At the same time.

Zhou Family mansion.

On the huge TV screen in the living room, the highly anticipated National Examination was being broadcast live.

Liu Yuru had specially changed into a luxurious cheongsam today, sitting on the main sofa with a radiant face.

Zhou Feng sat beside her, his expression complex.

The living room was filled with the Zhou Family's servants, each holding their breath, not daring to make a sound.

"See clearly!"

Liu Yuru picked up a cup of black tea, gently skimming off the foam with the lid, her voice full of unconcealed pride.

"Today, my son, Lu Qi, is representing our entire Dongning Province in the National Examination!"

She glanced sideways at Zhou Feng beside her.

"How many years has it been since your Zhou Family produced such a Genius who brings glory to his ancestors?"

"Speaking of which, this time your Zhou Family is basking in my son's glory."

Zhou Feng's cheek muscles twitched, his face alternating between green and pale, before finally squeezing out a single word through gritted teeth.

"Yes."

Liu Yuru withdrew her gaze, satisfied, and looked at the cowering servants, raising her voice.

"Listen up, all of you!"

"If you see Young Master Lu Qi's shot later, applaud vigorously!"

"Whoever's applause is the loudest will be handsomely rewarded!"

However, as the broadcast continued, the smile on Liu Yuru's face gradually froze.

On the TV, the Mage in the star moon magic robe was wreaking havoc, leading the Dongning Province team to push through, successively wiping out several provincial teams.

But no matter how she looked, she couldn't find any trace of her son.

Liu Yuru's brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

"This is the Dongning Province team, right?"

"Why are there only four people?"

"Where's my son?!"

Zhou Feng spoke cautiously from the side.

"Perhaps... Qi'er has a special mission and is acting alone."

"Acting alone?"

Liu Yuru, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly bristled, slapping the coffee table with a bang, sending tea splashing.

"Why should he act alone?!"

"My son is so outstanding, he should be the captain of this team!"

"Now, it's all good, but the spotlight is completely stolen by some unknown wild kid! My son doesn't even get a single shot!"

...

Triple Island, deep in the jungle.

A figure was slowly carving something on a gigantic ancient tree.

He wore a bizarre mask on his face.

His sharp nails flitted like butterflies dancing among flowers, leaving intricate and mysterious runes on the rough bark.

Around him, several massive Strange Beast roamed aimlessly, yet they ignored him as if he didn't exist at all.

While carving, he hummed an unknown tune, his demeanor elegant and unhurried.

The next second.

A clear, cold female voice suddenly sounded from within the mask.

"Zuo Daolin, you need to hurry up."

"It seems there's a formidable person in this year's National Examination team."

"So far, ten teams have already been eliminated by him."

"If you keep dawdling like this, by the time you've set everything up, eighty percent of this year's examinees will probably have been cleared out by him alone."

The masked man, called Zuo Daolin, paused his movements, then let out a low laugh.

"Oh?"

"There's a formidable person this year?"

"That's truly... wonderful."

His carving speed suddenly increased, and his laughter grew even more sinister.

"Then I'll reluctantly speed up a bit."

"You know me, the rarer the Genius, the more excited I get."

"If I can bring him back, the boss will surely praise me handsomely."

The female voice came again, with a hint of warning.

"You'd best bring him back alive."

"Don't be like that good-for-nothing Chu He, who messed up and directly killed the person."

Zuo Daolin let out a 'giggle' of strange laughter, his voice sharp and grating.

"How can Chu He compare to me?"

"I am... very professional."

...

In the TV live broadcast room.

Host Wei Zheng's voice rose again, full of passion.

"Ladies and gentlemen! We've just received news! The second team to break through the outer encirclement has appeared!"

"It's the team from Demon Capital!"

"And, everyone, please look at the big screen! From their position on the map, the Demon Capital team is about to encounter our unrivaled Dongning Province team!"

Female host Lin Xi immediately took over, her face showing just the right amount of excitement.

"I heard that this year's Demon Capital team also has an S-rank unique hidden job holder!"

