Chapter 57: The Class Game (Twenty-Three)

Nearby, Su Mingxi stayed away from the bloody chaos, his eyes filled with deep malice as he watched the crowd scramble and devour.

Recalling the faint fishy smell he had caught earlier, Yun Xueqing’s gaze sharpened.

Because of the sacrifice’s special constitution, more and more Weirds surged forward. Yun Xueqing had no choice but to withdraw his gaze and devote his full attention to dealing with the Weirds.

With his stamina nearly depleted, Yun Xueqing’s mind raced as he pondered ways to counter the Weirds.

He suddenly remembered that long ago, Fu Wuxuan had given him a lighter.

He hurriedly pulled the lighter from his Storage Space and pressed it lightly. A golden-red flame instantly leaped out.

Fu Wuxuan curved his lips. “Oracle: Solar Flame.”

As if responding to the summons, the lighter slipped from Yun Xueqing’s hand. The flame erupted violently, spreading out and enveloping all the charging Weirds in a blaze of fire serpents.

The vast room echoed with the Weirds’ agonized screams.

Seizing the opportunity, Yun Xueqing swung the Calamity Blade, carving out a bloody path through the remaining Weirds and charging straight at Su Mingxi!

However, the other party seemed to have anticipated it and dodged with a flash.

Of course, Yun Xueqing had no intention of slashing him with the blade. Instead, he reached out with one hand, grabbed Su Mingxi’s clothes, and injected Spiritual Power!

The smooth silk tore apart as easily as thin paper.

Yet what was revealed was not human flesh, but a pale upper body like the corpses on the long table—severed at the middle and fused to a long fish tail!

The deep blue fish tail shimmered with a delicate luster under the candlelight.

Realizing its identity was exposed, the fish tail immediately detached from the upper half and fled without stopping.

Deprived of the vitality and Weird Power from the fish tail, the now tailless “Su Mingxi” turned ashen like an ordinary person. His eyes gradually lost their luster, and his body rolled onto the floor like a long-dead corpse.

The Weirds that had been frenziedly attacking Fu Wuxuan all halted their movements.

Yun Xueqing suppressed his breathing and feigned ease. “The fish tail you really want has run away.”

Most of the Weirds shifted targets upon hearing this and pursued the escaping fish tail, while a small portion lingered to watch, seemingly intent on fighting to the end.

Yun Xueqing raised the Calamity Blade, his tone indifferent. “Come on.”

His nonchalant demeanor made the observing Weirds hesitate to act rashly.

After weighing the odds, they ultimately chose to abandon the fight and join the chase for the fish tail.

Yun Xueqing endured his trembling hands and stored the Calamity Blade back in his Storage Space. Then he heard the person he was protecting behind him sigh. “You’ve grown a lot too—now you’re even using the Empty Fort Strategy.”

Yun Xueqing gave him a flat look but said nothing.

Among the few remaining people at the banquet, they exchanged glances. After a while, the Weirds that had chased after returned leisurely, stepping in unison.

They had reverted to human form. Some patted their bellies, utterly sated. “Who would’ve thought the host of the Qionglin Banquet was that Merfolk.”

The Merfolk’s fish tail had killed the real Su Mingxi and, using his upper body, hosted the Qionglin Banquet here.

The Weirds that had eaten the flesh wore smiles. “I wonder who cut that Merfolk in half. It was probably seeking revenge, sowing discord among us to make us kill each other.”

As it spoke, it subtly glanced at Fu Wuxuan, who sat in the chair.

After the Merfolk died, the Weird spell on Fu Wuxuan dissipated, and his fish tail reverted to legs. But the covetous gazes upon him did not fade.

The two tacitly ignored those looks, knowing they had passed the first hurdle.

With no one in charge, Fu Wuxuan waited a moment before saying, “It said it would offer two great gifts. We’ve learned the first—what’s the second?”

The Merfolk was dead, so they couldn’t ask directly, but they soon found out.

The Weirds that had eaten the Merfolk tail suddenly clutched their stomachs, black qi rising on their faces.

Moments later, their Weird aura began to dissipate, and they vomited black blood. In no time, they dropped dead.

This killed seven or eight outright, including one Challenger who had risked it all to boost their Oracle Spiritual Energy.

With such heavy losses, the Qionglin Banquet fell apart. Everyone who could leave did.

Yun Xueqing and Fu Wuxuan walked through the night, their expressions calm and resigned. Nearby, a black-clad man with moon earrings remarked meaningfully, “The Merfolk’s poison is truly vicious.”

