Chapter 191: Liuli's Morning Assault

The next day.

The first rays of morning light filtered through the tree shade, casting a few shadows on the tabletop.

A gentle breeze passed through the window crack, brushing against Li Cheng's face.

His eyebrows twitched, and a "pu chi pu chi" sound reached his ears.

With a twitch of his thigh, everything in the room became dull and uninteresting; Li Cheng helplessly opened his eyes.

"Does it taste good?"

"It tastes very good."

Liuli climbed out from under the blanket with a wicked smile, wiping food residue from the corner of her mouth.

"So downhead this early in the morning, I'm truly convinced by you."

"Hmph, only downhead for you alone!"

Liuli coldly snorted, picked up the striped stockings by the bedside, and prepared to put them on.

The elegant and dignified Princess of the Ancient Dragon had already accepted the fact that she would have to share her Adult with other women in the future.

But as a top-tier downhead vinegar jar, her brain circuit was always different from ordinary people.

No matter how many women Adult has, the first *, second *, and third * of every day must belong to me — Liuli made a victory declaration to Li Cheng.

"Sigh." Li Cheng was speechless to the extreme, yet frowned: "Change your skirt for pants."

"Hm?" Liuli's finger hooking the striped stockings froze, and immediately her gaze turned cunning: "Hehehe, my Adult, are you worried I'll expose myself? Is your pathetic possessiveness acting up?"

"It's clearly a long skirt, yet you're so uneasy; my Adult, does me wearing a skirt trouble you this much?"

"It's not a matter of trouble or not." Li Cheng shrugged: "Mainly I used your skirt to wipe my gun yesterday; if you don't mind, it doesn't matter."

"What did you say?! For real?!" Liuli's voice suddenly rose; she held up the skirt, sniffing it repeatedly, looking like a pervert: "Huh, not right, there's no smell."

"I said you actually believed it?" Li Cheng gave her a sidelong glance: "Truly downhead."

"You!" Liuli's eyes instantly widened like copper bells.

"Alright you two, stop fooling around, get up and eat." The Full Moon Queen wearing an apron walked in carrying a tray.

The fragrance of food traveled along the nasal cavity into Li Cheng's taste buds; with a gurgle, his appetite was awakened.

Not to mention, the memory of his last meal was already two months ago.

Looking at the Full Moon Queen wearing a vacuum apron, he was also somewhat curious about how this Little Cake's cooking skills were.

"Mhm, have a taste, Li Cheng Brother, this is Red Pulp Fruit Stewed Beef, this is Iron Plate Almond Tofu, made by me." The Full Moon Queen introduced while wiping her hands: "The fried eggs and bacon toast over there were made by Anna."

"Wait? You say this is a fried egg?" Li Cheng frowned, using a fork to pick up a black lump that looked like coke.

"Uh, rest assured, it's absolutely edible; it just looks bad." Anna spoke: "Trust me."

"You sure?" Under Anna's encouraging gaze, Li Cheng tried several times before finally making up his mind and opening his mouth.

The next second, he only felt a wave of dizziness; an indescribably terrifying taste rushed straight to his skull.

Immediately after, he felt a moment of trance.

When he came to again, the system's voice sounded in his ear.

【Your Bu Qi Zhi Ren took effect; to repair your body, 589 points of Bu Qi Zhi Ren were deducted.】

Li Cheng:...

Fine fine fine, so this is how it's going to be.

He used a fork to pry open the fried egg to examine it; the fried egg had no seasoning, every crooked part wrote the words "carefully baked." He felt something was off horizontally and vertically, looked closely, and saw words in the egg cracks; every coke-like crumb wrote the two words "kill people."

Ghost knows how this goods used one egg to manufacture a poison that could directly poison a person to death?

"Promise me, next time don't let Anna into the kitchen again."

Li Cheng wiped the sweat beads from his face.

"Hateful, you bastard man, this old lady worked hard getting up early to make you breakfast, yet you still have complaints; today you eat if you eat, eat if you don't — wuwuwu!"

Anna hadn't finished speaking when Li Cheng forked a fried egg and directly stabbed it into her throat.

She resentfully chewed the egg for a while, then swallowed it down.

Then...

"Hey, Anna, are you okay, don't, don't die!"

"I saw Great-Grandma, Vivian."

"You don't have a Great-Grandma, Anna..."

"Sigh." Looking at the Full Moon Queen lying on the ground, utterly despairing, Li Cheng shook his head speechlessly and collected the coke-like food from the table.

As an Evil Path Player, Li Cheng would absolutely not waste any useful material.

Think from another angle: although Anna can't cook, making poison, she's definitely a master.

This thing is far more potent than the virulent poison sold in the school's Black Market.

After tasting a few more bites of Vivian's cooking, Li Cheng contentedly burped.

