Xiaoke and the middle-aged fatty were already outside the assessment area before the monthly assessment started, and their gazes, intentionally or inadvertently, were fixed on one of the battle arenas.
“This bet...Hey, it’s actually pretty interesting.” The middle-aged fatty’s expression was somewhat strange.
“It’s ridiculous. Only she would do something like that!” Xiaoke frowned, her graceful and fair face flushing with anger.
Even now, she couldn’t forgive Xiaoman for what she had done.
“It’s not that bad. Don't forget that Lin Xun has been with Old Mo these days. Maybe Xiaoman made the bet because she saw a certain possibility.” The middle-aged fatty consoled her in a gentle voice.
“Old Mo?” Xiaoke’s beautiful face grew colder. “If she dares to help Lin Xun cheat, I won’t forgive her!”
The middle-aged fatty felt a headache coming on. Xiaoke clearly hated Xiaoman to the bone, and she was very stubborn and wouldn't easily change her views.
He said helplessly, “Don’t you have confidence in Lin Xun?”
Xiaoke fell silent and then she said, “He should be able to pass the quarterly assessment, but to be the first to kill a brute warrior—Do you believe it?”
The middle-aged fatty contemplated her question and smiled wryly as he said in an uncertain tone of voice. “Perhaps…there will be an unexpected miracle?”Xiaoke scrunched her brows and swept a cold glance over the middle-aged fatty. “Even you don’t believe it could be possible, but you want to convince me? The miracle that you mentioned, I think…”
Before she finished, her gaze was drawn to the far arena and her pupils rapidly shrank. She suddenly froze.
Almost at the same time, the middle-aged fatty’s body also stiffened and his small eyes almost spewed out terrifying lightning.
A dreamy and stunning shower of arrows was blooming on Lin Xun’s battle arena!
It was as gorgeous as fireworks, as mysterious as starlight, and it radiated a soul-stirring beauty like frost spreading in nothingness.
Its beauty seemed to make the heavens pale and drown a person’s spirit!
Instantly, Xiaoke and the middle-aged fatty felt stifled and their minds started to wander. What a stunning arrow light and terrifying power!
With their eyesight, they could, of course, see that it all came from the inconspicuous crossbow in Lin Xun’s hand.
However, they couldn’t imagine what sort of crossbow could release such a terrifying yet beautiful illusion-like power?
Ding!
A bizarre wave rippled, snapping Xiaoke and the middle-aged fatty awake. They lifted their heads and saw the light screen around a battle arena had already disappeared, revealing Lin Xun’s handsome figure.
At Lin Xun's feet was the body of the fire brute expert called Bafu. He had died a tragic and horrifying death with his body riddled with several bowl-sized holes. His face particularly was split with a smooth bloody hole. The sight of his mangled corpse would make anyone’s scalp numb.
In addition, more than twenty sharp arrows emitting a silver sheen had been stabbed into different areas of the arena and were releasing a heart-chilling coldness.
The scene clearly shocked the middle-aged fatty as he muttered, “It’s only been five seconds since the quarterly assessment started, right?”
“Three seconds.” Xiaoke lightly spat out, a strange expression on her face.
Then, they both fell silent. A fire brute expert who had strength comparable to a Spirit Dipper cultivator had been killed in three seconds. The two knew what it signified.
“Isn’t this a miracle?” exclaimed the middle-aged fatty.
Xiaoke was speechless.
……
In the central temporary campground.
Xu Sanqi was watching the light screens showing the situations in the assessment area. His gaze was intently fixed on the assessment areas of the 7th, 15th, 22nd, and 31st campgrounds.
More specifically, his eyes were hovering between Bai Lingxi, Zhao Yin, Zhangsun Hen, and Li Duxing.
Occasionally, he would glance at the 39th Campground and check on Lin Xun. His expression also turned strange then.
Before the assessment began, Xu Sanqi turned his head to glance at Xiaoman who was next to him. She looked calm and relaxed on the exterior but he knew she wasn’t what she appeared.
At least her clenched hands and her enlarged pupils proved that she was extremely nervous.
Xu Sanqi sighed inwardly. Is it worth the trouble?
Ding!
Suddenly, a light screen suddenly rippled and Xu Sanqi perked up. The assessment has just begun but someone has already killed their opponent?
However, when he saw who was the student to first kill a brute warrior, his expression altered subtly. What…it’s really him?
Xiaoman was also astounded. She frantically rubbed her eyes in disbelief and it wasn’t until she confirmed that it was true that she giggled out loud. Her face beamed and she almost jumped up in joy.
”Chief Xu, I won!” Such a simple sentence was filled with indescribably joy and excitement when it came from Xiaoman’s mouth. Her bright eyes were shining brilliantly.
Xu Sanqi's heart was also trembling. He drew his finger across the light screen and the scene of Lin Xun killing the brute warrior reappeared before him.
The shower of arrows was akin to stars dancing in the sky and silvery frost illuminating the mountains and rivers. There was an unparalleled dreamy and enchanting beauty to the scene.
