Chapter 269

"It hasn't even started yet, and you're already this afraid?"

"One hundred people per group, weapons, bows, armor, medicinal pills…… you can bring everything you can. The cold beast has also had most of its strength crippled, and you're still afraid?"

"There's no way around it; none of them have truly faced a cold beast, so it's normal to be afraid."

"The youngest is only nine years old, half-grown children. Letting them deal with cold beasts is indeed a bit too early."

"This kind of selection method is still a bit too early for them."

………………

While the crowd below was restless and discussing, the group of Frigid-level experts above the city gate also expressed their opinions one after another. Some felt that the Woodcutting Realm people below were performing too poorly, while others felt that this preliminary round was too harsh, and letting the children below face cold beasts now was a bit too early.

Yuan Cheng, Lin Kai, and Lu Yang had ugly expressions and never spoke.

The host, Qiu Peng, had an even lower expression, and even had some hidden anger.

But he didn't say much, just shouted to the people below:

"Stop talking nonsense. Start drawing lots now, ten groups per round. Whatever number you draw is the cage you get. The selection is not forced. As long as more than one-tenth of the group chooses to give up, the whole group will be considered to have abstained. Also, there was a rule I forgot to add just now…………"

Qiu Peng paused, and continued with a hint of contempt on his face: "We won't waste too much time on you pests and trash, so the assessment time for each round of groups is limited to one hour. If you don't hunt successfully within one hour, it's a failure. Let's start now!"

Whoosh…………

Not only do they have to hunt cold beasts, but it's also limited to within one hour.

The rule Qiu Peng added was simply too perverted. For a moment, many people were too shocked and didn't even notice Qiu Peng's address for them.

"In the eyes of the Deputy Si Zheng, are we all pests and trash!"

In the Group 51 square formation, Xiao Heng looked around. Seeing that the vast majority of people in the team had extremely pessimistic expressions, although there was some anger on their faces, they had to admit in their hearts that this title was indeed appropriate for them.

"Within an hour, killing a cold beast—it's impossible!"

"The personnel configuration of our camp's low-level hunting squad is 20. Even a squad composed of 20 Earth-Digging Realm people cannot ensure a one hundred percent success rate in hunting. Relying on the few of us, how could we possibly win?"

"The vast majority of us are carrying five-stone bows. We can't even shoot through the skin of a cold beast. Why don't we just give up?"

"Will this selection kill people? Deputy Si Zheng Qiu didn't say. If there is any accident, we…………"

………………

"Everyone, calm down and listen to me!"

Seeing that some people in the team even started to suggest giving up, Xiao Heng knew he couldn't just stand there stupidly anymore. He interrupted everyone's discussion and walked to the middle of the team.

Xiao Heng still had a certain reputation in the circle of young people in the camp.

As soon as he stood out, he was immediately recognized by many people.

"Is that Xiao Heng?"

"Xiao Heng is in the same team as us."

"He's the brother-in-law of the Si Cheng, right!"

"It's useless. The brother-in-law of the Si Cheng is only in the Woodcutting Realm."

………………

Xiao Heng took a deep breath and continued loudly, "I only ask you one question: with one hundred Woodcutting Realm people working together, is there any possibility of hunting a low-level cold beast?"

"Of course not!"

"How is that possible? The Woodcutting Realm doesn't have the qualifications to hunt outside at all!"

"No, absolutely not."

…………

The Woodcutting Realm cannot hunt—this is common sense for humans in the Frozen Abyss!

Hearing everyone's unanimous answer, Xiao Heng didn't refute it, just nodded first, and then waited for the sound to subside before continuing, "I only became a member of Great Xia in April of the first year. Some of you are earlier than me, and some are later. I want to ask those who are more qualified to talk about the deeds of the leader. Tell me, is it true or false……"

Xiao Heng paused and continued, "When the leader just broke through to the Woodcutting Realm, he went out alone and brought back a young Snow Mane. Later, when the Si Cheng and Deputy Si Zheng Yuan broke through to the Woodcutting Realm, the three of them hunted an adult Snow Mane that night. This can't be false, right?"

As the words fell, the surrounding crowd instantly fell silent.

Everyone looked at each other, and soon lowered their heads with a guilty conscience.

There are many, many deeds about the leader Xia Hong, but the one about hunting a cold beast just after breaking through to the Woodcutting Realm is undoubtedly the most credible, because there are too many eyewitnesses who are still here.

