The Three Realms Thief Chapter 14

Open competition?

Spotlight?

Xu Yuan’s expression changed, and he immediately grasped the key points.

He wasn’t afraid of these things.

He just didn’t expect a joint exam for high school seniors to carry such weight!

It could even affect the upcoming nightmare-level competition!

But what was a bit strange was that the last monthly exam only involved driving away rat demons that harassed crops.

Could something of that level affect his life and death?

Something wasn’t quite right.

Xu Yuan looked up.

He saw the principal accompanying a group of people coming out of the administration building.

—Those were admissions officers from various universities.

Perhaps.

This eight-school joint exam would be rather special?

Looking at it from this perspective.

After all, every university had sent people to observe this monthly exam.

If one could be favored by a top university and receive a special recruitment invitation—

Perhaps the “Human Trafficking Group” and “Assassin Organization” wouldn’t appear two days later.

Because they wouldn’t be able to face the wrath of Nine Luminaries and Luofu!

If anything went wrong with the seeds chosen by these two universities (sects), they would definitely send people to investigate thoroughly!

So, was this the meaning of “spotlight”?

—To attract attention, to become the strongest one!

Xu Yuan felt that he had suddenly understood the whole situation, and his heart brightened.

No need to say more.

Next.

He just needed to go all out!

At the same time.

On the other side.

In a corner of the playground.

Jiang Xueyao had returned at some point.

“Xueyao, I found Li Tao from Class Three. He’s good at Qi Refining (Artifice Refining) and array formations.”

Song Huaijin introduced her from the side.

Li Tao awkwardly greeted Jiang Xueyao:

“Hello, Classmate Jiang.”

Jiang Xueyao said, “So you were the one who found Xu Yuan’s love letter?”

“Yes,” Li Tao said.

“Since Song Huaijin said you’re good, then you’re good,” Jiang Xueyao nodded.

Song Huaijin and Li Tao exchanged glances, their faces filled with joy.

Jiang Xueyao was the top combatant in the entire school.

With her, their team battle would definitely score high.

But Jiang Xueyao’s tone suddenly shifted, and she said:

“Let’s warm up.”

“You take one of my sword strikes, and let me know your true strength—don’t worry, we’re just practicing moves. Song Huaijin, help him out, both of you take my sword together.”

“Okay,” Li Tao said.

“Ah, okay,” Song Huaijin also said.

The group stage was about to begin.

It was indeed time to warm up.

“Then I’m going to strike,” Jiang Xueyao said.

Seeing their nervous expressions, she suddenly smiled and said to Song Huaijin:

“No need to be nervous. This strike of mine is just a horizontal cut. Just block it directly.”

“Okay,” Song Huaijin said knowingly.

“Here I come,” Jiang Xueyao said.

“Please,” Li Tao also raised his hand, indicating a defensive posture.

—Warming up and fighting with Class Beauty Jiang was like a dream!

Jiang Xueyao’s slender fingers rested on the sword hilt, then suddenly gripped it tightly and drew it out.

Clang!

The sword emerged like fire.

Blazing flames attached to the sword body, cutting through the air like a meteor.

Boom—

Two figures were sent flying by a single sword strike, crashing into a wall tens of meters away.

Jiang Xueyao, filled with killing intent, pursued them with her sword.

Two figures swiftly flew over and shouted in unison:

“Stop!”

—They were two teachers maintaining order.

Jiang Xueyao then stood still and said softly:

“Teachers, we’re just warming up before the competition. Why are you stopping me?”

The two teachers looked back.

Li Tao was scorched all over, lying on the ground, unconscious.

Song Huaijin leaned on his sword, his arms covered in wounds, trembling uncontrollably.

—You call this warming up?

Song Huaijin looked at Jiang Xueyao, only to see her hand on the sword hilt, seemingly ready to strike again at any moment.

“Huaijin, how could you not even block one of my moves? And you expect to be my comrade?”

Jiang Xueyao’s face was filled with disappointment.

“I…” Song Huaijin gritted his teeth, unable to speak.

“By the way, I fought with Xu Yuan. We couldn’t determine a winner within at least thirty moves.”

“You’re so much worse than him, where do you get the confidence to say he’s weak?”

Jiang Xueyao asked in an innocent tone.

“This has nothing to do with me, Li Tao said it,” Song Huaijin retorted.

“You’re really good at picking friends, finding one even weaker than you—is it to make yourself look better?” Jiang Xueyao asked indifferently.

Song Huaijin was momentarily at a loss for words.

—Jiang Xueyao was clearly angry!

But in the face of her absolute strength, he couldn’t even argue.

He couldn’t even block one sword strike!

What else could he say?

That her sword was too strong?

As a cultivator, having a powerful sword or some formidable magic artifact is part of one’s strength.

This is generally acknowledged.

“Were you really warming up just now?” one teacher asked sternly.

Song Huaijin suddenly looked up, staring at Jiang Xueyao.

Jiang Xueyao had already said they were warming up.

Now they were asking him.

This situation could be either big or small. As long as it wasn’t deemed intentional, it would usually pass.

