Swift Retreat and Absolute Safety
The cleansing effect of 'Marsh, Thunder, Following' plunged the surrounding area into an eerie silence, broken only by the faint, circulating hum of the 'Water, Wind, Well' protective dome, and the ragged, still-uneven breaths of the three surviving students.
He Lingxuan was the first to forcefully break free from the paralysis of extreme shock.
She took a deep, deliberate breath; the cool, curative air inside the dome allowed her mind, stiffened by terror and amazement, to resume logical function.
"Chen Ruipeng, Li Shulai, you two stabilize your Qi where you stand and guard Lin Yan!"
Her voice still held a trace of an imperceptible tremor, but her tone had recovered its usual calm and decisive quality.
"I will go collect the Cloud-Hidden Flower. I am the most familiar with its medicinal properties and can ensure a flawless harvest."
Without hesitation, she turned. Her steps were swift and steady as she trod onto the safety path branded by 'Fire, Mountain, Traveler' .
As she stepped out of the dome, He Lingxuan scanned the area. The dense marshland around them was unrecognizable. Where there had been swirling, dangerous currents and hidden sinkholes, now lay scorched, dry, and oddly smooth ground. The pervasive stench of decay was replaced by the clean, sterile scent of ozone and burnt earth. The terrifying chaos had been forcefully replaced by absolute, unnatural order.
The path itself was the most astonishing feature. The crimson-gold flame of the Traveler hexagram did not burn the mud, but rather lay like a magical tapestry, approximately a zhang wide, extending straight toward the destination. She observed the flame intently: it wasn't chaotic fire, but a structured, flowing light. Even tiny pebbles or shallow water that might have hidden a trap were precisely marked and suppressed beneath the flame's glow, guaranteeing absolute safety. This level of environmental control was not something a cultivator achieved; it was a law dictated.
The path, flanked by the scorched, sterile ground cleared by the Thunder decree, held no trace of threat.
Li Shulai opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but the words withered into a helpless sigh. He collapsed onto the ground, immediately attempting to regulate his breathing and replenish his nearly dry Mana Sea.
He glanced at the unconscious Lin Yan, who was being carefully supported by Chen Ruipeng. Li Shulai's eyes were a chaotic storm: the relief of escaping death, the burning curiosity regarding the golden pupils and the world-shattering power, and a profound confusion towards this strange yet familiar teammate, all interwoven.
Chen Ruipeng silently sat cross-legged, gently positioning Lin Yan next to him, allowing the frail boy to lean against his broad, armored back.
He retrieved the discarded, mud-splattered black-rimmed glasses, meticulously wiping the grime from the cracked lenses with a corner of his tunic. Despite the damage, he carefully and solemnly stored them away.
His movements were tender, and the gaze he fixed upon Lin Yan held not just awe, but a heavy, profound sense of guardianship.
He Lingxuan's actions were highly efficient.
Along the absolutely safe path, she quickly reached the section of floating wood. Carefully taking out her jade trowel, she used a technique unique to the Alchemy College, holding her breath in focused concentration. In moments, five perfectly intact Cloud-Hidden Flowers—their petal edges flowing with an ethereal, misty blue light—were successfully harvested and placed into a specialized jade box.
"Go!" she commanded succinctly upon her return.
Chen Ruipeng immediately hoisted the unconscious Lin Yan onto his back. Li Shulai, though still unsteady, struggled to his feet. Without another moment of delay, the four quickly activated their return talisman stones.
The Roar of Twenty-Nine Minutes
The teleportation array in the Hall of Initiation flashed, and four battered figures appeared.
Li Shulai leaned heavily on his sword, barely maintaining his stance, covered in mud, his breathing ragged;
Chen Ruipeng carried the unconscious Lin Yan on his back, silent as a mountain, each step heavy with fatigue;
He Lingxuan's hair was loose, her elegant robe splattered with mud and dark red bloodstains. Yet, the specialized jade box clutched tightly in her hand remained spotless.
The senior student responsible for tallying mission progress stood outside the array—a seemingly lazy young man leisurely sipping tea.
Seeing a team emerge so quickly, and in such a pitiful state, he raised a casual eyebrow, set down his cup, and offered a standardized, often-used "encouragement" to new students:
"Well, couldn't hold out? The Cloudmist Marsh is a bit tough. It's your first mission, failure happens. Just count it as experience, next time..."
