Xu Sanqi asked in response, “How many other students in the camp do you think need us to help cover up their secrets?”
Xiaoke thought about it and understanding dawned on her.
There were currently forty-two students in the camp and, except for a few people such as Lin Xun and Li Duxing, everyone else had a deep background. There was no need for them to do anything.
Xu Sanqi said, “Lin Xun is different. He is the most special student in Blood Kill Camp. He not only has unimaginable potential, but, more importantly, he also has an incredible mastery in the art of runes. Both the newly transformed Violet Hero Battleship and the Flying Star Crossbow are top tools in the world. It’s hard to know whether it would be a blessing or a curse if he was used by those influential people in the empire.”
In just a few words, Xu Sanqi had shown his distrust in the influential people of the empire and even seemed to oppose them!
……
Lin Xun didn’t know that the uniqueness that he had shown had already caught Xu Sanqi's attention, and it even brought him a certain degree of protection.
Only time would tell whether the protection was good or bad.
Training continued to happen every day. When Lin Xun reached the pinnacle of the ninth layer True Martial Stage and lit up the eighth spirit star in his mind-sea, only three days were left of the one year training in Blood Kill Camp.
The training that day came to an end and Xiaoke suddenly said, “Tomorrow is the last round of assessment. The thirty students who pass will be able to enter the Dipper Transformation Lake.”Lin Xun was taken aback for a moment. He only then realized that he had been in Blood Kill Camp for almost one year.
That night, Lin Xun and Xiaoman had dinner in Old Mo’s warehouse.
While they were eating, Lin Xun sharply noticed that Xiaoman seemed a little distracted. He couldn’t help but ask, “Big Sister Xiaoman, you don’t seem to be in a good mood?”
Xiaoman sighed faintly, “Don’t worry about me. Just make sure that you’re prepared for tomorrow’s assessment. There are only three days left. It will be disappointing if you are eliminated at this point.”
Lin Xun nodded and they ate silently.
Xiaoman felt that the atmosphere was a little dull and so she asked, “Jiujiu still hasn’t woken up?”
Lin Xun nodded. Ever since the little thing had swallowed the black beast tooth, it had fallen into a deep sleep in his palm.
“It looks like that the black beast tooth is indeed an amazing treasure,” Xiaoman remarked thoughtfully.
Lin Xun stared at Xiaoman and said, “Big Sister Xiaoman, although I may leave Blood Kill Camp soon, you must tell me if you have any trouble.”
His tone was calm and serious.
Xiaoman was taken aback. Only after a long moment did she sneer out loud, “You think you can help me solve my troubles?”
Lin Xun didn’t seem affected by her response. Instead, he assumed a serious and solemn expression. “But at least I will do my best and won’t frown once.”
Xiaoman acknowledged him, got up, and walked out of the warehouse. “Have a good rest. If you’re eliminated in tomorrow’s assessment, I won’t acknowledge you as my little brother anymore.”
Lin Xun watched Xiaoman leave. He eventually gave a brisk toss of his head, shaking off the distracting thoughts.
……
However, Lin Xun didn’t notice that Xiaoman’s eyes had misted over just as she turned around to leave the warehouse.
She walked alone in the dark night, her silky soft hair flowing gently in the light wind. It brought a hint of coldness.
“That little brat is too emotional. When he leaves Blood Kill Camp, I wonder how many girls’ hearts he will steal in the future,” muttered Xiaoman.
Her emotions roiled uncontrollably because of Lin Xun's words. It had been many years since she had ever experienced that feeling.
Suddenly, Xu Sanqi’s tough voice rang like a sword in the night. “This year’s training will end soon. Do you really plan to not leave Blood Kill Camp?”
Xiaoman’s body stiffened and the tears instantly faded from her beautiful eyes. She said pitifully, “Chief Xu, are you going to kick me away?”
Xu Sanqi’s thin spear-like figure appeared before her. He swept a glance over Xiaoman and said, “I’m not kidding. The points you won in the last bet are enough to get you out of Blood Kill Camp. You don’t have to bear the responsibility of the empire anymore. There is a rare chance. You should think properly about it.”
“I don’t need to think about it,” Xiaoman said without hesitation. “I have chosen to stay in Blood Kill Camp. As for this chance...give it to Xiaoke.”
Xu Sanqi’s razor-sharp eyes narrowed as he said solemnly, “You know that Xiaoke will immediately head to Forbidden City to settle the grudge if she can leave Blood Kill Camp. Are you really mentally prepared?”
A grim look passed over Xiaoman’s beautiful face, and after a long pause, she gritted her teeth and said, “I have already done something wrong back then. I don’t want this wrongdoing to continue.”
