GAMMT - Chapter 68
Chapter 68: Flame Dragon
When Little Skinner fell, everyone thought the dungeon was over, but a cheerful nursery rhyme echoed in their ears.
"Little Skinner, Little Skinner, playful and curious, entered the village, naughty and mischievous, playing games with the villagers. It's cold underground, get up, get up, Little Skinner is leaving."
"Get up, get up, Little Skinner is leaving."
"Get up, and die together."
Cheerful, yet eerie and cruel.
Damn.
"There's more?! Everyone, be careful!"
"On guard, gather up!"
"Get ready!"
This was likely the final wave, the necromancer's last sacrifice—he himself was the final undead offering.
Hearing this sound, Shen Qixi's brow twitched, and she looked at Fu Chuan along with the Lin siblings.
Her judgment had been correct.
The necromancer did indeed have a final, powerful move like an undead offering. They had just assumed it would be something he did while alive, not after his death.
It made sense. Little Skinner never had a chance while he was alive; he'd been tricked and trapped by Xie Keli from the very beginning.
Once, when he entered the village, there was no turning back for the villagers.
Now that he had entered this village, the same was true for him.
Perhaps this was a form of karma. The final wave of undead sacrifice was merely his desperate, unwilling struggle.
There seemed to be many mobs, but to these candidates, they were just points.
Over a hundred candidates from the three cities remained. They had all been exhausted, but the sight of more mobs to farm for points, and the realization that the dungeon wasn't completely over, made them jolt up as if from a deathbed, instantly revitalized.
For their prospects, for their future, for their families—charge!
"What are you waiting for? Get ready to fight! There are still 35 minutes left!"
"Quick, quick! Group up!"
"Dammit, the big goose and little goose pecked away so many of my points! I have to make them back, let's go!"
"Hey, you over there, tell your big and little geese to back off, fuck!"
Many people were focused on the perimeter, knowing the mobs would soon burst from the ground. Others were focused on the Lin siblings, especially Lin Hangjing, shouting for her to control her Little White Goose and stop it from pecking at allies.
But just then, Lin Hangjing and Lin Chengxiu sensed something was wrong. Lin Hangjing, in particular, noticed that Barbara was gone. A thought flickered in her mind, and the two of them immediately decided to withdraw.
However, it was too late.
With a soft pop, they were kicked from the team. Then… a massive amount of Light Stream pierced through their bodies from behind.
It passed through their backs.
It wasn't just the two of them. Every single person here—except for a fifteen-year-old little dwarf—was impaled.
Liu Yun was the most cunning and perceptive among them. He had been keeping a close watch on Fu Chuan's movements. Seeing that she had no intention of dealing with them, he hadn't rushed to withdraw, but he had shot a look at his own people, telling them to be wary.
But he never expected to be backstabbed while waiting to farm mobs.
The one who backstabbed them…
Before being eliminated from the exam, he turned his head and saw that deadbeat scum from Jingyang still squatting on the Gnome BOSS's head, stroking Little Skinner's corpse while watching them.
Behind her… the vanished Barbara had reappeared.
And that eerie voice had also disappeared. The seemingly turbulent space instantly returned to normal.
Her expression and posture weren't particularly special, but they sent a throbbing pain through Liu Yun's and the others' minds. A single thought buzzed in their heads: there was no undead sacrifice. It was just a disguise, an illusion created by Barbara to attract their attention, making it convenient for her to launch a sneak attack and backstab a huge group of people with her Light Stream.
"Fuck!"
Before the hundred-plus candidates from the three cities were eliminated, 99% of them collectively cursed their lungs out.
Then they vanished.
Shen Qixi stood frozen, then it dawned on her. Her face pale, she asked calmly, "I understand dealing with those two as payback for them plotting against you. But why didn't you just eliminate me?"
Fu Chuan was still in the middle of the corpse-looting progress bar. She raised an eyebrow at her. "I don't kill underage dwarf children."
Shen Qixi felt that if she were just a bit more hot-headed and impulsive, she might have exploded on the spot and quit the competition. But she didn't.
"Out with it. What do you need me to do?"
"Wait a moment."
The looting progress bar finished, but Fu Chuan immediately stored the items away. Not even Shen Qixi, let alone the people outside, saw what she got. But she didn't care; it was Fu Chuan's loot anyway, and she had already benefited greatly.
Fu Chuan then proceeded to loot the Gnome BOSS's corpse before turning to Shen Qixi. "There is indeed something I need your help with."
"What is it?"
Fu Chuan tossed her a shovel.
"Help me dig a hole."
"?"
The fifteen-year-old, one-and-a-half-meter-tall dwarf, an underage girl, stoically shouldered a shovel taller than herself and went to find a place to dig.
But by then, the screen had gone dark. The dungeon was officially over; the time just hadn't run out yet, so she didn't have to leave.
The waiting area fell silent for a moment, but the corridor was in an uproar, likely filled with the cursing of the eliminated candidates.
Fu Chuan and the other remaining person also received the notification that the exam process was over and the announcement screen was closing.
It's over.
Fu Chuan didn't really want to go out, as a sense of unease lingered in her heart. But that didn't stop her from finishing what she needed to do.
She went to the morgue and searched around. She eventually found that the place where Little Skinner's private space had been was now a normal room. Opening the door, she detected Little Skinner's scent; he probably used to sleep here.
Actually, she didn't need to search too carefully. The dungeon was over, the main BOSS was knocked out, and the rewards would naturally appear—just like how 'Sister Lin' had received the Little White Goose as the reward for the second stage.
