14: Hunter in the Mist

The light screen rippled, and the scene changed abruptly.

The moment they stepped into the Mist Forest, the noisy voices of the crowd seemed to be cut off, and everything around them fell silent. A thick, damp, and cold grayish-white mist enveloped everything, severely obstructing their vision, allowing them to see only about ten meters ahead. Ancient trees reached for the sky, their branches twisted like ghosts appearing and disappearing in the fog. Beneath their feet was a thick layer of humus accumulated over countless years, soft and silent when stepped upon.

"Maintain formation, advance slowly," Wen Youyi ordered in a low voice, his words sounding exceptionally clear in the silent forest.

The core five people immediately moved in the way they had practiced countless times. Zhao Iron Pillar was at the very front like a human tank, his fists clenched as a faint earthy yellow glow flowed beneath his skin. Wang Wu and Senior Brother Li were on the left and right, their sharp eyes scanning the mist on both sides and ahead. Senior Brother Zhang brought up the rear, glancing back vigilantly from time to time. Wen Youyi stayed in the center like a brain, sensing every subtle movement around them and ready to issue commands at any moment.

They were like a precision instrument, advancing steadily through the mist.

Before they had gone far, the sounds of fighting and angry cursing came from ahead. Clearly, some impatient Disciples could no longer hold back and had started to make their moves.

Wen Youyi made a hand gesture, and the team immediately stopped, hiding behind thick tree trunks and the dense fog.

Not far away, three Disciples wearing the same uniform were ganging up on a lone man. That man's cultivation was around the Qi Refining Third Layer, and he resisted with all his might, but he was no match for six hands. He was quickly knocked to the ground, his wooden token stolen, and he was knocked unconscious by a Spell, his body glowing with the white light of being teleported out.

"They're from 'Geng Zi Courtyard'; they often group up to bully those who are alone," Wang Wu said in a low voice, a hint of disgust in his tone.

The three Geng Zi Courtyard Disciples smiled triumphantly after snatching the token and were about to leave.

"Target spotted," Wen Youyi observed calmly. "Three people, the highest at the Qi Refining Third Layer Peak, with mediocre coordination. Pillar, when they reach that crooked tree, launch a feint from the front to draw their attention. Senior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Li, you two launch Mud Swamp Technique and Entanglement Technique from the left and right simultaneously to restrict their movement. Senior Brother Zhang, prepare a Gentle Wind Talisman to harass them. I will find an opportunity to seize the tokens."

The instructions were transmitted clearly and precisely into everyone's minds.

The three Geng Zi Courtyard Disciples were completely unaware, chatting and laughing as they walked toward the crooked tree.

The moment they stepped into the designated area!

"Move!"

Zhao Iron Pillar was like a tiger out of its cage, charging out of the mist with a low growl. Without using any Spells, he crashed straight toward the leader! That terrifying Aura startled the opponent, causing him to instinctively retreat and prepare to release a Spell.

At the same time, the mist on both sides churned. Wang Wu's Mud Swamp Technique and Senior Brother Li's Entanglement Technique arrived almost simultaneously, accurately covering the feet and bodies of the other two!

"Not good! It's an ambush!" the leading Disciple cried out, but it was too late.

Of his two companions, one had his feet sink into the ground, his movements sluggish; the other was caught by green light vines, unable to break free for the moment. Meanwhile, Zhao Iron Pillar had already charged in front of him, a fist the size of a clay pot swinging with a fierce wind, forcing him into a hurried defense.

"Whoosh!"

Senior Brother Zhang activated an ordinary Gentle Wind Talisman, creating a current of air that wasn't strong but was perfectly timed to kick up fallen leaves and dust, interfering with the opponent's vision and spellcasting.

In the midst of this chaos, a figure flashed out from behind Zhao Iron Pillar like a ghost—it was Wen Youyi! His movements were lightning-fast, and his goal was clear: the wooden tokens hanging from their waists!

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Three soft sounds occurred almost simultaneously. The three Geng Zi Courtyard Disciples only felt their waists lighten. Looking down, their tokens had already vanished! And that ghost-like figure had already retreated into the thick fog, merging with the terrifying big guy and the two harassers on the sides, disappearing into the mist instantly. The entire process took less than five breaths of time!

Clean and efficient, their coordination was seamless!

The three Geng Zi Courtyard Disciples stood frozen in place, staring at their empty waists, their faces filled with daze and disbelief. They... they were robbed just like that? They hadn't even seen what the others looked like?!

"Just now... who was that?"

"I don't know... it seemed... it seemed like those trash from Ding Zi Courtyard?"

"Bullshit! Could trash have those kinds of skills?!"

No matter how shocked and frustrated they were, Wen Youyi and the others had already made off with the three newly acquired tokens.

The first battle was a success, so easy that even Zhao Iron Pillar could hardly believe it.

"Little Wen, this was too easy!" he said, excitedly rubbing his hands together.

"Don't be careless," Wen Youyi reminded him. "They were unprepared, and we exploited an information gap. The opponents we meet next will only get stronger and more vigilant."

Sure enough, as time passed, the battles in the forest became increasingly fierce and chaotic. They encountered several more groups; some tried to rob them, while others they attacked proactively. Relying on their extraordinary chemistry and Wen Youyi's precise command, they succeeded time and again, and their points steadily rose.

During this time, they also encountered a tough nut to crack—a lone Disciple at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer Peak with sharp Spells and extremely fast reactions. Wen Youyi decisively gave up on a head-on clash, using the mist and terrain to maneuver around him. Finally, using a complex combination of baiting, pinning, and ambushing, and at the cost of a minor injury to Zhao Iron Pillar, they managed to force the opponent back (seeing the situation was unfavorable, the opponent proactively activated his token and was teleported away).

This battle made them realize that the gap in individual strength was sometimes indeed difficult to fully compensate for with coordination.

"We need to find a way to further improve our 'trump card'," Wen Youyi thought as he treated the wound on Zhao Iron Pillar's arm caused by a Wind Blade. Relying solely on physical combat and low-level Spells had too low of a ceiling.

Just then, from the mist ahead, a somewhat familiar and arrogant voice drifted over.

"...Don't worry, I've already locked onto those trash's Auras, they can't run! This time, we must have Senior Brother cripple that leader, Wen Youyi!"

It was Liu Ming's voice!

Wen Youyi's pupils constricted, and he immediately signaled everyone to be silent and hide.

Through the dense bushes and mist, they saw a four-person squad not far away, led by that cold-faced Disciple at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, with Liu Ming and two other Qi Refining Fourth Layer Disciples taking a short rest. That cold-faced Disciple was sensing something with his eyes closed, a faint wisp of spiritual light swirling between his fingers.

"He's using a Tracking Spell!" Wang Wu's expression changed.

Wen Youyi felt a chill in his heart; no wonder the opponent was so certain. It seemed this encounter was unavoidable.

He quickly observed the surrounding environment—it was relatively open here, which was not good for an ambush, but there was a Rocky Area nearby.

A bold plan instantly formed in his mind.

He looked at Zhao Iron Pillar and the others with sharp eyes, lowered his voice, and quickly began to arrange things.

"Brothers, prepare 'Plan B'! Let's give them a... catch a turtle in a jar!"

(End of Chapter)