Moments later, the thick ropes left behind by the ambushers came in handy. After suffering heavy blows, they were completely subdued. Though they attempted to resist, they were quickly overpowered and firmly tied up in a row.
These men all belonged to an overseas esoteric group that had been lurking in Ting Feng Xi Yu Lou in recent days, ambushing other candidates who came to investigate—Joe’s teammates included. They had excellent vision in the dark and took advantage of unsuspecting passersby to launch their attacks. Additionally, they spread rumors about vengeful spirits, hoping to use fear to reduce the number of competitors.
Mei Ru Jing glanced around at the foreign men with cold expressions and remarked indifferently, “Of course, there aren’t any ghosts. It’s always just scheming people causing trouble.”
The Stone mineral vein had attracted many envious eyes. Joe’s team was quite well-known internationally, making them a prime target.
Now that the foreign attackers were securely tied up, Chu Qianli’s courage grew significantly. She pointed at Joe’s bruised and swollen face and complained, “Look at what you guys did—how could you even beat up one of your own countrymen like this?”
Joe was using a portable wet wipe to clean the wounds on his face when he reminded her, “My friend, I’m not from the same country as them. Didn’t you notice that I couldn’t even understand what they were saying?”
The ambushers weren’t speaking English, so Joe had no idea what they were communicating while they were attacking him.
“You don’t understand Chinese, fine, but how do you not even understand a foreign language?”
“I…” Joe was just about to argue when he glanced at Tan Muxing behind her. His confidence instantly plummeted. He sighed in defeat, “Forget it, my friend, I really don’t understand. Maybe I’m just illiterate.”
After witnessing Tan Muxing’s strength firsthand, Joe’s attitude changed completely. He now addressed Chu Qianli as “friend” with perfect restraint. The arrogance he had at the hotel entrance when arguing with the “brat” had completely disappeared. He had come to realize that Chu Qianli’s guardian was indeed more formidable than his so-called guardian spirit. Whether or not Tan Muxing could fight ghosts was still uncertain, but when it came to fighting people, he was absolutely top-tier.
Joe continued treating his wounds, hissing in pain as he dabbed at his injuries.
Meanwhile, Mei Ru Jing was on the phone with the elderly night guard at the entrance, inquiring whether Mondsen Group could send law enforcement officers to deal with this esoteric group that had deliberately attempted to harm candidates. There were no surveillance cameras inside Ting Feng Xi Yu Lou, but fortunately, Chu Qianli and the others could testify. Besides, Joe’s bruised face was solid evidence.
While Tan Muxing kept watch over the tied-up attackers, Chu Qianli—now free from immediate danger—took the opportunity to wander around the third floor. She couldn’t shake the eerie feeling in the air. In a hushed voice, she muttered, “Something about this floor feels… off.”
Mei Ru Jing hung up the phone and frowned. “I fear this building has seen more than one murder. The elevator shaft was one, and there’s another case on this floor. Otherwise, the divination wouldn’t be so ominous.”
“The guardian spirit says that an evil sorcerer once lived here and even conducted dark rituals,” Joe added from the side. “Yesterday, my companion and I originally planned to perform a purification, but we couldn’t find the exact site of the rituals. Instead, we were inexplicably pushed down the stairs by this group.”
Chu Qianli quipped, “…Don’t try to make sneaking in to peek at exam questions sound like some noble purification of dark rituals.”
Joe replied righteously, “Purifying the souls of the dead is far more important than an exam.”
“A statement that would be more convincing if the great sorcerer wasn’t saying it with a bruised and swollen face.”
Joe, now beaten to a pulp, was covered in injuries. Hearing this, he became exasperated. “Why do they all go for my face? They’re obviously jealous of my handsome looks! Now I won’t even be able to show myself during the exam tomorrow!”
Joe had a sinking feeling that he was in for another round of worldwide ridicule.
“You should be grateful you can still take the exam at all.”
The Next Morning
At dawn, Shi Zhuoqu and the others gathered in the lobby to announce that the ambushers’ group had been disqualified. Mondsen Group had already handed them over to the police and was in the process of contacting the injured competitors who had been forced to withdraw, informing them of the real cause of their falls and coordinating compensation.
Joe successfully uncovered the mastermind behind the Ting Feng Xi Yu Lou attacks, finally clearing his team’s name from the false rumors about being defeated by vengeful ghosts.
However, it wasn’t Joe’s team that truly gained fame—Chu Qianli and her companions became the talk of the metaphysical world, both domestically and internationally. The most absurd part? Their renown had nothing to do with divination at all!
In the Hotel Lobby
After finishing breakfast, a lively discussion broke out among the guests about the dramatic events of the previous night.
