Chapter 106: Roster Announced! Overwhelming Skepticism!
"I didn't wait long."
Lu Li smiled and drew his gaze back from Lin Qingyu.
"Let's go. I've already reserved a place.
It's just outside our campus, a private home-style restaurant with a good reputation."
Lin Qingyu said softly.
The two walked out of the school gates side by side.
As night fell, the Imperial Capital University Town was brightly illuminated, the streets bustling mostly with students from various colleges.
The private restaurant Lin Qingyu chose had a quiet, serene ambiance, in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle outside.
The private room was not large, but it made up for it by being clean and elegant.
After Lu Li sat down, Lin Qingyu handed him the menu directly, her tone natural: "You order."
"You're the one treating, so you should order," Lu Li said with a smile as he pushed it back.
"Since I'm treating, of course you should order." Lin Qingyuraised an eyebrow, resolute.
"All right, then."
Lu Li dropped the formalities and casually ordered a few signature dishes.
While waiting for the food, they chatted casually about various things.
From the monsters of the Longji Mountains to their dungeon training during the day, and then to the upcoming National College Freshman Exchange Tournament.
Lin Qingyu was not a woman of many words, but she engaged attentively with everything he said.
Resting her chin in her hands as she listened to Lu Li speak, her aloof eyes looked exceptionally gentle under the warm yellow lights.
Soon, the food arrived.
Lu Li did not care about putting on airs and dug in heartily.
Sitting opposite him, Lin Qingyu took small, delicate bites.
From time to time, she glanced up at him, a faint, lingering smile playing on her lips.
If their old classmates from No. 7 High School had seen this scene, their eyes would have popped out of their heads.
That Aloof Sword Maiden actually had a side like this!
...
And just as Lu Li and Lin Qingyu were enjoying their meal...
On the other side, inside the study of Song Wanqiu's villa.
A pale golden holographic screen floated in front of her.
On the screen was a fully completed registration form.
Song Wanqiu's beautiful eyes scanned through the roster one by one.
Regular Members: Lu Li, Shen Chuyou, Lin Qingyu, Bai Yuqing, Chu Nan.
Substitutes: Xu Zimo, Zheng Xue, Fang Yan.
After confirming there were no mistakes, she reached out her slender, jade-like finger.
She tapped lightly on the submit button at the very bottom of the screen.
Buzz—
A soft golden light lit up from the screen.
The next second, a line of text emerged on the screen:
"Submission successful! Roster locked. If any modifications are needed, please submit an application to the league officials within three days."
Song Wanqiu gave a slight nod, then synchronized the same roster onto the official campus website of Imperial Capital University.
The National College Freshman Exchange Tournamentwould be held on October 1st.
There was still a month left from now, but the registration form had to be submitted within the next ten days.
Originally, she had planned to see how well the team meshed together before finalizing the roster.
But as soon as today's dungeon training ended, she knew there was no need to hesitate any further.
Building a team centered around Lu Li was without a doubt the most correct choice!
"This year, our Imperial Capital University won't be in third place again."
Song Wanqiu's beautiful eyes sparkled with anticipation, already looking forward to Lu Li and the others' performance in the tournament.
...
The National College Freshman Exchange Tournamentwas already a grand event for the entirety of Yanlong Country.
As students of the top-tier Imperial Capital Professional University, they were naturally even more concerned about their own school's lineup.
It was even just like certain competitive gaming matches where one look at the lineup was enough to tell whether the match was doomed or not.
Thus,
The moment Song Wanqiu posted the tournament roster on the official website, it immediately drew massive attention.
"Holy crap! The roster is out!"
"What the hell! What kind of bizarre lineup is this?"
"Doesn't this lineup lack a support?"
"Who says that? Isn't Lu Li a support?"
"He's the main carry! All his stat and skill allocations are focused on damage output—how could he possibly compare to a dedicated support?"
"Exactly! And haven't you guys noticed? This team doesn't even have a proper frontline tank!"
"Five slots, every single one a damage dealer—how are they supposed to play team battles?"
"Last year, we at least fought our way into the top three. With this lineup, won't we be eliminated in the group stage?"
"What on earth is Dean Song thinking? No matter how you look at it, this lineup makes zero sense!"
"Heh, who knows? Maybe she's just throwing in the towel."
"..."
In less than ten minutes, numerous voices of doubt flooded the school forum.
At the same time, Vice Principal Vice President Liu Jiereceived the news as well.
"Five damage dealers, with only Lu Li barely counting as half a support... you really dared to pick this lineup!"
A sharp glint flashed in Vice President Liu Jie's eyes, and a playful smirk tugged at the corner of his lips:
"Oh, Song Wanqiu, you're practically throwing yourself into a pit of fire.
But since you have a death wish, don't blame me."
He decided to fan the flames.
Not only did he want the controversy surrounding this roster to escalate,
but he also wanted more people to know that this bizarre lineup was personally decided by Song Wanqiu alone.
Once Imperial Capital University suffered a crushing defeat in the exchange tournament,
Song Wanqiu, as the lead instructor, would be held primarily responsible.
At that point, Vice Principal Zhou Zhenguo, who backed her, wouldn't be able to escape blame either!
"Ding Yi."
Vice President Liu Jie picked up his phone and dialed his disciple's number.
"Teacher, I'm here."
"Go contact a few students in the campus media and have them hype this up."
Vice President Liu Jie's voice was calm, yet laced with ruthless malice:
"Remember, don't attack Song Wanqiu directly. Frame the discussion around the roster itself."
"Amplify points like 'no tank', 'no support', and 'pure damage lineup' over and over."
"Make it sound like Imperial University's chances in this year's exchange tournament are hanging by a thread."
"The louder the students' skepticism, the greater the public pressure on her."
"Understood, Teacher," Ding Yi responded in a deep voice from the other end of the line.
"Also—"
Vice President Liu Jie paused before adding:
"Have those marketing accounts run with the narrative as well. Spending some money doesn't matter; what matters is traction."