His voice cut off abruptly, like a rooster being choked.
Because He Lingxuan had stepped forward. Despite her pale complexion, her gaze was exceptionally resolute as she silently opened the jade box with a sharp snap.
In that instant, five near-transparent Cloud-Hidden Flowers—their petals flowing with an ethereal, misty blue light, their forms perfectly intact—were revealed before the senior student.
The unique energy fluctuation and pure halo of the flowers shone brilliantly throughout the Hall of Initiation, like dazzling night pearls—impossible to fake!
"BZZZZ—!"
The senior student felt a heavy blow strike his head, leaving his ears ringing.
The laziness on his face was instantly replaced by extreme astonishment. His eyes widened like copper bells, and he shot out of his chair!
He almost lunged forward, snatching the jade box, his fingers trembling as he picked up one of the flowers. He carefully felt its pure water-mist Qi, then flipped it over and over in disbelief, confirming not a single flaw or sign of forceful plucking!
"Five... five perfectly intact Cloud-Hidden Flowers?!" his voice rose to a piercing shriek.
Then, as if remembering something far more terrifying, he abruptly whirled around to look at the Time Sundial beside him—a magical artifact that precisely recorded team mission duration.
When he saw the sharp ray of spiritual light marking the exact time elapsed since the team's departure, he froze like he had been struck by lightning, the color instantly draining from his face!
"T-T-Twenty-nine minutes?!?"
A high-pitched, desperate roar, brimming with absolute incredulity, exploded from the senior student's throat, instantly shattering the tranquility of the Hall of Initiation's annex!
"It only took you twenty-nine minutes from start to finish?! That is absolutely impossible!!"
He looked frantic, repeatedly checking the Sundial against the jade box, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
"Even seasoned disciples who know the path by heart, traveling without any obstruction, would need at least an hour and a half just to locate and carefully pluck five flowers! Not to mention the poisonous leech swarms and the phantom Leech King... how could you possibly... how could you possibly do it in twenty-nine minutes?!"
His thunderous roar was like throwing a boulder into a calm lake!
The handful of students and duty lecturers scattered throughout the Hall, who had been waiting, conversing, or handling other matters, were instantly drawn by the sound. All eyes focused sharply on the four newcomers!
"Twenty-nine minutes? Completing the Cloudmist Marsh collection? You've got to be kidding!"
"Is that... the new team with the Divination College student? Didn't they just go in?"
"Did I hear wrong? Twenty-nine minutes? That's barely enough time for travel alone!"
"But judging by Senior Wang's reaction, it can't be fake... Heavens!"
The low murmur of conversation instantly swelled into a wave of clamor. The crowd instinctively gathered, looking at the flowers in the jade box, then at the dazzling, almost sickening "Twenty-nine Minutes" mark on the timer. Shock, disbelief, and utter amazement were etched onto every face!
A middle-aged man in a lecturer's robe, who happened to be passing by, was also alerted and hurried over.
He took the jade box, swept it with his divine sense, and then personally checked the Sundial's record. The composure on his face instantly shifted to solemnity and extreme surprise.
"Twenty-nine minutes... collecting five flawless Cloud-Hidden Flowers..."
He muttered, his gaze at Li Shulai and his teammates filled with scrutiny and deep inquiry.
"Since Dragon's Zenith Academy established the Cloudmist Marsh as a novice trial site, there has never been such a record! The fastest documented time was one and a half hours! How... how did you achieve this?"
The annex of the Hall of Initiation was so quiet now that a pin drop could be heard. Everyone held their breath, waiting for their answer.
Li Shulai faced the multitude of burning gazes. He opened his mouth, only to find he could not utter a single word.
He Lingxuan took a deep breath, meeting the lecturer's probing gaze. She forced herself to maintain her composure, but the slight trembling of her fingertips betrayed her inner turmoil.
She chose to evade the core issue, her voice clear but firm: "Lecturer, the mission is complete. Our teammate Lin Yan is critically wounded and unconscious, and requires immediate transport to the Medical Hall. Please grant us permission to leave at once!"
Her words redirected the crowd's attention from the incredible feat to the severely weakened Lin Yan.
The lecturer took a deep, measuring look at the four, especially the faint-breathing, pale youth on Chen Ruipeng's back, seemingly trying to discern something profound.
Finally, he nodded and waved his hand: "Mission completion confirmed. Your score is recorded. Proceed to the Medical Hall immediately!"