Chapter 117: All That Intelligence Spent on Legs

The office fell into a sudden, heavy silence.

Everyone stared at Zhao Lingyin, who was currently radiating an intense sense of adolescent "chunibyo" energy, and were left speechless. They were in the middle of discussing serious business—why on earth was this girl having a meltdown?

"Better to beat up a teammate..."

Who in their right mind would just randomly beat up a teammate?

Zhang Changlin’s gaze was somewhat resentful. He couldn't help but feel like the girl was calling him out by name, practically pointing at his nose to say, "You, Zhang Changlin, have been beaten by a teammate..."

Zhao Lingyin, brimming with high spirits, stared at Du Fang with excitement. "Are you going to accept my challenge?"

As the top-ranking provincial scholar from the capital and a disciple of the President of the Dream Weaver Association, Zhao Lingyin possessed immense self-confidence. Everyone called her the most monstrously talented rookie Dream Weaver. Yet, her teacher had personally praised Du Fang, and had even sent her all the way to Jiangling City... Wasn't it obvious? The teacher clearly intended for her to challenge Du Fang. For that reason, Zhao Lingyin felt she ought to satisfy her teacher's gossipy inclinations. She had to challenge him the moment they met!

"Lingyin, don't be ridiculous," Jingxiang interjected. "We are discussing serious matters right now. Save the sparring and challenges for another day." She was trying to help Du Fang out of an awkward situation.

Du Fang was a bit bewildered himself. Challenging him? Was this young girl always so hot-headed? Had he ever offended her?

"I refuse," Du Fang said, shaking his head at Zhao Lingyin.

Zhao Lingyin’s expression stiffened. How could he refuse? "We are both provincial champions; can't you just treat this as a prelude to the national competition?" she asked.

Du Fang shook his head. "I generally don't hit my teammates."

Zhang Changlin: "..."

Zhao Lingyin crossed her arms over her chest. "Then what will it take for you to accept my challenge? How about this: I’ll put up the money. I won't bully you, and I won't let you accept my challenge for nothing. If you beat me once, I’ll give you one hundred thousand yuan! And if you lose, you don't have to pay a thing. How about that?" She stared at Du Fang intensely.

In the office, everyone was speechless. Look at that—what kind of talk was that? Du Fang was the provincial champion of Jiangnan, an existence capable of slaying City-Destroying level threats. Putting money aside, was he really the type to be short on cash? Zhao Lingyin using money as a bargaining chip was, frankly, a bit insulting. How could Du Fang possibly accept such a challenge?

Li Ang also felt Zhao Lingyin had gone too far. The girl was powerful, certainly, but it seemed she had traded her IQ for those long legs. He was just about to offer a word of warning to Zhao Lingyin when Du Fang’s eyes suddenly lit up—unnaturally, incredibly bright.

He looked at Zhao Lingyin, and to him, the long-legged girl seemed to be radiating a golden glow. That was... the light of the God of Wealth!

"I accept your challenge!" Du Fang agreed without a moment's hesitation, as if afraid she might change her mind.

Zhang Changlin, cigarette dangling from his mouth, rubbed his forehead. He knew it. With Little Du’s obsession with earning money, how could he possibly pass up such a golden opportunity?

On the other side, Li Ang and his wife stiffened, exchanging a glance filled with worry. It was over. Du Fang was angry. Zhao Lingyin’s insulting method of challenge had thoroughly provoked him. Their new, temporary team had just been formed, and now they were likely to face irreconcilable internal strife.

In reality, even Zhao Lingyin was stunned for a long moment. He... he agreed? Truth be told, the moment the words left her lips, she felt a pang of regret. She felt that using money to insult such an outstanding rookie Dream Weaver was beneath her; she should have at least offered a Forbidden Artifact. But for Du Fang to actually agree? It was truly... beyond her expectations.

***

The sun was bright and beautiful. Lin Liuli walked out of a café wearing a beige trench coat, holding a hot latte. Her high heels, revealing her fair insteps, clicked crisply against the pavement, her slightly curled hair dancing in the air. She wore sunglasses and took a sip of coffee before walking slowly toward her red sports car.