"Yes, sir!"
Hanging up the phone, a confident, triumphant smile spread across Vice President Liu Jie's face.
"Song Wanqiu, let's see how you clean up this mess now!"
...
Driven by Vice Principal Vice President Liu Jie's maneuvering, the fallout from Song Wanqiu's roster escalated rapidly.
Even the other vice principal, Vice Principal Zhou Zhenguo, called Song Wanqiu directly.
"Xiao Song, I saw the roster. Are you truly confident in this lineup?"
Vice Principal Zhou Zhenguo's deep voice came through the receiver:
"Our Imperial Capital University has already ranked last among the three elite universities for three consecutive years.
If we can't even make the top three this year, our reputation will be thoroughly tarnished."
Vice Principal Zhou Zhenguo's tone wasn't harsh, but an undisguisable worry lingered within it.
"Don't worry, Principal. There won't be any problem,"
Song Wanqiu replied with a chuckle.
There was a moment of silence on the other end before he spoke:
"All right. I believe in you. If there's anything you need my help with, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you, Principal."
Having said his piece, Vice Principal Zhou Zhenguo hung up.
Song Wanqiu lowered her phone, a rare chill surfacing on her gentle, elegant face.
She had anticipated that releasing the roster would cause some controversy.
However, she hadn't expected the backlash to be so intense that even Principal Zhou was alarmed.
She didn't need to think twice to know that Vice President Liu Jie was stirring up trouble behind the scenes.
"Instead of focusing on running the school properly, he spends all his energy plotting underhanded schemes against his own colleagues.
And someone like him expects to become the head principal of Imperial Capital University? What a pipe dream."
Song Wanqiu shook her head, paying no further mind to the matter.
Chapter 107: Special Training Concludes! An Assassin Strikes!
For the next period of time, Lu Li and the others practically treated the Tree Spirit Jungle dungeon as their second home.
In accordance with Song Wanqiu's requirements, merely clearing it was not enough.
She demanded that they compress their clear time to under ten minutes!
To achieve this goal, Lu Li had no choice but to continuously adjust their combat tactics and optimize their rotation.
Which wave of monsters to focus fire on, who should clear which wave, and from which position Shen Chuyou should unleash her ultimate skill—
Every single detail was polished and refined through run after run.
Whenever something eluded them, Teacher Song Wanqiuwould chime in to guide them.
Thus, everyone, including Lu Li, grew at an astonishing pace under this high-intensity training.
Naturally, because the training contents were kept confidential, outsiders were completely unaware of their progress.
Outside, however, the doubts surrounding their "bizarre lineup" had yet to subside.
Every day on the forums, doomsayers claimed that Imperial University would be knocked out in the group stage this year.
Some even posted Song Wanqiu and Lu Li's names to mock and ridicule them.
Yet with their training strictly classified, no one knew their true strength.
Lu Li and his team paid it no mind.
Once the exchange tournament began, everyone would naturally see just how formidable this lineup truly was.
A month flew by in the blink of an eye amidst this near-frenzied special training.
September 29th, 9:47 AM.
Inside the Treant Breeding Ground dungeon.
Golden holy light illuminated the entire jungle.
Lu Li led the charge, casting buff effects in advance to form a secure perimeter around the five of them.
"First wave, Chu Nan initiates crowd control!"
Chu Nan raised his staff, unleashing a web of lightning that paralyzed all four tree spirits ahead.
"Bai Yuqing, dive the backline Yaksha!"
A black silhouette flashed and vanished.
"Shen Chuyou, front-left, prepare your ultimate!"
Shen Chuyou's silver hair danced as fire and ice elements surged simultaneously.
The next moment, a magical torrent of intertwined frost and flame poured forth, obliterating everything in the area.
The five moved with seamless synergy, devoid of any wasted motion.
Advancing, clearing mobs, and pulling the boss were executed in one fluid motion.
When Lu Li's final Hammer of Penitence crashed down, the Tree Spirit King's massive body collapsed with a thunderous thud.
[Ding! Congratulations on clearing the Nightmare-rank dungeon: Treant Breeding Ground!]
[Clear Rating: SSS!]
[Time Taken: 10 minutes 03 seconds!]
"Ten minutes!"
Bai Yuqing leapt into the air, her baby face flush with excitement.
"Haha, we even compressed our clear time in the Treant Breeding Ground down to around ten minutes!"
Chu Nan gripped his staff tightly, equally thrilled.
Shen Chuyou and Lin Qingyu exchanged glances, undisguised joy shining in their eyes.
"Not bad," Lu Li murmured, nodding slightly.
As early as half a month ago, they had met Teacher Song's requirements for clearing the Tree Spirit Jungle dungeon.
They had spent the following two weeks training in the "Treant Breeding Ground."
This dungeon had a level cap of 20 and was an Epic-rank dungeon—its difficulty was immense!
Teacher Song had merely told them to try compressing their clear time to around ten minutes, without demanding it.
Yet even so, they had managed to pull it off.
Buzz—
Teleportation light flared, and the five reappeared on the third floor of the Dungeon Building.
Song Wanqiu, slender and graceful, was already waiting for them.
Seeing them emerge, a gentle smile curved at the corners of her lips.
"You all did splendidly. You've made tremendous progress during this period, even conquering the much harder Treant Breeding Ground!"
As she spoke, holy light rippled around her, isolating the sound
to prevent other students from overhearing their clear progress.
"It's all thanks to Teacher's excellent guidance."
Lu Li grinned and silently opened his status panel.
[Name]: Lu Li
[Level]: Level 24
[Class]: Paladin
[Talents]: Child of Light (S+ Rank), Monster Hunter (A-Rank), Unyielding Tenacity (C-Rank), Resilience (D- Rank)
[Core Attributes]: Strength: 806, Constitution: 799, Agility: 794, Intelligence: 812
[Class Skills]: Sanctuary (S-Rank, Lv. 1), Holy Light Shield (A- Rank, Lv. 2), Hammer of Penitence (B+ Rank, Lv. 4)...
