Chapter 65: Beginning

Biological parents??

“Wu Xiaomi, Bai Xiaozhi, get ready.”

Before Wu Xiaomi could think any further, the stage crew notified them.

Wu Xiaomi’s heart pounded— not from nerves this time,

But from excitement.

“Medicine? Where’s the medicine…”

Just before going on stage, Wu Xiaomi snatched up the basket of medicine nearby.

Without even mixing it with sugar, she dumped it all into her mouth in one go.

“Are you crazy?!”

“Xiaozhi.”

Before she could be scolded, Wu Xiaomi wiped her mouth clean and looked into Bai Xiaozhi’s eyes.

“This Friendship Association, we have to take it seriously!”

“…”

Bai Xiaozhi didn’t quite understand.

But she nodded solemnly.

“Don’t worry.”

“We have to do this perfectly, perfect, and then even more perfect!”

“Okay, I know.”

Alright then.

Let’s begin!

……

“I can’t hold it anymore!!”

Nanalia clung desperately to her ritual staff as torrents of black smoke erupted wildly from beneath her feet.

“Even if you can’t, you have to! We’re surrounded by students— if these evil thoughts leak out, it’s all over!”

Qiao Wanwan bit her lip hard, the crystal between her hands shaking and shimmering, trembling nonstop.

The water curtain of the barrier quivered.

“But the rift is getting bigger! Even though the sacrificial ritual hasn’t started, the rift is already ridiculously huge!”

“Why don’t you call the Former Shaman Couple to help?”

“It won’t help even if they come! The sealing depends entirely on the Sanctified Source Crystal. I brought Fengshou Village’s Sanctified Source Crystal here, they have to stay behind to guard Fengshou Village, in case the mastermind tries to attack! If the Statue gets destroyed, we’re really finished!”

“Then what do we do?!”

“I don’t know!”

Both Nanalia and Qiao Wanwan were soaked through.

It was hard to tell if it was dampness or sweat— they had already been holding out in this raging black mist for a whole day and night, and now both their bodies and spirits were exhausted to the limit.

And the rift showed no sign of shrinking.

The night before last, ever since they’d deduced the truth of the incident, the rift had suddenly grown.

It was as if Manggu had heard their deduction and wanted to silence them.

“I really can’t hold on! Can’t I just let a little bit out? My arms are completely numb!” Nanalia wailed miserably.

“Let out more? Do you see how much evil thought is already trapped inside this barrier? My barrier’s long since reached its limit! If you let it out… the barrier will definitely explode!”

“Wuwuwu, I don’t want to be a Witch anymore. Why do we have to clean up the mess left by the Spirit of Abundance and the Spirit of Rainfall? And we don’t even get a High Sequence to use— this is worse than how a donkey is worked… wuwu… I’m going to find a Witch and switch bosses when I get back…” Nanalia’s tears streamed down.

“Stop complaining. No matter how much you grumble, the Spirit of Abundance isn’t going to come clean up this mess. Just hold on a little longer.”

“Hold on a little longer…”

Hold on a little longer…

……

Wu Xiaomi stepped onto the stage, her gaze searching ceaselessly through the audience.

Mom and Dad…

Mom and Dad…

That person looks like them, and so does that one.

She hadn’t even been expecting anything.

Those damn Witches, insisting on giving her hope.

Fine, maybe they’re not here— after all, the Witch only said “they will see,” not that they’d be present in person.

Besides, the Witch also mentioned Bai Xiaozhi.

So, does that mean Xiaozhi’s parents are still around too?

Happy~

At this moment, the previous performer had just left the stage.

He was a violinist, supremely confident in his own abilities, certain that anyone performing after him was doomed to be nothing but a stepping stone.

He lifted his head provocatively, wanting to catch a glimpse of the next contestant.

As expected, his eyes landed on Wu Xiaomi—and he couldn’t look away.

So did the rest of the audience.

The entire Friendship Association venue fell deathly silent in an instant.

“Clang—”

A spectator seemed to lose their soul, not noticing as their grip loosened, letting their buffet plate crash to the ground, spilling food everywhere.

Wu Xiaomi hadn’t expected such a reaction from the crowd.

