While Xia Liang's team was still discussing their next moves, as the examination progressed, quite a few teams had already encountered other candidates.
Unlike the scenario during the first labyrinth examination, in this badge-stealing battle, the fights between candidates had sufficient justification and ample rewards for the winners. Therefore, most teams adopted a "fight on sight" approach. Due to this, by halfway through the first day, a considerable number of "defeated" candidates had already emerged.
These defeated candidates, who lost their number badges, weren't immediately eliminated but were certainly at a disadvantage. After all, each person's own badge counted for double points, and losing their own would mean they had to capture more badges to make up the score gap unless they managed to retrieve their lost one.
Of course, not every team engaged in blind battles with others because to be "defeated" early put one at a disadvantage.
At least, the candidates Lin Xiaolu and her companions encountered were such.
Strangely enough, whether by luck or misfortune, after leaving the initial small Sky Island, Lin Xiaolu's group started frequently running into other teams. However, Lin Xiaolu was no longer the same as during the labyrinth examination—many fellow candidates from the same year remembered her code name and appearance during the magic armor assessment.
Even though Lin Xiaolu had previously lost to Mu Mian, that was a matter between an SS rating and an S rating. Ordinary C or B ratings had no intention of going out of their way to provoke her. Therefore, if the other party recognized her, their first instinct was usually to retreat.
Initially, Lin Xiaolu and Bai Jingxuan had some desire to pursue, but Mint forcefully held the two of them back. With earnest explanations, she told them, "Chasing the enemy in this environment is like asking for trouble," first analyzing the possibility of an ambush set by the enemy, then the danger of being ambushed after consuming magic power in a chase. After their combined persuasion, Lin Xiaolu finally gave up on the thought.
But as they encountered more and more teams all fleeing upon sight, even Mint began to find something amiss.
"If every opponent we meet runs away, how are we supposed to score in this exam?" she couldn't help but ponder, "Relying only on baseline points isn't going to get us far."
"Weren't you the one who said don't chase, don't chase? Now you're backing out?" Lin Xiaolu said sarcastically from the side, "What, is Mint the Great going to overturn her previous conclusion?"
"No, I still believe I'm not wrong." Mint raised her chin, "Our team's ratings are relatively high, so keeping our own number badges safe is most crucial. Especially you, just holding onto your SS badge is enough to keep you at the top."
"Do you hear yourself? One moment it's 'our scores won't be great,' then suddenly it's 'top-ranked'?" Lin Xiaolu couldn't help but roll her eyes, "Can your stance be any more rigid?"
"I mean you'll be top-ranked, but I can't say the same for my ranking, is that so hard to understand?"
"So I proposed snatching badges for your points, right?"
"But that could very well be a trap. What if you lose your badge in an ambush?"
"Oh, so your plan is for us to go sightseeing for three days and two nights, letting every opponent that wants to flee, flee, hoping one day someone comes to challenge us, right?" Lin Xiaolu sneered, "Do you know the ancient saying from East Splendor Continent called 'waiting for a rabbit by the tree stump'? Want me to remind you what that story is about?"
"Someone's bound to come looking for you, you're an S rating after all."
Mint raised an eyebrow, "Aside from that, like Mu Mian, who has defeated you before, what if she wants to take your badge this exam? And Arrowroot, you haven't forgotten about challenging her before, have you?"
She was referring to the labyrinth exam, where Lin Xiaolu, trying to mediate Mint and Arrowroot's fight, actively sent a challenge to Arrowroot.
"Mu Mian… feels like she won't come again. She said she wanted to fight the real deal with magic armor; probably she's lost interest in me now."
Lin Xiaolu paused slightly, "As for Arrowroot… there's indeed such a person. Right, why didn't she come to find me during the last exam? I thought she was afraid."
"From what I know of her, probably because she doesn't like her fights being watched by others." Speaking of Arrowroot, Mint's expression visibly clouded, "So, rather than openly fighting you on a stand, she'll definitely find a less disturbed place to ambush you."
"How dark, sounds so sinister." Lin Xiaolu commented.
"She's inherently a sinister person." Mint said bluntly, "Which is why this exam's format is likely just what she wants."
"Candidates are scattered all over the sea of clouds, even if a fight occurs, it won't be seen by many… is that what you're saying?"
"That's what I'm saying." Mint nodded, "Or rather, it's quite possible that she's already looking for us."
"You say 'looking'?" Lin Xiaolu was somewhat incredulous, "In such a big exam venue, with everyone constantly moving, how can she look?"
To this, Mint didn't provide an exact answer, only stated that "Arrowroot has such capabilities."
Lin Xiaolu was not satisfied with this answer.
Although she was somewhat concerned about Arrowroot, she couldn't continue waiting like a fool. She thought their team should take the initiative to seize some badges for a steadier ranking.
So the two continued arguing, all the while exploring, but this time, for some reason, they didn't encounter any other teams on their path.
Lin Xiaolu gradually began to find it strange.
It wasn't just her; Bai Jingxuan and Mint also sensed something unusual, albeit to varying degrees. Though the surrounding scenery was still the same unchanging sea of clouds, compared to the areas they passed earlier, this region felt "dead, somewhat dark, even cold," almost like entering some kind of edge zone.
No, perhaps it wasn't merely an illusion.
Lin Xiaolu judged as such.
Because she realized this peculiar feeling wasn't unfamiliar to her. Since becoming a Magical Girl, she'd experienced this countless times.
This was the feeling of entering a "Residual Beast Territory."
Even if not a Pupa Stage and above Remnant Beast with its own lair, Remnant Beasts would still seek their habitat. And the closer to a Remnant Beast habitat, the more pronounced this strange feeling of entering another world would become.
Besides the Remnant Beasts, those who wielded the magic power of Remnant Beasts would also possess a similar aura. Including Bai Jingxuan, though her usual non-use of residual beast magic made her seem ordinary, using it would bring about this kind of mystique.
Currently, they were in an exam venue, and according to the exam rules, this exam didn't involve fighting Remnant Beasts at all.
So, what Lin Xiaolu was sensing at the moment was already becoming very clear.
—"I've been looking for you all."
An entirely black and red magical girl, at some point, had already appeared in front of Lin Xiaolu and her companions, her face adorned with an inexplicably intense smile:
"My good sister, Mint, and… Bai Mei and Bo Xue, right?"
