Zhou Huai felt a surge of irritation.

He had indeed thought that just now—wouldn't the problem be solved by blasting all the students out of the dungeon with one set of skills?

But Zuo Daolin's words made him hesitate.

Turn them into idiots?

He couldn't take that gamble.

Gandalf was just a Clone; he could be revived if he died.

But these people in front of him were living, breathing individuals, the future cornerstones of the Great Xia Country.

Zuo Daolin seemed to enjoy Zhou Huai's silence.

His laughter from beneath his mask carried a morbid satisfaction.

"How about it?"

"Have you thought it through?"

"Trading one of you for so many young Geniuses, I think this is a very worthwhile deal."

He spread his arms, his tone fervent.

"As long as you join us, you will understand how great the Lord is!"

"Everything we do is to usher in a new era!"

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, was silent for two seconds.

He raised his head, meeting Zuo Daolin's gaze.

"I'm not willing to just go with you like this."

"How about we fight a match?"

"If you can defeat me, I will willingly leave with you."

Upon hearing this, Zuo Daolin let out a series of strange, 'hehehe' laughs.

"I actually dislike fighting very much."

"However, to have a Genius like you join us wholeheartedly."

"I am very willing to fight you with the greatest sincerity."

Zhou Huai immediately said, "You're not allowed to control those examinees to fight me; that would be meaningless."

Zuo Daolin waved his hand, his tone relaxed.

"Don't worry, I don't need them to deal with you."

"I wouldn't stoop to that."

Zhou Huai stopped wasting words.

"Then come with me!"

As his voice fell, he controlled Gandalf to turn and run towards the depths of the jungle.

He had to find a sufficiently open area to avoid harming innocents.

Zuo Daolin watched his retreating back, chuckled, and followed unhurriedly.

Zhou Huai proposing a one-on-one fight was naturally not because he truly wanted to determine who was superior.

He was merely stalling for time.

With such a major incident occurring during the National Examination, it was impossible for the authorities not to have noticed.

Reinforcements could arrive at any moment.

What he needed to do now was to buy enough time for the official rescue.

As for Zuo Daolin's words, he didn't believe a single one.

Would a lunatic like this keep his word?

It was an absolute joke.

Soon, the two, one after another, arrived at a wide, circular valley.

It was filled with strange, jagged rocks and no vegetation.

Zhou Huai suddenly stopped, abruptly turning around.

He raised his staff high, without the slightest hesitation.

"Forbidden Spell: Gravitational Field!"

Boom—!

An invisible, terrifying force instantly enveloped the entire valley.

The air seemed to solidify, and the ground subtly sank.

Zuo Daolin, who was following behind, suddenly paused.

The ground beneath his feet instantly cracked and sank.

But he didn't become immobile, crushed like the other examinees.

His legs sank deep into the rock, each step leaving a deep imprint.

He continued to walk towards Gandalf, step by step.

Although his speed was much slower, the sense of oppression remained undiminished.

Zhou Huai's eyes narrowed.

This guy was indeed ridiculously strong.

He dared not let the opponent get close, and his staff was raised again.

"Forbidden Spell: Thousand-Mile Ice Seal!"

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Bone-chilling cold spread wildly in all directions, with Gandalf at its center.

The ground instantly solidified into a thick layer of ice, and the moisture in the air turned into ice crystals.

Zuo Daolin, who was struggling forward, quickly became covered in a layer of white frost.

In the blink of an eye, he was completely frozen, turning into a lifelike ice sculpture.

Zhou Huai dared not be careless in the slightest.

He knew that this level of attack could not truly trap the opponent.

He had to prepare his next killing move before the opponent broke free.

He raised his staff again, and a eerie green light began to gather in the sky.

Forbidden Spell - Meteor Shower!

However, the incantation had only just begun.

"Bang!"

The massive ice sculpture suddenly exploded.

Amidst the flying ice shards, Zuo Daolin's figure rushed out like a ghost.

His speed was several times faster than before!

Zhou Huai's pupils suddenly contracted.

He made a decisive decision and immediately interrupted the incantation he was chanting.

"Arcane Barrier!"

A crystal-clear shield instantly enveloped his entire body.

Almost at the same moment the shield formed.

Zuo Daolin's figure had already appeared before him.

He extended one hand, fingers splayed.

A ball of energy, condensed from countless distorted and wailing black Souls, slammed heavily onto Gandalf's shield.

Bang—!

-63882!

A terrifyingly high damage number appeared above Gandalf's head.

Zhou Huai felt an irresistible force strike him, and his entire body was sent flying uncontrollably, as if hit by a speeding truck.

"Boom!"

His body crashed heavily against a rock wall dozens of meters away before finally stopping.

Broken rocks scattered.

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, struggled to his feet from the ground.

The next second, he felt a dizzying sensation, with golden stars dancing before his eyes.

An intense pain and dizziness, originating from the depths of his Soul, made him stagger, unable to even stand steadily.

Zuo Daolin stood still, not pursuing.

He tilted his head, enjoying Zhou Huai's disheveled appearance.

"Your Rank is still too low."

"Even if I'm not using my true body right now, you are ultimately no match for me."

"Although your shield can block my skill damage."

"But my attacks can directly affect the Soul."

He chuckled, his voice laced with a morbid pleasure.

"I deliberately held back just now."

"Otherwise, you would have already passed out."

Zhou Huai shook his dizzy head, trying to clear his mind.

Soul attack, huh?

He took a deep breath, his eyes once again becoming sharp.

If that's the case...

Then let the Smart Core AI, which has no Soul, compete with you!

Zhou Huai no longer forced himself.

His consciousness swiftly withdrew from Gandalf's body.

The next second.

Gandalf, who had been swaying, suddenly stiffened.

He slowly straightened his body, his staggering posture disappearing.

His eyes, which had been somewhat unfocused due to the intense pain, instantly became clear, cold, and devoid of any emotion.

He raised his head and looked at Zuo Daolin.

A voice, completely different from before, with a metallic quality, emanated from his mouth.

"Despicable villain."

"I shall, on behalf of my Lord, punish your wickedness!"

The smile on Zuo Daolin's face froze slightly.

He looked at Gandalf in front of him with some surprise.

This guy... after suffering a Soul attack, he recovered so quickly?

No, that's not right.

His demeanor, his eyes, they had changed.

Zuo Daolin was stunned for a moment, then, the eyes beneath his mask erupted with an unprecedented fanatic glow.

He burst into maniacal laughter.

"Hahahahaha!"

"Interesting! This is too interesting!"

"You truly are... making me like you more and more!"