[General Skills]: Divine Appraisal Technique (Lv. 1), Sky Strike (E-Rank, Lv. 3)
[Body Refinement Technique]: Holy Radiance Immortal Body (S-Rank, Lv. 1)
[Special Bloodline]: Angel (S-Rank)
Over the past month, his improvement had been nothing short of staggering!
First, his level had risen from Level 22 to Level 24.
His core attributes averaged a terrifying 800 points!
As for skills, he had acquired the A- Rank Holy Light Shield, along with two buff-type skills.
Teacher Song Wanqiu had personally taught them to him over the course of the month.
Especially Holy Light Shield!
[Holy Light Shield (A- Rank): Condenses holy light to generate a shield wall of light that slowly pushes forward, partially intercepting long-range elemental attacks while dealing heavy damage to enemies.]
Capable of both offense and defense, it dealt damage while shielding allies—a god-tier skill for team battles!
It wasn't just him; the others had also made massive strides.
Shen Chuyou was Level 22, and Lin Qingyu was Level 21.
Bai Yuqing and Chu Nan had both broken past Level 20, undergoing a complete transformation in overall power.
"Your own hard work was the most crucial factor,"
Song Wanqiu said with a smile, her voice gentle.
"Alright, there are only three days left before the National University Exchange Tournament begins.
Today is the final day. After today, our special training officially concludes.
Rest tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, I will take you all to Modu."
The National University Exchange Tournament was always hosted by the reigning champions.
As Modu Professional University had won the previous championship, this year's venue was naturally there.
"Hooray!"
"It's finally over!"
"I've been slashing monsters in my dreams all month!"
"...
Bai Yuqing was the first to cheer.
Chu Nan was overjoyed, while Fang Yan and the other substitutes let out long sighs of relief.
The intensity of this past month's training had been even more absurd than the two months in the Longji Mountains.
Although their lives were never in danger, the sheer mental strain had been more grueling than ever.
Even the habitually cold Shen Chuyou showed a trace of softness in her eyes.
"Everyone worked hard this month. Dinner is on me tonight.
Consider it an early celebration and a kickoff to our day off tomorrow."
Seeing their relief, Lu Li offered with a smile.
"Awesome! Captain's the best!"
Bai Yuqing bounced up first.
"I'm definitely going to bleed the captain dry!" Chu Nanjoked.
"I'm in."
Shen Chuyou's silver-gray eyes rested on Lu Li, and she gave a succinct nod.
Lin Qingyu's lips curled up slightly, her beautiful eyes fixed on Lu Li.
"If the captain is treating, of course I'll go."
Lu Li turned to Song Wanqiu and invited her with a smile,
"Teacher, will you join us?"
Song Wanqiu was taken aback for a moment before offering a gentle smile. "Alright."
That evening, Lu Li booked a private room at an upscale restaurant near the university.
In the spacious private dining room, everyone gathered around the table amid a lively atmosphere.
Song Wanqiu stayed for only a short while before smiling and standing up.
"You young folks have fun. I'll take my leave first—put the bill on my tab."
Without giving them a chance to insist she stay, she turned and left.
She knew full well that with her around, the kids wouldn't be able to truly let loose.
Sure enough, once Song Wanqiu departed, the atmosphere grew even livelier.
They were all peers who had spent an entire month in grueling team training together.
Their relationships were no longer as distant as before.
"Captain! You have to drink this one!"
Her cheeks flushed, Bai Yuqing leaned in with her glass.
"Me too, me too!" Chu Nan chimed in.
"You guys..."
Lu Li shook his head with a chuckle, not wanting to spoil the mood, and downed his drink.
Lin Qingyu sat by Lu Li's side and gently tugged on his sleeve at the sight.
Sitting across from him, Shen Chuyou quietly picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and placed it in Lu Li's bowl without a word.
Sharp-eyed Bai Yuqing immediately teased,
"Beauty Shen, how come you're only giving meat to the captain!"
Shen Chuyou paused and cast her a cool glance.
Bai Yuqing stuck out her tongue and didn't dare say another word.
The mood grew increasingly spirited as they chatted over food and drink.
From dungeon training to the Longji Mountains, and on to the upcoming exchange tournament.
They feasted for over two hours before finally calling it a night, still lingering on the fun.
By the time they left, Bai Yuqing could barely walk straight and had to be half-supported, half-dragged out by Lin Qingyu.
Lu Li had originally intended to pay the bill himself, but since their teacher had spoken, he naturally didn't dare disobey.
After settling the bill, they walked out of the restaurant, laughing and chatting.
But the instant Lu Li stepped out of the restaurant entrance,
from the shadows across the street nearby,
a gaze locked ruthlessly onto him.
It was a man clad entirely in a black trench coat.
He leaned against a wall at the street corner, looking no different from an ordinary passerby.
Yet his eyes were chillingly devoid of warmth.
"Lu Li... you've finally come out."
He slowly lowered the cigarette butt in his hand and crushed it beneath his boot.
For this day, he had staked out outside the Imperial Capital University Town for an entire month.
The Ye Family had arranged for him to strike under the condition that he wait for the right opportunity and make a clean kill.
And now, the opportunity had arrived.
With the National University Exchange Tournament about to begin, Lu Li had no teachers beside him—only a few tipsy students.
This was the perfect moment to strike.
"This time, you die!"
The man's gaze chilled, and he took a slow step backward.
In the next second, his body melted into thin air, vanishing without a trace.
On the street, crowds bustled and traffic flowed ceaselessly.
No one noticed that within the veil of night,
a silhouette almost completely merged with the darkness was silently closing in on Lu Li.
Chapter 108: Life-or-Death Crisis! Holy Radiance Form!
The night was as dark as ink.
In front of the restaurant, the light from the neon signs stretched their shadows long across the ground.
Having just settled the bill, Lu Li walked out of the restaurant's entrance, laughing and chatting with Bai Yuqing, Chu Nan, and the others.