Moreover, when they were practicing martial arts under the main building, many people had heard the Si Cheng and Deputy Si Zheng Yuan tell them about this matter with their own ears.

"Of course it's true. This happened only four years ago. I was one of the eyewitnesses on the dirt slope that year. I've been listening on the side for a long time. The pests and trash that Deputy Si Zheng Qiu said are the most appropriate words to describe you people."

Behind the No. 52 squad, a contemptuous voice suddenly came.

When everyone heard "pests and trash," a hint of anger rose on their faces, and they turned their heads to look behind them.

At the back of the team, a teenager clad in light golden armor and holding a horizontal blade was looking at them with contempt.

Beside the teenager stood six other people, similar in age, also clad in light golden armor and holding Great Xia-made blades, most of them also wearing contempt on their faces.

"Liu Peng!"

"Aren't you also just in the Woodcutting Realm?"

"Similar to us, what are you being arrogant about!"

………………

Liu Peng was the person who broke the Woodcutting Realm record in May last year.

Unlike the intense reactions of others, the moment Xiao Heng saw the seven people including Liu Peng, his expression immediately became much more solemn.

"The aura of the seven of them seems to be similar to mine, and they are also on the verge of breaking through. How is this possible!"

Liu Peng broke through to the Woodcutting Realm at the age of eleven, and only a year has passed now. He is not even thirteen years old yet, more than three years younger than himself;

And the other six people beside him, two are about the same age as himself, and the other four are about the same age as Liu Peng, looking clearly younger than himself.

What does this mean?

Currently, the age record for breaking through to the Earth-Digging Realm in the Martial Arts Academy is Hong Hong Shao Kang's fifteen years and one month. That is to say, if the five people including Liu Peng in front of him weren't for this tournament, could they easily break Hong Hong Shao Kang's record?

Xiao Heng turned his gaze away from the seven people including Liu Peng, looked around the entire Group 52, and then calculated in his mind. The surprise in his eyes became even stronger.

The seven people including Liu Peng, plus himself, made eight. There were seven older people in the team who were also clearly on the verge of breaking through, making a total of fifteen.

According to the assessment method, the Camp Supply Department definitely didn't divide the groups randomly last night. It is highly probable that each group had about fifteen people on the verge of breaking through.

This also means that in the 172 groups in Xia City alone, there were over 2,500 people who deliberately held back and didn't break through to the Earth-Digging Realm.

Plus the others at the other five stations…………

"Big Sister really didn't lie to me. There are at least over two thousand people who hold back and don't break through to the Earth-Digging Realm. Now it seems that I'm afraid it's far more than that!"

Xiao Heng swallowed. Just as he suppressed the surprise in his heart, Liu Peng over there had already started arguing with people in the team.

"Why, you're not convinced when I say you're trash? You… you… you… and you nine people in total, didn't you just say you wanted to give up? You nine, go abstain and get lost yourselves. Anyone else who wants to give up can get lost now, so as not to delay us later."

The nine people pointed out by Liu Peng suddenly flushed red. They had indeed said they wanted to give up just now, but after hearing Xiao Heng talk about the leader's deeds, their thoughts had loosened. Now that they were being scolded by Liu Peng, they changed their minds directly.

"I won't abstain. Isn't it just killing a cold beast? When I break through to the Earth-Digging Realm, I'll have to go sooner or later. Let's try it first. Even if I fail, it's nothing."

"Liu Peng, stop looking down on people. I'd rather go in and die than abstain."

"That's right, I won't abstain either."

"I won't abstain."

…………

Seeing that the nine people who were about to give up changed their minds one after another, Xiao Heng immediately reacted. He turned his head to look at Liu Peng, a hint of deep meaning in his eyes.

"Good, count it as you still having some spirit, not losing the face of our Great Xia!"

When Liu Peng spoke, his face still maintained a contemptuous expression, but there was clearly a hint of relaxation in his tone for achieving his goal.

Qiu Peng had clearly stated just now that as long as more than one-tenth of the group chooses to give up, the whole group will be considered to have abstained.

Therefore, Liu Peng's seemingly contemptuous behavior of suppressing the nine people was actually stimulating them not to abstain.

