The urgent priority was finding a way out. Lu Renyi examined the room's furnishings, but he truly could not locate the illusion's exit with his naked eyes.
Lu Renyi raised a hand and gripped a corner of the dining table. Vast psychic power surged from his body and spread from the corner of the table throughout the room. At that point, not only the Fifth Elder who had cast the illusion but even the two men guarding the Grand Elder's door noticed something was wrong.
"Host, what are you doing! The Fifth Elder has sent his guards ahead. You'll have even less time to escape!"
The System detected the Fifth Elder's group moving rapidly toward them, and its voice suddenly rose to a shriek.
Yet Lu Renyi showed no intention of stopping. He even accelerated the release of his psychic power, gradually creating an independent space within the illusion and setting it against the illusion itself.
The two guards outside the Grand Elder's lounge could no longer ignore the situation. They strode to the room's entrance and pushed the door open.
But the illusion would not stop pulling people inside merely because it was struggling against Lu Renyi. It even sought to drag more people in and make them kill one another.
Lu Renyi had been inching toward the door ever since releasing his psychic power. The moment the two men reached out without any defenses and were sucked inside, he immediately covered their eyes with his hands.
He then changed the direction in which he released his psychic power, enveloping the two guards. Using the psychic power clinging to them, he tore a gap in the illusion's entrance.
When Lu Renyi stepped through the entrance, the two guards fell inside the illusion from their own momentum. Lu Renyi had the System tell him which direction the Fifth Elder's group was approaching from, then immediately ran the other way.
The System remained stunned for quite a while before stammering.
"H-Host, you really are bold! If you hadn't drawn them over, wouldn't they have caught you red-handed?"
While running around this floor earlier, Lu Renyi had already learned its layout: which places were rooms, where the corridors led, and which paths were dead ends. Now that the System was guiding him, he certainly would not run straight into the elders.
"Host, you should be grateful this era doesn't have surveillance cameras. I can erase the traces of those abilities and psychic power too. Otherwise, they would definitely interrogate you as a government mole. The trial ground simulates pain at 100%, you know."
"Thanks. We'll split the points converted from my discussion equally afterward, if they're useful to you."
Lu Renyi did not want to become Lu the Slave Driver. The System had helped him considerably, and trading something in return was the best arrangement. He had little interest in the items those points could buy anyway. He would rather coax information out of the System someday and ask who the final villain was.
"Oh, you don't have to do that. But since you've offered, Host, I won't refuse."
There were many things points could purchase, including some that interested the System. It had originally planned to trick Lu Renyi into sharing some with it later. Since he had volunteered, the System certainly would not refuse.
With a benefit on the line, the System worked even harder. After warning Lu Renyi not to run into Chu Ziji ahead, it busied itself erasing the remaining traces.
Lu Renyi lowered his head and walked quickly, looking no different from any other slave he encountered. As he passed Chu Ziji, Lu Renyi happened to reach the entrance of the hall he had left earlier.
Lu Renyi noticed that Chu Ziji's clothes were identical to the ones Chu Zichuan had worn and knew that Chu Ziji had also received the identity of a guard. He simply did not know why Chu Ziji was wandering around here with nothing to do.
Lu Renyi returned to the hall. As he pushed open the door, he cast an illusion over himself, easily changing how he appeared to others. To everyone inside the hall, he now looked exactly like the leader.
The moment the hall door closed, Chu Ziji looked back and stared thoughtfully at it.
Why had he sensed psychic fluctuations from that person as he passed? Weren't the slaves in this era all ordinary people who had failed to awaken abilities?
He was probably another first-year student participating in the trial.
Chu Ziji looked away without much interest. When he raised his hand, the red dots representing Chu Zichuan and He Xu were moving toward him on his watch. He sighed.
"I wanted to find someone from Lin Shubei's team and have a chat, but it seems I can't. That brat He Xu will probably start cursing the moment he sees me."
Chu Ziji slowly wandered into another corridor, preparing to face He Xu's abuse.
Elsewhere, after Xie Qin and Jian Yi encountered the Fifth Elder's group, their ominous feeling deepened. They even began resenting the watches for being unable to send messages.
Xie Qin clicked his tongue impatiently. The Fifth Elder ahead heard him and glanced back with slight confusion.
"You seem somewhat anxious?"
After the Fifth Elder's seemingly calm yet intimidating eyes swept over him, Xie Qin found the emotions in his heart even more difficult to conceal.
