Transmigrated into the villain? Watch my epic comeback in the ethereal fairy realm!

Chapter 117 The Final Round of the Assessment: Glory Belongs to Me

The melodious sound of the bell still echoed in the valley. The sound struck the stone wall of the valley and bounced back, penetrating Dai Yao's ears in waves, but it did nothing to calm the turbulent waves in her heart.

The man in black, or rather, now more accurately described as "a breathtakingly handsome savior," remained as taciturn as ever, only uttering the words "Be careful" before disappearing without a trace. His footsteps were so light that Dai Yao barely heard them, only seeing his figure quickly blend into the darkness.

Dai Yao was left alone to face this final, inevitably perilous, assessment.

The assessment criteria were soon announced—teams of three would work together to complete a "treasure hunt mystery."

They seemed harmless, but Dai Yao keenly sensed a conspiracy in the air, especially when she saw Ling Feng and Xing Yao's names on the group list. The names were written crookedly, but in Dai Yao's eyes they looked like menacing demons.

Good grief, this is clearly an attempt to make things difficult for her!

Dai Yao took a deep breath, the cold air rushing into her nostrils, stinging slightly, and she forced a smile.

They come, the security.

When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it. What storms haven't I weathered?

Once the assessment began, Dai Yao immediately felt like she had fallen into a wolf's den.

Ling Feng and Xing Yao pretended to cooperate on the surface, but in reality, they were setting traps for her at every turn. One moment they would say that she had gone the wrong way, with a hint of smugness in their voices that buzzed in Dai Yao's ears; the next moment they would "accidentally" destroy the clues she had found.

Dai Yao nearly exploded on the spot several times, but she managed to hold back. She could feel her fists clenched tightly, her nails almost digging into her flesh, causing a slight stinging sensation.

"Senior Brother Lingfeng, are you sure this is the way to the treasure location? I feel like we've been going in circles the whole time," Dai Yao asked with a forced smile, her facial muscles stiff.

Ling Feng shrugged innocently: "Junior sister, I was just following the map. This treasure hunt is complicated, so it's normal to take a detour."

"Normal my foot!" Dai Yao cursed inwardly. She had memorized the map at a glance, and Ling Feng, that idiot, still wanted to fool her? He was simply overestimating himself. Dai Yao cursed inwardly, but she still had to maintain a forced smile on her face, while inwardly she was cursing Ling Feng's ancestors for eighteen generations.

She had memorized this map the moment she glimpsed it in Ling Feng's hand. The path they were on now clearly led deep into the Misty Forest, a place teeming with demonic beasts! Dai Yao seemed to hear the low growls of the demonic beasts echoing in her mind, sending chills down her spine.

“Senior Sister Xingyao, don’t you think…” Dai Yao tried to win over Xingyao, but before she could finish speaking, Xingyao interrupted her.

"Oh dear, Junior Sister Dai, look at you, you've ruined the clues again! This is crucial to whether we can pass the test, so you have to be careful!" Xingyao pointed regretfully at the crushed herbs on the ground, herbs that she herself had "accidentally" kicked!

Dai Yao was so angry she almost vomited blood. These two were working together, clearly trying to ruin her!

"Senior brothers and sisters, can we be serious? This assessment is no joke!" Dai Yao suppressed her anger, her tone icy, her voice echoing in the silent forest with a slight tremor.

"Oh, Junior Sister Dai, are you in a hurry? Don't rush, take your time, there's plenty of time." Ling Feng said sarcastically, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes, his gaze like a cold sword piercing Dai Yao.

Dai Yao clenched her fists, forcing herself to calm down. She could feel her heart pounding, as if it were about to burst out of her chest. She told herself she couldn't fall for it, she couldn't fall into their trap!

She looked around, trying to find a way in. The surrounding trees were tall and dense, their branches intertwined, and sunlight could only filter through the gaps, creating dappled patterns.

Suddenly, her gaze sharpened and landed on an inconspicuous rock.

There seems to be something carved on that rock?

"Wait..." Dai Yao walked quickly to the rock, the fallen leaves crunching under her feet. She began to observe carefully, her eyes fixed on the rock, not missing a single detail.

"Junior Sister Dai, what have you discovered this time?" Ling Feng's voice rang out behind her, tinged with sarcasm, like an annoying fly buzzing in her ear.

Dai Yao ignored him and gently brushed the dust off the rock. Her fingers touched the rough texture, and the dust scattered beneath her fingertips, as if driven away by a mysterious force. As the dust settled, an ancient symbol gradually emerged… The ancient symbol seemed to awaken from a thousand-year slumber, emitting a faint light that instantly caught Dai Yao's eye. At that moment, the surrounding air seemed to freeze, and Ling Feng and Xing Yao's mocking voices vanished. Dai Yao's eyes were fixed on this mysterious symbol, as if the entire world consisted only of her and this rune representing hope and a turning point.

