Earlier, Wen Nan had asked Yu Shujun if, apart from the fragment that had already turned into a golden driving pattern, she could transfer the other two pieces to him. The response was that the [Solidification Anchor] was currently in use and thus could not be transferred to Wen Nan. However, the [Transferred Hand] was evidently available for loan. So Wen Nan didn’t stand on ceremony and directly borrowed it on the spot. The result was that now both Wen Nan and Yu Shujun had the same number of fragments, and Wen Nan didn’t know who would get the priority in choosing questions in this tied situation. But that was no longer important, because the third candidate didn’t accept the current tally. When the candidate keyed in that application on the large screen overhead, Wen Nan was certain—this time, the real Carl Milak had entered the Divine Staff Sheath. If it were a player like Yin Zhi’en, whose gaming experience might not be any higher than Wen Nan’s, they wouldn’t possibly know such high-level means of communicating with the Divine Staff Sheath’s system. It was uncertain if the opponent used an item, equipment, or a skill, but it was definitely the handiwork of a seasoned player. It seemed that what Yin Zhi’en had told Wen Nan last time in the Divine Staff Sheath was true— This time, the Guild Leader of the Ghost Control Master Alliance wanted to take Wen Nan out in this test space of the Divine Staff Sheath. "Take out" might not be entirely accurate. Just as Yu Shujun had previously reminded, tied by the system rules of this game strategy instance, players could not kill other players. Otherwise, even if they were unrestrained inside the Divine Staff Sheath, they would still be held accountable by the local system once they returned to the instance. So, more precisely, Carl Milak wanted to render Wen Nan powerless in this test space, and then find a way to completely resolve Wen Nan after leaving this instance. To achieve this, firstly, Carl Milak needed to secure a test question that suited him best; that is, he needed priority in choosing questions. And to obtain the priority, he needed to ensure he held the highest number of fragments. Right now, this wasn’t enough. It was apparent that he came prepared when, at the last moment before the priority was to be determined, he applied for a recount of the numbers. He had calculated ahead, ready to catch Wen Nan and Yu Shujun off guard. But what was his plan? In the darkness, the corners of Wen Nan’s mouth slightly curled— He was sure that the key to his opponent’s plan lay with those few characters left deliberately outside the instance. As he contemplated, the prompt message on the hovering screen overhead changed— [Candidate No. 3, you have one and only one opportunity to apply for a recount of fragment ownership in this test session. Do you confirm usage?] The opponent immediately clicked confirm, and soon, the prompt changed again— [Candidate No. 3’s application has been accepted. Entering the preparation phase before the fragment recount. All candidates have 15 minutes to prepare, starting countdown from—] Wen Nan withdrew his gaze from the large countdown panel flashing above and looked towards Candidate No. 3 in front of him. In this test space of the Divine Staff Sheath, communication with the outside world was surely severed. No help could be sought from guild members, no aid requested from other players, nor could one temporarily expand their equipment stash. So, if nothing unexpected happened, Wen Nan guessed the opponent intended to work with the equipment already in possession. Indeed, just seconds into the countdown, Candidate No. 3 abruptly stood straight, feet spread slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, and raised one arm overhead, five fingers reaching skyward— Mmm...a very standard magical girl transformation pose. Of course, there’s no way he would transform into a Magic Girl here. Some sort of summoning ritual. No sooner had this thought emerged than a blue-purple light flashed in the originally dark space above, as though someone was about to undergo a divine ordeal. Soon, a flash of lightning, and a woman descended from the sky, plunging directly towards Candidate No. 3. Just as she was about to reach his palm, the woman transformed into a brown-black staff. The staff solidified in Candidate No. 3’s palm, with a dazzling gemstone embedded at one end. Wen Nan instantly recognized it as the piece Yu Shujun had mentioned, the remote equipment controlled by Carl Milak via a Gu Worm, capable of transforming into a female figure. Such a female character, essentially belonging to the player’s equipment, could be summoned anywhere allowed by the Divine Staff Sheath’s test space, which granted candidates full control and use of their equipment during the test. And now, the gemstone at the staff’s end was assuredly a new Divine Staff Fragment. Carl Milak, having entered this instance, brought only a few non-top-tier star-level characters, as he had planned from the start to contest the qualification test inside the Divine Staff Sheath. Those high star-level female characters had evidently been dispatched to allies to seek new Divine Staff Fragment loans. The staff he carried earlier was also kept outside the instance so he could later summon it to his side and carry a fragment with it. This method, undoubtedly successful. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs Novᴇl_Fire(.)net Because above, the description text following Candidate No. 3’s status quickly updated— [Candidate No. 3: Holding fragments 2 (recalculating in preparation).] The formerly last-ranking Candidate No. 3 now leaped to hold the most fragments, gaining priority in selecting questions. Seeing this, Wen Nan let out a cold snort. Did you think you were the only one with remotely summonable equipment? Adopting a stable stance, Wen Nan slightly raised his arm, shouting, "Sword come!" In the astonished gaze of Candidate No. 3, a small silver sword sliced through the air. Soon after, a clear female voice resounded, "Mo Yu is here and is willing to go through fire and water for the master!" The small silver sword landed steadily in Wen Nan’s palm, with a gem resembling a Jade Pendant hanging from the hilt swayingly. Upon seeing the gem, Candidate No. 3 was shocked— Did this rookie numbskull Ye Jiu actually persuade that show-off Feng Shuihuan to lend him his Divine Staff Fragment?! Once more, the count results updated above— [Candidate No. 2: Holding fragments 2.5 (recalculating in preparation).] Once again, Wen Nan surpassed Carl Milak by just half a fragment. After a brief daze, Carl Milak let out a disapproving snicker. He, knowing that Ye Jiu had stolen that little silver sword from Wei Zhe, as the Guild Leader, planned for the possibility of Ye Jiu attempting to summon equipment and sneak in fragments. Carl Milak was anything but nervous, having prepared a trick. Thinking of this, Carl Milak raised his other hand high, revealing a gemstone clutched in his palm—Voice of Matthew. Activating the [Voice of Matthew], Carl Milak shouted, "Divine Staff Fragment [Voice of Matthew] is here, Yu Shousix, return quickly!" As his words fell, a channel tore open in the air around the fragment, and a woman strode out of it. The woman wore a black strapless top paired with black wide-leg pants, her pale skin contrasting with her short hair ending at her ears. With thick smoky eye makeup and deep brown lipstick. Seeing the woman’s appearance, Wen Nan was dumbfounded. This bold makeup, rebellious attire... The Guardian of [Voice of Matthew], Yu Shousix, was the woman from Yu Shujun’s nightmare in the previous Divine Staff Sheath test space, the one who stabbed them with the staff?! And that woman, smiling, knelt on one knee beside Carl Milak, respectfully presenting a new Divine Staff Fragment to him.