Xu Sanqi stared at Xiaoman for a long moment, and he eventually nodded. “You chose your own path. I hope you won’t regret it in the future.”
He turned around and left.
Xiaoman sat alone in the dark, gazing at the night sky. Suddenly, she felt a weight lifted off her heart.
After so many years, it’s time to let go!
……
Early next morning.
Lin Xun and the other forty-one students were summoned and led to a huge site by Xu Sanqi.
The place was very special. The ground was paved with smooth, jet-black rocks, and the surface was engraved with mysterious runes. They glistened with a dreamy shine under the sunlight.
Thirty stone pillars stood in the center of the site. Each one was nine feet tall and entirely jet-black. They resembled giant swords piercing into the sky.
The students felt an indescribably solemn aura assaulting their faces as they stood in the site. They quivered inwardly and dared not utter a slight noise.
“Those thirty stone pillars represent thirty passages into the Dipper Transformation Lake!”
Xu Sanqi instantly captured the students’ attention. Their eyes blazed when they looked at the stone pillars.
Their ultimate goal of entering Blood Kill Camp was to enter the Dipper Transformation Lake.
The opportunity was right in front of them!
“This assessment is also your last assessment in Blood Kill Camp. The rules of the assessment are very simple. Students will compete for the thirty stone pillars. Those who fail to grab one can challenge any student with a stone pillar. You have one hour, and students without a stone pillar at the end of the assessment will be eliminated from the camp!”
Xu Sanqi quickly explained the assessment rules. “Remember, you can’t fight in groups. Only one on one challenges are allowed. You can only use combat weapons and auxiliary items such as short crossbows and poisonous fog are not allowed!”
Suddenly, the atmosphere became tense.
There were forty-two students present, but only thirty stone pillars. In other words, twelve students would be eliminated after the assessment!
Only three days remained of the Blood Kill Camp training. Who would want to be eliminated at this point?
No one!
Lin Xun was a little surprised by the simple assessment rule. It might sound simple to compete for one of the thirty stone pillars in one hour but upon a deeper thought, it is extremely dangerous.
If a student who had occupied a stone pillar was challenged by someone and lost, it would be very difficult for them to recover and regain control.
However, the winning side would also face danger because their strength would be exhausted after the battle. They would no doubt become the target of other students without a stone pillar.
The assessment not only tested their combat strength but also their consumption of physical strength!
“Now, the assessment begins!” said Xu Sanqi.
Swoosh!
Before his voice died away, the students were already racing towards the thirty stone pillars in the center of the site like arrows fired from the bowstring.
Everyone scrambled to be the first; the scene immediately turned chaotic.
All of them did everything they could to be the first to occupy a stone pillar.
Boom!
A student had just stepped on the stone pillar when someone charged over and forced them off the stone pillar with a palm thrust.
Soon, similar scenes happened one after another.
It was the same with Lin Xun. He was one of the first to reach a stone pillar but three students were competing with him.
Battles inevitably broke out. As soon as he stepped on the stone pillar, a muscular youngster roared, “Get down!”
As he was roaring, he aimed a punch towards Lin Xun.
With a wave of his sleeve, Lin Xun effortlessly blasted the muscular youngster across the air. The youngster slammed into the ground, screaming in agony.
The other two students’ faces immediately blanched with fear. They took a hard look at Lin Xun and immediately turned around to choose another target.
Lin Xun stood tall on the stone pillar as he surveyed the surroundings. He immediately found an interesting scene.
Bai Lingxi, Zhao Yin, Li Duxing and Zhangsun Hen had already occupied a stone pillar but no one dared to challenge them.
Everyone knew that trying to take Bai Lingxi’s stone pillar was no different from throwing eggs at a rock.
Similarly, Lin Xun also found that many students without a stone pillar would look hesitant when they made contact with his eyes. In the end, none of them dared to move towards him.
This made Lin Xun realize that he indeed possessed a certain power in Blood Kill Camp that deterred the other students from targeting him.
The chaos didn’t last particularly long on the battlefield. Thirty students had occupied a stone pillar each, and the remaining twelve students increased their vigilance. Instead of rashly attacking, they were observing and choosing the most suitable target.
Lin Xun was surprised to find that Ning Meng hadn’t grabbed a stone pillar. His eyes were wide open as he carefully chose his opponent.
When Lin Xun noticed the fighting spirit blazing in Ning Meng’s eyes as well as the look of excitement on his face, he was speechless for a while. He understood that Ning Meng intentionally didn’t grab a stone pillar.
He wanted to have a good fight!
“This assessment seems a little too easy…”
Some instructors whispered in the distance. They felt that the assessment was a little too calm and that there wasn’t anything interesting to watch.
“It just began. The real show is about to start,” said Xu Sanqi indifferently