Chapter 23 – Those Who Play Tactics Have Dirty Hearts

Pressure, immense pressure.

Even though Lu Chen hadn’t done anything, even though he was only at the third level of the Qi Condensation Stage.

Yet at this moment, Xu Jianliang and the other two still felt a suffocating sensation as if being constricted by a python.

Since Lu Chen could instantly appear beside them without their notice, didn’t this mean that if he wanted to, he could silently eliminate all three of them in an instant?

Staring at the smiling Lu Chen beside them, Xu Jianliang broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead.

Was that ghostly speed an Innate Divine Ability, an unknown technique, or some special Magical Artifact or Talismans?

Xu Jianliang couldn’t figure it out, and he didn’t intend to try.

Without any hesitation, the adaptable Xu Jianliang made what he believed was the most correct decision – he bowed and apologized: “I was wrong, Classmate Lu. Please forgive us.”

Quick to adapt and correct mistakes when recognized.

At this moment, Xu Jianliang demonstrated his exceptional wisdom in dealing with people.

Compared to opposing Lu Chen whose strength was unknown, lowering his head and admitting fault was undoubtedly the better choice.

After all, he really didn’t have much confidence in escaping from Lu Chen’s ghostly movements.

If the mock exam ended here, losing face would be minor, but being unable to earn more credits would be the real problem.

Because credits at Luocheng High School represented abundant cultivation resources!

And hearing this, Lu Chen actually let them go.

“Alright then, let’s part ways here.”

With that, Lu Chen turned and left.

Watching Lu Chen’s retreating figure, Xu Jianliang secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

Thank goodness, thank goodness Classmate Lu is a decent person who’s willing to let us go.

But just then, Xu Jianliang felt someone quietly pat his back.

Xu Jianliang turned around in confusion and found that the person patting him was the taciturn old schemer Chai Xi.

“What’s wrong?”

Chai Xi didn’t speak, but quietly pointed at the wristwatch on Lu Chen’s right hand.

When Xu Jianliang clearly saw the value on the wristwatch, the expression on his face changed from previous anxiety to current arrogance.

Because the value on the wristwatch was clearly only ‘15%’.

15% – this was the Spiritual Power value displayed by the Protective Wristwatch.

Although the Protective Wristwatch could autonomously absorb Qi from the air to replenish itself and maintain the Spiritual Power needed for the Protective Barrier, this only ensured the wristwatch’s minimum operation, preventing the value from dropping further.

To restore the wristwatch’s Spiritual Power to 100%, examinees needed to infuse their own Spiritual Power into it.

And there was a rule in this mock exam.

Once an examinee’s Protective Wristwatch value fell below ‘10%’, it meant the examinee had suffered attacks capable of harming themselves in a short period.

This would immediately trigger the teleportation array on the wristwatch, sending the examinee out of the mock exam venue.

What did Lu Chen’s 15% wristwatch value mean?

It meant that if this were reality, he would already be severely injured!

In the context of the mock exam, it meant he was already spiritually exhausted with little fighting capacity left.

Wait, so you were just putting on an act to scare us!

“Wait!”

Lu Chen turned back, frowning as he looked at Xu Jianliang who had stopped him.

“What else is there?”Xu Jianliang glanced once more at the wristwatch on Lu Chen’s hand, confirming that its energy reading had indeed dropped to a mere ‘15%’.

A surge of confidence swiftly returned to Xu Jianliang’s expression.

“Quite the actor, aren’t you, Lu? One performance wasn’t enough—you had to try for an encore. Perhaps you should quit cultivating the Dao and switch to acting instead.”

“Me, wrong? Preposterous! Xu Jianliang never makes mistakes!”

“Lu, how about you apologize to me now? If you do, I might just let this slide.”

“Otherwise, don’t blame me for sending you packing. Even if it costs me some points… I can afford it!”

Xu Jianliang shed his earlier dejection, now facing Lu Chen with renewed arrogance.

At this moment… the advantage was clearly his!

Seeing Xu Jianliang take the bait, Lu Chen inwardly chuckled while feigning urgency at having his scheme exposed.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about…”

With that, Lu Chen quickened his pace as if eager to escape the scene.

