Legends of the Secret Realm of Star Gazing

Ye Qingxian's heart tightened.

Though he too wished Zhu Ping'an would die sooner, this was the College Entrance Examination—killing someone in plain sight? Was Zhu Ping'an trying to drag him down with him?

"Zhu Ping'an, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind?" Ye Qingxian's voice cracked with feigned bravado.

But Zhu Ping'an paid him no heed. His answer was his sword.

The Chuyi Sword turned into a flash of cold light, stabbing straight toward Ye Qingxian's eye.

At that critical moment, the ground suddenly churned. A massive Star Devouring Bug burst forth from the earth, opening its gaping maw to bite at Zhu Ping'an.

Zhu Ping'an shifted his sword's edge, slashing it across the Star Devouring Bug's body. Foul green pus sprayed from the wound, drenching Ye Qingxian.

That strike enraged the Star Devouring Bug. Ignoring Ye Qingxian lying on the ground, it charged madly at Zhu Ping'an.

"Nine Mountain Divine Sword, Second Form: One Sword Shakes Mountains!"

Relying on the Chuyi Sword's sharpness, Zhu Ping'an executed the Nine Mountain Divine Sword and easily slew the Star Devouring Bug.

He calmly glanced at Ye Qingxian, then looked away.

He had only beaten Ye Qingxian by using the Immortal Devil Sword Technique. He dearly wanted to kill Ye Qingxian while he was at it, but it seemed the plot wouldn't allow it.

Zhu Ping'an had already realized that the plot's protection didn't just apply to him—it also shielded Ye Qingxian.

The first time, a Star Devouring Bug had appeared. The second time, who knew what might show up.

Perhaps... when he could actually kill Ye Qingxian, he would also find a way to change his own doomed fate.

Because both would amount to rewriting the main storyline.

Simply put, it was like the Golden Crow Emperor—whether he became an Emperor or a Half-Step Mortal Immortal, it made no real difference to the main plot. It just raised his cultivation level. But if Ye Fan were crushed to death by the Golden Crow Emperor... then the entire main plot would fall into chaos.

Outside, the crowd was frozen in shock at the sudden turn of events.

"What sword technique was that from Zhu Ping'an? Terrifying! Are these really two First-Rank Warriors fighting?"

"Forget that—did you notice? Zhu Ping'an just tried to take Ye Qingxian's life!"

"No way! Didn't you see the Star Devouring Bug later? Maybe Zhu Ping'an sensed the bug and was trying to save Ye Qingxian?"

"Wrong! Look—Star Devouring Bugs aren't just popping up near Zhu Ping'an! They're emerging everywhere in the Secret Realm of Star Gazing!"

The Retired Old Teacher stood up, trembling as he pointed a shaky finger at the other projections.

Only then did everyone notice that around Leng Tianjiao and the other top ten examinees, the ground was constantly erupting with Star Devouring Bugs. The sheer number was enough to make one's scalp crawl!

Since the discovery of the Secret Realm of Star Gazing, no one had ever imagined it could hold so many Star Devouring Bugs!

"Save them! Close the Secret Realm of Star Gazing! Suspend the exam and get everyone out! I'll take full responsibility for anything that goes wrong!" Mayor Lin Zhao made an immediate decision and issued the order.

Clearly, something unknown had gone wrong inside the Secret Realm of Star Gazing. If any of the examinees were harmed, the loss would be irreparable!

With Lin Zhao's command, the examiners immediately began shutting down the Secret Realm of Star Gazing, intending to bring the examinees out first.

The next second, the examiners' faces drained of all color.

"Mayor... the Secret Realm of Star Gazing won't close."

"What?! Get out of my way!"

Lin Zhao panicked instantly. He shoved the examiner aside and tried to close the Secret Realm of Star Gazing himself.

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, because he realized—the Secret Realm of Star Gazing really wouldn't close!

At the same time, the portal that had been projecting the top ten examinees snapped shut. This meant their connection to the examinees inside the Secret Realm of Star Gazing was severed!

Lin Zhao's Adam's apple bobbed nervously. He knew this time, the problem was truly massive.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Zhao dialed a number. He understood that this situation was beyond his ability to handle alone—he had to seek help from higher authorities in the Great Xia Ancient Kingdom.

After contacting the higher-ups, Lin Zhao learned that in other cities' sections of the Secret Realm of Star Gazing, Star Devouring Bugs were also emerging, but those examinees had already safely withdrawn. Only the area where Green City's examinees were located had been completely sealed off.

Top-tier warriors had approached to investigate and found that a Star Curtain had risen over that area, completely blocking it off. There was no way in.

Outside the Secret Realm of Star Gazing, chaos reigned. Inside, things were no better. Some examinees, seeing the endless stream of Star Devouring Bugs erupting from the ground, instinctively sensed something wrong and tried to exit.

But they too discovered that the Secret Realm of Star Gazing wouldn't let them leave. Fear began to spread through the realm!

"What's happening?"

Zhu Ping'an also sensed something was off. Besides the one Star Devouring Bug he had just killed, more and more were constantly bursting from the earth.

Their numbers were so dense that they couldn't possibly all be killed, and the Secret Realm of Star Gazing could no longer be exited.

Moreover, these Star Devouring Bugs didn't seem intent on killing them—they seemed to be herding them somewhere.

Zhu Ping'an noticed that if he ran to the right, the bugs wouldn't attack him.

Ye Qingxian noticed this too. Despite being covered in stench and wounded, he stubbornly got up and followed Zhu Ping'an to the right.

The same was true for examinees in other locations. They were all driven by the Star Devouring Bugs toward a single gathering point. Those stubborn fools who insisted on fighting the bugs head-on all became their food.

Soon, all the surviving Green City examinees were forced to converge on a slope.

Strangely, once they reached this slope, the Star Devouring Bugs just watched from a distance and stopped attacking, as if something on this small slope made them deeply wary.

Zhu Ping'an swept his gaze over the crowd. Roughly a hundred examinees remained in the Secret Realm of Star Gazing, and every face was etched with fear and dread of the unknown turn of events.

"Zhu Ping'an."

A cool voice sounded behind Zhu Ping'an. He turned his head and met Leng Tianjiao's delicate yet icy face.

"Classmate Leng." Zhu Ping'an nodded toward her, acknowledging the greeting.

"As a venue for the College Entrance Examination, the Secret Realm of Star Gazing has always been extremely stable—no changes in over a hundred years. Do you have any insight into this sudden Star Devouring Bug riot?"

Leng Tianjiao's red lips parted slightly, her tone calm, unshaken by the abrupt upheaval.

"Not sure, but we should know soon enough. After all, Star Devouring Bugs aren't highly intelligent. Since they managed to drive us all here, it means something behind them is controlling them." Zhu Ping'an voiced his speculation.

Leng Tianjiao glanced at him, a hint of appreciation in her eyes.

"As for the Secret Realm of Star Gazing, I've heard some legends about it from my family..."