“Did you hear? That group of foreigners who got caught yesterday actually ganged up on another foreigner—and just when they thought they had the upper hand, one of our local friends happened to witness it. Without hesitation, they let out a heroic shout, and then—Kung Fu activated…” The storyteller gestured animatedly. “Swish swish swish swish! Five or six big guys were instantly knocked to the ground! The poor foreigner they were beating up just stood there, completely stunned!”
“Hey, you’re missing some ‘swishes’ in your story! The version I heard said it was seven or eight guys—a whole group trying to gang up on just one person, only to get wrecked in return! The real story should be: swish swish swish swish swish swish swish!—and then they lost!”
“No, no, you’re all underestimating it! My neighbor’s building was full of foreigners. If you ask me, it was more like a dozen swishes—swish swish swish swish swish swish swish swish swish swish…!”
“Doesn’t matter how many swishes there were—the point is, our people are the real deal! No need to compare metaphysics—our martial arts alone have already won!”
The group chatted enthusiastically, their excitement bubbling over.
At the Next Table
Tan Muxing, overhearing the conversation beside him, felt an indescribable sense of embarrassment. He never expected that his fight would spread so far and wide—so much so that he couldn’t even lift his head.
Chu Qianli chuckled and teased, “Star, you’ve truly brought honor to our country.”
Mei Ru Jing: “Looks like that Joe really is quite famous. He got beaten up for a night, and the news spread worldwide. Turns out he wasn’t exaggerating yesterday.”
The three of them had initially thought Joe was all talk, but the speed at which information about him spread suggested he really did have some international influence.
In the villa district, some divination practitioners were eagerly discussing last night’s events, while others were methodically preparing for the day’s exam.
—
At the Foot of Ting Feng Xi Yu Lou
Ebner scanned the surrounding environment, his voice filled with amazement. “Lin, I can’t believe you managed to find a place like this. The energy field alone is unsettling.”
“Are you sure you want to take the exam?” Lin narrowed his eyes. “Technically, you have a pact with Q, so you don’t need to go through the selection process. I originally brought you to China to search for the remaining New Era Keys.”
“Since the Chinese preliminary exam emphasizes fairness, shouldn’t I also participate in the second-round selection?” Ebner smiled. “Or is it that you want to find more compliant people to replace me, so you don’t want me involved?”
Lin raised an eyebrow. “Why would I? Our interests are aligned.”
Ebner responded with an ambiguous, “Perhaps.”
—
Sunset and the Second Round Begins
The golden-red sunset filled the sky, gradually fading into the evening breeze as the time for the second-round selection finally arrived.
At Xianhe Residence, Liu Jun stood on the terrace, watching as a tour bus pulled up by the roadside. He called out, “Zai Yuan, it’s time to go.”
Xu Zaiyuan stood up, slowly slung his peachwood sword over his back, and said, “I just cast a divination.”
“How did it turn out?”
“If I want to achieve my goal, I have to make a strong impression in today’s exam.”
—
On the Way to the Exam Site
At the entrance of Xinhe Residence, Chu Qianli and the others boarded the tour bus. Feeling the night breeze on their faces, they took in the view of the villa district under the descending darkness, soon spotting Ting Feng Xi Yu Lou in the distance.
The seals and barriers in front of the building had all been removed, indicating that someone had rearranged the scene during the day.
Several tour buses were parked neatly at the entrance as candidates from the villa district arrived for the evening’s second-round selection.
“So many people.” Chu Qianli hid behind Tan Muxing, observing the unfamiliar men and women around her. She marveled, “It never feels this crowded during meals.”
Inside the first-floor hall, the candidates varied in appearance and attire—some were Eastern divination practitioners, while others were Western occultists, making for a mixed and diverse gathering where multiple languages intermingled.
Mei Ru Jing explained, “Some people never go to the main hall after checking in. They just stay in their rooms, so we don’t usually see them, which makes it feel like there are fewer people.”
—
The Second Round Begins
Before long, Lin reappeared, once again surrounded by a team of bodyguards and translators at his side.
Standing at the top of the staircase, he overlooked the candidates in the hall and formally announced the rules of the second round:
“Welcome, everyone, who has traveled from afar to be here. Tonight, we will conduct the second round of selection for the New Era Project inside this villa. Now, please direct your attention to the right side of the first floor.”
The translators meticulously conveyed his words, ensuring that candidates from all nations could understand.
Following the direction of the voice, everyone turned to see Shi Zhuoqu and the others seated beside a transparent box on a table.
“This building once witnessed a murder case. We ask each of you to use your own abilities to reconstruct the event on paper and then place your written accounts into the designated box.
“We will assess each entry based on the completeness of the information. After the exam, all submitted entries will be publicly disclosed, and you will have the right to challenge the results if you wish.”
