Chapter 7: The Cards Are Laid Out

"Yo? It's that kid Jiang Xiao,"

Zhang Hai remarked while drinking mineral water, giving Jiang Xiao a sidelong glance.

Nearby, the buzz-cut youth sneered disdainfully, "This kid actually held out until the very end—he really thinks he's the main character?"

At the same time, chubby Zhang Dongdong excitedly waved his arms at Jiang Xiao, "Jiang Xiao! Jiang Xiao! You finally showed up—I was worried something had happened to you in there."

Jiang Xiao retorted irritably, "Can't you say something nice?"

Zhang Dongdong, folding his arms, stammered, "Uh, where did you hide? I looked everywhere and couldn't find you…"

At these words, Jiang Xiao's face flushed white. "Screw you—do you think I'm a coward?"

Before Zhang Dongdong could press further, Jiang Xiao walked off toward Chen Fan.

Seeing Jiang Xiao approach, Chen Fan was visibly taken aback. This youth had been the first to enter the mountain yet ended up being the last to emerge after spending so long in the ghost labyrinth—and on the surface, he still appeared in good spirits. However, considering Jiang Xiao's aptitude, Chen Fan silently shook his head, "He's still lacking a bit."

"Is that you?"

At that moment, Bai Qimeng noticed Jiang Xiao too. She recognized him as the guy who had stolen her thunder when they first entered the mountain. However, Jiang Xiao wasn't very famous at school, so Bai Qimeng hadn't paid him much attention before.

"Uncle Chen, can I have that green-level Soul Pearl now?"

Since everyone had emerged, Bai Qimeng extended her fair little hand once again.

Just then, Jiang Xiao smiled and said, "Don't be in a hurry."

As he spoke, he retrieved the sheep‐fat jade bottle from his chest.

Seeing this, Bai Qimeng rolled her eyes in an exceptionally attractive manner, "Tch, what a waste of time."

Chen Fan even managed a rare smile toward Jiang Xiao, "Your courage is quite impressive."

Everyone who emerged from the ghost labyrinth—Zhang Hai, Bai Qimeng, and the others—appeared normal on the surface, yet a careful observer would notice that Bai Qimeng had mentioned more than once her desire to get home as soon as possible. But this girl was too proud—so proud that she went to great lengths to hide her own timidity, not wanting any outsider to notice.

Chen Fan, as a Tier-Three Spirit Master of the Tiangji Palace, had seen countless such talented youths and naturally could read their hearts at a glance. What surprised him, however, was that he saw not the slightest trace of fear on Jiang Xiao's face. Even more astonishing, the kid seemed almost unwilling to leave.

Recalling his previous experiences, Jiang Xiao felt a surge of excitement and thought to himself, "This basic ghost labyrinth is nothing short of a leveling paradise. If I get the chance, I must come here more often!"

"Uncle Chen, open it already—don't waste any more time," Bai Qimeng pouted in discontent, treating that green-level Soul Pearl as if it were already hers.

Chen Fan smiled and then opened the sheep‐fat jade bottle. Just one glance, and his hand suddenly trembled.

Swish!

Chen Fan looked up in disbelief, "Are you sure you achieved all this by yourself?"

Jiang Xiao simply shrugged, "Of course."

"Hmm?" Bai Qimeng's brows furrowed, as if she had sensed something amiss.

Chen Fan continued, "Jiang… Jiang Xiao, right? Let me ask you again: Is all the wandering spirit dew in this bottle collected solely by you? Even if some classmates helped, it's fine—you'll form your own team someday, and I won't deduct your reward because of outside help."

He wanted to be sure of one fact, since he had clearly seen that this youth had entered and exited the mountain alone.

"Uncle Chen, what exactly is going on?"

Suddenly, Bai Qimeng felt that something was wrong and quickly peeked into the bottle.

Immediately, her eyes widened in shock as she exclaimed, "How is this possible?!"

She saw that the white spirit dew had completely filled the sheep‐fat jade bottle—even nearly overflowing.

But if that were the case, wouldn't that mean I lost?

At that moment, people in the distance heard Bai Qimeng's cry and turned their gazes over here.

"What happened?"

Zhang Hai frowned, got up, and walked over.

