Challenge

Vast blue waters stretched out as a hundred-meter stone bridge spanned the lake, connecting to the island at its center. Three lifelike stone statues, dozens of meters tall, stood on the island as though overlooking the entire Inner Academy.

After crossing the stone bridge, Chen Xu swept his gaze across the ten small islands nearby. The higher someone ranked in the Inner Academy, the larger their island was, making it easy to identify the island occupied by the eighth-ranked student.

The moment Chen Xu stepped onto the stone bridge leading to the island where Flowery Young Master Luo Qiushui lived, a man in a red-and-white academy uniform blocked his path.

The man's gaze fell on Chen Xu's wristband, and he asked teasingly, "You're not internal staff. What do you want with Young Master Luo?"

"What business is it of yours? Move!" Seeing the uniform marking him as someone from the red zone, Chen Xu could not be bothered with him. He forcefully pried the man's hand away and strode forward.

"How presumptuous! This is Young Master Luo's private territory. How dare you barge in?"

As he spoke, the man raised a hand and struck at Chen Xu.

Anywhere, interests would give rise to small cliques. He was one of the members of Luo Qiushui's faction.

The resources and privileges held by the Inner Academy's top ten far surpassed those available to everyone else, making it easy for them to attract a group willing to serve as lackeys.

The man's fist landed on Chen Xu's back, but his expression shifted wildly as though a dye shop had opened across his face. Unable to bear it, he cried out in pain.

He stared at Chen Xu in terror. Could the body before him truly still be considered flesh and blood?

His palm