Chapter 48: Within the Rules, Continue

There was no need for Nan Yutong to say anything more; Feng Shouyi had already issued a series of orders in rapid succession. Only he was qualified to make such decisions. As the deputy director presiding over the new recruits’ battlefield trial in War Zone One, Feng Shouyi’s mood had sunk to its lowest point—he had never encountered anything like this before. Until the facts were clear, with so many complications at play, he could not easily pass judgment on other matters. But it was already an undeniable fact that Xie Zhiqiang would rather consume an explosive pill and risk his life to strike at Lin Qingyun. This alone had crossed the bottom line of the rules for the new recruits’ trial—such conduct was absolutely forbidden.

Booms echoed, the sharp ring of blades cut through the air, and flames surged. Within this maelstrom, the surveillance drones that had just entered the area exploded one after another, torn apart by the flashing blades and rolling fire. The devastation didn’t stop there—a terrifying force bored through floor after floor. The earlier battle between Lin Qingyun and Xie Zhiqiang had already ravaged the upper levels, and now, as fresh destruction rained down, several stories above began to collapse.

Two figures shot down from midair astride their swords; though the building below was crumbling, they descended fearlessly, sword energy swirling around them. In reality, only a dozen heartbeats had passed, and the officials, hovering in their stealth aircraft above, had already entered the fray. After all, this was just the new recruits’ trial. Occasionally, a student might die in combat before help could arrive—that was considered a tragic accident. But if a distress call was received, the rescue team was obligated to act immediately. That was why, above every fixed combat zone, a stealth aircraft hovered every few kilometers, ready to deploy personnel at a moment’s notice.

Soon, a figure rose from the ruins, dragging with him a man—Xie Zhiqiang, burned from head to toe, one arm completely severed, yet still conscious. A gasp escaped the vice chancellor of Liyang University at the sight, his heart aching with distress. Though events had spiraled out of control, Xie Zhiqiang’s earlier performance had placed him among the top ten on the combat rankings. Now, he was nearly crippled. Whether he received a mechanical replacement or not, unless he reached the Radiant Sun realm, he could never hope to regain his former strength. Many are gifted, but how many actually ascend to true power? And at the last moment, Xie Zhiqiang had consumed the explosive pill, forcibly unleashing his foundation’s strength—no doubt damaging it. Now crippled, the cost was unimaginable.

A chill swept through the command room, bringing a wave of terror even to Feng Shouyi. It was Nan Yutong’s wrathful presence pressing down on all. The fact that Xie Zhiqiang had used the explosive pill, on top of his earlier abnormal actions, set this incident apart from previous conflicts. The rules had been broken.

Meanwhile, amid the rubble, someone was still searching inside. Only after the building had fully collapsed did a figure burst through the debris. The collapse of several stories posed no threat at all to someone of the Cloudrider realm—body refined into energy, aura glowing, a natural shield. A mere collapse, or even ordinary weapons, could hardly harm him.

“What’s going on?” The others held their breath, tense and watchful, as Nan Yutong was the first to demand an explanation. For the person who had just emerged was not carrying Lin Qingyun.

“Reporting to Command: According to our sensors, Lin Qingyun’s life signs are weak but stable—he is not in immediate danger. When I searched inside, I found a tunnel dug by a rat demon. Lin Qingyun appears to have entered it.”

Even for a Cloudrider, finding Lin Qingyun in such conditions was nearly impossible. He was there to save a life, not to take one.

“Location,” Feng Shouyi prompted, and someone immediately pulled up Lin Qingyun’s coordinates. His signal could still be faintly detected moving underground, but it was flickering and weak—clearly not just because of depth, but also due to the interference of demon energy and other forces. The latest scan showed Lin Qingyun’s vitality as faint, indicating he had suffered severe injuries.

Nan Yutong quietly let out a sigh of relief. As long as Lin Qingyun was able to escape on his own, things weren’t too dire. He was different from ordinary new students—he certainly carried high-grade survival pills. As long as he wasn’t killed outright, he should survive.

She then glanced at the battered Xie Zhiqiang…

“Let… let me go. I… want to continue the trial… I like Nangong Lingyue, not him. I want to keep going…” Xie Zhiqiang, his arm severed and body gravely wounded, his clothing burned away, clung desperately to his broadsword and struggled to speak. He gazed upward, knowing that people were watching from above. His words made it clear—he understood the suspicion his actions would bring and wanted everyone to know he was no different from the others who had attacked Lin Qingyun. Even if he used extreme measures, he had not broken the rules.

