Shi Tao lunged forward, aiming to finish off the Earth Soul Realm expert besieged by the other Sword Sect disciples.
The most crucial part of this trial mission to exterminate the bandits was hunting for points. With enough points, a disciple could greatly increase their strength and obtain more cultivation resources.
Even an expert like Shi Tao, ranked seventh on the Earth List, had an intense craving for points.
"Hmph. So what if you're talented? In terms of raw strength, you're still a step below !" A smug smile spread across Shi Tao's face.
He once again unleashed his Top-Level Martial Skill, Floating Swordsmanship.
Drifting sword blossoms fluttered through the air like snowflakes. The other Sword Sect disciples gave them a wide berth as they passed, and it seed the Earth Soul Realm expert was about to be slain!
However…
Just as the rain of floating swords was about to decapitate the Earth Soul Realm bandit, a sharp aura suddenly burst forth from the side.
SHINK!
The Spear Aura shot out like a Flood Dragon erging from the sea. A ferocious, tyrannical presence instantly unfurled, shattering and scattering Shi Tao's Floating Swordsmanship. In the sa instant, a blinding spear shadow flashed by, running the Earth Soul Realm expert clean through. Another corpse now hung from the Long Spear.
"Sorry, this one's mine!"
Hong Yu grinned.
He then executed the Seven-Star Step, his speed surging once more as he flashed away like a bolt of lightning.
"Destruction!"
Another strike landed.
The bodies of four Earth Soul Realm experts were now skewered on his Long Spear.
Holding the spear in one hand, Hong Yu hoisted the four Earth Soul Realm bandit corpses high.
The Sword Order in his possession glowed brightly, recording his achievents. An Earth Soul Realm expert was worth over twenty points, aning Hong Yu had already gained eighty points in just a few monts. If Shi Tao hadn't snatched the kill on Commander Xiong Fei, Hong Yu would have earned one hundred and thirty points from this battle alone.
Even so, the points he had obtained far surpassed everyone else's, including, of course, Shi Tao's.
Shi Tao's expression was terrifyingly dark, his eyes glinting like steel needles. He ground out through clenched teeth, "Hong Yu, are you determined to oppose to the very end?"
"What are you talking about, Senior Brother Shi? Are you the only one allowed to kill bandits for points? Am I not allowed to hunt as well?" Hong Yu raised an eyebrow and questioned him calmly.
"You…"
Shi Tao's expression wavered, but he was left speechless.
"Damn you! Just you wait."
Spitting out the vicious threat, Shi Tao spun around and charged back into the ongoing battle.
All four Earth Soul Realm experts had fallen to Hong Yu, so now Shi Tao could only vent his rage on the remaining Essence Realm bandits. Even if these bandits weren't worth many points, every little bit counted. If he killed enough of them, the total would still be substantial!
Unfortunately for him, Hong Yu had no intention of letting him have his way.
"Don't rush, Senior Brother Shi! Your Junior Brother is here to help!"
Just as Shi Tao was about to slay a powerhouse at the Ninth Layer of the Essence Realm, Hong Yu's figure flashed in from the side. With a single thrust of his spear, another nine points were snatched away by Hong Yu.
"Hong Yu, you've gone too far…" Shi Tao roared.
Hong Yu blinked, putting on an innocent expression. "Senior Brother Shi, I'm just helping you! How can you say such things?" he asked, feigning innocence.
"I… I…"
Shi Tao snorted angrily.
'Those words…' Shi Tao thought, reminded of what he himself had said to Hong Yu when he'd killed Xiong Fei. The phrasing was different, but the intent was identical. Hong Yu was throwing his own words right back at him!
With a cold expression, Shi Tao charged off in another direction.
But no matter how fast he moved or how viciously he attacked, Hong Yu would always appear at the last second to snatch the points right from under his nose. This went on and on, until Hong Yu had stolen more than five hundred points right out of his hands.
Hong Yu's point total now stood at six hundred and three!
As for Shi Tao? He still had a pathetic fifty points.
THWACK!
Hong Yu landed a palm strike, killing a bandit at the Seventh Layer of the Essence Realm. His points rose by another seven, reaching six hundred and ten!
Hong Yu glanced at the furious, red-eyed Shi Tao. The corners of his lips curled into a taunting smile as he said slowly, "Senior Brother Shi, we are both disciples of the Sword Sect. Killing these bandits is our duty, so you won't mind if I get to them first, will you?"
"…"
The corner of Shi Tao's eye twitched, and he trembled with rage.
The battle was drawing to a close. Shi Tao had tried every trick in the book to shake Hong Yu and hunt bandits for points, but Hong Yu stuck to him like a phantom, always managing to strike a step ahead and kill his targets first.
As a result, Hong Yu's point total had now soared to six hundred and ten, while Shi Tao's remained a pathetic fifty.
Shi Tao was beginning to regret his actions. 'Why did I have to be the one to kill Xiong Fei?'
'For a paltry fifty points, I provoked this nace, and now he's latched onto , leaving completely empty-handed!'
Too bad there was no dicine for regret.
This was a bitter pill that Shi Tao was destined to swallow alone.
He shot Hong Yu a vicious glare. His voice rumbled deep in his throat, each word dripping with a murderous intent that felt like a sharp blade poised to pierce Hong Yu's heart. "Good. Very good. Junior Brother Hong, you're truly sothing else. However…"
Shi Tao's eyes narrowed as he continued in a sinister tone, "Don't celebrate too early. This trial has only just begun. There will be more enemies and greater dangers ahead. It would be best for you to keep a low profile, Junior Brother Hong, lest you lose your life without even knowing why!"
