The wind on the rooftop was still a bit strong.

It blew Han Ning’s hair about.

The floodwaters below had receded some more, now down to about the middle of the third floor.

Some Demon Eye Frogs that had survived the great flood swam in the slowly flowing water, perched on top of buses to feast on long-dead corpses.

Tonight, probably... or by tomorrow morning at the latest, the flood should be gone.

Han Ning retracted his gaze and had Yin Yi and Egg Pancake stand facing each other, three meters apart.

He pointed at Yin Yi and chuckled at Egg Pancake.

"Egg Pancake, use Wandering Tongue Entanglement on Yin Yi. Don’t hold back, use your full power!"

"Ling~"

Yin Yi placed her two arm-like vines on her hips, gesturing for Egg Pancake to bring it on.

"Ji!"

Egg Pancake let out a low cry, its body crouching slightly. Pushing off with its stout limbs, it leaped forward, rapidly closing the distance to Yin Yi.

When it was within two meters, Egg Pancake suddenly opened its mouth and shot out a long, pink tongue.

The tongue was extremely elastic. With a SNAP, it instantly extended to over two meters long and swiftly wrapped around Yin Yi’s body.

"Jishoo!"

The moment the tongue coiled around Yin Yi, large globs of brownish mud began to seep from its pink surface.

The scene resembled a chocolate fountain at a buffet, with thick layers of slurry continuously welling up.

In just one or two seconds, the mud had enveloped the lower half of Yin Yi’s body, solidifying into a brown clod of earth.

"Ling~"

Yin Yi tilted her head, still not moving.

"Ji!"

Seeing this, Egg Pancake abruptly raised its right forelimb. Its muscles bulged, and with a swing, it slapped at Yin Yi’s body.

As the claw struck, thick mud also emerged from it, carrying immense force as it slammed into Yin Yi’s side.

SPLAT~

The mud exploded outward, adhering tightly to Yin Yi’s surface.

’Oh? Is this an application of the Earth Element, or the Mud Missile technique?’

Seeing this, Han Ning’s expression changed, and he asked, "Egg Pancake, can you fire Mud Missiles with your claws now?"

"Ji!"

Egg Pancake nodded in confirmation.

"Keep firing as you back up. Let me see how far you can shoot."

"Jiji~"

Egg Pancake glanced apologetically at Sister Yin Yi. Following Han Ning’s instructions, it stood up on its hind legs and began flinging its front claws back and forth, launching Mud Missiles at her.

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH~

Brown mud balls, each the size of Egg Pancake’s fist, were thrown one after another, making a low whistling sound as they flew through the air.

They splattered against Yin Yi’s head and torso, splashing into specks of mud that quickly cooled into hard clumps, clinging tightly to her.

The power of the missiles only began to wane when Egg Pancake had retreated to the corner of the rooftop.

’The Mud Missile’s power isn’t high, a little weaker than Yin Yi’s Silver Thorn back then. There’s no explosive effect either, but this adhesive mud is quite interesting...’

Han Ning walked over to the silent, mud-caked Yin Yi.

"Yin Yi, how do you feel?"

"Ling~"

Her flame-like eyes hidden behind the mud, Yin Yi blinked, indicating that she was fine.

"Okay, bear with me for a moment. This will be quick."

Han Ning got close to Yin Yi, wrapped his arms around the thick layer of mud encasing her body, and tried to lift her.

"Hngh... damn!"

He clenched his teeth, veins popping on his forehead, and shakily lifted Yin Yi a few dozen centimeters off the ground before immediately setting her back down.

’HUFF... HUFF... It must weigh hundreds of pounds. I can’t believe this little bit of mud is so heavy. If my Body hadn’t been enhanced, I really wouldn’t have been able to lift it...’

Muttering to himself, he knocked on the hard mud and said to Yin Yi, "Alright, you can come out now."

"Ling!"

Yin Yi flexed her body slightly, and the mud caked on her instantly shattered into pieces.

Egg Pancake was several Levels below her. A little mud was nothing to Yin Yi.

’Looks like... Egg Pancake’s development path is completely different from Yin Yi’s. If they were both Entry Level I, it’s hard to say who would be stronger.’

’From the results of my tests so far, Egg Pancake’s Soul Techniques are actually less destructive than Yin Yi’s were initially. But it’s physically strong and agile, able to handle a variety of complex environments. And since it’s a flesh-and-blood Soul Beast, its sustained combat ability is definitely stronger than Yin Yi’s.’

’It’s like a warrior or a meat shield. Egg Pancake would be amazing against a beast tide...’

’Against weaker enemies, it could take them out with one punch.’

’If faced with an enemy of similar strength, it could cover them in mud to gradually slow their movement, then take them out with a punch.’

’Every punch enhanced with Gravity.’

Han Ning nodded, having roughly determined Egg Pancake’s combat style.

He clapped his hands and said to the two little ones:

"Okay, the test is over. Let’s go back and rest for now."

"Lingling~" "Jiji~"

Hearing that they could rest, Yin Yi and Egg Pancake both cried out happily and immediately came closer.

Just as Yin Yi came within a meter of Egg Pancake, 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

she suddenly shot out a vine, wrapped it around Egg Pancake’s tail, and lifted it five meters into the air, swinging it gently.

"Ji-woo..."

Egg Pancake flailed its claws, squeaking pitifully.

’I thought you said to go all out... Sister Yin Yi, you’re bullying Pancake.’

"Ling!"

Yin Yi pointed to the dense speckles of light brown mud on her body, then SWOOSH, she set Egg Pancake back down.

"Haha... my bad. Yin Yi, stop teasing Pancake."

Han Ning knew that Yin Yi usually doted on Egg Pancake. She was just a little annoyed about being covered in mud and wanted to tease it for fun.

"Ling~"

Yin Yi used a vine to rub Egg Pancake’s pitiful little face, then happily sat on its back.

Additionally, during the test, Han Ning noticed that Egg Pancake’s movements and power delivery were a bit awkward. It probably hadn’t adapted to its suddenly stronger body yet. ’I’ll have to find time to train it and help it adapt quickly.’

...

On the fifth day, the floodwaters surrounding the academy gradually receded.

As the flood receded, it revealed a wet, muddy, and chaotic scene.

Cars lay strewn about, and the plants in the greenbelts had been uprooted.

Han Ning, Teacher Fang, and a group of students stood on the roof of Building C, gazing down at the vast expanse of brown mud below, their hearts filled with emotion.

Fortunately, everyone had survived the torrential rain and the great flood.

Unfortunately, a large amount of supplies had been submerged, and it was uncertain if they were still usable.

Teacher Fang looked at the experimental fields in the dormitory area, which had long since vanished. "Do you think this area turned into a muddy swamp because it floods so often?"

"Doesn’t seem like it. There’s still a small forest outside the West Gate. Maybe it’s just a coincidence?" Han Ning said, uncertain.

"In any case, with this experience, we must be better prepared for floods and torrential rain next time," another teacher in the group remarked with emotion.

Suddenly, Dean Wu’s voice came through Teacher Fang’s walkie-talkie: "Attention all teachers and students in every building. Please do your best to clean up the three buildings and their surroundings today to prevent the spread of disease. Any teachers or students who wish to participate in the external exploration team should come find me in the temporary meeting room in Building A after the cleanup is finished."