"Just like that?"

"Yep, it's perfect. Later, send it to Qin Lian, and ask her if there's anything she wants to change... Oh right, why didn't we invite her over?"

"She's not free tonight; seems like she's staying out."

"Ah...?"

In the female dormitory of Heavenly Lotus Academy, the door to the shared bedroom of Gu Yueyan and Lin Xianyu's suite—divided into a living room and two bedrooms—suddenly burst open. Lin Xianyu, carrying bags of late-night snacks, walked in with a smile, saying, "Little lobsters! Stir-fried river snails! Everyone, come and eat!"

Ren Xingmei scratched her face and asked with a reluctant smile, "Aren't you afraid of getting pimples from eating those?"

"Cultivators afraid of getting pimples?" Lin Xianyu put down the bags and said, "Anyway, I eat like this every day without any problem. Look how smooth my face is, how good my skin is—"

"That's because your hands are always regenerating from peeling; of course, they're good," Gu Yueyan said irritably. "I just changed into my pajamas. I won't eat anything that might dirty my clothes."

"I knew you'd say that, so I also bought some cheesecake," Lin Xianyu said with a grin, presenting a small cake. She placed it on Gu Yueyan's table and even cut a few pieces to share with them.

Gu Yueyan glanced at Lin Xianyu irritably, hesitated for a moment, and then said to Ren Xingmei, "About Lin Xianyu being the fifth author..."

"I definitely don't mind, and Qin Lian will probably agree too," Ren Xingmei smiled. "It's just a small paper, and Xianyu indeed helped us out."

Helping out with buying late-night snacks counts as helping too.

However, in their little group, Lin Xianyu was almost like the happy pill. If there was a benefit without much cost, they naturally didn't mind including Lin Xianyu. This was especially true since Gu Yueyan, who had the most say, was the primary author of the paper "On the Relationship between the Roaring Heaven Palace of the Great Sage Equalling Heaven in Journey to the West and the Modern Handsome Monkey King's Roaring Heaven Palace."

Lin Xianyu lightly nudged Gu Yueyan and said, "Class rep, it's fine even if you don't include me..."

Gu Yueyan glared at Lin Xianyu. "You're not planning to stay and teach after graduation, so you really plan to join the Tactical Bureau as a Combat Cultivator? Now you should earn some Research Points with us. Even if your grades are poor, you could still try to stay at the school... If your grades are good and you can research with us, I wouldn't have to work so hard."

Lin Xianyu chuckled foolishly, picking up a piece of cheesecake with her fork and bringing it to Gu Yueyan's mouth, laughing, "The class rep is too cute, which is why I don't want to study."

While Lin Xianyu didn't think being a Combat Cultivator in the Tactical Bureau was bad, she knew the class rep was looking out for her and didn't want her to have to fight and kill in the future. So she accepted the kindness gratefully and repaid it in her own way—feeding was her way of currying favor.

"What's the logical connection between these two things?" Gu Yueyan, who was eating the cheesecake, was taken aback.

"So, you're admitting you're cute?" Lin Xianyu giggled. "Class rep, you're so vain!"

"I'm not... I..." Gu Yueyan was at a loss for words, so she simply raised her hand and chopped Lin Xianyu, grumpily finishing her cheesecake. Ren Xingmei, watching from the side, couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, saying, "Well, I'm heading back then."

"Okay, bye."

"Little Star, are you also going back to Big Brother Ren's place tonight?" Lin Xianyu asked, tilting her head.

"No need. Teacher Dong took Little Jiu with him when he came back. I'm going back to the dorm to sleep tonight," Ren Xingmei shrugged.

"Why not go to sleep at Big Brother Ren's place? You could have the whole place to yourself!" Lin Xianyu said with a hint of envy. "Even if you don't wake up on your own, no one will disturb you—"

Gu Yueyan shot Lin Xianyu a look. "If I didn't wake you up, how many times would you be late this semester?"

"The class rep's calls can't be considered noisy. That's a call of love..." Lin Xianyu quickly changed her tune, causing Gu Yueyan to shiver.

"Anyway, when is Big Brother Ren coming back? I'm even afraid to practice awakened spells now... In case I break an arm and can't find anyone to heal me..."

As soon as Lin Xianyu said this, the room suddenly fell silent.

Ren Xingmei spread her hands and said softly, "The reason I'm not sleeping at my brother's place is because he isn't home. If he's not there, I might as well sleep in the dorm."

