However, the Bull Demon King only grew angrier the more he fought, his attacks getting fiercer.
At this moment, Theresa suddenly mused, “Isn’t the Chief Examiner the one responsible for deciding the difficulty of our exams?”
Everyone turned to look at her.
“In other words, this ultra-difficult map was his doing?”
Everyone: “….”
They’d been feeling pretty sympathetic towards Chief Examiner Murray, since he’d risked himself for the examinees’ safety.
But if he was the one who’d made the exam so dangerous…?
Just then, Yi Congling suddenly cried out, “Look—what did the Chief Examiner just pull out?”
Everyone turned to see Murray, battered and bloodied, struggling to produce a small golden box from his robes.
This box was completely different from the other Divine Artifacts, radiating a golden glow that looked truly formidable.
“This…” Yi Congling recognized it, “It has to be an S-Class Divine Artifact, right? I remember my mom has a similar artifact—it feels just the same!”
Everyone: “……”
‘Alright, you can stop talking now.’
George caught on, “So, this is Chief Examiner Murray’s trump card? An S-Class Divine Artifact—another feat of cash-ability?”
Everyone got excited.
It was the first time any of them had seen an S-Class Divine Artifact, let alone see it being activated.
In reality, except for those from big families, most people would never even see an S-Class Divine Artifact in their lifetime.
“This is definitely going to be epic, right?!”
In the image, the Bull Demon King seemed to sense the threat, stopping his attack and warily eyeing the golden box in Murray’s hand.
Murray was already battered beyond recognition, looking like he’d fall apart at any moment.
Inside, he felt utterly wretched.
This Bull Demon King really was one stubborn ox.
That brute force was terrifying, but at least he still had the artifact—the Heavenly Mechanism Box.
Although he hadn’t managed to summon the dean, the vice dean, or… his old man, they’d at least left him this top-tier artifact for emergencies.
Now, the time to use it had come.
He immediately infused it with divine power, and in the next instant, a dazzling golden light burst forth from the box, shooting up to the heavens.
The golden light formed a thick pillar, as if piercing through heaven and earth.
The power was immense—the Bull Demon King instantly grew alert, leaping back to keep a distance from the light pillar.
He didn’t know what it was, but instinctively sensed a threat.
As the golden light surged, Murray looked conflicted.
Actually, the Heavenly Mechanism Box’s ability was simple: summoning.
It would summon the one most likely to defeat the current enemy—in this case, the Bull Demon King.
‘It should be Tai Xuanzi, right?’ he thought.
Only someone of her strength stood a chance.
He couldn’t help but feel a little self-mocking.
Who’d have thought their next meeting would be in a situation like this, and he’d be the one asking her for help.
Embarrassing.
“Maybe it’s better not to meet…” Murray muttered, activating the teleportation feature.
Unfortunately, with his divine power nearly depleted, the teleportation would take a few seconds to prepare.
Maybe he’d get to witness Tai Xuanzi’s arrival with his own eyes.
Maybe… that wouldn’t be so bad?
Staring at the intensifying golden light, Murray felt hesitant yet a little expectant.
Su Fu, watching the golden pillar in the image, suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
‘What was happening?’
Just then, George shouted, “Boss, look at the sky!”
Everyone looked up and saw a golden pillar, identical to the one in the image, descending from the heavens, pouring straight toward Su Fu’s position.
That golden light was dazzling, dispersing clouds, obliterating everything in its path—it was as if the whole sky was being torn apart.
“What the hell?!” Su Fu blurted, her expression changing dramatically.
“What is this thing?!”
Why did it look like it was coming for her?!
Without hesitation, Su Fu’s figure flickered and she bolted toward the nearby woods but shockingly, the golden pillar seemed to lock onto her, instantly changing direction to pursue her!
Su Fu: “???”
‘No, don’t do this.’
‘Help!’
She changed direction again, fleeing another way, but it was clear—the golden pillar was locked onto her, following her every move and closing in fast.
“What’s happening?” The others were dumbfounded.
“Why is Chief Examiner Murray’s artifact targeting Boss?”
George slapped his forehead.
He remembered, “Wait! I read about an artifact like this—it’s a summoning artifact that can summon anyone within range who meets certain conditions!”
Everyone looked at each other.
Did that mean…
Theresa, voice trembling, said what everyone was thinking, “Chief Examiner Murray wants Boss to deal with the Bull Demon King?”
