Chapter 136: The Real Test (1/4)

As Zhao Xu and the other two stepped into the scene, Lei An was about to continue briefing Zhao Xu on the following details and how to present himself later. Suddenly, he sensed someone standing behind him.

At this moment, Lei An controlled the central core of the Real Illusion Realm; no ordinary person could have gotten behind him without his awareness. Instantly, he entered a state of extreme vigilance, and the power of the Real Illusion Realm condensed sharply.

“It’s me,” came a deep, aged voice softly.

Lei An finally exhaled in relief and turned around to see none other than the Vice President of the Association, Nu Feng.

Lei An knew well that Vice President Nu Feng was a lifelong advocate of the Mage Restoration faction. He had been striving to follow the footsteps of Archmage Ernest, aiming to have the Mage Association rule all of Arthur.

“Vice President,” Lei An respectfully lowered his head.

Though they belonged to different factions, Lei An was not worried. Nu Feng was known as the most protective and supportive of fellow mages within the Association. If it weren’t for Nu Feng in power, Lei An himself might have never escaped being trapped in the mines.

“Is there something you need me to execute?” Lei An inquired.

“Increase the illusion’s realism to 100%,” Nu Feng ordered coldly.

“Uh? Vice President, this is just a small test to foster unity among the three of them,” Lei An explained.

Earlier, he had threatened Zhao Xu that poor performance would drag down the two female mages, but it was just a bluff. Each of these three guaranteed students was someone he dared not offend.

Raising the realism to 100% meant it would no longer be mere illusion magic—it could truly be lethal. This was why this level was called the Real Illusion Realm.

“If they die, we have ways to revive them,” Nu Feng said. “There are things I need to verify again.”

Lei An could only nod silently, signaling his obedience. Nu Feng giving him even this much explanation was already a sign of respect.

As for the claim of revival, Lei An didn’t want to argue. Ernest had said the same back then, but Nu Feng hadn’t taken it seriously either.

With that thought, Lei An silently severed the mental connection with Zhao Xu. He looked toward the three near the withered trees in the distance, unable to hide a look of sympathy.

He had basically understood Nu Feng’s intention.

The two female mages’ mission was to retrieve the items Lei An had assigned.

Zhao Xu’s mission was elevated to ensuring the two females completed their tasks.

The ability to “Conceal Casting” would be granted to all three.

But the true reward would come only upon successful completion of the objectives.

A reward personally observed and decided upon by Vice President Nu Feng himself surely wouldn’t be anything less than a legendary item.

Thinking of this, Lei An felt a twinge of envy.

Nu Feng, meanwhile, silently observed from a distance, his expression cold.

If Zhao Xu wished to advance to a Hyperplastic Mage, this was the place to prove the weight of his choices.

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Zhao Xu looked at the two female mages, Lu and Ying, who returned his gaze.

At first, all three wore hoods, obscuring their faces and expressions beneath shadows.

This manner was originally to prevent others from reading their intentions, but now it served as a mutual barrier.

The forum had long been buzzing with speculation about who would be the first to reach Second-Level Mage.

Given the grueling graduation rates for mages, advancing to Second-Level in just over a month was a spotlight-grabbing feat, almost as noteworthy as being the first Second-Level player.

Betting pools even opened up secretly, with many players wagering forum coins on the frontrunners.

Who would have expected that three such figures would be standing here.

Even Zhao Xu hadn’t realized that the Floating City housed two other Second-Level mages who, like him, were concealing their true strength.

Second-Level mages could only cast first-tier spells, which was not very significant. But reaching Third-Level meant mastering second-tier spells—then one had real combat ability.

“Let’s share our intel first,” said Lu, the gentlest of the three.

“My orders were to come to Classroom 101 on the eighth floor, complete the test there, and then receive instruction in a special technique,” she explained.

“Same here,” Ying interjected coldly.

She then began analyzing, “From the alchemical elevator exit to the wall where Classroom 101 disappeared, I counted about 225 steps, which translates to roughly 120 meters.”

Lu nodded, “I counted 237 steps, also about 120 meters.”

The two exchanged glances beneath their cloaks.

This meant the distance from the elevator exit to the vanished classroom was consistent for all.

They truly were walking through such a vast open space.

Neither of the women asked Zhao Xu directly.

“I walked through the darkness and sat down by the campfire ahead. Three were already seated opposite me; I was the fourth,” Lu said.

“I was fifth, and Feng was sixth,” Ying added. “But now, we need to verify something.”

