Lan Mengqin shot Gu Xun a furious glare before lunging at him, her tiny fists pounding against his chest.
"I'm still growing! I've got plenty of potential! Gu Xun, mark my words—this isn't over!"
Lan Mengqin's face flushed crimson with anger at Gu Xun's words. Seeing this, Gu Xun could only try to placate her.
"Then how exactly do you want to settle this today?"
Gu Xun let Lan Mengqin pound him with her excited little fists. After a moment's thought, she declared.
"I want a late-night snack tonight."
Lan Mengqin recalled how the food Gu Xun created possessed special effects, especially those boosting spirit power cultivation efficiency, which made her mouth water.
Now that she'd finally caught this opportunity, she naturally wouldn't let it slip away, promptly making her request for a late-night snack.
Her face flushed crimson. Seeing Gu Xun dare to bring up the matter, she immediately lunged at him. Gu Xun swiftly reached out, pinning her head against the wall.
Due to her short arms, no matter how fiercely Lan Mengqin swung her tiny fists, she couldn't land a single blow on Gu Xun.
Left helpless against him, Lan Mengqin could only sulk alone nearby, while Dong Qianqiu tried to soothe her.
After ceasing her playful scuffle with Gu Xun, Lan Mengqin joined him and Dong Qianqiu as they entered the second stage of the Trial.
Gu Xun instantly deployed a recliner and snacks with a single command, settled down, and then cast blessings upon Lan Mengqin and Dong Qianqiu.
Lan Mengqin and Dong Qianqiu, watching the countdown above, prepared themselves for battle.
As the countdown hit zero, the cage before the trio instantly opened. First to appear were five fifty-year-old Lava Dogs.
"Blizzard!"
Lan Mengqin unleashed her first soul skill, instantly freezing all the Lava Dogs in front of her—another one-hit kill.
The second wave followed.
Ten fifty-year-old Lava Dogs and one five-hundred-year-old Lava Dog.
Lan Mengqin instantly eliminated the ten-year soul beasts, but the five-hundred-year lava hound charged straight through her Blizzard.
Normally, even a hundred-year soul beast would be frozen solid by Lan Mengqin's Blizzard. Yet this five-hundred-year lava hound could withstand the storm and break free of its range.
The Lava Dog lunged fiercely at Lan Mengqin. Unfazed, she instantly unleashed an ice spear that instantly killed the five-hundred-year-old beast.
As Dong Qianqiu drew her spear, the Lava Dog twitched a few times before its life faded away, collapsing lifeless.
"This second stage of the trial feels pretty standard to me. Why don't we tackle the third stage later? Maybe even the fourth!"
Observing the second stage's continued ease, Lan Mengqin's confidence swelled once more, her expression radiating the confidence to take on ten foes at once.
"Sis Mengqin, don't get overconfident. The next wave is coming."
Dong Qianqiu's warning snapped Lan Mengqin back to focus. Her eyes sharpened as spirit power surged through her body.
The next instant, fifteen fifty-year-old lava dogs and two five-hundred-year-old lava dogs burst from their cages.
"Blizzard Tornado!"
Seeing this, Lan Mengqin immediately unleashed her second soul skill. Ice and snow coalesced into a whirlwind that swept across the arena.
Luan Mengqin stacked her first and second spirit skills, instantly freezing all fifteen fifty-year-old Lava Dogs to death.
The two five-hundred-year-old Lava Dogs slowed, struggling to break through Luan Mengqin's Blizzard Tornado.
Dong Qianqiu immediately stepped in front of Luan Mengqin, facing the two five-hundred-year-old Lava Dogs head-on.
"Second spirit skill, Ice Tide!"
Dong Qianqiu raised his hand abruptly. Countless ice spikes instantly pierced through the two five-hundred-year-old lava dogs charging toward him and Lan Mengqin.
After twitching a few times, the two five-hundred-year-old lava dogs ceased all signs of life. Their corpses then vanished.
[Congratulations on clearing the second stage of the trial]
The system notification sounded the next second, signifying that Dong Qianqiu, Lan Mengqin, Gu Xun, and the others had passed the second stage.
"Pretty easy, huh? A piece of cake for this lady."
Lan Mengqin flicked her white hair, instantly brimming with self-satisfaction. Seeing her inflated expression, Gu Xun rolled his eyes and teased:
"So confident? Want to try clearing it solo next time?"
"Hey hey hey! How could you?"
"Alright, Gu Xun, Sister Mengqin, let's go."
Dong Qianqiu, seeing Gu Xun and Lan Mengqin about to start bickering again, immediately pulled them both out of the stage.
Later, Lan Mengqin held six Douluo coins, feeling refreshed and invigorated. She then handed one coin to Gu Xun and said.
"Here's your change."
"Huh? Don't we need to exchange it? Aren't we still going to fight the third gate?"
Gu Xun raised an eyebrow at Lan Mengqin's action. Lan Mengqin paused upon hearing this, then nodded in realization.
"We wish to challenge the third stage of the Basic Trial. How many Douluo coins is that?"
Lan Mengqin turned to ask the front desk attendant. This time she'd learned her lesson—asking the price first to avoid the embarrassment of not having enough money.
"The fee for challenging the third stage of the Basic Trial is five Douluo coins."