"What...what is this?" Xingyao also walked over, and her expression changed slightly after seeing the symbol.

Dai Yao didn't speak; her gaze was fixed on the symbol, and a strange feeling suddenly welled up inside her...

"Could it be..." she murmured softly, "that I know how to find the treasure..."

A faint smile appeared on Dai Yao's lips. This symbol was an ancient rune that she had glimpsed by chance in Elder Lingying's library, representing "guidance".

It seems that the real secret to this treasure hunt lies not in the map, but in these inconspicuous details.

She silently memorized the symbols, then casually said to Ling Feng and Xing Yao, "Senior brothers and sisters, I think I've found the way. Let's go."

Ling Feng and Xing Yao exchanged a glance, a hint of doubt flashing in their eyes.

What exactly is Dai Yao up to?

However, they were happy to see Dai Yao make a fool of herself, so they followed her and continued forward.

As Dai Yao walked on, seemingly aimlessly, she was actually following the guidance of the ancient runes, getting closer and closer to the true location of the treasure.

She deliberately avoided some obvious clues, leading Ling Feng and Xing Yao to mistakenly believe that she was still lost.

"Junior Sister Dai, are you sure we haven't gone the wrong way? It's been half a day, and we haven't even seen a trace of treasure." Ling Feng couldn't help but complain, his voice tinged with anxiety.

"Oh, Senior Brother Lingfeng, treasure hunting always requires patience." Dai Yao said with a smile, but secretly she was pleased with herself. Let them be smug for a while longer, they'll be crying later!

Finally, after navigating a dense thicket, Dai Yao stopped under an ancient tree. The tree was incredibly thick, so thick that several people couldn't encircle it, and its bark was rough and textured.

“This is it,” she said, pointing to an inconspicuous hole under the ancient tree.

Ling Feng and Xing Yao were both stunned. How did Dai Yao find such a hidden place?

Before they could react, Dai Yao had already jumped into the cave entrance. She felt as if she had fallen into darkness, and the wind whistled past her ears at the cave entrance.

Deep within the cave lies a complex array.

Dai Yao immediately saw the key to the formation. She acted quickly and cracked the core of the formation. As she moved, the formation emitted a slight buzzing sound, as if it were humming, revealing the treasure hidden behind the formation.

Seeing this, Ling Feng and Xing Yao disregarded everything else and rushed into the cave, wanting to seize the treasure.

However, the moment they stepped into the formation, they triggered its trap. Countless beams of light shot out from within, trapping them inside. The light was blinding; Ling Feng and Xing Yao's hair was disheveled, their faces filled with terror and rage, like two caged wild beasts, powerless to rage. Dai Yao stood outside the formation, the radiant treasure behind her, her figure appearing exceptionally tall in the light. She coldly looked at Ling Feng and Xing Yao trapped in the formation, a cruel smile curling at the corner of her lips. This smile, like an icy blade in the dead of winter, pierced Ling Feng and Xing Yao cruelly. At this moment, the surrounding forest seemed to cheer for Dai Yao's victory, the leaves rustling as if applauding her.

"Dai Yao! How dare you frame us!" Ling Feng roared, his voice echoing through the cave, filled with anger and resentment.

Dai Yao stood outside the formation, looking at the two trapped inside, and smiled faintly: "Senior brothers and sisters, this is not me framing you, it's just that you were too greedy."

Although she longed to leave, she ultimately sighed and dispelled the formation. As she waved her hand in the air, she could feel the power of the formation surging beneath her fingertips.

"I'll let you off this time, but if you try anything again, you won't be so lucky."

Ling Feng and Xing Yao emerged from the formation, their faces covered in dust and grime, their eyes filled with resentment.

Dai Yao ignored them and went straight to the treasure trove, taking out the treasures inside.

Just then, a voice came from the cave entrance: "Congratulations, you have passed the test."

Dai Yao turned around and saw a familiar figure standing at the cave entrance, a gentle smile on his lips...

"you……"

Dai Yao turned around and saw who it was, her heart skipped a beat.

Standing at the cave entrance, bathed in sunlight, was the mysterious man who had always silently protected her. He was dressed in snow-white robes, his black hair cascading down his back, and his eyes were filled with a gentle smile, as if the whole world was brightened by him. The sunlight shone on him, as if gilding him with a layer of gold.

"You...why are you here?" Dai Yao asked, somewhat surprised, but her tone carried a hint of sweetness.

