Chapter 55: Mist

As the academy grand examination gradually entered the elimination stage, the points flickering and changing on the massive crystal wall outside Mount Bailing began to accelerate, revealing just how intense the situation inside had become.

Countless gazes converged on the crystal wall, occasionally erupting into exclamations and wails, as everyone kept a close watch on the scores of their own academy's students.

Cai Wei and Yan Lingqing were also keeping a constant eye on their Young Master, and when they saw Li Luo’s points steadily increasing, smiles appeared on their pretty faces.

"The Young Master isn't doing too badly," Cai Wei said with a charming laugh, gently waving her floral-patterned fan.

"He likely hasn't encountered any strong enemies yet. As the elimination stage progresses, those who remain will be tricky opponents; only then will we see his true standard," Yan Lingqing analyzed cautiously.

Cai Wei nodded slightly, her smile as bright as a flower, and said, "But I believe the Young Master will definitely be fine."

"So confident?"

"Because good looks are justice," Cai Wei said with a straight face.

"Boring." Yan Lingqing adjusted her silver-rimmed glasses, not bothering to engage with her.

In the dense forest.

Ding!

Li Luo and his two companions surrounded a poor soul, and under his desperate gaze, the three of them drained his points clean before walking away, leaving the poor soul weeping.

"Our points have reached fifteen hundred."

Li Luo glanced at their respective crystal badges. These fifteen hundred points were the result of their hard work for most of the morning, and beneath them lay a group of greedy and unfortunate fish.

"But it feels like it's getting harder to fish," Zhao Kuo said with some worry. In the last hour, only this one unlucky fellow had taken the bait.

"That's because our reputation for fishing has spread," Li Luo said.

They hadn't been without failures while fishing all morning; some fish were extremely slippery and possessed extraordinary strength, so a few had escaped. Once these people escaped, they spread the word about Li Luo and his group's fishing activities.

Therefore, the students still in this area likely wouldn't be easily hooked.

"Fishing indefinitely isn't realistic anyway. As more people are eliminated, we'll need to fight hard to gain points later on." Li Luo didn't mind this, as he hadn't truly expected to keep fishing forever.

Zhao Kuo and Yu Lang nodded; they understood this point as well.

While the three chatted, their footsteps didn't stop, and they continued to advance with caution. However, as they moved forward, they suddenly noticed a thin mist beginning to spread through the dense forest.

The mist rapidly grew thick.

Li Luo paused, his brows furrowing as he said, "Something's not right. Let's pull back."

Immediately, the three turned around and retreated quickly along the path they had come.

After running for several minutes, Li Luo suddenly turned his head, only to discover that Yu Lang and Zhao Kuo, who had been following behind him, had disappeared at some point.

Li Luo pondered for a few moments, then searched the nearby bushes, finally spotting clusters of gray mushrooms; it was these mushrooms that were constantly exhaling the mist.

"It's Mist Mushrooms."

Li Luo felt a bit helpless. The mist exhaled by these mushrooms could make people lose their sense of direction; clearly, they had unknowingly stepped into an area filled with them.

And just now, Yu Lang and Zhao Kuo must have lost their way while running, getting separated as they walked.

"What a nuisance."

Li Luo stepped on the Mist Mushroom to crush it. Although this mist was troublesome, it should have a time limit; as long as he waited for the mist to dissipate a bit, he should be able to find the two of them.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the mist.

Zhao Kuo and Yu Lang were walking together. They had also discovered they were separated from Li Luo and were feeling a bit bewildered. While looking at each other, they could only continue to move forward cautiously.

After walking for a while, they heard footsteps coming from ahead and were immediately delighted. Zhao Kuo tentatively called out, "Brother Luo?"

The footsteps grew clearer, and soon a figure appeared in their field of vision. When they saw who it was, their expressions shifted slightly.

Because it wasn't Li Luo, but someone they had encountered before.

It was none other than Lian Zhong from Dongyuan Academy, who had previously tried to snatch their Ghost-Face Fruit!

At this moment, Lian Zhong stared at the two with a cold sneer and said, "Didn't catch Li Luo, but I ran into his two little lackeys first."

Zhao Kuo and Yu Lang fled in different directions without hesitation. The opponent had been waiting here like a hunter, clearly well-prepared, and his target was undoubtedly Li Luo.

However, as soon as they moved, they saw two more figures emerge from the directions they were trying to escape toward, perfectly blocking their retreat.