Bai Yuqing's cheeks were flushed red, and half of her weight leaned against Lin Qingyu's shoulder.
She slurred incoherently about where to go have fun on tomorrow's day off.
Shen Chuyou walked beside Lu Li, her long silver-white hair swaying gently in the night breeze.
Chu Nan, Fang Yan, Xu Zimo, and the other substitutes brought up the rear, still arguing over which dish had been the most delicious.
Lu Li shook his head with a smile, about to say something.
Suddenly—
An extreme chill exploded from the depths of his heart without warning!
It was the feeling of being locked on by a venomous serpent.
Cold.
Bone-chilling.
It felt as though all the blood in his body had frozen in an instant.
"Huh?!"
Lu Li's pupils contracted sharply.
This had happened far too fast.
So fast that he didn't even have time to open his mouth and warn his companions.
In a flash between flint and spark, his mind concentrated intensely, and everything around him seemed to slow down.
He "saw" it.
Right in the air mere meters in front of him.
A translucent silhouette, almost entirely blended into the darkness, was hurtling toward him at extreme speed!
Not a trace of aura leaked from the figure, nor did it kick up the slightest breeze.
Had Lu Li's perception of light element not been carved into his very bones, he wouldn't have been able to catch even this imperceptible fluctuation.
And that figure had already closed in!
Five meters!
Three meters!
A pitch-black dagger thrust out soundlessly, like the fangs of a viper!
Its target was none other than Lu Li's throat!
"Lu Li—!!"
Shen Chuyou's beautiful eyes widened abruptly.
As an Elemental Mage, her perception was exceptionally keen as well.
The moment Lu Li sensed the danger, she too caught that minuscule fluctuation.
But it was simply too fast.
She had no time to intervene, let alone shout a warning!
She could only watch helplessly as that glint of icy cold light thrust straight toward Lu Li's throat!
"It's over!"
That single thought occupied Shen Chuyou's mind.
However, at the very split-second before the dagger made contact with Lu Li's skin—
Boom—!!!
An unspeakably terrifying aura erupted thunderously from within his body!
Golden holy light surged skyward like a volcanic eruption, illuminating the entire street as bright as day!
In that moment, Lu Li transformed completely.
His skin turned translucent and jade-white, faint divine golden runes flowing across the surface of his body.
His hair billowed without any wind, every single strand fluttering, and even his eyebrows and eyelashes were coated in a layer of dazzling gold.
His eyes transformed completely into two miniature golden suns; wherever his gaze fell, the air twisted slightly!
On his exposed skin, ancient and sacred golden patterns—
—spread out like living things, radiating a divine glow that sent shivers down the spine!
Holy Radiance Form!
This was the true trump card of Holy Radiance Immortal Body!
It was the combat form that only manifested when the power of Angel Bloodline was fully unleashed!
At this moment, wrapped in holy light, Lu Li looked just like a deity descending from the heavens!
Golden currents of energy surged frantically from below, whipping his golden hair in wild flurries, almost like a Super Saiyan!
That transcendent divinity left everyone present in an utter daze.
Simultaneously, Lu Li's right hand had already gripped the dawn battleaxe.
Without even blinking, he simply followed the thread of killing intent and swept his axe backhanded!
"Shing—!"
A golden arc of axe light tore through the night, so swift that even the afterimages blurred into a streak!
"How is this possible?!"
The assassin could no longer maintain his composure, crying out in shock!
He was a Level 32, second-advancement assassin!
Stealth, breath concealment, poison coating, fatal strike—he had honed every single one to the utmost peak!
Against this set of assassination arts, even a second-advancement professional of the same level would almost certainly perish on the spot!
Yet this student before him, who was barely Level 24—
Not only sensed his presence, but also erupted with such terrifying power!
He wanted to pull back, wanted to retreat.
But Lu Li's axe was far, far faster than his retreat!
"Splat—!"
The blade of the axe slashed down diagonally from the assassin's left shoulder, cleaving cleanly through his entire torso like splitting bamboo!
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
The assassin didn't even have time to let out a scream.
His body, from shoulder to waist, was sliced cleanly into two halves!
"Splash—!"
Scalding blood mixed with crushed viscera spilled out, splattering all over the ground!
The two halves of the corpse crashed heavily onto the steps, and a pungent stench of blood instantly permeated the air.
"Ahhh—!!"
"M-Murder!"
"Run!"
"…"
The bystanders on the street were scared out of their wits by this sudden, bloody spectacle, screaming and scattering in panic.
Chu Nan, Fang Yan, and the others were also chilled to the bone by this sight, their intoxication instantly sobered up.
"An a-assassin?!"
"There's an assassin!"
Bai Yuqing jolted and sprang right off Lin Qingyu's shoulder, her previously groggy eyes snapping wide open.
Lin Qingyu's expression changed drastically as well.
Being closest to Lu Li, she had genuinely felt the suffocating aura of death sweeping past in that instant.
If Lu Li hadn't possessed such unbelievable reaction speed…
…the one lying dead right now would have been Lu Li!
"Lu Li, are you alright?"
Lin Qingyu asked hurriedly, a barely concealable tremor in her voice.
Lu Li exhaled a long breath, gradually exiting the Holy Radiance Form.
The golden currents dissipated, and his upright golden hair fell back, turning black once more.
Only the lingering resonance of holy light in the air proved that what had just happened was not an illusion.
"I'm fine."
He shook his head.
Glancing at the thoroughly dead corpse on the ground, his brows furrowed slightly.
"A second-advancement assassin."
Shen Chuyou came back to her senses by now.
Her silver-gray eyes stared fixedly at the bisected corpse on the ground, her face grim to the extreme.
"He used Stealth. I didn't even notice him right away."
Shen Chuyou bit her lower lip, lingering fear etched across her pretty face.
If Lu Li hadn't reacted so swiftly on his own, all of them would have had no choice but to watch him get assassinated.
"Why would a second-advancement assassin try to assassinate Lu Li?"
Chu Nan's face was livid, his voice trembling with tension.
