Chapter 501

"Why is there nothing here, only a cup of water?"

"I'm dying of thirst! I don't care anymore." Zhang Fei's throat felt like it was smoking.

"Wait! Look at this." Guan Yu picked up the words written on the ground,

"Drink the poisoned water, and you may proceed to the next stage."

"I'll do it!"

"I'm in great shape!"

Guan Yu, Ma Chao, Huang Zhong, and Zhang Fei argued incessantly.

"Stop quarreling—I'll drink it. With my combat power, this poison won't touch me." Lin Yu downed the water in one gulp.

"Tastes pretty good!" Lin Yu savored it carefully.

The others watched Lin Yu with concern.

"Big brother! How are you?" Guan Yu asked.

"How could I be anything but fine? The water's sweet, even delicious." Lin Yu smiled.

Seeing Lin Yu unharmed, the others finally let out their breaths.

"Hey! We've drunk it—don't you dare break your word!" Zhang Fei shouted when the next passage failed to appear.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The Badao Sect appeared before Zhang Fei's eyes.

"Now that's more like it!"

The group advanced toward the final trial.

"Wait! There's more writing!"

"The water is sugared water; the arrows are coated in poison."

Ma Chao read the words printed on the bottom of the cup.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a rain of arrows surged toward them.

The group dodged frantically, but Lin Yu merely smirked at the arrows hurtling toward him—they halted half a foot from his body and fell to the ground.

Lin Yu glanced around, confirmed everyone was unharmed, and saw Guan Yu and the others fully occupied with dodging.

Lin Yu nodded, wondering whether to adopt this arrow rain for future training to sharpen everyone's reflexes.

The few dodging within the formation could never have imagined Lin Yu was contemplating "training" them.

The arrow rain ceased after one minute.

"Is anyone hurt?"

Having escaped the arrows, the group checked on each other—but completely ignored Lin Yu nearby, for they had clearly seen how the arrows could not penetrate his body, as if surrounded by an absolute domain.

With the arrow formation gone, everyone lowered their guard, preparing to break the final gate and exit.

Suddenly, the surrounding air turned bitterly cold.

"Demon qi!"

Lin Yu froze for a moment.

"Stay alert—the danger isn't over," Lin Yu warned.

Guan Yu and the others also sensed it.

A shadow lunged at Ma Chao—he had no idea what was happening.

"Ma Chao, dodge!" Lin Yu shouted.

Lin Yu was already before Ma Chao, one hand gripping the shadow.

"Chimei!" Lin Yu recognized the demonic qi in the creature he held.

Its combat power neared twenty thousand—far surpassing Ma Chao and the others.

"Second brother!" As Lin Yu restrained the Chimei, another shadow surged toward Guan Yu. Guan Yu dodged instantly upon hearing the warning—but still suffered a wound; black qi seeped from his skin.

"Poisoned!"

"Get out of here now!" Lin Yu told Guan Yu and the others, staying alert for further attacks from the demon.

Zhang Fei helped Guan Yu away; Lin Yu waited, found no trace of demonic qi, and left the formation.

Hum!

After Lin Yu stepped out of the formation, the Eight Gates Golden Lock Array began to dissolve; the group reappeared in the Eastern Han Academy, where Zhao Yun stood pale and lifeless on the ground.

Outside the Eastern Han Academy gate, after Lin Yu's group escaped the labyrinthine Eight Gates Golden Lock Array, excited cheers erupted from the crowd.

Li Ru of Hedong High, seeing this, led his subordinates away in haste.

Zhang Fei supported Guan Yu on one side; the pale Zhao Yun slowly approached.

"I'm sorry! I was too reckless, got trapped in the array, and dragged everyone into danger." Zhao Yun apologized to Lin Yu.

Lin Yu waved his hand with a calm smile. "On life's path, impulsive acts are inevitable." Then he walked to Guan Yu. "Second brother, how severe is your wound? Any unusual symptoms?"

Guan Yu shook his head slightly. "I don't feel much—should be fine after a few days' rest."

Zhang Fei frowned. "The wound's black—it doesn't look harmless at all."

Lin Yu understood. "If there's no strong reaction now, it's not a lethal poison. Come with me to Mount Tiandang later—there's a divine physician there who can treat you. I also have a favor to ask of them."

"Yes, Big Brother!"

Wang Yun, Cao Cao, Diao Chan, and Xiao Qiao approached with joyful expressions; Wang Yun laughed heartily.

"Hahahaha! You all are truly my academy's students—you shattered the Eight Gates Golden Lock Array and preserved the academy's honor! I hereby grant you the title 'Five Tiger Generals of Eastern Han'—from now on, you'll never face suspension or expulsion!"

Diao Chan and Xiao Qiao walked over, holding medals.

Lin Yu quickly declined. "Principal, give the medal to Zhao Yun—he fought just as hard to break the array. I barely lifted a finger inside."