Gangzi, Still Ever the Escape Artist

A six-year-old child? A newly awakened spirit? A Waste Spirit? Several rings that existed only in legend—Hundred Thousand Year Red Spirit Rings? An oppressive aura no weaker than that of a Titled Douluo?!

Yu Xiaogang's eyes were vacant. His body trembled at times and stiffened at others, as though an invisible terror had enveloped him.

His heart was filled with shock and confusion. The combination of these phenomena made him unable to believe his own eyes.

Those questions kept echoing through his mind, and he even began to doubt himself—doubt all of his theories.

He had consulted countless records, pondered countless times, and fabricated countless theories, yet he had never imagined that these phenomena would one day appear before him all at once.

His convictions seemed to be gradually collapsing at this moment. The theories he had been so proud of appeared utterly pale and powerless before reality. His heart was full of doubt and wavering; everything felt unbelievable.

No, this was impossible! He firmly believed that his theories were the greatest and most accurate in the world.

All of this had to be an illusion! Blade must have used some bewildering spirit skill to make him hallucinate.

Yu Xiaogang kept telling himself that it was all fake! He could not believe his own eyes. He could not accept this fact.

His heart was filled with struggle and fear. He was unwilling to admit defeat, unwilling to admit that he had been wrong.

Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted sharply as the blood-red blade continuously enlarged in his vision, as though it were about to pierce out through his eyes.

Killing intent crashed against the defenses of his mind like icy seawater, wave after wave.

His face was as pale as paper, cold sweat streamed down his forehead, and his lips trembled faintly, unable to conceal the fear in his heart.

At this critical moment of life and death, countless images flashed through Yu Xiaogang's mind: Bibi Dong's cold beauty, Liu Erlong's wildness, his family's expectations... He had always been running away—running from reality, running from responsibility.

This moment had come, just as expected! Having long grown accustomed to cowering away, he naturally had to flee from this reality too!

Bang!

Suddenly, with a bang, Yu Xiaogang's eyes rolled back, and he passed out on the spot!

His body crashed heavily into the swivel chair. His bloated frame bounced once against it before sliding down to the floor.

The instant he hit the ground, his body began twitching uncontrollably, as though resisting that boundless fear.

The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly oppressive. In an instant, a nauseating stench of urine spread through the air, making one frown.

The owner of the blood-red blade, Blade, could not help but feel surprised at the sight before him.

Blade frowned. He truly had not expected to scare Yu Xiaogang unconscious—and make him piss himself—just like that.

Suddenly, the system's crisp, mechanical notification cut through the silence in the room.

Ding! Target Yu Xiaogang's physiological reaction has been detected as intense. Fear Index exceeds the limit. Portrayal Progress increased by: 0.8%!!

Current Portrayal Progress: 22.92%!!

As the notification faded, Blade's eyes flickered slightly. His fingers lightly tapped the sword hilt, as though he were pleased by this unexpected increase in progress.

He slowly cradled Shizun's Sword in his arms, his movements elegant and practiced, as though the killing intent from moments ago had merely been an illusion.

Blade's gaze finally fell upon Yu Xiaogang's curled-up, wretched body on the floor, and a disdainful sneer curled across his lips.

A trace of madness shone in his eyes, as though Yu Xiaogang's breakdown brought him immense satisfaction.

With a cold snort, he turned away. The hem of his robe fluttered with his movement like a shooting star tearing through the night sky.

This place had already been tainted by Yu Xiaogang's fear and humiliation. The smell of urine in the air made Blade furrow his brow tightly.

He did not need to remain for even another second. His goal had been achieved, and it was time to leave this revolting place.

He had a more important task now: finding the target who had just left. Since he was portraying Blade, he naturally had to follow the system's mission and make those who had once incurred a debt pay the price, one by one!

Although each increase in Portrayal Progress from Tang San was not much, just as he had thought, even a mosquito was still meat. Every accumulation was a step toward his final goal.

Blade's footsteps were firm and powerful, and his figure soon vanished beyond the door, leaving Yu Xiaogang alone to slowly regain consciousness amid the filth.

In another corner of the academy,

Sunlight spilled down like scattered gold, passing through lush treetops and casting dappled patterns outside the Student Registration hall.

Tang San stood alone amid the interwoven light and shadow. His figure seemed especially lonely amid the bustling crowds, but his heart was far from calm.

He had just quietly listened to several teachers in the hall ridicule his teacher, their sharp words still seeming to echo in his ears.

A cold smile curved across Tang San's lips, and a sharp glint flashed through his eyes. His disdain for these ignorant people was plain to see.

He silently cursed in his heart. These people actually dared to insult his respected teacher. They were simply courting death; every one of them was on the Path to Death!!

However, he had no intention of stepping forward to defend his teacher. Instead, he was brewing an even more cunning plan—how to cleverly use the current situation to send that madman named Blade into eternal damnation.

In his imagination, once he had finished telling Yu Xiaogang about Blade's faults, Yu Xiaogang would definitely come to despise him!

Once his teacher sent Blade away, he did not plan to tell Blade the way to the dormitories either. He would let this newly arrived madman lose his way in the vast campus.

Tang San understood Blade down to the bone. He knew that this hot-tempered madman would definitely cause trouble if he ran around the school recklessly.

By then, even if some damned teacher took a liking to his talent and wanted to protect him, they would be left helpless by Blade's lawlessness. Expulsion would be his only fate.

What does it matter if he can beat me before I've even begun cultivating properly? Tang San thought. This world was full of strong people; there would always be someone Blade could not handle. He only needed to sit back and watch the tigers fight, kill with a borrowed knife, and get rid of Blade without lifting a finger.

Tang San sneered inwardly. Besides, Blade was a country bumpkin with no background, a reckless madman. Even if he was lucky enough not to be expelled, his temperament would offend those sons of powerful families, and endless torment would await him.

He secretly rejoiced. This world was full of strong people—how could Blade possibly remain invincible forever?

The more he thought about it, the more flawless his plan seemed. He could not help feeling proud of his own cleverness and depth.

This wisdom of borrowing the momentum of others was an advantage unique to him as a transmigrator. How could a native with nothing but talent understand a strategy of such sophistication?!

Tang San secretly reveled in his delight. He felt like a master chess player, precisely controlling the situation with every move and guiding events in the direction he had anticipated.

After successfully completing the apprenticeship ceremony, he became even more certain that everything was under his control. All he needed to do was wait quietly and watch Blade unknowingly step into the trap he had so carefully laid.