Chapter 85: The Hidden Profession of Magic City

Meanwhile.

Zhou Family estate.

On the huge television screen in the living room, the highly anticipated National Examination was being broadcast live.

Liu Yuru had deliberately changed into a luxurious qipao today, sitting on the main sofa with a glowing, ruddy complexion.

Zhou Feng sat beside her with a complex expression.

The living room was packed with servants of the Zhou Family, everyone holding their breath in intense concentration, not daring to even let out a loud breath.

"See it clearly!"

Liu Yuru picked up a cup of black tea, gently skimming off the foam with the lid, her voice filled with undisguised smugness.

"Today, my son, Lu Qi, is representing our entire Dongning Province to participate in the National Examination!"

She glanced sideways at Zhou Feng beside her.

"How many years has it been since your Zhou Family produced such a talent that brings glory to the ancestors?"

"Come to think of it, this time your Zhou Family is basking in the reflected glory of my son."

Zhou Feng's cheek muscles twitched, his face turning pale and green by turns, and finally, he squeezed out a single word from between his teeth.

"Yes."

Liu Yuru withdrew her gaze with satisfaction, looked toward the terrified servants, and raised her volume.

"Listen up, all of you!"

"Later, if you see Young Master Lu Qi on camera, clap hard for me!"

"Whoever's applause is the loudest will be heavily rewarded by me!"

However, as the broadcast progressed, the smile on Liu Yuru's face gradually froze.

On television, the mage in the star moon robe slaughtered all directions, leading the Dongning Province team to sweep all the way and consecutively wipe out several provincial teams.

Yet no matter how she looked left and right, she simply couldn't see her son's figure.

Liu Yuru's brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

"Isn't this the team of Dongning Province?"

"How come there are only four people?"

"Where is my son?!"

Zhou Feng cautiously spoke up from the side.

"Perhaps… Qi'er has a special mission and is acting alone."

"Acting alone?"

Liu Yuru was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly exploding in fur, slamming a hand onto the coffee table and splashing tea everywhere.

"Why should he act alone?!"

"My son is so outstanding, he should be the captain of this team!"

"Now look, all the limelight has been stolen by some wild brat who popped out of nowhere! My son doesn't even get a single camera shot!"

Triple Island, deep within the jungle.

A figure was leisurely carving something on a huge ancient tree.

He wore a bizarre mask on his face.

His sharp nails danced like a butterfly flitting through flowers, leaving behind intricate and mysterious runes on the rough bark.

Around him, several massive exotic beasts wandered aimlessly, yet turned a blind eye to him, as if he didn't exist at all.

While carving, he hummed an unknown tune, his demeanor elegant and exuding a calm composure.

The next second.

A cold female voice abruptly sounded inside the mask.

"Zuo Daolin, you need to hurry up."

"In this year's National Examination teams, a ferocious expert seems to have appeared."

"Up until now, ten teams have already been eliminated by him."

"If you keep dawdling like this, by the time you finish setting everything up, eight out of ten candidates this year will be cleared out by him alone."

The masked man called Zuo Daolin paused his movements, then let out a low chuckle.

"Oh?"

"There's a ferocious expert this year?"

"That's really… fantastic."

The speed of his carving suddenly increased by a few notches, and the laughter coming from his mouth grew increasingly eerie.

"Then I will reluctantly speed up."

"You know me, the rarer the talent, the more excited I get."

"If I can bring him back, the boss will definitely praise me heavily."

The female voice came over again, carrying a hint of warning.

"You'd better bring back a live one."

"Don't be like that trash Chu He, who messed up and ended up getting the person killed directly."

Zuo Daolin let out a string of cackling weird laughter, his voice sharp and piercing.

"How can Chu He compare to me?"

"After all… I am very professional."

Inside the television broadcast room.

Presenter Wei Zheng's voice rose again, filled with passion.

"Audience members! Just received news! The second team to break through the outer encirclement formation has appeared!"

"It's a team from Magic City!"

"Furthermore, everyone please look at the big screen! Judging from the position on the map, the Magic City team is about to encounter our far-ahead Dongning Province team!"

Female presenter Lin Xi immediately chimed in, with just the right amount of excitement on her face.

"I heard that this year's Magic City team also has an S-rank unique hidden Professional!"

"I wonder what the actual strength of this Genius from Magic City is? Can he contend with that handsome mage brother from Dongning Province?"

