Pre-death assessment

Upon hearing this, both Liu Ruyan and Zhou Haonan were slightly startled.

How did he know?

From what angle did he realize that Lei Zhenyu wasn't the boss?

Lei Zhenyu immediately walked step by step to Ling Wu and stared at him.

"I'm the head of the household."

He said coldly, "Talking to me is enough. Of course, if you don't want to talk, I don't mind at all."

If the other party doesn't want to talk, then let's let our fists do the talking and let our strength speak for itself.

However, Ling Wu smiled faintly and said, "You don't have that kind of magnanimity."

That's a very direct statement.

He is a lightning elemental superpower user, and he is very strong.

But if you're not a leader, you're not a leader; he simply doesn't have the demeanor of one.

Upon hearing this, Lei Zhenyu's brows twitched slightly.

The next moment, he waved his hand and shouted, "Kill them!"

After saying this, lightning crackled around him, and his men behind him were also ready to make their move.

Liu Ruyan showed no fear, and flames rose from her body.

Zhou Haoran looked flustered.

Oh no, we can't beat these people.

Ling Wu smiled faintly and said nothing.

"If you don't want to die, then stop right now."

Just then, a voice suddenly came from the castle on the island in the middle of the lake.

Upon hearing this, Lei Zhenyu and the others frowned and stopped.

Then, the castle gates slowly opened, and a slender figure walked out from inside.

It was a woman, a thin woman with a pale face.

It gives people a feeling of being very weak and sickly.

"sister?"

When he saw the woman, Lei Zhenyu stopped and called out to her.

This person is none other than her older sister, Lei Yun, the true leader of the island in the middle of the lake!

After Lei Yun came out, she leaned on the door frame with one hand and looked at Ling Wu.

Then, she slowly spoke: "So you really did come."

She knew Ling Wu.

It was precisely because she knew Ling Wu that she knew he was not someone to be trifled with.

Upon hearing this, both Liu Ruyan and Zhou Haonan were slightly taken aback.

acquaintance?

Does the real boss of the island in the middle of the lake recognize Ling Wu?

No wonder Ling Wu said Lei Zhenyu wasn't the boss.

"You look... weaker than before," Ling Wu said with a faint smile.

"There's nothing we can do, it's a terminal illness."

Lei Yun gave a bitter smile, then extended her hand and said, "Come in!"

Ling Wu walked into the castle.

Liu Ruyan and Zhou Haonan were left outside, along with Lei Zhenyu and others.

Lei Zhenyu looked at Liu Ruyan, then smiled and asked, "Beautiful lady, is that guy your boyfriend?"

"Of course not!"

Liu Ruyan smiled charmingly: "I'm still single."

As she spoke, she raised her hand and gently gathered her long hair.

These small gestures made Lei Zhenyu's eyes light up slightly.

Of course, Zhou Haonan and the others had the same reaction.

She is indeed very beautiful and alluring.

If a woman is not only beautiful and charming, but also single.

Undoubtedly, almost every man in the world would yearn for her.

And this, of course, is what Liu Ruyan wanted as well.

That's why some men, because of their love for her, end up dying of heartbreak...

……

Upstairs in the castle, by the window.

Lei Yun brewed a cup of tea for Ling Wu and brought it over.

It's clear that she still respects Ling Wu quite a bit.

"A new girlfriend?"

Lei Yun put down her teacup and looked at Liu Ruyan outside the castle: "Quite beautiful."

"Just teammates," Ling Wu replied.

"Too!"

Lei Yun smiled and said, "Having had a girlfriend like Jiang Liao, how could I possibly be interested in other women?"

In terms of looks, Jiang Liao is no less beautiful than Liu Ruyan; she is among the most outstanding.

While every woman is proud of her figure and looks, these are not Jiang Liao's most dazzling features.

Therefore, having had a girlfriend like Jiang Liao before, it's naturally difficult for Ling Wu to be interested in other women.

Other women, not to mention that they would be unable to catch up with Jiang Liao in terms of looks, would be far behind in other aspects.

Ling Wu simply smiled, then looked at Lei Zhenyu outside the window: "You... summoned him?"

He knew immediately upon arrival that the person in charge of the island in the middle of the lake was not Lei Zhenyu.

It was precisely because he knew that Lei Zhenyu was already dead!

He died at the first level!

So, this Lei Zhenyu here is not actually a living person.

It's just a... summon!

"The summoning ability I gained in the first level of the Xu hour assessment space is the ability to summon a relative within three generations of myself."

Lei Yun gave a bitter smile and replied, "And at any stage."

Therefore, she summoned Lei Zhenyu before he died.

He also did not tell the summoned Lei Zhenyu that he was already dead.

Just treat him as your own brother.

