stone, everyone had researched it. Wu Mingbai, with [Earth Element], knew more.

“I've got my ways,” Su Bei dodged.

Wu Mingbai snorted but didn’t press, getting to business: “So, you want to know its material? Isn’t Life Stone its own material?”

Su Bei’s reply confused him: “What if it’s made from something else?”

Though odd, Wu Mingbai agreed, but first: “I want one chance to ask you a question, anytime, and you have to answer truthfully.”

Su Bei raised a brow, then nodded. Wu Mingbai’s question would likely be about prophecies—no issue. The priority was the current task.

With the deal struck, Wu Mingbai used his Ability. Soon, he concluded: “It’s just Life Stone. What’re you worried about?”

Relieved, Su Bei exhaled. No complications—just clear the Nightmare Beast world’s dust. It was the best news yet.

He trusted Wu Mingbai’s judgment. If he could identify meteorite dust before, he’d be able to identify Life Stone now.

The meteorite theory was ruled out.

After Su Bei left, Wu Mingbai pondered his intent. Trading a promise for this answer wasn’t idle curiosity—something drove him.

Su Bei had asked about materials before, in the Nightmare Beast world, about dust—meteorite fragments.

Were the questions linked? Su Bei seemed pleased, as if worried the Life Stone was meteorite-based.

What secret was he missing?

Meanwhile, unaware that Wu Mingbai was close to the truth, Su Bei returned to his dorm, relaxed, and opened the comic on his phone.

It opened with Wu Mingbai’s minor task, team mission snapshots, and classroom complaints, sketching the Academy’s recent frenzy—everyone buried in tasks.

The scene shifted to the government, capturing a high-level beast and, through Ability interrogation, learning a Life Stone appeared in the real world.

This introduced the Life Stone’s importance to beasts.

The main story began with Jiang Tianming, Su Bei, Li Shu, and Ling You discussing the case, deducing the first death predated the Life Stone frenzy, likely unrelated.

Bullet comments turned prophetic:

“Hahahaha, with you saying that, the Life Stone’s definitely in this village!”

“It’s hidden there.”

“So tragic hahahaha.”

“You’re setting flags, babies!”

“Feels like a big fight’s coming.”

Seeing his “Longevity Town’s interesting” line in the comic, Su Bei raised a brow. Readers caught it, spamming “hahaha.”

The clue-gathering was skimmed—with the truth revealed, the process was less vital. But Su Bei paused at his and Ling You’s nighttime talk in Old Ancestor’s house:

[“You’re chasing longevity?”

—“In a way, yes.”

“Whose longevity?”

—“Humanity’s longevity.”]

In the heavy night, their exchange sparked a huge reader reaction:

“What’s that mean?”

“So deep.”

“I thought Su Bei was after longevity like other comic characters, but maybe not?”

“Humanity’s longevity?”

“Su Bei’s so mysterious again.”

“Feels like he’s playing a big game!”

Bullet comments had less substance. Su Bei planned to check the forum later for deeper discussion.

Flipping further, he lingered where he was assigned to buy cinnabar with Brother Wang. The perspective followed them, showing Su Bei not leaving but returning to the village.

“I sense Su Bei’s up to something.”

“Unexpected but makes sense.”

“So curious what he’s doing!”

“Jiang Jiang: You better be helping.”

“Bet Su Bei saw something.”

After briefly showing his actions, the focus returned to Jiang Tianming, matching what Su Bei saw.

But at Grandma Chen’s decision to die, new info emerged. She’d heard Old Ancestor’s voice during their talk.

He goaded her, saying the array’s success would kill everyone. Abandoned by the village as a sacrifice, she might as well take them down with her.

Unbeknownst to him, she didn’t hate the others much—it was consensual. But his words swayed her.

Her son owed a huge debt to the young man from that night. He promised to erase it if she died willingly.

Repaying was impossible, so she agreed, using her life to solve her son’s problem.

Jiang Tianming’s truth crushed her hope—if the array couldn’t work, her life wasn’t needed. The creditor wouldn’t forgive the debt, leaving her family burdened.

Old Ancestor’s words gave her a new path: if the creditor died, no debt, no betrayal, and no one would know her son’s shame—solving his problem fully.

That’s why she insisted on dying.

Longevity Town was full of villains, staging a grand drama. Su Bei clicked his tongue. He wondered about her son—was he killed by the array? That’d be hilarious.

Old Ancestor’s fight with Jiang Tianming’s group was a highlight, and Su Bei’s role wasn’t overlooked.

When he spoke up, the author didn’t show him directly but drew a Q-version Su Bei with a megaphone in the speech bubble’s corner. Bullet comments exploded:

“Finally, you’re here!”

“North Bro’s grand entrance!”

“Hidden in the Life Stone—so deep.”

“How’d Su Bei know?”

“I thought the body was a corpse!”

“Knew North Bro stayed for a reason!”