Wei Zheng pondered: "Although the specific profession of that S-rank from Magic City is not yet clear, judging from the previous performance of that mage from Dongning Province, I'm afraid…"

He shook his head.

"I'm afraid even this S-rank will find it hard to be his match."

"The strength he displayed is completely at a crushing level."

"According to my personal analysis, perhaps only when those two S-ranks from the Imperial Capital join forces will they possibly be able to fight him!"

While speaking, the live broadcast screen had already switched to the inside of the island.

In the jungle, the two teams looked at each other from afar, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

Zhou Huai controlled Gandalf, looked at the opposing Magic City team members, and without saying another word, raised the staff in his hand as per routine.

Initiating the team fight first was his consistent style.

However, the moment he was about to chant.

Within the Magic City team, a person suddenly stepped out.

"Wait a minute! Wait a minute!"

That person waved his hands repeatedly, a benign smile hanging on his face.

"Don't be in a rush to make a move, I have something to say."

Zhou Huai couldn't help but be stunned, stopping the action in his hand.

He sized up the opponent.

That was a little chubby fellow who looked very honest and thick-set, with a roly-poly face carrying a smile, looking completely harmless to humans and animals.

What left a deep impression was that he was actually wearing a brown cross-talk robe, and holding a paper folding fan in his hand.

This art style was completely out of tune with the tense and murderous environment around.

He didn't look like he was here to participate in the National Examination, but rather like he was here to perform a cross-talk.

Zhou Huai controlled Gandalf, his voice low.

"What do you have to say?"

The little chubby fellow walked forward two steps happily and cupped his hands in greeting.

"This mage big brother, can't we be a bit more peaceful?"

"Our Magic City isn't very interested in the top scorer this year, we just want to casually muddle through for a ranking, as long as it's not too ugly."

"Therefore, we don't want to have conflicts with you all."

"If a real fight breaks out, it's very likely to result in both sides suffering and letting other teams pick up the bargain, right?"

He pointed to his own side.

"Besides, we even have one more person than you guys."

"How about we part ways right here, each walk their own wide road, and accumulate our respective points, how about that?"

Zhou Huai raised an eyebrow.

The Magic City team?

Word has it that there is an S-rank hidden Professional in their team; could it be this funny character right in front of him?

No matter how you look at it, he doesn't look like a combat-type Professional.

Regardless of whether he is or not.

Even if he's S-rank, he'll still be insta-killed.

"Since we've met, how can there be any reason to let you guys off?"

Gandalf's voice was icy cold, without a shred of emotion.

"So what if you're from Magic City?"

"Everyone, stay right here!"

As his voice fell, he raised his staff once more.

[Forbidden Spell: Geocentric Gravity Field]!

Terrifying gravity descended instantly!

The next second, the expressions of the five people from Magic City changed wildly. They only felt as if a giant mountain was pressing down on their bodies, their legs turned soft, and they were all suppressed into immobility together.

The smile on the face of the little chubby fellow at the head instantly vanished, replaced by complete shock.

"Holy crap! We agreed not to make a move, you bastard don't talk about martial ethics!"

Zhou Huai sneered inwardly.

Who agreed with you?

He ignored the other party's curses, the crystal at the top of the staff glowed brightly, preparing to cast Meteor Fire Rain and take them away in one wave.

However, right at this moment.

The little chubby fellow, who was suppressed almost to the point of being unable to breathe, managed to raise one hand with difficulty, pointed at Gandalf, and shouted with all his might:

"Cross-talk emphasizes four subjects of study!"

Gandalf, who was currently chanting, abruptly froze in his actions.

He opened his mouth, and an uncontrollable voice spoke out from his mouth.

"Speak, imitate, tease, and sing."

This sudden scene left everyone stunned.

Ye Xi and the other three looked at each other in blank dismay, not understanding why.

Just when everyone felt it was inexplicable.

The little chubby fellow grinned, revealing a triumphant smile, and shouted loudly once more:

"Today, let's give everyone a segment of reciting dish names!"

Gandalf's body trembled slightly.

He found that he completely couldn't control his own mouth.

He pondered for two seconds, then slowly opened his mouth in a flat, emotionless tone.

"I treat you to steamed lamb, steamed bear paw, steamed deer tail, braised flower duck, braised spring chicken, braised sub-goose…"