Chapter 443: What Are You Guys Running For? (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets)

PS: Do not obsess over why someone dared to launch a sneak attack on Xiaoyue; for Haotian Academy, as long as no major catastrophe occurs, they absolutely cannot intervene. If you cannot accept this, they will not even permit your entry; otherwise, the Academy Examination would degenerate into a grand clash of clan forces.

..

"A game?!" Zong Wu pointed at the screen, his eyes wide in astonishment. "This is clearly a mystic realm! And an immortal-legacy mystic realm at that. How could it be some game?!"

Just moments ago, he had distinctly witnessed the Immortal Realm, and an immortal had appeared before him with absolute, undeniable realism. How could it be false?!

He bore an expression that plainly said, "Do I look that easily fooled to you?"

"City Master Zong speaks truly!" Elder Yu, standing beside him, nodded in agreement. "Just now, this old man also went inside to look. This artifact can actually carry our primordial spirits into that mystic realm. Not only did I see an immortal just now, but also that arch-demon, whose demonic might was truly overwhelming and heaven-blocking!"

"In the past, we had only heard rumors of immortals, but to think that today we would actually have the fortune to behold a true immortal!" Zong Wu slapped his thigh and sighed deeply. "That towering immortal pressure was simply too terrifying!"

The surrounding crowd looked on in sheer horror. "Is it really that powerful?"

"If we go inside, could it be that we won't be able to escape?"

Owner Fang’s face twitched. "..."

He had no choice but to explain to them once more, in thorough and meticulous detail, what a virtual reality game actually was.

"What you mean to say is... this is an illusionary realm that exists between reality and the virtual?" After listening to Owner Fang’s explanation, Zong Wu shook his head, his face a mask of stubborn denial. "No, no, what kind of illusionary realm could possibly elude even my perception?!"

One must know that back when he was exploring the ruins of an immortal vestige, he had encountered an ancient illusion formation left behind inside. Although he had barely escaped with his life, he had seen through the fact that it was an illusion very early on!

And that, quite likely, had been an ancient immortal vestige!

What kind of illusionary realm is this of yours? Could it possibly be stronger than that one?!

Elder Yu said solemnly, "When you enter, you must exercise the utmost caution. Otherwise, a gentle stroke of that immortal’s sword, and your little lives will be forfeit!"

The others looked at one another, and then... they found themselves entirely in agreement.

Owner Fang’s face had already turned completely dark.

How on earth am I supposed to explain it to these people to make them realize this is actually just a game?!

In the end, Owner Fang had no choice but to take the field himself, playing through a segment to demonstrate it to them.

When he finished, he turned around to look at Zong Wu and Elder Yu, whose old faces instantly flushed crimson with sheer embarrassment.

This was truly just a game?!

Dazed, they stared at this square artifact, looking at it from the left and right as if trying to see some mystical flower bloom from it.

"It makes no sense! I have clearly seen those ancient, high-level illusion formations, and none were this realistic... and yet you say this is virtual?!"

"Hehehe... As expected of a senior expert, the attainment in this illusionary realm is actually so profound that even we failed to see through it!" Elder Yu offered a strained, awkward laugh to smooth over the situation, though his face looked as if he were constipated. "It seems that behind Owner’s establishment, there truly resides a grand master!"

The surrounding area fell into a dead silence.

The glances directed at the two had completely changed in flavor.

The pair: "..."

In their hearts, both instantly felt the urge to murder everyone present to silence them.

...

At this moment, the "Legend of Sword and Fairy Discussion Group" had clearly drifted completely off-topic.

A crowd of people waited in the group chat, while another crowd gathered around it:

Su Tianji: "How many spiritual treasures has Xiaoyue collected? (Husky Derp Face)"

Song Qingfeng: "Does Xiaoyue have the confidence to take first place? (Laughing out loud)"

Nalan Hongwu: "Little girl Xiaoyue, send another picture. I heard the owner is back!"

Ruan Ning: "Is your opponent powerful? Are they hard to fight?"

Li Haoran: "Is our Wuwei Daoist Alliance’s new type of bullet working well?"

"..."