As soon as he arrived, he saw the overflowing sheep‐fat jade bottle in Chen Fan's hand.

Immediately, Zhang Hai's eyes lit up with admiration, and he said, "Bai, you actually killed so many wandering spirits—it's truly admirable!"

At these words, Bai Qimeng looked utterly distressed and glared at Zhang Hai in anger.

Zhang Hai, confused and wondering what he had said wrong, was about to speak when Jiang Xiao interjected, "Senior Chen, if all the results are in, can we announce who got first place?"

Zhang Hai looked at Jiang Xiao in disbelief, "This is yours?!"

"If not, then it would be yours?" Jiang Xiao flashed his trademark big white smile.

Seeing Jiang Xiao's cheeky grin, Zhang Hai became furious, "Impossible! This is absolutely impossible! How could a guy with only three skill slots—trash like you—possibly surpass us?"

"Alright, stop deliberately trying to make me look foolish," Jiang Xiao said with a smile, waving his hand.

Suddenly, Zhang Hai gritted his teeth, "I know—did you fill it with mineral water to cover your tracks?!"

At those words, Bai Qimeng's expression shifted slightly, and Chen Fan's face turned thoughtful.

But Jiang Xiao remained unfazed, "Let Senior Chen check it, and you'll know."

"Right! Senior Chen, you must inspect it carefully!" Zhang Hai immediately looked to Chen Fan.

Then, Chen Fan spoke, "No—the wandering spirit dew cannot mix with any other liquid, or else there would be a clear separation that would be obvious at a glance."

Instantly, Zhang Hai became humiliated and angry.

He quickly found another excuse, "So you guessed this trick beforehand and deliberately bought the wandering spirit dew, didn't you?"

"Ah, these youngsters nowadays…" Jiang Xiao took out a mineral water bottle from his chest and said helplessly, "Alright, alright, I'm laying it all out—I'm not pretending anymore."

In an instant, everyone was astonished. They saw that in the mineral water bottle Jiang Xiao produced, there was still half a bottle of murky white wandering spirit dew!

No one had expected such a scene.

How many wandering spirits had this guy slain?

Even the well-informed Chen Fan was shocked—such an overwhelming achievement had never been seen, not only in Yucheng but across the entire South China region.

Does this youth's natal spirit tool really only have three skill slots?

Chen Fan couldn't help but suspect that perhaps the spirit stone's measurements were off.

Zhang Hai turned pale and staggered a few steps backward, while Bai Qimeng stared intently at Jiang Xiao, committing his features to memory.

After a long while, Chen Fan took a deep breath and said, "Jiang Xiao, you're quite something. No! You're amazing! This time, the first-place reward is yours."

With that, he solemnly handed the smooth green-level Soul Pearl to Jiang Xiao.

Jiang Xiao grinned broadly, overjoyed that, after much effort, he had finally obtained the green-level Soul Pearl worth tens of thousands.

"Jiang Xiao… good! I'll remember you!"

Finally, Bai Qimeng muttered as she turned and left the scene.

"Is that girl still angry?"

Jiang Xiao didn't care.

Who says that the green-level Soul Pearl must belong to you? Everyone wants it badly.

Only someone like Zhang Hai would purposely try to yield to others.

What a simp!

Jiang Xiao mentally tagged Zhang Hai.

"Even if you get that green-level Soul Pearl, what good will it do you? With only three skill slots, you're destined to achieve nothing great! Our gap will only widen from here!"

Zhang Hai, unwilling to admit defeat, retorted forcefully.

"Oh?" Jiang Xiao smirked. "The number of skills I'll have in the future—you probably can't even imagine!"

Suddenly, Chen Fan patted Jiang Xiao's shoulder and said sincerely, "Work hard, and don't let your innate aptitude limit you. I have a senior in the Tiangji Palace whose natal spirit tool also has only three skill slots, yet he single-handedly suppressed an entire ghost labyrinth. I hope that you too can…"

Halfway through his sentence, even Chen Fan felt it was nearly impossible. After all, such an example is unique—one in ten million, so to speak.

"Sigh…" Chen Fan sighed and shook his head, finally leading everyone back to the main city by bus.

…