The slightly plump young man Zheng Yu and the athletic young woman Yang Yue were both a little afraid of Xu Ru at this moment.
They weren't afraid of Li Zeyu's direct crushing defeat.
Lin Chuan's current 'milk shield' poison combined with the explosive power of the Bomb Fruit, though disgusting, at least let people know how they lost.
But Xu Ru was an expert of the 'underworld' type.
Digging pits, setting traps, secretly releasing Poison Powder, and with Xu Ru's extremely low sense of presence, harmless, and excellent 'passerby girl' appearance as a disguise, an opponent might not even know how they lost or how they died.
Hmm, if Zheng Yu and Yang Yue had to choose.
They would rather be directly crushed by Li Zeyu than be repeatedly tormented by Lin Chuan.
They would rather be repeatedly tormented by Lin Chuan and sent away by a single Bomb Fruit than face Xu Ru and be silently killed by her underhanded methods.
At this moment, Lin Chuan was more curious.
Xu Ru had been 'laying low' for 3 months, not participating in the Baby Cup, her reputation completely unknown. She had been hiding until now, so why didn't she continue to hide until everyone had jointly defeated the boss, and then reveal this Tier 2 Spiritual Beast, the Purple Crown Black Crystal Moth, during the subsequent competition?
This trap pit was actually almost ready; even without additional ingredients, it wouldn't have been a big deal. Adding them was just icing on the cake.
Feeling Lin Chuan's curious gaze, as if she knew the doubt in his heart.
Xu Ru asked Lin Chuan in a very calm tone:
"Why did you provide free healing to everyone just now?"
As soon as Xu Ru uttered these words, Lin Chuan understood.
Yes, he could have chosen not to provide free healing to everyone just now, but he did it.
Smart people were not just Chen Yulu, nor just him, Lin Chuan.
There were others who could figure out the most correct solution and know what answer the examiners wanted to see.
Indeed, Xu Ru could have continued to hide, keeping her cards close until later to shock everyone.
But she revealed them now.
Xu Ru was doing this for the examiners behind the scenes.
She was showing that in the face of disaster, she wouldn't hold back her power for personal gain. She would preserve her strength only after ensuring a safe passage through the disaster, and she would fulfill her responsibilities to the best of her ability.
Evidently, like Lin Chuan before, she was also putting on a show for the examiners behind the scenes, earning hidden points.
"All of it?"
Lin Chuan asked curiously again.
Zheng Yu and Yang Yue completely didn't understand what Lin Chuan was asking.
What 'all'?
The conversation felt completely disjointed from the previous sentence; both of them were bewildered.
"And you? Is it all?"
Xu Ru chuckled and retorted.
Alright, Lin Chuan understood.
Although he had revealed the Bomb Fruit, Guoguo Sakura's Assistance was still hidden; all the examinees who had seen it were instantly eliminated.
Moreover, besides Guoguo Sakura's Assistance, he had another deeper, stronger, and more powerful trump card that he hadn't revealed.
And Xu Ru's implication was clearly that the Purple Crown Black Crystal Moth she revealed was also not her full strength.
Interesting.
Lin Chuan smiled, a little expectant for what came next.
Just as Guoguo Sakura and Guoguo Sakura competed and motivated each other to 'inner roll,' allowing them to endure arduous training, withstand the inhumane torment of advanced cultivation nutrients, and continuously get injured and recover in the automatic beating machine, ultimately achieving nearly limit growth efficiency.
Beast Masters, in fact, follow the same principle. Fighting weaklings, even if you win, won't help you find flaws and promote growth.
Only by competing with strong opponents who match your own level can you find your shortcomings and further promote your growth.
In Lin Chuan's opinion.
Xu Ru, as an opponent, would be even more formidable, more troublesome, and more challenging than Li Zeyu.
"I don't particularly like owing favors."
"Here's a tip for you, consider it a repayment for your healing just now."
"If possible, try to suppress your Beast Master level. Don't break through to Tier 1 before truly entering a top-tier Imperial Beast University."
