Chapter 62: Conclusion
The strongest fear is the pain one believes is about to come. Lin Yuan’s words disappeared into the gentle wind. Behind him, the massive forest’s exit barrier continued to shimmer faintly, while Chen Ming stood beside Lin Yuan with a confused expression on his face.
"Asked politely..." Chen Ming murmured, rubbing his chin. "Since when did Gu Fang Xin become such a generous person?"
"Perhaps my face looked trustworthy," Lin Yuan stopped, slowly turning his head.
"Bullshit," Chen Ming ranted, immediately rejecting Lin Yuan’s words.
Lin Yuan shrugged before walking toward a nearby stone bench.
The first three winners had already emerged from the Academy Great Forest. Chen Ming, Chi Fenglian, Lin Yuan, and only two jade crystals remained.
Inside the Academy Great Forest, the remaining groups were still searching desperately for the remaining exits. The atmosphere outside the forest had become strangely tense and suffocating.
Teng Lianhua stood still, his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes slowly darted through the exits of the forest. Three of the five exits are dimmed and the other two exits shimmering with bright light.
"Hmph..." Teng Lianhua muttered, stroking his chin. "Let us see who takes the remaining places."
****
Inside the Academy Great Forest.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three figures rushed through the dense canopy.
Teng Haoran led from the front, while Chi Ruyan and Huo Luo Ren followed him in a paces behind him, their robes were torn. And small, faint wounds covered their bodies after the confrontation with the Rank 3 Wind-type Cicada.
But, neither of them stopped. A faint jade shimmer sluggishly appeared between the distant trees.
"It is there!" Huo Luo Ren shouted, pointing his hand toward the shine.
"Don’t rush blindly," Chi Ruyan muttered, his chest heaving rapidly. "That light has appeared three times already."
Teng Haoran stopped, his eyes locked onto the path. Huo Luo Ren nearly slammed into his back.
"What the hell?!" Huo Luo Ren yelled before coming to a halt.
"Shhhh... Quiet," Teng Lianhua gestured without turning his head.
Teng Haoran raised his hand, and instantly the two disciples became silent. A gentle sound echoed from somewhere ahead.
Drip! Drip! Drip!
It was the sound of water. Teng Haoran slowly walked toward the direction of the sound. The bushes gradually separated, revealing a small waterfall flowing down from a rocky wall. The clean, transparent water fell into a pond before continuing through a narrow stream.
There was no exit or a jade crystal. Huo Luo Ren’s face twitched in anger.
"Another fucking false path?" Huo Luo Ren grunted, clicking his tongue.
"No," Chi Ruyan frowned, pointing toward the waterfall. "Look."
Behind the falling water, something was glowing. Teng Haoran’s eyes tapered in anxiety. The jade glow they had been following wasn’t coming from an exit, it came from behind the waterfall.
"Hahaha..." Teng Haoran laughed, clenching his fists tight. "Finally!!"
He immediately stepped into the pond, rushing toward the light.
Splash! Splash!
Chi Ruyan and Huo Luo Ren followed him. The three disciples crossed the pond and moved into the waterfall.
Behind there was a small crater, engraved inside the wall. At the center of the crater rested a shimmering crystal. It was the jade crystal.
"We found it!" Huo Luo Ren flabbergasted, rushing forward to take the crystal.
"Wait." Teng Haoran bellowed, taking a step forward.
"What now?" Huo Luo Ren frowned, clicking his tongue.
"Look at the ground," Teng Lianhua murmured, his eyes locked onto the ground. There are thin holes in front of the wall.
"It’s a trap!" Chi Ruyan elucidated, staggering backward.
Teng Haoran picked up a small stone and threw it toward the jade crystal. Nothing happened.
"Hahaha! There is nothing!" Teng Haoran muttered, laughing slightly.
Teng Haoran carefully observed the jade crystal, his eyes slowly darted across the floor.
"But," Huo Luo Ren stuttered, clasping his hands near his chest. "We can’t risk it! Maybe there is a trap, and the small stone can’t trigger it."
"Tsk! Okay I am taking the crystal!" Teng Haoran grinned, rushing forward.
In an instant, he dug his hand into the crater, grabbing the jade crystal tightly. He sluggishly took the jade crystal out. And nothing happened.
"I did it!" Teng Haoran whispered.
"Hahaha!" Huo Luo Ren laughed, patting on Teng Haoran’s back. "We did it!"
Teng Haoran walked past slowly and pivoted his body toward Huo Luo Ren and Chi Ruyan. He looked at the crystal, then toward Chi Ruyan, and Huo Luo Ren. The atmosphere became silent.
"You take it," Huo Luo Ren sighed, nodding his head.
"No argument?" Teng Haoran flattered, his eyes filled in disdain.
"You found the Cicada’s attack rhythm." Chi Ruyan muttered, crossing his arms. "You also noticed the jade reflection and found the crystal."
"Tsk! Take it and leave," Huo Luo Ren clicked his tongue. "Just leave before I change my mind."
