Chapter 120: Surrounded and Hunted

On the grand hall's screen, text appeared—those words were precisely the Purple Radiance mission issued by Shen Shen Jinxiao.

In the viewing stands below, numerous eyes watched this scene, then turned to the screen where waves of new students surged rapidly toward the area where Li Luo was located; murmurs spread through the crowd.

"What's going on?"

"Is this the Purple Radiance instructor's test for this new student?"

"Li Luo? Isn't that the young master of Luo Lan Mansion?"

"Tsk tsk, how unlucky—he's being surrounded like this; how could he possibly survive?"

"This test is too brutal."

"......"

On the highest tier of the viewing stands, the young Emperor recognized Li Luo's figure on the screen and spoke in a voice still tinged with youth: "This is utterly unfair—isn't this test targeting him personally?"

The Princess, with her phoenix eyes fixed on the scene, murmured: "Absolute fairness doesn't exist in this world. The Purple Radiance instructors have great authority to test new students—it's part of their duty."

"Though... is Master Shen Shen Jinxiao's test perhaps a bit too harsh?"

Her final words were directed at Vice Dean Su Xin.

Vice Dean Su Xin paused briefly, then said: "It is slightly beyond the norm, but during the Mentor Selection, as long as the Purple Radiance instructors do not endanger a student's life, they may test them in any manner they choose."

"Still, this situation may not be without opportunity for this new student named Li Luo—if he demonstrates his potential and excellence, he will attract far more offers."

The Princess said nothing. To perform well under such a siege was no easy feat; the more likely outcome was that he would become someone else's stepping stone.

This Li Luo is doomed.

"Shen Shen Jinxiao has gone too far!"

On another viewing stand, Yan Yan Lingqing's face turned ashen, and she couldn't help but speak out.

This test is clearly targeting someone—how could anyone withstand such a siege?

Beside her, Jiang Jiang Qinge's exquisite face remained expressionless. She did not rage, but her golden eyes were filled with cold calmness, beneath which flowed a chilling, lethal intent.

With slender fingertips, Jiang Jiang Qinge lightly traced the stone railing before her; fragments of stone flew, forming three characters.

Shen Shen Jinxiao.

Yan Yan Lingqing stared at Jiang Jiang Qinge's serene face, then at the intensity with which she carved the name, and suddenly felt a chill. She whispered: "What are you doing?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge stared at the carved name, then casually erased it, saying lightly, "I'm just practicing how to carve his tombstone. After all, he once taught me—giving him a tombstone isn't too much, is it?"

Yan Yan Lingqing stared, dumbfounded, trembling slightly. No way—Jiang Jiang Qinge, are you really this terrifying? You're already planning tombstones for Purple Radiance instructors?

Are you really this angry?

Though the Purple Radiance mission stirred considerable commotion in Xinshengdian, it was negligible compared to the chaos within the Mentor Selection.

Across the dozens of li surrounding the area, every student who received this mission froze for a moment, then their eyes erupted with wild delight.

No one expected the Purple Radiance mission to arrive so suddenly.

Defeat Li Luo? And earn a Purple Radiance Fu Yin?

Many new students quickly pulled out booklets—expensive new-student profiles they had purchased—and swiftly found Li Luo's ranking within.

"Top rank in Tian Shu Commandery? His strength doesn't seem impressive—why did he trigger a Purple Radiance mission?!"

After seeing Li Luo's details, many students were puzzled; the only thing remotely surprising was his identity—but here, no identity held weight.

"This is a Purple Radiance Fu Yin handed to us on a silver platter!"

After reviewing the data, many students became ecstatic and immediately dashed at full speed toward the distant, towering pillar of light.

The Purple Radiance Fu Yin was worth their all.

"Hahaha, Li Luo, Li Luo—you've managed to be this unlucky?!"

In one corner of the region, Du Ze Duze Beixuan, upon receiving the mission, stared blankly for a long moment before bursting into loud laughter.

"Impressive, impressive—you even triggered a Purple Radiance mission."

"Well then, since I was going to deal with you anyway, isn't this the perfect chance?" Du Ze Duze Beixuan chuckled, shook his head, and shot forward in a blur.

"Can there even be such a strange Purple Radiance mission?"

On a hillside, Bai Bai Doudou, with her ear-length hair, wore a strange expression. That Li Luo was surely the one she'd seen at registration, right? He was handsome enough—but what on earth had he done to deserve such a siege?

"Whatever. As long as I get the Purple Radiance Fu Yin, it's fine."

Bai Bai Doudou gripped a long spear; its tip scraped the ground, sending sparks rolling. Wind-phase energy surged around her body, and she glided away like a breeze.

Her speed was astonishing—if one looked closely, one would notice her toes barely touched the ground, as if she rode the wind itself.

In a forest.

Several mid-tier spirit beasts lay dead in pools of blood. A dark-skinned boy, radiating terrifying killing aura, sat atop the carcasses, holding several Golden Fu Yin, which chimed softly as he swayed them.

He too had received the Purple Radiance mission issued in this region.

He was Qin Qin Zhulu.

"Surround and eliminate? Li Luo?"

Qin Qin Zhulu's face was expressionless. He pulled out his new-student jade tablet, on which Li Luo's name was clearly inscribed.

"Him?" Qin Qin Zhulu recalled the silver-haired boy who had exchanged jade tablets with him.

Clearly, this Purple Radiance mission was to surround and eliminate this Li Luo.

Qin Qin Zhulu returned the jade tablet to his pocket and casually tossed the Golden Fu Yin onto the carcasses—he had no interest in such things.

He had come to the Holy Zhu Xuan Star Academy to find the best instructor; below the Marquis Realm, none were qualified to teach him.

Besides, Purple Fu Yin earned by hunting others held no meaning.

"Is it better to defeat a high-tier spirit beast to earn a Purple Fu Yin? That sounds more interesting."

Qin Qin Zhulu looked up, gazing at the distant, towering pillar of light, then shook his head, his voice low: "I won't hunt you—that's my way of repaying the debt for taking your spot."

"You're on your own."

With that, he rose, ignoring the blood and gore on his body, and trudged slowly toward the distance—where he sensed the presence of powerful spirit beasts. Likely high-tier ones. He wondered if they could match a Phase Master at the Third Stage.

Hopefully, it will let him have some fun.