Chapter 56: The Best Defense Is a Good Offense

Xia Qingyue ran back without a care for anything.

The triplets were in hot pursuit right behind her.

Mages were already short-legged to begin with, and on top of that, those triplets had received inhuman physical and combat training since childhood.

In no time at all, Xia Qingyue was caught up to.

"Still running?"

A teasing voice came from behind Xia Qingyue.

She whirled around sharply, and the staff in her hand flashed with light.

Several azure water arrows shot through the air.

However, the tank class leading the charge didn't even raise his shield—just shifted his body to the left and easily dodged the water arrows.

Immediately after, the brother on the left flank accelerated in an instant, sweeping his great axe horizontally to cut off Xia Qingyue's retreat.

"What great teamwork…"

Xia Qingyue's pupils contracted sharply.

Before she could react, the third figure had already appeared soundlessly behind her.

"Goodbye."

An icy voice rang in her ear.

Then a blade-flash streaked past and struck Xia Qingyue.

The other two's attacks followed right behind.

Less than three seconds.

A gentle white light burst forth from within Xia Qingyue, transforming into a translucent cocoon of light that wrapped her entire body.

【Soul Shelter】 had taken effect, which meant Xia Qingyue had been eliminated.

While in the shelter state, Xia Qingyue was immune to all damage, but she also lost the ability to move.

She could only stand on the spot like a statue until the great exam ended.

At this moment,

Zhao Yu also strolled over unhurriedly.

"Run? Why aren't you running? Oh right, you can't move anymore."

"You're really despicable."

Though Xia Qingyue's body couldn't move, her voice remained cold and sharp.

"Heh, you're way too naive. All's fair in war—this is called tactics, this is called brains, understand?"

Zhao Yu snorted, his tone disdainful. "In this world, the victor is always king. The process doesn't matter—what matters is the result."

"The result?"

Xia Qingyue stared fixedly at Zhao Yu and said with a cold laugh:

"Do you really think you're a match for Lin Shao? With your ragtag bunch? Zhao Yu, you think too highly of yourself and too little of Lin Shao."

Hearing this, the smile vanished instantly from Zhao Yu's face.

"Xia Qingyue, please take a good look at where this is—Black Water Mire!"

"This environment hard-counters fire and earth systems, and with dozens of elites added on, what does Lin Mo have to win with?"

"Just stay right there, open your eyes wide and watch—watch how your master gets ganked to death by us, hahahahaha…"

……

Meanwhile.

Deep within the Mist Wastes, at the edge of the Black Water Mire.

The fog here was thicker than at the outer perimeter, and it took on an eerie grayish-black hue.

Lin Mo stepped onto the soft ground.

He frowned, lifted his foot, and looked at the black mud caking his sole.

"This place really makes a person uncomfortable…"

Lin Mo narrowed his eyes.

【【Fireball】 listlessly: What the hell is this place? Feels uncomfortable all over.】

"Xiao Tu, try setting up an Earth Flow Wall."

Lin Mo instructed in his mind.

【【Earth Shield】 also felt a bit uncomfortable, but still responded immediately: Understood, Master! Rise!】

Hum—!

The ground trembled slightly.

A clump of wet, black sludge barely arched up from the ground.

Less than two meters tall.

Lin Mo fell silent, walked up and tested it.

The moment he applied a little force, the soft wall instantly collapsed into a puddle of sludge.

【【Fireball】 burst out laughing on the spot: Hahahaha! Laughing this great one to death! Second Brother, how did your wall end up like this? This is poop, right?】

【【Earth Shield】 aggrieved to the point of tears: This… this isn't my fault!】

【【Earth Shield】 was so anxious it was spinning in circles: I've already given it my all, but I just can't condense any hardness!】

Lin Mo gazed at that puddle of sludge, lost in thought.

Sure enough.

The earth system was more than half crippled, and the fire system was weakened.

Is this Zhao Yu's real strength?

Lin Mo rubbed his chin and rapidly calculated the current situation in his mind.

On Zhao Yu's side, there were many people, and they were humans—not those low-intelligence demonic creatures.

Humans have tactics, understand feints, and can coordinate.

Although Lin Mo himself wore the invincible 'Lava Armor'.

But the problem was, its duration was only five minutes, with a cooldown of one full hour.

Once he activated the armor, the enemy would never be foolish enough to engage him head-on.

They would absolutely exploit their numerical and terrain advantages to employ a kiting tactic, dragging out those five minutes.

And his only crowd-control battlefield-splitting divine technique, 'Earth Wall,' with its five-second cooldown, had been rendered useless.

As soon as the armor's time ran out, he would fall into a passive position.

"As for offense..."

Lin Mo glanced at his skill bar.

Fireball and Multiple Exploding Fireballs both had cooldowns—three seconds and fifteen seconds respectively...

Against a smart human team, it was truly uncertain.

As for Flame Pillar.

Although it had wide range and high damage, that bright red warning circle was far too obvious.

It worked fine against less intelligent demonic creatures—or targets with restricted movement.

But against these clever, agile elite examinees...

Without control skills to coordinate, they'd simply dodge the red circle—impossible to hit.

"Looks like this is going to be tricky..."

【'Earth Shield Technique' grew increasingly anxious: Master, what do we do? My wall won't rise—if they focus fire on you, I... I can't block it! Should we just not go?】

Wait—control...

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Lin Mo.

He said to Earth Shield Technique: "Xiao Tu, shift your thinking. Don't try to harden this pile of mud."

【'Earth Shield Technique' was baffled: Huh? If it doesn't harden, how do I block damage? If I don't raise a wall, how do I protect Master?】

"No—offense is the best defense. As long as you immobilize them, whether to kill or spare is entirely up to us."

【'Earth Shield Technique' jolted: Huh??】

Lin Mo continued:

"Try controlling the soft mud—make it flow, like powerful glue. Do you understand?"

【'Earth Shield Technique' froze.】

【In its nonexistent mind, a new world's door seemed to slowly open.】

【'Earth Shield Technique' murmured to itself: Offense is the best defense... don't think about hardening... make it flow?】

【'Earth Shield Technique' seemed to grasp something: Of course! If I immobilize them, then Brother can quickly eliminate them—that's also a way to protect Master!】

【'Earth Shield Technique' grew excited: Master, I want to try!】

"Try it."

Lin Mo pointed to an open patch of ground ahead.

Gulu... gulu...

The previously still black mud began to wriggle, forming a slowly rotating vortex.

Monitoring Room.

Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on the screen.

Zhao Lei had been delighted when he saw the collapsed earth wall.

But then Lin Mo began staring blankly at the ground, and soon the soft mud started to wriggle—his smile vanished.

Xu Wenchang's pupils contracted slightly.

"The soft mud... is flowing?"

"Could this kid..."