Lin Xianyu thought she had messed up and turned her head to glance at Gu Yueyan, noticing the class rep staring into space at the computer screen.

The three of them were aware that Big Brother Ren had most likely gone to help Deputy Director Qiao—Little Jiu had been under their care just a few days ago. And with Ren Suo completely out of touch these past few days, and considering his friendship with the wanted Deputy Director Qiao, it was easy for them to speculate.

As time passed, they gradually came to understand the situation Ren Suo and Qiao Muyi were in: they were fleeing under a global manhunt.

Their enemy was the whole world.

Feeling the atmosphere become heavy, Lin Xianyu's face turned red as she blurted out, "Big Brother Ren is a lazybones; he'll definitely be fine!"

Ren Xingmei and Gu Yueyan were taken aback—Shouldn't it normally be 'a good person lives a safe life,' right? What's with this 'lazybones will be fine' rule?

"Big Brother Ren is just like me; he hates trouble and fighting the most. He'll definitely smartly avoid all trouble and won't use risky methods to solve problems," Lin Xianyu said. "Lazybones will definitely use every possible means to avoid danger!"

Ren Xingmei blinked, a knowing smile appearing. "Yeah... my brother is exactly that kind of person."

Gu Yueyan also hummed in agreement, laughing, "Xianyu, you do understand yourself pretty well..."

The heavy atmosphere finally lightened, and Ren Xingmei stood up to say goodbye. She glanced at the time and exclaimed, "It's past curfew."

"What should we do?" Gu Yueyan asked, slightly startled—their dormitory had a strict curfew policy. Although they could still enter and leave normally, coming and going past curfew time would be logged by the system, and Points would be deducted from their moral conduct score.

"It's okay, I can just jump down. My dorm is on the second floor, and it's easy to get up," Ren Xingmei suggested with ease, a suggestion that was both normal and out of a martial arts tale. But as a First Transformation Cultivator proficient in the "Clothing" Spell, she indeed could take such an action with ease.

Ren Xingmei walked towards the balcony. Gu Yueyan followed her, worried she might get into some trouble, and Lin Xianyu, wanting to see her jump down, also came out.

"The moon tonight... it's a waning moon."

The weather in Lianjiang was good that day, with no clouds in the sky. From the balcony, they could see the bright moon hanging in the night sky.

Ren Xingmei looked at the moon, slightly losing focus—there was one thing she had not told them: on the day before he left, her brother had told their mother he would delay his return home.

The hidden implication of this behavior meant that Ren Xingmei, who had been sleeping in Ren Suo's bed these past few days, had to cling tightly to Ren Suo's pillow to slightly alleviate the panic in her heart.

Brother, can you see the moon right now? Are you safe? Haven't gotten into a fight, have you? Haven't been hurt, have you?

Sister Qiao, I really am filled with Envy, Jealousy, and Hatred towards you right now.

...

...

Within the group of Transcendents chasing the Demon King across the shattered land, the six Fourth Stage Experts undoubtedly shone the brightest.

However, in their hearts, they had long silently divided themselves into two tiers.

The first tier included You Jiu from Mysterious Country and Bright from the Federation.

The second tier consisted of Sakura Kyoko from Flourishing Sakura, Dai Ze from the South American Union, and Ursa from Winter Castle.

To become Fourth Stage Experts, none of them were fools. Well, even if some of them were fools, their respective countries behind them were not, having already conducted thorough intelligence analyses on all the powerful Transcendents in the world.

Among them, the might of You Jiu and Bright was unquestionable. Both had records of defeating enormous Sources of Disaster on their own and were experts in long-range and close combat, as well as defense.

Sakura Kyoko, Dai Ze, and Ursa had fewer records of their exploits, and their achievements didn't compare to the previous two, so they naturally regarded each other as being in the same tier.

The only exception was Kadell from the Wizard Council, a very strange expert. His record was more terrifying than either You Jiu's or Bright's; all his kills were through long-range sniping that achieved one-shot kills without exception.

However, he required a long time to prepare for each snipe. This meant the variance in his strength was the greatest. Without preparation, he was the weakest. Once fully prepared, he became the strongest, capable of taking the lives of any of his peers.

So, when Sakura Kyoko, Dai Ze, and Ursa took the lead, they immediately reached a consensus: they must not allow Mysterious Country or the Federation to capture the Demon King!

The Mysterious Country, dominant through the might of Fairy Palace, and the Federation, with its profound heritage as an old powerhouse, must not be allowed to obtain the Demon King's powerful abilities. Otherwise, their advantage in the resurgence wave of Spiritual Energy would grow ever larger, leaving no chance for other countries to catch up!

