107: The final opponent, the Golden Behemoth, is a force to be reckoned with (Part 2)

"Xinghai University Admissions Office?" Lin Zhou's voice came through the door, carrying a well-judged hint of doubt and wariness. "Apologies, Consultant Wen, but with the finals imminent, I need to focus on my cultivation and preparation. Besides, shouldn't relevant admissions matters be handled through official channels or by contacting my school?"

Outside the door, "Consultant Wen's" smile remained unchanged, his tone as gentle as ever. "Student Lin, you might not be aware, but your situation is special. With your extraordinary talent and the acquisition of such a heavy treasure as the dragon vein fragment, you have already met the special recruitment standards for our university's highest-level 'Spark Project.' We have been directly commissioned by the Principal to handle this as a special case, hoping to reach an agreement with you before other factions do. As for official channels, we will naturally complete the process later."

His words were airtight, even bringing up the 'Spark Project' and the Principal, appearing full of sincerity. Any ordinary high school student would likely have opened the door in a fit of ecstatic joy long ago.

But how sharp was Lin Zhou's perception! He clearly caught a flash of unmaskable greed deep within those seemingly calm eyes when the other party mentioned the words "dragon vein fragment." Furthermore, that obscure, cold aura on the man's body had fluctuated noticeably after his refusal!

"I appreciate Xinghai University's high regard," Lin Zhou said, unmoved, his tone flat. "But I still insist on my principles. Everything will wait until after the finals. Please leave."

Having finished, he gave the other party no further chance to pester him and cut off the dialogue. Simultaneously, he secretly activated the simple early-warning Formation he had set up at home (arranged using leftover Materials after becoming a deity) and immediately sent a preset emergency distress signal to Su Yueyao, Lei Huang, and others, as well as the Principal and homeroom teacher of Yuncheng No. 1 High School!

Outside the door, there was a brief silence.

Promptly, the warm smile on "Consultant Wen's" face faded like melting snow, replaced by a cold indifference. He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and spoke lowly into a miniature communicator: "The target is highly vigilant; the soft approach failed. Plan A failed, execute Plan B. Forceful assault, make it quick!"

No sooner had he spoken!

"BANG!!!"

With a massive boom, Lin Zhou's seemingly sturdy alloy door was forcibly blown open from the outside by a terrifying force, as if it were made of paper! Debris flew everywhere!

Three figures burst into the room like ghosts! It was "Consultant Wen" and his two attendants! At this moment, powerful energy fluctuations radiated from their bodies; where was there any hint of their previous Elegant temperament? They were clearly well-trained, ruthless bandits! Their energy levels had reached Rank 7 (equivalent to above LV70 in the deity system, mid-to-Late Stage Weak Divine Power)!

"Kid, you refused the easy way, so have it the hard way!" one attendant sneered, his fingers splayed to form an energy claw shadow that lunged straight for Lin Zhou's neck with lightning speed! The intention was clear: subdue Lin Zhou and take him away by force!

Facing a surprise attack from three Rank 7 powerhouses, an ordinary demigod (LV30-LV50) would likely be restrained instantly without even a chance to react!

But Lin Zhou was already on guard!

The moment the door broke, the Dragon Vein Qi within him erupted, mixing with the Fire of Civilization to form a thick, Black-and-Yellow Dragon Wall in front of him!

"BOOM!"

The energy claw shadow struck the Dragon Wall fiercely, producing an ear-piercing grinding sound. The Dragon Wall vibrated violently but did not shatter immediately! After fusing with the dragon vein fragment, Lin Zhou's Divine Power quality and defensive capabilities far exceeded his Rank!

"Oh? You've got some tricks!" The attendant was slightly surprised, clearly not expecting Lin Zhou to block his casual strike.

"Don't waste time! Together, take him down!" "Consultant Wen" barked coldly, striking out simultaneously with the other attendant! One threw a palm strike carrying bone-chilling freezing Qi, attempting to freeze Lin Zhou's movements; the other shot several grey mental shocks from his fingertips, piercing straight toward Lin Zhou's Sea of Consciousness!

The three-man combined attack sealed off all of Lin Zhou's dodging space!

In this moment of crisis, Lin Zhou's eyes were cold and devoid of fear. He knew deep down that he was no match in a head-on clash; his only hope for survival lay in stalling!

"Jixia Academy, Scholarly Qi Suppression!"

"Temple of Law, Chains of Order!"

His thoughts turned rapidly as he mobilized the power projections of his Divine Realm's core buildings (though their effect was greatly reduced in the real world, they still had an impact)!

A surge of invisible Vast Righteous Qi and the power of Law crossed through space and descended! Although it couldn't truly bind Rank 7 powerhouses, it caused a minute stagnation in their movements, and the mental shocks hit an invisible wall, their power greatly diminished.