The mysterious man walked slowly towards her, his footsteps light, as if afraid of disturbing something. He gently pulled her into his arms, and Dai Yao could feel the warmth of his body. "Silly girl, I was worried about you, so I came to check on you." His voice was deep, yet full of affection.

Dai Yao leaned against his chest, feeling his warm embrace, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

At that moment, she felt incredibly happy and safe.

Just then, the voice of the Immortal Sect Elder resounded throughout the entire assessment venue: "This assessment is over. Dai Yao, with her outstanding performance and extraordinary wisdom, has won first place!"

As soon as the elder finished speaking, the entire hall erupted in an uproar.

Ling Feng and Xing Yao were even more ashen-faced; they never expected that Dai Yao would actually succeed.

"In recognition of Dai Yao's outstanding performance in the assessment, she is hereby awarded a 'Mind-Concentrating Pill' and granted the opportunity to enter the Immortal Sect's Hall of Knowledge for further study!" the elder continued to announce.

Dai Yao accepted the Mind-Concentrating Pill from the elder. The pill was smooth and round in her hand, and she was filled with joy and pride.

She turned to look at Ling Feng and Xing Yao, a playful smile playing on her lips: "Thank you for your kind words, senior brothers and sisters."

Ling Feng and Xing Yao were so angry they gritted their teeth, but there was nothing they could do.

They could only watch helplessly as Dai Yao enjoyed the joy of victory, their hearts filled with jealousy and resentment.

After announcing the rewards, the elders of the immortal sect left the assessment site.

Dai Yao and the mysterious man walked hand in hand on their way back. A gentle breeze blew by, ruffling their hair and the hem of their clothes.

"Yao'er, you're amazing!" the mysterious man praised gently.

Dai Yao winked playfully, "Of course, don't you know who I am!"

The two looked at each other and smiled, saying nothing.

Suddenly, Dai Yao stopped in her tracks, her gaze falling on an inconspicuous stone by the roadside.

"What's wrong?" The mysterious man noticed her unusual behavior and asked with concern.

Dai Yao didn't speak, but slowly reached out and picked up the stone. The stone was cold to the touch and emitted a strange aura. The icy feeling quickly spread from her fingertips throughout her body, making her shudder and almost think she had picked up a block of ice.

“Magic Crystal…” Dai Yao murmured to herself.

Dai Yao held the magic crystal in her hand, and the icy coldness made her shiver again. "Good heavens, this thing is actually a magic crystal? Are you sure it's not something left over from some immortal eating an ice pop?" she muttered to herself, but her face remained expressionless.

The mysterious man looked at the dark stone in Dai Yao's hand and raised an eyebrow in confusion: "What kind of treasure is this? It looks quite ordinary."

Dai Yao smiled mysteriously, hid the magic crystal behind her back, and said in a pretentious tone, "This is no ordinary stone. This is something that can make someone rich overnight, or rather, ascend to immortality overnight!"

"Oh? That's amazing?" The mysterious man clearly didn't believe it, thinking Dai Yao was joking.

“Of course!” Dai Yao said seriously. “This is a magic crystal, containing enormous energy. It’s definitely an SSR in the cultivation world! It’s just a pity…” She deliberately dragged out her words, whetting the mysterious man’s appetite.

"What's a pity?" The mysterious man, as expected, took the bait and pressed for an answer.

Dai Yao deliberately sighed, "It's a pity that this thing is so hard to get! It's said that the sealed land of the magic crystal is fraught with danger, and it's a matter of life and death. It's easy to get in but hard to get out. It's even more exciting than my assessment this time!"

Upon hearing the words "fraught with danger, a near-death experience," the mysterious man's expression changed slightly, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on Dai Yao's hand: "Since it's so dangerous, let's not go."

Dai Yao grasped his hand in return, giving him a reassuring look: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Fortune favors the bold, right? Let's take a gamble, and maybe we'll turn a bicycle into a motorcycle!"

She paused, her tone firm: "Besides, I promised you I'd take you to see the most beautiful scenery and eat the most delicious food, and all of that requires strength! With this magic crystal, we can improve our strength even faster, and then, hehe..." Dai Yao smiled slyly, not continuing, but pulling the mysterious man forward.

"Wait," the mysterious man suddenly stopped, looking intently at Dai Yao, "Are you sure you want to go?"

Dai Yao turned around and met his gaze, her eyes filled with determination: "Of course, we'll go together!"

The two looked at each other and smiled, saying nothing.

Dai Yao held the magic crystal tightly in her hand, a strange excitement and anticipation welling up in her heart.

She knew this would be a journey full of challenges and unknowns, but also full of endless possibilities...

She took a deep breath, grabbed the mysterious man's hand, and headed towards the place where the magic crystal was sealed.

The moment they stepped into that mysterious area...

A cold wind blew by...