"If you can't get into a top-tier Imperial Beast University and can't break out of this small circle, only reaching the level of a first-class Imperial Beast University, then disregard what I said."
Xu Ru said.
Although she said this, Xu Ru knew that with the score beads Lin Chuan earned as a battlefield black doctor, he should have tens of thousands by now. As long as he could keep them from being taken away later, then Lin Chuan getting into a top-tier Imperial Beast University was a sure thing, and being admitted by one of the Eight Great Academies was highly possible.
Lin Chuan should be the examinee with the highest score among all those still in this Secret Realm trial space.
This score included survival points, additional points from score beads, and hidden points from team cooperation contributions.
At the same time, Xu Ru also glanced at Zheng Yu and Yang Yue beside her.
Although her words were for Lin Chuan, Zheng Yu and Yang Yue also heard them.
However, it didn't matter.
Their level wasn't high enough to get into a truly top-tier Imperial Beast University. This tip was useless to them. Even if they could get into a top-tier Imperial Beast University, it would be impossible for their Beast Master level to break through Tier 1 before then, so there was no need to worry about this problem at all.
Only Lin Chuan, whose Beast Master level might increase faster than imagined, needed to be informed in advance.
Lin Chuan was slightly stunned.
Suppressing his Beast Master level, not breaking through Tier 1 before truly entering a top-tier Imperial Beast University?
Why was that?
He didn't understand for a moment, but Lin Chuan didn't press further. He would know once he got into a top-tier Imperial Beast University or even one of the Eight Great Academies.
As payment for the medical expenses, Xu Ru had already paid more than enough, even far exceeding expectations.
At this moment, Lin Chuan had a guess about Xu Ru's identity and background.
She should be a descendant of a certain Hall lineage, or an officially recognized disciple of a certain professional Elite Beast Master.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have such knowledge.
Nor would she have closed herself off and hidden for 3 months without participating in any Baby Cup, only to emerge now.
If not, if she were just a commoner, the sheer cost and resources for cultivating spiritual beasts alone would make it impossible for her to advance an inch.
One must know that Li Zeyu, backed by a large corporation like Blue Feather Airlines, was called the 'Little Prince' of Qinghe City, and only then was he able to cultivate a Tier 2 Spiritual Beast, the Mutated Blue Feather Eagle, within 3 months, barely meeting the threshold.
And he, Lin Chuan, only relied on his cheat-like stat allocation, raising Guoguo Sakura and Guoguo Sakura's basic three skills to Expert Grade, along with the Spiritual Wood Heart's cultivation buff and the extreme boost from his dual talents, to push the two little ones to their current Level 19.
Others, like Zheng Yu and Yang Yue, whose initial spiritual beasts were Level 17 and Level 16 respectively, were at a normal and reasonable level.
And Xu Ru, quietly and without a reputation, directly pulled out a Tier 2 Spiritual Beast, clearly indicating an extraordinary background.
"Thank you."
Lin Chuan expressed his gratitude to Xu Ru, then said:
"You don't like owing favors, and neither do I."
"Your tip is very useful to me; consider the treatment fee overpaid."
"In the remaining time of this Secret Realm assessment, if needed, I can help you heal one more time, restoring one of your spiritual beasts to full health."
Xu Ru remained silent, nodding slightly.
After that, she didn't speak again, remaining silent as before, with little presence, continuing to pour various Poison Powder, venom, potent stomach acid, and Poison Needle skills into the giant trap pit.
Time passed quietly.
Two hours later, external time, 8:30 AM.
A clear eagle cry resounded across the sky, and a young man, riding an eagle, came on the Ride the Wind.
He didn't land. The Mutated Blue Feather Eagle hovered at a height of five meters above the ground.
"Including you four, and my team here, Chen Yulu has already gathered 43 examinees willing to cooperate in fighting the boss. However, three examinees were unfortunately attacked by the Terror Puppet Giant midway and have been eliminated. Now there are exactly 40 people left."
"According to the plan, in another 10 minutes, everyone will converge and surround this area."