The opponent actually had four more people.

And looking at the crystal badges on their chests, they were all from Dongyuan Academy.

"Let's fight them!" Zhao Kuo’s eyes flashed with ferocity.

But Yu Lang raised his hands and hurriedly said, "Surrender, surrender, we surrender!"

Lian Zhong was stunned, a mocking smirk curling his lips: "Are the people from Nanfeng Academy this spineless?"

Zhao Kuo roared, "Yu Lang, what are you doing?! Do you think they'll let you go just because you surrender?!"

"Zhao Kuo, they're after Li Luo; it doesn't really have much to do with us," Yu Lang said.

"Damn it, you trash!"

Zhao Kuo was filled with rage and threw a heavy punch.

Yu Lang dodged quickly, his expression looking rather ugly as he said, "You're going too far. We aren't actually Li Luo's lackeys."

He then looked at Lian Zhong, who was watching the show, and said, "Brother, let me off the hook."

Lian Zhong laughed: "Didn't you tell me before that you and Li Luo were friends through life and death?"

Yu Lang said awkwardly, "Just joking, that was just talk for the occasion. If you're willing to let me go in the end, I can help you find Li Luo. He set up a special way for us to contact him earlier."

Zhao Kuo’s eyes were bloodshot, and he charged over madly, intending to beat Yu Lang to death, but he was intercepted by two students from Dongyuan Academy.

Lian Zhong narrowed his eyes, staring at Yu Lang: "Do you think I'll believe you?"

Yu Lang’s eyes welled with tears as he said, "If you had asked around, you would know that there is actually a deep grudge between Li Luo and me. During the Nanfeng Academy pre-exam, he used ruthless methods and beat me into a serious injury. I lay in bed for many days, and even now, when it rains, my body aches faintly."

"I was just unlucky to run into those two earlier, and I was coerced and threatened into joining their team."

A student from Dongyuan Academy whispered in Lian Zhong’s ear: "I've heard of this guy. He's famous in Nanfeng Academy for being money-grubbing and using any means to make a profit. During the Nanfeng Academy pre-exam, he was indeed beaten very badly by Li Luo. I heard it from my friends at Nanfeng Academy; Li Luo beat him until blood covered the ground—it was enough to make anyone weep."

Lian Zhong frowned, and then he heard Yu Lang’s voice again: "Actually, I hinted at it to you before."

"Hinted at what?"

Yu Lang revealed a subtle smile: "I told you to add more money... as long as you add more money, I can help you."

Lian Zhong was stunned. Yu Lang had indeed said that at the time, but how could he have believed it? Yet, thinking about it now, combined with the rumors about Yu Lang, could it really have been a hint?

If so, this guy was truly shameless.

Lian Zhong crossed his arms and said indifferently, "If you can really lure Li Luo here, I can let you go."

Regardless of whether what this guy said was true or false, as long as he could lure Li Luo, it would be enough.

Yu Lang was overjoyed and said, "No problem!"

"This Zhao Kuo has a very good relationship with Li Luo. We can use him as a hostage. When we lure Li Luo here, we can use him as a threat, which will make Li Luo hesitate to act." He then thoughtfully offered his advice.

Upon hearing this, Lian Zhong couldn't help but stare at Yu Lang for a moment and said, "You sell out your teammates way too naturally, don't you?"

Yu Lang gave an awkward smile.

"Yu Lang, you won't die well! Just you wait, I won't let you off!" Zhao Kuo roared in a fit of rage.

"Tie him up and gag him," Lian Zhong waved his hand.

The four Dongyuan Academy students swarmed forward and tied Zhao Kuo up.

Lian Zhong stood beside Yu Lang, then held a broadsword against the latter’s neck and smiled: "Now, use your contact method to bring Li Luo to me."

"If he doesn't come, you two can be eliminated right now."

Yu Lang patted his chest, his face full of seriousness.

"Don't you worry, Brother. That Li Luo will definitely fall for it. When you capture him, be sure to beat his face hard. I've truly hated his shocking good looks for a long time!"

Hearing this, Lian Zhong touched his own rugged, plain face, and then, not knowing what he thought of, anger and hatred welled up in his eyes.

Because he also hated these pretty boys who relied on their faces to get by!

Yu Lang’s words had spoken directly to his heart.

You can lose a fight, but a handsome guy must die! And someone as handsome as Li Luo deserved to be cut into a thousand pieces!

(End of chapter)