It was a tangible benefit.
So, as the most important and difficult part of the exam, where was the reward for the third stage?
Fu Chuan held out her hand, looking at the two items in it.
One was Little Skinner's private space.
The other was a pet essence bead dropped by the Gnome Merchant BOSS.
These were the greatest rewards the dungeon had given her so far. The private space went without saying; she had been extremely envious when she first saw it.
Little Skinner's Private Space: A special space that integrates the functions of residence, hiding, and imprisonment. Can be upgraded after the binder reaches Level 30.
This private space could be used for hiding and recuperating while grinding in the wild, and could even be used to trap people. Not to mention its functions after she reached Level 30—it was incredibly powerful.
The Gnome Merchant BOSS was a Level 29 Blue-tier BOSS, and the pet essence bead it dropped contained a formidable amount of energy, comparable to a thousand Vitality Element Essence Beads.
Previously, Fu Chuan had practically bankrupted herself just to raise the Little Locust to Level 10. Obtaining this pet essence bead was a huge help.
Fu Chuan planned to feed it to the Little Locust, but according to her plan, she wouldn't do it just yet.
After all, she was still in the dungeon.
But the value of these items couldn't compare to the Little White Goose, could it? Fu Chuan felt there should be more rewards. After rummaging through Little Skinner's bedroom, she quickly found a box in a drawer. When she opened it, she froze at the sight of its contents.
Inside the box lay a vial of potion.
It contained a jade-green liquid.
She inspected the item and immediately saw its description: "Gene Blood Lure, born from Little Skinner's research."
Some people might not understand this. In fact, this item belonged to a category of knowledge not taught in ordinary academies or standard courses, because most people would never have a use for it in their entire lives.
Because it could only be used for bloodline replacement among nobles.
Only those with a noble bloodline had the potential to advance to Green Blood, Blue Blood, or even higher-tiered blood.
And how many people met that condition?
As for the children of nobles, their own families possessed this kind of inherited knowledge, so they didn't need the academies to teach them. Therefore, this was considered esoteric, advanced knowledge that the average Arcanist wouldn't know.
Fu Chuan, of course, knew about it. The character she played in the game back then had mutated its bloodline and advanced its blood tier through various achievements, trials, and maneuvers.
So, what was the purpose of this "Gene Blood Lure, born from Little Skinner's research"?
"Aids in activating Gene Blood and successfully replacing it with Green-tier blood. Can increase the success rate by 50%. A top-tier, rare Blue resource."
This kind of top-tier rare Blue resource could rival Orange-tier resources of other categories. For example, some Orange-tier gems weren't as precious. If the owner happened to be someone who could use it, its value would be immeasurable.
It couldn't be bought anywhere; it was basically only found among the great noble families or in rare dungeons.
Fu Chuan figured that this kind of dungeon reward was likely measured based on the candidate's performance. She was the MVP of this dungeon, single-handedly bringing about its downfall, so the final reward was prepared for her.
She came from a noble background. For a noble, the greatest improvements came from either gene talents or Gene Blood.
"How thoughtful. This treasure is definitely worth more than the Little White Goose."
"Alchemists are truly a money-making profession."
"Although it burns a ton of money in the early stages."
Remembering the few small Meditation Puppets she had spent a fortune to create, Fu Chuan's expression turned miserable.
Maybe she just didn't have much talent in this area?
Fu Chuan carefully put away the "Gene Blood Lure, born from Little Skinner's research," her mind already racing: Xie Keli's current gene talent is obviously terrible. The comparison in the gene report proved that he really didn't inherit much of the Xie Clan's talent. If I want to tap into the Xie Clan's ancestral talent, I'd either have to mutate later or just dream on. But!
It seems I have other, unorthodox methods I can use.
"Little Fu Chuan's original body's talent was also a pupil technique, just like the Xie Clan's. It's some damn good luck that they match up. In that case, this blue pupil talent should be able to stimulate the Xie Clan's genes, right? I remember reading records about this in the Divine Temple's totem knowledge."
Different species focus on fusion, while the same species repel each other but can easily stimulate one another to awaken or upgrade.
Genes are complex. They seem to dictate everything, yet they are also full of hope for change.
"The highest iron law of life is evolution."
This was a famous saying from the Divine Temple, and Fu Chuan deeply agreed with it. She acknowledged her own covetousness for the Xie Clan's talent and Gene Blood, envying its Orange-tier ancestral ceiling. If she could use Little Fu Chuan's genetic pupil talent to indirectly awaken the Xie Clan's talent, she was willing to take a few risks and pay the price.
"Little Fu Chuan's body has no foundation. The difficulty of creating Green Blood from scratch is even greater than Xie Keli awakening his own talent. Conversely, once Xie Keli awakens his talent, the difficulty of upgrading to Green Blood will be much, much lower."
It was a strategy of using one to make up for the other's shortcomings.
With a plan forming in her mind, Fu Chuan went outside.
The hole was already dug, just the right size to bury a large coffin. She hadn't said it was for a coffin, but the little dwarf was sharp and had tacitly dug such a large pit. However, she herself had already withdrawn.
A small note was stuck to the side.
Thanks. And sooner or later, I won't be a dwarf.
The handwriting was firm and elegant. Fu Chuan was amused, but she quickly placed Barbara's mother's body in the coffin and lowered it down.
At some point, Barbara appeared beside her, watching her bury the coffin.
Looking closely now, Fu Chuan realized she had no shadow.
So, Barbara was actually already dead.
But she was alive before… she was clearly a physical entity.