How to put it, Little Cake's cooking belongs to the tasty but not especially tasty type.

But thinking this is a game, Li Cheng felt relieved.

Being able to simulate satiety and tasty flavor is probably the limit of the game pod anyway.

He comfortably stretched, looking at the food on the table, and at Vivian and Liuli releasing Magic Healing Technique across from him, couldn't help but smile.

Not to mention, this scene Li Cheng had never experienced in Reality.

Still quite warm, isn't it.

Perhaps this is the meaning of games, the spiritual comfort belonging to players.

Pity that this is only a game, not Reality.

Shaking his head, putting away the maudlin literary youth emotions, he knocked on the table again: "Mhm, give me a brief explanation of this Joint Trial."

"Alright." Vivian climbed up from the carpet: "This trial, same as always, is the three schools' joint trial. Each school sends ten participating students, all from years one to three."

"Of course, that's what's said, but actually, those able to participate in the trial are all the strongest few, so basically they're all third-years."

"Of course, for the sake of Li Cheng Brother's plan, Full Moon Academy will this time send seven third-years to participate together with you three."

"Speaking of which, is this really no problem?" Liurui sipped her coffee and asked softly: "Going undercover at the Wrathful Father God's side is no simple matter. Cheng and those three are fine to speak of, but the others' safety..."

Liurui, after all, is still Lady Yenifer who guards the Abyss Gate, so naturally she also cares about the students' safety.

After all, those able to participate in the joint trial are all the elite among the three great academies, future stars with enormous potential.

In other words, they are hope.

If they are wiped out entirely, it will inevitably make the already precarious, steadily retreating Tianming Continent worse.

"Yenifer... oh no, Miss Liurui, you haven't managed academy affairs for a long time, so you're not clear." Vivian explained patiently: "Rest assured on this point. Unlike those randomly appearing World Tree Gates, Full Moon Academy's Trial Gate has no death penalty."

"Even if one dies during gate exploration, they only lose memory, not life."

"So this gate is so precious, shared by the three academies."

"I see." Liurui set her mind at ease.

And Li Cheng's ears also pricked up.

What? People who die inside don't lose their lives?

There's such a good thing?

Doesn't that mean, besides himself, the other 29 trial participants can all be refined at any time? His birth radar began to rotate.

"Mm, and also, this year is a rather special year." Vivian explained further: "The three-school joint training is held every year, but every ten years a great trial is conducted. This year is the tenth year."

"This year's trial, the three great academies will rank according to their respective students' scores." Vivian explained again: "The first half-year is the trial for years 1-3 students, the second half-year is the trial for years 4-6 students. After combining both scores for ranking, the champion school will gain ownership of this gate's daily exploration for the next ten years."

"Of course, it's not that the losing two sides can't use this gate, but holding it in your own hands and watching someone else's face are not the same thing."

Listening to Vivian's narration, Li Cheng nodded.

This joint trial plot also exists in the PC version.

But unfortunately, this plot segment and the Full Moon Queen's death plot are spaced too closely.

Players just cleared the instance/dungeon, hadn't even stayed until the second half-year's second exam, and had to go kill the Full Moon Queen, then the whole world was ignited by Dian Huo.

This time, looks like there'll be a different storyline.

"Put that way, this trial is very important." Liurui leaned on the armrest, propping her fragrant cheek, frowning slightly.

No need to think to know, for the Trial Gate's ownership, the other two academies will also send elites among elites.

Thus, Full Moon Academy's side sending Li Cheng and the other two as trial personnel will suffer quite a loss.

She doesn't doubt Li Cheng's strength; she doubts Karenina and Mu's strength.

These two newly risen Dong Xi, their thinking is top-tier bizarre, but their strength is also top-tier trash.

Against the other two academies' top students, they probably don't amount to a fart.

And with competitions, what ultimately decides victory or defeat is usually not how long the long board is, but how short the short board is.

"Mm, but it doesn't matter either way." Vivian smiled: "Anyway Full Moon Academy has held this gate for several hundred years already. Letting them have it once is no problem."

"After all, in priority order, going undercover at the Wrathful Father God's side is necessarily higher than the joint trial."

For Vivian, the Trial Gate's ownership isn't important, and the match with the other two academies isn't very important either.

Anyway Full Moon Academy has won 27 consecutive joint trainings already; losing once is nothing.

She's almost forgotten what the other two schools' principals are called...

Seems they're called Wai Pu and Aisha...

For the other two schools' principals, this match is a top-priority matter, but for Vivian, this matter isn't even as important as when Li Cheng Brother frowns once.

As long as Li Cheng Brother is happy, other things, whatever."

"Mm, got it." Li Cheng nodded. Honestly, he doesn't care much about the trial ranking either.

After all, in his view, the other examinees are all to be refined away.

