When system cheat becomes rampant!

Xiang Beifei watched Yuchi Shen's figure leaving, feeling puzzled.

Is he helping me?

This person who has been giving him trouble since the start of school, would actually help him confront Yang Chengze?

What's going on?

Xiang Beifei didn't quite understand, as logically, someone like Yuchi Shen, who took pleasure in tossing him into the wilderness outside of the domain to make things difficult for him right from the beginning, should have avoided coming out and instead relished in watching him make a fool of himself while being picked on by Yang Chengze.

But why did this guy stand up for him?

Not only that, but Yuchi Shen actually managed to drive Yang Chengze back quite directly.

His methods were even... somewhat overbearing?

He didn't give Yang Chengze any chance to explain.

So was he showing favoritism towards him?

That was really strange.

If it were Li Zimu or Long Guocheng being picked on by teachers from other schools, and Yuchi Shen showed favoritism towards them, that would make sense.

But Xiang Beifei was different.

He had an old dad who bore grudges against Yuchi Shen, who had treated him like that during the entrance examination, and then Xiang Beifei had also damaged him once.

Normally speaking, Yuchi Shen would have been happy to see him harassed by Yang Chengze, to have a chance to vent his anger, right?

—

Yang Chengze clenched his fists, but he was unable to retort.

Clearly, he also feared Yuchi Shen.

"As the referee, I should at least inquire about the situation with the missing student, and you want to stop that too?" Yang Chengze pulled back on his arrogance, his voice weakened by three degrees, but still held hostility towards Xiang Beifei.

"You call that asking questions?" Yuchi Shen said indifferently.

Yang Chengze felt very uncomfortable under that stare and unwillingly said, "Fine! I was wrong just now, but now my student is missing, and your student knows something. As the referee, you should cooperate with me in the investigation!"

This time, Yuchi Shen did not refute but just stared at Xiang Beifei, his eyes full of a warning.

Xiang Beifei slightly furrowed his brow.

Yuchi Shen's gaze wasn't hostile.

He didn't seem to be warning him to make sure he hadn't done it, but rather to be careful with his words?

Seeing Yuchi Shen's silent acquiescence, Yang Chengze immediately looked towards Xiang Beifei.

"Xiang Beifei, Zhu Pengfei disappeared after he met you on the mountain, you must agree with this," Yang Chengze said.

[You have spent 500 influence points to exert Subtle Influence on Xiang Beifei]

Yang Chengze had only spent 10 points against Tang He earlier, but now he was not stingy with his system value when dealing with Xiang Beifei. He couldn't beat Yuchi Shen, and if he couldn't hold onto the moral high ground, he'd be completely helpless against Yuchi Shen, who was acting all high and mighty, and might even be grasped by the handle by Yuchi Shen.

Xiang Beifei, thoughtful, nodded and said, "We did indeed meet Zhu Pengfei on the mountain."

[Your words have affected Xiang Beifei; he acknowledges your statement, and your influence increases by 99]

Still not breaking even.

That's why he didn't like using this ability at will in the first place.

However, Yang Chengze didn't care anymore, because Xiang Beifei had begun to be influenced by him!

"So, I think you killed Zhu Pengfei. Do you admit this?"

Yang Chengze's words were very vague. He wasn't asking, but instead presenting the "facts" to Xiang Beifei, using them to influence Xiang Beifei's mind.

He purposely glanced at Yuchi Shen, smirking to himself.

As long as Xiang Beifei admitted it next, Yuchi Shen would have nothing to say, and he could take advantage of the situation!

After pondering for a moment, Xiang Beifei looked at Yang Chengze and said, "Zhu Pengfei had UR-level protection, do you think I could kill him?"

Yang Chengze was startled!

Wasn't Xiang Beifei influenced by him?

Why didn't he speak as Yang Chengze had intended?

What surprised him even more was that Xiang Beifei actually revealed the matter about UR and Zhu Pengfei?

