96: An unreasonable monster! Lu Chen makes his move!

Shelley's Ice Mirror spell timely reflected their images; what everyone saw was the overlapping phantom of a black-haired youth and a skeleton.

Ignis suddenly grabbed Lu Chen's hand and asked, "You bastard... you can already take human form? That's incredible!"

The Flame Demon Girl's flames leaked out uncontrollably!

Clearly, it was unbelievable!

Ignis's eyes were filled with disbelief. "Just a moment ago you were clearly... This is too exaggerated!"

"Maintaining a skeleton form makes it easier to move." Lu Chen's human voice had a magnetic vibration. He grabbed Ignis's wrist, and the demon fire was actually suppressed back into Ignis's body by him.

Lu Chen smiled faintly, "And..."

As he spoke, he turned to look at the collapsing exit of the Secret Realm. "Discussing this now isn't as good as running for our lives, right? Okay? Girls!"

Everyone made a prompt decision and charged straight toward the light gate.

As the last person rushed out of the Secret Realm, the entire space collapsed into quantum dust behind them.

Morning Dew looked at the rising sun over the horizon and suddenly noticed that Lu Chen's shadow under the sunlight presented a triple form—a skeleton, a human, and a mysterious silhouette with thirty-six black and white wings.

It was only for an instant.

But she saw it!

Shelley quietly gripped her staff; her points had already exceeded ten thousand.

She felt overjoyed.

She could finally exchange for the items her Family needed!

..."Another few thousand points added? How is this possible? Could they have already entered the next level of the Secret Realm?"

Chu Jian looked at the leaderboard on the sky screen, his eyes filled with a strange expression.

Right beside Chu Jian, Jie Dao also frowned. "Something's not right. If it were just killing, they shouldn't have this many points! These aren't points gained from killing Demonic Beasts, but reward points for entering the next stage."

The Female Demon Swordsman and the mysterious woman in the black mist heard Jie Dao's words, and a look of fear couldn't help but flash in their eyes.

Obviously, if the people inside, especially Ning Xiwei's team, had already entered, they might even be close to the true gods secret treasure.

Then their own people still inside would have to return empty-handed.

This would cause major problems for their subsequent plans.

The Female Demon Swordsman's gaze fell upon Chu Ye's name.

Suddenly, she noticed that Chu Ye's points were also rapidly increasing.

This couldn't help but make her think of a possibility.

—Chu Ye and his group were closely following Ning Xiwei and the others.

If that were really the case, there were still variables.

Though not many.

But it was better than nothing.

At this time in the valley, a white-haired old man met with the vice-principal of the Knight Academy, and they exchanged greetings.

This white-haired old man was clearly a local Huaxia person.

He stroked his beard and looked at the lively leaderboard, smiling meaningfully. "The joint academy entrance exam is about to take place. If these fellows all get into the academies in the Imperial Capital, it will be spectacular. Under the college entrance exam, very few can enter the various academies in the Imperial Capital, but I see that this batch of children can all get in!"

"Hehe, Dean Long is so concerned. It seems you must pick a good seedling for your academy in this year's joint exam?"

"Not at all. Doesn't your Knight Academy also like to come and poach my Huaxia Geniuses?"

Dean Long's words made the vice-principal startle slightly.

It was a bit awkward.

But it was also a fact.

Western magic academies loved to come to Huaxia to poach talent.

This has been happening since ancient times.

Inside the Secret Realm.

Chu Ye and his group looked at the now empty grotto.

They were so angry they were jumping up and down!

Chu Ye cursed loudly!

"Damn it all! I said we should have moved faster! Now look? Not even leftovers were left for us!"

The group of guards being scolded.

They looked at their prince with aggrieved faces, staring at each other.

After all, it was the Thirteenth Prince who had told them not to move.

They looked as if they were quite intimidated by that Skeleton Soldier.

After those girls and that skeleton disappeared.

He jumped out now.

Thinking he could pick up some good items.

But who knew there would be nothing.

Wasn't this the consequence of the Thirteenth Prince's own poor decision-making and cowardice?

How could he blame it on them?

But as guards who were essentially employees, they naturally wouldn't contradict their boss.

So they just listened quietly!

After Chu Ye vented his frustration, in utter helplessness, he could only take out a communication magic crystal and start contacting his Fourth Brother outside!

...Arriving at the hidden exit of the Secret Realm.

Lu Chen saw a valley under a rainbow.

Right in the center of the valley's peach forest.

A hot spring pool was quietly flowing.

Seeing this, Lu Chen was delighted.

He didn't expect there to be such a hidden paradise here.

After a battle, one could indeed use a good rest.

There was no rush to leave now.

After all, staying here would benefit both him and Ning Xiwei.

But it seemed he would have to part ways with the girls.

Although it was a chance encounter, they had gone through life and death together.

The girls were all quite good.

Lu Chen didn't dislike them either.

Especially since he had gained great benefits from that Ignis.

Although this girl clearly wanted him to help with something.

He'd listen and see when the time came; if it was too hard, he'd just bolt.

Lu Chen was just that kind of crafty person.

Even after taking benefits, he still acted according to the situation.

His main principle was to take all the benefits.

He wouldn't let himself suffer even the slightest loss.

The hot spring valley connected to the Secret Realm exit steamed with the scent of sulfur, and seven layers of magic barriers projected aurora-like light screens onto the rock walls.

Even such a small hidden paradise had powerful magic formations.

This Secret Realm didn't seem to be naturally conceived by heaven and earth.

Instead, it looked more like a world personally created by an ancient powerhouse.

"Everyone, how about a soak in the hot spring?"

Lu Chen suggested, "There's powerful magic in this hot spring; soaking in it will definitely be worth it!"

The girls looked at each other, joy evident in their eyes.

They were indeed too exhausted.

At this time, a soak in the hot spring to relieve their fatigue was indeed a good idea.

Moreover, there were no other people here.

Especially no "men."

What?

You say there's still a skeleton?

Skeletons have nothing, okay!

Ignore him, ignore him.

The girls all thought the same.

Why would they be on guard against a Little Skeleton?

A while later.

Lu Chen was immersed in the milky-white spring water, the rising steam blurring his body as it alternated between bone and flesh.

Lu Chen was now at the seventh rank.

He had initially gained a certain ability to manifest flesh.

But to completely take human form, he would have to reach the eighth rank.

Ning Xiwei sat with her knees hugged in the opposite rock pool, her bone sword resting across her knees, yet her gaze pierced through the mist to lock onto the star-shaped scar on the man's shoulder blade.

Now, Ning Xiwei didn't seem like a Summoner with a Spirit Contract.

Instead, she seemed like a Necromancer.

Because of Lu Chen, she seemed to have become more adept at necromancy.

She even subconsciously turned her staff into a bone sword to cast spells.

Was she starting to gradually develop an affinity for necromancy?

This invisible, subtle change.

Lu Chen saw it all.

He had a suspicion.