Fu Chuan couldn't help but look up. "You're…?"
Barbara stood by the pit, looking at her. She said calmly, "I was a slave under his control. Betrayal has a price. This is the price."
So, the moment Little Skinner was killed, she had died as well. The illusion she later used to help Fu Chuan was her final act. Now, only her soul remained.
Fu Chuan suddenly felt terrible. She turned her face away and continued burying the coffin.
Barbara sensed her emotions, tilted her head, and said, "You're a little strange. Not like a normal person."
That didn't sound like a compliment.
But Fu Chuan understood what she meant: shrewd, calculating, cruel, and merciless. Such a person shouldn't possess such soft emotions.
"Perhaps… everyone has a need to wear a mask."
Fu Chuan answered the question, a touch of sadness in her heart. After silently finishing her good deed, she turned her head and saw that the rain in this world had stopped at some point. The sky had cleared, the sun was brilliant, and tender shoots were quietly sprouting from the soil everywhere.
It seemed spring was coming.
Soon, whether it was the terrifying overgrown fields, the morgue, or the mass grave, everything would be buried under flowers, grass, and trees.
She fashioned a tombstone, properly inscribed it, and after everything was done, she stood by the grave with the shovel in hand and glanced down at her watch.
Five minutes left.
"I have to go. Take care."
Just as Fu Chuan was about to withdraw, Barbara suddenly transformed into a soul card, hovering before her eyes.
"I can sense your fear and hesitation toward this world."
"Bind me. I am willing to be your slave and fight for you from now on."
She didn't say thank you. This was her repayment.
Fu Chuan was stunned for a moment. She frowned and reached out to take the card.
On the card was a pink-clad girl, her head buried in a cake at a dining table.
She was eating, but it seemed she was also crying, forcing herself not to let the tears fall, so she could only bury her head low.
Fu Chuan had a sudden realization: the little girl back then knew what her mother was experiencing next door. But she couldn't reveal it. She could only pretend to be pitiful and ignorant, controlled by the demon. She was tormented for years but smiled to please him, likely helping him harm many people. In the end, her life was spared, even if she became his slave.
But she wanted to cry.
Those unshed tears were, in fact, this rain.
Endless, but it would eventually stop.
Fu Chuan clenched the card, hesitating for a long while. In the end, she let go, opened the coffin, and gently placed the card on the corpse's heart before closing the lid again.
She withdrew directly from the dungeon.
She certainly needed a powerful ally like that, but she knew a mother needed her daughter more.
Just as… she missed her own mother.
The moment Fu Chuan exited the dungeon and appeared in the corridor, she saw a crowd of people.
They hadn't left.
They're not waiting here to get revenge, are they?
But she felt exhausted and paid no mind to their complicated gazes.
Because she was the last one out, the dungeon's final settlement began.
"Jingyang City High School Entrance Exam, Third Stage Assessment, complete. Dungeon settlement is as follows: Xie Keli, MVP for comprehensive performance in this dungeon, comprehensive coefficient 10.12. For killing the final BOSS Little Skinner and his pet BOSS, the Gnome Merchant, awarded 5000 and 2000 points respectively. Current total points: 89,056."
"For specific personal rankings, please refer to the city and tri-city joint exam leaderboards."
"Overall experience reward has been distributed."
Fu Chuan received a massive amount of experience, her level soaring several times to reach Level 20.
The rewards for the others weren't bad either; everyone got something. In any case, Fu Chuan knew many of them had held onto their precious Vitality Element Essence Beads, while she had used all of hers up.
Perhaps because they had been backstabbed by Fu Chuan at the end, these people weren't in a good mood and found it awkward to speak to her, but…
"Thank you for carrying us through the dungeon." Lin Hangjing was surprisingly the first to speak to Fu Chuan. Her tone was stiff, but her sincerity was genuine.
Fu Chuan glanced at her and suddenly asked a question, "I noticed earlier that many people's points weren't increasing, including yours. What was that about?"
Lin Hangjing was a bit surprised. "After we defeated the Coffin Carrier, we were rewarded with cards that can hide points. My brother and I both got one. Maybe others did too. You didn't?"
Fu Chuan understood. Her reward was different from theirs.
The coffin was clearly more practical than a card.
"If you guys have them, the other cities probably do too. No wonder the rankings are like this."
Fu Chuan said nothing more and walked out.
Her words were a bit strange. The others, including Lin Hangjing, opened the leaderboards again.
First in the city: Xie Keli.
The following ranks were Lin Hangjing, Lin Chengxiu, Shen Qixi, Xu Yi, Guan Zizai, Zhang Fulan, Jian Feilan, Yun Cangcang…
It wasn't as if Guan Zizai had ended up in a sorry state after abandoning Shen Qixi. In this world, the ruthless often gained something. His points weren't low. If Shen Qixi hadn't teamed up with Fu Chuan later, her score would have been lower than his.
Lan Chenshuang was mixed in the crowd, watching Xie Keli up ahead. Due to a series of events, his own rank was low, somewhere beyond fortieth or fiftieth place. He definitely had no chance with the Big Four Academies.
It shouldn't have been like this. He felt extremely bitter, but what was even harder to bear was the thought that Xie Keli wasn't just first in Jingyang, but possibly first in all three cities.
"Doesn't seem like it, Young Master Lan. He's not first in the tri-city rankings. Look."
Lan Chenshuang was surprised and quickly opened the tri-city rankings, seeing the names in the top ten…
First, Luohe Sanqian.
Second, Liu Yun.
Third, Lu Shu.
Fourth, Lan Chenshuang.
