The World of Darkness and Shadows.

  A figure walked aimlessly in the community.

  “Zhong Chum why are you here?”


  One student asked. “Aren’t you going to sell the ball of light? Have you sold it?”


  “I don’t know.”


  Zhong Chu was somewhat hesitant.

  The student was dumbstruck. “Wouldn’t you know if you have sold it or not?”


  There were professional recycling shops in the community of the World of Darkness and Shadows. The processes were automatic. Why would they not release the money?

  “Theoretically, it should be sold.”


  Zhong Chu was just as confused. “But they didn’t pay me!”


  This was how things were.

  He went to the recycling shop to sell the ball of light according to what was described in the guideline.s The other party took it and communicated with him through a dialog box—


  “We are in the process of data processing, please kindly wait. The Shadow Coin will be given to you within twenty four hours.”


  “What happened afterward?”


  The student was shocked.

  “There was no follow up,” Zhong Chu said honestly.

  “And you left?”


  The student was shocked.

  “This is what usually happened at the bank.”


  Zhong Chu turned teary-eyed.

  Whenever he transfered money, he would receive such a notification from the bank and the transaction would be processed in a few seconds. The notification was the same, hence he believed that it was real.

  Afterward……

  There was nothing more.

  An entire day had passed!

  Until now, he had yet to see the so-called Shadow Coin.

  “Perhaps this is the holiday season……”


  Zhong Chu guessed.

  His classmate shot him an incredulous look. Damn! Did he think that everyone was a civil servant? And the talk about holidays, to hell with it! Was he saying that in the World of Darkness and Shadows, there were shadow holidays as well?

  This was the World of Darkness and Shadows!

  It was fully automatic!

  Everything had to abide by rules!

  Did he think that they idled around like some units?

  “If I’m not wrong, you have been cheated.”


  The student sighed.

  “Seriously?”


  Zhong Chu was dumbfounded.

  He thought that since he was not as talented as Zhang Xukun and Gao Tianlang, he would sell his ball of light to increase his combat effectiveness indirectly. To think that he was cheated?!

  “Sigh.

  “I have said this many times. You are too simple-minded.”


  The student sighed. “You spent 90% of your time in school on cultivation. It is useless. You have to complete tasks, make friends, and stay in hotels to become more experienced.

  “Right now……

  “There is no other way.”


  The student was helpless. “I need the ball of light to kill the monsters and I don’t have any Shadow Coins. Besides, we are competing against each other, I cannot possibly give mine to you.”


  “How could this happen……”


  Zhong Chu was beside himself.

  If he was really cheated of his ball of light, how could he take part in the ranking of accumulated points?!

  What were accumulated points?

  To be more precise, accumulated points were the increase in the combat effectiveness of the shadows!

  For students from The First Academy, the huge World of Darkness and Shadows was like a small society. One could increase one’s combat effectiveness through all kinds of methods!

  Furthermore……

  Selling a ball of light……

  The shadow ball of light could absorb the power of the monsters and accumulate points! However, for students who had no intention of fighting the monsters……

  They could reap more rewards by selling them!

  Hence……

  Among the students, there were a number of them who sold their balls of light.

  They sold the balls of light, exchanged them for Shadow Coins and used them to purchase the purest form of tempered shadow forces to increase the combat effectiveness of the shadow!

  This was the most stable and most laid-back way of cultivation.

  Theoretically……

  During the few days of assessment, they had the time to absorb the power……

  It was perfect!

  However……

  He did not expect the shadows that were like NPCs[1] would lie to them! If he had known earlier, he would not have fallen for it!

  “The teachers said that this place is full of sin and deceit.”


  The student sighed, full of emotions. “I didn’t believe it in the past, but now I do.

  “My condolences.”


  He sighed.

  There was an inexplicable feeling of relief.

  Zhong Chu was pretty powerful. If he passed the assessment, he would be his opponent during the on-campus job fair. In that case, one less person would be able to qualify.

  However……

  At this moment.

  There was a screen on Zhong Chu’s Shadow Combat Suit—Congratulations, currently you are ranked first in the assessment.

  The student was speechless.

  Zhong Chu was silent.

  How did he end up in the first place?!……

  Tian Du City.

  The First Academy.

  On the square, the students were surprised to find that a student named Zhong Chu who was originally ranked in the middle had surpassed countless talents to rank first!