He knew of Zhu Xinjue's identity and wasn't surprised that Zhu Xinjue had UR-level items. But the problem was—this was a major issue! Because Zhu Xinjue had once committed a capital crime, was captured, and was bailed out through Zhu Yiji's efforts.

Zhu Xinjue was now Zhu Pengfei, and due to his reworked identity, in order to lay low, Zhu Yiji temporarily didn't treat him as a member of the Zhu Family, at least not until a few years later when people had forgotten about the "Highway Killer" incident, then he could take his grandson back.

But if people knew that Zhu Pengfei had UR-level system items, that would be fishy!

With UR-level help, it meant Zhu Pengfei knew someone at the UR level; all Awakeners of the UR level in the Union could be counted, and if investigated deeply, it would expose Zhu Yiji himself.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Where would he have any UR-level protection?" Yang Chengze barked.

Xiang Beifei knew what Yang Chengze was thinking, and the reason for his urgency probably wasn't lost on him either.

Therefore, he understood how to shut Yang Chengze up.

After all, Yang Chengze had actively absorbed a wave of his own influence.

Some people cannot be influenced by Yang Chengze just because he wishes it so.

"I've been thinking about this because when I met him, he was with a desolate beast, displaying the desolate beast's tentacle abilities, and he openly declared his possession of UR items. I was wondering how he came to own UR-level items," Xiang Beifei slowly said.

Yang Chengze's face darkened, his expression shifting as he barked again, "That's sheer nonsense! Not to mention that he doesn't have those things, if he did have UR-level protection, how could you possibly have killed him?"

"You've hit the nail on the head," Xiang Beifei simply said. "I indeed couldn't kill him, but I did kill many desolate beasts."

Yang Chengze was annoyed and said, "Then how do you explain that he's gone after having been seen with you, and only you remained?"

"You should be asking the desolate beast that question, not me," Xiang Beifei said.

"Nonsense!" Yang Chengze shouted.

[You have spent 1,000 points of influence to exert Subtle Influence on Xiang Beifei]

"I am not spouting nonsense," Xiang Beifei said calmly.

[Your influence on Xiang Beifei has failed]

Yang Chengze gasped in shock!

His Subtle Influence had failed?

To think that was 1,000 points!

He had gone all out this time to maximize his influence.

"Could it be because of Yuchi Shen's protection?"

Yang Chengze looked angrily at the indifferent and icy Yuchi Shen!

This bastard! When did he find out that I was going to make a move against Xiang Beifei?

This was an oversight!

Yuchi Shen was also a bona fide SR-class Awakener, much stronger than him. But Yang Chengze had always thought Yuchi Shen was a space-type Awakener and had not anticipated that Yuchi Shen had the ability to help others resist spiritual power control!

Meanwhile, Cheng Xin'an said, "I can testify, and so can anyone from Yongzhou University! Zhu Pengfei colluded with the desolate beast; he's the one who brought it here! And he wanted to kill us all!"

"That's right, I can testify too," Di Sheng also stepped forward.

Everyone deeply despised Zhu Pengfei's actions; he had brought a heap of trouble upon them on the mountain just now.

Yang Chengze looked at SSR-ranked Cheng Xin'an, feeling annoyed inside.

Previously, when Yuchi Shen was absent, he could have suppressed these students using his authority as a referee, but with Yuchi Shen present, his Subtle Influence would be blocked by Yuchi Shen, which was problematic.

Xiang Beifei continued, "Let us then discuss another issue, why does Zhu Pengfei of Yanzhou University possess the strength of a Meridian Opening?"

Yang Chengze was startled!

Tang He immediately spoke up, "Exactly! Zhu Pengfei has the strength of a Meridian Opening phase, yet you allowed him to disguise as a Qi-Controlling student to participate in the competition, severely undermining the fairness of the contest! The fact that he killed Hou Chengwu is indisputable!"