Fifth, Wu Xiaomei.
Sixth, Xie Keli.
…
Xie Keli was only sixth? He didn't even make it into the top five?!
How is that possible?!
Although he was at odds with Xie Keli, to be fair, he was the one who brought down this dungeon.
The final outcome was set in stone. How could his final score be lower than people from the other two cities?
"I remember checking his rank for several hours in the middle, and his points didn't move at all. I thought he was like the others, using a card to hide his point changes. Looking at it now, do you think he just wasn't farming points during that time? Maybe he was busy with his schemes? Otherwise, how did he win over Barbara?"
These people discussed among themselves, but didn't dare to speak loudly, eventually switching to private messages on their communicators.
Lin Hangjing stroked her Little White Goose's head, thinking about Xie Keli's absentminded look just now.
Somehow, she felt that this person didn't care about points at all.
As long as he could get a spot in the Re-selection for the Big Four Academies, that was enough. While a higher rank had its benefits, it couldn't compare to the ultimate reward of the third stage.
Xie Keli didn't know that points could be hidden. So, when his score wasn't moving during that period, it seems he really wasn't farming points, not hiding them.
"At least 10 hours. I saw his rank didn't move during the middle part."
"It was probably 12 hours. He might have left the dungeon."
Since Lin Hangjing and Lin Chengxiu had been paying attention to Xie Keli from the start, they were naturally aware of his point fluctuations and were certain he had left.
Could it be that he left, used the external screens to get a god's-eye view, saw some key information, and that's why he seemed to have divine assistance?
"I don't think so. 12 hours is such a critical period. He would have missed out on so many points."
"He might have had other things to do."
However, they were likely the only two who had noticed this, or perhaps others who were also keeping a close eye on Xie Keli.
Lin Hangjing glanced at Shen Qixi, who was walking behind Xie Keli.
Shen Qixi quickened her pace and glanced at the slowly walking Fu Chuan's face. She saw that she was looking down at her communicator, seemingly searching for something, looking worried.
Fu Chuan didn't notice Shen Qixi pass by. She truly didn't care about points; all she wanted was a spot in the Big Four Academies. As long as she got the treasure, a few places in the rankings didn't matter.
She was concerned about something else.
Xie An was dead, and so were many others from the Xie Clan. Logically, that person should have already retrieved her brother's body.
For such a major event, why was there no news about it online?
Could it be that things weren't over yet?
Fu Chuan felt anxious, but then thought she might be overthinking it. In any case, the exam was over, and her performance was decent. She should have caught the eye of some officials.
As long as a person wasn't completely unknown and had some value, they wouldn't just disappear from this world without a trace.
She tried to relax, thinking about the benefits she had gained and the series of plans she had made. It felt like preparing for the college entrance exam back in her youth.
Confident, fulfilled.
As long as her steps were steady, there was no reason to panic, right?
The exit was just ahead, and the outside was bustling with people discussing the exam. Fu Chuan let out a breath and was about to turn off her communicator when she suddenly heard Shen Qixi call out something ahead.
Mom… Aunt Qin…
In that moment, it was as if she had been struck by lightning. But it wasn't a sudden, jarring reaction; it was as if her movements had been slowed down. Fu Chuan paused, slowly raising her head, and saw the people leaning over the railing on the second-floor viewing gallery not far away.
Shen Yunyi and… Qin Yu.
She was here.
Why would she still come here?!
Your brother needs a funeral.
Could it be because she doted on Shen Qixi and came specifically to see her exam results?
Fu Chuan's scalp tingled, but she realized they were looking at Shen Qixi.
She quickly lowered her eyes, pocketing the communicator she was about to turn off. She shoved both hands into her pockets, as if to protect herself and avoid contact with the outside world… She changed her path, circling behind Shen Qixi and heading toward the exit where Zhang Ruo and the others were.
But unfortunately…
"Keli!"
"Oh, Keli, Keli, you must be exhausted."
"So amazing, just as expected from our Xie Clan."
"Wonderful!"
The same people who had trampled on her and even arranged for her assassination in the past now wore affectionate expressions, just like all the other parents doting on their children. They cheerfully surrounded her, fussing over her.
Fu Chuan was inwardly frantic, but her face remained impassive. After a few perfunctory replies, she said she had something to do and needed to leave.
She was so done with this Xie Clan. Every single one of them was toxic.
In her eyes, every member of the Xie Clan here was a corpse with a death countdown timer above their head. She wanted nothing to do with them.
"Alright, alright, let's go home together. Your father will be so happy to see you."
"Let's go, let's go together."
These Xie Clan members just couldn't take a hint and continued to crowd around Fu Chuan.
Fu Chuan's head was about to explode. Just then, she caught a glimpse of Qin Yu looking over.
She's looking at me.
Fu Chuan's fingers stiffened slightly, but she averted her gaze. Her fingers found her communicator in her pocket, and she blindly typed out a few words.
Zhou Linlang was standing on the other side of the second floor. Seeing Fu Chuan emerge, she was thinking of going down to have a meal and a chat with her when her communicator suddenly buzzed.
She glanced down at the message.
Something came up. You go on ahead. See you later.
Zhou Linlang read it, raised an eyebrow, and smiled. She hadn't expected the little girl to be more proactive than her. She turned and left.
Seeing Zhou Linlang leave, Fu Chuan released the communicator and continued walking toward Zhang Ruo.
"I have something to discuss with Minister Zhang Ruo. You all head back first."
Just as she was about to walk away, she saw Zhang Ruo also take a call. She had been smiling, but her expression instantly froze.