“After the selection process, the ten candidates with the most detailed and accurate information will be invited to the second-floor conference room to further elaborate on their findings.
“There will be cameras and recording equipment in the room, allowing the other candidates to watch their presentations.”
Lin’s gaze swept over the crowd as he added meaningfully,
“Considering that some have questioned the fairness of the previous selection, we have introduced this new step—so that you may judge for yourselves who is truly the most accurate.”
Lin held up the golden badge featuring an apple and a snake and continued, “The answer of the candidate who receives the most votes will be taken as the final standard, and they will also receive a special Mondesen badge. There are a total of three such special badges, which will be awarded gradually in the subsequent selection rounds.”
“We promise that those who collect more badges will have a greater say in the New Era Project.”
Chu Qianli calmly remarked, “Whether or not we get this badge doesn’t really matter—the significance behind it is what’s crucial.”
The Mondesen Group would award the special badge to the candidate who received the most votes. If someone managed to collect all the badges, it would mean they were universally recognized among all the candidates. Even without the badges, such a person would naturally hold influence!
The infant stone mineral veins were not something that could be developed by a single individual. And where there was a team, there would always be a leader.
“The examination officially begins now. Please complete your investigation within the allotted time and submit your answers promptly.”
With the Mondesen Group setting a fixed time limit for exploring the Tingfeng Xiyu Building, many candidates who had already received prior information swarmed toward the elevator shaft in a chaotic rush.
Meanwhile, others began their investigations within the first-floor hall. Some mumbled cryptically to themselves, some sat down to arrange magical formations, and others frantically shook copper coins, employing various methods to uncover the truth.
Mei Rujing glanced around and remarked, “The elevator area is so crowded.”
Chu Qianli suggested, “Let’s take this chance to check out the third floor before everyone else catches on!”
Multiple crimes had taken place in the Tingfeng Xiyu Building. The elevator case was the most well-known, even spawning online rumors, but the third-floor incident had never been publicly disclosed.
The three of them hurried upstairs, only to find that someone had already beaten them to it.
In the corner, Joe was placing rune-engraved artifacts, attempting to divine the truth using ancient symbols. Runes, also known as the secrets of the universe, had nearly faded into obscurity, and few people still used them today.
Having shared last night’s adventure, Chu Qianli and her companions had grown somewhat familiar with Joe. Seeing his face covered in bandages, she teased, “Friend, you really have good timing, huh?”
“Friend, someone got here even faster than me, alright?” Joe shot her a sidelong glance and tilted his chin toward another person. “That guy arrived before I did, and someone else just left.”
Following Joe’s gaze, Tan Muxing spotted a figure with golden hair. “That person over there?”
Joe nodded. “Yeah, I have no idea how they moved so fast.”
The individual in question was an elegant English gentleman exuding a scholarly aura. He appeared refined and courteous, someone who had never shown up in the villa’s main hall before.
Chu Qianli sized the man up before retracting her gaze and asking curiously, “If he was able to head straight to the third floor, his abilities must be quite decent. You guys all work in the international field—how is it that you don’t know each other?”
“How should I explain this to you… Foreign countries exist in large numbers too, you know,” Joe replied. “But I did ask for his name just now, and he said he was called ‘A.’ Isn’t that just messing with me?”
Joe assumed the man was using a fake name to brush him off, which didn’t leave a good impression. Annoyed, he added, “He even has a panda brooch pinned to his chest. I really have nothing to say to people like that.”
From Joe’s perspective, A’s outfit was completely mismatched. No matter how one judged it from a fashion standpoint, a formal suit paired with a panda brooch simply didn’t go together.
Chu Qianli tilted her head earnestly and said, “Are you seriously prejudiced against pandas? Saying that in our country is actually illegal. You might get arrested by the Panda Protection Association any minute now.”
Joe: “?”
Hearing her speak so convincingly, Joe was startled. “No way, I never heard anything about that when I entered the country…”
“Why do you think he’s wearing a panda brooch? There’s a reason for everything. We’ve long had regulations against maliciously defaming pandas—just like how some places have laws against making faces at dogs!” Chu Qianli pulled out her phone, showing him bizarre laws from the internet. With a serious expression, she explained, “Look, it’s all online. In the city of Galesburg, Illinois, it’s illegal to make faces at dogs. In Ohio, it’s illegal to get fish drunk…”
Seeing that these laws really existed, Joe instinctively linked them to giant pandas. His expression instantly turned anxious, and he suddenly didn’t know what to do.
Tan Muxing, unsure where she had picked up so many obscure facts to trick their foreign friend, could only sigh helplessly: “…”
I am just a novice translator and Chinese is not my native language. I try my best to translate the chapters as accurate as possible.
If there are any mistakes then kindly comment and remind me. Your support means a lot.