Who would compare scores with "dead people" who've lost participation qualifications?...

Meanwhile.

Inside Northern Magic Academy.

Principal Nespu was wrapped in an oversized black cloak, withered face plus that long shoulder-length black hair, the spitting image of a giant bat.

And this big bat also had a hawk-like nose; on both sides of the nose were gloomy, fierce eyes.

Just calmly looking at someone would make one's blood run cold.

Let alone that this tenth-stage grand mage, Principal Nespu's face, was currently wearing an extremely sinister smile.

"Hehehe, two hundred seventy years, I've waited a full two hundred seventy years."

"Full Moon, this time, the winner will be me."

He looked down at the ten mages already fully prepared below the stage, his smile growing ever more vigorous.

That's right, from when Nespu Professor took office as Northern Magic Academy principal until now, it's been two hundred seventy years.

And the last time Northern Magic Academy held the Trial Gate's usage rights was also two hundred seventy years ago.

In other words, since he took office, he hasn't beaten Full Moon Queen even once.

Nespu clenched his fist in grief and suddenly lifted his head.

This entire meeting room's walls were already hung full of "Full Moon Queen" portraits.

Why does "Full Moon Queen" need quotation marks?

The answer is simple: because these portraits are all Nespu's imagined Full Moon Queen — a white-haired, mage-hatted, poison-apple-holding wicked witch.

That's right, Nespu has never seen the Full Moon Queen. On the day he succeeded as principal, he swore to the Candle Fire.

To guard the Trial Gate well, absolutely not let the other two schools take it away.

Otherwise, he would never be able to meet the principals of the other two academies for the rest of his life.

Who would have thought that this one oath would trap him for 270 years.

In a lifetime, how many 270-year periods are there?

Over these 270 years, he fought again and again after defeat, fought again after battle, continuously cultivating students, trying every means to cause trouble for Full Moon Academy.

But they all ended in nothing.

No matter what, his students could never win the three-school trial.

"But this time, it's different." Nespu's mouth corner rose, he gazed at the Full Moon Queen he imagined in his mind, raising his staff: "Hahahahaha, Full Moon, Full Moon, surely over these many years, you've already come to see me as a formidable rival, right?"

"Yes, that's right, you don't need to refute, I can hear your heart's voice. Though we have never met, we are both enemies and friends, both opponents in a decisive battle and bosom friends who understand each other."

"So, this trial, this long war between you and me, it's time to put an end to it!"

"Ending with my victory!"

A smile of utmost confidence spread across Nespu's face.

That's right, after experiencing countless failures, he had come up with a method to win against the Full Moon Queen with one hundred percent certainty—the Incarnation Technique! Simply put, it was him directly possessing a student's body, replacing that student to participate in the trial.

Although he could not exert his Tenth Rank strength, coming directly to the Seventh Rank was no problem at all.

For this first half of the year's trial, the participating students were from first to third year, their strength generally only Fourth Rank, the strongest at most Fifth Rank.

Fourth Rank and Fifth Rank fighting Seventh Rank—winning would be a dream, right?

"Hah, with this brilliant move of mine, what do you have to fight me with!?" Nespu Professor beamed with joy.

"Um, Mr. Principal." One of the participating examinees couldn't help but scratch his head: "Are we cheating by doing this?"

"Cheating, what's wrong with cheating?" Nespu scoffed at this examinee's words: "As long as you aren't discovered, it can't be called cheating."

"Anyway, whatever happens inside the World Tree Gate is forgotten once you go out, who would know we cheated?"

"I see, high, indeed high!" That examinee thought for a moment and gave a thumbs up.

"Hmph." Neshu Principal snorted coldly again: "You remember, this trial, not only must you win with an overwhelming posture, but also within the gate, suppress the students of other schools as much as possible, especially Full Moon Academy's students, crush them to death!"

"Anyway, it won't harm their lives, snatch their Relics, magic Scrolls, and whatever else they have as much as possible, understand?"

Northern Magic Academy's resources are not comparable to Full Moon Academy and Longxiang Academy; to seek development, the best method is to snatch! "Received!" Ten examinees knelt on one knee.

"Hahahaha, new grudges and old hatreds, this time is the time to settle them!" Nespu Principal laughed heartily: "We will win!"

On the other side, inside Longxiang Academy.

Principal Elisa, wearing a black Long Robe and carrying Dragon Horn decorations on her head, was sitting cross-legged on the meditation platform.

Her slender figure of over 1.9 meters in height made the Long Robe seem a bit short, revealing fair and clearly defined calf muscles.

Red Long Hair covered one glowing Orange Rank eye, while the exposed eye, though not much different from an ordinary eye, still surged with soaring battle intent within its Vertical Pupils like a dragon's.

This Tenth Rank Longxiang Magic Academy Principal might be the scholar who worships the Dragon Clan the most on Tianming Continent.