"Let's inform Teacher first."
Without further questions, Shen Chuyou took out her phone and dialed Song Wanqiu's number.
"Teacher, something happened here. Someone tried to assassinate Lu Li."
"What?!"
Song Wanqiu's voice came through the phone, cracking with shock.
The very next second—
Buzz!
A beam of golden holy light cascaded down from the night sky.
The pillar of light was more than a meter in diameter, illuminating the entire clearing as bright as day.
Within the holy light, intricate divine patterns rippled outward in rings.
A low, solemn drone resonated through the air, as if a great entity had forcibly torn through the spatial barrier.
Immediately after, a slender, graceful figure stepped out from the holy light.
It was none other than Song Wanqiu!
The pressure of a third-advancement Saint Light Archpriest still lingered around her, the golden light yet to disperse.
But on that gentle, delicate face, only a state of near-frenzied anxiety remained.
She didn't even have time to ask what had happened.
The moment her feet touched the ground, her eyes swept across everyone like mad.
Seeing Lu Li standing there safe and sound, Song Wanqiu's suspended heart finally eased slightly.
Yet even so, her gentle, pretty face still bore unmistakable tension:
"Lu Li, are you alright? Are you hurt?"
"Teacher, I'm fine."
Lu Li shook his head, offering a reassuring smile.
"Brother Lu is fine! Not only is he fine, he even chopped that assassin to death with a single axe strike just now!"
Only now did Chu Nan fully recover, blurting out with excitement in his voice.
"Exactly! Captain was so fierce!
That assassin didn't even graze Captain before being split in two by Captain's axe!"
Bai Yuqing also hopped up, her baby face filled with excitement.
It was as if that terrifying moment had turned into an incredible show in her eyes.
"Stop fooling around."
Lu Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
One second this girl had gone pale from fright, and the next she was lively and hopping about.
"Hmph, I'm just happy for you!"
Bai Yuqing stuck her tongue out.
Shen Chuyou and Lin Qingyu stood to the side.
Seeing that Lu Li was indeed unharmed, they finally breathed a full sigh of relief.
Although the scene was extremely gory, everyone present had slain countless monsters inside dungeons.
There had been plenty of humanoid monsters among them, so they didn't feel too uncomfortable with this.
Not to mention, this person had come to assassinate Lu Li; his death was well-deserved.
"Captain, what skill was that just now? It was way too cool!"
Bai Yuqing leaned in close to Lu Li, her eyes shining bright as if she had discovered a new continent.
"I thought you only had battle axe and holy light skills, Captain. I didn't expect you to have a trump card like that!"
"I didn't plan on using it. I never expected to use it under such circumstances."
Lu Li smiled faintly.
Nearby, seeing that Lu Li was truly unharmed, Song Wanqiu finally relaxed completely.
But when her gaze landed on the mangled corpse on the ground, her lovely eyes narrowed slightly.
"This is... a Level 32 second-advancement assassin!"
Song Wanqiu was startled inwardly.
A second-advancement assassin.
Level 32.
Moreover, judging from the opponent's equipment and wounds, this assassin had clearly used Stealth!
A Level 32 second-advancement assassin, launching a fatal strike from Stealth...
...was actually counter-killed by a Level 24 Paladin?!
And Lu Li didn't even have a single scratch on him!
Shock rippled intensely through Song Wanqiu's heart.
She knew Lu Li was far stronger than what he had demonstrated in the dungeon.
But for him to be strong to this extent was still far beyond her expectations!
Yet, after the shock, an uncontrollable rage surged madly from within her heart.
Her gaze locked firmly onto the pitch-black dagger on the ground.
"Is this... Soul-Corrupting Poison?"
Song Wanqiu crouched down and made a beckoning gesture with her fair, slender fingers.
The dagger dropped on the ground slowly levitated into the air.
Across the dagger's blade gleamed an extremely faint, almost imperceptible eerie blue sheen.
"It really is Soul-Corrupting Poison."
Song Wanqiu's expression turned completely frigid.
"Teacher, is this poison very lethal?" Lu Li asked curiously.
Chapter 109: Song Wanqiu's Wrath! Storming the Ye Family!
"It's far worse than formidable."
Song Wanqiu took a deep breath, an unmistakable fury creeping into her tone.
"This Soul-Corrupting Poison is a lethal venom specifically engineered to target a professional's soul and physique."
"Even if it merely grazes the skin, the toxin will seep into the body through the wound."
"It corrodes your stats and destroys your foundation."
"Even if I were to resurrect you afterward, most of your strength would be utterly ruined by this poison!"
At this point, Song Wanqiu's voice trembled slightly.
"If you hadn't been strong enough just now and that dagger had nicked you..."
"Your entire life would have been ruined!"
Hearing this, the expressions of everyone present changed drastically.
Shen Chuyou and Lin Qingyu exchanged a glance, lingering dread plain in their beautiful eyes.
Bai Yuqing and Chu Nan sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.
How was this just an assassination?
This was clearly an attempt to utterly destroy Lu Li!
"Who could be so vicious?!"
Song Wanqiu slowly stood up.
For the first time, an expression of uncontrollable fury appeared on her gentle face.
"Teacher, the situation was urgent just now, so I didn't hold back,"
Lu Li muttered thoughtfully. "I didn't leave him alive."
"Scum like that doesn't deserve mercy,"
Song Wanqiu said coldly.
Looking down at the mangled corpse on the ground, her red lips parted as she enunciated each word:
"Besides, the dead can still be questioned!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Song Wanqiuraised her hand and tapped her slender jade finger in the air.
"Soul Summoning!"
Buzz—!
A golden runic magic circle blossomed from her fingertip, instantly enveloping the corpse on the ground.
In the next moment, a translucent phantom radiating a faint black aura...
...was forcefully wrenched out of the corpse by the magic circle!
The phantom's appearance was identical to the corpse on the ground.
It was none other than the assassin's soul!
At this moment, the soul's face still held the terror and resentment from its final moments.
"N-No, impossible!"