The sky was falling.
“No!” All three shouted together, rushing after Su Fu.
“We have to protect Boss!”
“We can’t let her get caught by the Chief Examiner! If she’s forced to fight the Bull Demon King, she’ll never make it back alive! Damn it, Murray is shameless!”
But the three couldn’t catch up to Su Fu, let alone that golden pillar.
Su Fu already felt a powerful pull from the golden light, and hearing George’s explanation, her vision went black.
This was clearly another concept-type Divine Artifact—unless she had a matching counter-concept, there was no escape.
No matter where she ran, she would be locked on and pulled away by the golden light.
Su Fu: “!!!!”
Heavens!
Murray was calling her to fight the Bull Demon King?
She’d finally managed to toss that hot potato away, and now he was dragging her back in.
But the golden light didn’t care, and was already completely locked onto her, closing in fast, about to pull her away.
“Don’t worry about me!” Realizing she couldn’t escape, Su Fu shouted to her teammates as they rushed over, “Get all the resources you can! Tao Tao, go with them!”
Saying this, she tossed Little Peach from her arms to the others.
Tao Tao transformed into human form midair and landed steadily, her little face anxious, “Sister!”
But Su Fu was already engulfed by golden light.
She only had time for one last sentence: “Remember—all… resources… go!”
Su Fu was bitter—she was gone, but they absolutely couldn’t let any resources slip through their fingers.
With those words, she vanished on the spot, leaving only a ripple of golden light slowly spreading out.
The pillar faded, the world returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.
Theresa and the others stood where they were, exchanging glances.
“What do we do?” Yi Congling’s voice trembled.
“That’s the Bull Demon King! How could Boss possibly win?”
Theresa sighed, despair filling her eyes, “Even if we caught up, we couldn’t help…”
Not only would they be useless, they’d be a burden.
“Yeah,” George covered his face, “Let’s just do what Boss said and finish her last wish.”
The four’s spirits were low, but it was true.
Yi Congling wiped her eyes and straightened up.
“Let’s get it together and collect every resource on the map. Even if Boss is eliminated, she’ll be happy when she sees what we brought back.”
“That’s right.”
Tao Tao wiped her tears and clenched her fists, “Tao Tao knows. Tao Tao will lead the way!”
Murray watched the teleportation countdown—three seconds left.
“Your time has come.” He snorted at the Bull Demon King.
The Bull Demon King sensed something, eyeing the golden pillar warily.
Suddenly, the golden light trembled violently—a clear sign someone was being summoned.
“…”
Murray’s feelings were complicated.
If it was Tai Xuanzi, she could definitely trounce that stubborn ox.
But then he’d owe her a favor… At that thought, Murray clicked his tongue.
Amid the golden glow, a figure gradually materialized.
Murray squinted, ‘was that a woman’s outline?’
The shape became clearer and clearer.
Suddenly, Murray felt something was wrong.
“Wait, since when did Tai Xuanzi stop wearing her Xuan robes?”
The next second, as the golden light faded, the person appeared in full.
Murray’s expression froze in disbelief as he stared at the figure before him—
“Su Fu?!” His voice cracked into a shriek, “Why is it you?!”
Not Tai Xuanzi at all—it was candidate Su Fu!
Murray nearly blacked out.
What was going on?
His artifact had summoned a freshman?
How could she possibly handle an S-Class anomaly?
Wasn’t this sending her to her death?
“No, no, this must be a mistake…”
Murray’s face was deathly pale.
“The Heavenly Mechanism Box is supposed to summon the person most likely to defeat the Bull Demon King. How could it be a freshman? Impossible…”
Su Fu: “……”
She nearly fainted on the spot.
She’d been happily gathering resources far away in India, only for the Chief Examiner to drag her right into this disaster.
Su Fu’s face was ashen, expressionless, “Chief Examiner Murray—what exactly do you want?”
Murray: “……”
The Bull Demon King, seeing the sudden appearance of this slender figure, was stunned, then burst out laughing.
“This is my end?!” The Bull Demon King roared with laughter, his eyes full of scorn, “A little girl?”
He swung his iron cudgel, “If you’ve come to die, then die together!”
The cudgel whooshed down at Su Fu, as if to smash her and the earth itself to pieces.
Murray’s expression changed, and he instinctively rushed in front of Su Fu, raising his shield and barely blocking the blow.
