Flood Dragon's Attack!

"Congratulations."

"You triggered a spotlight moment in the public tournament."

"This spotlight moment has earned you a special reward."

As the tiny words appeared, the Qi Refiners' Combat Prep Room opened on its own.

A brand-new shelf came into view before Xu Yuan.

The corresponding prompt lit up:

"You triggered a spotlight moment in the tournament."

"This performance allows you to 'upgrade' one piece of equipment or one skill."

"Current options:"

"Qiong Jia Sword, Swallow Song Sword Art, Flying Eaves Movement Technique, Inch Punch."

"Please choose."

"Once selected, place it on the 'upgrade shelf' and wait a few seconds to complete the process."

Upgrading equipment made sense, at least.

But skills could be upgraded too?

Xu Yuan marveled inwardly and glanced around without betraying a thing.

By then, everyone had taken shelter in the subway station.

To his surprise, Jiang Xueyao was skilled with formations too.

She was setting up small cushioning formations for some pregnant women, elderly people, and children.

Zhao Afei crouched before a middle-aged man with a broken leg. Having just examined him, he was taking a Pill from his gourd.

A White Crane flew in from outside, leaned close to Yang Xiaobing's ear, and chattered without pause.

Every member of the team had a job to do.

For the moment, nothing needed him.

Then—

Should I try this so-called "upgrade"?

After a moment's thought, Xu Yuan directed his will toward the illusory shelf and said:

"I choose Swallow Song Sword Art."

The next second,

a booklet appeared on the shelf, its cover bearing the four large characters for "Swallow Song Sword Art."

Tiny glowing words flashed into view:

"While practicing Swallow Song Sword Art, you gained a unique insight and created a new sword move as the art's fifth form."

"This sword move is yours alone. Its name is—"

"Swallow Departs."

"A basic flying-sword technique with room for further growth."

"Effect: Your sword flies three meters and delivers a slash in midair."

"Note: Everyone understands swordsmanship differently, and everyone has a unique fighting style. You are no exception."

The sword manual vanished from the shelf.

At the same time,

a wondrous insight surfaced in Xu Yuan's mind.

He drew his sword almost without thinking and made a few passes through the air before him, running through the entire sequence for Swallow Departs.

It felt as though I'd figured out the move myself.

In an instant,

Xu Yuan understood it completely.

But he soon frowned.

They called it a flying-sword move, but it was useless.

The sword flew three meters and struck.

Then what?

The sword would fall to the ground!

If the enemy pinned it down, wouldn't I lose my weapon?

A move like that would be perfect for a villainous boss: flail in impotent rage and make the hero look wise and mighty.

Like hell I'm playing the villain!

Unwilling to give up, Xu Yuan looked at the prompt again.

A basic technique...

Room for further growth...

It seemed he would have to put more spotlight moments into the skill before it was ready for a real fight.

Meanwhile,

Jiang Xueyao saw him draw his sword and watched from a distance for a few moments. Then her gaze sharpened. She put away the formation disk in her hand, drew her sword, and attacked.

Xu Yuan blocked on instinct, triggering the sword move. His expression changed.

"Watch out!"

A streak of Sword Qi shot from the Qiong Jia Sword, slashing straight toward Jiang Xueyao!

Jiang Xueyao retreated several steps and swung the Red Sky Sword again and again, dispersing the Sword Qi.

"Were you trying out a new sword move just now?"

She tucked back her hair, a hint of curiosity entering her voice.

"Something clicked after the fight. I wanted to see if it would work," Xu Yuan said.

"No, you killed the Wolf Demon with a gun," Jiang Xueyao said.

"I felt it when I killed the Tree Demon." Xu Yuan shrugged.

Jiang Xueyao said nothing. She stared at him, something unreadable flickering in her eyes.

After a moment,

she said softly:

"Swallow Song Sword Art was always meant as an introductory sword art. It guides beginners toward the wonders of wielding a sword, then helps them find a way of using one that suits them."

"If you created a move of your own through this sword art, then you've grasped its true essence."

"I created a move too—Swallows Flying in Pairs."

Xu Yuan's heart jolted.

She created a sword move too!

Interesting.

This girl really is talented.

I've had a vague feeling for it, but I wasn't quite there yet. I haven't even been here long.

I only managed to create a move with the help of my spotlight ability!

What?

That ability awakened when I was pinned to the bridge, with my life hanging by a thread. It's one of my own talents?

