Chapter 149: Little White Has Kicked the Bucket

"The composition of this poison is incredibly complex; it is certainly not just a mixture of a few... or even hundreds of toxins."

As he ran, he swallowed every antidote he had on hand while continuing to analyze the poison’s makeup. The power of the poison pool had reached its peak, and Wu Zhen took the opportunity to unleash his second skill.

"Hundred Ghosts Claiming Souls—there is nowhere left for you to run!"

The restless spirits within the poison pool began to rise. With their waists submerged in the toxic sludge, they slowly trudged to the edge, climbed out one by one, and swarmed toward Bai Shengye. Once clear of the pool, they moved with terrifying speed through the toxic mist. Some seized Bai Shengye’s arms, while others grabbed his pant legs, desperate to drag him into the abyss.

Simultaneously, a dozen specters surrounded him, raising their scythes to strike in unison. Bai Shengye was on the verge of being pulled in; his heels were already touching the edge of the pool.

"Hey, potion-seller, hold on!" Black Feather shouted.

The surrounding toxic fumes intensified, doubling in potency as time passed. Even the four transparent magic barriers were now coated in a layer of corrosive liquid, causing the magic arrays to slowly melt away. The mages responsible for the barrier—all elite instructors from the academy—rushed to the four corners of the arena to reinforce the wards with their mana.

Panic rippled through the audience. Those sitting near the platform scrambled to evacuate, terrified that the barrier would fail and expose them to the danger. No one was willing to gamble with their life; the substance covering the stage was so lethal that a single breath could be fatal.

Even Reina and her brother Reno, watching from the second-floor lounge, lost their composure. Reno sighed bluntly, "It’s a good thing I wasn't matched against this group..."

Reina shot him a glare and hissed, "You coward!"

Bai Shengye immediately cast Frost Snow Blade to cut down the spirits. At the same time, as his feet were about to slip into the pool, he formed a layer of ice beneath him, instantly freezing a corner of the toxic mire. It was not a permanent solution, as the highly corrosive poison quickly melted the ice. He was forced to continuously pour mana into the floor to maintain its thickness.

Suddenly, two withered, undead hands burst from the surface of the pool, gripping Bai Shengye’s feet and dragging him down with immense strength. As he struggled to hold his ground, more skeletal hands latched onto his ankles, their combined force compounding. The bony fingers dug into his flesh, and the toxins caused the skin to rot instantly. Blood seeped out, and Bai Shengye groaned in agony.

The crystal ball floating over Wu Zhen’s left shoulder flickered again—a precursor to an unfavorable outcome for him. Bai Shengye gave a bitter smile, having noticed the flicker himself.

"If you already know what I’m going to do, how am I supposed to fight back?"

He finally understood the true power of the Wu clan. To possess such potent poison, combined with the gift of foresight—allowing him to see every move his enemy made and counter it accordingly—made him seem invincible. After fighting for so long, Bai Shengye hadn't landed a single blow; instead, he had been utterly drained.

Knowing his tactics were compromised, Bai Shengye decided to try his luck anyway. He downed several mana-restoring potions, his magical energy surging to its peak. His staff transformed back into an ice blade, and an ice dragon shattered the spirits behind him, scattering their bones across the stage.

The "Hell of Extreme Cold" manifested once more beneath his feet. Swirling snow blades forced the spirits back, and as he swung his blade, several glaciers surged toward Wu Zhen, only for the latter to dodge them with ease. Wu Zhen’s movements didn't seem to rely on speed alone, but on pure anticipation.

When Bai Shengye launched ice shards in three directions simultaneously, Wu Zhen acted as if he had foreseen the trajectory long ago. He took a single, small step to the side and remained still as the glaciers swept past him. While evading, Wu Zhen kept retreating, staying on the perimeter of the frozen zone to lure Bai Shengye toward the pool.

Bai Shengye saw through the ploy. Though the surface was covered in a thin layer of ice, he dared not step closer. Instead, he channeled his remaining mana into a long-range skill: "Ice Dragon’s Breath!"

A violent blizzard erupted from the dragon’s maw, rushing toward Wu Zhen. Wu Zhen calmly jumped back, retreating to the very edge of the arena, safely out of range. Just as Bai Shengye, filled with frustration, prepared to circle the pool to strike, he saw a sinister, chilling smile creep across Wu Zhen’s face.

Bai Shengye suddenly realized with horror that beneath the ice he was standing on, there was nothing but the poison pool. He was right in the center!

"What is happening!"

He remembered clearly that he had never approached the pool; he had stayed at the very edge. A chill ran down his spine. The pool hadn't expanded—it had shifted. It was a trap. Wu Zhen’s earlier retreats had been a ruse to make Bai Shengye believe the pool’s position was fixed, only for him to move it at the last possible second.

A powerful, withered hand shot out from the ice beneath his feet, seized his leg, and yanked him down. With a splash, a terrified Bai Shengye fell into the toxic depths.

Wu Zhen laughed coldly. "You have fallen into the heart of the pool. Enjoy the baptism of a thousand toxins!"

The ice shattered and dissolved. Bai Shengye felt like he was sinking into quicksand. The potent poison seeped into his nervous system, paralyzing him. The viscous liquid rose past his knees as countless spirits emerged to pin him down. Their claws, coated in neurotoxic venom, pierced his skin, forcing him to lose the will to fight. Though the pool appeared to cover only the surface of the stage, it was deep as a pond beneath.

Soon, Bai Shengye was submerged to his waist. Before he could utter a word, the poison flooded his body, extinguishing all his mana. In an instant, he lost all sensation in his limbs. His arms went limp, his head fell back, and he let himself sink. His face turned from pale to a ghastly green, and blood flowed from his eyes, tracing paths down his cheeks to his neck.

Finally, his entire body tipped backward and vanished beneath the surface. The medicinal herbs he had scattered across the arena floated for a moment before sinking into the sludge.

"Bai Shengye!" Ling Xiaolei cried out in despair.

His teammates were struck with panic, and even the other students from the Holy City Magic Academy rose from their seats in shock. But it had all happened too quickly; there was no one who could intervene.