Wood Style And Sharingan

"So, where exactly are we going for this mission?"

Smith asked the question as soon as they stepped out of the principal's office. With his father still around, he figured it was the perfect time to get some answers. If the mission was too dangerous, he wasn't going to take the risk. Life was precious, and he wasn't about to throw his away recklessly.

"Xiahai City," replied Jiang Lei, his tone serious.

"Xiahai City?" Smith raised an eyebrow. "Dad, wasn't that where you went last time for support? I remember you saying something about that before I went on my own mission."

Jiang Lei nodded. "That's right. Xiahai City was hit by a beast tide too, and our team was sent there to provide support. We helped resolve the crisis. But shortly after we left, you encountered another wave. We believe the mastermind behind all this might be hiding in Xiahai City."

His face darkened with worry. He clearly hadn't forgotten the dangers his son and friends had faced. Now, they were determined to get to the bottom of it.

Hearing the details, Yan Yue nodded calmly. "When do we leave?"

"Right now," Principal Wang Daochuan answered before Jiang Lei could respond. "The executive department team is already waiting for you at the school gate."

"So soon?" Smith's eyes widened in surprise. "We just got back, and now we're leaving again?"

He had only just returned to school after recovering from his injuries. Wasn't this a bit too much?

Even donkeys in a production team got to rest longer than this.

"From the moment you awakened your powers," Principal Wang said, pouring himself a cup of tea, "you were destined for a life of missions. Not just you—others in the school will be assigned tasks as well."

He grinned and added, "The dean of Xiahai College is an old friend of mine—and your father's, too. If you run into trouble there, just mention our names. That should be enough to keep you safe."

"…"

"Go on, son. I believe in you!" Jiang Lei said, giving his son a hearty pat on the shoulder.

"…"

"Let's get going," Smith muttered, unable to handle any more of the pair's shameless pep talks. He turned on his heel and headed out the door.

"Goodbye, Principal. Goodbye, Master Jiang," Yan Yue said politely before following after him.

"He's still young. Hasn't seen enough of the world yet," Jiang Lei said with a sigh.

"He'll get used to it," Wang Daochuan chuckled. The two men clinked teacups and downed them like they were drinking fine wine.

Watching them enjoy their tea like old war buddies, Sun Shuyu shook her head helplessly. Without a word, she turned and left, quietly closing the door behind her.

Smith walked along the path, flipping the mid-grade spirit stone he had just received in his hand. It shimmered softly in the sunlight, almost glowing.

He had already asked the system about its value.

One mid-grade spirit stone = 500 energy points.

That was far more than what an ordinary monster core could offer.

Tempting as it was to exchange it immediately, Smith hesitated.

In the end, he decided not to trade it for energy. The stone's true value lay in what it could do for his cultivation. There were many ways to earn energy points. But chances to advance his power?

Much rarer.

Strength comes first.

He reminded himself of that simple truth as he and Yan Yue made their way to the school gate.

When they arrived, the place was surprisingly empty. No guards. No students. No bustling movement like usual.

Only one person stood there—a tall, slender man with gold-rimmed glasses, dressed in a crisp white shirt. His demeanor was calm and intellectual, almost scholarly.

"You must be Smith and Yan Yue?" the man asked as he walked toward them with a friendly smile.

"Yes," Smith replied cautiously. "And you are?"

"I'm Yun Ming," he said, extending a hand. "I'll be the captain for your mission."

He looked to be in his late twenties, early thirties at most, with a composed air and clear eyes.

"I thought we were being assigned someone from the executive department?" Smith asked, a little confused. "Aren't they supposed to wear masks?"

"You're not wrong," Yun Ming said, laughing lightly. "I am part of the Executive Department. But since this mission takes us to Xiahai City, I won't be working under the department's cover identity. There's no need for secrecy on my part this time."

He paused and gestured behind him. "The others on our team, however, will remain hidden."

At that moment, four masked figures appeared behind him, almost out of thin air.

"Red Wind, White Bear, Yellow Wolf, and Black Snake," Yun Ming introduced. "They're your backup. While we operate in the open, they'll be working in the shadows."

Smith and Yan Yue both nodded in understanding.

[Ding! Mission triggered: Investigate the cause of the beast tide.]

[Mission Reward: 500 Energy Points + 1 Prize Draw Chance!]

Smith's eyes lit up.

Now that's more like it.

School missions were one thing—but system missions? They came with real incentives.

School assignments often felt like busywork. You got minimal rewards, if any, especially during the internship phase.

But the system? It handed out energy, lottery draws, and more. Way more worth the effort.

Of course, that didn't mean school missions were unpaid forever. Once an intern completed ten missions, they would graduate into full-fledged operatives and start receiving compensation—ranging from money, daily necessities, monster cores, and even spirit stones.

"All right, time to head out," Yun Ming said.

The masked executive agents vanished once again, melting into the surroundings like shadows.

Yun Ming led the way toward the school gate, where a curious-looking vehicle awaited them.

Smith blinked in surprise.

It was a wooden cart—but not the kind you'd see pulled by horses. It looked almost like a train car, rectangular in shape and solid in build. Most of it was crafted from high-quality wood, while the wheels were made of reinforced iron.

The front of the cart even had a pilot's seat and control panel.

This was one of the most common and expensive forms of transportation in the world—a magical wooden cart powered by demon cores.

After Smith and Yan Yue boarded, Yun Ming climbed into the pilot seat at the front. He pulled out a first-level demon core and inserted it into a glowing groove.

As soon as the demon core touched the power slot, the cart trembled slightly. Energy pulsed through the structure, and the wooden cart began to move. First slow, then faster, picking up speed as it rolled down the track.

This was no ordinary wooden vehicle.

It was powered by a mobility array—a special formation that channeled the spiritual energy from the demon core into mechanical force. The speed and durability of the cart depended directly on the core's level.

A first-level demon core allowed speeds up to 60 km/h.

A second-level core? 120 km/h.

Third-level? 180.

And so on.

But third- or fourth-level demon cores were extremely valuable. No one would waste them just to power transportation.

"This trip will take about a day and a night," Yun Ming said over his shoulder, one hand calmly steering. "There are beds in the back of the cart if you two want to rest."

"Got it," Smith replied.

The interior of the wooden cart was surprisingly roomy—about two meters long and one and a half meters wide. Along both sides were inlaid wooden benches, each about half a meter wide. Perfect for sleeping or relaxing.

Smith took a seat on the right and pulled out the mid-grade spirit stone he'd received earlier.

He held it in his palm and began to absorb the energy inside.

The emerald glow of the stone softened, releasing streams of green spiritual energy. The flow seeped into every pore of Smith's body, swirling inward and condensing within his spiritual core.

The energy was warm, pure, and incredibly dense.

In mere moments, his spiritual core expanded dramatically. His body trembled slightly from the surge.

[Ding! Congratulations! You have advanced to 'First-Level Advanced'!]

[New Spiritual Energy Limit: 300 points!]

Smith opened his eyes, feeling the difference immediately.

He was stronger—faster, sharper, more focused. And now with an additional 100 spiritual energy, he could use his Flying Thunder God Technique nearly twice in a row.

Yan Yue sat quietly across from him, meditating with her eyes closed.

The sound of the wooden cart's wheels echoed gently beneath them as the vehicle sped through forests and grasslands, heading toward the unknown dangers of Xiahai City.

Smith tightened his grip around the spirit stone.

This mission might change everything.

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