...I'm a genius.

Xu Yuan nodded and said offhandedly:

"Swallows Flying in Pairs? 'Alone I stood among fallen flowers; in fine rain, swallows flew in pairs'—fine sword move, fine name."

Everyone looked at him.

"I've never heard that verse before..."

Zhao Afei murmured under his breath.

Jiang Xueyao lowered her lovely eyes and said calmly:

"Shall we exchange a move and see?"

"Here? Oh, let's not." Xu Yuan squirmed.

"You promised me."

Jiang Xueyao remained unmoved, her tone mild.

"Look around. Let's do it outside," Xu Yuan said.

Jiang Xueyao glanced around. The station was packed with ordinary people.

Sword Qi was too dangerous.

Both swords were powerful, too.

If they fought here, one careless move could injure a bystander.

There was simply no arguing with Xu Yuan's reason.

She sighed, visibly deflated, and quietly returned to the pregnant women, children, elderly people, and disabled people, where she bent over her small cushioning formations again.

Xu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Your sword bursts into flames!

I'd have to be an idiot to fight you!

"It's coming," Yang Xiaobing suddenly said.

"What is?" Zhao Afei asked.

"The Flood Dragon's spell—everyone, look out!" Yang Xiaobing shouted.

All sound vanished.

The entire world seemed to fall into a vacuum.

Then

a thunderclap exploded mere inches above their heads.

Every light in the subway station went out at once.

As reinforced concrete cracked, dust sifted from the ceiling and stones clattered to the floor in a relentless shower.

"It's going to collapse!"

Someone cried out.

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.

On the previous questions, he had at least identified what mattered.

But this one was harder to make sense of.

Question: What emotion did the examiner express through the Flood Dragon's destruction of the world?

A critique of human civilization?

A questioning of human nature, and a reflection on it?

Surely it can't be homesickness.

If you launch a full-screen attack, kill every examinee, and send them packing, what's the point of holding an exam?

"It won't collapse. Stay calm!" Yang Xiaobing barked.

She pulled out a Talisman and flung it away.

Whoosh—

The Talisman floated in midair and began to burn, quickly lighting the entire platform.

It kept burning without being consumed.

The crowd had been on the verge of panic, but after Yang Xiaobing displayed that miraculous talisman spell, they gradually calmed down.

What was there to fear?

Cultivators were guarding them!

Yet the cracks in the ceiling overhead continued to spread.

Zhao Afei sprang up. At a loss, he looked at Xu Yuan, then at Jiang Xueyao and Yang Xiaobing—

The place really might collapse!

What do we do?

"Xiaobing, it's up to you." Jiang Xueyao kept working on her formation disk without even looking up.

Yang Xiaobing nodded. She took a length of damp wood from her backpack, pressed one hand against it, and rapidly formed spell seals with the other.

"Water art..."

she murmured. A faint mist filled with spiritual light rose from her body.

The spell was complete!

In an instant,

a giant mushroom sprouted from the wood. It swelled and hardened at a furious pace, surging straight into the ceiling.

Its cap had a radius of dozens of meters and held the ceiling firmly in place!

It no longer mattered if the rest of the station collapsed.

The people beneath it were safe!

Many cheered.

But Yang Xiaobing's face went pale, and she swayed on her feet.

Xu Yuan hurried over and supported her, easing her down to sit with her back against the mushroom. Then he opened the gourd, took out a Spirit-Restoring Pill, and handed it to her.

I get it.

This question was a direct test of the students' abilities.

"This mushroom is thick and enormous—but it won't explode, will it?"

Xu Yuan asked anxiously.

"Of course not! Would I get myself killed?" Yang Xiaobing rolled her pretty eyes.

Why would a mushroom explode? What on earth was going through Xu Yuan's head?

Wait.

Mushrooms...

Maybe I could make one explode...

It might catch an enemy off guard in battle?

Yang Xiaobing sank into thought.

Xu Yuan looked up at the mushroom, pondering what might happen next. Little did he know that his offhand remark might really bring "Plants vs. Zombies" into this world.

Still thinking, Yang Xiaobing popped a Pill into her mouth and chewed it quickly. At the same time, she reached over and patted the White Crane beside her.

"Scout again, then report back."

The White Crane immediately flew toward the subway station entrance.

At that moment...

The underground station was dark.

Only the burning Talisman cast a flickering glow.

No one spoke.

None of us knows whether the Flood Dragon will attack again.