Scheming at Every Turn!

They crossed the valley and pushed through grass that stood taller than a person, until at last Hundred Herbs Valley came into view.

Hundred Herbs Valley had several entrances; reaching the valley floor meant threading through the winding, intersecting narrows that lay directly ahead.

"Why are there so many vines on this path? They've grown all the way down from the mountain — it's disgusting." The more delicate girls were already whispering among themselves.

Tree vines and grass vines twisted and crossed through the narrow pass. Some clung to the cliff face overhead like pythons draped across the rock; others coiled in dense tangles along the ground. Walking in felt like entering the lair of some dark-scaled serpent — sinister and unsettling. No wonder the fainthearted girls looked like they wanted to turn and run.

"It's just a bunch of vines — what are you scared of? Follow me!" Wang Sanpang seized the opportunity to show off his bravery in front of the girls and strode ahead alone.

His bulky frame shouldered the wrist-thick hanging vines aside, and he swaggered forward with his chest puffed out.

That build of his was actually perfect for trail-blazing. If he could get through, everyone else would have no trouble.

"AAAGH!! What the — ow, holy — help me!! HELP!!"

Without warning, Wang Sanpang let out a howl from inside the vines — the raw, frantic shriek of a dog getting thrashed.

Every student instinctively stumbled back a few paces. They peered into the pass and felt their blood run cold.

The vines were moving.

The moment Wang Sanpang had stepped into their territory, the vines writhed to life and trussed him up completely. His hulking body now dangled upside down in midair.

The vines were lined with thorns. As they cinched tight, they shredded through Wang Sanpang's skin, drawing streams of blood. Zhang Yinglu and the other girls shrieked without stop.

"Stop screaming! Is that all you know how to do?!" Xu Zhaoting snapped.

Even as the words left his mouth, he was already moving. The first Star Mote shimmered into a translucent image before his forehead — its brilliant violet hue drawing every eye.

Star Mote after Star Mote materialized, falling into perfect alignment under Xu Zhaoting's practiced Control.

A Star Trail snapped into being.

"Lightning Seal: Serpent Mark!"

Xu Zhaoting's Lightning Element skill flowed seamlessly from start to finish. Scorched arcs of lightning crackled into existence all around him.

At his command, the lightning arcs shot into the narrow pass and lashed at the Demon-Vines that were hauling Wang Sanpang away.

**Szzz — szzz — szzz~**

The Lightning Seal burned dozens of scorched black lines across the Demon-Vines — but plant-type creatures clearly weren't particularly frightened of electrical attacks. The vines flinched slightly, then shamelessly continued hoisting Wang Sanpang higher.

"Help me, help—" Wang Sanpang wailed through his tears, but then a vine coiled around his throat and choked off even that.

The students dissolved into chaos.

Xu Zhaoting's Lightning Seal was completely ineffective. So how were they supposed to stop these Demon-Vines?

"Ah!!"

Another shriek. The Demon-Vines, it turned out, weren't satisfied with Wang Sanpang — they had already set their sights on the girls. A student named Zheng Yunxia had her ankle seized.

Zheng Yunxia was a Water Element mage, but in that moment of sheer terror she had probably forgotten what Stardust even was, let alone how to cast a skill.

"Don't panic — I'll handle them!!" Zhou Min, the class representative, barked sharply.

A Fire Element Star Trail formed around her in an instant. Zhou Min, who already carried a certain fierce energy about her, suddenly radiated the wild, crackling intensity of flame.

"Fire Burst: Scorch!"

A ball of fire erupted from Zhou Min's palm with a sharp **boom**, and with a sweep of her hand, the fireball plunged into the mass of Demon-Vines.

**Whoooosh~**

Scorching fire blazed up instantly among the Demon-Vines.

The flames spread at terrifying speed, swallowing a vast stretch of Demon-Vines in moments.

The Demon-Vines were utterly terrified of fire. The moment Zhou Min's Fire Burst landed, they scattered in every direction as if they had seen a ghost.

They quickly released Wang Sanpang as well. He dropped from midair and crashed down — fortunately landing on his perfectly round belly. Had he landed any other way, his face would have been left caved in.

"Class rep is incredible!!"

"Fire Element really is the best — those Demon-Vines practically wet themselves."

"Right?! Class rep is the strongest!"

The students cheered as the Demon-Vines retreated.

Xu Zhaoting — the Lightning Element prodigy — stood in place with a dark expression.

Plant-based creatures naturally resisted Lightning Element attacks. There was nothing to be done about that.

Mo Fan watched from the sidelines, but he hadn't used a single Fire Element skill throughout the entire ordeal.

Zhou Min could handle the Demon-Vines just fine on her own. No need for him to get involved.

And besides...

*Zhou Min's Fire Burst is still at the first level. Mine, on the very day we left for the Field Expedition...* heh heh heh.

*Puny Demon-Vines — not worth my time. Save the mana where you can.*

Zhou Min dominated the entire length of the pass — four Fire Bursts to drive off every last Demon-Vine that had set its sights on the girls. In that moment, Fire Element's true power was on full display. The Scorch effect was far more ferocious than anything another element could bring to bear.

"Zhou Min. Fire Element girl." In one of the tents, Zhankong rubbed his stubble thoughtfully. "Yeah — she's right up my alley."

"Group One should be the furthest along by now, right? There are quite a few strong students in that group," Zhang Jianguo said.

"Group One's Fire Element mage is completely useless — couldn't Release a single skill when the Demon-Vines showed up. In the end it was that student called Mu Bai who froze and slowed the Demon-Vines with ice. They made it to Hundred Herbs Valley the fastest and most smoothly — they'll be running into the Gloom Wolf Beast soon. The real test is about to begin!"

"The Gloom Wolf Beast won't actually injure the students, will it?"

"Injured? That's a given — a few broken bones is perfectly normal," Pan Lijun said. "But our Summoning Element mage and his Gloom Wolf Beast know where to draw the line."

"Maybe someone should call ahead and remind him. If students get badly hurt, it'll affect their university entrance exams next year."

"There's no signal in the valley — it'll be fine. Baiyang knows when to pull back," Luo Yunbo said.

"Baiyang?" Tang Yue blinked. "Isn't he that Light Element mage who was reported killed in action?"

Zhankong smiled. "That was made up. He's actually our Summoning Element mage here at Xuefeng Mountain Waystation, stationed in the One-Eyed Demon Wolf's old den. The blue bracelet is real, though — it's in the den."

Tang Yue was speechless. This head instructor had schemes baked into every corner of this exercise.

She could only hope the students would make it through in one piece.