Fu Chuan saw the old woman look at her, her eyes filled with what seemed like shock, as she made a hand gesture.
"Guards, out…"
She hadn't finished her sentence.
Eight red orbs of light floated in through the windows. The orbs expanded, revealing eight red-robed figures with fiery red wings. The red-robed figures raised their staves and pointed down.
Streams of fire, as supple as ropes, appeared. It required terrifying control; countless Arcanists were present, yet not a single one had sensed the mobilization of elements before it happened.
It bypassed some people, like a net, and went straight for its targets.
Fu Chuan watched them come toward her, her pupils surely filled with the sight of the eight red streams…
Until they passed… by her side.
Then, they pierced through the bodies of the Xie Clan members.
At least twenty members of the Xie Clan, including juniors like Xie Lin, were impaled in their confusion.
How terrifying were those streams of fire? They didn't seem to emit any heat, but they were in fact at an extremely high temperature. After piercing their bodies, the heat spread throughout their systems via their blood and flesh.
Then, they began to burn from the inside out.
Seconds, just a few seconds. In the time it took for a living person to be roasted, cooked through, and incinerated into a dried corpse, there wasn't even enough time for anyone present to scream.
On the ground lay more than twenty dried corpses, steaming and smelling of roasted meat.
They lay right beside Fu Chuan.
Surrounding her.
The root of Fu Chuan's tongue felt like it had been cooked, utterly dry. Her fingers trembled slightly, and a thought flashed through her mind… She turned her head and looked at one person.
"Ahhh!!"
Someone finally screamed.
But Zhang Ruo was decisive. She raised a hand, and a suppressive halo of light, a calming aura, enveloped the panicking parents and candidates.
At that moment, one of the red-robed figures raised a hand and conjured a medium-sized, flaming Demon Orchid clan crest in mid-air.
The red light was dazzling.
"By noble law, the Demon Orchid Marquisate of Beluke is enforcing family discipline. You may watch, you may listen, but do not speak or interfere. Meddlers will be killed without mercy!"
A single clan crest was far more effective than the calming aura of a Level 50 Grand Healer.
The Lin siblings and all the other candidates were stunned. Not a single one dared to make a sound. The members of the Lan and Teng Families, though shocked and terrified, decisively ordered their family members to shut up.
Lan Luoqi was especially terrified. He jumped down from above to stand in front of his clansmen, gathering them behind him. The two family heads, their faces pale, took a step forward, placed their left hands over their hearts, bent their knees slightly, and bowed their heads in a deep, respectful bow.
It was noble etiquette.
The other members of the Lan and Teng Families immediately followed suit.
The scene fell silent.
Zhang Ruo also signaled for the guards to surround the area.
At that moment, only one person was left standing in that area.
Everyone else had scrambled far away.
They couldn't help but look at the youth standing in the middle of the corpses.
Shen Qixi had originally planned to thank Xie Keli after speaking with her family, since she had been given a hand. But before she could, disaster struck. Her first instinct was to look at her mother and aunt, her second was to look at Groundhog not far away. The little fatty was cowering on a chair, his two paws covering his chubby head, his tail curled into a ball.
She didn't feel like laughing. She just stiffly looked toward the person she needed to thank, only to find that person turning to look in her direction.
Looking at me?
No, she was looking at someone else.
Shen Qixi was sensitive. She turned her head and saw the ordinary, low-key, plainly dressed Aunt Qin leaning against the railing, with no trace of fear on her face. She was holding an orange and peeling it.
When she finished, she kept the orange peel in her palm and handed the fresh, sweet fruit to her.
For a moment, Shen Qixi didn't know whether to take it, but Shen Yunyi accepted it for her.
"Mom…"
Shen Yunyi covered her mouth with one hand, looking only at her former junior. The latter smiled, turned, and walked down. She tossed the orange peel into a trash can and pulled out a wet wipe to clean the sticky juice from her fingers.
Her trench coat was plain, her blouse thin, and her slender high heels clicked crisply on the wooden floor. She walked over, step by step, graceful and elegant, and spoke to Fu Chuan.
"There is evidence that the Jingyang branch of the Xie Clan harbored ill intentions and murdered 215 members of the main family. Those people, and this person, were all participants."
"He has already confessed, I think."
She didn't sound very certain, because she didn't need such certainty.
But the evidence definitely existed. Fu Chuan knew that even if this person didn't care, that meticulous snake, Eldest Brother, would have made all the necessary arrangements.
A scapegoat had existed from the very beginning. It was either her, or these people who had just been burned to death.
A red-robed figure beside her curled a finger, pulling a person out of thin air.
The person was held in mid-air, suspended by a single finger hooked into the back of his collar. Then, the finger released, and the person was thrown in front of Fu Chuan.
It was Xie Hezhou, the second genius of the Xie Clan who should have been taking the college entrance exam. He now landed in a pathetic heap.
Xie Hezhou coughed up blood and looked up to see Fu Chuan and the red-robed figure, as well as the shriveled, scorching corpses nearby.
His pupils trembled.
Fu Chuan looked at him, then at Qin Yu, who had walked up to her.
She remained silent, but Qin Yu moved closer.
"Don't you want to avenge your family?"
Her voice was calm. It was unclear whether today's events were to eliminate the remaining Xie Clan members, or… if she had come for her.
The light in her eyes flickered. Fu Chuan could smell the faint, clean scent on this person, like pine ink soaked in water for many years, carrying a cool, watery vapor.
Moist, slightly intoxicating.