But if it were deemed intentional harm—

There would be many severe disciplinary actions, and some might even be expelled.

Once expelled, it would mean a severe rejection of one’s character.

No university would accept them.

There would be no chance to repeat a grade.

They would be relegated to being ordinary citizens for life.

Song Huaijin said solemnly, “Xueyao, go and call Yang Xiaobing back, and then we’ll need another classmate of similar strength.”

The two teachers, having seen such incidents many times, stood aside, waiting for the outcome.

Generally speaking.

After an incident, one party would make a proposal.

Just like Song Huaijin directly asked “to call Yang Xiaobing back and form a team with another strong classmate.”

As long as he agreed to this condition, he would declare it an “accident during warm-up.”

That way, everything would be fine.

The two teachers also didn’t want the matter to escalate.

After all, many university representatives were on campus today, and if anything went wrong, the school would lose face.

“Go ahead, I guarantee Li Tao will think clearly after he wakes up. Leave this to me.”

Song Huaijin said.

Jiang Xueyao finally nodded.

“That’s more like it,” Song Huaijin smiled.

“You’re mistaken,” Jiang Xueyao said. “I was just celebrating—Yang Xiaobing and Xu Yuan’s matter allowed me to see you clearly earlier.”

“Don’t come looking for me again.”

“Otherwise, I will cripple you, making you an ordinary person for the rest of your life, unable to cultivate again, Song Huaijin.”

After Jiang Xueyao finished speaking, she didn’t look at him again and turned to leave.

She walked towards the other end of the playground.

—That’s where the students without teams were.

They were waiting to be randomly grouped.

Looking at Jiang Xueyao’s retreating figure, and recalling the sensational battle in the teaching building just now, Song Huaijin suddenly realized something.

Was it that love letter?

It seems she really found out?

—But I did this to strengthen the team!

“Teachers, although Jiang Xueyao’s cultivation is excellent, her attack just now was intentional.”

Song Huaijin immediately said to the two teachers.

One teacher said gently, “Classmate Song, today’s monthly exam is exceptionally important, so surveillance arrays have been set up on the playground. Are you sure Jiang Xueyao didn’t mention ‘warming up’ just now and directly attacked you and Li Tao?”

Before he finished speaking.

Several students standing nearby jumped out:

“Teachers, we saw it, they were really warming up!”

“I even recorded a video here!”

One person held up their phone and played the video of Jiang Xueyao inviting them to warm up earlier.

The two teachers simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.

“It was indeed a warm-up.”

“That’s good.”

“Stretcher, send to the infirmary.”

“Record it down, two students are unable to participate in this monthly exam due to injuries.”

The two spoke to themselves, making notes in their book.

Li Tao was immediately carried onto a stretcher and taken away.

Song Huaijin’s eyes widened, looking at the two teachers, his mouth opening and closing, but he couldn’t speak.

It’s over.

This monthly exam was extremely important, but he had messed it up!

Not only that.

His relationship with Jiang Xueyao was also over.

He was helped onto a stretcher and quickly carried out of the playground.

On the other side.

In the middle of the playground.

Yang Xiaobing, Xu Yuan, and Zhao Afei had already formed a team and were discussing recruiting another classmate.

The sound of flames bursting erupted from the edge of the playground.

—Jiang Xueyao, with one sword strike, revoked Song Huaijin and Li Tao’s exam qualifications.

“That’s her business, there’s nothing to see.”

Yang Xiaobing knew what was going on and deliberately covered for Jiang Xueyao.

—In fact, she was also worried that Xu Yuan would act irrationally if he knew the truth.

The third year of high school was a crucial period; every step had to be taken carefully.

The love letter incident was already in the past.

“Quite a temper.”

Xu Yuan muttered.

“Not at all. She considered Song Huaijin a friend, but Song Huaijin deceived her about something, almost leading to serious consequences. She was angry, which is why she acted that way,” Yang Xiaobing stood up for her best friend.

“Alright, thinking about it that way, I actually feel she went easy on him,” Xu Yuan said.

Zhao Afei stood by, his eyes wide, his mouth tightly shut, saying nothing.

—Although he didn’t know what happened, this was clearly gossip about Class Beauty Jiang!

It was a moving story of deception and being deceived!

He had to listen carefully!

Not a single word should be missed.

“Now we still need to find another classmate,” Xu Yuan said.

“Yes, do you have any recommendations?” Yang Xiaobing asked.

“I think Jiang Xueyao could work,” Xu Yuan said.

The top female student in their grade.

If they could persuade her to join their team for the group battle, that would be ideal.

—This exam is very important to me!

Yang Xiaobing was stunned, then clapped her hands:

“You’re right, she doesn’t have a team now, I’ll go and tell her!”

She ran over quickly.

Soon she ran back, biting her lip, and said, “She won’t team up with us. She says she didn’t enjoy the previous fight and wants to fight you again during the exam.”

“Tell her that if she doesn’t team up with me, I will absolutely never fight her again—I’ll run every time I see her.”

Xu Yuan said firmly.