Yan Jiaojiao handed over their wooden tokens and pulled the people from Gē Nán Academy to the side.
Shèng Mòbái snorted coldly and said displeasedly, "These people are snobbish and opportunistic. Why were you talking to them so humbly? It was their fault in the first place. They were reluctant to open the gate before and were very arrogant towards us. Now that they see you've come out, they're acting as if they want to talk nicely with us. It's ridiculous."
Yan Jiaojiao glanced at the indignant Shèng Mòbái and smiled, "There's no need to get so angry. Don't forget why we came here."
"The most important thing is to get a ranking and save the academy. As for the rest," Yan Jiaojiao's gaze fell on the people in the distance who were avoiding her eyes with guilty looks. She curled her lips into a somewhat sinister smile, "We'll have opportunities to get revenge sooner or later. Why dwell on this now?"
"Besides, as you've seen, not everyone is genuinely on our side. Even if some are willing to help us, it's on the condition that it benefits them. Why should we make sacrifices for others for nothing? When we become strong ourselves, others will naturally not dare to bully us."
What she said made sense.
Jiāng Yīlíng strongly agreed with Yan Jiaojiao's words. He couldn't help but give her a thumbs-up. "I always thought you were reckless and impulsive. I didn't expect you to have such a rational side. Jiaojiao, you've truly grown up."
Yan Jiaojiao: "..."
"Senior Brother, you don't have to look at me with that 'my precious daughter has grown' expression... I just think it's unnecessary. And there's something I didn't mention earlier."
"What is it?"
"The formation at the entrance of this Wǎng Liǎng Secret Realm is a one-time use."
"What?"
Everyone was dumbfounded and showed looks of disbelief. "You're not joking, are you? Wasn't this formation set up by a powerful being long ago? How could it be one-time use?"
Yan Jiaojiao chuckled twice. "The Wǎng Liǎng Secret Realm appeared a long time ago, didn't it? When people saw that the formation was difficult to break, they would naturally save face by saying it was left by a powerful being. So it's normal that they couldn't break it."
"But after I broke it, I realized that wasn't the case. The formation disappeared after it was broken, and the array turned into spiritual energy. Look."
Yan Jiaojiao opened her palm, and everyone saw a spiritual energy ball in her palm, tinged with light blue within the green.
Everyone was shocked.
"Jiaojiao... What kind of monster are you?"
Wèi Cōnglíng didn't know how to describe Yan Jiaojiao.
Initially, Wèi Cōnglíng was Yan Jiaojiao's roommate. When they first entered the academy, Yan Jiaojiao was only at the Red rank, but now she was already at the Half-step Blue rank!
And this was only about a year after Yan Jiaojiao joined Gē Nán Academy!
If Yan Jiaojiao's advancement of so many levels in a year were to spread, others would probably be terrified to death.
In fact, the people present were already quite shaken.
It was said that the higher the rank, the more obvious the gap. It was hard for them to imagine how terrifying the distance between them and Yan Jiaojiao was now.
"Let's not talk about that for now. After I absorbed that spiritual energy, the formation began to loosen, and the entrance opened. Although the entrance successfully closed after I came out, if someone were to attack, the formation wouldn't last long. So, your test has come."
Everyone was still in a state of shock and could only follow Yan Jiaojiao's train of thought in a daze.
"What test?"
Yan Jiaojiao grinned. "It's a test of acting, of course. In fact, before I came out, I sprinkled some things on the entrance that are specifically used to attract magical beasts. At this time, a large number of magical beasts should be gathering here."
"Next, they will attack the entrance. I estimate that it will take half an hour for those magical beasts to break the formation at the entrance."
"This means we have to complete the settlement within half an hour, and you also have to put on an act, finding a reason for us to quickly leave this battlefield."
Everyone suddenly sobered up.
"This place is going to become a battlefield..."
Everyone stared blankly at Yan Jiaojiao with unprecedented admiration.
Initially, they thought it was a great relief that Yan Jiaojiao could come out safely, but they never expected her to bring them such a great surprise.
Before, they had repeatedly said that the monster tide was very dangerous and refused to help. Now, with the monster tide about to arrive, they would see if these people were willing to help each other.
"Senior Sister Jiaojiao, you're acting like the main villain in those storybooks."
"But we love it!!"
Yan Jiaojiao laughed heartily.
Shèng Mòbái stood aside and watched. His gaze met Jiāng Yīlíng's for a moment, then quickly withdrew, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
He thought that the current Yan Jiaojiao was almost unrecognizable, too mature, but he didn't expect that Yan Jiaojiao was still Yan Jiaojiao after all. Her nature would never change.
Her tricks to mess with people were still on point.
"In that case, let's hurry and urge them to settle our accounts so we can leave."
Shāo Sù had a noble status, so it would be easier for him to handle this matter. Shāo Sù didn't refuse, but he had a wry expression. "I'm not good at acting. What excuse will we use to leave immediately?"
Yan Jiaojiao narrowed her eyes and thought for a moment, then snapped her fingers. "We'll say there's an urgent matter at the academy and they've sent us a transmission. It's a matter of utmost urgency, and we must return immediately."
"They can't hear what's in the transmission talisman anyway, so as long as we act somewhat convincingly, it'll be fine. Especially you."
Yan Jiaojiao pointed at Xú Chángzōng.
"You're the worst at acting. Why don't you rehearse with us now?"
Xú Chángzōng: "..."
He wished he could withdraw from Gē Nán Academy right now.
No one had ever told him that joining Gē Nán Academy also involved acting!
Little Black lazily lay in Yan Jiaojiao's arms, watching them enthusiastically discuss acting. He couldn't help but let out a cute, milky yawn, and with amusement in his heart, he closed his eyes.
This damned woman. He had worried about her for a moment before, but unexpectedly, this damned woman was quite open-minded and was even playing with these people.
He emptied his mind, the familiar scent of Yan Jiaojiao lingering around his nose. Little Black was content. His moist nose twitched, and before he completely fell asleep, he spoke in the voice of Dōng Fāng Cāng Wú, "Have fun."