"Die, Smith!"
Two fourth-level psychics closed in, their daggers gleaming with a chilling light as they slashed toward him with deadly precision.
"Such speed!"
Startled, Smith instinctively activated Wood Release: Wood Ingot Wall.
Thick wooden panels sprouted around him in an instant, wrapping tightly around his body like armor. The defenses rose swiftly—but before they could fully settle, the two enemies' attacks landed.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
A sharp, resonating hum echoed through the air. The wooden walls shattered as if they were made of paper. Smith's defenses were torn apart in seconds.
A powerful gust of force struck him directly, launching him through the air. He crashed heavily into a massive tree trunk.
"Cough!"
Blood trickled from his lips. Even with the accelerated healing of Sage Mode and his innate Muji Healing technique, the pain remained intense and real.
One of the attackers sneered. "Smith, you're truly tough. Not many could survive so many hits and still stay conscious. But this is your limit."
Before Smith could recover, two more fourth-level psychics appeared on either side. They each grabbed one of his arms tightly.
"Damn it—!"
Before he could react, a surge of electricity coursed through his body, leaving him convulsing and helpless. Another assailant struck the back of his neck hard, sending blinding pain through his skull. His vision dimmed. Ringing filled his ears.
"Catch him alive. Don't kill him yet. The dean wants him to regret ever being born."
"We've got nothing personal against you, kid. But fifty mid-grade spirit stones? That's a deal no one's passing up."
Dazed and disoriented, Smith could barely process their words. Then, just before everything went black, he heard a voice break through the chaos:
"Isn't it a bit excessive to treat a student this way?"
That was the last thing he heard before he lost consciousness.
---
When Smith finally woke, it felt like an eternity had passed. His body ached, and his head throbbed. Slowly, he sat up and realized he was lying in the back of a wooden cart that was bumping steadily along a dirt path.
He blinked several times, adjusting to the sunlight, and spotted a familiar figure up front.
"Minister Xi?" he called out, surprised.
Xi Yan sat at the reins, calmly guiding the cart forward. "You finally woke up, huh?"
"You… saved me?" Smith asked, still groggy. "Why?"
Xi Yan didn't turn his head. "You're from Huaihai College. No matter what you did, the people from Jinghai College don't get to decide your fate."
Smith remained silent, his thoughts heavy.
"Also," Xi Yan added after a moment, "Xiaoqing asked me to come for you."
Smith clenched his fists. His body still felt weak, and his mind was swirling.
"I took care of the people chasing you," Xi Yan continued.
"Are we heading back to the college?" Smith leaned against the side of the cart, peering at the unfamiliar surroundings.
Xi Yan finally turned and looked at him seriously. "Do you really think you can go back now?"
Smith's heart sank.
"This time, you've stirred up a real disaster," Xi Yan said. "Even the principal may not be able to shield you. Jinghai College will have blocked every path back by now."
"If you go back, they'll use you as an excuse to completely cut ties with Huaihai College. I can't let you destroy the college's plans because of your actions."
"Then… where can I go?" Smith asked, genuinely confused.
"To a place where they won't be able to find you."
Xi Yan reached into his storage ring and tossed Smith a small package.
"Take what's inside. It's all you'll need."
Smith caught the bundle, frowning. "Where exactly are we going?"
"To the Dark City," Xi Yan replied calmly. "A place beyond the law, deep in no-man's-land. Jinghai College won't dare follow you there."
"The Dark City?" Smith repeated in shock. "That chaotic war zone?"
The name sparked a memory in his mind. The Dark City—similar to the infamous City of Sin—wasn't under the rule of any power. It was a haven for criminals, fugitives, and mercenaries. Strength ruled everything. The strong survived. The weak were erased.
Despite its chaos, the city thrived due to its flourishing black market. It traded rare items that other regions couldn't obtain, drawing even elite forces to it secretly. Powerful individuals managed the city's operations, and few dared to directly interfere with it.
"Yes, it's dangerous," Xi Yan admitted, "but it's also the safest place for someone like you right now."
"You've made your mistake. Now you need to disappear until the storm passes. Don't contact anyone. Don't tell anyone where you are. Understood?"
Smith nodded silently and opened the package. Inside were two mid-grade spirit stones, some dry rations, and a few healing pills.
"Does my father know about any of this?" he asked.
"Even if he does," Xi Yan said, "he can't help you now. Right now, your life is in your own hands."
Smith looked down. The pain in his chest was greater than the wounds on his body.
"The border's just ahead," Xi Yan said. "This cart won't take you any further. It's already falling apart. You'll have to walk from here."
He handed Smith a map.
Smith climbed off the cart, clutching the map tightly. As he turned to leave, Xi Yan's voice came again:
"Remember, as long as you're not captured, Jinghai College won't have a reason to retaliate against Huaihai College."
"Your father and Principal Wang Daochuan will do everything they can to delay the consequences. But if you're caught… everything falls apart."
Smith turned around slowly. Xi Yan looked him in the eye.
"From a strategic perspective, what you did was reckless. It caused massive problems."
"But from a personal standpoint… you did the right thing. You protected your companions."
"Still, the consequences are too severe. You need to lay low now. Hide your strength. Come back when the time is right."
Smith's gaze remained steady as he nodded.
Despite everything, Xi Yan hadn't abandoned him. That meant more than he could say.
"One last thing," Xi Yan added, "Xiaoqing wanted me to give you a message."
"What is it?" Smith asked quietly.
"She said… thank you. And she told you—don't die."
---
After parting ways with Xi Yan, Smith carefully studied the map and picked a direction.
His body was still battered. He needed to find a place to rest and recover. The nearby Monster Forest might even offer the monster cores he needed for a breakthrough.
He felt it in his bones—he was close to advancing.
---
Jinghai College
Inside a dark, stone-walled chamber, Lin Hai's furious roar echoed.
"Useless trash! All of you! So many of you, and you still couldn't capture a single student?!"
The gathered executive officers lowered their heads in shame. None dared to speak. The air was thick with tension...
Only one squad leader dared to speak up. "Dean… Smith is… strange. Our intel says he specializes in wood and spirit eye techniques."
"But during the fight—he used fire abilities too. He clearly had backup plans all along."
"Not only that," he continued through gritted teeth, "we actually captured him… but someone interfered. Someone strong."
Lin Hai narrowed his eyes. "Someone helped him escape?"
"Yes. And the one who showed up used illusions. So it couldn't have been Jiang Lei," the team leader replied carefully.
Lin Hai's expression darkened like a storm..
"Keep searching," he growled. "Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, I want Smith found!"
"And monitor Huaihai College closely."
"If Smith dares return there, I'll confront Wang Daochuan and Jiang Lei myself. There will be consequences."
With that, he waved his hand, and the entire executive squad left the chamber in silence.
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