Ling Wu nodded; this summoning ability was quite good.

At the very least, it allows one to bring their loved ones back to their side.

Although the one summoned is not the same one that has already departed.

However, since the other party retained everything about their relatives, they can still be considered an absolute copy.

"We came to this second level about a year ago."

Lei Yun continued, "When we got here, Jiang Liao was no longer there, which means... she passed the second level very quickly."

Jiang Liao arrived here before them.

But it was less than half a month in advance.

In other words, Jiang Liao passed the second level in less than half a month.

"She's really amazing."

Lei Yun then exclaimed in admiration, "No wonder even you fell for her trick."

She was in the first level of the Xu hour assessment space with Ling Wu and Jiang Liao.

She had, of course, witnessed the events between Ling Wu and Jiang Liao firsthand.

"She came down after gathering all twelve categories of superpowers."

Ling Wu smiled and said, "For her, dealing with those hunters is of course very simple."

Jiang Liao is certainly not the second step in passing the exam by completing the questions.

Because half a month is simply not enough time to complete the exam questions.

After all, who would die because someone they've only known for half a month would affect their emotions?

Therefore, having sufficient strength, she must have passed the test by killing the hunters.

The number of hunters released each day is just enough for one person to complete the game.

Ten days or so is certainly enough for her.

"And what about you? Have you collected all twelve types of superpowers?" Lei Yun asked curiously.

Ling Wu shook his head, "Of course not."

But... there's no need!

Even without the twelve types of superpowers, he could still complete the game in a short time.

His speed is no slower than Jiang Liao's.

"We've been here for so long, completing the exam... is basically impossible."

Lei Yun continued, "So our idea is also to complete the game by hunting down the hunters."

"My team's overall strength is pretty good."

"When novice hunters appear, if they are all at their peak, they are confident of killing twenty or thirty hunters."

"And as for intermediate-level hunters... we've only killed three so far."

"Advanced hunters are harder to deal with."

"We had a previous encounter with advanced hunters, which resulted in the loss of two teammates, and the rest were mostly seriously injured."

"In the end... they only managed to kill one!"

Therefore, at this point, they no longer intend to target intermediate and advanced hunters.

That's dangerous and a thankless task.

Therefore, they all chose to hunt novice hunters.

Once the hunters released during the hunt are intermediate or advanced level hunters, they immediately hide and wait for the hunt to end.

Have you ever thought about... staying here?

Ling Wu picked up his teacup and took a sip: "The further you go, the greater the difficulty becomes, not only in terms of completing the levels, but also in terms of survival."

"hehe."

Lei Yun gave a bitter smile. Stay here?

Once you step into the second level, there is no turning back.

Like oxen and horses, moving forward will be more tiring, but if you don't move forward, the whip will lash you.

You can indeed stay in the second level, but there is one hour of hunting time each day.

You have to find a place to hide every day.

What's the point of a life like this?

The moment of the hunt is the whip!

So she had to move forward.

"If Jiang Liao can move forward without fear of difficulties, others certainly can too."

Lei Yun continued, "She's strong, she's brave, she's set an example for all of us!"

Therefore, I must continue on this path forever.

Until we slay our way through the nine layers of hell!

"I want to go and see what kind of being created this so-called Ninefold Death Trial Space to torture and toy with all living beings."

Lei Yun then said coldly, "I also want to... kill that being!"

Death plays tricks on all living beings, but who will play tricks on Death?

These words were spoken for the first time by Ling Wu.

It was something Ling Wu told Jiang Liao when he last came to the pre-death assessment space.

There were quite a few other people present at the time, including Lei Yun.

Ling Wu and Jiang Liao dared to challenge Death itself.

And he has already taken action; Jiang Liao has already fought his way to which level below.

Since Ling Wuyou had this idea, Jiang Liao also had this idea, and both of them put their ideas into practice.

Then the rest of them must also have that kind of courage!

Hearing this, Ling Wu smiled.

Yes, it seems that this pre-death assessment space gives all the dead a chance.

But in reality, it only brought more torment.

If someone dies, they're dead. Why create such a hell to torment people?

Many people who have come to understand this fact do indeed harbor deep resentment towards the creator of this space.

Death is the most painful thing in the world.

But many people, even after they have died, die again, and die even more tragically.

It's all thanks to the ruler of this pre-death assessment space!

"Based on your guess, what level is Jiang Liao at now?"

Lei Yun then asked with some curiosity.

Jiang Liao and Ling Wu are similar types of people and understand each other quite well.

Therefore, Ling Wu should know roughly where Jiang Liao is right now.

"The Ninth Level!"

Ling Wu replied, "A Sovereign has already encountered her and has certainly suffered a loss at her hands."

"The ninth level?" Lei Yun asked, somewhat surprised.