“I’m… not dead… he’s not dead either… I didn’t break the rules. I want to keep fighting…” Not even his grievous injuries or the loss of his arm could shake his resolve; his gaze was frighteningly determined.

A sudden hush fell over the command room.

“A remarkable young man. What a pity,” spoke the Desert Wind King, Nangong Aoshi, who had been silent until now, surprising everyone by expressing regret for Xie Zhiqiang. Since the previous day, the Desert Wind King had offered no direct comment on Lin Qingyun, but now, his first words were praise for a student who had attacked him.

All eyes turned to Feng Shouyi. Ordinarily, Xie Zhiqiang would be investigated, but given the situation, it was clear that he would not easily divulge any information. Even if a telepath tried to hypnotize him, his iron will would likely resist any mental probing without damaging his mind.

The Desert Wind King’s comment was only a sigh; he said no more. After a moment’s thought, Feng Shouyi nodded to one of the staff.

“Lin Qingyun followed the rules when he dealt with his attackers, and Xie Zhiqiang hasn’t broken any either. We’ll deal with the rest later. If he wishes to continue, let him. Ignore him for now.”

That was the minister’s final decision. With his order, the one holding Xie Zhiqiang released him to the ground and returned to the sky on his sword.

Many now looked to Nan Yutong, but she seemed entirely transformed—serene, composed, as if meditating. Meanwhile, the vice chancellor of Liyang University wore a look of deep worry, communicating anxiously with others over his device.

Within the war zone, Xie Zhiqiang glanced around. The aftermath of the battle, the smell of blood, had already drawn many poisonous insects and beasts. He had no more pills; even holding his broadsword in one hand felt exhausting. He had thought that, with the explosive pill, disabling Lin Qingyun would allow him to retreat safely, but his opponent’s final burst of strength had left him defeated.

Now what should he do? He didn’t know, only that his opponent’s warning meant he could not leave any clue that might implicate others, even in defeat. Was he meant to die? But if he died, what would become of his sister?

Dragging his battered, exhausted body, heedless of his nakedness or his burns, Xie Zhiqiang quickly left the area.

The sand rat demon was one of the most difficult missions reserved for this war zone. Though individually weak, their numbers and their underground habitat made them formidable. To others, Lin Qingyun’s escape through the sand rat tunnels seemed a stroke of luck, but this was all part of his plan. He had instructed Chu Qing to inform Zhang Baole of his location for three reasons: to earn Chu Qing’s trust, to test Zhang Baole’s current attitude, and to prepare for the impending upheaval.

He had not competed for rankings or glory in the trial, behaving like an idle young master unconcerned with scores, merely dealing with those who sought trouble with him. Yet in just two days, he had forced over a hundred people out of the trial. Lin Qingyun could hardly believe no one had noticed.

Ordinary people entering the sand rat tunnels would be swarmed by countless rat demons. Lin Qingyun had barely entered when dozens of the mutated, meter-long creatures attacked. He swiftly dispatched them, changed direction several times, then crushed a pill in his hand. A mist enveloped him, which his skin absorbed, masking his scent entirely and replacing it with the faint odor of underground plant roots—unlikely to draw the rat demons’ attention. As for suppressing his own life force, while impossible for most new students, it was easy for him.

With his spiritual senses, Lin Qingyun could detect approaching rat demons and avoid them or hide in advance, drawing ever closer to the rat demon nest. Though the city was abandoned, the sheer number of poisonous insects and demons gathered here was astonishing. Beyond the surrounding desert, the city contained several lakes and patches of forest that had been preserved. The old city wildlife park, lush with water and plants, was one such place, and the rat demon nest lay beneath it—one of the principal powers below ground.

As a result, this was a key target in the new recruits’ trial. Over two days, thousands of new students had already begun fighting in the park’s outskirts.

Emerging from the rat tunnels, Lin Qingyun slipped into the heart of the park.

In the distance, a lion’s roar shook the land for miles, as hundreds of beasts charged toward one area. A giant serpent, a hundred meters long, climbed a colossal tree, surveying its territory and intimidating all around, while below, the hiss of countless smaller snakes spread in waves, tens of thousands slithering outward. The screech of a rat demon pierced the air, and soon, hordes of rat demons emerged, their shrill cries echoing.

With the three major factions entrenched in the wildlife park now issuing their call to arms, other demon clans in the surroundings began to stir as well. Over the past day, as more and more humans had stormed the park during the trial, the three factions had suffered heavy losses. Feeling both threatened and provoked, they began to strike back.