The Second Trial: A Sly Encounter

When Su Han emerged from the barrier, she found Baiye surrounded by over thirty individuals. They appeared somewhat disheveled, yet their expressions remained relatively relaxed.

Among these thirty-plus people, some possessed cold demeanors, while others were incomparably handsome. Each of them, however, exuded an air of arrogance, carrying themselves with an attitude of unparalleled superiority.

Seeing Su Han clear the trial with such apparent ease, a sour feeling settled in their hearts.

“Swoosh~!” Another figure shot through the barrier, tracing an arc before descending before the crowd.

‘Hmm? The foul-mouthed woman!’ Su Han thought. ‘Wasn’t this person knocked unconscious by lightning?’ Recognizing the ‘acquaintance,’ Su Han quickly turned her head away, hoping to avoid further trouble should they spot her.

A moment later, “Time is up!” Baiye declared loudly. Instantly, black chains tore through the void, coiling around the Nazz Golem.

Baiye waved his sleeve, dissipating the runic barrier. He then addressed those who had failed the trial: “You have no affinity with the Inner Courtyard. Perhaps try again next time!”

“You, you, and you.” Baiye turned, pointing at two men and one woman who had successfully passed. He continued, “If my eyes do not deceive me, the two of you used extreme elixirs, while you, young woman, relied on a secret treasure to clear the trial, did you not?”

“I… I don’t want to…” The woman’s lips turned pale as she stammered something, trembling. It was clear she was thoroughly terrified.

Baiye waved his hand dismissively. “Ah, you may leave. I won’t punish you, but the Inner Courtyard is certainly not for you.”

“Yes, this disciple shall take his leave!” The more handsome of the men declared, then pulled both the man and woman away.

“Wait,” Baiye called out. “If I ever catch you cheating again, I will have no choice but to expel you!”

‘Extreme elixirs? Heh heh~’ Su Han wasn’t pondering the ethics of cheating at that moment. Instead, her thoughts drifted to that Extreme Barrier-Breaking Pill…

‘Damn it, even if I’ve turned into a woman, I’ll still use my finger to defile your most sacred place!’ Su Han gritted her teeth fiercely, her nails digging deep into her palm, drawing a trickle of blood.

“The twenty-seven of you.” Baiye’s gaze swept over Su Han and the other twenty-six individuals. “You have passed the first trial. Next up is the second test. As long as you clear this one, you’ll only need to await the final competition. Fail, and the final competition will be beyond your reach.”

“Oh, right, I forgot to mention: the top three in the final competition will receive generous rewards!”

‘Competition?’ Su Han mused. ‘Oh, that one!’ Of course, she had heard Mentor Ruolin speak of it. After all, there were only twelve spots in the Inner Courtyard, yet each year, at least forty or fifty people passed the first two trials. Thus, the final competition existed, with only the top twelve earning the right to enter the Inner Courtyard.

“The rest of you, follow me,” Baiye instructed.

Baiye led the group to a mountain cave. After walking for a while along its dark, winding passages, they reached a junction where dozens of paths branched off.

“Each of these thirty-one paths is guarded by either a Saint-tier Knight or an Arch-Mage.” Baiye’s gaze swept over Su Han and the others. “The twenty-seven of you will each choose a path and enter. Emerging from the cave mouth will count as successfully passing the trial.”

The faces of Su Han and the twenty-six others all paled.

Saint-tier Knights and Arch-Mages—what kind of concept was that? Just moments ago, the Nazz Golem alone had tormented everyone so miserably. Now, they were directly facing living mages! And it was one-on-one; how could anyone possibly win? Entering seemed like a dead end!

Fortunately, Baiye hadn’t mentioned defeating or overpowering their opponents. Simply getting through would suffice, which offered a sliver of hope!

“Once you enter your respective paths, you will encounter the guarding students. As long as you break through their obstruction and exit the cave, you will pass.” A sly smile crept onto Baiye’s face. “Don’t worry, the guarding students are only permitted to use one method of attack. You, however, can go all out, and you don’t need to defeat these guardians; simply rushing out of the cave counts as success. Afterwards, we will reconvene at the summit of this mountain.”