"We can also testify that Zhu Pengfei indeed had the strength of a Meridian Opening phase just now!" Cheng Xin'an said gravely.

"I can testify as well."

At this moment, another person emerged from the crowd behind them.

Everyone looked closely and saw that it was SSR-ranked He Qiutong from Qingzhou University!

He Qiutong appeared to be severely injured, with pale lips and an exhaustion that suggested she had been fleeing for her life ever since entering the Withering Woods. However, she possessed a tremendous ability to hide, being able to control colors and become invisible, which must have allowed her to escape harm for a while.

"An SR-ranked Meridian Opening participating in a Qi-Controlling group competition?"

Yuchi Shen's piercing eyes stared coldly at Yang Chengze.

Yang Chengze started to panic.

Qingzhou University, Yongzhou University, and Liangzhou University could all testify.

This was very disadvantageous for Yang Chengze.

Chen Baiwen had already mentioned to him the issue of Hou Chengwu being killed by Zhu Xinjue. Hou Chengwu was SSR, and Qingzhou University was certainly not one to let things slide, so it was nailed down that Zhu Xinjue—or Zhu Pengfei—had the strength of a Meridian Opening.

If this matter was investigated further, it could only get worse for him, and Yanzhou University's reputation was at stake with allegations of cheating in the elite university competition and apparent ties to those mysterious desolate beasts—all substantiated by a multitude of student testimonies. To continue harassing Xiang Beifei now would extend beyond UR and even damage Yanzhou University's reputation...

At this revelation, he broke into a cold sweat.

He cursed himself for his idiocy!

He had been too focused on thinking about that UR, worried about being blamed, while overlooking these equally important issues!

If Yanzhou University was found cheating, the other elite schools would certainly not let it go. Each elite university had alumni scattered throughout the alliance; the Jiuzhou Alliance wasn't just managed by a UR like Zhu Yiji!

Each school had its own UR alumni in the alliance!

The entire alliance was already replete with intricate networks of relationships centered around URs, forming various power factions. Zhu Yiji might be a UR, but that didn't mean he could monopolize control over other schools.

Now what to do?

What else but deny it all!

"This is utter nonsense! This is ludicrous! There is no way that is true! Zhu Pengfei definitely doesn't have the strength of a Meridian Opening phase; there must be something fishy about this!" Yang Chengze shouted again.

He made up his mind; no matter what, he couldn't admit to these allegations.

In that case, it seemed impossible to give Xiang Beifei a hard time anymore, because if the investigation continued, he couldn't bear the consequences.

Yang Chengze's mind raced, contemplating the present situation.

Xiang Beifei said, "Now the doubt is clear. Zhu Pengfei is at the Meridian Opening phase; he killed Hou Chengwu, and he framed the other students, luring them to the desolate beasts and then collaborating with them to attack us. The desolate beasts we just encountered had the strength of the Meridian Opening phase and could parasitize human bodies, disguising themselves as people, making them indistinguishable from the real... So, Professor Yang, what do you think is the most likely explanation for the oddity surrounding Zhu Pengfei?"

His eyes flashed with a barely visible light, which drilled directly into Yang Chengze's eyes.

Yang Chengze, having absorbed system points from Xiang Beifei and added them to his total influence, meant that Xiang Beifei could now control Yang Chengze's Subtle Influence system and turn it against him!

Yang Chengze had much higher cultivation than Xiang Beifei, making it difficult for Xiang Beifei to complete control him. However, with just a little guidance, it was still possible to stealthily nudge the adversary's thoughts in the direction he wished to see.

Upon being spoken to by Xiang Beifei in this manner, Yang Chengze's mind was quickly occupied by a deeply ingrained idea, only one explanation could resolve all issues—

The answer was on the verge of emerging!

"Zhu Pengfei... Zhu Pengfei might have been parasitized after entering the Outer Domain Wilderness!"

Yang Chengze blurted out impulsively!