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Shi. But I happen to be a tough nut to crack. I'm afraid anyone who wants my life will et King Yama long before I do!"
Hong Yu retorted coolly.
The two locked eyes.
Sparks seed to fly as their gazes clashed in mid-air, both pairs of eyes shooting out a nearly tangible light.
"Fine, fine! We'll see about that!" Shi Tao suddenly sneered, then turned and walked away.
Hong Yu narrowed his eyes, his gaze dark as he watched Shi Tao's retreating back. 'His desire to kill is unyielding. It looks like I'll have to find a way to make him disappear without a trace.'
Competition within the Cyan Nether Sword Sect was fierce, and its rules were strict.
The Sect didn't prohibit open challenges and duels, but if a disciple was caught killing a fellow mber, the punishnt was certain death.
It was this rule that held Shi Tao back. As much as he wanted to kill Hong Yu on the spot, he resorted to using the bandits as a borrowed knife to do his dirty work.
Hong Yu had no intention of breaking that rule either.
'This gang of bandits is well-organized and powerful. They even have siege and fire Arrows. Their origins can't be simple,' Hong Yu thought, his expression growing grim as he scanned the field of corpses. 'This trial mission is more than it seems. If I stick with Shi Tao, there's no telling when he'll get killed. I have to find a way to leave once this is over!'
The battle was already in its final stages, with only a few bandits still putting up a desperate fight.
Facing the bloodthirsty Sword Sect disciples, the last few bandits were quickly overwheld and killed.
Of course…
Shi Tao still only had fifty points.
Hong Yu had hounded him so relentlessly that he'd stopped trying to engage. What was the point? Every ti he wore himself out, Hong Yu would just steal the kill anyway. After being chased around like this, he had resigned himself to his fate. After all, who could he bla when his own speed couldn't match Hong Yu's?
In the half-hour after the battle ended, everyone rested and regrouped.
「Half an hour later.」
Shi Tao gathered everyone again. With a cold expression, he announced, "After that battle, I trust you all have a better understanding of this trial. This is no simple test. It's a true ordeal of life and death, where one wrong move can cost you your life."
The disciples fell silent.
Although they had won, the victory felt hollow. Nearly a hundred had died in the ambush the previous night, and dozens more had fallen in the recent battle. The loss of their comrades weighed on them like a heavy stone.
Shi Tao continued, "After so deliberation, I've decided on our next course of action. We will first send out a Scout to reconnoiter the enemy's position. Once the Scout returns with intel, we will formulate a plan of attack!"
"That's a good idea!"
"But who should be the Scout?"
"Yeah, the Scout's mission requires going deep into enemy territory. It's very dangerous."
Being a Scout was an extrely dangerous task, and the disciples hesitated.
Shi Tao's indifferent gaze swept over the crowd before finally landing on Hong Yu. A sinister smile touched his lips. "Junior Brother Hong, who do you think would be the most suitable person for the job?"
'This son of a bitch…' Hong Yu raised an eyebrow.
'Shi Tao was asking for his recomndation, pretending to respect his opinion, but it was just a ploy to turn everyone against him. If he refused to na soone, Shi Tao would accuse him of being arrogant. If he did na soone, he'd inevitably offend them and their friends.'
'It was a double-edged sword, a no-win situation designed to make him an outcast.'
'This was precisely Shi Tao's plan: 'If I can't kill you, I can at least make your life miserable!''
But for all his ticulous scheming, Shi Tao had completely misjudged Hong Yu's intentions.
Hong Yu had already been looking for a chance to leave the team, so how could he pass up such a perfect opportunity? He feigned a mont of hesitation, sighed, and then announced with a solemn expression, "So be it. The Scout mission is too dangerous, and I'm unwilling to let any of you take that risk. I'll do it myself!"
"Brother Hong, you…"
Liu Liyun cried out in alarm, but Hong Yu silenced him with a look.
Hearing his words, the other disciples couldn't help but look at him with a mixture of sha and admiration.
Shi Tao looked as if he had just swallowed a fly. He forced an awkward laugh. "Heh… heh heh. Since Junior Brother Hong has volunteered for the duty, then it shall be you!"
Shi Tao gave a few token instructions, telling Hong Yu to scout the path ahead while he and the main force waited for his report.
Hong Yu set off imdiately.
About an hour later, Shi Tao reassembled the team. Ignoring Liu Liyun's protests, he gave a direct order: "It's been over an hour since Junior Brother Hong left, and he hasn't returned. He has most likely t with disaster. We will advance in a different direction!"
Though so suggested waiting longer, Shi Tao was adamant. Left with no choice, the disciples had to follow him.
From his position at the center of the formation, Shi Tao watched the Fourth Unit follow him away. A sinister, gloating look crossed his face. 'Hong Yu, oh, Hong Yu. The bandits in this Liger Ravine are savage. Let's see if your luck holds out now that you're all alone!'
So, this had all been his sche.
His goal was to isolate Hong Yu from the main force, leaving him to face the treacherous and unpredictable dangers of Liger Ravine by himself.
But what Shi Tao didn't know was that shortly after they left, a figure erged from his hiding spot on a distant mountain peak and returned.
The figure was none other than Hong Yu himself!
'Just as I expected,' Hong Yu thought, a taunting smile on his face as he watched the distant team. 'Shi Tao just wanted to get rid of , leave isolated so the bandits could finish off. Too bad for him… this is exactly what I wanted!'
Hong Yu glanced back at the corpse-strewn battlefield, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Now, free from the burden of the team, Hong Yu was like a Flood Dragon returning to the sea. What awaited him wasn't danger, but boundless freedom.
From this mont on, he was destined to soar like a dragon through the nine heavens and shake the world!
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