Chapter 141: As I Am the Master

Trust is mutual.

Guarding against is also mutual.

Lin Ke was guarding against Aeris and Meng Luo's backstab.

Aeris and Meng Luo were likewise guarding against Lin Ke's backstab.

Human hearts cannot withstand temptation.

Human hearts also change easily.

So it's still better to have a bit more caution; that's more appropriate.

Aeris did not rush to dispel the protective shield.

Instead, she first took out the control smart brain for releasing the eagle from her small bag and implemented surveillance over the underground concealed works area.

She confirmed that Lin Ke and his team, after entering the underground concealed works, had no movement of coming out.

Only then did Aeris use violent means to shatter the wobbling protective shield.

Several casts of water-system replenishing technique and wood-system returning-to-origin technique were applied to the unconscious crowd, easing the impact they had suffered.

Meng Luo was the first to wake from unconsciousness.

"How's the situation?"

Opening his eyes, he felt dazed for a moment, then became a bit clearer, Meng Luo first asked a sentence,

Then he abruptly changed his face and angrily said, "Are you crazy? To save a stranger, you threw two 'Death Bells' at our heads in succession? Are you afraid we won't die miserably enough?"

The big killer is the joking name of the Selin wizard.

Lin Ke has always used it.

Its real name is Death Bell, and its meaning is exactly literal.

Ring the Death Bell, send people to death.

"Hehe..."

Aeris gave an embarrassed smile, "I got carried away, please understand, please understand."

Speaking, Aeris's tone shifted, revealing a hint of dismissiveness, "But it's not as serious as you say; at worst we get eliminated, we won't really blow you up!"

"You..."

Meng Luo instantly became angry.

This is the Two Districts Grand Comparison; is being eliminated not serious?

Just as he opened his mouth, he forcibly swallowed the words back.

Forget it, Aeris is just that crazy personality; dwelling on this is useless.

Next time she encounters a similar situation, she'll still dare!

Saying anything is pointless.

"Come on, let's go back."

Meng Luo simply couldn't be bothered with Aeris, painfully climbed up, then helped each companion up one by one.

Once everyone was somewhat awake, he led the people to quickly leave the deep pit.

It's not only Lin Ke who knows earthworks.

Meng Luo's team also dug out underground works with strong defensive capability.

Right at the foot of both mountains.

According to the original plan, after the two teams flank from left and right, they would confine the pursuers in the trap area, inflict as much damage as possible, then trigger the trap.

Before that, they needed to promptly disengage from entanglement and withdraw to the safe zones on both sides.

Who would have thought, Aeris went crazy and directly threw two "Death Bells" from the sky.

Without regard for what the consequences would be.

Everyone from Meng Luo's team and Aeris's team almost got wiped out.

Now everyone is in poor condition; the two teams didn't separate, entered the same works, and each rested.

Meng Luo set up the guard, approached Aeris, and directly asked, "Where are their people?"

Aeris was holding a small knife, peeling a fruit to eat.

She put a piece in her mouth, and while chewing, said, "They went underground."

"This was prepared early on to guard against us."

Meng Luo, seeming thoughtful, said with deep meaning.

"Hey."

Aeris snorted, "It seems we weren't guarding against him either."

Meng Luo found Aeris's stance unpredictable, constantly changing, with no way to deal with it.

He originally wanted to chat a bit more about other things, but simply decided not to.

To avoid getting choked again.

Making himself angry to death.

He simply returned to his own rest area, lay down, and began to snore loudly.

Having dealt with this wave of pursuers, he should be able to have a relatively long breather.

The heartstrings don't need to be so tense anymore.

A hill relatively far from the mountain basin.

The leaders of several first-year apprentice organizations from the North District, who had been assigned to the opposing camp, gathered together and gazed afar at the mountain basin.

After the battle broke out, the aerial reconnaissance wizard device suffered interference from explosions, flames, and dust, making the displayed image not particularly clear.

When the mushroom cloud erupted, it became completely impossible to see clearly.

However, everyone present was not of lowly insight; they could naturally guess what had happened.

"They won't be coming back."

A man with a somewhat gloomy appearance said indifferently, "I said Montluo daring to stay there must have set a trap. Be careful, don't be reckless, you guys just won't listen!"

"So what?"

Beside them, a woman exuding a cold aura, her demeanor like ice, making people unconsciously keep their distance, snorted, "Even if sixty-something people are all used up, we can still summon more sixty-something. I don't believe Airisi and Mengluo's reserves are endless, able to keep draining us!"

"I agree with continuing to wear them down."

A plump man with a fair complexion, habitually narrowed eyes, and a friendly smile on his face chimed in: "That crazy woman Airisi still has strong combat and destructive power, and she's wealthy. If we don't drain her reserves, any of us who faces her will suffer."