Owner Fang glanced at the 999+ unread group messages: "(Cold Sweat) Why are there so many messages in the group again?"

Ruan Ning: "Trash owner!"

Lan Yan: "You don't even know how to show some concern for Xiaoyue! (Despise)"

"Oh my~ you all wait a moment!" Jiang Xiaoyue blinked her eyes and snapped a photograph. "Look, right now no one even dares to come near me! There isn't a single person around!"

"Xiaoyue is amazing!"

"Getting more and more impressive!"

"..."

Meanwhile, aboard the Dharma Vessel of Haotian Academy, the black-robed Daoist, Daoist Baoping, and the white-clothed cultivator were all gazing at the mist before them.

Revealed in the center of the mist was none other than Jiang Xiaoyue.

The black-robed Daoist sighed: "Sigh! This girl, apart from playing with her communication jade, does nothing but play with her communication jade. She is simply too unruly!"

Daoist Baoping remarked: "What kind of luck does this girl possess?! How is it that after walking for so long, she hasn't encountered a single cultivator?!"

The white-clothed cultivator added: "If it were me, I would already be lying in ambush ahead. This girl has absolutely no sense of precaution; subduing her wouldn't even require two moves!"

Watching her left them utterly anxious. Someone come along! Would someone please just show up!

This girl was swaggering right down the middle of the path while playing with her communication jade; any random person showing up would be fine!

She simply shows no respect whatsoever for our Haotian Academy’s examination. Let someone come and give her a wake-up call!

As for the girl in blue walking beside her.

They completely ignored her—a nobody who had popped out of nowhere, what influence could she possibly have?

They continued to watch Jiang Xiaoyue.

An hour later...

"Why has no one come yet?!" The three had actually watched Jiang Xiaoyue play with her communication jade for a whole hour!

This spell was called 'Viewing Flowers in the Mist.' Although it could draw scenes from a vast distance directly before their eyes and even allow them to hear sounds, the surrounding mist was dense and hazy, meaning the clarity could only be considered average. People could be seen clearly enough, but one could forget about discerning characters the size of mosquitoes.

Three hours later...

"Ah! Someone!" Over there, the white-clothed cultivator cried out in surprise. "Someone is coming!"

"Where?!" The black-robed cultivator blanked for a moment. "Quick, shift the spell over to look!"

They saw five cultivators dressed in yellow robes.

"These five..." The white-clothed cultivator assumed a contemplative expression.

"Have you heard of them?" Daoist Baoping inquired.

"I have heard a bit," the white-clothed cultivator replied. "These five call themselves the Five Immortals of Yellow Dragon Cave. Their reputation is by no means small, and they are most adept at combined attack techniques. With these five together, it is estimated that even the likes of Wang Xie and Xun Yuan would find them a bit of a headache..."

It appeared that these five had also discovered someone ahead.

"Boss, there's someone!"

"Only two!"

The leading yellow-robed cultivator’s eyes lit up. "Only two? It seems the heavens intend for this Daoist to strike it rich!"

"They don't seem to have noticed us, boss!"

"How could they be so careless?" the leading cultivator in yellow laughed heartily. "Such sheer arrogance. It is only right that we teach her a lesson."

The three onlookers from the Haotian Academy thought: "Well said! Someone ought to give that girl a lesson, let her know the academy's entrance exam is no laughing matter."

After waiting for so long, someone had finally arrived!

Just as the trio focused their entire attention on the next move of these newcomers.

The five yellow-robed cultivators were also concentrating all their efforts on laying an ambush.

"Boss, they are drawing close."

"Is everything in place?!" the leading cultivator in yellow inquired.

"All is prepared!"

"Excellent!" The leading cultivator's face lit up with joy as he raised his hand. By now, as the figures approached, they grew increasingly distinct, until at last, they were completely visible.

"Boss, we..."

Suddenly, the yellow-robed cultivator waved his hand: "Run!"

In an instant, they vanished without a trace.

The three individuals aboard the sky-patrolling vessel exchanged glances, each seeing the utterly blank look on the others' faces.

"!!??"

"What are you running for?! Come back!"

.