Is it that fast?

As expected of her!

"What does 'ruler' mean?"

Lei Yun then asked curiously, "And how did you know?"

"The ninth level is inhabited by the twelve rulers of the pre-death assessment space, corresponding to the twelve two-hour periods of the day."

Ling Wu continued, "The twelve categories of assessments in the first level of the pre-death assessment space are their twelve creative designs."

"When we were in the first level, there was already a ruler who was willing to pay a price to project a clone into the assessment space."

"It's all about finding people Jiang Liao knows, presumably to bring a few people Jiang Liao cares about to threaten her."

Fortunately, he reacted immediately and had Liu Ruyan knock Jiang Luo unconscious.

Otherwise, Jiang Luo would have been taken away by then.

"Were they the ones who created those assessment spaces in the first level?"

Lei Yun asked coldly, "So they're the ones who created those murderous games?"

The assessment content and rewards are different for each assessment space.

But all of them were accompanied by murder and infighting.

The reason why everyone was killing each other was caused by those so-called rulers.

It seems there are no rules in the assessment space before death.

But in reality, the rules they created for the game are a kind of rule!

You can pass the game by killing people, or you can pass the game by gaining superpowers.

It is precisely because of these rules that the vast majority of people perish tragically in the pre-death assessment space.

"You seem to know a lot about the Ninefold Death Assessment Space?"

Lei Yun looked at Ling Wu and continued, "Jiang Liao is very capable, but I always feel... you seem to be even more powerful than her."

She even felt that Ling Wu shouldn't have been tricked by Jiang Liao when he was being tested in the space before his death.

"There's no such thing as high or low, it's just about cooperation."

Ling Wu smiled and then stood up.

"cooperate?"

Lei Yun frowned slightly: "So, the way she schemed against you before was actually a form of cooperation?"

If you're all like that, how can it be considered a collaboration?

"She just happens to need to go to the second level or below, and I just happen to need to return to the mortal world to bring a few people down."

Ling Wudao.

Lei Yun immediately laughed: "And she didn't know about this?"

"Of course I know now," Ling Wu replied.

"Hehe, as expected... you're still a cut above the rest." Lei Yun shook her head with a smile.

Sure enough, although I wasn't as smart as them, at least my intuition was better.

I feel that Ling Wu shouldn't be weaker than Jiang Liao.

"Since you also want to complete the game by hunting down hunters, we can cooperate."

Ling Wu continued, "I have weapons that can kill novice hunters, but they require enough energy."

"The energy cores of the intermediate and advanced hunters we killed earlier are still there."

Lei Yun smiled and said, "It's yours."

She would be very happy to cooperate with Ling Wu.

Because she knew that by following Ling Wu, she would be able to pass the level quickly.

In her team, there was actually only one summoned Lei Zhenyu who possessed the attack power to directly kill the hunter.

Moreover, it often requires sufficient energy to accomplish this.

After accumulating power, there is a recovery period.

If Ling Wu had a weapon, it would certainly be much more convenient.

Ling Wu nodded, then continued, "So far, you haven't encountered a healing-type ability user?"

If a person with healing abilities could be found, her terminal illness could certainly be cured.

"I've been here for so long, and I haven't had much luck. I haven't met anyone yet."

Lei Yun shrugged, then smiled bitterly, "You know, I've always been unlucky."

If you're lucky, how could you possibly have a terminal illness?

If you're lucky, how could you end up here watching your loved ones die again?

If you're lucky, why was it Jiang Liao who met Ling Wu first instead of yourself?

If I were Ling Wu's girlfriend, there wouldn't have been so many hardships along the way.

"People always have their lucky breaks."

Ling Wu offered a word of comfort.

"I remember you saying something like, 'Luck isn't a reliable thing,' right?"

Lei Yun smiled again and said, "Come with me, I'll hand over the energy core to you."

Afterwards, Ling Wu went to the warehouse together.

……

After a short while, Ling Wu and Lei Yun emerged from the castle, having been waiting for Liu Ruyan and the others.

At this moment, Ling Wu had four more energy cores in his hands.

It was like a small reactor, emitting light.

Three of them were intermediate-level hunters, emitting a faint blue glow.

One of them was a high-level hunter, emitting a red glow.

Ling Wu assembled one of the intermediate energy cores onto the laser gun and then handed it to Lei Yun.

"Tomorrow is the hunting season; separate the hunters."

He continued, "We can handle most of it; the rest is yours."

"A mid-level hunter will appear tomorrow. Are you... sure you want to make a move?"

Lei Yun took the gun.

They've been here for almost a year, so they know the ways things work out here.

Today you're a beginner hunter, tomorrow you'll be an intermediate hunter, the day after tomorrow an advanced hunter, and the day after that a beginner hunter again.

