Chapter 139: Poisonous Snake

“Shuai!”

“Zhang Li!”

“Jie Qi”

“Stronghand Skullsplitter”

“Duxie: Can we make peace?”

“So you want to kill me? Just the few of you?” Duxie snarled back, her face twisted with viciousness.

She stroked her swollen, aching cheek, her chest heaving rapidly—clearly, she was livid beyond words.

Since arriving at the war camp, she’d lost many times, but this was the first time she had suffered such humiliation!

“You can try if you dare!”

Lin Zhen’s gaze turned icy. After the alloy on the ground melted, it reformed into iron spikes that hovered at his side.

At that moment, the scene panned out, capturing the entire group of main characters from behind Duxie.

Zi Jiu said nothing, but with a sharp “shua,” she drew her long blade and held it upright before her.

Her piercing eyes locked onto Duxie through the blade’s reflection.

Aili raised her right hand, the gentle breeze stirring, lifting a bit of dust from the square.

Clatter—

A layer of shadow crept up Yun Che’s body along his boots, shrouding him like a battle robe.

Anvil might not have the flashy abilities of the others, but he still took a deep breath and settled into the Saint Hand Starshatter Fist stance.

“Superb formation.”

“Shame there’s one missing.”

The five of them simultaneously roused the starlight energy within, their anger focused keenly on one person.

Unknowingly, their auras fused together.

It formed a pressure unique to the five of them.

Though this aura was not particularly strong, to its only target—Duxie—it was deeply oppressive.

It felt as if flames blazed from each of the five, burning so fiercely she almost didn’t dare look at them directly.

Duxie barked, voice fierce but heart weak: “Trying to gang up on me? You think you can win just because you outnumber me? Xinglan has offended too many powerful people in this past year—I can’t even count them all!”

“Mo Yuan from Class One, Heishui from Class Four…Xin Yan and Xing Ke’ai from Class Five …” As she spoke, she looked toward the other onlookers, clearly trying to pull them to her side.

“Ah Zhen, what do we do? Should we make a move? We can’t let her keep calling names like this,” Zi Jiu frowned, speaking quietly.

When she heard Duxie mention Mo Yuan, she nearly rushed over to strike her down with her blade.

Even though Mo Yuan had never been a match for Yun Ruoxi, to these students, there was no real difference between facing Mo Yuan or Yun Ruoxi—either way, they were powerless.

If that madwoman really managed to drag in Mo Yuan and the others, it would be nearly impossible to protect Aili.

“…No need.” Lin Zhen replied coldly, “She doesn’t understand Mo Yuan; she’s just a clown.”

Mo Yuan valued the rules of the war camp above all else.

He’d certainly grow even more disgusted with Yun Ruoxi for breaking the rules, but likewise, he wouldn’t break them himself just because of Duxie’s petty provocations.

Especially since, in the past, he’d had a chance to kill Lin Zhen’s group but hadn’t taken it, and was later punished by Behemoth for that—so he was even less likely to act now.

And just as Lin Zhen expected, Mo Yuan’s reaction came:

“Duxie, you think you can use me as a tool?”

Mo Yuan sneered and shook his head. “You’re not worthy!”

“Xinglan is my only enemy in the war camp. I’ll defeat her openly, not with such despicable tricks.” He swept a cold glance at Duxie, whose body had gone rigid.

“If you try this again, don’t blame me for what happens!”

With those words, he turned and strode away.

“Class One, stop gawking and come with me.”

Step, step!

Mo Yuan’s influence in Class One was unmatched.

Once he gave the order, all the Class One students in the crowd turned their cold, mocking gazes on Duxie, then slowly withdrew, following Mo Yuan into the base.

Duxie, utterly humiliated and despised, clenched her teeth but didn’t dare lash out until Mo Yuan’s figure disappeared.

Because she knew that even if she insulted Xinglan openly in her own class—as long as she didn’t touch Aili—nothing much would happen, at worst she’d get some snide remarks back.

But if she dared to insult Mo Yuan, he’d truly retaliate.

And unlike Xinglan, who she could run from if she couldn’t beat, she couldn’t even outrun Mo Yuan!

Because this guy used her powers even better than she did herself!

Duxie’s teeth ground together with a crack, then she looked toward Heishui in the crowd, a plea in her eyes.

But Heishui merely snorted coldly.

“I have my grudges with Xinglan, but that’s about the assessment! Don’t drag me into this, you vicious woman. I’m not about to kick someone when they’re down.”

“Class Four, let’s go! Stop watching the show!”

Step, step!

Class Four’s students also promptly left the square.

Seeing this, Duxie grew angrier—and even more uneasy.

These people used such dirty tricks during the assessment, yet now every single one acted so righteous.

Aren’t they just afraid Xinglan might come out of this unscathed and make trouble for them?

But what if… Xinglan really is fine.

At that thought, Duxie began to regret. She’d only stepped out to ridicule Aili a bit, with no intention of actually fighting.

Who would have thought that Lin Zhen from Class Three would stand up for Xinglan and Xing Ke’ai at this moment, pushing the conflict to its peak.

Now this grudge was set in stone.

Even if Aili was safe and Xinglan returned, she’d probably be furious enough to attack her!

Things had gotten this far, and it was all because of that guy in front of her!

Duxie glared venomously at Lin Zhen at the front—her resentment toward him even deeper than toward Aili.

Shua!

The black-haired girl’s figure suddenly vanished from her spot.

Lin Zhen and the others immediately grew wary, glancing around, but for a long moment there was no sign of Duxie.

Just as everyone assumed Duxie had been scared off and the spectators began to disperse, Lin Zhen’s vision suddenly blurred—a flash of icy light exploded in his eyes.

It was Duxie!

She hadn’t left!

Instead, she’d somehow gotten hold of a dagger, and now struck with ruthless speed while they were off guard.

In that instant, time seemed to slow.

Duxie’s timing was perfect and her speed was frightening—Lin Zhen had no way to react.

But while he couldn’t respond, others could.

A bulky figure appeared at the edge of Lin Zhen’s vision.

With a furious stomp, his left foot left a dent in the alloy ground, and his right foot shot up in a flying kick, striking Duxie’s back with a force that seemed to shatter the very air.

Crack!

The sound exploded like a whip.

Duxie screamed in agony, her body arching as she was sent flying.

Lin Zhen narrowly escaped death, his eyes flashing with anger as he raised his hand and fired all the floating iron spikes at his side, planning to finish Duxie off then and there.

There’s no such thing as a wrong nickname, only a wrong name.

This Duxie really was as sinister as a viper, striking with deadly intent at any moment—

Even for the sake of the others and Aili, he had to crush this danger before it could grow!