The dryness in his throat warned him that he was afraid. Even after forcibly suppressing his body's trembling, Xie Qin could not manage a smile.
"My apologies, Fifth Elder. We only found it amusing that someone overestimated themselves enough to come to our Church seeking death. Steward Xie just said he would personally teach that person a lesson."
Using her broad robe as cover, Jian Yi tugged on Xie Qin and pulled him out of his fear. She then lowered her head respectfully and apologized to the Fifth Elder.
Whether the Fifth Elder believed her explanation or not, he merely turned away and spoke with an inscrutable tone.
"Overestimated themselves? I think those people in the government sent someone to provoke us precisely because they have enough confidence in their own strength. We cannot let down our guard."
The Fifth Elder valued his life greatly. He was weaker than the Grand Elder, and his illusion-type ability was used primarily for defense and routine infiltration missions. If anyone detected that something was wrong, even his disguise would be stripped away.
The Grand Elder had mocked him just now, scorning his habit of always bringing guards whenever he traveled. The Fifth Elder did not care. He was never someone who paid attention to other people's opinions.
The moment he detected an abnormality in the illusion within his lounge, he immediately took his people to apprehend the intruder. An instant ago, he once again sensed that someone new had broken into the illusion he had created.
But the first person was gone. His presence no longer existed within the illusion. The two newcomers were still hacking wildly with their weapons inside, clearly far less effective than the first person, who had used psychic power to forcibly support a safe space.
The only question was how the first person had escaped. Was he stronger, allowing him to break through with assistance from his teammates, trade them for his own escape, and complete the mission? Or had he attracted other people, then broken through the illusion the instant they entered?
The Fifth Elder walked at the front, his expression unpleasant. If it was the former, they could simply capture and interrogate the man. If it was the latter, matters would be troublesome. It would mean the man's psychic power rivaled his own and that he had seen through the key to the illusion's construction.
Jian Yi and Xie Qin walked side by side. Xie Qin had been careless just now and forgotten that they were inside a trial ground with 98% realism.
If not for Jian Yi, the Fifth Elder's single glance might have left him frozen indefinitely.
Xie Qin felt Jian Yi poke his hand. Once he saw that no one was watching, he looked over. Jian Yi was signaling toward the watch on her wrist, the only object they possessed that could escape the notice of the powerful ability users of this era.
Xie Qin also raised his wrist without drawing attention. When he saw that the red dot representing Lu Renyi had already left the previous area, he relaxed. Now he no longer had to fear that the Fifth Elder was taking people to capture Lu Renyi.
"Fifth Elder, where are you going in such a hurry?"
The person approaching them was He Xu, accompanied by Chu Zichuan in a guard's uniform. He Xu smiled brightly as he greeted the Fifth Elder.
Xie Qin did not know He Xu, but he recognized Chu Zichuan, who had previously come looking for trouble. He did not look pleased to see him. But after noticing that Chu Zichuan wore a guard's uniform while Xie Qin had drawn the identity card of a high-ranking Church member and thus outranked him, Xie Qin raised his head in satisfaction.
Jian Yi, who witnessed Xie Qin's every expression and movement: ...
He truly was a pampered young master who had never suffered. He did not bother pretending in the slightest, and every emotion showed on his face. The man across from them in the brown robe was probably another student participating in the trial. He had most likely already seen through Xie Qin's identity as well.
In her mind, Jian Yi crossed Xie Qin off the list of difficult people and moved him into Qi Yue's group.
"Doctor He. I discovered that someone broke into the illusion laid over my lounge, so I'm taking people to investigate. I didn't expect to find you wandering about with a guard. It seems no one has been injured these past two days. The clinic must be far less busy."
He Xu smiled, exchanged a few casual pleasantries, and moved aside. He could tell that the Fifth Elder had no desire to chat. Naturally, he would not be tactless enough to make himself unwelcome.
Still, he could plant a mine.
He Xu saw Xie Qin and Jian Yi clearly guarding against Chu Zichuan and realized that they were students too. With two Church members accompanying the elder at a time like this, the person who had entered the illusion was probably their teammate.
"Fifth Elder, why not send several people around to encircle the area? If the person uses some trick and escapes by chance, your odds of capturing them will be greater."
He Xu's smile was exceptionally gentle. When he saw Xie Qin's and Jian Yi's expressions change sharply out of the corner of his eye, he continued at an unhurried pace.
