51: Chapter 51 Do you have to follow the rules in front of me?

As soon as these words were spoken, the sound of collective gasps filled the base room.

"Freezing time?!"

Zhao Zixuan stood up abruptly. Usually calm, he was unable to maintain his composure at this moment.

"Are you sure it's a Time-type control skill? This... how is this possible? How could a First-Year University Student master a Law-class skill like that?!"

Lei Zhen's eyes were also wide with shock.

"Damn it! No wonder! No wonder that Thunder Roar Berserk didn't manage to release a single skill until it died! It turns out it was frozen in place?!"

Beside them, Lin Ya's expression was even more spectacular.

Her face turned pale and then flushed red, finally settling into deep regret and annoyance as she slapped her thigh hard.

"Crap! I really was blind!"

"What's wrong?"

Lei Zhen asked.

Lin Ya bit her lip, her voice trembling.

"When school started... that Li Murou, she submitted an application to my Purple Lightning Battle Team! At the time, I looked at her class information and saw her skills were pure trash, so I... I rejected her outright..."

"If I had known she could freeze time, I would have begged her on my knees to join the team!!"

"Besides this, is there anything else?"

Zhao Zixuan pressed for more information.

"Anything else..."

Lin Feng frowned and thought for a moment before finally shaking his head.

"That's probably it. That Chen Xi kept hiding in the back, and I didn't see him make a move. As for Su Xiaoxiao, you guys know she was the ace of Night Curtain; her strength is indeed formidable, but she just has high damage output, nothing particularly fancy."

"That's it then! Everything makes sense now!"

A sharp light flashed in Zhao Zixuan's eyes as he analyzed excitedly.

"Reasonable! Completely reasonable!"

"I know Su Xiaoxiao; her class is Battle Mage. Although her burst damage is terrifying and she's known as the number one stationary damage dealer, her weaknesses are obvious—slow casting times and a need for fixed-point output. Once a monster moves erratically or gets close, she's useless."

"But!"

Zhao Zixuan clapped his hands together hard.

"If you add Li Murou's time freezing, the situation is completely different!"

"An absolute control that can turn a monster into a wooden stake, combined with a super turret that can destroy heaven and earth as long as she has space to output..."

"This is the most perfect combination!"

"No wonder! No wonder they could kill a Nightmare Boss in ten minutes! As long as the monster can't move, Su Xiaoxiao can even dump all her damage to kill the Boss without taking a hit!"

After Zhao Zixuan's analysis, everyone suddenly understood.

The previous fear and confusion vanished in an instant.

It wasn't that Chen Xi was strong, but that the synergy between Li Murou and Su Xiaoxiao was too broken!

"Damn, so that's how it is!"

Lei Zhen punched his palm, a fierce light appearing in his eyes.

"As long as we neutralize that girl playing the zither, their pathetic team will fall apart!"

However, Zhao Zixuan did not become optimistic because of this; instead, his brow furrowed even tighter.

"But... even if we know their methods, it won't be easy to deal with."

He looked at Zhou Tianren with a solemn expression.

"Young Master Zhou, based on our experience in the Thunder Ruins, Li Murou's Freeze Time is most likely an area-of-effect crowd control skill."

"As soon as her zither sounds, all targets within range will be frozen. Even though we have many people, if we get frozen before we can even get close, we'll just be sitting ducks for Su Xiaoxiao!"

"When that time comes, forget about revenge; we might even be kited to death by the three of them even if our five teams join forces!"

"How on earth can we break this unsolvable control chain?"

Zhao Zixuan's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone's heads.

It was true.

So what if they knew the principle?

That was time freezing!

The atmosphere in the base room became heavy once again.

Just then.

"Heh..."

A cold laugh filled with disdain and contempt came from the main seat.

Everyone looked up to see Zhou Tianren swirling his wine glass, a cryptic smile on his face.

"Once you know where the problem is, doesn't it become easy to handle?"

Zhou Tianren said calmly.

Lei Zhen was stunned and hurriedly asked.

"Young Master Zhou, what do you mean? Do you have a way to break that Freeze Time?"

"Break it? Why would I need to break it?"

Zhou Tianren put down his wine glass and did not answer their confusion further.

Instead, he unhurriedly took out his phone from his pocket, found a number, and dialed it directly.

Everyone's eyes subconsciously drifted to the phone screen.

The name displayed on the contact was two large characters—

【Tian Lin】.

"Tian Lin?!"

Zhao Zixuan's pupils shrank as he cried out in shock.

"Isn't that... our First-Year Grade Head, Teacher Tian Lin?!"

"Young Master Zhou, you're... could it be you want to...?"

Before Zhao Zixuan could finish his sentence, the call was connected.

Zhou Tianren made a gesture for silence and then turned on the speakerphone.

Soon, a middle-aged male voice came from the other end, sounding slightly respectful yet tinged with caution.

"Hello? Is this... Young Master Zhou?"

Hearing this voice, the several people present looked at each other, not even daring to breathe loudly.

That was the First-Year Grade Head! A powerful figure who managed thousands of new students in the whole school!

And yet, in front of Zhou Tianren, his tone was actually so humble?

Zhou Tianren leaned back in his chair, his tone nonchalant.

"Yeah, it's me."

"Teacher Tian, you're in charge of this year's Freshman Challenge Tournament, right?"

"Ah... yes, I am in charge."

Tian Lin's voice sounded a bit nervous.

"Has the map been decided yet?"

Zhou Tianren went straight to the point.

There was a noticeable pause on the other end of the line. After a moment, he said somewhat hesitantly.

"Uh... yes. It's already been submitted."

"Which one is it?"

"It's... the Flaming Dense Forest."

"The Flaming Dense Forest, huh..."

Zhou Tianren tapped his finger lightly on the table, a cold sneer curling his lips.

"Regarding the Freshman Challenge Tournament, I have something I'd like you to arrange."

Tian Lin was stunned and said with some difficulty.

"Young Master Zhou, this... according to the regulations, the specific dungeon for the Freshman Challenge Tournament must be kept strictly confidential until the draw results are announced on the day of the competition. Your sudden inquiry is already against the rules, and..."

"Rules?"

Zhou Tianren interrupted him directly, his voice suddenly turning cold.

"Tian Lin, have you forgotten who I am?"

"Lecturing me on rules?"

That simple sentence caused the other end of the phone to fall into complete silence.

Only heavy breathing remained.

It was the weight of power, pressing down so hard that the Grade Head could not catch his breath.

Seeing that the other party didn't speak, the chill in Zhou Tianren's eyes intensified.

He glanced at his watch and threatened in an icy tone.

"Tian Lin, I don't have time to waste nonsense with you."

"I'll give you 3 seconds."

"If you don't do as I say, or if you don't give me a satisfactory answer today..."

"I guarantee you."

"You definitely won't keep your position as First-Year Grade Head until next year."

"Three."

"Two."

...