  “Who’s this?!”


  “Zhong Chu, I seemed to have heard this name before……”


  “I remember that his results were average?”


  “Perhaps he concealed his real capabilities?”


  Everyone was shocked.

  It was incredible! Who would have thought that after Ye Liangfei and Zhang Xukun failed, the first to make it to the top would be the mediocre Zhong Chu!

  Right then……

  The teachers were just as shocked.

  Several students were eliminated within one day. However, since this was consistent with their expected elimination time, it did not cause too much concern.

  As for Zhong Chu……

  “Old Zhang, I remember he is from your class.”


  “Yes. The child might be talented but it is obvious he is not a top-notch talent……”


  “He must be very lucky to collect a large amount of shadow forces.”


  “One’s luck is part of one’s capability, isn’t it?”


  “You’re right.”


  The teacher had a big smile on his face.

  Not bad!

  Zhong Chu might have average results but he made it to the top! It seemed that although he was not a top-notch talent, he was very lucky!

  The World of Darkness and Shadows was full of mysteries, opportunities and rare encounters. It all depended on the individuals!

  “Zhong Chu……”


  People from the various associations noted down this name.

  Perhaps……

  They could consider contacting him……

  The World of Darkness and Shadows.

  Somewhere.

  Many shadows floated in front of Lu Ming.

  After receiving the ball of light, Lu Ming studied its conversion rate but realized that it was not very ideal. Hence he decided to do something significant to increase his capabilities!

  “That’s not good, is it?”


  Xiao-Xiaojian sighed.

  “I feel like it is fine,” Lu Ming said earnestly.

  Right now, he was at the gambling shop, about to place his bets. The game was about whether the 95th assassination of a person named Jiang Feng would be successful……

  Xiao-Xiaojian felt that this was inappropriate.

  Jiang Feng was in such a pitiful state. He was in a precarious situation every day, yet Lu Ming tried to make money from his situation?

  Where was his empathy?

  “This is my trust in Old Jiang.”


  Lu Ming looked serious. “This is because I believe that Old Jiang will never fail! I believe in his capabilities! This is trust! Instead you…… how dare you look down on him?!”


  Xiao-Xiaojian looked aggrieved. This was the wrong way of looking at things.

  Over here.

  Lu Ming placed his bets using the ball of light that he stole.

  “Shadow ball of light, 100 Shadow Coins, which side are you betting on?”


  “Failed assassination.”


  “Sure.”
……

  Moments later.

  The assassination had officially begun.

  Of course.

  They made a grand introduction of the group that was going against Old Jiang—Seven Kill.

  This was an Assassin organization!

  It was famous a long time ago.

  The impressive part of this organization was that whenever they attacked, they would come prepared. Once the assassination failed, they would send another stronger Assassin to do the second assassination!

  Third assassination!

  Fourth assassination!

  All the way until they completed seven assassinations!

  They had a very good success rate.

  No one was able to survive seven assassinations, especially when the Assassins were stronger and more powerful each time!

  And now……

  After raising the price, they had finally accepted the job, and the first assassination was a six-star! This was why the odds that Jiang Feng won were very high!

  “This is a six-star…… and he has a certain amount of assassination experience!”


  “I’m not optimistic about Jiang Feng surviving this.”


  “That’s right. In the past, they were four-star or five-star. But this time it is a six-star……”


  “So what if he survives? There will be seven assassinations……”


  “You’re right.”


  “Perhaps he is going to die soon.”


  Everyone was talking about it.

  “Are you sure you are not going to contact Jiang Feng?”


  Xiao-Xiaojian lamented listlessly.

  “I trust him.”


  Lu Ming maintained a calm expression.

  Of course.

  More importantly, he remembered that a big shot used to say that Jiang Feng had killed a six-star cultivator a long time ago……

  Hehe.

  What about now?

  Old Jiang must have more secrets than he could imagine……

  After a long time……

  The shadows in the World of Darkness and Shadows reduced. However, it was very lively in the gambling shop. The shadows waited excitedly for the assassination result!

  Moments later.

  There was an update of the assassination result.

  ——


  Jiang Feng, 500 Shadow Coins (Warning: This assassination mission has failed 95 times. The 96th time is in progress…… )

  ——


  Bang!

  This caused a huge uproar.