At this moment, many people in the team saw Liu Peng's intention and gathered around him one after another. Even Xiao Heng walked toward him unconsciously.

"13 people in Group 6 choose to give up, the whole group is eliminated!"

"11 people in Group 25 choose to abstain, the whole group is eliminated."

"14 people in Group 35 choose to abstain, the whole group is eliminated."

………………

Coincidentally, at this time, a series of announcements came from the square.

Some groups were completely eliminated because the number of people abstaining exceeded one-tenth.

Nine people!

Their Group 52 had just wandered around the edge of elimination!

Everyone in the team, including the nine people who wanted to give up just now, showed a hint of lingering fear on their faces, and then all focused their eyes on Liu Peng.

"The selection has already begun, ten groups per round. We will be in the!"

The first round of selection has officially begun. Group 6 was eliminated, and Group 11 was added in the first round. Groups 1 to 11 have all finished drawing lots and are ready to enter the iron cages.

Xiao Heng and the others turned their heads to look at the ten iron cages and found that some groups had already started to take action against the cold beasts, so they immediately gathered around Liu Peng.

The fourteen strongest people were in the middle, and the others stood around sensibly. It was clear that everyone knew their own strength.

Liu Peng's expression was solemn, and he continued, "There are too many people in the Woodcutting Realm tournament, so we must eliminate a batch of people in the fastest way. Using cold beasts to test our courage can only be considered the first item; if more than one-tenth of the people choose to give up, the whole team will be considered to have abstained together. Why do you think Deputy Si Zheng Qiu set this rule?"

Everyone looked at each other upon hearing this, and there was confusion on their faces.

"Morale!"

Only Xiao Heng said two words.

"Brother Xiao, truly amazing!"

Liu Peng looked up at Xiao Heng, a hint of surprise in his eyes, and then turned his head to look at everyone, continuing, "I observed when I just came. The 172 groups are generally distributed evenly according to age and strength, so I guess that the number of people who want to give up in each squad is likely to be about the same. Therefore, the second item to be assessed in this selection should be to see if we can solve the morale problem in the team!"

Everyone nodded, looking at Liu Peng, their respect growing even more.

"Courage, morale……"

Liu Peng stopped halfway. He seemed to be interested and deliberately asked Xiao Heng, "Brother Xiao, what do you think will be tested next?"

Seeing Liu Peng, who was two or three years younger than himself, gradually taking away the leadership of the team, Xiao Heng's spirit also gradually rose. Although he knew what Liu Peng wanted him to say, he deliberately changed his wording and said:

"No matter what is tested, the ultimate goal of the assessment is for us to hunt the cold beast in the cage. If our whole team of one hundred people rushes in like headless flies, we will definitely fail in the end. So I propose to choose a team leader, and everyone else will be commanded and dispatched by the team leader. In this way, the success rate will definitely be greatly improved."

Everyone showed approval upon hearing Xiao Heng's words.

Liu Peng clearly saw Xiao Heng's thoughts, a faint smile rose on his face, and he nodded, "Brother Xiao is right. The last item tested is unity and coordination ability. Of course, the Woodcutting Realm doesn't have hunting ability, but one hundred fully armed Woodcutting Realm people, as long as they are united, and have a clear-headed team leader, killing a cold beast that has been crippled of most of its strength is not difficult."

Courage, morale, unity and coordination!

After listening to Liu Peng's explanation, everyone suddenly realized.

"Then, who should be this team leader?"

An older person suddenly spoke.

The vast majority of people in the team cast their eyes on Liu Peng for the first time.

Xiao Heng, including three or four other stronger people, began to flicker their eyes, clearly also interested in the position of team leader.

"I propose to let Liu Peng do it!"

"I also support Liu Peng."

"Liu Peng."

"Liu Peng!"

"Liu Peng!"

"I also support Liu Peng."

…………

The six people standing beside Liu Peng spoke one after another, and the sound of voices rose and fell in the team instantly, including the nine people who were just mocked by Liu Peng. Nearly ninety percent of the people, without exception, shouted Liu Peng's name.

Xiao Heng sighed slightly in his heart when he saw the six people standing beside Liu Peng.

He had already guessed it from the standing position of the seven people just now.

Unsurprisingly, Liu Peng should have already found these six people when the groups were divided last night. After getting familiar quickly, they reached some agreement in advance, otherwise these six people wouldn't be so obedient to him.

