Chapter 22: Only big efforts count; small efforts don't

Zhu Zhuqing had no opinion on Luo Ye's arrangement.

Strictly speaking, she does not now claim to obey Luo Ye in everything, but at least she will not refuse Luo Ye's suggestions.

Tang San thought it over, also felt his arrangement made sense, so he nodded and agreed, but he still looked at Xiao Wu and instructed.

"Xiao Wu, you must be careful later; no matter what, Teacher Zhao is a Soul Saint-level expert, even if he won't use his full strength in the assessment, there is still some danger."

Xiao Wu silently nodded.

"I know."

If it were before, Xiao Wu would be very happy facing Tang San's concern.

But since reading Luo Ye's diary, she has involuntarily doubted whether Tang San's concern is feigned, wondering whether he actually harbors intentions and schemes toward her.

Although she still hasn't fully believed Luo Ye's diary, once the seed of doubt is planted, regaining trust is no longer easy.

"Have you finished discussing? Time's up."

Upon hearing Zhao Wuji's voice, everyone turned their heads simultaneously and saw that the incense stick had burned out.

Luo Ye, seeing this, responded.

"We can begin."

Zhao Wuji nodded, stood up, clenched his large hands, moved his body, and the grating sound of bones cracking rang out, adding further pressure on them.

After doing these actions, Zhao Wuji took out another incense stick.

Before he could light the incense, Ning Rongrong shouted softly.

"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile appears."

Blinding seven-colored light burst from Ning Rongrong's body; where the light converged, a seven-colored tower about a chi tall appeared in her palm, and two yellow soul rings rose slowly from her feet.

"Seven Treasure has a name: Strength!"

"Seven Treasure has a name: Speed!"

Colorful light burst from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Tower, shooting into Luo Ye, Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San, and Xiao Wu, letting them clearly feel that their strength and speed had significantly increased.

Seeing this, Zhao Wuji looked at Ning Rongrong with some surprise and said.

"Not bad, not bad—there's actually a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect member among this year's examinees! Flandre will surely be pleased when he finds out."

It's not because of Ning Rongrong's talent, but because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is simply too rich; even a little bit of profit would be enough to feed Shilaike Academy to bursting.

Given Flandre's stingy, greedy nature, he will definitely not let this opportunity pass.

However, before entering Shilaike Academy, we must still break their arrogance; only then will they obediently listen in the future.

Thinking of this, Zhao Wuji bent his knees, clenched his fists, and slammed them hard into the ground.

Boom!

Accompanied by a muffled sound, the earth beneath his feet shook violently, and a ring of earth-yellow waves spread rapidly toward the position where Luo Ye and the others stood, following the ground's motion.

Zhao Wuji did this precisely to interrupt the amplifying effect of Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Tower.

However, before his fists struck the ground, Luo Ye had already activated the mental detection and mental sharing of the four soul skills granted by the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm Sacrifice, establishing a link with them.

When they felt everything before them become extraordinarily clear, as if they had gained X-ray vision and a locked-on target, every minute detail was visible, and after discovering Zhao Wuji's flaw, everyone was astonished, their reaction even greater than the boost from Ning Rongrong's soul skill.

"This is... your soul skill?"

Tang San turned his head to look at Luo Ye, noticing golden light radiating around his deep blue eyes; it was obvious that all this came from him.

Precisely because of the mental detection and mental sharing effect, as soon as Zhao Wuji made a move, all five of them immediately sensed his target.

Luo Ye dashed forward in a single step to Ning Rongrong's side, grabbed her shoulder with one hand, stomped his feet, and leapt high with her.

Tang San and Xiao Wu jumped at the same time, while Zhu Zhuqing used her speed to dodge to the side, easily avoiding the earth's tremor.

Zhao Wuji raised his eyebrows and muttered.

"Your reactions are pretty quick."

Just then, Xiao Wu, as the main attacker, descended from the sky, stomping hard on Zhao Wuji's body with both feet.

However, for Zhao Wuji, who bears the title of Immovable Wisdom King, this amount of force is no different from a tickle.

Just as he was about to utter a couple of jeers, a sudden numbness spread through his body, as thorny vines wildly parasitized and entwined themselves around him.

At the same time, Xiao Wu exerted force fiercely, and Zhu Zhuqing also rushed over.

With Ning Rongrong's strength amplification, the two girls combined forces with Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, causing Zhao Wuji's massive body to crash to the ground.

Seeing this, Dai Mubai beside them couldn't help but widen his eyes.

"No, Teacher Zhao isn't just holding back—this is practically letting them go all out!"

"Even if you wanted to let them have an easy win, you wouldn't need to go this far, would you?"

Moreover, it's understandable that Ning Rongrong stays in the back, after all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Tower, a support-type martial soul, is universally recognized as lacking combat power.

But what is that Luo Ye guy doing?

How is he managing to stay so far away?

"What's up, you're trying to win by lying down, right?"

Dai Mubai fumed inwardly, resolving to humiliate Luo Ye thoroughly after the exam ends.

But just then, Zhao Wuji's low growl drew his attention.

Only to see Zhao Wuji's already exaggerated muscles bulge another fold or more, making him look even more burly.

The Blue Silver Grass and vines that had been entwining and binding him instantly shattered into countless fragments.

Seven gorgeous soul rings rose from his feet—two yellow, two purple, three black—showcasing his strength as a Soul Saint powerhouse.

Zhao Wuji grinned ferociously and said.

"Had enough fun? Now it's my turn!"

As his words fell, Zhao Wuji prepared to strike at the nearest Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu; the two girls were startled and hurried to dodge.

However, what they didn't expect was that Zhao Wuji's fist, just as it swung out, froze directly in place, as if his body had been halted.

"Attack!"

Accompanied by Luo Ye's fierce shout, they also instantly reacted; this must be Luo Ye's handiwork.

Especially with the boost of spiritual detection and spiritual sharing, in their eyes Zhao Wuji at this moment could be said to be riddled with flaws from head to toe.

Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and Tang San no longer held back, simultaneously bursting forth with their greatest power to attack Zhao Wuji.

The violent roar echoed across the heavens; Zhao Wuji's body was flung straight up, flipping dozens of times in the air before finally crashing heavily to the ground.

He lay on the ground for a long time before his consciousness gradually cleared; as he rose to his feet and was about to resume his attack, he heard Luo Ye's voice, full of a smile, say.

Zhao Teacher, the time has come.

(End of chapter)