  Everyone could not help but express their shock using succinct language in the dialog boxes on the top of their heads.

  “It failed?!”


  “How can that be possible?!”


  “This fellow can withstand a six-star?”


  Everyone was astounded.

  Six-star!

  This was a new milestone in terms of combat effectiveness. They could never imagine that the assassination would fail! Who the hell was Jiang Feng?

  Nobody knew!

  “Hehe.”


  Lu Ming smiled amidst the groans in the gambling shop.

  Well……

  He had made lots of money!

  He went directly to the next door to buy a lot of tempered and pure shadow forces, passing them to Xiao-Xiaojian for it to begin its twenty four hours of hardcore cultivation.

  Afterward……

  He bet lots of money on the second wave of the seven assassinations.

  The Assassin was an intermediate six-star!

  According to Seven Kill Organization’s understanding of Jiang Feng’s capability, the beginner six-star only lost by a small margin. Therefore, they merely sent an intermediate six-star in the second try!

  In the realm of six-star, every small increase was equivalent to a huge increase!

  An intermediate six-star was sufficient!

  However……

  Fifteen minutes later, there were moans and groans in the gambling shop again.

  ——


  Jiang Feng, 500 Shadow Coins (Warning: This assassination mission has failed 96 times. The 97th time is in progress…… )

  ——


  They lost again!

  “Who the hell is Jiang Feng?!”


  “He has won two consecutive times. Why does he have so much energy?”


  “I’m not sure……”


  Everyone was astonished.

  They checked the information, It was stated that Jiang Feng was only a four-star!

  To hell with it!

  How could a four-star defeat a six-star?!

  After a long time……

  The third assassination of Seven Kill Organization was tasked to an experienced intermediate six-star!

  “Damn!”


  Some people decided to continue betting that Jiang Feng would die.

  While some decided to wait and see. No one dared to bet that Jiang Feng would win. This was because the gap was too huge. Could he really win?

  Especially—


  Jiang Feng had already survived two assassinations!

  Hence……

  Many people bet that he would die.

  Moments later.

  There were wailing sounds in the gambling shop again.

  The fourth assassination, an advanced six-star!

  Lost!

  The fifth assassination, an advanced six-star who was a five-star Assassin!

  Lost!

  The sixth assassination, a peak six-star!

  Yes.

  Seven Kill Organization had finally decided to send a peak six-star, a very experienced Assassin. However, what was shocking was that he failed as well……

  Everyone was bewildered.

  To hell with it.

  What the hell was going on with Jiang Feng?

  Every time, Seven Kill Organization would make sure to send a more powerful and stronger Assassin in the next assassination. Why was it that they still failed, including the powerful peak six-star?!

  “There must be something suspicious with this man!”


  “Perhaps a seven-star big shot is helping him secretly?”


  “That is possible.”


  Everyone finally realized that there might be something amiss.

  Jiang Feng……

  Was very suspicious!

  Hence……

  In the seventh assassination and the final battle of the Seven Kill Organization, of which it concerned their reputation, they decided to send their most powerful man. He was a super powerful big shot who was just a few steps to a seven-star!

  He was a peak six-star!

  But his combat capabilities were much more powerful than the previous Assassin!

  However……

  This time, everyone had learned their lessons.

  In the previous several assassinations, the Assassins ranged from beginner six-star to peak six-star, but they did not manage to kill Jiang Feng. It was not certain whether a peak six-star would be able to kill him!

  Hence……

  Many people bet that Jiang Feng would win.

  On this occasion……

  The odds of Jiang Feng winning were very low.

  “It seems that I can’t make money this time.”


  Lu Ming felt a little regretful.

  Previously, these people believed that the so-called Seven Kill Organization and hence they kept betting that Jiang Feng would fail. Now that this was the seventh assassination and the organization did not send a seven-star……

  Well……

  It seemed that they were helpless as well.

  As for the so-called person who was about to reach a seven-star…… he was still a peak six-star.

  However……

  It did not matter.

  He should earn all the money he could.

  Hence……

  Lu Ming was about to bet all the money that he earned in the previous rounds when he noticed a flash of shadow next to him. The person hurled heaps of Shadow Coins without any hesitation.

  The person bet that Jiang Feng would die!

  Lu Ming’s eyes widened suddenly.

  “Who is foolish enough to bet that Jiang Feng dies now?”


