Versatile Mage: Get the Desert Emperor clone at the start

Chapter 264 The Treasure Hunt Begins, Multiple Countries Besiege It
The waters of Venice ripple, reflecting the lingering echoes of the bustling activity in St. Mark's Square.

The first stage has come to a close, with the Huaguo Guofu team achieving a perfect record.

The mentor, Feng Li, and the other mentors beside him beamed with undisguised satisfaction.

"This year's promising young talents are indeed different from those of the past."

"Our overall strength has improved significantly, and we really have a chance to win the championship this time."

Feng Li nodded slowly, "I have seen potential, but youthful impetuosity is ultimately a double-edged sword."

"Especially in the last match of the knockout stage... they were too sharp, which was counterproductive."

He was referring to Lan Xi's earth-shattering "performance".

In the final elimination match, facing a formidable opponent, Lan Xi volunteered: "Mentor, I'll take this match."

As a result, she couldn't stop herself when she made her move, and single-handedly took down three of the opponents.

This made all the team members remember this seemingly charming girl.

Before the treasure hunt—
Feng Li gathered everyone together and instructed them, "In the elimination rounds, we displayed too much power."

“Especially you, Lan Xi.”

“The treasure hunt is different from the past.” Feng Li looked around at everyone. “It’s no longer a pure arena competition. The teams from the sixteen countries, with 160 top students, will be randomly thrown into a vast and complex magical region. The environment there is treacherous and full of hidden dangers. The rules are simpler, but also more brutal—fight for resources by any means necessary. Anyone could be your enemy the next moment.”

“I’m worried.” His voice deepened. “It’s precisely because of the overwhelming strength we’ve shown in the knockout stage, especially your stunning performance of defeating three people single-handedly, Lan Xi, that other teams will instinctively see our Chinese team as the biggest threat, or even… a target that must be eliminated first, once they enter the treasure hunt area. A coordinated attack is not impossible!”

However, Lan Xi disagreed, saying, "Even if they join forces, they are no match for me. I will take on as many as they come."

Feng Li gave Lan Xi a deep look. Even now, he still didn't know how this girl cultivated, but her control over water magic was terrifying.

In the end, he suppressed his curiosity and returned to his duties as a mentor: "Lan Xi, your strength is your advantage, but the battlefield is ever-changing. It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against a hidden arrow."

"Once inside, the first priority!" Feng Li's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable command, "Everyone, assemble as quickly as possible! Only by sticking together can we unleash our full power and withstand any potential risks! Remember, you are one team!"

"Understood, mentor."

The treasure hunt has officially begun.

A massive magic teleportation array lit up in the center of the plaza, causing the space to subtly distort and fluctuate, emitting a low, continuous hum.

On the high platform, the referee coldly read out the rules: "...The treasure hunt area is inherently dangerous, teeming with demons. You must be careful and not lose your lives because of momentary greed..."

"Compete for resource beacons! Teleportation is random. Good luck, everyone!"

Team members from various countries began to step into the center of the magic circle in turn.

Each time the light flashed intensely, several figures vanished without a trace, thrown into the unknown distance by the power of space.

The order has been disrupted.

Qin Xiaonan strode into the dazzling light.

In an instant, the world was spinning.

"Om-!"

With a dull thud, all the power vanished abruptly.

Qin Xiaonan opened her eyes.

He was standing at the entrance to a precipitous canyon.

On both sides are reddish-brown cliffs, with jagged and menacing rocks, barren of any vegetation.

Beneath my feet lay rough gravel, scattered with weathered pebbles. A winding, dry riverbed stretched across the valley floor, its cracked mud telling tales of a long drought.

As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but jagged rocks and desolate emptiness. He could now accurately sense the direction of Mu Nujiao, so he decided to go and meet up with her first.

He walked forward in the direction of the canyon.

The shadows of the jagged rocks shifted and changed shape under the moving sunlight, like lurking ghosts.

However, these little demons posed no threat to him whatsoever.

After walking for about 15 minutes, a gap appeared in the rugged rock wall ahead, and the terrain became relatively open, forming a huge bend.

A reddish-brown rock face juts out abruptly, obscuring the view beyond the bend.

As Qin Xiaonan prepared to go around the giant rock, a strange tremor in the air and an extreme chill pierced through the dry, sweltering heat of the canyon.

"Sizzle—crackling!"

The crisp sounds of ice crystals condensing and shattering came in quick succession, accompanied by several dull thuds like rocks falling to the ground.

Qin Xiaonan quickened her pace and turned to look—

The battle had just ended on the open ground beyond the bend.

The seven or eight gargoyle-like demons made of sandstone have now turned into shattered lumps of ice scattered all over the ground.

Their twisted limbs were completely frozen by the crystal-clear ice.

In the center of the open space, a solitary and aloof figure stood out.

It was Mu Ningxue!
Her silver-white outfit was spotless, clinging tightly to her slender figure.

Her waist-length silver hair was not tied up, but cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall.

She slightly raised her right hand, and the icy blue mist swirling around her fingertips slowly dissipated.

Clearly, the complete fusion with the Ice Crystal Bow has elevated the power and control of her ice magic to a whole new level.

Mu Ningxue also sensed that someone was coming.

Those icy blue eyes pierced through the lingering chill and icy mist, precisely locking onto Qin Xiaonan at the edge of the rock wall!
Eyes facing each other.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Mu Ningxue slowly lowered her hand, and the bone-chilling cold aura surrounding her also subsided somewhat.

She looked at Qin Xiaonan, her clear voice breaking the silence after the battle.

"Xiaonan".

Qin Xiaonan stepped out from behind the rock wall, her gaze sweeping over the rapidly melting ice on the ground before returning to Mu Ningxue.

"You handled it very well. These 'rock golems' aren't particularly strong, but they're tough and thick-skinned, and they can be troublesome if there are many of them. It seems you're handling your strength much better now."

Mu Ningxue's icy eyes flickered slightly, which could be considered an admission.
-
Far from the crimson canyon where Qin Xiaonan and Mu Ningxue were, there was a completely different, desolate place—the decaying forest.

The light here is blocked by the layers of ancient, twisted, and gnarled tree canopies.

The air was thick with an overwhelming stench of decay, mixed with the sweet-smelling dust emanating from the spores of some strange fungus.

Occasionally, giant fungi resembling ghost claws glow eerily in the crevices of tree roots, becoming the only source of light in this dim world, yet adding to the eeriness and gloom.

Right there, three figures were positioned in a triangular formation, slowly approaching the prey that was surrounded in the center.

The woman who was surrounded was Nan Rongni.

(End of this chapter)