It had poisoned itself, ensuring that even if it died from the toxin, it wouldn’t let its killers off.

Yun Xueqing glanced at him and guessed, “San Zhi?”

San Zhi paused, looking at him suspiciously. “You can already recognize my Disguise Technique so well? That easily?”

Without waiting for a response, he continued self-assuredly, “I guess it’s because we’re so familiar. As expected from someone bound heart-to-heart with me.”

Heart-to-heart, life-to-life.

Fu Wuxuan gave him a puzzled look, but Yun Xueqing ignored the odd words. “Any leads on breaking it?”

They had been here two days, fumbling like headless flies with no way out.

Fu Wuxuan curved his lips. “Maybe having no leads is the best lead.”

They knew two factions vied for the throne, with no other clues. Helping one win would naturally reveal the exit.

San Zhi grinned maliciously. “You’re from opposing camps, right? In a clash like this, the losing side doesn’t end well.”

Power was tempting, but the fight for it often killed along the way.

If fighting meant likely death, why fight?

Because not fighting meant death too.

Most were pushed by circumstances, step by step to ruin.

Victors purged rivals, eliminating all other powers—whether they fought or not.

Win and live, lose and die. No other option.

San Zhi didn’t hide his malice. “Dong Jun, you’re with the Second Prince’s camp, right? San Zhi and Yun Xueqing are a team. United, you can’t handle us.”

Fu Wuxuan lowered his eyes disdainfully. “1+1 won’t ever beat 3.”

San Zhi: “…”

Yun Xueqing, similarly shaded: “…”

Fu Wuxuan strolled leisurely, tone lazy. “Don’t rush to pick sides. Solve the current mess first.”

They had unknowingly circled this alley three times.

Yun Xueqing startled.

This wasn’t his first Ghost Wall, but unskilled in Formations, he still couldn’t break it.

“I can’t use my Oracle powers either,” Fu Wuxuan said without worry. “We two can’t handle it for now, but isn’t there one right beside us?”

The Weird trapping them never imagined another Weird was with them—talk about a pillow delivered to the sleepy.

But the “pillow,” San Zhi, wasn’t keen to comply easily. “This Weird has some strength—at least B-rank. I want to see how you two ageless but frail invalids pass this.”

Fu Wuxuan lifted an eyelid. “You willing to let us die? Or rather… let Yun Xueqing die?”

San Zhi froze, looking at Yun Xueqing. “You told him?”

Such a crucial secret, told to him?

“I guessed,” Fu Wuxuan cut in. “I’m not an idiot. You’re so obvious every time—anyone could guess your deep connection.”

He looked disdainful.

San Zhi suppressed the urge to punch him, grinding his teeth before flashing a wide smile. “Of course I won’t let Yun Xueqing die. You? Maybe. In a crisis, I save him and leave you to fend for yourself. Perfect.”

Fu Wuxuan shook his head. “You’re just venting.”

San Zhi choked, eager to hear what ivory might spill from this dog’s mouth. Fu Wuxuan drawled leisurely, “You’re clearly quite interested in me.”

San Zhi hung his head and chuckled darkly. “Fuck your ancestors, Dong Jun.”

“Vulgar,” Fu Wuxuan said obliviously, turning warmly to Yun Xueqing. “Don’t pick up his bad habits.”

“What?” San Zhi snapped harshly. “Among Oracles, you’re the worst—rotten to the core. Yet those ignorant fools see you as a savior!”

He provoked, “Too bad you can’t pretend to be good forever. Eventually, your vile nature shows, and you kill the revered High Priest… Black-hearted lotus slays the hypocrite—what a relief…”

He glanced at Yun Xueqing.

Yun Xueqing’s expression cooled. “Who are you telling this to?”

San Zhi: “Everyone here, naturally… Especially you. You seem naive, easily fooled—especially by smooth-talkers like Dong Jun. So, friendly advice.”

Though it smeared, San Zhi truly saw Yun Xueqing’s rare naivety: ignorance of the world and misjudged humanity.

He believed Yun Xueqing hadn’t grasped human nature, let alone its evils.

Yet such a person held potential for evil.

He loved watching absolute good fall to absolute evil—the evil born from purity was scarier than innate evil.

Without the Shared Fate Curse, he’d most want to drag this one into Strategy God Heavens—endless potential.

Yun Xueqing listened to his self-indulgent spiel and suddenly cut in coldly, “Are you always this gossipy?”