C46 It Was All Zhang Tu's Fault!!

To the disappointment of the onlookers, the anticipated confrontation between Lu Lixing and Sha Xiufen failed to materialize. They exchanged nothing more than a brief nod, communicating no further, resembling two strangers who happened to cross paths on the street.

Indeed, the relationship between Lu Lixing and Sha Xiufen had become just that—stranger to stranger.

Gradually, the students attending the special training camp arrived. East Shores School contributed twenty-three participants, while the remaining forty hailed from the Aristocratic Academy.

The Aristocratic Academy, a private institution, catered exclusively to students from affluent families in Skyhaven and its neighboring regions. The education there was steeped in aristocratic tradition, a stark contrast to the curricula of other high schools. Consequently, the Aristocratic Academy's students often held themselves in high regard, looking down on their counterparts from other schools.

Typically, the students selected for the special training camp came from these three high schools. In previous years, the combined numbers from East Shores School and Forest Lake Academy were comparable to those from the Aristocratic Academy. This year, however, was an exception. Lu Lixing's victory over the prodigies of Forest Lake Academy left only himself and Sha Xiufen to represent their school.

As the curious and somewhat wary eyes of the attendees surveyed the Aristocratic Academy's contingent, those elite students were sizing up their counterparts in turn. Though it was their first special training camp, they were well aware of the unspoken rules and age-old traditions. The fact that East Shores School and Forest Lake Academy together only amounted to a little over twenty students didn't surprise them; Lu Lixing's exploits had by now become the talk of Skyhaven, and it was common knowledge that Forest Lake Academy's geniuses had been virtually decimated.

"Who is Lu Lixing?"

Out of nowhere, a tall girl with an air of arrogance stepped forward from the Aristocratic Academy, her intentions clearly not benevolent.

Lu Lixing couldn't help but feel a bit resigned. His fame from the Battle of the Hidden Dragon Platform had spread far and wide, yet these haughty Aristocratic Academy students seemed unimpressed by his record.

Yu Hongzhuo, standing beside Lu Lixing, leaned in and murmured, "That's Zhongli Yilan. She's got the makings of a Runemaster. Once touted as Skyhaven's most promising young talent to become a Runemaster before twenty, she's no longer seen as such."

Upon hearing Yu Hongzhuo's explanation, Lu Lixing was torn between laughter and tears. Students from the Aristocratic Academy placed great importance on their reputations, and his use of the Thunder Guiding Rune during the Battle of the Hidden Dragon Platform had taken the world by storm, inadvertently usurping the title that was meant for Zhongli Yilan. It was no surprise she was looking for a bone to pick with him.

Yet, Lu Lixing couldn't help feeling like an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.

"It's all Zhang Tu's fault!"

Lu Lixing muttered a curse under his breath. Had Zhang Tu not stirred up trouble, Zhang Maozhe wouldn't have sabotaged his qualification test, and he wouldn't have ended up in the Battle of the Hidden Dragon Platform. Without that battle, he wouldn't have unintentionally overshadowed Zhongli Yilan and become a target of her ire.

So, in essence, Zhang Tu was the root of all these troubles!

Zhongli Yilan, clad in a finely tailored dark purple combat suit, surveyed the motionless crowd with a frown. Her voice cut through the silence, sharp and commanding, "Did you not hear me speak? Is Lu Lixing not present?"

Confronted by Zhongli Yilan's aggressive stance, Lu Lixing reluctantly stepped forward from the crowd. Standing before her, he spoke with a lack of conviction, "Hello, I'm Lu Lixing. I'm just an average person, not the genius you're making me out to be."

The crowd, anticipating a fiery clash between Lu Lixing and Zhongli Yilan, was taken aback by his words. The tension that once filled the air gave way to an awkward stillness.

Zhongli Yilan herself was momentarily baffled. She had expected Lu Lixing, the reputed genius runemaster, to be brimming with confidence. Instead, he was capitulating at first sight, a response far from what she had anticipated.

"Are you truly Lu Lixing?"

Doubt crept into Zhongli Yilan's mind as she eyed the unassuming youth before her. Was this really the renowned Lu Lixing, famed for his prowess in battle against overwhelming odds? Or was he an imposter? Had she foreseen this twist, she would have made sure to thoroughly investigate Lu Lixing beforehand.

"That's Lu Lixing."

Zhongli Yilan didn't recognize Lu Lixing, but her companion, Qin Jia, did. With a detached gaze, Qin Jia quietly remarked to Zhongli Yilan, "I never imagined Lu Lixing would look like that."

Zhongli Yilan's brow creased slightly upon hearing this. She hadn't expected this unremarkable-looking guy to actually be Lu Lixing, and suddenly the special training camp seemed dull.

Given Zhongli Yilan's affluent background, she had little regard for the training resources the camp offered. Her sole reason for being there was Lu Lixing.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."

Lu Lixing noticed the intense disappointment in Zhongli Yilan's striking purple eyes but remained unfazed. He was at the camp to focus on his cultivation, not to get entangled in conflicts.

Zhongli Yilan couldn't be bothered to stop Lu Lixing; she was already contemplating leaving the camp.

When Zhongli Yilan remained silent, Lu Lixing turned and made his way back to his spot in the lineup. Yu Hongzhuo watched him with confusion and asked, "Why concede defeat? Here at the camp, it's all about strength, and you're certainly not weaker than her."

Yu Hongzhuo couldn't grasp why Lu Lixing had so readily thrown in the towel. Was it a sense of inferiority? But Lu Lixing had bravely stepped onto the Hidden Dragon Platform; he wasn't one to feel inferior.

Responding softly, Lu Lixing said, "Blame Zhang Tu for this!"