And so it goes!

"It's okay, if you really can't handle it, just hide."

Ling Wu touched the gun with his palm, and then activated his enhancement ability to the maximum.

After being upgraded to the extreme, it is certainly capable of dealing with even intermediate-level hunters.

"Hide? Heh, if it's a high-level hunter, we might consider hiding."

Lei Zhenyu sneered: "But if they are only intermediate-level hunters, as long as someone helps us share some of the pressure, we can at least take down a few."

As he spoke, he glanced at Liu Ruyan, as if hoping she would understand that he was a capable and courageous man.

"Then we'll see how you do tomorrow."

Ling Wu smiled and then did not linger.

They returned along the same route, carrying Liu Ruyan, Zhou Haonan, and the energy core.

"Sis, who is that guy? Do you know him?"

After Ling Wu and the other two left, Lei Zhenyu immediately asked.

"I met him during the first level, a... very powerful person," Lei Yun replied.

Not only was he a very capable person, but he almost became her man.

Unfortunately, I was a step too late for Jiang Liao.

"Amazing? How amazing can it be?"

Lei Zhenyu frowned: "Stronger than me?"

"you?"

Lei Yun glanced at Lei Zhenyu, then turned and walked into the castle, leaving behind the words, "What are you even capable of?"

Upon hearing this, Lei Zhenyu immediately put his hands on his hips, looking unconvinced.

What did you say?

I am, after all, the top fighter in our team, right?

……

After returning to the base, Ling Wu embedded the energy core into one of the three guns.

The one equipped with the Advanced Hunter Energy Core was, of course, given directly to Li Qingxue.

After all, she's a pretty good shot.

"The one who appears tomorrow will be an intermediate-level hunter."

Ling Wu then slowly said, "I will concentrate all my enhancement abilities into the gun, and then I will be able to kill intermediate hunters."

If you maximize your enhanced abilities and concentrate them into a short hour, the power will naturally be even greater.

He may need to rest for a while before he can activate his enhanced abilities again.

After all, the abilities of those with superpowers cannot be used casually without any cost.

Overuse always requires a cooling-off period.

"As long as we kill a few more mid-level hunters tomorrow, we'll have enough energy cores."

Ling Wu continued.

Even if they can't eliminate all the intermediate-level hunters tomorrow, killing just a portion of them will provide them with enough energy cores.

Then we won't have to worry about having to conserve bullets anymore.

"An intermediate-level hunter?"

Li Ming, holding the gun in his hand, said, "Let's see just how strong they really are!"

"Get some rest."

Ling Wu continued, "Take good care of yourself, because tomorrow might be a tough battle that will take a heavy toll."

The collective consciousness of intermediate hunters is stronger than that of novice hunters.

So tomorrow will indeed be a fierce battle.

Another point is that the timing of the hunt is random.

The hunt might begin at 1 a.m. tomorrow, or it could be 11 p.m.

So, if you can sleep now, then sleep; if you can get some rest, then get some rest.

Everyone nodded and did as Ling Wu instructed.

Immediately afterwards, the group went to find their own rooms to sleep.

Just like before, Ling Wu and Jiang Luo shared a room.

But when they arrived at the room, Liu Ruyan followed from behind.

"I want to talk to you about something."

Liu Ruyan stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the door frame, her gaze fixed on Ling Wu.

"What are you discussing? We only have one bed here, and it can only sleep two people at most," Jiang Luo quickly said.

She had made up her mind that she would take on the responsibility of protecting her brother-in-law's chastity until Ling Wu and her sister reunited.

No one but myself can sleep with my brother-in-law…

"Do you want me to pretend to be your boyfriend?"

Ling Wu smiled.

"Heh, as expected of you, you saw through everything." Liu Ruyan laughed.

As expected, Ling Wu is indeed Ling Wu. He figured out what the test was just by my slight performance.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Luo immediately panicked.

What the hell?

Why did you make my brother-in-law pretend to be your boyfriend?

What if you two end up taking it all for real?

"But you guessed wrong this time. I don't want you to pretend to be my boyfriend."

Liu Ruyan then smiled alluringly, and slowly said, "I want you... to be my master!"

Only when you are the master can you better portray the Minotaur's storyline, right?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Luo's brows twitched even more sharply.

No... why are you playing such fancy tricks?

It even directly recognizes its owner?

Your figure and demeanor are not suited to wearing maid outfits.

I never managed to seduce my brother-in-law when I dressed as a maid...

"How is it?"

Liu Ruyan smiled alluringly: "Is my method ruthless enough?"

If the men who like her knew that she, the so-called Goddess of Fire, was actually just Ling Wu's contracted beast, how sad, heartbroken, and painful would they be?

This method is absolutely feasible!