As the schools moved into the elimination phase, the scores on the crystal wall began to change more and more rapidly, reflecting just how intense things were.
Numerous pairs of eyes were all riveted on the wall. Occasional gasps or groans could be heard as they each monitored their own students.
Cai Wei and Yan Lingqing were also watching their Young Lord's score. When they saw his score increase, both relaxed into a smile.
"The Young Lord is doing his best," Cai Wei said coyly, gently fanning herself with an intricate, flower-patterned fan.
"He probably hasn't met any strong enemies yet. As the round wears on, all that will be left are the stronger survivors. Then his true mettle will be tested," Yan Lingqing reminded her.
Cai Wei's smile was still bright as a flower. "Still, I believe the Young Lord can do it."
"So confident?"
"Because handsomeness is justice," Cai Wei said piously.
"You and your nonsense." Yan Lingqing propped her silver-rimmed glasses higher and turned away.
.....
In the dense forest.
Ting!
Li Luo and the others had surrounded one unlucky bastard. Before his desperate eyes, they cleaned out his points, leaving a tearful, dejected slump in their wake.
"We're at 1,500 points already."
Li Luo looked at their crystal medallions. They had spent most of the morning gathering these points, farming them off a school of greedy and unfortunate fish.
"Seems like the river's running dry though," Zhao Kuo fretted. In the last hour, that unlucky chump had been their only catch.
"Word of our fishing reputation's getting around," Li Luo said.
Their morning of fishing had not gone without its own hiccups. Some fish had slipped away due to their uncommon ability. They would definitely spread the word about the Li Luo Fishing Company.
Pre-warned students would not take the bait.
"Well, fishing was never going to get us the win. As more and more people get eliminated, the time will come when we have to fight," Li Luo said, unconcerned.
Zhao Kuo and Yu Lang nodded. They knew this too.
The three were biding their time, even while on the move. They continued a cautious foray forwards, but they soon realized that there was a thin mist building around them the more they moved forward.
It started to thicken rapidly.
Li Luo paused, frowning. "Something's off. We're retreating."
They turned immediately, retracing the path they had come from.
After a few minutes, Li Luo turned around and saw that Yu Lang and Zhao Kuo had mysteriously vanished.
Li Luo thought for a moment. He searched the nearby bushes and found clumps of a grey mushroom. These fungi were responsible for emitting the disorienting mist.
"Misleading Mushrooms..."
Li Luo gnashed his teeth. The mist from these mushrooms could cause one to confuse directions and even lose track of time and space.
Yu Lang and Zhao Kuo must have stumbled off, and now they were lost.
"What a pickle."
Li Luo stomped down on the Misleading Mushrooms. Although the fog was troublesome, it should be finite. If he waited for it to clear a little, he should be able to find the others.
At the same time, some distance away in the fog.
Zhao Kuo and Yu Lang were together, and they had also discovered that Li Luo had gone missing. Uncomfortable as it was, they could only advance cautiously.
After some time, they heard footsteps from up ahead and perked up happily. Zhao Kuo called out tentatively, "Brother Luo?"
The footsteps got crisper, and soon a figure appeared before them. Their faces changed.
It was not Li Luo. It was, however, a familiar face.
The one who had tried to snatch their Spectral Face fruit, Eastpool Academy's Lian Zhong!
He smiled coldly at them. "No Li Luo, but instead the two lackeys."
Zhao Kuo and Yu Lang wasted no time in beating it. They had walked into his trap, even though it was meant for Li Luo.
But just as they turned, two others dropped down into their path of escape, cutting them off.
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