In the small and narrow cave, Xia Yan would have a great advantage in terms of fighting. Regardless of how many enemies there may be, Xia Yan wouldn't be facing too many at once and there wouldn't be a situation in which the enemies gathered together.

Upon hearing that there was a Lava Ghoul area, Jiang Xiao, of course, decided to continue with the investigation. After all, he coveted the Gold Quality Bell. Hence, he hurriedly said, “Alright, I'll stay alert at all times and release Sound of Silence.”

Xia Yan smirked, but unfortunately, Jiang Xiao did not see her confident smile because she was wearing the dust-proof mask.

Xia Yan said, “No problem, you don't have to be so worried. Do you remember that battle in the cave in the a.r.s.enal?”

Jiang Xiao finally recalled the couple that got stabbed by Xia Yan's sword. He had no choice but to say, “Adam and Eve?”

Even till now, Xia Yan still had no idea why Jiang Xiao had such a grotesque idea as to nickname them “Adam and Eve”.

She ignored him and held her breath while keeping her eyes fixed ahead. She then paid attention to the noises and strode towards the tunnel.

The tunnel of the cave in this volcanic Dimensional s.p.a.ce could not be compared to that of the a.r.s.enal.

The weather and temperature there were pleasant, unlike this place which was getting warmer and stuffier the further they walked.

Xia Yan also had to use her Star Technique, Burning Flame, to light up the s.p.a.ce, causing the temperature to increase.

“Shh~” Xia Yan suddenly stopped in her tracks and the flame on the giant sword then extinguished quietly and the surroundings turned pitch-dark.

As the flame of Xia Yan's giant sword extinguished, a faint light from flames appeared in front of the tunnel ahead.

In the tunnel where visibility was low, the two of them looked at each other and pressed their bodies against the scorching hot wall while creeping up quietly.

Along with the murmuring of demons, two small heads appeared in the tunnel and they looked in the direction of the sounds and the fire.

Indeed, there was a group of Lava Ghouls living there.

Neither the tall and burly Lava Ghoul General nor the strong and powerful Lava Ghoul Warrior was present.

Some only had an elevated “bonfire” with two long-haired and red-colored demon witches dancing in front of it.

There are actually two Lava Ghoul Witches here?

What kind of peculiar dance is this?

What are these two guys doing?

Conducting a sacrificial ritual? Praying?

The two Lava Ghoul Witches were jumping and leaping, one of which was smilingly gleefully like a joyful young man.

The other one was the complete opposite. It seemed to be furious and would roar loudly at the “bonfire” from time to time.

Suppression by a superior of the same race was rather incredible. After being reprimanded by the Lava Ghoul Witch, the little Lava Ghoul was so terrified that it dared not move or say a single word. It was just like a subordinate being reprimanded by the superior.

The bonfire where the two Lava Ghoul Witches were dancing around was formed by more than ten Lava Ghouls. Under the reprimanding of the Lava Ghoul Witch, they remained still and kept the flames burning in fear.

The next thing that happened was rather interesting.

The two Lava Ghoul Witches dancing and jumping finally b.u.mped into each other.

The more Xia Yan looked at them, the more she felt that something was amiss. She revealed half of her body and tilted her head. She couldn't help but look down.

Jiang Xiao was also leaning against the hot wall. However, he was squatting on the ground and looking at the bonfire.

Upon sight of this, Jiang Xiao couldn't help but raise his head. The two of them looked at each other, seemingly having realized what was about to happen.

Jiang Xiao hurriedly asked, “How long is the natal period for Lava Ghoul Witches?”

Although Xia Yan seemed a little ditsy and crazy, she was actually a student from the elite cla.s.s and was much better at academics than Jiang Xiao. Well, at least, she performed much better in the “Dimensional s.p.a.ce Study” subject compared to Jiang Xiao.

Xia Yan kept her voice low and whispered, “The Lava Ghoul Witches usually stay pregnant for 90 to 95 days.”

That makes things awkward.

Jiang Xiao scratched his head. Even if he waited there, he could only afford to wait for at most three days. The compet.i.tion would be over in three days.

Even if Jiang Xiao was extremely capable, he wouldn't be able to shorten their pregnancy period and make the Lava Ghoul Witch give birth in three days…

More importantly, the Lava Ghoul Witch might not get pregnant on the first try. Although they were singing, dancing, carrying out the sacrificial ritual, and praying, it might not be of any use at all.

“We can only take two Lava Ghoul Witch Star Beads then,” Jiang Xiao said with pursed lips, finding it to be a pity.

If he were to leave the two Lava Ghoul Witches behind to mate with each other and reproduce, there would be too much uncertainty. Jiang Xiao might not even get the Star Beads from the two of them, let alone the Lava Ghoul Witch babies.