She pressed her lips together, her heart clenching…
Xie Hezhou, however, took a deep breath, his face suddenly showing a look of bold resolve. He charged forward, gathering a ball of metallic light between Fu Chuan and Qin Yu…
His killing intent was palpable!
A Level 25 Arcanist, a whole tier higher than Pang Ci. He was an outstanding college entrance exam candidate, after all.
A final, desperate burst of power…
Boom!
An extreme Light Explosion.
The next second, both his ball of metallic light and his own body were torn apart and incinerated by the light…
Qin Yu didn't move. The red-robed figures didn't move either.
Only Xie Keli's fingertips still held a faint, flickering light element.
His heart blasted open and his body still being torn apart by the searing light, Xie Hezhou collapsed limply toward Fu Chuan… Fu Chuan subconsciously caught him.
Xie Hezhou's head rested on her shoulder. As he died, he said one last thing.
"Actually, I quite liked you as a little brother at first. Don't go dropping the soap anymore."
Perhaps even in death, he didn't understand why any of this was happening. But having been born into a noble clan, he knew very well that some deaths were irreversible.
Just as he had never held much animosity toward Xie Keli, even finding him more interesting than the other clan members. But once interests and survival were on the line, everyone revealed their ugly faces.
Because that's what people were.
And there had always been a difference between people.
You do it first, I'll do it next.
If I want you dead, you die.
Fu Chuan heard him. Her face was pale, but she let go, and Xie Hezhou fell from her side.
It seemed cold and heartless.
As the body hit the floor, she clenched her back teeth.
She knew that from this moment on, Xie An's branch of the clan was well and truly extinct.
Not a single one left.
Just as Xie Siyi had been left all alone many years ago.
Qin Yu saw this but didn't seem to care. She just lowered her eyes and reached out… Her hand went around Fu Chuan's arm, and the space her fingers touched swirled into a crimson vortex, emitting scorching heat. The high temperature seemed to plunge the entire hall into an uncomfortable, roasting heat.
Her fingers probed inside, and everyone saw something emerge from the vortex on its own…
A mouth.
Ferocious teeth, a massive maw, and billowing heat. The mouth opened, and molten lava flowed from between its teeth, landing on the floor. It spread out stickily, carbonizing the ground with a sizzling sound.
Her fingers fished around in the lava, then pulled something out.
It was a human head.
A steaming human head.
The hair was disheveled, but the flesh and bone had not yet been completely destroyed by the lava. It was still possible to vaguely make out who it was.
The family heads of the two families were stunned.
"Due to a villain's plot, your father unfortunately fell into a trap and died in the dungeon. Although I arrived with my people, it was too late. I could only retrieve your father's head."
"By rights, I should have called your father 'brother' back then."
"Brother Xie An has had quite a few fortuitous encounters over the years, to the point of elevating his very bones and blood. Fortunately, his bones have not yet completely disintegrated."
Her slender fingers held the scorching, steaming head, while her other hand clasped Fu Chuan's wrist. Fu Chuan's pupils flickered as she tried to pull her hand back, but she wasn't strong enough…
This woman held her hand in a death grip, then placed the head in her hand.
The head was seared inside and out, its temperature astonishing. The moment it landed in Fu Chuan's palm, it made a sizzling sound.
What kind of person was she?
Even though she had fought with ease in the dungeon, she was still too young, her foundation too shallow, and her body's defenses were weak. In an instant, everyone saw the left hand of Jingyang's top exam candidate being seared by the scalding blood and flesh until the bone was exposed…
Moreover, some lava still clung to it, trickling down the cooked flesh.
Shen Qixi subconsciously touched her own palm, feeling a phantom pain, and called out, "Aunt Qin…"
But Fu Chuan didn't make a sound, though cold sweat beaded on her forehead and her lips lost all color.
Qin Yu glanced at Shen Qixi and slightly loosened her grip, but Fu Chuan did not let go of the head. She just kept holding it.
She didn't dare, or perhaps her hand was already numb.
"Thank you… thank you for saving my father."
"So polite?"
Qin Yu lowered her voice, her fingers suddenly touching the corner of Fu Chuan's eye. Her words had the clear logic of a researcher, yet also the graceful gentleness of an artist.
"These eyes have seen all things in the world, have followed the greed of human nature, have looked upon the treasure seven times, yet in the end, you left empty-handed. Doesn't it hurt?"
"You don't seem to be like your father."
"Xiao Keli, you're starting to annoy me."
Fu Chuan was shocked.
Seven times. How did she know she had hidden in the secret room and looked at the Xie Clan's wealth seven times, only to decide to give it up in the end?
It could only mean that this person had also been in the secret room at the time.
Just quietly watching her, watching her struggle with whether to take Xie Yao's body, watching her fondle the treasures with loving hands…
She hadn't revealed herself, just watched.
She even suspected that this person might have been watching her when she was rummaging through the trash can.
Perhaps even the drink cup in the trash can had been left there deliberately… just to lure her into doing those things.
At the thought of that scene, Fu Chuan felt as if her entire skull had been soaked in lava.
Fucking psycho.
Fu Chuan was a little afraid this person's fingers would suddenly poke out her eyes, but thankfully, she withdrew her hand the next second.
And then?
Would she kill her?
Was that snake, Eldest Brother, still alive?
If this person had been following her the whole time, then she must have also seen the secrets about Eldest Brother she had set up on her computer account… Had she already cracked it?
So from the beginning, she never intended for her subordinates to kill Xie Qingyan.
She still hadn't been chosen.
