While I'm at the martial arts academy, my wife is cultivating while I enjoy life.

When Yang Ding arrived at the classroom, he found the atmosphere to be very heavy.

The parasites retaliated on Saturday night, injuring 12 more and killing 5, leaving only 80 students in class.

Today is Monday, and it's been six consecutive nights of manhunts. I wonder how many more people will die.

Sun Li looked at Yang Ding with a guilty conscience and a pleading look in her eyes, afraid that he would reveal that she worked as a dancer at the club.

Yang Ding didn't even glance at her; he was thinking about how to take advantage of her panic.

"Class monitor, your group always encounters the most parasites, ranking second among Class B, yet you always suffer zero casualties. Why is that?" someone asked.

"Aren't we tied for first place in Class B?" Mao Jian asked.

"It seems like we were overtaken by Class 7 of the senior year last night, by quite a bit, probably by 1 gram. I heard they bought all the beast crystals from the weaker groups in the class, and your team's defense ranking dropped one place to 16th."

"Isn't this cheating?"

"It's only just begun, what's the rush? They can do it, and so can we."

Yang Ding didn't care much about a gram or two. If he continued operating this way, the price of beast crystals on the black market would soon skyrocket, and the cost would become ridiculously high.

Those who have the financial means to spend millions or even tens of millions to buy their way into the top ranks don't need to resort to such methods to reach the capital.

This is not a long-term solution.

"We also had our share of injuries, like Huang Bingbing who was stabbed by the Jin faction."

"Her injuries are minor; she can still participate in the operation tonight."

Huang Bingbing gritted her teeth, "You insidious bastard, you threw me out as bait."

Yang Ding saw this as a good opportunity to make a plan, so he went up to the podium.

"Huang Bingbing, you are very wrong. I threw you out because I knew you would be fine."

"You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Do you know who that green-haired woman who whistles is?" Yang Ding asked.

Huang Bingbing immediately became alert. "How the hell should I know?"

She would never admit that it belonged to her own sister, Huang Aqing.

Huang Aqing is now a wanted criminal by the Imperial Military.

Once exposed, the entire Poison Stinger could be implicated.

"Then why did she save you?"

"I don't know, don't ask me."

"You don't know, but I do," Yang Ding said firmly.

Huang Bingbing was a little dazed and so nervous that she could hardly speak.

"Tell me, who...who is she?"

"The green-haired woman is secretly protecting me, and she's just protecting you on the side. There are several experts like her, which is why I'm always able to escape danger."

Huang Bingbing's mind went completely blank. How could there be such a shameless man in the world?

That's my own sister! I'm not going to protect you for a second.

The worst part is that she can't tell the truth, which is really frustrating.

"You're just a pig farmer, why would these experts protect you?" she asked.

"You think I'm only capable of marrying Instructor Ye and Instructor Fang without some talent?"

"Only your wife would care about what you have on your body."

The students burst into laughter.

Yang Ding continued, "Last time, I was protected by martial arts masters when we wiped out the Others. This time, I'm protected by metal-elemental masters. Do you think this is just a coincidence?"

The art of hiding one's strength is not just about concealing one's power; it also involves the advantage of information asymmetry.

If used skillfully, one can manipulate both sides to their advantage.

Huang Bingbing knew he was bragging, and he knew Huang Bingbing knew he was bragging, but he still bragged about it in front of Huang Bingbing.

Because his target was the students in Class 22, B.

No one dared to doubt Yang Ding; even Mao Jian believed him.

It seems that all the doubts now make sense.

"Holy crap, bro, you're not some big shot's illegitimate son, are you?"

"It's not impossible."

"Squad leader, please lead the group, otherwise many of us will die this week."

Yang Ding was waiting for this sentence: "As the class monitor, I have a responsibility to protect everyone, but the premise is that you have to be sincere and support our group in striving for the top spot in the defense."

Everyone looked at each other, somewhat unwilling. Wasn't this just asking for beast crystals?

Who wouldn't want to go to the royal city?

You'll encounter only the rich and powerful; you might even get incredibly lucky.

This might be the only chance you get in your life to change your fate.

"My name is Yang Ding, and I'm protecting you. That means you're protected by experts. Think carefully before you answer."

"Squad leader, this sounds a bit like extorting protection money."

"I will return every penny of the money from selling the beast crystals to you."

Seeing that some students were already interested, Yang Ding continued to increase the stakes.

Apart from Hu Feng, no one would choose the wrong path between fame and fortune and life.

"The parasites are very vengeful, and they might even target your family. If you're afraid of retaliation, just mention my name and say that I swear to kill all the parasites."

Yang Ding had to take responsibility for getting himself into trouble; no one else dared to take on this important task.

Only by exploiting the parasites' weaknesses and becoming their target can you achieve a surge in orders when you eventually wipe them all out.

He also communicated with his two wives, and with their cultivation levels, they were not afraid of retaliation at all.

Someone raised their hand, "Class monitor, since you can go to the royal city, could you share your share of the beast crystal money with us? That way, you gain fame and we gain profit, which is more fair."

Yang Ding shook his head firmly, "Mao Jian and Sun Li are also working hard; they need money to live too."

The counselor, Zhang Peng, had been standing outside the door listening. He pushed open the classroom door, his face showing displeasure.

"Class monitor, come to my office. The rest of you can practice and spar in groups."

"What's wrong, counselor?"

Zhang Peng ignored Yang Ding and walked away quickly.

As Yang Ding passed by Ye Rou's office, he didn't forget to blow her a kiss.

Zhang Peng locked the office door from the inside and glared at Yang Ding, slamming his fist on the table.

"Fool, how could you make yourself a target for parasites?"

Yang Ding also wanted to test whether the counselor was indeed the Dragon Guard.

Because the sweeping sword technique he taught seemed to be some kind of hint.

"If we don't become targets, how can we attract a large number of people to retaliate?"

"Can your strength withstand retaliation?"

"I can't do it alone, and neither can our group."

"Then who else can we rely on?"

"Thanks to the Dragon Guards who saved me last time, and some other forces."

Zhang Peng was taken aback. "Are you sure they, those forces, will save you?"

Regardless of whether he was a member of the Dragon Guard or not, Yang Ding intended to send him a warning message.

"They might not save me, but they'll ambush and kill each other. With their cultivation levels, if they fight in the beast's den, all the parasitic beasts will die."

"You'll just collect the beast crystals after they've killed them all, right?" Zhang Peng asked.

"Of course, isn't it great?"

"Pah! Is there really such a perfect thing in the world?"

"How will you know if you don't try?" Yang Ding laughed.

"Where is the location?"

"It's not decided yet, it's still very far off. Will my advisor help me?"

"You're asking for trouble, I can't help you. Go to class."

When Yang Ding left, Ye Rou quickly grabbed her textbooks and caught up with him.

"Honey, honey, what happened? Did Zhang Peng insult you?"

Yang Ding whispered in his wife's ear, "I suspect he's that Dragon Guard. Although the voice is different, the build and demeanor are very similar."

"How is that possible? He's an old instructor, and he's been unable to break through to the upper third rank. How could he possibly unleash such powerful sword energy?"