When system cheat becomes rampant!

"What should we do? Should we go after it?" Cheng Xin'an asked Xiang Beifei anxiously.

But just as he finished speaking, a ripple rose from the ground at the edge of the withered forest behind them, and then the entire withered forest, as if destroyed by a phantom, suddenly turned to flying ash and completely disappeared.

Along with it, the Ghost Mustache of Remnant Visage also vanished.

Xiang Beifei's heart skipped a beat, as the connection he had with that withered forest suddenly broke off!

"Disappeared?"

Everyone was stunned, not understanding why an entire good forest had vanished.

Where the withered forest stood, there was now a stone forest instead.

Tall stones intertwined with each other, and whether it was due to years of weathering or some other reason, some towering spires rose hundreds of meters high, like skinny little mountains.

"When we were in the withered forest just now, how did we not come across these stones?"

As they looked around the stone forest, everyone soon saw about a dozen people suddenly appear atop the tallest stone column!

The leaders were two exceptionally strong individuals, whom Xiang Beifei and the others quickly recognized: one was a judge sent by the league, named Sun Heshun, and the other was Yang Chengze from Yanzhou University, assisting the judge.

"It's people from the league!"

Upon seeing the two, Cheng Xin'an finally felt a weight lift from his heart. Although they weren't professors from their own university, they were judges after all, and just by seeing them, they were essentially safe.

The two judges also spotted them and immediately led their people over. Behind them followed students from other universities, including those from Jizhou and Yangzhou Universities. Xiang Beifei also saw Xia Wenxi from Jingzhou University; they had encountered his team in the withered forest before, and Xiang Beifei had once warned them.

Xia Wenxi now was pale, bearing scars on his body, looking like he had suffered great injuries. It seemed he had encountered either the Ghost Mustache of Remnant Visage or tree people and had gone through a fierce battle. Nevertheless, as an SSR of Meridian Opening phase, he surely had ways to save his life and must have escaped death this time, but his team seemed to be missing people.

"Are you all okay?"

Seeing Xiang Beifei and his group's tense faces loosening somewhat, the league judge Sun Heshun felt somewhat relieved; after all, finding another dozen or so people was indeed fortunate.

"We're fine, just one person fainted," Cheng Xin'an said.

"Let me have a look."

Sun Heshun immediately went over, checked the conditions of the person who had fainted in Cheng Xin'an's team, assessed the injuries, then stood up and said, "He should be alright. Did you also encounter those things? A group of tree people and a group of dead men?"

"Yes," Xiang Beifei nodded, "Ghost Mustache of Remnant Visage."

"Ghost Mustache of Remnant Visage? Are you certain it was that?"

Only then did Sun Heshun take notice of Xiang Beifei. He was very impressed with him and took his words seriously.

Xiang Beifei wasn't surprised Sun Heshun knew about the "Ghost Mustache of Remnant Visage"; even though this type of desolate beast had only been named by Xiang Beifei two or three months ago, since even Cheng Xin'an knew about them, the judge surely did as well.

"Elder, did you not encounter these desolate beasts earlier?"

Xiang Beifei didn't know what Sun Heshun's role in the league was, and since it seemed like he was a temporary judge, given that he looked about fifty years old, Xiang Beifei addressed him as 'elder' directly.

"I didn't see them with my own eyes. I had just entered the withered forest not long ago, probably less than twenty minutes, and just found them. They told me they were being chased by a group that looked like they had been dead for a long time. I was leading them to find a way, when suddenly the withered forest disappeared," Sun Heshun said, gesturing towards the shaken students behind him.

Xiang Beifei understood why Broken Throat had not attacked them but instead retreated immediately.

It turned out it was because Sun Heshun and the other person had come!

Sun Heshun was an SSR! Moreover, he was an SSR whose cultivation level couldn't be seen, which meant it must be at least above the God Refining stage.

Although Yang Chengze was only an SR, his cultivation was also in the mid-stage of God Refining.

Presumably, Ghost Mustache of Remnant Visage wouldn't dare to confront such an expert directly, because once a fight broke out here, Broken Throat would be at a complete disadvantage.