“Bang!”
The force sent Murray flying, crashing to the ground.
He spat blood, staining his chest red.
Still, he struggled up, trying to grab Su Fu’s hand, “Come with me, quickly!”
Su Fu only sighed softly, “Too late.”
Only then did Murray realize he was already fading away—his teleportation countdown was over.
His form disappeared completely.
With Murray gone, the Bull Demon King sneered, “I thought someone powerful was coming—turns out it’s just you, a pathetic weakling?”
Su Fu’s face was calm, but inwardly she was cursing a blue streak.
Not just cursing Murray, but the real culprit—Merlin.
So many coincidences in a row—clearly, Merlin the prophet was pulling the strings.
‘Damn that prophet,’ she thought, teeth gritted, ‘His whole plan was to make Murray use that artifact, so I’d inevitably be dragged into facing the Bull Demon King!!’
Thus, the prophecy was fulfilled.
“I’ll take care of that prophet first next time…” Su Fu swore silently.
Seeing the Bull Demon King raise his cudgel again, about to charge, Su Fu let out a long sigh: “Have you forgotten Guanyin’s words?”
Her voice drifted in the air, imbued with a transcendent compassion, “Discern the cause and effect, create no new karma.”
The Bull Demon King’s actions halted, his eyes full of doubt—’wait… could this girl actually be Guanyin in disguise?’
He stared at Su Fu warily and asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Su Fu’s eyes grew gentle, full of compassion and forgiveness.
In that expression, in that bearing, the Bull Demon King actually saw something of Guanyin herself.
She said, “If you cause trouble again, you’ll only bring disgrace upon yourself.”
The Bull Demon King was shocked, subconsciously stepping back half a pace.
“How… how do you know what Guanyin said to me?”
Su Fu remained calm, “I am of the Guanyin Faction, sent to observe your actions and advise you.”
She shook her head gently, eyes brimming with disappointment, “I never expected you’d be so unrepentant.”
The Bull Demon King’s expression changed.
What?
Guanyin sent someone to check on him?
But in the next second, a flicker of suspicion passed through his eyes as he thought, ‘Something wasn’t right—this woman had clearly been summoned by that guy’s golden box, not come of her own will. So she had nothing to do with Guanyin.’
The Bull Demon King laughed coldly, blood-red light flaring in his eyes.
“Don’t pretend with me! You’re working with that guy—how could you be from Guanyin’s side?”
He gripped his iron cudgel but Su Fu remained calm, asking, “If I’m not, how would I know about your conversation with Guanyin?”
The Bull Demon King’s movements paused slightly.
That’s true—no one but him and Guanyin had been present for that conversation.
‘How could she know? Could she really…’
Guanyin had directed him to Little Thunderclap Monastery, saying the monkey was there but when he arrived, he’d felt none of that monkey’s aura.
The Bull Demon King’s pupils contracted—he realized it.
“That wasn’t really Guanyin.”
The realization dawned on him, and he fixed his gaze on Su Fu.
“It was you. You impersonated Guanyin!”
“I see now,” he snarled, bloodlust surging, “You’re just stalling for time. So, with death at your door, you’re scared now?”
“Too bad for you—who do you think you can stall for?”
He raised his iron cudgel high, but at that moment, the sky suddenly changed.
Thick clouds were torn apart, revealing a brilliant golden canopy.
Auspicious clouds gathered from all directions, forming a massive vortex.
In the center, a dazzling golden beam shot down, enveloping Su Fu.
At the same time, Shen Yan’s voice rang in Su Fu’s ear:
[“You have received a Divine Skill granted by Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong—”]
[“Saint’s Manifestation”]
[“Level: S-Class”]
Almost simultaneously, the Saint’s Manifestation behind Su Fu activated on its own, and a familiar shadow took shape.
He was clad in golden armor, wore a Phoenix-winged Golden Crown, and held the Ruyi Jingu Bang—majestic and awe-inspiring.
Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong.
The phantom grew rapidly, instantly reaching a hundred meters tall, looming over all beneath.
A Golden Cudgel appeared in Su Fu’s hand.
She gave it a light flick, and the cudgel extended to several zhang in length, matching the posture of the figure behind her.
She grinned, shouldering the Golden Cudgel with a mocking smile: “I’m calling in backup—what are you waiting for?”
“Great Sage—”
“Assist me!”