“To confirm whether this is truly the eighth floor of the Knowledge Library?” Zhao Xu asked.

Lu shook her head. “Strictly speaking, we need to verify the current moment. Before being drawn near the wall of Classroom 101, we were definitely on the eighth floor. I waited twice for the elevator doors to open.”

“Before the second door opened, I left a secret magical mark inside the elevator. When I stepped out and looked back at the slowly closing door, the mark was still there. So I definitely wasn’t teleported.”

Ying nodded in agreement, “Right. The only question is whether we were teleported the moment the corridor darkened and the campfire appeared.”

Zhao Xu could only gape in amazement. With these two cautious female mages, he felt he had little to add.

“As I walked down the corridor and opened the door to a classroom, I took the chance to observe and planted a caltrop under the door gap, about 20 meters to our left and behind,” Ying said. “If it’s still there, that means absolute space hasn’t changed, and we can deduce that we’re still on the eighth floor of the Knowledge Hall.”

After she finished, the three nodded and went to check for the caltrop.

The eerie forest was filled with withered, lifeless trees—barren branches stretching out, with only fallen leaves on the ground hinting at its former lushness.

Twenty meters wasn’t far for the three; they soon reached the spot.

But Ying searched and shook her head.

“Maybe there’s some spatial distortion,” Zhao Xu speculated.

Back in the underground mines, Zhao Xu had once mentioned a spell turret, only for Ryan to show him an illusion of it.

Ryan had even manipulated space, transferring other places’ trapdoors to their tunnel.

“Could be,” Lu said.

“Or the caltrop was found and hidden,” Ying added. “The fine sand I scattered is probably too subtle to find.”

They all looked toward the elevator exit, now a sheer cliff, impassable.

“Should we start looking for the target then?” Zhao Xu suggested. “Staying here too long might let the others get ahead.”

He was wary of dragging down these rare Second-Level mages.

“No,” Lu shook her head. “Those three sitting opposite the campfire are likely illusions.”

A chill ran down Zhao Xu’s spine.

When he sat down, the three opposite him had all nodded at him.

Now, recalling that moment, the rhythm seemed eerily similar.

“You noticed it too?” Ying looked appreciatively at Lu.

“Their gestures and timing when escaping all seemed templated. Also, I doubt there are six Second-Level players in Floating City,” Lu explained. “When I first arrived, I greeted them. Their response didn’t feel real.”

“So that’s why you greeted me like that,” Ying suddenly understood.

She looked at Lu deeply. Knowing those three were illusions but still calmly confirming it with her—that mental composure was impressive.

After exchanging a few more details, the three pressed deeper into the forest, seeking the target Lei An had assigned.

After sharing their prepared spells, Zhao Xu led the way with the two women behind.

As he walked forward, Zhao Xu felt a slight unease.

Lei An had cut off contact abruptly since the start.

Such an unusual move made Zhao Xu suspect things were not so simple.

The sky above the Forest of Deceptive Words was a dried, blood-red hue, casting an eerie glow over the ground.

Their footsteps pressed through the fallen leaves, leaving prints that vanished moments after they passed.

Their vision was limited, barely sustained by faint ambient light.

They had cast a Level 0 “Light Spell” on a stone to be used in emergencies.

But before understanding the forest’s nature, none dared summon light recklessly.

Though confused about Lei An’s purpose in arranging this illusion, Zhao Xu had tested it—scratching a branch with his knife. The scratch and texture felt real, far surpassing ordinary illusions.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you before in Floating City,” Lu suddenly said.

“I rarely attend new mage training,” Ying explained.

“Me too,” Zhao Xu responded.

“Have you heard the legend of the disappeared novice mage?” Lu asked.

“You mean the one who sat on the Archmage’s throne and vanished in an instant?” Ying, acquainted with several players, had heard of it.

“Rumor has it they trained extra days afterward, causing this batch to graduate five days late.”

“Weren’t you in that batch?” Lu suddenly asked.

“I—heh,” Ying smiled without answering.

Suddenly, Zhao Xu felt his foot catch on something.

Then, his shoulder was violently struck, and he collapsed immediately.

Lu and Ying instinctively shielded him, ready to cast spells.

After a moment, Zhao Xu regained consciousness and gritted his teeth, pulling the arrow from his shoulder.

That single arrow cost him six HP.

Was this Lei An’s promised illusion?

Zhao Xu’s gaze involuntarily drifted toward the campfire where it had begun.

A faint understanding dawned on him.