"How could I die..."
The soul spoke in a hollow, dazed voice.
Song Wanqiu's gaze turned frosty. Her red lips parted, her voice sounding like a divine verdict:
"Speak. Who sent you?"
"It was... the... the Ye... the Ye Family..."
The assassin's soul phantom shuddered violently.
Within its vacant eyes, whatever remained of its consciousness was seemingly being forcibly erased by something.
"It was the Ye Family... that sent me..."
"Who? Give me a name!"
The golden runes at Song Wanqiu's fingertips suddenly tightened as she tried to preserve the crumbling soul.
Yet, at the very second the soul was about to speak a specific name—
Buzz!
A pitch-black rune abruptly emerged from deep within the soul!
The rune was shaped like shackles, resembling countless tiny black chains.
It wrapped tightly around the soul, exuding an exceptionally sinister aura.
"Not good!"
Song Wanqiu's expression changed, and she tried to step in to protect the soul.
However, the black rune detonated first!
Bang—!
Like smoke torn apart by a raging gale, the translucent soul phantom dispersed into nothingness in an instant.
Leaving only a faint, sickly sweet scent lingering in the air.
"There was a restriction placed on the soul!"
Song Wanqiu's brows furrowed slightly, her gentle visage darkening completely.
"What vicious methods."
Shen Chuyou's lovely face grew cold.
Lin Qingyu also gripped her sword hilt tightly, her clear, cool eyes filled with chill.
"The Ye Family?"
Lu Li frowned, his mind racing.
The Beijing Ye Family was an ancient clan of professionals.
The only connection he had with them was Ye Tianhao.
From forming a grudge during the Freshman Grand Competition to publicly kicking him off the team upon returning from special training,
Ye Tianhao certainly had ample motive.
"Could it really be that guy Ye Tianhao behind this?"
Lu Li murmured.
"Regardless of whether it's him or not, the Ye Family owes us an explanation!"
Song Wanqiu gave a cold snort. "Let's go! I'm taking you there right now!"
With that, she grabbed Lu Li by the wrist.
Golden holy light surged wildly from her body, and a dazzling pillar of light soared into the sky!
Hum—!
The light suddenly contracted.
Within that blinding flash of gold, both of their figures vanished from the spot in an instant.
Leaving behind the dumbfounded crowd and the assassin's corpse, already cold on the ground.
"The Ye Family?! Teacher is going to the Ye Family to demand an explanation?"
Lin Qingyu was the first to recover her senses, deep worry covering her lovely face.
"The Beijing Ye Family has several Rank 4 powerhouses.
Teacher is only Rank 3—this is far too dangerous."
"Don't worry, Teacher isn't as simple as she seems on the surface,"
Shen Chuyou said softly.
As a direct descendant daughter of the Imperial Capital's Shen Family,
she knew full well what terrifying influence a peak Rank 3 healer possessed.
Rank 4 powerhouses were formidable, but the network and rallying power of a top-tier Saint Light Archpriestwere enough to make any prominent family wary.
What was more,
Shen Chuyou's silver-gray eyes flickered slightly as she added:
"If worst comes to worst, I can have my family step in as well..."
Hearing this, Lin Qingyu looked slightly relieved, though the worry in her eyes remained.
Bai Yuqing, Chu Nan, and the others looked thoroughly shaken.
An assassination, a soul restriction, storming the Ye Family...
Everything that had happened tonight had completely surpassed their wildest imagination.
...
The Imperial Capital, Ye Family Estate.
This was an expansive manor, its ancient walls stretching across miles.
Within the manor, pavilions and towers were neatly interspersed; as the night wind blew past, tree shadows swayed gently.
Inside a lavishly furnished room, a woman lounged lazily on the sofa.
Dressed in a dark red velvet gown, she possessed a noble appearance.
Though well-preserved, her features were tinged with spite and arrogance.
She held a wine glass in her hand, the red wine reflecting an eerie crimson glow beneath the lights.
"Calculating the time, news should be arriving soon."
Her red lips curled slightly as she looked out at the dark night sky, seemingly awaiting good news.
However, right at that moment—
A flash of golden light suddenly illuminated the pitch-black night sky!
The golden light closed in from afar with tremendous speed.
Like a golden shooting star cutting through the heavy curtain of night, it headed straight for the Ye Family manor!
In just a few breaths, it blanketed the entire estate under a radiant curtain of golden light!
"Hm? What's going on?"
The woman frowned, rising abruptly to her feet.
In the next instant, her figure vanished from the room.
In the sky above the Ye Family manor.
The golden holy light was like a miniature sun, lighting up the night sky as bright as day.
A curvaceous, graceful figure slowly emerged from within the golden light.
Dressed in a white gown, she had a lithe silhouette with breathtaking curves.
The night breeze rustled her hemline and long hair.
Surging golden holy light pulsed around her, illuminating her gentle, striking face until she looked like a goddess.
To her right stood a handsome young man.
With an upright posture and sharp, striking features, he was held steadily in midair by the golden holy light.
They were none other than Song Wanqiu and Lu Li!
"That's... Song Wanqiu?!"
Down in the manor, the moment the aristocratic woman appeared, she recognized Song Wanqiu at a glance.
Her brows furrowed, and her gaze quickly shifted to the youth beside her.
The instant she saw that face clearly, the elegance vanished from her face.
In its place was a look of almost monstrous malice:
"That damned bastard! He actually came too!"
She never could have imagined that the news she had spent three months waiting for...
...would not be news of Lu Li's death, but this pair of master and disciple charging right to her doorstep!
In midair.
Lu Li floated, supported by Song Wanqiu's golden holy light.
He looked down at the sprawling complex of buildings below and couldn't help saying:
"Teacher, aren't we taking this too far?"
No matter what, this was the ancestral estate of the Beijing Ye Family.
Arriving with such fanfare was practically equivalent to slapping the Ye Family across the face in public.
"It's not taking things too far at all!"
