Presence

Just as Luo Jun gained three new teammates, battles between examinees and prisoners had already begun in the higher-level areas.

A Purple Wristband examinee was wreathed in dense Body Protecting Qi as he fought a burly prisoner wearing a collar around his neck.

Both specialized in close-quarters combat. Their fists landed with solid blows, and the examinee was fighting to his heart's content, completely unaware that a cold-tempered prisoner was hiding in the forest not far away.

The prisoner watched the battlefield, snapping off a branch and wrapping it in Vital Energy.

Under his precise control, the Vital Energy clinging to the branch became sharp, like an Armor-Piercing Arrow.

The man aimed the "Armor-Piercing Arrow" at the two combatants from afar. The burly prisoner in the fight seemed to receive some sort of signal and suddenly exposed an opening. As he shifted aside, the examinee seized the chance to pursue and adjusted his position, only to expose his back to the cold-tempered prisoner.

The cold-tempered prisoner decisively made a move, firing the branch straight at the examinee!

Just then, a streak of golden light swept past and knocked the branch to the ground.

Only then did the examinee notice the ambush. He immediately broke away from the fight and went on full alert.

"Thank you for helping me!" The examinee turned his head and shouted behind him. Before long, a Girl in a Denim Outfit emerged from the bushes.

It was Ling Xin.

"You're welcome. I was just passing by. It was nothing." With that, Ling Xin moved to pass the Purple Wristband examinee and continue up the mountain.

As soon as she finished speaking, five prisoners sprang out from the surrounding bushes. The number plates on their chests were all worth four points, and the six of them surrounded the pair.

"Six people?" The Purple Wristband examinee immediately grew tense. "You prisoners actually teamed up?"

"Isn't that normal?" The cold-tempered man chuckled. "We were released into the mountain in the middle of last night. We had several more hours than you to prepare. Blame yourself for having no brains and daring to come to the upper level alone!"

"This little lady's quite pretty." Another short, fat prisoner licked his lips.

"Don't get any crooked ideas!" A tall, middle-aged prisoner let out a Cold Snort. "The academy may have told us we can kill people, but don't forget what's around our necks."

"If we do anything unnecessary, those people might turn on us!"

"Got it." The short, fat prisoner swallowed, his eyes greedily roaming over Ling Xin.

"Two little ones." The cold-tempered prisoner stepped forward. He appeared to be the leader of the group. "Our goal is only to reduce our sentences. We have no grudge against each other, so there's no need to fight to the death. As Long As you voluntarily take off your wristbands, I can let you leave safely."

He was telling the truth. Even in the earlier sneak attack, he had not aimed at any vital spots.

Although these students had signed Life and Death Contracts, sensible prisoners did not want to go on an actual killing spree, especially in the upper-level area.

Examinees with blue or purple wristbands surely had decent cultivation conditions and likely came from families with some standing. If lives were lost, the families and teachers behind them might not trouble the academy, but they would not necessarily spare the prisoners who had acted. This was an opportunity to reduce their sentences, and the prisoners did not want to create extra trouble.

But clearly, the examinee had failed to appreciate their "goodwill."

"Hmph, you want me to surrender? Not a chance!" The Purple Wristband Boy stood firm and unyielding, Body Protecting Qi rising around him. "Sorry, miss. I dragged you into this."

"Stubborn fool!" The cold-tempered man gave a Cold Snort and Looked towards Ling Xin.

"Little Sister, you look like a smart person."

Ling Xin's gaze swept over the group. She raised a hand and rolled up the wide sleeve of her Denim Outfit, revealing a Gold Wristband. "You want this?"

"A Gold Wristband?" The prisoners were greatly shocked.

The difficulty of cultivating in the Heart Refining Realm far surpassed Foundation Establishment. To break through to the Heart Refining Realm, one needed not only talent, effort, and luck, but also opportunities, inspiration, and thorough preparation.

They knew quite a few experts who had reached this level, but this was the first time they had seen one so young.

"So what if she's in the Heart Refining Realm?" The stocky man who had fought the Purple Wristband examinee earlier let out a Cold Snort. "Someone who reached the Heart Refining Realm at this age must have advanced too quickly. Her foundation can't be stable, and she might not even have mastered her abilities. If we join forces, can't we take her down?"

After their initial shock, the Others also showed disdainful expressions and looked eager to try. Clearly, they did not take this young Girl seriously.

"Wait!" The cold-tempered man raised a hand to stop them and smiled at Ling Xin. "I failed to recognize greatness when I saw it. Please continue up the mountain. Your true opponents are up there."

The cold-tempered man seemed to hold great authority. The Others were briefly Stunned by his words, but they still obeyed.

Ling Xin did not continue onward. Instead, she turned back to look at the Purple Wristband.

"You'd better hand over your wristband. They won't make things difficult for you."

"What?" The Purple Wristband was Stunned. "What do you mean?"

"This is your exam. I won't help." Ling Xin said calmly, "You're alone. You can't deal with all six of them. Rather than stubbornly fighting and getting injured or even killed, you'd be better off admitting defeat."

"You're telling me to give up just like that?" The Purple Wristband looked unconvinced. "I came all the way from Shun City to take this exam, not to give up!"

"The moment you fell into their encirclement, the exam was already over." Ling Xin glanced at the Boy. "An explorer isn't judged only by cultivation realm. What matters more is the ability to handle problems. You lack sufficient strength, and you don't have a calm mind either. You were destined to fail this exam."

After saying that, Ling Xin started walking up the mountain. As she passed the cold-tempered man, she quietly said:

"His spirit is tough, and he's from Shun City."

The cold-tempered man Nodded. "Understood. I know the limits."

With that, Ling Xin continued up the mountain, leaving behind only the screams of the Purple Wristband examinee as he was beaten by the group.

The six quickly knocked the Boy down and took his wristband. The stocky man asked, "Boss, why did you let that woman go so easily?"

The cold-tempered man let out a Cold Snort. "Don't you people ever gather information? Ningdong University only has two Heart Refining Realm examinees in this exam. One is the Lei Family's third young master from PeiAn City, who broke through to the Heart Refining Realm at the beginning of the year. The other is the Golden Edge Witch!"

"The Golden Edge Witch?" The title made several prisoners suck in a breath of cold air. "She's that young?"

The cold-tempered man Shook his head. "I didn't believe it either. According to underworld information, she should have broken through to the Heart Refining Realm four or five years ago. When I heard she was taking this exam, I thought she would be a woman nearing thirty. I never expected her to be so young."

"Four or five years?" The short, fat man swallowed. "That means she was only thirteen or fourteen when she broke through. A middle school student? What kind of talent is that?"

"It isn't just talent!" The tall, middle-aged prisoner gritted his teeth. "There must be an enormous force behind her."

"That's why we can't afford to provoke her!" The cold-tempered man shrugged and kicked the unconscious Purple Wristband on the ground. "This kid's background isn't small either. We need to be more careful when we hunt. Best not let anyone die."

As he spoke, he glanced toward the mountaintop. "As for those people at the summit, may they look after themselves..."

Thank you to Zui Qu Ren for the 200 Origin Point Coin reward!

Thank you all for your recommendations and monthly votes!

(End of Chapter)