134: Unexpected changes

Lin Chen was naturally unaware of the commotion happening at the Admissions Office and among the Invigilating Teachers.

At this moment, he had already moved to a new location and was starting to prepare lunch for himself and his Spirit Beasts.

Since the practical assessment did not allow carrying anything, naturally no one had brought rations. They were probably all fighting tooth and nail over those fruit trees right now, right?

Fortunately, Morning Dew and Angelica's meals were easy enough to solve. The former could just go find some spicy strips to eat, and the latter had already been fed by the spiritual herbs gathered along the way.

Lin Chen thought for a moment, then went to the riverbank, fished a few spiritual fish, and cooked them over a fire for his lunch.

He hadn't expected that simply grilling a fish would attract such a massive creature.

"Roar!"

Watching the gigantic Spirit Beast charge out of the woods, Lin Chen was greatly startled.

"Damn it! Didn't they say this area had been cleared? Why is there still an Iron Palm Bear here?" Lin Chen couldn't help but complain aloud, quickly gathering his things and preparing to retreat.

The Iron Palm Bear is the true evolution of the Pat-Pat Bear, a Spirit Beast of at least three-star level or higher.

Any left behind by the Invigilating Teachers certainly wouldn't be too high-level, but even a level 30 Iron Palm Bear was not something he could currently handle.

"Roar!"

Another deafening roar sounded, and Lin Chen even felt the ground tremble slightly beneath his feet. Countless birds took flight from the distant woods, scattering in panic.

"Why are you roaring? You just want grilled fish, don't you? Here, take it!"

Lin Chen shouted, preparing to toss the grilled fish in his hand toward the beast, but he stopped just as he was about to throw it.

"Wait, grilled fish? Bear?" He stared blankly at the grilled fish in his hand, then looked up at the Iron Palm Bear nearby.

"Wouldn't that be a little... despicable?"

Lin Chen couldn't help but murmur, yet his movements were quick. He swiftly handed the grilled fish to the Fragrant Flower Rabbit.

"Giggle?" "Is this for me?"

"Eat what? Get some poison powder and paralysis powder. Let's add some ingredients for this big stupid bear!"

Lin Chen irritably patted it, then looked up at Morning Dew beside him.

"Do you remember that Precious Miasma Orchid we saw on the way here? Go pick it, but remember not to use your mouth, use your claws!"

"Cheep cheep~~"

Morning Dew tilted its head in thought, then immediately flew away.

"Roar!"

Seeing a bird fly away, the Iron Palm Bear grew restless. It seemed unwilling to wait any longer and prepared to pounce on Lin Chen.

But Lin Chen was already prepared. He picked up an uncooked grilled fish from beside the fire and tossed it directly toward the direction of the woods.

The Iron Palm Bear's gaze was immediately drawn to the fish. It sniffed, then instantly chased after it.

Its heavy Iron Palm easily pushed aside the trees. It opened its mouth and swallowed the grilled fish in one gulp, a look of happiness appearing on its face.

"Damn, those are some good teeth. It didn't even spit out the skewer?" Lin Chen couldn't help but mutter.

One fish was naturally not enough for it. After savoring the taste, it slowly turned around and looked back at the man and the rabbit, its eyes fixed on the grilled fish in Lin Chen's hand.

A much stronger aroma was coming from that grilled fish. Surely, it must taste even better, right?

"Cheep~~~". After this delay, Morning Dew had already darted out of the woods, clutching a large yellow crown flower in its claws, with a considerable amount of hazy powder scattering along the way.

"Quick, take this grilled fish and lure it away for a bit! Remember to be careful!"

Lin Chen hurriedly grabbed the last grilled fish beside the fire and handed it directly to Morning Dew, while carefully taking the Precious Miasma Orchid from its claws.

This was an extremely poisonous flower. Although not fatal, it could make even a Four-Star Spirit Beast sleep for several hours.

As long as he sprinkled the pollen of the Precious Miasma Orchid onto the grilled fish and fed it to the Iron Palm Bear, wouldn't he earn those dozens of points?

"A level 30-plus Spirit Beast is worth at least thirty points, and I think there's bonus credit too?"

Lin Chen thought excitedly, holding the Precious Miasma Orchid and gently shaking it over the grilled fish, causing the thick pollen to fall onto the fish.

"Cheep~~~"

Morning Dew's cry sounded again, but the Iron Palm Bear was already disdainful of the half-cooked fish beneath its claws.

Since it couldn't catch the one flying in the sky, it might as well go for the one running on the ground. The grilled fish in the human's hand smelled much better!

"Hehe! You want grilled fish? Here you go!"

Lin Chen chuckled. Seeing that the pollen was mostly sprinkled on, he immediately tossed the grilled fish toward the beast.

The Iron Palm Bear paused, finding the flower in the other party's hand somewhat familiar, and the human's action was also unexpected.

But Lin Chen had thrown it too accurately, landing right near its mouth.

A bear, being part dog, couldn't miss this kind of throwing game.

It instantly opened its massive mouth and bit down. The delicious flavor of the grilled fish exploded on its taste buds, and its bear eyes immediately narrowed slightly.

"So delicious~~~"

The Iron Palm Bear thought to itself, yet why did it feel a bit sleepy? And its stomach hurt a little?

Never mind, stop thinking about it. Time for a nap!

"Thud!"

Watching the Iron Palm Bear stagger a few steps before finally collapsing heavily to the ground, unable to resist any longer.

Lin Chen nodded in satisfaction. The medicinal effect of the Precious Miasma Orchid was quite good; it worked instantly even on such a huge bear.

"Done! You two rest up while I go collect it!"

Clapping his hands, Lin Chen walked forward, ready to put this Iron Palm Bear into his spirit beast ring. These were all points!

However, before he could activate the spirit beast ring, he suddenly felt the ground shake.

"Boom!"

A fierce roar sounded. Lin Chen looked up and saw dust still rising from the distant woods.

"What's going on?" After hastily putting the Iron Palm Bear into his spirit beast ring, Lin Chen ran to an open area to look, but he could only see the rising smoke and dust.

"Is that... the direction of the Spatial Fissure? Could something have gone wrong?"

He couldn't help but worry, while Morning Dew had already flown high into the sky, gazing toward the distance.

"Cheep cheep! Cheep cheep!"

Morning Dew, having landed again, seemed anxious and relayed what it had seen to Lin Chen.

"Demonic creatures like the ones we saw inside the Sacred Tree before? And some people wearing black clothes?"

Lin Chen immediately fell into deep thought.

The demonic creatures were easy to understand; they must have run out of the Spatial Fissure. But what were those people in black doing? They couldn't possibly be Invigilating Teachers, could they?

But if it was some cult members trying to cause trouble, were they tired of living?

This was a College Entrance Examination testing ground! Countless high-level officials were watching. To cause trouble right under their noses? Was this person trying to tempt fate?

"Wait, they actually managed to sneak in? What were those Invigilating Teachers doing?"

Lin Chen trembled, a hint of disbelief in his eyes. He immediately beckoned to his two Spirit Beasts.

"Hurry, let's go! Get far away from here so we don't get caught in the crossfire!"

He didn't need to think twice; if they managed to sneak in, there must be a traitor among the Invigilating Teachers. Staying here would be waiting for death.

However, before he could run very far, he stopped with a helpless expression.

He looked up; black mist had already begun to spread across the sky...