"Then..." Teng Haoran smirked, seeing the jade crystal. "I shall accept."
He walked toward the distant exit and passed through it. A few minutes later, the mysterious voice of the forest thundered across the Academy Great Forest.
"Fourth to clear the trial was a disciple from Teng Clan — Teng Haoran!"
Outside the forest, Teng Lianhua grinned in excitement. A faint pride appeared in his eyes.
"Haoran..." Teng Lianhua whispered, crossing his arms at his back. "Not bad."
Lin Yuan glanced toward him, and Teng Lianhua immediately noticed.
"What are you looking at?" Teng Lianhua boasted, his eyes darting toward Lin Yuan.
"Nothing, Master."
"Your face says something else."
"I merely witnessed a proud master pretending not to be proud." Lin Yuan smirked, sluggishly looking away.
"Do you want another ten punches?" Teng Lianhua beamed, cracking his fists.
Lin Yuan immediately became silent. Chen Ming covered his mouth.
"Pfft..." Teng Lianhua grunted, darting his head toward Chen Ming. "Laugh and you will join him."
"I didn’t laugh, Master." Chen Ming’s face became serious instantly.
Boom!
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the forest, a tree vehemently collapsed.
"Fuck!" Lian Nichang tumbled across the ground before quickly standing. He smeared blood from the corner of his lips. "That bastard mole is dead, but why are there so many beasts in this area?!"
A few paces away, Xiao Yanrui stood calmly, his red hair fluttered slightly. Beside him, Xiao Lanxue breathed vehemently while observing the surroundings.
The three disciples had already defeated the Rank 3 Fire-type Mole, but their journey had become increasingly difficult. They had encountered two Rank 1 beasts and another Rank 2 beast while searching for the exit.
"We should take a rest for a bit." Xiao Lanxue leaned against a tree.
"No." Xiao Yanrui muttered, nodding his head.
"You don’t get tired?" Lian Nichang frowned, his face filled with contempt.
"I do," Xiao Yanrui boasted, his chest heaving slightly. "And the others also get tired."
Xiao Yanrui’s cold eyes moved toward the pathway. "That is exactly why we cannot rest."
Lian Nichang remained silent, and Xiao Yanrui continued walking. "While we stand here recovering... someone else may take the crystal."
"He is right," Xiao Lanxue slowly pushed herself away from the tree.
"Of course you will support your brother," Lian Nichang mumbled, clicking his tongue.
"He is still right."
"Whatever." Lian Nichang started following Xiao siblings.
The three continued forward. After a few minutes, Xiao Yanrui stopped, his eyes moving toward a large tree.
"What?" Lian Nichang groaned, checking his surroundings.
Xiao Yanrui didn’t answer. He walked toward one of the trees. A long scratch was visible across the bark. He moved toward another, and he saw another scratch. The same height, and the same direction.
"Claw marks?" Xiao Lanxue asked, smearing the scratch on a tree.
"No." Xiao Yanrui touched the damaged bark. "These were made deliberately."
"By whom?"
"Maybe... the academy masters..." Xiao Yanrui elucidated, a faint smirk escaping his lips.
"How do you know?" Lian Nichang asked, his expression sharpening.
"Beasts don’t mark trees at exactly the same height." Xiao Yanrui pointed toward the ground. He looked ahead toward the other trees. "And the scratches are pointing toward the east."
"The academy gave us clues." Xiao Yanrui smiled, a cunning gaze appeared on his face. "We were simply too stupid to notice them."
Without wasting another moment, Xiao Yanrui rushed toward the direction. The other two followed Xiao Yanrui.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Their exhausted footsteps echoed through the forest. After nearly ten minutes, the trees suddenly disappeared. Before them stood a narrow rocky passage. At its end, a jade crystal hovered above a stone platform.
"Finally!" Lian Nichang flabbergasted, clasping his hands.
The three disciples rushed forward, and nothing happened. They stopped before the crystal, an eerie silence consumed over the forest.
Again, the same problem appeared. One crystal, and three disciples.
"Why does every good moment end with the shit?" Lian Nichang grunted, rubbing his temples.
"Yanrui," Xiao Lanxue glanced toward her brother.
Xiao Yanrui remained silent.
"You found the clue," Lian Nichang sighed, turning around. "Take it."
"You are giving up?" Xiao Yanrui raised his eyebrow.
"Don’t misunderstand," Lian Nichang clicked his tongue. "If I found the pathway, I wouldn’t give either of you a single chance."
"That sounds more believable," Xiao Lanxue smiled faintly.
Xiao Yanrui took the crystal, and he didn’t thank them because he won the crystal. He merely peeked toward his sister.
"Wait outside," Xiao Lanxue mumbled, nodding her head.
"What about me?" Lian Nichang asked, his face twitching slightly.
Xiao Yanrui didn’t answer, silently walked toward the exit.
Whoosh!
The barrier opened, the mysterious forest’s voice thundered across the area.
"Fifth to clear the trial was a disciple from Xiao Clan — Xiao Yanrui!"
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