In a dim secret chamber.

“Whoosh—”

A man, naked from the waist up, suddenly sat up from # Nоvеlight # a bathtub filled with dark green liquid.

“Pfft!”

He spat out a large mouthful of black blood mixed with shredded flesh, and his aura instantly withered.

In the corner of the room, a woman in a professional skirt suit, with a cold demeanor, watched him expressionlessly.

“What’s going on?”

The man’s voice was hoarse; it was Zuo Daolin.

He let out a long breath, leaning against the edge of the bathtub, with lingering horror in his eyes.

“The mission failed.”

“I was tricked by a kid.”

Zuo Daolin licked his chapped lips.

“It’s my first time... encountering someone without a Soul.”

The woman pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses, her tone completely unperturbed.

“I don’t care what your reasons are.”

“Failure is failure.”

The woman stood up, adjusted her skirt, and walked towards the door.

“This mission was personally planned by Mr. Duan.”

“You can explain it to him later.”

She stopped at the door and added, without looking back, “Also, Zuo Daolin.”

“Change your old habit of being arrogant.”

“Bang.”

The door closed, leaving only Zuo Daolin in the room.

He sat silently in the bathtub, his fists clenched, knuckles white from the effort.

“Next time... I will definitely not let you off so easily...”

...

At the same time.

Triple Island.

“Buzz—!”

A massive silver teleportation gate slowly opened in mid-air.

Zhang Donglai took the lead, emanating a murderous aura, and charged out from within.

Behind him were dozens of high-ranking military officials and elite soldiers.

“Split up!”

“Search for any surviving students!”

Zhang Donglai immediately gave the order.

Everyone quickly dispersed and began searching the chaotic area.

Soon, someone reported a discovery.

“General! Here! Over here!”

Zhang Donglai’s figure flickered, and he immediately rushed over.

Dozens of examinees from various provinces were lying scattered on the ground.

Their faces were pale, their expressions pained, and they all seemed to have fallen into a coma.

An accompanying military doctor immediately stepped forward and checked them one by one.

“General, they are just suffering from excessive Mental Energy consumption and some physical weakness.”

“All vital signs are stable; there’s no serious harm.”

Zhang Donglai glanced around; Chen Feng and Liu Jie from the Imperial Capital, Guo De from the Demon Capital, and Zhao Chi from Chuan Du, all four S-rank examinees, were present.

The Dawnbreaker Guild... didn’t take anyone away?

His heart sank.

Could it be...

The opponent’s target was not these S-ranks from the beginning, but that student named Gandalf?

Thinking of this, Zhang Donglai’s mood became extremely heavy.

It was not easy for Great Xia Country to have another SS-rank appear!

And he was taken away by the Dawnbreaker Guild?

He was solely to blame!

Just as his heart was twisted with remorse.

Not far away, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows of the valley.

Zhang Donglai couldn’t help but be stunned.

The person wore a star moon magic robe, held a core of pyroblast, and walked with steady steps, his aura calm.

Who else could it be but Gandalf?

He wasn’t taken away either?

Zhang Donglai immediately became excited, appearing beside Gandalf almost instantly.

He looked him up and down, his voice filled with barely suppressed concern.

“Student! Are you alright?”

“Are you injured anywhere?”

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, quickly realized that the other party was military reinforcements.

He calmly shook his head.

Seeing Gandalf in good condition, Zhang Donglai breathed a sigh of relief.

Then he became even more confused.

That Zuo Daolin neither captured Gandalf nor took those S-rank students.

What exactly did he do?

Or rather, what exactly happened here before they arrived?

To solve the doubts in his mind, Zhang Donglai continued to ask.

“Student Gandalf, did you... not encounter an attack from a person wearing a ghost face mask?”

Gandalf nodded.

“I did.”

“I also know that he is from the Dawnbreaker Guild.”

“Then, I fought him.”

“What did you say?”

Zhang Donglai’s breathing hitched.

His face was filled with disbelief.

“You... you fought him?”

That was Zuo Daolin, infamous on the wanted list!

Although he possessed a student, his strength was greatly reduced.

But that’s not something a level 20 professional like you could contend with, is it?

Gandalf nodded.

“The opponent was very strong; I spent a lot of effort to deal with him.”

“You... you even dealt with him?”

Zhang Donglai was completely stunned after hearing this.

But looking at Gandalf’s current appearance, he didn’t seem to have suffered any loss?

Is this guy even stronger than he expected?

Zhang Donglai didn’t know that Gandalf himself had no Soul, and the Soul-Devouring Underworld Flame’s suppression of Souls was simply a natural counter to Zuo Daolin, the Soul Controller.

In addition, Zuo Daolin was intent on capturing Gandalf alive, so he was constrained and never used his full strength.

This gave Gandalf an opportunity.

Zhang Donglai quickly recovered and asked eagerly, “Then... where is that masked man now?”

Zhou Huai raised his hand and pointed to the depths of the valley.

“His mask was shattered by me.”

“He also fell into a coma.”

“I suggest you arrest him and investigate him thoroughly.”

Zhou Huai was naturally referring to the unconscious Lu Qi.

He, of course, knew that Lu Qi could not be Zuo Daolin himself; at best, he was a pathetic Puppet.

However, how could he let go of an opportunity to cause trouble for the Zhou Family and Liu Yuru?

Zhang Donglai decisively ordered the soldiers behind him, “Go! Bring him back!”

Several soldiers took the order and quickly rushed into the depths of the valley.

Soon, they brought back the unconscious Lu Qi and the fragments of the ghost face mask scattered on the ground.

Looking at Lu Qi, who was being supported by the soldiers, Zhang Donglai let out a long sigh of relief.

The anxious heart finally settled back into his chest.

The ups and downs today were even more thrilling than him personally going to the battlefield.

Several other high-ranking military officials who rushed over after hearing the news all gaped, their faces full of disbelief.

Zuo Daolin, the S-rank Soul Controller of the Dawnbreaker Guild, couldn’t even take away a single examinee.

Instead, his own mask was shattered?

All of this was done by the young mage in front of them?

This guy simply created a miracle!

The eyes of several high-ranking military officials looking at Gandalf instantly became incredibly fervent and relieved.

The one-eyed old general even stepped forward and heavily patted Gandalf’s shoulder.

“You must be Gandalf, right?”

“Excellent! Excellent!”

“Great Xia Country has successors!”

Afterwards, the unconscious students were successively awakened and left through the teleportation gate first.

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, watched all this and suddenly spoke, “Um... is the National Examination still continuing?”

As soon as he said this, Zhang Donglai and several high-ranking military officials were all stunned.

With such a big incident, this guy was still thinking about the National Examination?

Seeing them not speak, Zhou Huai added, “I’m still waiting to be the top scholar.”

“It can’t be... that this year’s National Examination is canceled just like that, right?”

If that were the case, he would be at a huge loss.

Working so hard for so many things, wasn’t it all for the top scholar of the National Examination and to complete the System’s challenge mission?

Zhang Donglai was first stunned, then burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahahahaha!”

“You kid is still thinking about being the top scholar!”

He waved his hand grandly and said with great pride, “Don’t worry!”

“I can tell you now!”

“Your Dongning Province is the champion of this year’s National Examination!”

“And you, Gandalf, are this year’s top scholar of the National Examination!”

The one-eyed old general and several other high-ranking officials also nodded, their faces showing appreciative smiles.

“Exactly! With your performance this time, this top scholar title is well-deserved!”

“We unanimously agree!”

“Tomorrow, we will issue a nationwide announcement!”

Only then did Zhou Huai relax.

It seemed his challenge mission was secure.