Song Wanqiu snorted coldly, her gentleness completely gone, replaced by chilling fury:
"I will make the Ye Family give me an explanation!"
With that, she looked straight at the largest main hall in the center of the estate, her clear, cold voice rolling out into the night:
"Patriarch Ye Lingfeng, get out here!"
Her voice wasn't loud, yet it carried the terrifying pressure of a Rank 3 Saint Light Archpriest.
Like the tolling of a great bell, it instantly resounded across the entire estate!
"What insolent fool dares intrude into our Ye Family's main estate?!"
As the words echoed, a rough voice erupted like thunder.
Immediately after,
a middle-aged man appeared before Lu Li in midair as if teleporting!
Ye Hai, Level 69, peak Rank 3 Warrior!
The current Commander of the Ye Family's Guixu Battle Group!
Clad in pitch-black armor, he was built like a mountain, his battle qi churning around him like a physical tide.
Just that aura alone caused Lu Li's heart to tremble.
"So strong...!"
Lu Li was secretly astonished.
Was this a peak Rank 3 Warrior?
He was unimaginably stronger than Instructor Xu Yang!
"Heh, isn't this Dean Song from Imperial Capital University?"
Ye Hai clearly recognized Song Wanqiu. The corners of his mouth curled slightly in a half-smile:
"Do you have business with our clan head?
Even so, you shouldn't barge into our Ye Family like this, should you?"
"I'm looking for Patriarch Ye Lingfeng, not you!"
Song Wanqiu gave a cold snort, not sparing Ye Hai even a glance.
"Our clan head is a Rank 4 powerhouse. Is he someone a mere Rank 3 Saint Light Archpriest like you can see whenever you want?"
Ye Hai refused to budge an inch.
The battle qi belonging to a peak Rank 3 Warrior faintly circulated around him.
Standing tall and broad, he looked like an impenetrable iron fortress.
He seemed certain that Song Wanqiu was merely a support.
A Rank 3 support, no matter how strong, what kind of waves could she possibly make?
"Are you sure about that?"
Song Wanqiu arched her delicate brow.
She slowly raised her slender jade hand, and in the next instant, the holy light around her shifted abruptly!
The brilliant gold rapidly morphed into a deep, abyssal darkness!
The warm, sacred aura of light that once felt like a refreshing spring breeze disappeared in an instant.
In its place was an endless, freezing desolation and a suffocating, murderous intent!
The temperature across thousands of meters plummeted to freezing in that very instant!
Chapter 110: She Was Truly Terrified! Two Life-Saving Trump Cards!
"Light-Dark Reversal?!"
Ye Hai's expression shifted slightly.
This was a skill that Priest-class awakeners could only master after their fourth class advancement!
It forcibly converted healing output into pure damage!
Yet Song Wanqiu had only undergone her third advancement; she had yet to step into the fourth!
How had she already mastered this skill?!
If a battle truly broke out, he genuinely might not be able to win!
Lu Li was also somewhat shocked.
It was the first time he had ever seen Teacher Song Wanqiu reveal such an imposing stance.
That dark holy light was cold and deadly, a stark contrast to his usually gentle and dignified teacher.
"Dean Song, please quell your anger."
Right at that moment, a voice as warm and smooth as jade suddenly resonated.
As the words fell, a figure slowly walked out from deep within the manor.
The newcomer appeared to be around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, dressed in a green robe, with handsome features and an ethereal aura.
He walked with his hands clasped behind his back, every step appearing as though he were ascending an invisible flight of stairs.
In merely a few paces, he arrived before the crowd.
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng, Level 74, fourth-advancement Sword Saint!
The current patriarch of the Ye Family!
Facing Song Wanqiu, he put on none of the airs of a fourth-advancement powerhouse; instead, he was excessively courteous:
"Dean Song? May I ask what brings you here today?"
"Patriarch Ye should be well aware of why I have come,"
Song Wanqiu said coldly.
Hearing this, Patriarch Ye Lingfeng frowned slightly and shook his head, saying:
"I must ask Dean Song to speak plainly."
"Very well."
Song Wanqiu wasted no time on pleasantries and cut straight to the point:
"Tonight, my student Lu Li was assassinated outside the Imperial Capital University Town!"
"The assassin was a Level 32 second-advancement Assassin, and the dagger was coated in Soul-Corrupting Poison!"
"A restriction had even been placed upon the assassin's soul!"
"Before dying, he uttered only two words—"
Song Wanqiu's beautiful eyes locked firmly onto Patriarch Ye Lingfeng, enunciating word by word:
"Ye Family!"
The moment those words were spoken, Patriarch Ye Lingfeng's expression finally shifted.
"Soul-Corrupting Poison? A soul restriction?"
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng's gaze narrowed. "Dean Song, is this truly the case?"
"Do you think I would joke about my student's life?"
Song Wanqiu sneered.
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng fell silent.
His eyes lowered slightly, as if deep in thought.
A moment later, he raised his head and looked at Song Wanqiu, his tone solemn:
"Dean Song, our Ye Family will thoroughly investigate this matter and give you an explanation before dawn."
Seeing that Patriarch Ye Lingfeng's attitude was relatively respectful, Song Wanqiu's expression softened slightly.
She took a deep breath, slowly withdrawing the icy, dark holy light surrounding her.
In the night sky, the golden sun that had illuminated almost the entirety of the Ye Family Manor like broad daylight also dimmed in response.
"Patriarch Ye, I trust you will provide me with a satisfactory answer."
Song Wanqiu parted her red lips, her voice chilling.
"However, there is one thing I must make clear beforehand."
She looked up at Patriarch Ye Lingfeng, her gaze tranquil yet carrying an unquestionable authority:
"Lu Li is the student of me, Song Wanqiu.
Whoever touches him touches me.
This time, I only want the truth.
If there is a next time, I will certainly not stand here and talk cordially like today."
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng did not grow angry; instead, he replied with solemn sincerity:
"Rest assured, Dean Song."
Song Wanqiu spoke no further.
