Chapter 15

“Besides being seen by the demons, are there any other advantages to being at a high elevation?”

Shu Yangming looked up at Su Lanjin’s actions, hoping to understand her intentions from her gaze.

“Logically, places at high elevation would be the first spotted by the demons, but Su Lanjin wouldn’t be someone to do things without a reason, so what’s the meaning behind this?”

In the Federation conference room, the big shots each voiced their opinions. Some even thought Su Lanjin might have seen something again, just like when she decisively shattered the porcelain jar deep underground and defeated the demons back then.

“Could it be that she’s just trying to enjoy killing demons more thoroughly?”

When this conclusion was made, it earned sharp looks from everyone.

After all, who would stand at the highest point doing nothing but exposing themselves to the demons, as if competing to see who would die first?

Forget it!

“Based on previous understanding, what Su Lanjin does is always purposeful. It’s hard to see it when looked at alone, but in reality, it’s a crucial part of the whole.”

“Look, after rescuing Gong Jiaxin and Ni Shushu, they teamed up to kill demons. At this time, they didn’t go toward the area where other contestants were fighting demons, but instead took a different path.”

Xie Shaobin entered commands on the holographic screen. After enlarging the live footage, he pointed toward Su Lanjin’s direction. “After confirming there were demons on the other side, they went the opposite way. But when she sensed something here, she summoned her spirit energy sword and discovered the demon’s nest.”

“If it weren’t for Su Lanjin’s patrol this time, when they fell into the deep underground abyss, things might have been much worse. Maybe they wouldn’t have been able to transmit these images.”

“Look.” Xie Shaobin swiped the footage again, turning to the moment when Su Lanjin fought other contestants. “Su Lanjin has her own boundaries, knows what to do and what not to do. The insults and aggression from others seem to her as if they never happened.”

“Such a mindset is rare.”

Xie Shaobin nodded in approval. In his view, although Su Lanjin came from a trash planet, her character and abilities are exactly what the Federation needs.

“Indeed.”

Shu Yangming nodded. “Even when she discovered the deep underground abyss, she never gave up, otherwise, she wouldn’t have given us so many valuable possibilities.”

“Su Lanjin truly is a very thoughtful person.”

While the Federation’s big shots were still repeatedly watching Su Lanjin’s highlights, Su Lanjin herself stood against the wind on the barren star, tilting her head up toward the sky, sensing subtle fluctuations.

“It’s coming.”

Su Lanjin’s eyes flickered, and the spirit energy sword in her hand clanged loudly.

“What’s coming? What’s wrong?”

Jian Xiangxue, who had already rested and was closest to Su Lanjin, frowned upon hearing her whisper, “Su Lanjin, what’s coming? The demons?”

With that, Jian Xiangxue immediately took a battle-ready stance, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings.

Meanwhile, outside the area, on the monitoring star map of the person in charge, a certain spot kept flashing red and beeping. But at this moment, he was busy comforting the families of the contestants who were forced to withdraw or had died.

Su Lanjin took a sharp breath, thinking to herself: This is even more troublesome than the cultivation world.

“Everyone, get up and stand on the mountain peak. Prepare to face the enemy.”

“Huh? What happened now?”

“What’s going on?”

Although everyone was confused, they still followed Su Lanjin’s instructions and stood scattered on the mountain peak. Some whispered among themselves, not understanding what Su Lanjin was doing.

They just wanted to have a good night’s sleep and go their separate ways tomorrow. Although Su Lanjin saved them, they were still rivals.

“Hmph, such hypocrisy.”

Bian Duhen spat out a mouthful of grass disdainfully, looking rebelliously at Su Lanjin. “Just because she saved everyone, she really thinks she’s some big shot?”

Su Lanjin didn’t pay attention to Bian Duhen’s words. Instead, she only withdrew her gaze after seeing the other contestants had already stood firmly on the mountain peak.

“This… should we go up?”

Zhang San looked around and realized it was just him and Bian Duhen left. He licked his lips nervously, feeling extremely anxious and uneasy. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Su Lanjin wouldn’t act without a reason.

“What? You want to join that woman over there too? Do you even know who’s protecting you here right now? Who was the first to come find me on day one saying they wanted to stick with me?”

“To be my loyal servant, got it?”

Bian Duhen glared angrily at him, seemingly furious that everyone had chosen Su Lanjin while only Zhang San remained by his side.

“Sorry, I just think it’s still pretty dangerous for us here.”

Zhang San muttered in response but was immediately cut off by Bian Duhen. “Hmph, what can Su Lanjin really do?”

【… Guys, my fists are getting itchy. So this is what a Bian family kid is like—truly arrogant.】

【+Live Stream ID, I’m speechless. With Bian Duhen like this, do his parents see it?】

【Obviously Bian Duhen has the sensible idea here. Why not find a place to rest for the night instead of going to the highest spot? Are they really planning to camp out there overnight?】

【Stop prying into Su Lanjin’s business. Have you ever seen her do anything without a purpose?】

The chat was noisy and chaotic, while Su Lanjin’s expression grew increasingly serious. Inside, she was alarmed, uncertain whether the spiritual energy here could support her sealing efforts.

“Shushu, what exactly is Su Lanjin looking at? Why is she so serious?”

Gong Jiaxin nudged Ni Shushu with her shoulder, puzzled but still holding a talisman in her hand, alert to their surroundings.

“I don’t know.”

Ni Shushu shook her head, curious but closely following Su Lanjin.

“The spiritual energy fluctuations are abnormal.”

Jian Xiangxue turned to look at them, her face growing serious.

They exchanged glances, closed their eyes to sense it, and found that the surrounding spiritual energy was indeed restless, as if stirred by some unknown force, spreading outwards in all directions.

“There really is a fluctuation—Su Lanjin noticed it from the start.”

As the spiritual energy waves quickened, even the other contestants standing on the mountain peak sensed something was wrong.

Zeng Yanzhi glanced at Gong Jiaxin without showing any emotion.

The sky darkened further, the spiritual energy surged, and countless whirlpools seemed to have found a direction, instantly expanding several times in size.

“Alert!”

Jian Xiangxue shouted loudly.

The contestants looked at each other in confusion, and even the viewers in the live stream didn’t understand what was happening.

【Alert about what? The whirlpools? These whirlpools look really strange.】

【What is this? First the demonic energy rain, and now whirlpools?】

【I have a bad feeling about this.】

【Damn it, who was the person responsible for choosing this barren star?】

【Could those whirlpools be like the demonic lair? Su Lanjin’s expression looks so grave and ugly.】

【It seems since the poisonous rain disappeared, Su Lanjin has always had this expression. Could it be she already guessed what was coming?】

【Stupid, of course she guessed. Otherwise, why would Su Lanjin have everyone stand on the mountain peak?】