“Oh, and by the way, hand over any secret treasures, elixirs, and pills to me first. Otherwise, if you use them, those madmen inside will unleash their full power and kill you outright!”

“Uh… alright!” A group of people reluctantly retrieved secret treasures, pills, and elixirs from their storage rings, handing them over to Baiye.

“Heh, anything poorly used will be confiscated~!” Baiye revealed his true nature, chuckling mischievously.

Tch~

“Alright, alright, I was just joking with you. Now go quickly.” Baiye said, feeling a touch awkward at the students’ collective sigh of disdain.

Soon, one by one, they randomly chose a path. After a brief deliberation, Su Han also picked one.

“Ruolin~” Baiye said with a smile. “Would you perhaps grace me with your presence for dinner tonight? My treat!”

“Uncle Baiye, you’re doing it again! Be careful, or I’ll tell my father you’re bullying me!”

“No, no, no! My little aunt, isn’t it enough that I admit I was wrong?” Baiye quickly waved his hands. “Ruolin~ you must promise me, absolutely do not tell my elder brother, or I’ll be dead…”

“Pfft,” Ruolin let out a giggle, then nodded. “Mhm.”

Inside the corridor Su Han had chosen.

About ten meters into the cave entrance, a young man sat, clad in a black magic robe and holding a black magic staff.

‘Damn it, I just crippled some self-proclaimed genius trash student from the Inner Courtyard, and now they make me guard this cave entrance? This is utterly annoying!’ Zhan Ling muttered softly, stroking his black magic staff. ‘If it’s a pretty girl, I’ll go easy. But for some rough guy or pretty boy, I’ll make sure they’re half-dead!’

‘They’re here! A girl… please be a girl…’ Zhan Ling silently prayed.

Footsteps echoed, and Su Han’s graceful figure and angelic face gradually appeared before Zhan Ling’s eyes.

‘Holy crap, my luck is amazing! It’s a top-tier beauty!’ Zhan Ling thought, darting around the cave, his mind racing. ‘This time, I’ll have to go extra easy. Maybe I’ll just get a nosebleed and faint? Or deliberately take a hit from her, foam at the mouth, and pretend to pass out?’

‘No, no, that won’t do! Wouldn’t the girl look down on me then?’ Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Zhan Ling, and he clapped his hands, exclaiming, ‘I’ve got it! Heh heh~!’

“Ahem, ahem, this mountain is mine, this tree is mine. If you wish to pass, leave behind your toll!” Zhan Ling cleared his throat, declaring.

Su Han was speechless. How could this man before her, so strikingly handsome, be such a clown?

“No need for further words. I am a true gentleman; I do not rob for beauty!” Zhan Ling said calmly, with an air of composure. “Quickly state your name! Let us begin our battle directly!”

“Su Han!”

“Su Han? A good name!”

Before Zhan Ling could finish, Su Han pulled out her magic staff and flung a High-tier Fireball spell his way.

‘Ahem, ahem, this power is a bit weak, isn’t it? This shouldn’t be! How the hell am I supposed to go easy now?’ Zhan Ling muttered softly after blocking the Fireball spell with an Elemental Barrier (an upgraded Elemental Shield).

‘No, I need to be more proactive! I can’t let the girl look down on me!’ Zhan Ling softly chanted a spell. The lightning elements in the air became agitated, and streaks of lightning appeared around him. Countless bolts converged, forming a flying sword that hurtled towards Su Han with astonishing power.

The sword exploded over a zhang [TL Note: roughly 3.3 meters or 11 feet] in front of Su Han, transforming into a vast sheet of lightning that assaulted her with overwhelming speed.

Su Han smiled faintly, extending her index finger to touch the lightning. She absorbed every single bolt of electrical energy.

‘I knew her magic seemed weak. So she’s a bloodline system user!’

“Hey there, girl, how about I go easy on you so you can pass, and in return, you treat me to a meal sometime?” Zhan Ling’s voice suddenly resonated in Su Han’s mind.

