Chapter Forty-Nine: The Dispute Between Two Women

“Impressive... truly impressive!”

“Who was that boy just now? He actually has three mechas! I thought first-tier physical abilities only allowed up to two?”

“And his mechas aren’t even of the same type—there’s a power-type shield and a neuro-reflex sniper!”

“Could he be the special physical talent Principal Yang mentioned earlier?”

The thousands of students gathered in the school plaza buzzed with excitement, all eyes fixed on the seventh crystal orb. Inside, the yellow semicircular explosion, towering five meters high, left them both shocked and deeply envious.

The battle between first-tier mechas had ignited their hopes and dreams. Who among the ordinary students here wouldn’t yearn to step inside the arena, to truly experience the power of physical ability firsthand? Even if they were eliminated, it would still be worth it!

After a long while, the yellow semicircular glow faded, revealing the boy clutching a heavy machine gun. His body was shattered, nearly translucent.

Soon, under everyone’s gaze, his form began to rapidly dissipate, eventually dissolving into a flurry of white light particles, vanishing completely.

“Shh!”

At the same moment, the black door atop the circular platform flashed with blue light. The bespectacled student appeared exhausted and disheveled on the platform. A teacher nearby was ready, stepping in immediately to escort him off as he was eliminated.

“So this is the elimination mode of Illusion Island? It’s truly fascinating!”

A voice came from the special student seating area below. The young man with short yellow hair and striking features continued, “But this year, there are three new students who have mastered three disciplines simultaneously. This is no small feat!”

His gaze intentionally lingered on Lu Shijie and Mu Ningxue. He had taken a keen interest after seeing Nangong Yuchen and the girl glance this way before entering the arena.

That look was filled with raw hatred and icy malice—anyone could tell there was trouble brewing.

The yellow-haired boy’s behavior naturally did not escape the attention of several other special students nearby. These were the true elites of the school, well aware of the underlying tensions, though none had spoken until now. Upon hearing his remark, their eyes followed the yellow-haired boy’s gaze to Lu Shijie.

“Heh, Yi An, you seem quite interested in an ordinary student,” Lu Shijie said softly, his expression still calm as he met Yi An’s clear eyes.

Though surprised at Nangong Yuchen’s balanced development across three disciplines, Lu Shijie’s astonishment was fleeting. In his eyes, Nangong Yuchen was still a waste not even worthy of first-tier standing. If it weren’t for those beside him, he would have crushed him without a second thought.

“Haha, I truly look forward to him becoming one of us...” Yi An scratched his head and grinned widely. But before he could finish, a sharp voice interrupted.

“Becoming a special student?” Cheng Shiyu, who had kept her head down since the start, finally lifted her beautiful face in anger. “The assessment has only just begun. He will be eliminated miserably!”

Her mood had been shattered by her father’s mysterious disappearance, and a vague fear that something terrible had happened to him. Now, hearing talk of Nangong Yuchen, she could no longer bear it.

The sudden rise in volume stunned Yi An and the others, who did not understand why Cheng Shiyu was so furious.

As the atmosphere grew awkward, the frowning Shangguan Yueling, clearly annoyed, snapped, “You foul woman, why are you yelling like that?”

“Foul woman?” Cheng Shiyu’s face flushed bright red, like someone had stepped on her tail. She ground her teeth and spat, “You little pest!”

“Foul woman, you tell Sister Lingling who’s the little pest!” Shangguan Yueling jumped up from her chair, her gem-like eyes blazing with anger, clearly ready to fight.

She hated being called “little pest.” Though petite, her figure was exquisite and alluring. And to hear such words from her longtime rival Cheng Shiyu was intolerable!

“Heh!” Cheng Shiyu sneered and stood up as well. Tall and elegant, she looked down at Shangguan Yueling with a frosty gaze, her meaning clear.

“You’ve made Sister Lingling so angry...” Shangguan Yueling was about to retaliate when her eyes caught the red five-pointed star on the bright blue crystal pinned to Cheng Shiyu’s chest. A teasing smile curved her lips. “Oh, so that’s why you dared to talk back to Sister Lingling today—the worst special student finally broke through to first-tier!”

The last few words were deliberately emphasized, the smirk on Shangguan Yueling’s face dripping with mockery.

“You...” Cheng Shiyu’s body trembled, her regained complexion flushing once again. Among the twelve special students, she was indeed the least gifted, only recently advancing to first-tier these past two days. Her sore spot exposed, her youthful face turned cold with shame and anger.

At that moment, a young man with messy black hair, slightly older than the others, pushed his glasses up and interrupted as tensions flared.

“Enough, enough! We’re here to watch the matches, not listen to you two bicker. If this keeps up, the ordinary students will laugh at us!”

He glared at the exasperated Yi An, whose careless words had sparked this trouble.

“It’s none of your business, Mu Ling!” Cheng Shiyu was on the edge of rage and refused to back down. She sneered sharply, “I remember someone at the school who’s always bragging about their reconnaissance squad, yet they never found or killed any beasts. Meanwhile, their own sister lies in intensive care, unconscious. How pathetic!”

“Does our city really have beasts? Or are you all just...”

“Shiyu!” Lu Shijie’s expression darkened as he cut her off sharply.

“Cousin...” Cheng Shiyu wanted to retort but faltered under his icy gaze, finally closing her mouth with a pout.

Nearby, six special students—aside from Mu Ling, Yi An, and a beautiful girl with red hair—looked stunned. They had been wondering why Shangguan Youran was absent today, only to learn the unfortunate truth.

Even the usually unyielding Shangguan Yueling lowered her head in silence, her gem-like eyes reddening slightly. Her delicate hands clenched the hem of her skirt, her spirits low.

She was consumed by guilt. If she hadn’t been at Nangong Yuchen’s house the night before but with her sister instead, would Mu Feng still be alive? Would her sister still be gravely injured?

“Youran, remember to check on Yue’er for me every year. She loves white gardenias,” Shangguan Yueling whispered, her heart aching as she recalled Mu Feng’s final message on her sister’s communicator.

Tears welled up, blurring her vision. She clenched her eyes tightly, desperate to hold back the flood.

Yet in her mind, the tall figure of Mu Feng kept appearing, along with his simple, good-natured smile whenever she teased him...

Mu Ningxue paid no mind to the drama beside her, her gaze dull as she stared unblinkingly at the scene within the seventh crystal orb. Only then did her autumn-like eyes glimmer faintly with light.