The Return of the God Level Assassin

He Zhi Long stopped when they reached a section where two large boulders sat close together. It wasn't a straightforward entrance, but it matched the clue's idea of a "twisting narrow way." They moved carefully, squeezing through the gap, finding themselves in a more confined, quiet area. The stream was barely visible now, but its sound was still present, guiding them.

The area they entered was small and dim, with a slight beam of light filtering through a crack overhead. In the center was a rock formation that didn't blend with the rest of the landscape. It was positioned in such a way that it seemed important, standing alone in the middle of the area. They approached the stone, knowing this was the likely spot to search based on the clue.

Now they just had to find the clue hidden in or around it.

As they moved closer to the lone stone, several monsters emerged from the shadows of the valley. Large, aggressive monsters with thick hides surrounded them, making it clear they wouldn't leave without a fight.

He Zhi Long stepped forward without hesitation. "I'll take care of these," he said, his voice calm and direct. "You two search the stone. Don't waste time."

Zhou Meimei and Wang Bin nodded, immediately turning their attention back to the rock formation while He Zhi Long charged at the monsters. His attacks were swift and efficient, keeping the monsters at bay as the other two focused on the task at hand.

Zhou Meimei inspected the base of the rock, carefully feeling for anything unusual, while Wang Bin checked the surrounding ground, moving quickly but thoroughly. The sounds of He Zhi Long's battle echoed in the background, but they remained focused.

After a few tense moments, Zhou Meimei noticed a small crack in the rock's surface that seemed out of place. She reached into the gap and felt something thin inside. Pulling it out, she revealed an envelope sealed with the sigil of the Arcadia Cup.

"I found it!" Zhou Meimei called out, holding the envelope up.

He Zhi Long glanced back, quickly dispatching the last monster. He walked over to them and took the envelope. Without wasting any time, he opened it, revealing the clue to their next checkpoint.

[Climb to the highest peak, where the air grows thin and the world stretches beneath you. In the land ruled by one with the spirit of a Qilin, your next challenge awaits. The ascent will test your resolve, but only by reaching the summit will you find the path forward.]

As soon as they read that, a notification appeared in front of them.

[Team Mozu has found the clue for the fourth checkpoint!]

Zhou Meimei read the clue again, her brows furrowing in doubt. "Is this really pointing to what I think it is?" she asked, skepticism clear in her voice.

He Zhi Long also frowned. "Yes, it is."

"Wait—what are you two talking about? What place is the clue pointing to?" Wang Bin asked, clearly clueless about their conversation.

Zhou Meimei rolled her eyes and glared at Wang Bin. "How about after this you start reading books so you can imporve your comprehension?"

"I was just asking! Is it that hard to give me an answer?" Wang Bin snapped back.

"It is when the answer's about to smack you right in the face!"

He Zhi Long, clearly irritated, shot the two of them a sharp look. "If we lose because you keep wasting time bickering, I swear I'll ban both of you from our headquarters for three months," he warned, his tone leaving no room for argument.

That finally silenced the two.

"Let's go." He Zhi Long was about to walk forward, but he stopped and turned to Wang Bin. "We're heading to the headquarters of team Yunyue."

----------

While flying at high speed, Shen Ji Yun and Luo Yan saw the announcement about team Mozu finding their clue. Both of them ignored it and continued on their way. They quickly caught up with Su Yuqi, Dusk, and Eclipse. As soon as they were close enough, Luo Yan leaped onto Dusk's back, followed by Shen Ji Yun, who shifted back into his humanoid form before landing beside him.

"Master!" Eclipse cried out, quickly hugging Luo Yan the moment he landed. "Are you okay?"

Luo Yan chuckled, ruffling Eclipse's hair. "I'm fine. And I've got good news—we don't have to worry about anyone from team Mozu getting in our way anymore."

"That's certainly good news," Su Yuqi said. "At least now we only have to worry about finding the clue for the last checkpoint."

"I'm more concerned about the members of team Mozu currently at their headquarters," Luo Yan said. "What if there's a way for them to interfere with us?"

"I doubt it," Shen Ji Yun replied. "There's a reason why only five members are allowed to compete in the Arcadia Cup. If other team members could jump in whenever they wanted, it would break the Cup's rules. So no, even if team Mozu has members in their headquarters, I highly doubt they can interfere with us."

"Meaning they could only watch as we search their headquarters," Su Yuqi added.

Luo Yan nodded. That certainly made sense. It's good to know that they didn't have to worry about such things.

Team Mozu wouldn't be so fortunate, though—not that he cared. In fact, he hoped Bai Ze and Luo Jin would manage to eliminate the remaining members of team Mozu. That way, they could skip the last checkpoint entirely, and their team would be declared the winner right away.

As they made their way to team Mozu's headquarters, Bai Ze, Luo Jin, and Rowan finally arrived at their own team's headquarters.