‘Hmm?’ Su Han thought. ‘Telepathic transmission?’

“No, no, it’s Soul Telepathy~!”

Su Han’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she grew increasingly wary. Soul Telepathy—what kind of concept was that? It likely meant using soul attacks wouldn’t be an issue, and she could easily be turned into an idiot with a careless strike.

“So, what do you think, girl? How about my proposal?”

“Alright~ It’s just a meal, I’ll treat you~!” Of course, Su Han agreed to someone going easy on her so she could pass effortlessly! Not taking advantage of a good deal was foolish! Su Han had always lived by that motto. No harm in gaining something for nothing, it saved effort and made things easier for everyone.

“Hold on a sec, Baiye is probably monitoring us,” Zhan Ling transmitted. “Wait for me to blow up his surveillance magic orb!”

“We’ll pretend to fight, then gradually move closer to the surveillance orb. I’ll act like I accidentally shattered it!”

‘Good heavens, what kind of people are in this academy? So many oddballs, truly exceptional talents! Cheating like this, aren’t they afraid of getting beaten?’ Su Han thought. Still, none of this concerned her; if trouble arose, it would fall on him. So, she simply responded, “OK!”

Thus, Su Han and Zhan Ling began their charade…

“Haa!” Su Han launched a dozen fireballs, then retreated, gradually approaching the surveillance magic orb embedded in the cave ceiling.

“Hmph hmph, don’t run! I’d like to properly experience the physique of a bloodline cultivator~!”

“Pfft,” Su Han rolled her eyes. ‘That remark is clearly ambiguous, isn’t it?’ She didn’t say much more. The two continued their back-and-forth, one striking, then the other, each feigning a loud shout before every move.

“Take my strongest strike, Thunderous Roar!” A black electrical bolt condensed on Zhan Ling’s magic staff, flying towards Su Han.

“Ah~ so powerful! This force is suffocating me!” Su Han exclaimed. “But, I’ll dodge!” She ducked and bent, evading the attack.

“Bang~!” Immediately after, the electrical bolt struck and shattered the surveillance magic orb…

“Ah, I didn’t expect you to dodge that,” Zhan Ling said with a look of regret. “It was my mistake~!”

“Alright, alright, stop acting! All this bluster, I’m practically exhausted!”

“Heh heh,” Zhan Ling chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

“I suppose I’ve passed, then? I’ll treat you to that meal later~!” Su Han said, striding towards the exit.

“Mm, you can go,” Zhan Ling replied. “Wait, my name is Zhan Ling, remember it~!” He winked at Su Han.

‘My goodness, I’ve never seen such a brazen and shameless person in my life!’

“Not so, not so! You and I are kindred spirits!”

“Ah, never mind, never mind~!” Su Han sighed, shaking her head as she stepped out of the cave mouth.

‘Hmph hmph, you’re just waiting for death! I refuse to believe that Baiye won’t realize you deliberately went easy and even shattered his magic orb!’ Su Han gloated, fantasizing mischievously.

‘Damn it, it’s that kid again! Stirring up trouble in the Inner Courtyard and now sabotaging me here!’ Baiye raged, his temper flaring. ‘You want to go easy? Just wait, if that Su Han loses the final competition, I’ll beat both of you!’

He wasn’t foolish; he had naturally seen it, but he couldn’t say anything. He could only wait for the final competition. If Su Han successfully entered the Inner Courtyard, he would pretend not to have seen anything. But if she lost, both of them would be in trouble!

“Alright, alright, let’s do as you say~ if Su Han passes smoothly into the Inner Courtyard, we’ll pretend we didn’t see anything, okay?” Ruolin coaxed playfully from the side.

“Of course! My word is my bond, I, Baiye, always keep my promises!”

On the other side…

Su Han strolled out of the cave, surveying the surrounding scenery.

“Twenty-seven people went in to challenge it; I wonder how many will pass.” Su Han stood beside Mentor Ruolin, waiting patiently. ‘Going easy on someone really feels great~!’