Three days later.
Jiang Yao stowed dozens of demon beasts from the two pits into his storage bag. "How did it get dark so fast? I haven't had enough yet."
"It’s dangerous at night. Let's pack up and get ready for dinner."
Gu Ningyun took out a bulbous porcelain bottle to collect the residual purple mist from the pits, then pulled out the cooking utensils she had brought from the kitchen. "Are we having BBQ tonight?"
Wen Xuan's eyes lit up. "That sounds great! Jiang Yao, hurry up and take out one of the brute bulls we caught."
After repairing the traps and cleaning up the bloodstains and signs of battle, the five of them returned to the small hill.
Since they had all attended the Introduction to Food Cultivation class, they made quick work of preparing the ingredients and started roasting the meat.
While waiting for the meat to cook, Gu Ningyun said, "We need to change our strategy tomorrow morning."
"Huh? Why?" Jiang Yao was surprised. Things were going so well; he didn't expect a sudden change.
Gu Ningyun looked at Wen Xuan. "Have you had to go quite far to lure the demon beasts lately?"
"Yes. I suspect we've nearly cleared out all the demon beasts in the western forest and the adjacent areas."
Wen Xuan added, "I even saw people from other teams in the distance today. I overheard them discussing why there were so few demon beasts in the west."
Jiang Yao realized what was happening. "Oh, I see. I didn't even notice until you mentioned it."
"The hill we chose is near the edge of the forest, far from the other teams. Plus, since Wen Xuan lured all the demon beasts to the outskirts, the other teams couldn't find any and were forced to move toward the center or other directions. That's why we haven't run into them these past few days."
Gu Ningyun continued, "Starting tomorrow, that might not be the case. After three days of luring and killing, our team score has reached 81,750 points. The second-place team, Fu Mingzhi’s, only has 29,280 points."
"In the eyes of the other teams—especially those led by the sword dao talents—we’ve become a big, juicy prize," Mu Chenze remarked.
"That’s exactly what I’m thinking."
Gu Ningyun said, "There are no more demon beasts in the west, and judging by the scores on the leaderboard, the beasts in other directions are likely being hunted to exhaustion as well."
Jun Luo added, "In places we can't see, the fight for wooden tokens has probably already begun."
Gu Ningyun nodded. "Exactly. Setting traps to lure demon beasts is no longer suitable. Tomorrow morning, we’ll pack up the arrays and fill in the traps. Then, we’ll do this..."
After Gu Ningyun finished explaining, Wen Xuan and Mu Chenze exchanged a glance and both broke into wicked grins. "Jiejiejie!"
Jun Luo: "..."
He closed his eyes and began to meditate in silence, refusing to look at their strange expressions.
Jiang Yao chuckled. "I can’t wait!"
...
The next morning.
Shao Yuqi had ranked ninth in the individual competition, and under his leadership, his team had reached tenth place in the team competition.
Currently, he was leading his group toward the western part of the forest.
One of his team members, Jiang Haosi, asked, "Senior Brother Shao, everyone says there are no demon beasts in the west. Why are we still going there?"
"The environment in the west is similar to everywhere else. If there are no demon beasts, it can only mean someone beat everyone to it and cleared them all out," Shao Yuqi explained.
Jiang Haosi asked, "Are you saying Gu Ningyun’s team is in the west and they killed all the beasts?"
"Regardless of whether it’s them or not, there’s definitely a big fish over there. Jiang Haosi, your divine sense is sharper than most. Keep a close watch on our surroundings and warn us of anything unusual. We’ll stay hidden in the shadows. If we can win, we fight; if not, we run."
"Understood, Senior Brother Shao," Jiang Haosi replied.
In the western forest.
Gu Ningyun, Wen Xuan, and Mu Chenze were walking toward the center of the forest.
The three of them looked disheveled, as if they had just survived an intense battle.
Wen Xuan seemed incredibly nervous, jumping at every little sound like a startled bird.
Gu Ningyun subtly scanned the surroundings with her divine sense. When she brushed against a particular bush, she paused for a fraction of a second before quietly moving on.
She said to Wen Xuan, "We were lucky Jun Luo and Jiang Yao stayed behind to cover our retreat when we were ambushed for our tokens. Otherwise, the three of us wouldn't have been able to protect our points."
"Hey, keep your voice down!" Wen Xuan hissed, seemingly frightened. "We’re separated from them now. If we’re spotted while we’re vulnerable, we’re finished."
Mu Chenze remained silent, but his eyes darted cautiously around the area.
Just then, a rustle came from a nearby thicket.
The three turned to look.
"Senior Sister Gu, what a coincidence."
Five disciples stepped out from behind a tree, blocking their path.
Gu Ningyun frowned and carefully looked at the five people. Three were at Qi Refining level four, and two were at Qi Refining level three.
She looked at the youth leading them. "Lian Anping, from Huanyan Pavilion on Yanhui Peak."
Lian Anping smiled. "Senior Sister Gu, you look quite vulnerable right now. It might be dangerous for you. Why not cooperate with us? We’ll split any points we steal fifty-fifty."
Gu Ningyun seemed tempted and lowered her head in thought.
Inside the distant bushes, Jiang Haosi was getting anxious. "Senior Brother Shao, shouldn't we move out? If they reach an agreement, we’ll lose our chance to snatch Ruiyu Pavilion’s points."
Shao Yuqi pressed a hand onto his shoulder, his expression grave. "Wait a bit longer."
Gu Ningyun seemed unable to make up her mind and glanced at Wen Xuan.
Wen Xuan shook her head. "I think it’s better if we find Jun Luo and the other first."
Upon hearing Jun Luo’s name, Lian Anping’s expression shifted.
Gu Ningyun pretended not to notice and said regretfully, "I think we’ll pass on the cooperation."
"Then I’m sorry, Senior Sister Gu." Lian Anping waved his hand, and his four teammates stepped forward to surround the three of them.
In that instant, Wen Xuan and Mu Chenze each engaged two opponents. Gu Ningyun swung her sword at Lian Anping in a backhand strike. A sharp blade of wind-attribute sword qi grazed his neck, shearing off a lock of his hair.
Lian Anping felt a chill in his heart. He stared at Gu Ningyun with shock and lingering fear.
Still shaken, he clutched his uninjured neck, his palm slick with cold sweat. He knew that if Senior Sister Gu hadn't intentionally held back, it wouldn't have been just his hair falling to the ground.
Just as the fight began here, another skirmish broke out a bit further away in the woods.
From the bushes, Shao Yuqi and his team watched in horror as Lian Anping, a Qi Refining level four cultivator, was rendered powerless in a single exchange.
Shao Yuqi’s voice was low and urgent. "The information was wrong, retreat now!"
Unfortunately, it was too late.
Gu Ningyun disarmed Lian Anping and snatched his wooden token in a few swift moves. The next moment, a streak of green sword qi slashed toward the bushes.
The thicket was sliced clean at the roots, exposing the five people who were about to flee.
Shao Yuqi’s heart sank. He gripped his long saber, trying to steady his nerves. "Senior Sister Gu, are you planning to take on all five of us at once?"
Gu Ningyun had always believed that villains died because they talked too much; once a fight started, she wouldn't waste a single breath. Ignoring Shao Yuqi’s question, she swung her sword continuously—cleaving, piercing, slashing, and parrying. The sword felt like an extension of her arm, every movement as natural and practiced as if she had repeated it ten million times.
Despite being one against five, she suppressed them so thoroughly they had no room to fight back.
Shao Yuqi wailed inwardly, Qin Xiaosheng, you've screwed me over!
Rate on N.U.