She spent her entire life pursuing the method of incarnating as a dragon, and researched a method for a Mortal Body to use Dragon Clan Power.

And under the meditation platform, ten students had long been prepared, kneeling on one knee, waiting for the principal's instructions.

But Principal Elisa's gaze had always been fixed on the Textbook in her hand.

Precisely speaking, it was the Photo of the Full Moon Queen tucked inside the Textbook.

Her gaze was full of gentleness.

"Full Moon, I know, I know, there is absolutely nothing between you and that Big Boss!"

"All of that is lies fabricated by third-rate Newspapers!"

"A beauty as stunning as you, how could you possibly like your own student? A genius as outstanding as you, how could you possibly like a man?"

"That's right, all of this is fake, it's a Disguise you made so that the world would accept you!"

"Actually, the person you love... has always been me!"

"I determined this from the time at the party fifty years ago when you asked me whether to add ice to the red wine!"

That's right, this Longxiang Academy principal, Tenth Rank Longxiang Magus, is a female.

"Although we only said that one sentence, I know very well in my heart that we have been spiritually connected for a long time; you have been waiting, waiting for a woman stronger than you to defeat you and marry you!"

"And I am that woman!"

Thinking of this, the battle intent in Elisa's eyes soared to the limit.

She suddenly closed the Textbook in her hand, quickly stood up; her height of nearly two meters, much taller than most men, made her stand straight like a female warrior rather than a mage:

"Ladies and gentlemen, you should be very clear."

"Longxiang Academy's research on dragons has reached a bottleneck; we must go to the Previous Era to explore the origins of the Dragon Clan."

"For this, we need a World Tree Gate."

"A World Tree Gate that belongs to us and can be used at any time."

"So, this trial, we must win, even though we haven't won for over three hundred years, we must win!" Saying this, Elisa paused, then picked up a Talisman shaped like a dragon head from the table: "Ladies and gentlemen, look at your palms!"

"This is the Dragon Longxiang Amulet I carefully prepared for you; it houses the Spiritual Power of the ancient Dragon Clan!"

"As long as you use it, you can break through your limits, incarnate into Half-Dragon Form, and gain strength above Sixth Rank at once! And you, Student Wang Xiaopang, you can even surpass Seventh Rank and touch the threshold of Eighth Rank!"

"Teacher!" The Longxiang Magus called Wang Xiaopang gripped the Talisman, a helpless expression appearing on his chubby face: "Let me say it again, my name is Wang Xiaoming, not Wang Xiaopang."

"Okay, Student Wang Xiaopang." Elisa nodded: "I know."

"Sigh..." Wang Xiaoming was speechless: "Teacher, aren't we cheating by doing this? Doesn't this violate our Longxiang Academy's motto of 'Sincerity Simplicity Forbearance Perseverance'?"

"Hah, you're wrong, child; we are not cheating." Elisa stood with Hands Behind Back, head held high: "We are just utilizing the rules."

"The rules say only students below third year can participate in the trial, but there's no rule saying how many years a third-year student has been in third year!"

"Student Wang Xiaopang, you are the secret weapon I prepared for you."

While speaking, she revealed a confident smile.

Correct, Wang Xiaoming may be a third-year student, but he has already been forcibly retained for ten years.

His strength has long since reached the peak of the Sixth Rank.

If not for this trial, he would have already gone to the graduation class.

With the Dragon Longxiang Mark, his strength can directly surpass the Seventh Rank and crush the crowd! Correct, this is the combat method Elisa came up with; she named this combat method "Retained Grade Dragon King Style."

In her view, she who could come up with such a combat method is absolutely a genius!

"Rest assured, as long as you win this trial, you can go up to fourth year." Elisa patted the little fatty classmate's shoulder, speaking earnestly: "You can absolutely trust your teacher."

Wang Xiaoming:...

His mouth corner twitched as he asked the question he had pondered for a long time: "Then teacher, what if... we don't win this time?"

"Uh..." Elisa was stunned, then turned to look at him: "Then we can only ask you to be retained for another ten years."

Wang Xiaoming:...

"But rest assured, in this exam, you must win." Elisa wore a supremely confident smile at her mouth corner: "This Dragon Longxiang power will absolutely not fade due to interference from the Secret Realm's power."

"You will be the strongest combat power among the three Academies; if even in this situation you can fail, well, then you might as well all be retained."

Wang Xiaoming:...

He thought for a moment, still frowning as he asked: "Then teacher, this talisman, is it truly foolproof, with absolutely no possibility of failure?"

"Of course." Elisa looked at him displeasedly: "Believe in your teacher's power!"

"The power within this talisman comes from the Ancient Dragon Clan; to make this power disappear, unless you can encounter the Dragon Clan's ancestors!"

Chapter Complete