Taking this opportunity, Lin Zhou's footwork shifted like a swimming dragon, perilously evading the core area of the freezing palm wind, though the corner of his clothes was brushed by the chill, instantly covered in a layer of white frost. He used the furniture in his home as cover to maneuver against the three powerhouses.

"Boom!" "Crack!"

The furniture and appliances in the living room shattered and exploded one after another under the aftershocks of the exchange! The entire room was a mess!

Although Lin Zhou barely held on by relying on the powerful defense of the Dragon Vein, the protection of the Fire of Civilization, and his exquisite use of power, the absolute gap in Realm was an unbridgeable chasm. His Dragon Wall had already begun to show cracks under the continuous attacks, and his Divine Power was being consumed rapidly; defeat was only a matter of time!

"Deathbed struggles!" "Consultant Wen" lost his patience. A cold light flashed in his eyes as a black nail engraved with eerie runes appeared in his hand. "God-Locking Nail! Go!"

The black nail turned into a streak of dark light, ignoring the Dragon Wall's defense and shooting directly toward the center of Lin Zhou's brow! This was a vicious Magical Artifact specifically designed to target a deity's divine fire and imprison Divine Power!

It looked as though Lin Zhou was about to be hit by the God-Locking Nail!

At the critical moment—

"Vrrr—!"

A beam of cold, clear Moonlight, like the silver river of the Nine Heavens falling down, pierced through the building's floors without warning and accurately enveloped Lin Zhou!

Wherever the Moonlight passed, the incredibly swift God-Locking Nail seemed to fall into an invisible quagmire, its speed slowing abruptly until it was finally frozen within the pillar of Moonlight less than three inches from Lin Zhou's brow, unable to advance another inch!

"Who is it?!" The faces of "Consultant Wen" and his two companions changed drastically as they snapped their heads up.

At the room's window, at some unknown point, a graceful figure stood silently. Moonlight condensed behind her as if draping her in a silver veil; it was Su Yueyao!

A layer of frost covered her cold, Elegant face, and phantom moon-wheels turned within her beautiful eyes. Her icy gaze swept over the three intruders as if looking at three ants.

"Those who touch him, die."

Her cold voice carried no hint of worldly emotion, yet it contained a Soul-shivering killing intent and an unquestionable majesty!

Simultaneously, ear-piercing alarms and powerful energy fluctuations sounded outside the residential area! The forces of the Cloud City Deity Guard, as well as guards sent by the Lei Huang and Yan Li families, were rushing over at high speed!

"Retreat!" "Consultant Wen" made an immediate decision, knowing the task was no longer feasible, and gave the order without hesitation. The three figures flickered like ghosts and burst through the window, turning into three streaks of light that vanished into the night sky in an instant, their speed far exceeding that of ordinary Rank 7s!

Su Yueyao did not pursue. She floated down beside Lin Zhou, her Moonlight Power gently checking his condition: "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, thank you." Lin Zhou breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at his trashed home, he felt a lingering fear, but also looked at Su Yueyao with deep gratitude. He hadn't expected her to arrive so quickly, and her strength... seemed far more complex than it appeared on the surface. That Moonlight which froze the God-Locking Nail was certainly not something an ordinary demigod could perform.

Su Yueyao shook her head slightly, her gaze sweeping toward the direction where the bandits had vanished, her eyes turning slightly cold: "They weren't from Xinghai University. They had the scent of 'Void' on them."

"Void?" Lin Zhou's brow furrowed. He remembered the Lich King his Divine Realm had encountered before, and the "Void Sect" mentioned by Star Meteor. Could these guys be related to that mysterious cult organization? Their target, as expected, was the dragon vein fragment!

Just then, Lin Zhou's personal terminal rang urgently; it was a communication from his homeroom teacher:

"Lin Zhou! Are you okay? The Guard has arrived! Also, we just received official documents from top universities and factions like Xinghai University and War God Academy. They claim that the envoys sent previously were imposters, warning you to stay safe and reiterating their strong interest in special recruitment! Furthermore, people from the City Lord's Mansion and the Military Department have arrived, saying they will provide you with the highest level of security protection!"

Lin Zhou looked at the lights of the police hover-cars and Family guard ships lighting up one after another in the night sky outside, then looked back at Su Yueyao beside him—cold as the moon, yet standing up for him without hesitation in his moment of peril—his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.

Powerful opponents in the finals, a bizarre attack in reality, the recruitment and attention of various factions... all of it was like a surging undercurrent, pushing him to the eye of the storm.

He looked up toward the brilliant starry sky outside the window, his gaze gradually becoming firm.

No matter what lay ahead, he had to face the finals. The Dao of a hundred schools would never retreat at a moment like this!