She opened the door, slid into the driver's seat, and let out a comfortable breath. Suddenly, Lin Liuli’s back went rigid. Her eyes, hidden behind the sunglasses, flicked to the rearview mirror. She discovered that, at some point, a burly figure had appeared behind her.

Lin Liuli’s pupils constricted!

Bull! One of the twelve Zodiac Guardians. As Suzaku, she naturally recognized the face beneath the Bull mask.

*Is he looking for me? Why? Why hasn't Bull left Jiangling City? What is his purpose for lingering here?*

Lin Liuli never expected that Bull, who was being hunted and wanted, would remain in Jiangling. Clearly, someone had given him the confidence to stay.

*Is Bull’s target... me?*

Lin Liuli leaned back into her seat, her brow furrowing tightly. After a long while, she slammed on the gas. The sports car transformed into a streak of red light, tearing down the road toward the Dream Weaver Building.

Bull stepped out slowly, watching the receding tail of the sports car, his brow furrowing. "I've been exposed... As expected of Suzaku," he muttered. He pressed his earpiece, attempting to contact Blood Rabbit, but there was still no response.

"Blood Rabbit is dead. She died in the park near the target’s residential complex." The Priest’s cold, indifferent voice echoed in his ear.

Bull’s entire body shuddered. Dead? Just like that? Blood Rabbit was one of the twelve Zodiac Guardians, and she harbored the will of a Fallen God within her. How could she die silently without a sound?

"The target is far more troublesome than we imagined... Because of him, the God Core Organization has lost too many members. Monkey, Plague Rat, Blood Rabbit, Azure Dragon... This target cannot be let off." The Priest’s tone grew increasingly severe. "Continue tracking Suzaku. Pinpoint her location. Once other organization members arrive, I will personally take action to capture this traitor, Suzaku."

"Understood," Bull replied in a low voice. He looked toward the direction where Lin Liuli had vanished, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. *Blood Rabbit is dead... Azure Dragon, Monkey, and Plague Rat are all dead.*

Bull muttered to himself. Though he was large and imposing, he wasn't a fool. Too many members had died since entering Jiangling this time. Bull’s heart was already beginning to retreat; he was hesitating whether to continue. Blood Rabbit’s death was like the final straw, causing the fear in his heart to expand infinitely.

"Perhaps... I should learn from Suzaku and flee Jiangling," Bull whispered.

He reached up, took off his earpiece, and stared at it for a moment before his thick palm clenched shut. With a sharp crack, the earpiece was crushed to powder!

Bull began to retreat. He did not pursue the direction where Suzaku had vanished, but instead, without a moment's hesitation, turned and fled toward the outskirts of Jiangling City. He would imitate Suzaku and defect from the God Core Organization. Because Bull did not want to die.

***

Outside Jiangling City, the Seventh Priest of the God Core Organization wore a white jade mask that completely obscured his face, leaving only his dark, profound eyes visible. He wore a white robe to match the mask, his entire appearance pale. After finishing his assimilation with Bull, he walked through the dense forest outside the city. His perception spread like the tide; vaguely, he felt some object of great terror constantly battering his dream-spirit senses.

"This Jiangling City... it doesn't seem right," the Seventh Priest muttered, his feet crunching on dead leaves. Looking at the forest, he felt an indistinct, devouring darkness that made his skin crawl. Even with his strength, he felt a sliver of dread.

"This feeling... it’s as if some great, terrifying existence is about to be born." The Seventh Priest narrowed his eyes. "A Fallen God that slaughtered Azure Dragon has appeared, capable of suppressing minor god cores. Monkey, Plague Rat, and Blood Rabbit all died in Jiangling... And now, I feel this sense of heart-palpitation."

"This cannot be a coincidence. Jiangling City might be hiding a massive secret!" the Seventh Priest whispered to himself.

