A master of keeping a straight face

As expected, Tang San and Xiao Wu qualified to skip the preliminary tests. Then, under the old man's guidance, Qin Ye and the others went straight to the site of the fourth trial.

"Huh? Where's our examiner?" Xiao Wu's rabbit ears swayed from side to side as her big, adorable eyes surveyed their surroundings curiously.

"Oh? Five little monsters this year." A burly man resting in the shade beneath the eaves rose lazily and gave a long stretch.

"Ah! That was a good nap. Time to loosen up these old bones." Zhao Wuji rotated his arms, his languid gaze resting on the students before him.

"My name is Zhao Wuji. I'm your examiner for the fourth round." With his steel-plate physique, Zhao Wuji looked like a hulking bear as he stood there. His mere presence bore down on them like a city wall.

"The dean told me that all of your soul power levels are above twenty-five, qualifying you to skip the second and third rounds. In that case, I'll play with you myself." Zhao Wuji flexed his fists, the crackle of his joints booming like muffled thunder.

"You now have one incense stick's worth of time to talk, discuss your plans, and learn about each other's combat abilities. Once that incense burns out, the test begins. The five of you will face me together for another incense stick's worth of time. As long as one of you is still standing at the end, you all pass."

"I advise you not to try any clever tricks. None of you is fast enough to escape this area, and no one can withstand my attacks alone."

"Working together is your only chance of success."

Zhao Wuji snorted, a fierce wave of heat bursting from his body as he radiated the oppressive might of a giant bear. "Your time starts now."

Whoosh!

Zhao Wuji planted a stick of incense in the ground, and it began burning rapidly.

Tang San's expression grew grave at the sight.

If Zhao Wuji was a Spirit Emperor like the old man at the entrance, the pressure they would face was easy to imagine.

"Let's discuss our strategy together." While Tang San was still thinking, Qin Ye had already spoken up and gathered everyone around.

"First, I think we should introduce our abilities. I'll start."

"My name is Qin Ye. My special martial soul is the heart demon, and I'm a level-ten control-type battle spirit master. I specialize in control and burst attacks. If any of you becomes Teacher Zhao Wuji's target, my martial soul can keep him occupied from the side."

Qin Ye's words sounded thoroughly sincere. By revealing his trump card right from the start, he instantly earned Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing's trust.

Ning Rongrong stepped forward and spoke gently. "My name is Ning Rongrong. My tool martial soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and I'm a level-twenty-six support-type tool spirit soul master."

Beside Qin Ye, Zhu Zhuqing, whose cold beauty was like snow, also spoke. "My name is Zhu Zhuqing. My beast martial soul is the Hell Spirit Cat, and I'm a level-twenty-seven agility attack system battle spirit master."

Once the three had finished their introductions, Qin Ye immediately turned his gaze to Tang San and Xiao Wu. "What about you two? Since we're working together, we should reveal our abilities first."

Qin Ye's scarlet eyes met Tang San's. Suddenly, the heart demon's beguiling voice sounded inside Tang San's mind.

"Are you really willing to let him lead you around by the nose? You'll do whatever he says? Then how are you any different from a dog he keeps?"

"Who are you?" Tang San whipped around, only to find endless darkness.

"Me? Heh, I'm you." The heart demon appeared before Tang San in his own likeness and reached out to grip his shoulder. "I'm the truest part of your heart. Right now, I can feel your hatred for Qin Ye. We both want to kill him, don't we?"

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Tang San knitted his brows. "Why should I believe you?"

"Believe me or don't. That's up to you." The heart demon paid no heed to Tang San's questioning. "I only wanted to tell you that if you enroll together, you'll have a hard time finding an opportunity to strike under those teachers' watchful eyes. Right now, Zhao Wuji is a blade lying right in front of you. Aren't you going to use it?"

"What?" Tang San exclaimed in surprise. "How do you know what I'm thinking?"

"Heh, I already told you. I'm the truest thoughts buried in your heart. You can't hide anything from me." The heart demon turned away and spoke coldly. "The opportunity is right before your eyes, Tang San. Whether you seize it is up to you."

The next moment, the heart demon walked into the boundless darkness, and an inexplicable suction pulled Tang San's consciousness back to reality.

"Brother San, what's wrong?" Xiao Wu's worried voice reached Tang San's ears. "I called your name three times just now. Why didn't you answer?"

Tang San held his forehead and spoke groggily. "It's nothing. Maybe I just didn't sleep well last night."

"Tang San, you haven't said a word. Don't you want to work with us?" Qin Ye urged from the side.

At those words, Tang San raised his head and fixed Qin Ye with an icy stare. "I don't think you're trustworthy."

"What?" Qin Ye frowned. "What do you mean? Are you trying to drag all of us down?"

The looks Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong gave Tang San also turned strange.

What is going on in this person's head? We've all revealed our abilities, yet he refuses to share his at this crucial moment. How can he be so selfish?

Without realizing it, the two girls had already branded Tang San as petty and selfish. And that was exactly what Qin Ye wanted to see.

"I simply think I can pass the fourth trial without you. I, Tang San, don't need your help. Xiao Wu, let's go."

With that, Tang San grabbed Xiao Wu's arm and headed toward the clearing.

"Ah! Brother San, be gentle. That hurts." Tang San's sudden tug startled Xiao Wu, and his grip left her arm flushed red.

In response, Tang San merely gave Xiao Wu a cold glance. "Do you want to question me too, Xiao Wu?"

Looking into Tang San's utterly emotionless eyes, Xiao Wu felt as though he were a complete stranger. A trace of fear suddenly rose in her heart.

Under Tang San's oppressive presence, Xiao Wu's rabbit ears drooped in fear, and she said softly, "N-no."

Xiao Wu demonstrated her obedience to Tang San by giving in, and he roughly dragged her onto the testing grounds.

With the heart demon interfering with his mind, Tang San himself had not noticed that his emotions were gradually slipping out of control. This would mark the beginning of the rupture between him and Xiao Wu.

The corners of Qin Ye's lips lifted slightly. "Tang San, I wonder whether your future self will regret seeing how you behaved today. Heh, once Xiao Wu's heart has gone completely cold toward you, won't you regret it until your guts turn green?"

"Hmph! How could that Tang San act like that? Didn't he see that Xiao Wu's arm was already red?" Ning Rongrong planted both hands on her hips in anger, venting her displeasure with Tang San.

"I agree. That Tang San doesn't seem like a good person," Zhu Zhuqing echoed.

At those words, Qin Ye nearly failed to hold back his laughter. Fortunately, he was a master of keeping a straight face and managed to suppress his smile.

"It's fine. Let's leave him alone. As long as the three of us work together wholeheartedly, I believe we can succeed too."

"Mm."

"Mm."