Era of Mist

Chapter 141: Chapter 140: Brilliant Radiance, Same Old Trick?

It lit up! It really lit up!

Even in broad daylight, the unique glow was still dazzling, bathing the entire area in a six-colored, cross-shaped radiance.

He Chong was stunned. Wang Jiaxu was dumbfounded. The crowd of eight hundred fell silent.

The Dragon Map Scholar smiled faintly, then spoke in a measured tone, ”Shi Tiexin, you pass. Remember to attend the Lesser Prefecture Exam on time.”

”Yes, sir.” Shi Tiexin nodded in acknowledgment, then looked at He Chong, the explosive battle lust in his eyes slowly receding.

Today really wasn’t the right time to take He Chong out before the Lesser Prefecture Exam. It wasn’t the best option, for a number of reasons. If he beat He Chong up and sent him to the hospital right before the test, preventing him from even participating, He Chong’s father would absolutely not let the matter rest. The subsequent retaliations would likely be endless.

To have become the executive vice president of Star Worker Industry, He Chong’s father was probably just a step below someone like Liu Qigang. Shi Tiexin was in no position to deal with that right now.

But if they faced each other in the Lesser Prefecture Exam, it wouldn’t be considered a private brawl. Then, he could defeat He Chong fair and square, right out in the open. He Chong’s father wouldn’t be able to say a thing, no matter how much he objected. Besides, if He Chong lost to a ”low-life” like him in the exam, his own reputation and status would likely be in jeopardy.

So—

”I’ll save this punch for later.” Shi Tiexin kept his left hand on the crystal sphere. Amidst its radiating glow, he pointed forcefully at He Chong with his right hand. ”In the Lesser Prefecture Exam, we’ll fight to the death!”

SWISH. He pulled his hand away. Without a moment’s hesitation, Shi Tiexin turned and walked away.

He left the way he came. But this time, the crowd of eight hundred didn’t block his path. The people on either side subconsciously parted, making the messy path even wider. The hundreds of students watched Shi Tiexin leave, and then the place suddenly erupted in an uproar.

”I can’t believe it! His mental cultivation is that high!”

”Gods, look at how bright that glow is! What a surprise!”

”This machine only does a preliminary test. It’s not precise.”

”That’s still incredibly strong! When my older brother tested two years ago, I heard the light was only as bright as a small lightbulb!”

”Didn’t your brother make the Silver Roll in the Lesser Prefecture Exam? And his was only a small lightbulb? My god, then just how strong is this Shi Tiexin? He might actually make the Gold Roll!”

Being a good fighter, someone who loved to brawl, didn’t amount to much—at least, not before advancing to the Sharp Qi Realm. But mental cultivation was different. High mental cultivation meant wider avenues for future advancement. This was especially true for the geniuses who made the Gold Roll; in the future, they were very likely to become powerful and respected figures.

In an instant, the crowd’s perception of Shi Tiexin completely changed. Just then, someone in the crowd said, ”Maybe Shi Tiexin’s level is even higher than He Chong’s!” The comment instantly spread through the throng.

Someone was fanning the flames.

After all, the factions among the eight hundred students were complex. Before, He Chong’s future seemed limitless, and siding with him was the prevailing trend, but not everyone was truly loyal to him. Now that He Chong’s star was falling, more people would naturally start talking behind his back. Shi Tiexin might be a powerful outsider, an Overseas Dragon, but he was fighting alone. Compared to dealing with a reckless punk like Shi Tiexin, their own internal struggles were more important.

So, more and more people began to whisper. More and more people started chattering. More and more people looked at He Chong with expressions of doubt and mockery.

The Dragon Map Scholar remained unruffled. ”Don’t waste time. Continue the tests.”

Instantly, all eyes turned to stare.

He Chong let out a roar and slapped his palm onto the crystal sphere. SWISH! The sphere also radiated a brilliant light, and it wasn’t dim by any means, but...

”Look, look! It seems a little dimmer than Shi Tiexin’s.”

”It really is! Ward Heaven! We’re always calling him Brother Chong, but it turns out he’s just a fraud who’s all talk!”

”What was that guy saying just now? I can’t quite remember those cringey lines. Someone remind me?”

”He said that he, He Chong, was born to conquer, that he is the heavens, and he is the Way! PFFT, that’s hilarious!”

”Exactly! Going on and on about how that guy’s a low-life and telling him to kneel. In the Lesser Prefecture Exam, we’ll see who makes who kneel. The strong are the ones who are respected!”

He Chong’s face flushed crimson. He nearly passed out, his asthma almost flaring up.

’Who is it! Who’s hiding in the crowd stirring things up? Get out here! This... this damn machine is just for a rough estimate! Even a spectral analyzer couldn’t tell whose is brighter, so how the hell can you tell with your damn dog eyes that mine isn’t as bright as his!’

He Chong was furious and flustered, and then a sudden realization struck him with alarm.

’Dammit. That guy’s mental cultivation is unexpectedly high!’

’If he really makes it to the Lesser Prefecture Exam, he could be big trouble! If nothing else, if I run into him, he’ll definitely risk his life just to cause problems for me. I still have to compete with Gong Tengfei for first place. I absolutely can’t let some unorthodox street rat trip me up.’

”Quick, go after him! Intercept that guy!” He Chong turned to Wang Jiaxu, his expression savage and vicious. ”Use the same method as last time. Wear him down in relays. Keep opening secret realms and beat him until he’s critically injured! And don’t stop even after you exit the realms—beat him to death!”

”Brother Chong, I... I still have to do my test...”

”Forget the damn test! There are over eight hundred people testing, it’s not like you’ll miss your turn. If you don’t go now, he’ll be long gone!” He Chong slapped Wang Jiaxu on the head several times. SLAP! SLAP! Wang Jiaxu, his head now covered in lumps, had no choice but to frantically run off in the direction Shi Tiexin had gone.

When he had swaggered over with He Chong earlier, it had been smooth sailing. But pushing through the crowd now was a different story.

Sure, some people still made way for him, but then someone would suddenly stick out a leg to trip him, or an arm would mysteriously shove him.

THUD. Caught off guard, Wang Jiaxu face-planted, nearly busting his lip.

”Who was that!” Wang Jiaxu shrieked in fury, but when he looked back, he couldn’t see who in the dense crowd had tripped him.

He had a pretty good idea who it was. There were only a few people with the background, nerve, and motive to cross Brother Chong. They wouldn’t dare to confront them head-on like Shi Tiexin, they certainly didn’t have the guts for that.

But they definitely had the guts to kick someone when they were down and trip them up from the shadows. In fact, they had plenty of guts for that!

This wasn’t the time to get tangled up with them. Wang Jiaxu scrambled and crawled his way out of the crowd. When he looked up, Shi Tiexin was already out of sight.

’Dammit, that guy runs faster than a rabbit! He must be on guard after what happened last time!’

Wang Jiaxu couldn’t help but feel anxious. Last time, someone had sold out Shi Tiexin’s location, allowing a dozen of them to ambush him in a perfect spot. This time, no one was tracking his movements. He had to catch up quickly himself, then look for an opportunity to call people over and surround him again.

’Right now, all I can do is cling to He Chong’s coattails. If I screw this up, my future is going to be difficult!’

And so, anxious, Wang Jiaxu didn’t hesitate to use his vital energy to speed up, WHOOSHING right out of the school grounds.