Yan Ruxue dared not move, fear before her, yet still madly jealous of Yan Jiaojiao's ill fate, that she did not die, but obtained a purple-grade divine sword!
"Do you admit to this, or not?" Yan Jiaojiao asked coldly.
Yan Ruxue gritted her teeth, "It has nothing to do with me!"
The sword tip suddenly pierced her skin, blood trickling down. Yan Ruxue did not expect Yan Jiaojiao to be serious in front of everyone, and immediately trembled like a sieve, no longer the demeanor of a noble lady, only stopping short of soiling herself.
"Bingbing, Chen Bingbing, quickly save me!" Yan Ruxue cried out in terror, tears and snot gushing out, her once beautiful face twisted grotesquely.
Seeing this, Chen Bingbing dared not move.
No one among the crowd stepped forward to stop her.
After all, compared to the flustered and suspicious Yan Ruxue at this moment, Yan Jiaojiao, who had single-handedly stepped forward to save them, was more credible.
"Did you open the gate to the demon realm!"
Yan Jiaojiao asked sternly again, Ziyan piercing a little deeper, touching Yan Ruxue's skull.
"Ah!"
Yan Ruxue let out a heart-wrenching scream, trying to dodge backward, but the sword followed like a shadow, always remaining in place, inescapable, the scene extremely eerie.
"This time, the first place in Gunan Academy, Xu Changzong, Wood Faction is full."
Amidst Yan Ruxue's cries of pain, the academy's announcement sounded again, reminding everyone that the assessment was still ongoing.
Wen Jinshu could not bear it. Seeing that Yan Ruxue still refused to admit it, she spoke, "Yan Jiaojiao, I don't think Yan Ruxue knows about this. If you have no solid evidence, why not wait until the assessment is over?"
Yan Jiaojiao did not move, nor did the sword. Yan Ruxue still gritted her teeth and wailed.
Wen Jinshu had no choice but to remind her, "Harming a student without reason means you cannot participate in the assessment."
With so many people watching, even if Yan Jiaojiao had saved everyone's lives, if she truly killed Yan Ruxue now, she would not be able to explain herself at Gunan Academy.
She only regretted not having evidence!
Yan Jiaojiao waved her hand and retracted Ziyan into its sheath, sneering at Yan Ruxue, "You are lucky this time, but I will find evidence of your collusion with the demon realm sooner or later."
As soon as Ziyan was withdrawn from Yan Ruxue's brow, she collapsed to the ground as if her bones had been removed. Blood flowed from her forehead in a line, as if splitting her face in two, making her look particularly terrifying with her expression of shock and fear.
Yan Jiaojiao ignored her and turned to Pu Zhi, extending her hand to help him up, "Let's go together."
Pu Zhi glanced at the fair fingers, then looked away uncomfortably, "I can do it myself."
However, Pu Zhi's pretense of strength lasted only three seconds before he fell back to the ground, unable to even stand.
Yan Jiaojiao frowned, squatted down, and, disregarding Pu Zhi's refusal, examined him briefly. She discovered that Pu Zhi had multiple internal injuries and several broken bones. Coupled with the rebound force from barely withstanding the shield's rupture, he was indeed incapacitated.
"I know my own condition," Pu Zhi shook his head and then comforted Yan Jiaojiao with his usual smile, "Don't worry, I won't die. It's just that I can't be selected for Gunan Academy this time. Next time I take the exam, I'll have to call you Senior Sister."
Yan Jiaojiao fell silent. She couldn't help but glance back at Yan Ruxue, who had just been helped up by Chen Bingbing and almost fell again, her legs going soft.
Pu Zhi took out his protective amulet and said to Yan Jiaojiao, "The first place has already been decided. Someone must be nearing the finish line soon. Hurry up, don't end up taking the exam with me again next time."
"Take care," Yan Jiaojiao said in a muffled voice.
Pu Zhi simply looked at her deeply and returned a smile.
Some things were beyond help. If it were the former Yan Jiaojiao, Pu Zhi's injuries would have been nothing. But now Yan Jiaojiao couldn't restore Pu Zhi immediately. She could only regretfully watch him tear up the amulet and disappear from the spot.
Following Pu Zhi's resignation, the dozens of students who were also injured and in unbearable pain sighed and tore up their amulets. In the blink of an eye, only three or four remained.
Yan Jiaojiao said no more, drew her sword, and rose to leave. When she passed Yan Ruxue, Yan Ruxue instinctively hid behind Chen Bingbing.
Xiao Su and Wen Jinshu also set off again, but they no longer paid attention to Yan Ruxue and Chen Bingbing, leaving without looking back.
Chen Bingbing was somewhat impatient. Yan Ruxue's disheveled state earlier had made her feel a bit contemptuous. She pushed Yan Ruxue, who was hiding behind her, and asked, "They've all left. Can you still continue the assessment in this state? If not, I'll be leaving first."
The finish line was very close now. Chen Bingbing had no intention of caring about the demon realm or Yan Ruxue's emotions, only wanting to seize the time to strive for the top ten.
Yan Ruxue wiped the blood from her face, smearing half of it. Her expression was no longer one of fear, and she glared fiercely at Chen Bingbing, "Say that again?"
Chen Bingbing was startled. Yan Ruxue had always appeared gentle, and she had never expected her to have such a ferocious side.
As if recalling the humiliation she had just endured, Yan Ruxue's expression became even more twisted. She turned away resentfully and walked forward.
Chen Bingbing dared not breathe and quickly followed.
Several more announcements echoed from the forest, announcing new arrivals.
With her cultivation improved and Ziyan in hand, Yan Jiaojiao followed the previously set markers. The minor obstacles along the way were insignificant. Finally, an hour later, she reached the end of the assessment.
On the high platform, six golden plaques remained. The Wood Faction was already full. The Fire and Water Factions, however, still had two plaques each hanging intact.
Yan Jiaojiao leaped up and, without hesitation, took a Water Faction plaque.
An announcement immediately rang out—"This time, Gunan Academy's fifth place, Yan Jiaojiao, Water Faction is full."
At this moment, Xiao Su and Wen Jinshu also appeared below the high platform.
Yan Jiaojiao did not even look at them. She took her nameplate and walked towards the magic array ahead, which led directly back to Gunan Academy.
As the magic array activated, Yan Jiaojiao, before leaving, still heard the broadcast. Xiao Su had chosen the Fire Faction, and Wen Jinshu had chosen the Gold Faction.
When Yan Jiaojiao reappeared at Gunan Academy, Xu Changzong and the other top four were already waiting there. The five sect leaders were seated on the high platform.
Yan Jiaojiao narrowed her apricot eyes, her feet lightly touching the ground as she leaped onto the platform where the sect leaders were.
Luo Guiyuan, the Gold Faction sect leader, frowned first, saying, "Insolent! You can come up here as you please? Hurry down!"
Yan Jiaojiao, however, let out a cold laugh, "I am here to demand justice from you."
Luo Guiyuan became even more displeased, "What justice do you want?"
Yan Jiaojiao stepped closer, her gaze intense, "Do you truly not know that demons appeared on the assessment grounds?"