Among the three of them, no matter who killed the Demon King, the threat to the other two would be relatively small!

With their minds made up, the three of them immediately exerted their maximum effort to spin up their Qi Cyclones, employing their signature strengths, all striving to inflict a one-hit-kill on the Demon King!

The first to act was "Shadow" Dai Ze. He suddenly stopped in his tracks, thrust the Crystal Skull Staff forcefully into the ground, and issued a voice like a hoarse roar, "Dezun!"

"Pain them, Shadow (Portuguese)!"

"Shadow·Deadly Corrosion Mist"!

Dai Ze's shadow instantly transformed into a billowing dark fog, shooting towards the Demon King and his followers with the speed of an arrow!

Qiao Muyi, who had been vigilant about the movements behind her, felt an intense alarm in her heart—a Fourth Stage Expert's attack was no joke. She could feel that the dark mist was filled with lethal corrosive damage, and it was very likely that even Defense Barriers were ineffective against the fog!

However, at this moment, Ren Suo was calm and collected, casually casting a Whirlwind backward!

"Storm Restraint"!

Although the black mist approached furiously, its effect had already weakened by half after traveling a hundred meters. Met by the storm spells, which were almost its natural enemy, it could only dissipate unwillingly, losing direction in the air.

Since Dai Ze was standing still to cast spells, he naturally fell behind by more than ten meters and couldn't catch up.

At this time, holding a three-meter long spear, Sakura Kyoko felt that the distance had reached a critical state. She directly slammed the large spear into the ground, bent the spear shaft with her slender arms, and launched herself like an arrow, shooting straight towards the Demon King!

Qiao Muyi knew that "Gun Supreme" Sakura Kyoko was the ace upon whom the Martial Soul Hall relied heavily. Her close-combat strength was extremely frightening, having single-handedly slain a fifty-meter Source of Disaster. If Sakura Kyoko closed in on them, they would surely be entangled... or even killed by her!

At this moment, she heard Ren Suo whisper softly, "Thankfully, the moon is beautiful tonight."

With that, Ren Suo crossed through the air, instantaneously firing two shining crescent moons.

"Wax and Wane"!

"Crescent Heaven Rush!" he roared.

Sakura Kyoko, facing the crescent moons, was stunned for a moment; however, as she was mid-flight, she couldn't dodge and had to swing her large spear to chop at the moonlight rings.

However, upon seeing the crescent moons shatter instantly, her face darkened—What a weak attack, and you dare call it 'Crescent Heaven Rush'? More like 'Crescent Heaven Worm,' embarrassing!

But as her momentum stopped, Sakura Kyoko had no choice but to use her secret technique right there in the air, at this distance—

The spear pointed directly at the Demon King, and the spearhead shone a bright red. Her small frame vibrated with Spiritual Energy, taking the spear for a spin in midair, unsupported. The spearhead's radiance quickly solidified, and then Sakura Kyoko shouted, blasting a sonic boom from thin air!

The red luminescence of the spearhead instantly transformed into a scarlet flying bird, racing towards the Demon King!

"Fantasy Secret Technique: Murky Moon Flying Bird"!

Just when Qiao Muyi thought Ren Suo was going to use some Spell to block the flying bird, Ren Suo unexpectedly pulled out the Sealing Staff he had been holding onto and, with the help of the Whirlwind, threw it at the flying bird!

Sakura Kyoko, witnessing this scene, was dumbfounded. As a highly valued expert of the Martial Soul Hall, known as "Gun Supreme," her painstakingly created secret technique naturally had its unique aspects.

If the Demon King's follower attempted to use Spiritual Energy to intercept the flying bird, he would fail unless his Spell's Spiritual Energy density was higher than Sakura Kyoko's highly concentrated attack. The bird, able to pierce all Spells with lower Spiritual Energy density, would surely teach him how to be a Ghost.

But he actually intercepted the flying bird with a physical prop on the first contact, and even added a Spell to correct the trajectory, hitting the flying bird accurately!

As expected, when the red flying bird collided with the Sealing Staff, an astounding explosion occurred. The sharp spear energy within the bird carved out a smooth, semicircular pit with a three-meter radius!

I need to further improve the flying bird in the future, at least add a delayed explosion mechanism... Sakura Kyoko sighed to herself.

In fact, such accidents rarely occurred. The correct way to use the flying bird wasn't to throw it out. Rather, in close combat, Sakura Kyoko would use it to cause unexpected explosive damage, destroying all armor—a three-meter kill radius, clearly something she had meticulously calculated.