"I didn't say we should attack now!"

The gloomy-looking man, repeatedly targeted, snorted in dissatisfaction, "I'm just saying, to wipe out Airisi and Mengluo and eliminate so many people is not worth it. Those few who have joined the positive camp, sitting back while we mobilize forces to besiege Airisi and Mengluo, what's their motive? You wouldn't guess. Even if we don't fear losses, after wiping them out, what would we gain?"

He paused, the gloomy man scanning the two who had vaguely united against him, and emphasized word by word: "You'll get nothing!"

That statement is certainly not alarmist.

It is grounded in evidence and worth pondering.

A tall, burly man who had been silently watching the three argue spoke up to mediate: "Alright, stop arguing. Since we're on the same side, we should cooperate sincerely, not stir up internal conflict like the other side."

The burly man smiled, shifting the topic: "Cuixi Luqia was eliminated so early—something I never expected. The Pureblood Will people, because Airisi participated, actually rallied those of the positive camp to isolate that crazy woman Airisi. Quite amusing, quite interesting."

"Speaking of the Pureblood Will bunch, I suddenly recalled—they weren't preparing to besiege Linke Grand, were they?"

The gloomy man gave a sinister chuckle, "I just saw that guy here too—he's damn fierce, his witchcraft casting skills are damn awesome! Not at all like a country bumpkin from Storm Sea! More ferocious than that crazy woman Airisi. Just summon the Pureblood Will and let their positive camp annihilate each other. We can sit and watch the outcome, then clean up the remnants—wouldn't that be better than a head‑on clash?"

"Hmph!"

The ice‑cold woman squeezed out a sound from her nostrils, expressing her displeasure.

She and Airisi share a deep grudge, so she naturally does not want to miss the chance to personally teach Airisi a lesson.

Unfortunately, she cannot blindly oppose this suggestion that is clearly beneficial to everyone.

Otherwise, she will eventually be kicked out of the inner circle.

"This idea is good; I like it."

The fair‑skinned plump man chuckled and clapped, "Let them fight like dogs."

The burly man smiled, "Shall I contact them over there?"

"Sure."

"No problem."

"I don't object."

The gloomy man, the fair‑skinned plump man, and the ice‑cold woman each spoke differently, but their attitudes were the same.

After reaching an agreement, the few withdrew from the hill.

Mountain basin, riverside, deep underground.

Lin Ke entered the concealed fortification, relieved that the structure was still fairly stable, with no danger of collapse.

He saw Mo Li and Lan Ni. Tai Le facing off, the atmosphere tense.

"What's going on?"

Stepping between them, slightly leaning toward Mo Li's side, Lin Ke blocked their line of sight and asked.

Mo Li snorted angrily, "You ask her whether she can even control her own people! And she keeps saying everything follows orders—her talk is like farting!"

"Why don't you go rest first?"

Lin Ke looked at Mo Li, softening his tone as much as possible, and said, "Go rest first."

Same words, same content, different tone.

Upon hearing this, Mo Li's anger quickly dissipated; she truly abandoned the standoff and turned to leave.

Lin Ke then turned his gaze to Lan Ni. Tai Le, saying nothing, merely staring quietly into her eyes.

Lan Ni. Tai Le responded calmly, meeting Lin Ke's gaze.

After a long while, Lin Ke was sure Lan Ni. Tai Le had no intention of speaking first to explain, so he politely said:

"Yisike's actions, I'll assume you were unaware and can forgive them. But please explain what just happened, okay?"

"Okay."

Lan Ni. Tai Le nodded, weighed her words, and said:

"Earlier, you suddenly rushed out, Mo Li immediately took over command and issued orders. My troops didn't execute right away, causing a slight delay. Mo Li has just been questioning me about this, demanding an explanation."

"Ugh..."

Lin Ke pondered for a moment and asked, "May I know why the delay occurred?"

Upon hearing this, Lan Ni. Tai Le bit her lip and replied, "Because they weren't sure whether, after you left, they should accept Mo Li's command, so they waited a bit for my instructions."

"I understand."

Having clarified the situation, Lin Ke thought a bit, made a decision, and still politely asked, "I indeed never clarified the chain of command on the battlefield; this is partly my fault. But after this experience, I think such a situation won't happen again, right?"

Does Lin Ke really bear responsibility?

In Lin Ke's team, Mo Li has always been the second‑in‑command.

When Lin Ke is absent, Mo Li commanding is natural and proper.

It was Lan Ni. Tai Le and her group who actively sought to join Lin Ke's team, not Lin Ke begging them to join.

Out of respect for Lan Ni. Tai Le and other considerations, we didn't disband her team.

But command authority is a matter of unspoken convention.