“Team No. 23 from Jiangbin High School.” All of a sudden, the voice of the official staff sounded from the invisible earphones.

The sudden voice gave Jiang Xiao a great shock.

Shortly afterward, Han Jiangxue's voice could be heard. “Please speak.”

“Team No. 23 from Jiangbin High School. Contestants Xia Yan and Jiang Xiaopi, please answer after you receive this,” said the staff.

Xia Yan and Jiang Xiao looked at each other. A few seconds later, Xia Yan pressed the invisible earphone with one hand and replied, “Roger.”

“Draw your map, collect information about the creatures, and leave the cave immediately,” the staff instructed.

Jiang Xiao was immediately displeased. How can they do that?

Is this blatant robbery? If I kill the Lava Ghoul Witch, just penalize me. Why can't I kill them? These are two Lava Ghoul Witch Star Beads.

Xia Yan frowned but did not respond. The middle-aged man said into the earphones, “After you collect information about the creatures, leave the cave immediately.”

Jiang Xiao did not beat around the bush and instead cut straight to the chase. “Is this an order or a suggestion? Regardless, I don't want to hear it.”

“Xiaopi, what's the matter?” Han Jiangxue asked coldly but seemed to show him some concern.

Jiang Xiao answered, “We discovered two Lava Ghoul Witches and were about to kill them to get some money, but we were suddenly ordered to turn around and leave.”

More than ten seconds later, the staff interrupted their conversation, “We suggest that the contestants leave the cave immediately. According to your current combat strength, the organizers of the compet.i.tion are willing to compensate you guys with two Lava Ghoul Witch Star Beads.”

Jiang Xiao was slightly stunned and he wondered, Is it settled just like this?

Wow, the organizers are so nice to the partic.i.p.ating students.

Boss! You're so generous!

You guys caused some misunderstandings just now because of your lack of consideration. I was being too petty.

Actually regardless of which perspective, Jiang Xiao was still the weakest.

Even if they were to force Jiang Xiao to leave, what could he do?

After all, what Jiang Xiao wanted was to get into the top ranks and obtain a high score. His life was still being controlled by them.

However, the solution they provided seemed rather humane.

Jiang Xiao said feebly, “These two Lava Ghoul Witches are trying to give birth to babies. This is a Star Pet! They're Medical series Star Pets! That value is incredible. Tsk, tsk, how can those two Lava Ghoul Witch Star Beads make up for my losses…”

Xia Yan lowered her head and looked at Jiang Xiao in complete shock. She seemed to be trying to say, Have you got any shame at all!?!

Regardless of whether or not the Lava Ghoul Witch can successfully get pregnant or not, do you really think you can get your hands on the Lava Ghoul Witch babies!?!

Are your resources going to be enough for you to survive here for three months? In 20 minutes, the guardians will be here. Even if you don't want to leave, you have to!

Your choice now is going to harm others and ourselves. If you can't get the babies, you won't let them have the chance to either. After killing those two Lava Ghoul Witches, you'll leave with the two Star Beads.

Besides, you'll end up infuriating the officials, and your results for this compet.i.tion will not be ideal.

That's not all. Think about it carefully. What kind of a department can hold a Second Wasteland Reclamation compet.i.tion? You're just a student. How can you be treated well?

However, Jiang Xiao's expression did not change and his heart didn't race at all. His smile was still as frivolous as before. He seemed to be saying, I don't want to!

There was silence in his earphones, and after a long time, a man said, “Jiang Xiaopi from Jiangbin High School. This is not the place for you to bargain. We will provide you with two Lava Ghoul Star Beads to make up for your loss and appropriately reduce the number of points that will be deducted from your team.”

Jiang Xiao and Xia Yan had killed a bunch of Lava Ghouls. According to the rules, they definitely had to be penalized.

Jiang Xiao decided to stop because he felt that it was enough. “Roger. Um… can I leave later? I still haven't seen the mating process of the Lava Ghoul Witches.”

Xia Yan really didn't want to hear the conversation between Jiang Xiao and the officials.

She pressed a hand on his nape and picked him up. She then turned around and strode away in a bid to pull him out of the cave.

Jiang Xiao was dumbfounded.

He was a little lost about being restrained by destiny.

At this moment, the voice of the staff sounded from the earphones. “If possible, I hope that you'd be able to record the scene. It's going to be of good research value for us and a precious video resource.”

Xia Yan suddenly stopped in her tracks, feeling rather dumbfounded.

The officials are suggesting that we watch them???

Jiang Xiao was rather stunned as well. He spluttered. “We're… we're ordered to watch them?”