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Chapter 265: A Dangerous Deal
Chapter 265: A Dangerous Deal
At dusk, on a desolate beach.
A figure materialized without warning.
This man had black hair and wore a black suit. He appeared young yet exuded a mature aura. Handsome and effortlessly charming when needed, he now wore a lazy expression, yawning as he ruffled his slightly disheveled hair.
Wen Sent seemed to be waiting for something. Gazing at the horizon, his eyes soon fixed on the northwest sky. There, a solitary cloud floated, vivid and striking against the evening glow.
Time passed. The sun dipped lower, and the cloud stretched eastward and westward, forming a narrow ribbon of twilight across the heavens—a mirage-like shallow beach suspended in the sky.
As night fell, the wind died down. The calm sea darkened to a deep violet, until a dim red Crescent rose, casting a hazy crimson veil over everything.
"You're early", Ximen's voice abruptly cut through from behind Wen Sent.
Wen Sent didn't turn around, nor did he seem surprised. "Time is the one thing we never lack. Waiting is also a form of relaxation."
"Always so philosophical, Teacher", came a youthful voice. A boy of sixteen or seventeen stepped forward, dressed in black suit and trousers. His delicate features—sharp brows, clear eyes—were almost feminine in their beauty.
"Heh heh... He's just spacing out, pretending to be poetic..." Wooly's lecherous chuckle slithered into the air.
A guttural laugh followed. A short, stout figure waddled into view, penguin-like in his gait. "Wen Sent, Wooly, Ximen, Xi De", Mr. You's gaze swept across the four. "What an honor to see you all gathered here again."
"Cough... cough... If you don't mean it, don't say it", a frail young man materialized on the sea's surface, his form ghostly. Two more shadows hovered beside him, their bodies insubstantial.
"Death didn't come again?" Ximen's cold eyes fixed on the trio.
Wenyi replied, "You know he's always confident in his chosen candidate. He sees no need to watch." He coughed again, "After all... he's chosen [tian tian gui xiao]."
"Heh... So you're saying we need to play our cards more carefully..."
A woman beside Wenyi interjected, "Didn't you prove that point yourself by letting Feng Bu Jue obtain a psionic weapon?"
"Heh heh... You sound displeased, Lord of Famine..." Wooly sneered.
"That matter has been resolved", Ximen cut in, preventing the two from clashing. "The day after Mr. You's little farce, it was settled. No need to rehash it."
Ximen referred to Feng Bu Jue's encounter with K3-Cheiron—a scenario following Death's Q&A. It was Feng Bu Jue's first team survival mode mission, where he faced a derivative being, an encounter theoretically nearly impossible to repeat. Clearly, someone had orchestrated it. Feng Bu Jue's losses were undeniable, his progress nearly erased overnight—a price for obtaining a psionic weapon too soon.
"Let the past rest", Wen Sent added. "Let's discuss the matter at hand."
"The one you chose has already grasped [Soul Intent]", War, standing beside Wenyi, stated. "That's too fast."
Wooly chuckled. "Heh... Your protégé, Wenyi, barely past level thirty, already reached B-rank summoning proficiency. You didn't mind that speed?"
War's eyeless gaze darkened. "Don't change the subject, Wooly. You know it's different."
"Aaah... Feels like a fight's brewing..." Xi De shivered, hugging his arms. "I hate arguments..."
Mr. You watched the Hellish Four and the Apocalyptic Three, swords half-drawn, bows half-tensed. Outwardly calm, inwardly gleeful, he secretly hoped they'd tear each other apart.
"Warlord's right", Wen Sent suddenly agreed. "My candidate grasped [Soul Intent] too soon... Not necessarily wise. But what's done can't be undone. We must decide how to handle it."
"Heh... So you've already got a solution everyone'll love?" Wooly smirked.
"My candidate can't enter the game for the next forty-eight hours of real-world time", Wen Sent said. "Is that concession enough?"
Silence fell. Wen Sent continued, "If no objections..." He glanced at Wenyi. "Young Master Wenyi, would you do the honors?"
Wenyi bowed slightly, smiling. "Gladly."
"But there's a condition", Wen Sent added.
"Smells like a trap already", Mr. You sniffed.
"Here and now, excluding Ximen who hasn't placed bets", Wen Sent's lips curled, "the six of you have candidates enough for a kill game mode, yes? My request is simple—let them fight."
"Hmph. So that's it", War scoffed. "Fine by me. My pawn won't lose."
"I'm in", the Lord of Calamity agreed.
Xi De, as usual, nodded. "If Teacher says so..."
Wenyi and Mr. You exchanged glances. Shrugging, Mr. You said, "If no one objects..."
"Heh heh... Sounds fun..." Wooly's glasses glinted white. "But is this wise? High-stakes duels, battles beyond limits—they might grow stronger. Heh... What exactly do you hope to see in this combat?"
Wen Sent ignored Wooly, turning to Ximen. "Referee, your thoughts?"
(End of Chapter)
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