Fu Chuan knew she was very likely to die…
So, just before Qin Yu withdrew her hand to leave, she suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist.
Qin Yu was taken aback, clearly not expecting it. Her eyes flickered, and the red-robed figures beside her all took a step forward.
Killing intent… still restrained.
Fu Chuan kept her head down. One hand held Xie An's head, lava still dripping from it, while the other gripped her wrist. But her fingers now held an elegant, apricot-colored silk handkerchief. She used the handkerchief to unhurriedly wipe Qin Yu's hand.
Wiping away the filth—the filth from Xie An's head.
"If someone insignificant is causing you annoyance, then it must be her fault."
"But Aunt, you can always make the best choice, rather than a past choice, can't you?"
Just as she had chosen to change her plans after seeing her strange behavior.
This person was never one to cling to the old ways.
Fu Chuan was fighting for a chance… but she knew she had no certainty. Perhaps her only sliver of hope was the feeling that the other party was still somewhat interested in her.
Otherwise, there would be no need to toy with her like this.
Qin Yu watched her silently for a few seconds, not stopping her from intimately wiping her fingers, one by one, until they were clean.
Then, she said, "What did you call me?"
"Aunt."
Qin Yu's expression was strangely odd, her eyes inscrutable, as if she were seeing another person through this little scum's eyes. But she revealed nothing. In the end, she clasped Fu Chuan's hand in return, and a green light from her palm instantly enveloped Fu Chuan's body.
Is she killing me?!
For a moment, Fu Chuan felt the fear of impending death.
But…
"Your family destroyed, left all alone in the world. I understand that feeling."
"Xiao Keli, I hope you understand that from now on, you are the head of the Jingyang Xie Clan. You've grown up. You must learn to bear the responsibilities that come with it, alright?"
Fu Chuan looked down and saw her left hand, which had been almost crippled by the intense heat, being repaired in an instant by a massive surge of life force.
It was restored to its original state, as if the pain from before had just been a dream.
How strange. In a situation like this, her mind actually wandered. She thought of a movie.
Infernal Affairs. The one with glasses, gentle and refined, learned and scholarly, who looked like an intellectual, but plotted against people with a faint smile…
Ngai Wing-hau.
Sam said: Have you ever met someone you never know when they're being good to you, and when they're being bad to you…
This woman was a bit like him. Unfortunately, Ngai Wing-hau was bound by family ties until his death, while this person had long since broken free from such shackles.
Fu Chuan tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"I… will not disappoint you, Aunt."
Qin Yu gave her a deep look, then turned to Shen Yunyi and said, "Senior Sister, there was something I didn't get to say to you just now. The so-called ordinary peace and happiness… it's a contradiction, isn't it?"
If one is ordinary, like an ant, how can one be at peace?
This world was never safe to begin with.
Her words were a direct jab at Shen Qixi's performance today and the dangers she faced.
As for what lay behind it, probably only they themselves knew. Shen Qixi was intelligent and vaguely connected the dots, her brow furrowing.
Shen Yunyi's expression was moved. She had probably taken the words to heart, as she had her own unresolved issues from the start. But instead, she asked, "Is it Qin Yu who is saying this to me, or…"
She clearly didn't know the truth.
Qin Yu: "There was never a Qin Yu in this world."
She turned and walked out.
Just then, two brilliant lights descended from outside.
The Divine Temple's honor guard had arrived.
Three hundred divine guards, of which Number 13, whom Fu Chuan had met before, was just one. Such a grand procession was merely to escort a single coffin.
Inside lay Xie Yao.
His only close relative was here, so this place was designated as the starting point for the escort.
The information Zhang Ruo had received earlier was likely what the Divine Temple and the officials had arranged. As for the extermination of the Xie Clan… since they were guilty, and noble law was not being invoked for the first time, no one mentioned it.
The other brilliant light came from a teleportation portal. The portal opened, and the coffin bearers from the Beluke Demon Orchid Xie Clan also arrived.
These people were also named Xie.
Fu Chuan saw a tall, imposing old man, and several handsome men who exuded the powerful, noble aura of a great aristocratic family.
Before them, the three noble families of Jingyang were like ants.
The difference was stark.
The old man's eyes were filled with sorrow. His gaze swept over the crowd and landed on Qin Yu as she walked over.
"Siyi, I never thought the truth would be like this. You have suffered all these years."
Xie Siyi walked past him without a word. The old man lowered his eyes, neither angry nor annoyed, his bearing exceptional. He had likely forgiven her for her grief.
After walking out, Qin Yu placed her hand on the coffin and said calmly, "You always told me you wished for my peace and happiness, that you would protect me for a lifetime. It turns out you were wrong, and you broke your promise."
A halo of light suddenly bloomed from within the coffin. Streams of Blue Blood, as clear as ice and snow, flowed out, tracing the totems and patterns on the coffin… They flowed onto her palm and entered her body.
"Third Elder." A disciple of the Xie Clan behind the old man's face changed slightly. He stepped forward to intervene, but the old man stopped him.
It all happened quickly. The people from the Divine Temple saw it but did not interfere, because this was a succession ceremony between close blood relatives of a noble family.
It was generally used for succession between heirs, and also for inheritance after death.
Clearly, Xie Yao's line had no other heir.
As the Blue Blood entered her body, Xie Siyi seemed to finally taste the grief of her closest relative's true demise. She turned to the old man and said.
"Third Uncle, on the way here, my cousin followed me. He saw that I was in danger and came out to rescue me, but he was killed by the villain. I still have his body. I'm sorry."
