Fantasy: I Become God by playing a game [Dungeons + LitRPG +Xinxia]

**Chapter 23: Mock Exam (8)**

Su Chen stood there, calm and smiling, yet Xu Jianliang and the others felt an overwhelming sense of suffocation—as if a python had coiled around them, squeezing tighter with each passing second.

It didn't make sense. Su Chen was only at the third level of the Qi Gathering Stage, yet he had appeared beside them in an instant without a single warning.

This terrifying speed… what did it mean?

It meant that, if Su Chen wanted, he could have taken out all three of them silently and effortlessly.

Beads of sweat dripped down Xu Jianliang's forehead as he stared at Su Chen. Was this speed a natural talent, an unknown technique, or the effect of some magical artifact or talisman? He couldn't figure it out—and he wasn't about to try.

Without hesitation, Xu Jianliang made what he thought was the wisest decision. He bowed deeply and apologized.

"I was wrong, Classmate Su. Please forgive us."

Sometimes, retreating and admitting fault is the better choice, and Xu Jianliang prided himself on adapting to circumstances quickly. Su Chen's abilities were shrouded in mystery, and provoking him further wasn't worth the risk.

After all, failing to gain enough credits in the mock exam would have much graver consequences than this momentary humiliation. Credits represented cultivation resources—essential for any student at Jiangnan No. 1 High School.

Su Chen regarded him coolly before waving a hand dismissively.

"Fine. Let's part ways here."

With that, Su Chen turned and walked away, leaving Xu Jianliang sighing in relief.

'He's letting us go,' Xu Jianliang thought, his heart finally steadying. He must be a decent person after all.

But just as he felt the tension ease, a quiet tap on his back startled him. He turned to see Chai Xi, the taciturn yet sharp member of their group, pointing wordlessly at Su Chen's watch.

Xu Jianliang's gaze followed the direction of Chai Xi's finger, and when he saw the display on Su Chen's watch, his expression shifted from relief to smug arrogance.

15%.

The watch's spiritual power indicator was only at 15%.

This protective watch absorbed spiritual energy from the air to maintain its barrier, ensuring minimal operation at low levels. For it to replenish completely, candidates had to channel their own spiritual power into it.

But the exam had a critical rule: if the watch's value dropped below 10%, it would trigger an emergency teleportation array, ejecting the candidate from the test area.

What did 15% mean?

It meant that Su Chen's spiritual power was nearly depleted. In real combat, this would equate to severe injuries, and in the mock exam, it indicated that Su Chen was hanging by a thread.

"He's bluffing," Xu Jianliang muttered, confidence surging through him.

"Wait a moment!" he called out.

Su Chen stopped and turned, his brow furrowing slightly. "Yes?"

Xu Jianliang's smirk returned as he confirmed the reading on Su Chen's watch.

"Classmate Su, your acting is quite impressive. Once wasn't enough, so now you're trying to fool us a second time?" he sneered. "Perhaps you should give up cultivating immortality and switch to acting—it suits you better!"

He straightened, his voice growing bolder.

"I was wrong? What a joke! I, Xu Jianliang, don't make mistakes. It's you who owes me an apology! Do it now, and maybe I'll consider letting you off. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to send you out of the exam, even if I have to lose points for it."

Seeing Xu Jianliang's arrogance, Su Chen chuckled inwardly. He'd baited him perfectly. Feigning panic, he quickened his pace as though trying to leave in a hurry.

"I don't understand what you're talking about…" Su Chen muttered, his voice trembling just enough to sell the act.

"Where do you think you're going? Attack him!" Xu Jianliang barked.

At his command, Zheng Liu, holding her Spirit Fox Pen, attacked alongside him. Only Chai Xi hesitated, stepping back ever so slightly. His cautious retreat went unnoticed by the others, who were focused on their target.

Zheng Liu unleashed her Red Flame Talisman, while Xu Jianliang cast the Earth Spike Technique.

In two breaths, spikes erupted from the ground, weaving into a cage that enclosed Su Chen completely. The Red Flame Talisman followed, igniting the wooden cage in a blazing inferno.

This was their well-practiced combination technique—Fire in the Wooden Cage.

Even a Blood Amber Wolf at the sixth level of Qi Gathering couldn't escape unscathed from such an attack. Surely, Su Chen, with his depleted spiritual power, would be utterly defeated.

Watching the fire rage, Xu Jianliang shook his head with mock pity.

"What a shame, Classmate Su. If this were a fair one-on-one fight, I might have admitted defeat. But this isn't about fairness—it's about survival. In the real world, no one fights fair."

He smirked.

"So don't blame me for ganging up on you. Let this be a lesson—humility goes a long way. Perhaps you'll reflect on this as you cultivate in the future."

He continued his smug monologue until Zheng Liu interrupted.

"Jianliang… our points haven't decreased."

Her words froze him mid-sentence.

If they'd successfully attacked another candidate, they would have lost points for breaking the rules of the first stage. Yet their scores remained intact.

The realization hit Xu Jianliang like a thunderclap.

"Wait… no…"

A deafening dragon roar shattered the air. The blazing tree cage exploded into sparks, the rain hissing as it turned the embers into wisps of pale smoke.

Su Chen emerged from the smoke, brushing ash from his blade. His gaze locked on Xu Jianliang, a sly smile tugging at his lips.

"Now," Su Chen said softly, "you've taken the first step."

In the next instant, his figure vanished.

Xu Jianliang didn't even have time to react before a blinding light engulfed him, accompanied by the same dragon roar. He barely registered what had happened before being teleported out of the exam.

"First."

Su Chen reappeared beside Zheng Liu, who hadn't even raised her Spirit Fox Pen in defense. With a swift strike, she was teleported out as well.

"Second."

Finally, Su Chen turned to Chai Xi, the last remaining member. The muscular cultivator raised his hands defensively.

"Wait! I didn't do anything! I didn't attack you!"

Su Chen smiled. "I know."

Before Chai Xi could process his words, Su Chen's sword flashed, sending him out of the mock exam.

As Chai Xi vanished, Su Chen muttered, "But I hate schemers. They remind me too much of myself."

He turned his blade, inspecting its edge.

'Tacticians… people with dirty hearts. I can't stand them. I won't allow anyone to have a dirtier heart than mine.'

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