Chapter 60

As time passed, the White Spirit Ruins welcomed more and more students, and every student who reached this point had, without exception, endured intense competition and defeated numerous powerful rivals, making them, in essence, the elite of this year's Tian Shu Commandery.

Thus, their arrival shattered the peace of this ruin, and fierce battles erupted across every corner of the wasteland.

This intense combat was also reflected on the scoreboard: whether outside or inside White Spirit Mountain, everyone could see the rankings shifting violently.

Names near the top would suddenly vanish, replaced by others—clear signs of direct elimination.

The fierce fighting continued, countless eyes tense on the scoreboard, for as the number of participants sharply dwindled, it signaled the examination had entered its most intense phase.

Inside a ruined building.

Li Luo listened to the battles unfolding nearby, then gazed at the scoreboard reflected on his crystal tablet and sighed: "The eliminations are happening too fast."

In just over an hour, the scoreboard had dropped from over a hundred names to only sixty.

During this time, he had encountered no enemies, and his score had not changed, so his rank had slipped from seventeenth to twenty-third.

"Too brutal," Zhao Kuo nodded beside him.

As they spoke, a figure swept in like the wind, revealing Seeing Yu Lang's form.

"It's chaos outside—everywhere there's fighting," Seeing Yu Lang said, having scouted the area; his Wind Phase granted him exceptional speed, making him ideal for reconnaissance.

"Any findings?" Li Luo asked.

Seeing Yu Lang nodded, his expression growing suddenly solemn: "I accidentally spotted Shi Kong—and with him were Xiang Liang, Chi Su, and Zong Fu."

Li Luo's eyes hardened instantly: "Are they allied?"

"I suspect they're targeting Lü Qing'er together," Seeing Yu Lang licked his lips and said gravely.

In this entire academy examination, the only person worthy of such meticulous planning by Shi Kong was Lü Qing'er.

Zhao Kuo's expression also changed; in a certain sense, their hope of securing a place at the Sacred Mystic Star Academy rested not on Li Luo, but on Lü Qing'er.

Only she could claim first place—and the extra quota awarded to the top scorer could carry them all forward.

Li Luo's brow slowly furrowed: "The likelihood is high. Shi Kong is cunning—he must have prepared thoroughly. If Lü Qing'er is truly targeted, she's in danger."

If Shi Kong truly orchestrated this, then Lü Qing'er must not be eliminated—once she's out, Shi Kong will likely purge every other student from Nan Feng Academy.

Even he could not stand alone against Shi Kong, Xiang Liang, Chi Su, and Zong Fu combined.

Li Luo fell silent for several breaths, then drew a deep breath and turned to Seeing Yu Lang: "Which direction did they go?"

Seeing Yu Lang swiftly pointed: "You're going?"

"You both know how vital Lü Qing'er is—I have to check on her. If she's compromised, we're all in trouble," Li Luo sighed.

Seeing Yu Lang and Zhao Kuo both nodded.

"You two stay here. I'll move faster alone."

"Alright. Be careful."

Seeing Yu Lang and Zhao Kuo understood: this level of combat was beyond their participation. They said nothing more, only offered the warning.

Li Luo nodded, said no more, and shook his body—blue phase energy flickered faintly, like a veil of water cloaking his form, then his figure slipped away silently.

Somewhere in the White Spirit Ruins.

Lü Qing'er sat atop a ruined high-rise, her face delicate and beautiful, her white upper garment outlining the gentle curve of her chest and slender waist.

Her white trousers hugged her rounded hips, making her already long legs appear even straighter and more slender.

Her long hair fell down, drifting lightly at her waist.

A scene of beauty, strangely out of place amid the ruins.

At this moment, Lü Qing'er pulled a small cloth bag from her bosom, filled with dried fruit; she took a piece, chewing slowly to replenish her energy.

Suddenly, her chewing paused—she saw a graceful figure darting in.

Lü Qing'er glanced— it was Di Ti Faqing.

When she first entered the White Spirit Ruins, she had encountered Di Ti Faqing, who had been overjoyed to see her and immediately sought to tag along for easy points; Lü Qing'er had not refused, since they were classmates, and helping her slightly was no burden.

"Qing'er, you're giving girls everywhere such pride—holding down so many men all by yourself," Di Ti Faqing gushed with a grin.

Lü Qing'er smiled faintly: "It's not over yet."

Di Ti Faqing nodded: "This academy exam, Dong Yuan Academy is a real threat—I'm worried about Shi Kong."

"He is indeed a formidable opponent," Lü Qing'er did not deny it; even she felt threatened by Shi Kong.

"Yes, yes—in times like this, fellow academy students should help each other. So I just left a mark—this was a tip from Song Song Yunfeng before the exam. He said if I ever met you and felt you needed help, I should use this mark to signal him. If he sees it, he'll come to aid you," Di Ti Faqing smiled.

Lü Qing'er's chewing froze abruptly.

She turned her head toward Di Ti Faqing, her cold gaze sharpening sharply: "You said you left a signal for Song Song Yunfeng nearby?"

Di Ti Faqing flinched under that piercing stare and stammered: "Y-yes? What's wrong? Song Song Yunfeng is our Nan Feng Academy's second-ranked student—if he comes to help you, you won't have to fear Shi Kong."

Lü Qing'er stared at Di Ti Faqing for over a dozen seconds, then quietly tucked the cloth bag back into her bosom and rose, her expression icy.

"I'm leaving. Don't follow me."

"Qing'er—what's wrong? Did I do something wrong?" Di Ti Faqing hurriedly asked.

Lü Qing'er ignored her, lightly tapped her toe, and her slender form glided gracefully out of the ruined tower, landing on a pile of shattered rocks, ready to vanish swiftly.

Though she did not know what consequences Di Ti Faqing's signal might bring, she refused to expose her location—such exposure made her instinctively feel unsafe.

"I hope I'm overthinking this."

This thought crossed Lü Qing'er's mind.

Yet the instant she prepared to move, her body tensed sharply—the shattered rocks beneath her feet exploded outward, green light lashing out to coil around her ankles.

The attack came too suddenly.

But Lü Qing'er was not unprepared; facing the ambush, she remained calm, her toe tapping—icy phase energy surged forth.

The incoming green light froze instantly, revealing its true form: a green vine.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Applause echoed ahead—Lü Qing'er's face turned icy as she looked up, seeing a figure standing atop the broken walls, smiling at her.

It was Shi Kong.

And to her left, right, and behind, figures flashed into view one after another, cutting off every path of retreat and sealing her in completely.

"Lü Qing'er, got you." Xiang Liang's eyes blazed as he grinned.

Lü Qing'er now had Shi Kong before her, and to her left, right, and behind—Xiang Liang, Chi Su, and Zong Fu, three formidable opponents all ranked extremely high.

For a moment, this place was like a dead end.

And on a broken-down pavilion not far away, crystal stones flickered with light, projecting this scene onto the crystal wall at the foot of White Spirit Mountain.

Then the atmosphere at the foot of the mountain exploded.

(End of chapter)