"How are your traps here prepared?"
Li Zeyu asked Lin Chuan.
Lin Chuan pointed to the large pit in front, signaling him to see for himself.
Li Zeyu steered the Blue Feather Eagle forward for over ten meters, looking down at the super large pit, and immediately cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
He saw that the ground there was covered with a thin net of vines. If one didn't observe carefully, it would indeed be easy to overlook.
But looking closely, one could see a super huge trap pit through the gaps in the vine net, with a pit opening radius of ten meters and a depth of thirty meters.
And the situation inside the trap pit...
It was filled with dense, crisscrossing vines and branches, with highly viscous insect silk on the branches.
The pit walls, vines, and pit bottom also had various sparkling Poison Powder, venom, and strong acid emitting corrosive black smoke.
Li Zeyu's eyelids twitched wildly. Such a trap pit, if one fell into it, one could imagine the torment they would suffer.
Let alone a Tier 3 Demon Attribute creature, even a Tier 4 one would probably have a hard time.
Li Zeyu subconsciously tightened his calves, gripping the flight equipment pull ring on the Blue Feather Eagle's back, to prevent himself from losing his balance and falling in.
"Hmm, very good. Then I'll lure the boss over here."
With a gulp, Li Zeyu swallowed his saliva, withdrawing his gaze with lingering fear, and said.
Immediately, Li Zeyu steered the Mutated Blue Feather Eagle and soared into the sky.
To lure that Terror Puppet Giant over.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Lin Chuan and the other 4 also found places to hide, so as not to block the Terror Puppet Giant's path later and accidentally draw its aggro, getting instantly killed by it.
Ten minutes later.
Thump, thump, thump, the earth trembled, and dust rolled.
A terrifying low pressure instantly enveloped this area of the eastern town.
Everyone felt an uncontrollable surge of panic and fear in their hearts.
Li Zeyu steered the Mutated Blue Feather Eagle flying ahead, with two other examinees riding flying spiritual beasts occasionally providing Assistance.
"Roar, roar, roar."
The Terror Puppet Giant's roar came before it arrived.
At this moment, everyone in this area, including Lin Chuan and the two little ones, Guoguo Sakura, felt their bodies stiffen. Even the efficiency of energy circulation and mobilization within their bodies decreased, and their combat power sharply declined by more than 30%.
This was the power of the Demon Attribute! Pure negative mental energy, capable of polluting one's spirit and will.
"They're here!"
Lin Chuan said in a deep voice.
Next moment!
A Terror Puppet Giant, over 20 meters tall, crawled strangely on all fours at an astonishing speed, chasing Li Zeyu, who was flying low in the sky.
Li Zeyu steered the Mutated Blue Feather Eagle directly over the super giant pit that Lin Chuan and the others had dug.
The Terror Puppet Giant didn't even look at the ground, chasing straight past.
Without any surprise.
When the Terror Puppet Giant stepped onto the giant pit with its vine-covered surface, the vines instantly broke, and it fell directly into the pit.
With a rumbling sound, the Terror Puppet Giant evidently reached the bottom of the pit.
The Poison Powder, venom, Poison Needle, and acid in the trap pit immediately took effect, applying all sorts of debuffs.
"Roar, roar, roar! Roar, roar, roar, roar, roar!!!"
The Terror Puppet Giant let out roars of extreme pain and rage.
The moment it fell into the trap pit, it tried to climb out.
However, the vines in the pit were not as thin and brittle as the vines covering the surface just now. The vines in the trap pit were woven by Guoguo Sakura and Guoguo Sakura with their maximum strength, using Expert Grade Vine Armor Shield. Their hardness, toughness, and density were no less than steel alloy.
The vines were crisscrossed and tangled, firmly trapping the Terror Puppet Giant. The more it struggled, the tighter and more immovably it became stuck.
And the highly viscous insect silk on the vines, expelled by Xu Ru's Purple Crown Black Crystal Moth, also stuck to and pulled it.
Poison Powder, venom, Poison Needle, and acid continuously dealt sustained damage to it.