The next moment, he took a step. His white robes fluttered without wind, and his figure levitated into the air. He opened his arms slightly, and his dream-spirit surged outward like a river, enveloping the perimeter of Jiangling City!

As a Fallen Kingdom-level powerhouse, the Seventh Priest’s strength was unfathomable. His dream-spirit was vast, and scanning Jiangling City was not a difficult task.

Suddenly! The Seventh Priest, suspended in mid-air, snapped his eyes open. Within his dream-spirit perception, he sensed a thick, black fog—boundless and endless, as if it were encroaching from another dimension!

*Boom!*

The Seventh Priest, wearing his white jade mask, slammed into the ground, retreating several steps. He gasped for air. "What a bizarre dream disaster; it’s as if it’s hiding in another dimension! And this black fog dream disaster seems to be moving silently, intent on shrouding all of Jiangling..."

As if struck by a thought, the Seventh Priest stood frozen, looking up at the sky. A look of infinite madness and excitement emerged in his eyes!

***

Jiangling City, Dream Weaver Building. Wildfire Team Base, Training Room.

Du Fang led Zhao Lingyin to the training room with immense enthusiasm, even opening the door for her himself. His eagerness made him look like a waiter at a high-end restaurant. Zhang Changlin, Li Ang, and his wife followed behind, and after hearing the news, Chen Xi, Su Jiuming, and Si Nan also crowded into the training room.

"This girl wants to challenge Little Du-Du?" Su Jiuming, wearing a face mask, nudged Old Zhang with her shoulder. "She’s so determined to court disaster, why didn't you stop her?"

Zhang Changlin glanced at Su Jiuming. "I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen. Du Fang didn't even plan to accept her challenge, but she said if he won a single round, she’d give him one hundred thousand yuan..." Zhang Changlin muttered, his cigarette dangling.

Upon hearing this, Su Jiuming understood immediately. She rolled her eyes. "Then don't blame yourself. One hundred thousand yuan a round—if you tried to block him, Little Du-Du would fight you to the death. Cutting off a man’s path to wealth is like killing his parents."

To the side, Li Ang and his wife had faces as dark as ink. With their strength, they had heard every word of the conversation between Su Jiuming and Zhang Changlin. It was clear that these two didn't hold Zhao Lingyin in any regard at all. In their eyes, Zhao Lingyin was destined to lose. Even the gentle and quiet Jingxiang couldn't help but speak up.

"Lingyin’s strength is immense; even against a mid-stage City-Crossing level opponent, she wouldn't necessarily be afraid," Jingxiang said. "Possessing infinite dream-spirit, combined with her as-yet-undeveloped semi-domain special ability... she is hailed as the rookie who will inherit the mantle of the President in the future."

Su Jiuming just said "Oh" and fell silent. Jingxiang felt a sudden sense of frustration. Li Ang smiled and put an arm around his wife. "No need to explain. We'll soon see which of these two children is stronger. Besides, they haven't seen Lingyin’s true strength; it’s understandable that they think Du Fang is stronger."

Zhang Changlin puffed on his cigarette. "Heh."

Tang Nai leaned on his cane, his face glowing with a ruddy luster.

The group stood outside the ring in the training room. Inside, Du Fang smiled brightly at Zhao Lingyin. "God of Wealth Zhao—oh, wait, Miss Zhao—we have a deal. One win, one hundred thousand yuan. No cheating, no backing out!" Du Fang’s smile was as warm and bright as the sun.

Zhao Lingyin stood tall, her long legs exuding a sense of pressure. "I, Zhao Lingyin, have always kept my word. So, you like this kind of arrangement? That’s perfect; now I can beat you up without the slightest psychological burden!"

She grew serious. "My teacher possesses the Heavy Pupils that can see through falsehoods and pierce the fabric of space. He says you are very strong, so you must be very strong. Plus, you’ve killed a City-Destroying level expert. Among rookies of our age, you are the second one I've taken this seriously. Get ready—I won't hold back!"

Du Fang smiled brilliantly. "Money first, friendship second, sparring third... please."