Chapter 738 - 279: Assassination

Chapter 738: Chapter 279: Assassination

"The examination is paused... is it?"

In one corner of the exam hall, Xia Liang glanced at the expansive black barrier in the distance, then turned to the examiner in front of her: "Can you reveal what exactly happened?"

"Black Ash Dawn and Claw Mark members have infiltrated the exam hall."

The examiner blocking Xia Liang’s way was succinct: "The barrier ahead is their doing, so you examinees can’t get closer to that area. You need to leave the exam hall as soon as possible."

"So, what will happen to the exam? No scores? Or will there be a retake?"

Xia Liang put on a curious baby look: "Can I go take a look in the front?"

"The specific arrangements will be communicated by the Exam Institute."

The examiner gave her a sidelong glance: "But you can’t continue further. The candidates near the barrier have already been evacuated; it’s absolutely forbidden to enter there now."

"Oh."

Xia Liang nodded expressionlessly, turning away like a truly clueless candidate, but inside, her mind was in turmoil.

──Something must have gone wrong on the other side with the Kingdom, or with junior fellow there.

The fact that the large black barrier, visible from almost the entire exam hall, hadn’t been dealt with was enough to indicate a problem.

From the moment that barrier appeared hours ago, as it gradually expanded, causing panic among the candidates, to now, with examiners actively sealing off the exam hall, clearly, the situation was deteriorating.

She remembered what Emerald Sparrow had briefed her and the others before; if the Magical Affairs Institute and Research Institute were progressing smoothly with defense efforts, the enemy’s attack should have been quickly contained, not causing the exam to be paused like this.

After a brief word with Shan Dan and Juan Dan, Xia Liang found a secluded spot and tried to contact Emerald Sparrow and Lin Xiaolu. But to her increased anxiety, she couldn’t reach anyone.

Lin Xiaolu and Bai Jingxuan indicated out of service, and Emerald Sparrow simply didn’t answer.

This made Xia Liang all the more certain that something unexpected had happened.

And if her intuition was right, Lin Xiaolu might already be entangled in the incident involving that black barrier.

She couldn’t just leave like this; she had to find a way to get closer to that barrier.

But how exactly could she break through the examiners’ blockade?

Xia Liang was full of worries.

The concern was undoubtedly noticed by Shan Dan and Juan Dan when she returned to her team.

"Did something happen?"

The two sisters, now familiar with Xia Liang, could guess with high probability that her distress wasn’t because of the paused exam but for deeper, more complex reasons.

Xia Liang thought for a while, considering the two teammates trustworthy enough, and shared her suspicions with them.

"You want to get close to that barrier?"

"Trying to bypass the blocking examiners?"

Shan Dan and Juan Dan recapped Xia Liang’s needs using different words.

"Why not go find that chief examiner from the Research Institute..."

"Or we could directly use the biker gang flying method we used before?"

The two then offered completely different suggestions.

Undoubtedly, each suggestion alone didn’t seem very reliable. However, as advice, Xia Liang found them quite valuable.

"That’s right, you’re both right!"

She clapped her hands, saying very earnestly, "We’ll use both methods together!"

...

...

While outside was in constant upheaval, inside the Food Sacrifice Barrier set by Black Ash, Lin Xiaolu and her group were fighting with extreme difficulty.

"Bo Xue! Buff!"

"Got it!"

"Arrowroot, magic power!"

"Stop bossing me around!"

The four of them were battling a Half-metamorphosis Level Remnant Beast.

From saving Mint and Arrowroot, the enemies they encountered had been gradually leveling up.

Without a doubt, during this time, the Food Sacrifice within the barrier was progressing, with other Remnant Beasts and Beast Children devouring each other to gain stronger power.

But now, the Remnant Beasts they encountered were hardly below the Half-metamorphosis level anymore.

However, the current Lin Xiaolu was no longer the same as the Full Moon Festival or New Year’s Eve; even compared to a few days ago, she was a completely different person.

"Stay down for me!"

Finding an opportunity during the constraints and maneuvers, identifying a weak spot with the help of teammates, then piercing the Remnant Beast with the Magic Armor Spear infused with the turbidity-transformed white magic power. ℯℯ𝑙.

"Grrraaahhh—"

The Remnant Beast, driven by instinct, was full of frenzied attack intent until the last moment, but eventually crumbled into smoke.

Remarkably, even when the Remnant Beast was defeated, no resonance was left behind.

This was the peculiarity of the Food Sacrifice.

The Remnant Beasts and Beast Children dying in the sacrifice, even if not devoured by others, would have their remaining magic power absorbed by the barrier, ultimately given as "reward" to the victors.

So neither the resonance of the Remnant Beasts nor the Heart’s Gem of the Magical Girls would be left behind but taken by the barrier.

──"Which means, it’s all orchestrated by that Ash Envoy called Feng."

In the midst of the battle, she learned more truths from Mint and others: "Turning the exam hall into a scene of Food Sacrifice, using Beast Children as offerings... and even so, this Food Sacrifice isn’t Feng’s real purpose?"

"Most likely so."

Mint affirmed: "My mentor once commented on Feng, saying he is ’the kind of cautious conspirator who never puts all eggs in one basket.’ Someone like him wouldn’t go to such lengths to invade the Kingdom just for a Food Sacrifice."