Guan Jin Yue Retreats

The hyena leader was indeed formidable. Its sandstorm ability integrated offense and defense, and it had thick, tough skin. However, under Long Ao's attacks, it soon became riddled with wounds. It tried to summon its underlings to cover its escape, but was firmly restricted by Chen Guan's illusions and Su Yuehe's slowing effects.

Finally, the moment Long Ao shattered its sandstorm shield with a heavy punch, An Changqing's golden sword light struck out like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, piercing its throat with pinpoint accuracy.

With a whimper, the massive body crashed to the ground.

With the leader dead, the remaining hyenas instantly lost their backbone. Under the barrage of illusions and attacks, they scattered and fled in all directions.

An Changqing quickly cut off the leader's fangs. The group briefly cleared the battlefield, harvested valuable materials from a few ordinary hyenas, and then swiftly retreated to return to the altar and submit their quest.

With 300 points in hand, the academy's total points suddenly took a significant leap.

"Beautifully done!" Long Ao was in a great mood. Because it wasn't too troublesome to resolve, the few of them had barely expended any energy.

Suddenly, a flock of startled birds took to the sky. Everyone subconsciously looked up. Su Yuehe's expression changed slightly. "In that direction... there's a very strong burst of spiritual energy. Someone is fighting, and on a large scale."

An Changqing's expression grew serious. "Let's go take a look. It might be a high-point monster, or another team has run into trouble."

Even if it wasn't their own academy, they could still swoop in and steal the prize, couldn't they?

So, with almost no hesitation, the four of them immediately sprinted in the direction of the energy fluctuations.

Passing through a patch of dead thorn forest, the view ahead suddenly opened up. It was a bizarre depression filled with giant crystal clusters. At this moment, a chaotic melee was breaking out in the depression.

The two sides fighting were impressively the four-person team led by Beishi Academy's Guan Jinyue, and the four-person team led by Kamiya Academy's Kamishiro Chizuru. Both sides were filled with experts.

It seemed their chosen tactics coincided with Huaqing's, both opting for groups of four.

The battle between the eight people was exceptionally fierce.

Kamishiro Chizuru's side had summoned three powerful shikigami, which, paired with a massive swarm of their teammates' weaker shikigami, formed an overwhelming offensive.

On Guan Jinyue's team, Guan Jinyue's movements were erratic. Wielding her moonlight longsword, her sword light crisscrossed the battlefield. It was almost a one-woman show. She looked as if she didn't care about her teammates at all, and her teammates kept their distance from her, seemingly afraid of being caught in the crossfire.

Both sides were clearly fighting over the few Crystal Orchids in the center of the depression. According to the field guide, these were walking hundreds of points.

"It's them..." Long Ao's eyes burned brightly. "What a lively fight."

An Changqing signaled for everyone to hide behind the rocks at the edge of the depression and watch. "Let's wait and see. When the snipe and the clam grapple, the fisherman profits."

Chen Guan watched the battle intently. Guan Jinyue's spatial manipulation was as exquisite as ever, but facing Kamishiro Chizuru's human-wave summoning tactics, she couldn't easily break through the blockade of the shikigami army. However, Kamishiro Chizuru's shikigami couldn't touch her either.

She was indeed very strong. Taking on so many shikigami alone, an ordinary person would have long been exhausted, yet she still appeared to be handling it with ease.

Suddenly, a shikigami appeared out of nowhere behind her. Just as it was about to land a hit, Guan Jinyue turned back in time to block the backstab, but this also caused her to reveal a slight opening.

"An opening!" A sharp light flashed in An Changqing's eyes. "Now."

Your enemies often know you better than your friends do.

An Changqing never thought Kamishiro Chizuru could beat Guan Jinyue. He even believed that the four of them, plus their massive horde of shikigami, would only end up being surrounded by Guan Jinyue alone.

Therefore, from beginning to end, his plan was to snatch the loot in the chaos and run. When it was time to compete, he naturally wouldn't act like his usual upright and gentlemanly self; he wasn't that righteous.

The four from Huaqing darted out like cheetahs, pouncing straight toward the center of the depression. An Changqing and Long Ao took the lead, rushing to the side of the iridescent Crystal Orchids in the blink of an eye.

An Changqing moved quickly, wrapping them in spiritual energy and uprooting the three largest Crystal Orchids, before stowing them into a storage box.

"Got them! Retreat!"

An Changqing was also entirely disregarding martial ethics, prepared to snatch and run. However, the very moment they succeeded and prepared to retreat...

Guan Jinyue's gaze shot over like lightning.

She had long since sensed the Huaqing team's approach, but had simply held back without striking.

Seeing them succeed now, her figure flashed. She forcefully shook off the entanglement of the shikigami, and with a ripple in space, instantly appeared on the Huaqing team's retreat path.

Her moonlight longsword blocked their way, and her cold, clear voice rang out.

"Leave the items, or leave your points."

Is there a difference?

Chen Guan complained in his heart but couldn't say it out loud. The atmosphere instantly froze.

In front of the four Huaqing students, Guan Jinyue stood with her sword. Her silver hair fluttered without wind, and a cold light flowed across her moonlight longsword. Space faintly distorted around her, sealing off their escape.

Behind them, although the Kamishiro Chizuru team's offensive had slowed slightly due to Huaqing's intervention and Guan Jinyue's disengagement, they still glared like tigers eyeing their prey, with shikigami surrounding them on all sides.

"Do we really have to fight?" An Changqing looked at Kamishiro Chizuru nearby and said, "There's still another team here. If our two sides fight, it wouldn't be good to let someone else reap the benefits."

Guan Jinyue merely said indifferently, "They are nothing to worry about."

Being blatantly ignored, Kamishiro Chizuru's expression turned ugly. In his own school, he was the number one chosen son of heaven, yet now he was being mocked at will like a clown.

But he couldn't even find fault with it. He was indeed inferior in skill. Guan Jinyue, An Changqing—which of them could he beat?

If he dared to make a move, he would be directly hammered into hand-beaten beef meatballs.

Kamishiro Chizuru could only pretend he hadn't heard, secretly gnashing his teeth in hatred.

The atmosphere remained deadlocked for a while. Guan Jinyue stayed silent for a moment before suddenly relenting, "You may go."

"The Crystal Orchids are yours."

Having said that, she didn't linger. Sheathing her moonlight longsword, her figure flashed, turning into a streak of silver light that sped off in the opposite direction of the Kamiya team. She quickly vanished deep into the intricate crystal clusters.

She actually gave up just like that, and she even ditched her teammates. Her three teammates looked at each other in dismay, clearly not knowing what to do.

On the other side, Kamishiro Chizuru's team also stopped. Kamishiro Chizuru naturally didn't dare to strike first. After all, Huaqing had both An Changqing and Long Ao; they would tear him apart.

Guan Jinyue's retreat was beyond his expectations. This domineering woman actually backed down? How could he comprehend this? Now he was left behind, caught in a dilemma where he could neither advance nor retreat.

An Changqing quickly assessed the situation. Although Guan Jinyue had left, the threat wasn't necessarily gone. She might just be retreating temporarily, or perhaps she had other schemes.

The remnants of the Beishi team had lost their strongest combatant and were nothing to fear, but they couldn't be completely ignored either. The Kamiya team was glaring like tigers, equally acting as competitors.

Most importantly, although their Huaqing team had secured the Crystal Orchids and remained in perfect condition, there was no benefit to be gained here. It was unwise to keep fighting.