"Lin Yun?"
When Xi Congqing and Smith saw the people from Jinghai College, a twinge of guilt crossed their faces.
After all, just a few days ago, they had given Lin Yun a rather "deep sleep."
"Six black tigers... 60 points. Huaihai College's total score has reached 780. Not bad at all." Lin Yun smiled warmly, as if he had no recollection of what had happened before.
"Thank you for the compliment. I hope we can catch up to you soon," Xi Congqing replied lightly.
Hearing this, a tall woman with a cold expression standing beside Lin Yun let out a scornful snort. She stepped forward and said disdainfully, "You? Catch up with us? Know your limits."
"Hahaha!"
The others from Jinghai College laughed mockingly, their sneers blatant and unapologetic.
The students from Huaihai College were visibly irritated by their arrogant ridicule.
"Jinghai College might be strong," Zhao Mei said, unable to hold back anymore, "but we're not far behind in points. There's no need to be so full of yourselves."
The cold-faced woman narrowed her eyes dangerously. Her gaze became sharp, and she stepped forward with a chilling presence that rolled off her like a wave.
Level three, advanced stage.
Same level as Lin Yun.
Under her pressure, Zhao Mei's chest tightened. Her breathing turned shallow, and her legs trembled slightly.
Xi Congqing immediately stepped up, shielding Zhao Mei from the pressure. With a scoff, she snapped, "So what? You can talk, but we can't?"
She had no respect for people like those from Jinghai College—conceited, arrogant, and overbearing.
"Qinglan," Lin Yun finally spoke in a low voice, stopping the cold woman from escalating further.
Qinglan backed off reluctantly, her glare still locked onto Xi Congqing with frosty contempt.
"Xiao Qing," Lin Yun said as he walked forward, clearly intending to get close to Xi Congqing.
But before he could approach, Smith silently stepped in front of her, his expression unreadable.
Lin Yun's smile froze briefly. He stared at Smith, the corner of his lips twitching slightly.
In a voice too low for anyone else to hear, Lin Yun muttered, "That illusion technique of yours was impressive. I'll have to learn from you next time."
Smith raised an eyebrow but said nothing. His silence and stoic demeanor were more powerful than words.
---
Suddenly, a roar shattered the tense air. The forest ahead trembled as trees fell like matchsticks. A colossal figure emerged from the shadows.
A black bear, massive as a building, stepped into view.
Thick-skinned, with a wild aura pulsing from its body, it exuded unstoppable strength.
Violent Black Bear, Level 4 - Primary Stage.
Attributes: Strength, Earth, and Fire.
The beast's crimson eyes scanned the crowd. The presence of so many humans enraged it.
Its primal instincts screamed for blood.
"A level 4 beast?! Retreat!" Smith and Xi Congqing shouted in unison, quickly ordering their team to fall back.
"Tsk. Scared of a mere fourth-level beast? Useless," Qinglan sneered.
Unlike Huaihai College, the Jinghai team didn't budge. Instead, they calmly entered formation, ready for combat.
"Begin!" Lin Yun commanded.
In an instant, the Jinghai elites sprang into action. Their coordinated movement was impressive—each one a trained fighter, all at least third-level psychics. Some had already reached the advanced third level.
---
Meanwhile, several hundred meters away, the Huaihai team paused behind a thicket. Wei Lin couldn't help but glance back at the battle unfolding in the distance.
"Brother Smith, are we just going to watch?" he asked, unable to hide his hesitation.
"What, you want to help them?" Smith raised an eyebrow.
"No, no!" Wei Lin waved his hands quickly. "I mean... that's a level four beast. If we can land the final blow, we not only score big points—we also rob Jinghai of theirs. Kill two birds with one stone!"
Smith's eyes narrowed slightly.
Indeed, if they could somehow defeat the black bear and claim the core, they could close the gap between their score and Jinghai College's. His ultimate goal was to take first place.
For the reward of the first place… no, for the honor of Huaihai College!
He clenched his fist.
"You all go ahead. I'll stay and see if an opportunity comes up," Smith said.
He didn't want to risk his entire team's time and safety, especially if Jinghai could handle the bear on their own. But he also couldn't ignore the possible windfall.
"What's the point of staying alone?" Xi Congqing objected immediately. "If they can't beat it, you won't be able to either. I'm staying."
"Same here!" Wei Lin chimed in. "You're not leaving me behind!"
Smith sighed, exasperated. "This isn't a game. Do you really think sneaking in for the final blow is that easy? We still have to hunt other monsters and complete the mission. I'm not letting you stay."
He pulled out two Flying Thunder God kunai and handed them to Xi Congqing and Wei Lin.
"Take these. If things go south, I'll use them to teleport to you."
Without giving them a chance to argue, Smith pushed them away and ran toward the battlefield.
---
Back at the clearing, the battle had reached its peak.
The Jinghai team fought with precision. Ten psychics, each with advanced skills, surrounded the black bear.
"Sufeng Cage!"
Qinglan raised her hand. A sharp gust of light-blue wind formed a whirling cage, trapping the bear.
"Four-Sided Thunder Array!"
Four lightning-attribute psychics lifted their arms. Thunder rumbled in the sky as several enormous purple bolts struck down, slamming the bear from above.
Boom!
Despite its thick hide, the bear was stunned. Roaring in pain, it dropped to one knee, snarling in fury.
One final blow would finish the job.
Lin Yun leapt into the air, lightning crackling along his spear. With a swift thrust, the spear shot forward like a dragon breaking through the sea, striking the beast squarely on its head.
Bang!
The tip of the spear pierced deep into the black bear's skull, and it collapsed with a loud thud.
"Too easy," Lin Yun said confidently as he walked toward the fallen beast, ready to extract the demon core.
But just as he reached the bear's head—its eyes suddenly flew open.
"ROAR!!"
A tidal wave of violent energy burst forth. Flames erupted from its fur, turning the entire battlefield into a raging inferno.
The air around them ignited. A few of Lin Yun's teammates weren't fast enough and were immediately scorched by the flames.
The others scrambled to retreat.
But it was already too late.
The aura of the black bear surged, growing stronger by the second.
Level 4 – Intermediate Stage!
"What the hell… this is… Blood Rage?!"
Lin Yun's expression twisted in shock.
Blood Rage—a terrifying power that only certain beast-types possessed—allowed them to burn their own blood to unlock immense strength for a short time.
The black bear had been faking its death, luring them in for a final, devastating strike.
---
From a distance, Smith crouched behind a tall bush, watching the battle unfold.
His eyes lit up as he saw Lin Yun and his team thrown into chaos.
"Now's my chance…"
He quietly reached for his kunai.
This was the perfect moment for a sneak attack.
If he succeeded, Huaihai College would leap ahead—and humiliate Jinghai College in the process.
He grinned slightly.
Time for payback.
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