13: A minor incident occurred.

The news brought by the Gray-robed Servant was like a stone thrown into the recently calmed waters of the D-7 Courtyard.

"The Outer Sect Small Competition is moved up? And it's related to important resources? Where is 'that place'?" Zhao Iron Pillar scratched his head, looking confused, but his eyes were gleaming. "If we perform well, will we get more meat to eat?"

Wang Wu clearly knew more, and his expression turned solemn. "'That place'... I think I've heard someone mention it. It's said to be an ancient trial ground. Although it's dangerous inside, it also hides great opportunities. In the past, only Inner Sect Disciples and a very few Outer Sect geniuses were qualified to enter. If this competition really involves that qualification, the competition will definitely be unprecedentedly fierce!"

Senior Brother Li was worried. "Fairy Yun also said this is the 'Wind that Destroys the Trees.' Does that mean trouble is coming for us? Could it be that after we drove away Liu Ming last time, the people behind him want to take revenge on us during the competition?"

Wen Youyi remained silent, his mind racing. Yun Zhi's warning definitely wasn't groundless. The competition being moved up, the rule changes, and the previous 'Cooperative Force Talisman' incident—these things connected to point toward one possibility: someone wanted to use this competition to either force them to hand over the Talisman Making Method or to rightfully cripple them on the arena stage!

"It's a crisis, but also an Opportunity." Wen Youyi looked up, no fear in his eyes, but instead a burning fighting spirit. "Since we can't avoid it, let's face it head-on! This is the perfect time to test the results of our 'soil nurturing' during this period!"

He looked at Zhao Iron Pillar, who was raring to go, and Wang Wu and the others, who looked solemn. "Brothers, are you afraid?"

"Afraid of what?!" Zhao Iron Pillar thumped his chest. "Let's show those look-down-on-others fellows that we in the D-7 Courtyard aren't to be trifled with!"

"Right! Let's give it our all against them!" Wang Wu and the others were also infected by his spirit and spoke up one after another. The improvement in their physical fitness and team chemistry during this time gave them unprecedented confidence.

"Good!" Wen Youyi felt invigorated. "Then we'll prepare well and give those guys who want to 'destroy the trees' a big 'surprise'!"

For the next three days, D-7 Courtyard entered a state of intense preparation. Wen Youyi didn't study any new Talismans or Formations. Instead, he devoted all his energy to optimizing existing tactics and targeted physical training.

Based on the types of opponents they might encounter (such as power-based, agility-based, or Spell-based), he designed several different 'Assembly Line' response plans and practiced them repeatedly. At the same time, he strictly implemented the 'dietary therapy' plan to ensure everyone could compete in their best state.

Three days passed in a flash.

The day of the Outer Sect Small Competition finally arrived.

The venue was the largest square in the Outer Sect—the Martial Arts Arena. The usually empty square was now buzzing with noise. Almost all the Outer Sect Disciples had gathered here, a dense crowd of over a thousand people. Ten tall arena stages had been built in the center of the square, and the atmosphere was heated and tense.

When The core five people arrived at the Martial Arts Arena, they attracted many gazes. After their 'dietary therapy' and training during this period, although their clothes were still simple, their spirit was completely different from before. They were no longer sickly and timid. Zhao Iron Pillar, in particular, walked with his head held high, exuding a hint of ferocity in his bearing.

"Look, those guys from D-7 Courtyard are here!"

"I heard they've been eating well lately? They do look a bit sturdier."

"What's the use of being sturdy? The competition relies on solid cultivation and Spells! Their crooked ways might not work on the arena!"

"I heard several Senior Brothers at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refining have signed up this time. They probably won't even last through the first round..."

Discussions broke out, filled with curiosity, doubt, and mostly disdain.

Wen Youyi turned a deaf ear and led Zhao Iron Pillar and the others to the area where the participating Disciples gathered, waiting quietly.

Soon, an Outer Sect Elder took the stage and announced the rules of the competition. As expected, it was different from previous years; it was no longer a simple draw-based elimination system, but a 'Melee Points System'!

In the first round, all participating Disciples (about three hundred people) would enter a simulated 'Mist Forest' area for a half-day melee. Disciples could snatch 'tokens' (a specially made wooden Talisman) from each other. Points would be awarded for defeating opponents and seizing tokens. Only the top fifty in points would advance to the second round's arena matches.

The final ranking would not only determine the distribution of cultivation resources, but the top ten would also gain the qualification to explore the outer regions of the Meteor Ancient Ruins (the so-called 'that place')!

After the rules were announced, there was an uproar. The melee mode meant more variables and danger, giving the strong a chance to plunder freely and the weak a chance to huddle together for warmth (or be quickly eliminated).

"A melee..." A light flashed in Wen Youyi's eyes. "This is actually more suitable for us to show our skills."

"Little Wen, what should we do? Should we find a place to hide after we go in?" Zhao Iron Pillar asked instinctively.

"No." Wen Youyi's lips curled slightly. "Hiding is too passive. We need to take the initiative!"

He quickly whispered the tactics: "After entering, we will move in a 'Basic Defense Formation.' Brother Iron Pillar will lead the way, Senior Brother Wang and Senior Brother Li will guard the flanks, Senior Brother Zhang will cover the rear, and I will coordinate from the center. Our goal isn't to hide, but to find suitable 'prey'—those who are alone or small groups whose coordination isn't as good as ours!"

"Proactively robbing people?" Wang Wu was a bit surprised.

"It's 'reasonably obtaining points,'" Wen Youyi corrected with a hint of cunning in his voice. "Don't forget, our greatest strength is teamwork. In a chaotic environment, this is exactly our biggest advantage!"

Just then, Wen Youyi felt several unfriendly gazes on him. He looked up and saw Liu Ming standing with several Disciples of impressive aura not far away. One of them had a cold expression, a sword at his waist, and an aura that had surprisingly reached the fifth level of the Qi Refinement Stage! That person was also staring coldly at Wen Youyi, his eyes looking at him like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

Liu Ming whispered something in that person's ear. The cold Disciple's lips curled into a cruel arc, and he made a throat-slitting gesture toward Wen Youyi.

The provocation was self-evident.

"Little Wen, that guy..." Zhao Iron Pillar also saw it, and anger rose within him.

"I saw it." Wen Youyi nodded calmly. "Remember them. In the forest, if they don't mess with us, we'll let it go. But if they do..."

He paused, his tone still flat, but carrying an unquestionable confidence.

"Then let them be the first stepping stone for our advancement."

With the Elder's command, the light screen at the entrance of the Mist Forest opened.

Three hundred Outer Sect Disciples swarmed in like a flood released from a gate!

The core five people of the D-7 Courtyard, like a slippery fish, maintained a tight Formation and silently merged into that unknown, murder-filled mist.

(End of Chapter)