"I truly admire the academy and want to grow stronger here. I'm not a spy, and I don't harbor any ill intent..."

Zhang Feng responded blankly, his eyes glazed over, his voice dull and vacant.

After hearing this, Lin Feng turned to Lin Xue and gave her a slight nod.

"Lin Xue's ability… has been a huge help."

Second Uncle Lin Wuming, standing to the side, couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

By now, Lin Xue's soul power had reached the level of a Soul King, making her hypnosis technique nearly unstoppable against anyone below that tier.

A few moments later, Zhang Feng slowly regained consciousness, feeling as though only an instant had passed.

But before he could recover fully, an overwhelming soul power pressure slammed down on him like a tidal wave.

Gritting his teeth, Zhang Feng did his best to endure. Veins bulged on his forehead from the strain, but in the end, he couldn't hold out much longer.

"Alright, you've passed."

Just as he was about to collapse, Lin Feng's voice came through, and the oppressive aura instantly vanished.

"Thank you, Examiner!"

Zhang Feng's face lit up in relief and gratitude. He shot Lin Feng a thankful glance before leaving the room happily.

The soul pressure was, in truth, just a staged test. As long as the applicant could handle a normal level of stress, they would pass.

Its true purpose was to mask Lin Xue's hypnosis.

"What was it like? Was the second round hard?"

As soon as Zhang Feng stepped out, the other candidates surrounded him, bombarding him with questions.

Still catching his breath, Zhang Feng gave them a simple account of what had happened.

Everyone who heard it grew even more anxious but also hopeful.

"Next, Li Yang!"

At that moment, the door to the inner room opened again and Lin Jian called out.

Li Yang stood, inhaled deeply, and walked into the room, visibly nervous.

Upon entering, his eyes locked onto the examiners. He didn't dare let his guard down.

But the moment his gaze met Lin Xue's, it was as though he'd been hit with a petrification spell—his expression turned vacant, his eyes glassy.

"Why have you come to Monster Academy? Do you have any ulterior motives?"

Lin Feng asked in a low, calm voice.

Li Yang's pupils remained dull as he slowly replied:

"I joined the academy under Spirit Hall's orders... to gather intelligence on Monster Academy and report back to them…"

The room fell into dead silence.

Everyone present stared at one another in shock, the tension in the air thickening instantly.

Second Uncle's face was a mixture of disbelief and rage.

He hadn't expected it—someone had actually dared to send a spy into Monster Academy during the entrance exam.

Lin Feng's expression darkened. His brows furrowed, and his eyes sharpened as he stared intently at the hypnotized youth.

"Who sent you? What exactly is your mission? Are there others working with you?"

He stepped forward, his voice calm but full of undeniable authority.

"It was a Deacon from Spirit Hall who sent me. My mission is to infiltrate the academy."

"To gather as much information as possible—students' strength, teaching methods, faculty background…"

"And… to investigate whether the academy has ties to other powers."

"As for accomplices, I know there are two others who were sent as well, but I don't know their identities or specific tasks."

Still under Lin Xue's powerful hypnosis, Li Yang spoke like a machine, revealing everything.

"What's your method of communication? Do you have any designated meeting place or time?"

Lin Feng's eyes narrowed, a chilling glint flashing in them as he pressed further.

After a pause, Li Yang continued:

"If I have important intel, I write it on a special piece of paper and hide it in a tree hollow under an old locust tree, about three miles outside the academy."

"They check it periodically."

"There's no set meeting time. We only meet under the tree if something urgent needs to be discussed."

"Is that everything? Anything else you're hiding?"

Lin Feng stood straight, arms crossed, and asked once more after a moment of contemplation.

"That's all. I've told you everything I know," Li Yang answered blankly.

The room was suffocating with tension.

Everyone present had been silently listening to Lin Feng's interrogation, their impression of Spirit Hall's methods now filled with unease and disgust.

"Spirit Hall has gone too far! How dare they extend their hand into our academy!"

Second Uncle was the first to break the silence, roaring with fury.

"With Spirit Hall's ambitions, this is nothing out of character," Lin Feng said calmly.

"They've been planning for years to monopolize the soul master resources of the entire continent. The rise of Monster Academy is a threat to their plans."

Lin Feng's words were calm, but carried deep insight.

Second Uncle was visibly shaken, now realizing how deeply Spirit Hall's schemes ran.

"Should we pretend we didn't find out? So as not to alert the others?" Second Uncle asked, concerned.

"No need!"

"We have a Titled Douluo backing us—what do we have to fear?"

"Catching one spy won't change anything."

Lin Feng's tone was firm and decisive.

Based on the current timeline, Spirit Hall wasn't yet ready for any open confrontation. There was no risk of provoking them early.

With that, Lin Feng gestured to Lin Xue.

"End the hypnosis."

"Yes, Young Master."

As Lin Xue withdrew her soul power, Li Yang slowly regained consciousness.

Before he could fully gather his thoughts, a crushing soul pressure fell upon him like a mountain.

"What…?!"

Li Yang gasped in terror. His knees buckled, and he dropped to the ground with a loud thud, sweat pouring from his forehead.

"You. Failed." Lin Feng said coldly.

"My lord, please… give me another chance! I can pass, I swear!"

Li Yang's eyes filled with panic. His mind went blank—he hadn't expected to be exposed this easily. Thinking of his assignment from Spirit Hall, he immediately begged for mercy.

"Hmph. You don't get chances just because you want them. Lin Jian, remove him."

"Yes, Young Master."

Lin Jian stepped forward, grabbed Li Yang by the arm, and dragged him away.

"Please! I'm begging you! Just give me one more chance!"

Li Yang struggled and pleaded the entire way.

Outside, the applicants still waiting were stunned by what they saw.

"He… failed the test?"

"But didn't Zhang Feng say it was easy? Then what does that mean for us…"

Whispers spread through the crowd, nerves growing more tense.

It had seemed simple—but the second candidate had already been rejected.

"What? But my test was so easy… was he just too weak or something?"

Zhang Feng stared in disbelief as Li Yang was dragged away.

Back at the plaza, Lin Jian handed Li Yang over to Zhao Wuji, then turned back to continue the exam process.

As for Li Yang—Zhao Wuji casually tossed him out of the academy gates like a sack of garbage.

---

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