Chapter 576: Four Groups a Day

At this moment, on the other side.

"Leader, we no longer have the strength to fight; if we encounter a high‑rank Abyss Beast again, we'll probably die here." A Heavenly Pride, Ying Wuhuan, glanced toward Ying Wuhuan.

Another Heavenly Pride trembled in agreement, with a hint of hope: "Leader, how about… you go speak with Yuan Yao and the others? See if they'll let us enter their camp to rest and tend our wounds."

Ying Wuhuan's expression remained calm, showing neither joy nor anger.

He shook his head slowly: "They won't agree; they'll only use this as an excuse to humiliate us."

After a moment of silence, his gaze swept the crowd and finally settled on a young woman: "Zi Tingyun, you're a formation master?"

Zi Tingyun was startled, then nodded: "Yes."

"Can you set up a barrier that blocks aura?" Ying Wuhuan asked further, his voice sounding weak from his injuries.

"I can," Zi Tingyun replied, then showed a grimace, "but my formation skill is far below Yuan Yao's; at best this barrier will work at sixty percent efficiency."

"Sixty percent… that's enough," Ying Wuhuan finished, then coughed violently, his injury flaring, and his handsome face instantly lost its color.

He forced down the discomfort and told everyone, "You treat your external wounds first; half an hour later we'll leave this place at once."

He then turned his sharp gaze to a black‑clad youth: "Gong Men Yanbin, your footwork is swift and your spirit power strong. Depart immediately, scout the surroundings, and find a safe place to hide temporarily."

Gong Men Yanbin heard this, nodded in agreement.

Soon, he left the area alone.

…

Inside the camp.

Members of the Abyss‑Clearing Squad also tended each other's external wounds.

Yuan Yao returned to her own tent.

Inside the tent were her own Second Senior Sister, Third Senior Brother, and Yu Jing, whose spiritual power was sealed and whose eyes were covered with cloth strips.

Cang Li was treating Yu Jing's internal injuries.

"Yuan Yao, Brother Xiao, Brother Cang, thank you all," Yu Jing pursed her lips and said.

Yuan Yao replied, "Yu Jing, given our friendship, why be so formal?"

Then Yuan Yuan sighed and said, "I know after Ying Wuhuan returns, you'll definitely be marginalized by him, both openly and covertly, and he might even frame you. Earlier outside the camp you were about to collapse, yet they ignored you. Why not join our Abyss‑Clearing Squad?"

"Yes." Xiao Lingwei agreed.

Cang Li also lifted his head, "Yu Jing, you can seriously consider it; our Abyss‑Clearing Squad always welcomes you."

Yu Jing's eyes were covered; although she could not see their expressions, she heard their intentions and attitude.

"I also want to join you, but I can't abandon them at this time…" Yu Jing replied.

"Very well, I respect your choice," Yuan Yao said solemnly, "If you encounter difficulties in the future, you can come find me."

Yu Jing heard this, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

"Alright."

Two and a half quarters later, Yuan Yao and the others escorted Yu Jing out of the camp.

Outside the camp, Yu Jing's eye‑covering strap was removed; she looked at Yuan Yao and the others, nodded gently, and stepped toward the Heavenly Pride squad.

Yuan Yao glanced at the Heavenly Pride formation from afar, then withdrew her gaze and said, "Let's return to the camp."

Their silhouettes slipped back into the restraining barrier and finally vanished from sight.

As soon as Yuan Yao returned to the camp, she ran straight into Jiang Shuai, who had come looking for her.

Jiang Shuai held out a storage ring and handed it to her.

"Inside are five hundred and eleven thousand Top‑Grade Spirit Stones and several artifact relics. Team Yuan, how do you intend to dispose of this reward?"

Yuan Yao took the storage ring, smiled faintly, "Naturally, we'll split it evenly."

"Split evenly? Won't that be unfair?" Jiang Shuai frowned, "Some people contributed little…"

Yuan Yao retorted, "Who do you think contributed the most?"

Jiang Shuai heard this, hesitated slightly, but his gaze unintentionally drifted toward Xie Yan.

Xie Yan had single‑handedly defeated a seventh‑stage Abyss Beast.

By that measure, it must be Xie Yan who contributed the most.

Xie Yan shrugged and said, "Let's split it evenly."

"Of course, splitting evenly is best," Qian Yunzhou interjected immediately.

Jiang Shuai spread his hands, "Since you all think it doesn't matter, what more can I say?"

Yuan Yao said, "As for the extra artifact relics, let's use them as rewards for the top ranks of this month's 'Abyss Hunt Ranking.'"

Soon, Yuan Yao reconvened them and distributed the spirit stones.

Afterwards, she took a bamboo tube from the storage space, gave it a gentle shake, and the bamboo sticks inside clattered "rustle‑rustle."

Yuan Yao lifted the bamboo tube, "Next, please each step forward in turn to draw lots; we will form groups by lot color to hunt Abyss Beasts. The tube contains white, black, red and green slips."

"I'll go first!" Gong Sun Ji, impatient, immediately raised his hand and strode forward without hesitation, drawing a bamboo slip from the tube.

He unfolded it and saw a striking green slip at the bottom.

"Ha ha, green slip!" he proudly held the slip above his head, showing it to everyone.

Dong Jiao followed closely, drew a slip, and announced, "Black slip."

Qian Yunzhou also stepped forward calmly, a slip already in his hand.

He glanced at it, raised an eyebrow slightly, and said with a playful tone, "Red slip."

Xiao Lingwei: "Green slip."

Feng Xuanji: "Black slip."

Bian Chen: "White slip."

Bian Chen: "White slip."

Ying Wuji: "White slip."

Everyone stepped forward in turn to draw lots, and each learned their own group.

Xie Yan stood before Yuan Yao, asking, "What color slip do you think I will draw?"

Yuan Yao thought for a few seconds, then smiled and said, "White!"

Xie Yan drew the slip.

The slip's underside was red.

Xie Yan's brow furrowed instantly.

Yuan Yao gave a light cough, "All right, after drawing the slip, step aside for now."

Xie Yan nodded.

Soon, the remaining few also drew their slips.

Now only Yuan Yao remained.

Yuan Yao drew the last slip; its underside was—red.

Seeing this, Xie Yan's slightly furrowed brows instantly relaxed, and a faint smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

However, this smile vanished in an instant, and his brow soon furrowed again.

Because the slip in Qian Yunzhou's hand was also red.

Yuan Yao showed the slip to everyone and announced loudly, "There are four colors—white, black, red, and green—corresponding to four groups. Before each day's action, we will draw lots to assign groups."

Hua Chengyan asked curiously, "Team Yuan, why not form fixed groups? Fixed partners would be familiar with each other, and their coordination in hunting abyss beasts would surely be more seamless."

Yuan Yao put away the lot tube and patiently explained, "If we fixed the groups, and the three lowest‑ranking individuals happened to be in the same group for a stretch, that team would effectively lose three fighters for the whole month. Moreover, fixed groups tend to form cliques, which harms overall team unity. Furthermore, besides the Abyss Squad, we must jointly hunt seventh‑rank or higher abyss beasts on the first and fifteenth of each month, requiring everyone's strength. If we don't improve mutual understanding through rotating groups in peacetime, our coordination in battle may suffer and affect the outcome."

A flash of appreciation crossed Hua Chengyan's eyes as he smiled, "Little Yuan Team, your considerations are truly thorough."

"Team Yuan is Team Yuan—don't call it 'Little'!" Yuan Yao crossed her arms.