She raised her hand to grasp Lu Li's wrist, and golden radiance flared around her once more.
"Buzz—!"
A brilliant holy light surged into the sky, enveloping the master and disciple within.
In the blink of an eye, they had vanished into the heavy night.
Only when that streak of gold had completely melted beyond the horizon
did the sky above the Ye Family Manor return to its customary silence.
"Patriarch! This Song Wanqiu is far too arrogant! She even destroyed our clan-protecting magic formation!"
The moment Song Wanqiu departed, Ye Hai could endure it no longer, his gruff voice exploding across the night sky.
His face was filled with rage, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists:
"A mere third-advancement support dared to barge directly into our Ye Family's main residence!
If word gets out, where will our Ye Family put our face?"
"When one's own student is assassinated, it is only natural to be anxious."
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng stood with his hands behind his back, looking in the direction Song Wanqiu had left, his tone calm:
"Besides, do not dismiss her merely because she is a support.
The fourth-advancement powerhouses she has befriended outnumber all the fourth-advancements in our entire Ye Family."
"That exaggerated?"
Ye Hai's eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
"Nonsense, of course it is."
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng drew back his gaze and shot him an exasperated glare:
"Whenever you were injured, wasn't it a Priest who healed you?
Without a Priest, the injuries you suffered wouldn't even heal after years of convalescence!
Tell me, could those who received treatment from Song Wanqiu not owe her a favor?"
Hearing this, Ye Hai's expression instantly froze.
He instinctively touched the left side of his chest.
There, an old scar from a penetrating wound remained to this day.
That was a fatal wound he had sustained three years ago abroad during a desperate battle against a Level 70 magical beast.
After returning, it took a fourth-advancement Priest to heal him.
Though he had provided remuneration, it was still considered a personal debt of gratitude.
In other words, over the years, how could the powerhouses who had received Song Wanqiu's grace number only one or two?
"True enough."
Ye Hai scratched his head sheepishly, his fiery temper deflating by more than half.
"Very well, go and investigate,"
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng said faintly.
"If it is truly our Ye Family's problem, we will make a formal apology and amends to her."
Ye Hai's expression turned stern upon hearing this, and he clasped his fists heavily:
"Understood!"
The Ye Family had existed for hundreds of years.
Flourishing with branches and leaves, their clansmen were innumerable.
Main lineages, branch lines, and collateral families were intricately entangled.
If one truly scrutinized it, even Patriarch Ye Lingfeng, the patriarch, could not guarantee that every single clansman remained law-abiding.
It was entirely possible that other branches were secretly pulling off unsavory schemes behind closed doors.
...
On the other side.
With a flash of golden light, Song Wanqiu returned to the villa district with Lu Li.
Song Wanqiu let go of Lu Li and turned around.
Traces of unvanquished frost still lingered on her gentle, lovely face.
Shortly after, she spoke with a tinge of self-reproach in her voice:
"This time was my oversight."
"I should have realized sooner that you might encounter dangers you could not handle."
"Fortunately, you are unharmed. Otherwise, your teacher would be filled with endless regret."
Warmth surged through Lu Li's heart, and he quickly said:
"Teacher, don't say that. The assassin was too cunning; it has nothing to do with you."
"Assassins are always like this; it is very difficult to sense their presence."
Song Wanqiu shook her head.
Immediately afterward, she raised her slender, jade hand, and a faint glint flashed from her space ring.
A scroll and a medallion materialized out of thin air, quietly floating between the two of them.
The scroll was entirely pale gold, its surface densely inscribed with intricate runes.
Though still unrolled, wisps of holy light already spilled from within it.
Meanwhile, the medallion was roughly palm-sized, forged entirely from some kind of silver-white metal.
"Keep these two items safe."
As Song Wanqiu spoke, she passed the scroll and medallion toward Lu Li.
"Teacher, these are..." Lu Li asked, perplexed.
"This scroll is a life-saving item I acquired in my earlier years.
It is a Level 50 Epic-grade magic scroll. This scroll does not require your active invocation.
Once you encounter a mortal crisis, it will activate automatically.
The Magic Shield it generates is sufficient to withstand the full-power attacks of powerhouses below Level 50.
Its duration is four minutes."
Song Wanqiu explained gently.
"Four minutes, and unbreakable by anyone below Level 50?"
Lu Li's pupils contracted slightly.
This effect was simply defying the natural order!
One had to remember, he was only Level 24.
Which meant that during those four minutes,
even if a whole group of Level 40-something second- and third-advancement awakeners swarmed and attacked him, they wouldn't be able to harm a single hair on his head!
"This is far too precious, Teacher."
Lu Li instinctively sought to refuse.
"No matter how precious it is, it cannot compare to your life."
Song Wanqiu's tone was resolute, pushing the scroll and medallion into Lu Li's hands without allowing argument:
"Furthermore, this medallion only requires an infusion of mental energy when you are in danger to activate.
Across the entire Imperial Capital, as long as it is activated, I can arrive within three seconds."
"Three seconds?"
Lu Li was deeply shaken.
He looked at Song Wanqiu, only to find complete earnestness in her gentle, beautiful eyes.
She was not joking.
Tonight's assassination attempt had truly frightened her.
If Lu Li's own strength hadn't been sufficiently formidable tonight,
that Soul-Corrupting Poison would have been enough to ruin his entire life!
Thus, she had to provide him with an absolute abundance of life-saving measures.
"Thank you, Teacher!"
Lu Li refused no longer, solemnly storing the scroll and medallion into his space ring.
"Mhm."
Song Wanqiu nodded, the frost in her eyes finally melting away a bit further:
"Go and rest. As for tonight's matter, I will inform you tomorrow once there is news."
"Alright, rest early as well, Teacher."
Lu Li nodded, offered another word of concern, and then turned to leave.
While walking on the path back to his own villa, he could not help but feel emotional.
Teacher Song's treatment of him truly left nothing to be desired.
With these two treasures in hand, the number of powerhouses capable of threatening him had become exceedingly scarce.