"The Church has been unsettled lately, as you know. If someone inside warns them in advance, we'll have a serious problem."
He Xu had all but declared that the government had a mole inside the Church. Yet the Fifth Elder showed no surprise. Instead, he nodded knowingly and did not find He Xu's suggestion strange in the slightest.
"You two, then. We'll continue straight ahead. Each of you take one side. If anything happens, inform us immediately."
The Fifth Elder raised his hand and pointed at Xie Qin and Jian Yi. Neither dared refuse. After secretly glaring at He Xu, they left in frustration.
"Thank you for your trouble, Doctor He."
"It's only right."
Once everyone had left, He Xu's smile vanished. He turned his head toward Chu Zichuan.
"Hurry up and use that telepathy between you twins. Ask your younger brother when he'll arrive. We're busy trying to kill the Grand Elder and have no time to look for Lin Shubei."
"Telepathy isn't an all-knowing book of answers. How would I know when he'll arrive? But it looks like it'll be soon. Look, it shows him moving toward us."
Chu Zichuan raised his watch and showed He Xu Chu Ziji's position. Then, watching He Xu's expression turn cold, he exclaimed repeatedly.
"You were far too lucky this time. You drew a powerful doctor, and the role happens to match your ability. You don't even have to worry about exposing yourself."
"Your smile is a little frightening, though. And you deliberately sent those two away just now, didn't you? Why? Do you dislike them?"
You're the one I dislike more.
He Xu opened his mouth but ultimately did not say anything impolite aloud. He had no intention of answering Chu Zichuan either. Chu Zichuan was not surprised and could keep a conversation going by himself.
"Chu Ziji started out with the group beside mine, but he ran off on his own halfway through. Who knows how many people from that group are still alive?"
During the past two months, He Xu had already prepared himself for the unrestrained way the twin brothers Chu Zichuan and Chu Ziji did things. Chu Zichuan looked more mature than his younger brother, but he was actually a chatterbox. Chu Ziji spoke less, yet every sentence was designed to cause trouble.
Ordinarily, He Xu had no authority over what they did. But now their interests were tied together. If Chu Zichuan and Chu Ziji continued acting however they pleased, it would inevitably affect him.
"If you get eliminated early because you took your fun too far, don't blame me for coming after you once we're outside."
Ever since entering Supernova Ability Academy, He Xu had aimed to join the selection team and participate in the World Ability User Tournament. Nothing could be allowed to disrupt his plans.
Chu Zichuan nodded absently, making it impossible to tell whether he had listened.
Just as He Xu prepared to ask what was wrong, Chu Ziji approached from the side. Chu Zichuan immediately raised a hand and pointed at him with an innocent expression.
"I feel uncomfortable the moment I sense him coming closer. You can't blame my attitude this time."
He Xu: I don't really understand the rapport between you twins.
"Didn't we agree to meet every five hours? Did you remember it in your brother's brain?"
Chu Zichuan: "Thank you, but I don't think you were complimenting my memory."
Chu Ziji laughingly crowded closer. After a few words distracted He Xu's attention, he pointed toward the corridor opposite them.
"I almost ran into a group of elders on the way here. I was so scared I changed direction and ran over. I wasn't late on purpose."
He Xu glanced at him, giving no indication whether he believed him. He raised his watch and looked at the red dots representing the other two teammates. They were still several floors below, and he did not know whether they could make it. He immediately decided to investigate the building's layout first.
"I don't know what's happening outside today, but there have been many more patients. I was trapped in the clinic until now. How much do you know about this floor?"
He Xu walked ahead and ignored the twins' furtive horseplay behind him. But after waiting quite a while without receiving an answer, he turned around impatiently. When he saw them covering each other's mouths, he took another deep breath and told himself to remain calm.
"Ahem, the layout. We learned it ages ago, right, Chu Ziji?"
"Huh? Oh! Right, right. I got bored of patrolling, so I knocked those people unconscious and threw them into a hall. While wandering around, I also found several rooms guarded by sentries. Those should be the elders' rooms. In a while, we can..."
"Wait. You knocked them unconscious, threw them into a hall, and simply left them there?"
Elsewhere, Lu Renyi had just cast a shell of illusion over himself and the hall. To everyone inside, he looked like the leader.
Then he pushed open the door and saw a group of guards lying unconscious on the floor, their lives uncertain.
"System, I didn't use the wrong ability just now, did I? Did I cast an illusion over myself too?"