  Xiao-Xiaojian was gloating.

  These people were very stubborn.

  “This is not right.”


  Lu Ming looked grim.

  Other people might not be able to recognize him, however, this person……

  He had been staring at this person!

  Why?

  This was because this person had been betting that Jiang Feng would win in the previous six rounds!

  That was to say there were less than five people present who bet that Jiang Feng would win. However, Lu Ming and that person were the only two people to bet that Jiang Feng would win for six consecutive rounds!

  Therefore……

  Lu Ming kept staring at the person!

  Moreover, the strangest thing was that the person would leave after every bet and come back after a while. Hence he did not notice that Lu Ming had always been betting on the same side as he was!

  This guy……

  Lu Ming furrowed his brows tightly. Could he be a big shot who had deduction skills?

  Or perhaps……

  Lu Ming’s pupil widened, as he watched the figure float past him. He remained silent for a long while and he hurried to bet all the money before the time was up.

  He bet that Jiang Feng would die.

  Xiao-Xiaojian was shocked.

  “Are you mad?!”


  Xiao-Xiaojian was dazed.

  What was this?!

  If he really believed that Jiang Feng would stay alive, all his money would be lost! If he believed that Jiang Feng would lose…… should he not inform Jiang Feng now?

  He was Xiaobai’s father!

  “Lu Ming……”


  Xiao-Xiaojian was shocked.

  Was it possible that Lu Ming was possessed?

  “Shut up!”


  Lu Ming stared at the assassination panel.

  One hour.

  Two hours……

  Shush!

  The information on the screen flashed.

  ——


  Jiang Feng, 1000 Shadow Coins (The 101th assassination was completed. Jiang Feng was dead.)

  ——


  Jiang Feng was dead!

  Wow—


  There were loud commotions in the gambling shop.

  Dead?!

  Jiang Feng was dead!

  How could that be possible?!

  Although they did not know Jiang Feng, he had won six consecutive times. Jiang Feng was able to defeat a peak six-star, why would he lose?!

  Right then……

  The Seven Kill Organization announced the results!

  They mentioned that their Assassin who was steps to becoming a seven-star was very powerful. His combat capabilities were beyond a peak six-star. When he reached the scene, Jiang Feng, who fought six times, was drained……

  Therefore……

  This was why he died.

  “Crap! I never expected it to be this way!”


  “Previously, I always thought that Jiang Feng could not make it. But he kept winning six consecutive times! In the last bet, I decided to believe that he was very impressive, and yet he died!”


  “It is a waste of my feelings!”


  “My Shadow Coins……”


  Everyone wailed.

  Many dialog boxes flashed in the gambling shop.

  “This is crazy!

  “Everyone has gone crazy!”


  Xiao-Xiaojian’s heart was thumping wildly.

  Jiang Feng was dead!

  This was a serious matter!

  Xiaobai……

  Damn it!

  What about Xiao-Xiaobai?

  Ah!

  When he saw Xiao-Xiaobai later, he must ask Xiao-Xiaobai, if Lu Ming and Xiao-Xiaobai separated, who would it choose?

  W-what if Xiao-Xiaobai decided to go with Lu Ming?

  That could be the case.

  Look at the situation with Xiao-Xiaolan!

  “Lu Ming……

  “How do we explain this to Xiaobai?”


  Xiao-Xiaojian was in agony.

  However……

  Lu Ming ignored it. He did not even take the large amount of Shadow Coins that he had just won. Instead, he watched as the figure who bet that Jiang Feng would die entered the gambling shop. The figure took its winnings and left.

  “Did you see the shadow?”


  Lu Ming suddenly spoke.

  “Huh?”


  Xiao-Xiaojian swept its gaze over the figure who received a large sum of Shadow Coins.

  What was the matter?

  Could it be that this person was a big shot that could deduce the future? Lu Ming recognized him and hence he followed his bet? However, wasn’t it better to go out to save Jiang Feng?

  “Have a closer look.”


  Lu Ming sighed. “Use your intuition.”


  “Oh.”


  Xiao-Xiaojian looked puzzled.

  It swept its sharp mental thought over the figure……

  Swept across……

  Eh?

  Why did it feel familiar?

  Wait a minute……

  Xiao-Xiaojian suddenly came to its senses.

  Crap!

  Wasn’t this Jiang Feng?!

  [1] Non-player characters