She’d thought the students would all be busy with their own things, eating and chatting, and that not many eyes would fall on her.

That would at least take off some psychological pressure.

But…

She had completely underestimated her own charm at this moment.

Countless eyes converged in one place.

Swish swish swish swish swish—

It felt like countless boulders were crashing down on her head.

“…”

Whoosh—

Wu Xiaomi took another deep breath.

Inhale, exhale.

Close eyes, open eyes.

Still nervous, but no longer afraid!

At the same time, Bai Xiaozhi’s slender fingers fell, gently caressing the piano keys.

This was a gently paced melody, not famous— even before the apocalypse on Earth, not many people knew it.

But Bai Xiaozhi chose this piece.

Because it suited the girl perfectly.

The music flowed.

Wu Xiaomi stepped forward gracefully, folding fan lifting lightly behind her.

In the audience, teachers and students from all the academies held their breath.

The girl’s gentle frown and faint smile— even just her light step forward— was already peerlessly beautiful.

It made everyone anticipate just how unforgettable this dance would be.

Unfortunately…

“Bang—”

Outside the school, the water curtain barrier had swelled to its limit and suddenly burst!

“Run— now!!!” Qiao Wanwan mustered all her strength to shout one last warning, and was instantly swallowed and trapped by the black mist.

Endless black mist gushed crazily from the broken barrier, surging toward the students at the Friendship Association.

At the same time, by the buffet table, five servers simultaneously drew their steak knives.

Each grabbed a student from behind— targets chosen long ago.

They raised their knives.

One slash, severing the throat!

Blood spurted from the students’ necks, transforming midair into scarlet runes.

In an instant, the runes covered the ground.

Intense red light engulfed the entire academy.

Even from the distant horizon, it could be seen clearly.

It was like a Mark.

Yes, it was a Mark.

The servers twisted their faces into wild grins, pressing both hands to the ground.

The blood runes enveloped them, isolating them from the surrounding guards’ attacks.

“Finally! Finally! The day has come…”

“Let me show you what a true Sequence is! Fools!”

“Shaman Sequence 70—Apocalypse Pulse!”

Boom—

A slender beam of light shot from Marduk Star, striking precisely where the Mark was set.

Immediately afterward, something seemed to explode, thundering loudly, but no one saw any flames.

Only a shockwave-like gale blasted outward in all directions, rustling the forest leaves.

“All thunder, no rain? No…”

Any teacher familiar with Manggu history had already guessed the truth.

The worst-case scenario.

Sealing!

The seal was broken!

……

The sunset hung slanting at the edge of the mountain forest.

Black mist surged into the sky, dyeing the remaining light in darkness.

From beneath Nanalia and Qiao Wanwan, black mist erupted like a volcano, and they stood at the very crater, bearing the fiercest onslaught.

Fortunately, under the protection of the Sanctified Source Crystal, the black mist couldn’t break through right away.

But the crystal wouldn’t hold much longer.

“Help… aaaaah—” All around, students screamed in agony.

The venue had become a living hell.

Those streams of black mist hit the ground and transformed into beast-like Oil Paint Lynxes.

The Oil Paint Lynxes were bloodthirsty by nature, and as soon as they landed, they pounced and bit at the surrounding teachers and students.

Anyone bitten would have their wounds ignite in searing flames.

Unless they cut off the limb to survive, the fire would keep burning until the body was reduced to ashes!

“Aaaaah—”

Flames began to burn everywhere.

A moment ago, the Friendship Association had been elegant and serene— now, it was hell on earth.

“They’re afraid of water in their oil paint state! Use Water Sequence!” Nanalia’s voice came from within the black mist.

With this reminder, the teachers and students barely had a way to respond.

But there weren’t many Water Sequence users to begin with! And most of them were concentrated in the Shaman System!

Who aside from Witches would even know the Shaman System?!

As the black mist kept pouring out, even with the Water Sequence, it was hard to hold the line.

Ominous flames blazed fiercely, starting to appear all over the Manggu Mountains.

It seemed as if a thousand miles around would soon be scorched to bare earth.

……

“Xiaozhi.”

Wu Xiaomi suddenly called out.

“Let’s continue.”