Lan Ni. Tai Le is smart; she doesn't need it spelled out—she should naturally have this tacit understanding.

Lin Ke taking the blame on himself is just giving Lan Ni. Tai Le a way to save face.

"No way!"

Lan Ni replied decisively.

Sure?

Sure!

Good. Then, I hope you follow through.

Lin Ke's expression was solemn, his tone serious: 'If I can't do it, then I can only apologize when the time comes.'

Hmm, I understand.

Lan Ni's eyes dimmed slightly; her face hidden behind the veil couldn't be seen clearly, but it certainly wasn't good.

Returning to her nine teammates, Lan Ni felt somewhat weary.

But she soon perked up.

The path she chose, she will walk it even if she has to crawl.

Looking at her teammates waiting for her to speak, Lan Ni didn't blame them, but calmly said: 'I've secured an opportunity for everyone, including myself. If any problems arise again, we won't need them to drive us away; we'll leave on our own, slinking away. Got it?'

Got it.

The nine team members hung their heads, responding listlessly.

Alright. Let's just leave it at that; everyone should think carefully about whether personal emotions matter more, or the Two Districts Grand Comparison, rankings, and resource benefits.

Lan Ni waved her hand, not wanting to say more.

A sounding drum doesn't need a heavy mallet.

Those who should understand will naturally understand.

Those who don't awaken will never change, even in death.

On the other side.

Mo Li stared fixedly at Lin Ke and asked, 'Why take such a risk?'

Lin Ke knew what Mo Li was asking about.

Even though the pursuers were momentarily disrupted by Yi Si Ke's actions, it was indeed a good opportunity for a counterattack.

But Lin Ke recklessly leapt out of the trench and launched a charge, which was overly rash.

This battle, from the very start, did not belong to them.

There's no need to risk one's life for someone else's battle.

'Because there are countless harder battles waiting for us.'

Lin Ke responded to Mo Li's gaze, giving an explanation: 'When I first entered the academy, I wanted to stay low-key, build up some strength, then talk about other things.'

But the academy's rules and settings in every aspect are 'forcing' us to reveal our talents.

To acquire resources and grow better and faster, I half‑voluntarily, half‑forcedly changed my conduct.

After entering this world, I've always wondered why the academy named this Two Districts Grand Comparison 'Extraterrestrial Reclamation'.

Even though the seven side quests are meant to guide us to understand, investigate, and research this world's ecology.

But what wilderness can be reclaimed in a world without natives, a world on the brink of destruction?

Later I figured it out.

What the academy wants us to reclaim is not this world, but our hearts after entering this world.

And what the academy wants will surely come to pass!

After a pause, Lin Ke asked meaningfully: 'Can you, for your own benefit, disregard all the myriad beings of this world?'

Mo Li opened her mouth, wanting to answer 'able'.

But just as the words reached her lips, she suddenly recalled the mural in the secret passage.

The gods high above this world once disregarded all myriad beings—what fate did they meet?

She swallowed the words back, and Mo Li began to ponder the deep meaning of Lin Ke's question.

After a long while, considering this is the academy's Two Districts Grand Comparison, Mo Li linked Lin Ke's words with the academy's main and side quests to think about them.

Suddenly, Mo Li's eyes lit up.

She figured it out!

Meeting Lin Ke's expectant gaze, Mo Li replied in a soft voice but with firm tone: 'I can!'

The nature of a wizard is cold-bloodedness and rationality.

If saving this strange world requires great personal sacrifice, why save it?

If destroying this strange world brings no benefit to oneself, why destroy it?

All things, with me as the master.

One cannot be bound by so‑called factions and stances.

This might be one of the deeper meanings behind the academy's arrangement of this Two Districts Grand Comparison.

To let wizard apprentices lay the mental foundation for becoming qualified wizards.

If so, from the small we can see the large.

For the academy, 'with me as the master' naturally means the academy's interests come first.

What Lin Ke said—that countless harder battles await them—is thus easy to understand.

If the academy wants to develop and grow, it cannot avoid participating in competition.

Competition will produce conflict.

To resolve conflict, there are only two ways: reconciliation or war.

Therefore, in the foreseeable future, countless academy wars await Lin Ke, Mo Li, the Benevolent Brother Group, the Social Anxiety Group, and everyone.

Now, not taking advantage of the academy's death‑exemption mechanism to accumulate more combat experience,

is it to wait until later, when we step onto the life‑and‑death battlefield, and then learn on the spot?

"It's still too risky."

"Even though she had figured these out, Mo Li still couldn't help but voice her complaint, 'You must never let there be a next time!'"

"Hmm."

"Lin Ke nodded, not knowing whether he had actually listened."

"Will he change for Mo Li?"

"(End of chapter)"