“Not so fast! Attack!”

At Xu Jianliang’s command, Zheng Liu—who had been holding the Spirit Fox Brush—joined him in launching an assault on Lu Chen.

As for Chai Xi, who had first noticed Lu Chen’s peculiar behavior, he not only refrained from attacking but subtly retreated half a step backward.

His movement was so slight it went unnoticed by Xu Jianliang and Zheng Liu.

Talisman·Crimson Flame Talisman!

Art·Earth Spike Technique!

The spreading spikes overtook Lu Chen within two breaths, enveloping his entire body.

Interweaving rapidly, the earthen spikes instantly formed an impenetrable wooden prison.

They trapped the seemingly Spirit Power-depleted, defenseless Lu Chen inside.

Simultaneously with the prison’s formation, Zheng Liu’s Crimson Flame Talisman transformed into raging flames that ignited the entwined branches.

This was their collaboratively developed combination technique—Blazing Wooden Cage.

Never mind that Lu Chen was merely a Dao cultivator at Qi Condensation Stage Three.

Even a Qi Training Stage Six Blood Amber Alpha Wolf would be severely injured, if not killed, by this coordinated assault!

Watching the roaring flames, Xu Jianliang shook his head with feigned regret. “What a pity. In a fair one-on-one duel, I’d admit you’re superior, Lu.”

“But this is a combat simulation exam—in real battles, no one fights fair.”

“So don’t blame me for ganging up on you. Blame your own arrogance. Use this as a lesson to temper your Heart-Nature so you’re better prepared next time.”

“Consider this… an education from me.”

Emboldened by his perceived victory, Xu Jianliang launched into a condescending lecture directed at who he assumed was already teleported-out Lu Chen.

He’d completely forgotten his own cowardly demeanor from moments before.

But before his gloating could continue, Zheng Liu spoke up.

“J-Jianliang… our points… they haven’t decreased.”

“What does it matter if our points…?”

The realization struck Xu Jianliang like a thunderclap.

Maliciously attacking other examinees during Phase One would deduct points.

If their points remained unchanged, that could only mean…

Disaster. He’d celebrated too soon.

“ROAR!”Almost the instant Xu Jianliang regained his composure, an ear-splitting Dragon’s Roar erupted from the flames. The burning wooden cage shattered instantly, transforming into a shower of sparks that filled the air.

These sparks made sizzling sounds upon contact with the rainwater, turning into pale wisps of smoke that enveloped the surroundings.

Lu Chen emerged from the smoke, casually flicking the residual charcoal dust off his Sword.

Looking at Xu Jianliang and Zheng Liu’s grim expressions, he said with a smile, “Now… you made the first move.”

In the next second, Lu Chen’s figure vanished from where he stood.

Before Xu Jianliang could react, he heard the deafening Dragon’s Roar beside his ear.

His protective barrier activated instantly, forming a defensive shield.

Yet this shield lasted only a moment before consuming a massive amount of Spiritual Power.

So much so that Xu Jianliang couldn’t even see what happened before he began being teleported out of the Secret Realm.

“First one.”

Lu Chen’s figure flowed like water, instantly appearing beside Zheng Liu.

His speed was so fast that Zheng Liu had no time to react before Lu Chen’s Sword sent her out of the Secret Realm.

“Second one.”

Lu Chen stopped and looked at the dumbstruck Chai Xi.

It must be said that Chai Xi truly lived up to being an anomaly among Body Cultivators – an old schemer who loved playing mind games, with exceptionally quick reactions in crises.

Almost the moment Zheng Liu was teleported away, he immediately shouted: “You can’t hit me! I didn’t make a move just now!”

“I know…”

Lu Chen walked up to Chai Xi and, under his astonished gaze, swung his Sword.

As Chai Xi was being teleported away, Lu Chen calmly said: “…Even though you didn’t make a move, when it comes to someone like you, I’d still hit you even if it costs me points.”

“Because I hate tactical players the most – they make me feel like I’m looking in a mirror.”

Tactical players all have dirty hearts.

Lu Chen hated people with dirty hearts most in this life, because he was one of them too.

I won’t allow… anyone in this world to have a dirtier heart than mine!

(End of Chapter)