"I wonder how strong this Genius from Demon Capital really is? Can he contend with that handsome Mage from Dongning Province?"

Wei Zheng mused, "Although the specific job of the S-rank individual from Demon Capital is still unclear, judging from the previous performance of the Mage from Dongning Province, I'm afraid..."

He shook his head.

"I'm afraid this S-rank individual will also find it difficult to be his opponent."

"The strength he has demonstrated is completely overwhelming."

"In my personal analysis, perhaps only those two S-rank individuals from the Imperial Capital, working together, would have a chance to fight him!"

As he spoke, the live broadcast screen had already switched to inside the island.

In the jungle, the two teams faced each other from a distance, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, looked at the Demon Capital team members opposite him and, without a word, raised his staff as usual.

Initiating combat first was his consistent style.

However, just as he was about to chant.

From the Demon Capital team, a person suddenly walked out.

"Wait! Wait!"

The person waved his hands repeatedly, a friendly smile on his face.

"Don't be so quick to act, I have something to say."

Zhou Huai was startled and stopped his actions.

He scrutinized the other party.

It was a rather honest-looking chubby young man, with a round, smiling face that seemed harmless.

What was impressive was that he was actually wearing a brown Crosstalk gown and fanning himself with a paper folding fan.

This style was completely out of place with the tense and deadly environment.

He didn't look like he was here for the National Examination, but rather to perform Crosstalk.

Zhou Huai controlled Gandalf, his voice deep.

"What do you have to say?"

The chubby young man happily took two steps forward and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Esteemed Mage, can't we be a bit more peaceful?"

"Our Demon Capital isn't very interested in the top spot this year; we just want to get a decent ranking, nothing too embarrassing."

"So we don't want to have any conflict with you all."

"If we really start fighting, it's very likely both sides will suffer, allowing other teams to benefit, isn't it?"

He pointed to his side.

"Besides, we have one more person than you."

"How about we part ways here, each go our own ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) way, and each accumulate our own points?"

Zhou Huai raised an eyebrow.

The Demon Capital team?

He heard they had an S-rank hidden job holder on their team; could it be this clown in front of him?

He didn't look like a combat job at all.

Regardless of whether he was or not.

Even an S-rank would be instantly killed.

"Since we've met, why would we let you go?"

Gandalf's voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.

"So what if you're from Demon Capital?"

"All of you, stay!"

As his voice fell, he raised his staff again.

Forbidden Spell: Gravitational Field!

Terrifying gravity instantly descended!

The next second, the faces of the five people from Demon Capital changed drastically, feeling as if a mountain had been pressed upon them, their legs went weak, and they were all pressed down, unable to move.

The smile on the chubby young man's face, who was leading them, vanished instantly, replaced by utter horror.

"Holy crap! You said we wouldn't fight, you're not playing fair!"

Zhou Huai sneered inwardly.

Who said we wouldn't fight?

He ignored the other party's curses, the crystal at the tip of his staff glowing brightly, preparing to cast Meteor Fire Rain to finish them off in one go.

However, just then.

The chubby young man, who was almost out of breath from the pressure, laboriously raised one hand, pointed at Gandalf, and shouted with all his might:

"Crosstalk emphasizes four core skills!"

Gandalf, who was chanting, suddenly froze.

He opened his mouth, and an uncontrollable voice spoke from within him.

"Speaking, mimicking, teasing, singing."

This sudden scene left everyone stunned.

Ye Xi and the other two exchanged bewildered glances.

Just as everyone felt confused.

The chubby young man grinned, revealing a triumphant smile, and shouted again:

"Today, I'll perform 'Reporting the Names of Dishes' for everyone!"

Gandalf's body trembled slightly.

He found that he completely couldn't control his mouth.

He pondered for two seconds, then slowly began to speak in a flat, emotionless tone.

"I invite you to eat, steamed lamb, steamed bear paw, steamed deer tail, roasted duck, roasted young chicken, roasted gosling..."