"Did you encounter those things, have any of you been injured?" Sun Heshun asked sternly.

"We're fine."

"Let me check, we can't be careless. We can't rule out the possibility that desolate beasts left some kind of trick on you."

Sun Heshun seemed to be a very responsible referee; without further ado, he took out a ball, released his Spiritual Power, and thoroughly checked everyone from head to toe. After about five seconds, once satisfied that there were no issues, he finally relaxed.

"No serious harm, but we can't be negligent. We've already notified others to come here. Everyone will arrive soon, and we'll discuss the specifics then," Sun Heshun cautioned seriously.

"Alright." Xiang Beifei nodded slightly, and after a moment, he asked again, "Why did the Forfeit Talisman become ineffective? Even after leaving the Withered Woods, it couldn't be used?"

Sun Heshun spoke with a somewhat heavy tone, "We were all careless about this matter. The location you were in was out of range. Since we lost contact with you, everyone has been mobilized. We'll talk about the specifics later. Did you see anyone else?"

"Yes, just now we saw a man with his throat cut staring at us in the woods. They probably sensed your presence and immediately left. He also had three students hostage."

Xiang Beifei glanced again at Yang Chengze from Yanzhou University; among the three kidnapped students, two were from their school, handed over by Zhu Pengfei himself.

"Which direction did they go?" Sun Heshun asked immediately.

"They disappeared with the Withered Woods, and now we don't know the situation," Cheng Xin'an pointed in another direction.

Sun Heshun spoke in a deep voice, "Then I'll go look for them. Don't you wander off now. I've sent a signal, and others will soon arrive. Stay here with Professor Yang for now and protect yourselves. We absolutely cannot have any more incidents."

As an SSR of the alliance, Sun Heshun took great care of the younger generation. Even though he himself was an SSR, he still placed great importance on these students. After all, the students here could be considered the future pillars of Jiuzhou, and the loss of even one would cause him lasting regret.

"Xiang Beifei, you have the highest strength here, assist Professor Yang in looking after everyone. You must also keep yourself safe, understand?" Sun Heshun said sternly to Xiang Beifei.

Xiang Beifei was already recognized as the strongest among the new generation, and Sun Heshun had great anticipation for such a talent. Even though Xiang Beifei's system grade was only N-level, he did not take it lightly.

"Understood." Xiang Beifei nodded slightly.

Sun Heshun repeated his instructions to the SR, Yang Chengze, to take care of the other students, then stepped forward, the space rippled, and he disappeared on the spot.

Xiang Beifei looked thoughtfully in the direction where Sun Heshun had vanished. His original impression of the Jiuzhou Alliance hadn't been very good because up to now, the methods the alliance used to select talent had many flaws, including the presence of many people unworthy of their position.

However, Sun Heshun seemed different from ordinary SSR Awakeners; he was very responsible in both his words and actions.

The other students found places to rest, lacking the mood to chat idly. After encountering such misfortune, all they wanted now was to get home. Xiang Beifei's team found a large rock to sit and rest for a while.

Yang Chengze from Yanzhou University had been silent the whole time, letting the SSR Sun Heshun handle things. Only after Sun Heshun had left did he coldly turn to Xiang Beifei.

"Where is Zhu Pengfei?" Yang Chengze stared at Xiang Beifei. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

Xiang Beifei's brows slightly furrowed.

Cheng Xin'an and the others showed displeasure when Zhu Pengfei was mentioned.

This was because earlier in the woods, it was "Zhu Pengfei" who lured the Ghostly Visage over, and according to "Zhu Pengfei's" words, he seemed to have handed over students from other schools to the Ghostly Visage!

Even though they had eradicated the Ghost Mustache of Remnant Visage thanks to Xiang Beifei, they still harbored resentment towards the name "Zhu Pengfei."

Yang Chengze, with an intense look, continued to speak to Xiang Beifei, "Just now on that mountain, Zhu Pengfei was with several of you. Why is he gone? You're still here. What did you do to Zhu Pengfei?"