And because she had been intercepted and launched an attack, she also fell behind by more than ten meters; now it was very hard to catch up.

On the other side, Ren Suo was also inwardly relieved. He had intended to use Whirlwind and Moonlight to intercept the flying bird. However, in the second before his attack, the "A Thousand Miles in a Day" Ability, strengthened by "Demon King Descent - Imperial Edict," made him realize that an attack from a Fourth Stage Expert couldn't be intercepted so easily.

He truly wouldn't have known if he hadn't used it; the results were startling—his Bond Ability had gradually become so strong.

Just then, Thunder Bear Ursa, who had been trailing behind them, was also closing in. But he didn't stop to cast spells, nor did he dash forward. Instead, his body erupted with lightning, and as he charged, his hands ceaselessly struck the ground!

When his massive Thunder Claw struck the ground, arcs of lightning chased across the earth!

"Thunder Shaking the Earth"!

'Thunder Bear' Ursa, a Winter Castle warrior proficient in both ranged and close combat, physical and Spell attacks, had formidable defensive power and movement abilities. Although not quite as versatile as the omnipotent 'End Sword User' Bright, he was nonetheless a force to be reckoned with.

However, after the earlier skirmish, Qiao Muyi was filled with confidence in Ren Suo—using Ice-Fire Magic to create a foggy environment that hindered visibility, dispersing black fog with whirlwind spells, and stopping the assault of the gun-wielding expert with Moonlight Spells and props...

How would he deal with Ursa's attack?

Yet, when the Thunder Arc caught up, Ren Suo simply shifted his position slightly, letting his body block the arcs racing across the ground.

In that instant, Ren Suo let go of Qiao Muyi's hand.

CRACK.

White-blue lightning flickered over Ren Suo's body. He kept moving without missing a step, only his body trembling slightly as a pained, choking sound came from his throat.

"You—," Qiao Muyi exclaimed, her pupils contracting as she witnessed the scene.

"Go!"

"I'm!"

"Fine!"

With each word Ren Suo uttered, his body was jolted by electricity. When he spoke the fourth word, he even coughed up a mouthful of black blood from his throat.

The Thunder Arc attack of a Transcendent was naturally no ordinary electric strike; it could cause varying degrees of damage to the body.

Ren Suo wiped the black blood from the corner of his mouth, gave Qiao Muyi a thumbs-up, forcing a smile that looked more like he was about to cry, and said with a trembling voice, "I'm very... adept at... bearing lightning strikes... Later I can treat myse—"

In fact, Ren Suo wasn't lying. His 'Gauze Clothing' had been strengthened, significantly reducing his sense of pain. Despite being struck by a Fourth Stage Expert's Thunder Arc, which would indeed cause injury, the pain was suppressed to a level Ren Suo could endure—roughly equivalent to touching the live motherboard of a computer with a finger.

While it was still very uncomfortable, and the human body could hardly bear electric shock, Ren Suo, as a Third-turn Cultivator, was able to achieve 'pain without numbness.' Even if he was struck by lightning, he wouldn't lose the ability to move and could still keep running.

Getting electrocuted while gaming, Ren Suo felt that he had reached another milestone in his player's life.

But in Qiao Muyi's eyes, Ren Suo was coughing up blood, and his voice trembled; he was clearly acting tough.

She bit her red lips so hard they almost bled—she had no thoughts of helping Ren Suo block the Thunder Arc. She knew she couldn't withstand it and might even be paralyzed and fall if struck, which could lead to both of them being captured.

She wasn't a little princess from the movies who could casually play with death or act spoiled.

She was the protagonist, meant to protect her loved ones and turn the tide of battle!

Qiao Muyi's gaze moved beyond Ren Suo to the rapidly approaching Thunder Bear Ursa, who was continuously unleashing Thunder Arcs from the ground.

Her eyes grew incredibly cold. The chilling killing intent resonated with negative emotions, stirring the Spiritual Energy in the surroundings.

Thanks to Ren Suo, she had an abundance of negative emotions to draw upon—so many she could create a non-stop fireworks show for Ren Suo from sunset to sunrise.

But facing a Fourth Stage Expert, stopping meant defeat, getting entangled meant death.

In this gamble against destiny, she had only one chip, and it was a chip she couldn't afford to lose.

So, it had to be one shot!

With a single strike, she had to turn this Thunder Bear into a scared little cub!

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