Even Xu Sanqi who had a firm, rock-like mind couldn’t help but fall into a daze. On the other hand, Xiaoman looked entranced. What a beautiful thing!
Xu Sanqi soon regained his composure and said, “That doesn’t seem like a standard crossbow in the camp.”
Xiaoman nodded. “Indeed. But Old Mo definitely didn’t help Lin Xun cheat. He also isn’t that capable to be able to create such a beautiful but terrifying aeth crossbow.”
Xiaoman thoroughly told Xu Sanqi about how Lin Xun came about to create the Flying Star Crossbow and starry frost arrows.
Xu Sanqi tried to digest what he heard and then said, “It seems that Old Mo is right. That little guy’s master has to be a remarkable expert.”
As he was speaking he couldn’t help but shoot a glance at Xiaoman. “Since you knew about this, why didn't you tell me earlier?”
“If I told you, would you still want to bet with me?”
Xu Sanqi was at a loss for words, but he somehow felt a little emotional. Xiaoman hasn’t changed after so many years. Is it good to stake everything and walk on the edge of the sword?
Xiaoman suddenly asked, “Chief Xu, this isn’t cheating, right?”
Xu Sanqi shook his head. “There is no rule in the camp that forbids students from making their own aeth tools.”
Xiaoman immediately relaxed, raised her chin, and said proudly, “It only took him three seconds. He was the first to kill a brute warrior. Who else in the camp could compete with my little handsome guy?”
Xu Sanqi frowned. “Although he didn’t break the rules of the camp, ultimately, he still had an unfair advantage over the others. From now on, similar incidents won’t be allowed in the camp!”
Xiaoman smiled disapprovingly. “Should I tell Lin Xun that the miracle he unintentionally created had made Chief Instructor Xu Sanqi change the rules in the camp? This is an honor for ordinary people.”
Xu Sanqi glared at her and was about to say something when a bell rang and another light screen rippled.
Someone killed a brute warrior again!
Xu Sanqi and Xiaoman turned their heads at the same time and saw it was Bai Lingxi from the 7th Campground.
“Thirty-six seconds. Her score is brilliant when compared to the scores in the past. It’s even better than your score, Chief Xu. Unfortunately, the little girl of the Bai Family can only act as a backdrop for my little handsome guy.”
Xiaoman smiled triumphantly.
“She has true strength.” Xu Sanqi said coldly. “Could Lin Xun achieve this without the Flying Star Crossbow?”
“Chief Xu, what you said isn’t right. Why don’t you say that the imperial army would be no match for the Magi Brute bastards if they didn’t have any aeth tools and rune armaments?” Xiaoman frowned.
Xu Sanqi looked annoyed. “Ultimately, cultivators seek to strengthen themselves and not gain material objects. If a person blindly pursues stronger material objects, that’s the same as abandoning their fundamentals and fishing in a tree.”
Xiaoman pursed her lips. She knew it was pointless to argue any further.
Ding!
The light screens rippled constantly, indicating students had successfully killed their opponent and passed the assessment.
Some students in imminent danger were rescued in time, but they were also eliminated as a result.
Scenes of victory and defeat in every battle arena were being swiftly shown.
Xu Sanqi intently stared at the light screen, rewatching the battle records. The purpose of the Blood Kill Camp was to discover the most elite youngsters for the empire, and as the Chief Instructor of the Blood Kill Camp, Xu Sanqi had to research and learn about each student.
Xiaoman restored her calmness and folded her arms in front of her chest. She was trying to quickly think of a way to deal with the people who mocked her for the bet in order to vent her anger.
Before long, an instructor rushed over, glanced at Xiaoman, and said with a grin, “Little Sister Xiaoman, you look very upset. What’s the matter? Did you lose the bet? Cheer up, in life, you will always win some and lose some.”
Xiaoman coldly snorted and her expression didn’t ripple in the slightest.
The instructor smiled and looked at Xu Sanqi with anticipation. “Chief Xu, is Bai Lingxi from the 7th Campground number one?”
Xu Sanqi glanced at the instructor with a strange look and shook his head.
“Eh? What!” The instructor’s eyes widened like he was struck by lightning. “The first isn’t the one with a record of thirty-six seconds? Then who is it? Zhao Yin? Zhangsun Hen? Or Li Duxing?”
Xu Sanqi frowned. “Calm down, I will announce the results when the assessment is over.”
The instructor's face changed and he didn’t utter a word.
After a while, the instructor from the 22nd Campground rushed over and looked expectantly at Xu Sanqi. He asked anxiously, “Chief Xu, is Zhao Yin from the 22nd Campground the first?”
Xu Sanqi responded with a shake of his head.
The instructor stood there dumbstruck.
Similar situations repeatedly happened while Xiaoman anxiously watched. She was itching to reveal the answer right away and strike a blow at the other instructors.
However, she held back in the end, and even tightened and strained her face. Everyone isn’t here yet. The blow won’t be as impactful if the answer is announced too soon.