The old man, who had been calm and composed, froze. The elemental power surging within him seemed on the verge of exploding, but he held it back. "We are all family… He always liked you, ever since you were children. Everything was for the family."
Xie Siyi gave a bitter smile. "I understand. On my way here, Great-Grandfather told me the same thing. For the family, there are always sacrifices to be made."
Her palm closed around the cool Blue Blood, and within the blood, she grasped something.
Binding. A powerful shockwave swept across a ten-mile radius.
The old man, after his initial shock, reacted. "Run! She's reached Level 70, and she's bonded with the great Flame Dragon!"
It was too late. Xie Siyi flicked her finger.
A scepter shot out, and her pupils transformed… The space behind her tore open, and a dragon's head emerged. A massive Flame Dragon appeared, its mouth agape. Then, her eyes shifted to a dual color of blue and orange, and with a hum… a beam of light shot out from her eyes…
Bang!
The old man's head was instantly blown apart. The other few Xie Clan disciples were all annihilated by a single breath from the terrifying Flame Dragon.
"You were right. So this is why Great-Grandfather sent you here."
"For something like a funeral procession, one Xie is enough."
Did no one stop her?
The people from the Divine Temple remained silent, because they had also been informed by their superiors that today, the Xie Clan would receive the coffin and deal with family traitors, and they requested the Divine Temple's honor guard to accompany them.
It was the will of the Demon Orchid Clan's matriarch.
And so, with the might of a Level 70 Arcanist, holding the arcane scepter passed down through generations of her lineage, she slowly stepped onto the Flame Dragon's back.
The great Flame Dragon carried the coffin, escorted by the Divine Temple's guards. As they left, the education center and various political departments dispatched airships to escort them…
Xie Yao was no ordinary family disciple. He was the head of a lineage, a man who had inherited his father's title of count at a young age and had earned the rank of major general for the nation through his own efforts.
His death was never going to be simple.
And so, today's events would not end so simply either. The old man and his followers were the current conclusion.
It was a temporary concession from within the Xie Clan.
Because Xie Siyi had risen, more terrifying than Xie Yao had been in his time.
"Everything… is for the family."
Many years later, these high school entrance exam candidates, now grown up, would still remember that sentence. They would also have a glimpse into the tip of the iceberg that was the great noble families who stood high above the world.
Magnificent, splendid, but filled with the stench of death and power.
Fu Chuan watched the entire thing, but she didn't get a clear look at Xie Siyi's true appearance after she fused with Xie Yao's Blue Blood and revealed her real strength… It seemed her true form was revealed for a moment, but she quickly mounted the Flame Dragon and left.
The Flame Dragon was wreathed in intense flames. It was a top-tier dragon-type pet among the Orange-tier, more precious than some Purple-tier pets. The pressure it exuded was too strong; she couldn't see clearly at all.
Probably very few people could.
She only remembered her retreating back.
Somewhat desolate and cold.
Fu Chuan belatedly realized her body was a little cold, and she was very tired. She slowly shuffled over to a chair and sat down.
Zhang Ruo, who was directing people to handle the situation, saw her and came over.
"Give me your hand."
"Uh, my hand is fine now."
"The pain is still there, isn't it? Your nerves are damaged."
Fu Chuan realized it was true. There was such a thing; healing Arcane could only restore flesh and blood, but the pain from nerve damage could linger for a long time.
Zhang Ruo came over to cast a halo on her, a combination of calming and delaying effects, to effectively alleviate her pain.
"Sorry, can I have a drink?"
"Suit yourself."
Fu Chuan looked down and placed the head on the ground with her uninjured right hand.
Zhang Ruo glanced at it, the corner of her eye twitching. This Xie Keli wouldn't even let Xie An's head rest on a chair.
With her hand free, she took out a can of beer, popped the top, and took a sip. It was harsh, so she lowered her head, her body trembling a few times.
Fear.
Her fear was only now truly crawling to the surface.
But she couldn't cry.
Like Barbara.
Fu Chuan took a few sips and then stopped. It tasted bad.
She placed the bottle on the side, but then she suddenly realized she had revealed something, so she picked up the head from the ground and placed it on the chair.
Zhang Ruo: "…"
Zhang Ruo quickly got up. As she was about to leave, she saw the butler and servants from the Xie Clan approaching.
"Second Young Master, Second Young Master…"
"Something terrible has happened at home."
A group of people, crying and terrified, knelt before her.
Fu Chuan felt like crying herself. This group was making such a racket she couldn't even have a moment of peace. Plus, there were many candidates nearby, the Lin siblings, Pang Ci, and a whole host of others, all watching.
She found it annoying and said, "Prepare for the funeral."
"Let's go back."
Then she chugged half the bottle of beer and absentmindedly tossed it aside… Thump!
It landed perfectly in a trash can seven or eight meters away.
But the next second.
The butler screamed, "Second Young Master, you threw the master's head!"
Fu Chuan: "?"
She realized what she'd done and quickly ran to the trash can to retrieve the head.
Zhang Ruo and the others: "…"
But with Xie An's head landing in the trash can, today's events finally came to a close.
A new chapter had begun.
The result was that Xie Keli became the top student in Jingyang's high school entrance exam, and also the head of the Jingyang Xie Clan.
Less than a month after she had been acknowledged by the family and returned home.
But what no one knew was that in a pavilion in a distant park, Xie Qingyan, now appearing as an ordinary young man, watched the scene at the education center in silence. He placed the nearly empty bottle of wine in his hand into a trash can, casually picked up a bag someone else had dropped nearby and put it in as well, then calmly turned and walked away.
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