After the groups were divided last night, he also guessed that it would rely on unity and coordination, but he never dared to confirm it in his heart until he saw the ten iron cages just now and linked it to the cold beast.

Clearly, Liu Peng not only guessed it earlier than him but also took action.

One step slow, every step slow!

Since the leadership of the team had already been taken by Liu Peng, Xiao Heng didn't struggle anymore. He arched his hands and followed everyone's words, "I also support Liu Peng!"

Hearing Xiao Heng's words, a smile appeared on Liu Peng's face. After arching his hands to thank him, he cast his eyes on the other peaks of the Woodcutting Realm in the team, with a hint of certainty, and even aggressiveness.

Under his gaze, the remaining few could only speak slowly in the end:

"Liu Peng!"

"Liu Peng."

………………

The position of team leader, obtained!

Liu Peng's expression was spirited. He waved his hand directly and said in a deep voice:

"Good, then I will start deploying now. To make a long story short……"

The subsequent deployment concerned whether they could advance, so everyone listened attentively, not daring to miss any details.

But as they listened, joy gradually appeared on their faces. When Liu Peng finished his plan, everyone looked at him with a bit more admiration.

Even Xiao Heng was no exception.

"I remember his big brother, Liu Yuan, is the deputy captain of the Cloud Dragon squad. These things must have been taught by his big brother!"

Ability, knowledge, and even knowledge about cold beasts—in every aspect, Liu Peng seemed to be stronger than himself;

The only thing he could compare with the other party might be cultivation.

The problem is, Liu Peng is more than two years younger than himself.

Calculated this way, he can't even compare with others in terms of cultivation!

Xiao Heng clenched his fists, and a sense of urgency rose inexplicably in his heart.

Coincidentally, at this time, the assessment of the first round of 10 groups ended.

"First round, ten groups, all eliminated, change to the next group!"

Qiu Peng's voice came from above the city gate, slightly disappointed. Liu Peng and others who had just finished communicating suddenly had their expressions become solemn.

"Hurry in and save people. The cold beast has already been driven to the side."

"Carry everyone out."

"Group 1 has 29 seriously injured, 52 slightly injured, and the remaining 19 are fine."

"Group 2 has 16 seriously injured, 79 slightly injured, and the remaining 5 are fine."

…………

"Group 11 has 29 seriously injured, 71 slightly injured, and everyone is here."

Coincidentally, at this time, in the ten cages, the wounded were carried out by the Earth-Digging Realm people of the Camp Supply Department one by one. As the people from the Camp Supply Department reported the battle damage of each group, the remaining people on the square who had not yet entered the field swallowed their saliva.

This battle damage situation seems a bit scary……

"Groups 12 to 21, drawing lots finished, prepare to enter the iron cages!"

Qiu Peng's voice above the city gate sounded again. Ten more square formations below began to move. They walked to the entrance of the ten iron cages and began to enter the field.

Having missed the first round just now, this time, Liu Peng, Xiao Heng, and everyone in Group 52 all stared at the iron cages without blinking, wanting to figure out how they were all eliminated.

But after watching for a while, they were all stunned.

"Group 14 eliminated!"

"Group 18 eliminated."

"Group 21 eliminated."

…………

"Group 12 eliminated."

The assessment time limit set by Qiu Peng was one hour.

But in fact, all ten groups entered the iron cages, and by the time they were all eliminated, it hadn't even been thirty minutes.

"The strength of this cold beast is too terrifying."

"Group 12 drew the No. 1 iron cage. The two eyes of that Snow Mane had already been shot blind by the previous group, and it still wasn't worn to death?"

"Group 14 was unlucky. They drew the Bai Pi in the No. 7 iron cage. As soon as they entered the iron cage, before they even lined up, half of them were knocked flying by the Bai Pi. At least 20 were seriously injured, and the rest had no ability to fight back."

………………

Hearing the discussions from the crowd around him, Liu Peng's expression sank a lot.

"Courage, morale, unity and coordination—solving these three problems is only the first step of the selection. Later, luck and strength, you can't be without either. This preliminary selection is simply hell-level difficulty!"

Xiao Heng on the side also had an expression that was extremely heavy. After sighing slightly, he couldn't help but look up at the group of Frigid-level experts above the city gate, asking in his heart:

"Is there really anyone who can advance?"

(End of chapter)