15: Fireworks in dire straits

"Plan B?"

Zhao Iron Pillar and the others were stunned for a moment upon hearing this term, but then a look of understanding dawned on their faces. This was one of the backup plans Wen Youyi had prepared earlier based on potential extreme situations, specifically designed to deal with enemies whose strength far exceeded their own and could not be faced head-on.

"Quick! Into the Rocky Area!" Wen Youyi did not hesitate for a second, immediately leading the team to retreat silently into the nearby area composed of countless huge, jagged rocks.

These rocks ranged from several zhang high to as low as a person's waist. The paths between them were intricate, and the mist seemed thicker here, making it an ideal place for guerrilla warfare and setting traps.

"Brother Iron Pillar, you and Senior Brother Wang, at the fastest speed, take all our remaining 'Mud Mire Talismans' and 'Entanglement Talismans' (all the lowest grade ones), as well as those unstable semi-finished products from our failed attempts at the 'Cooperative Force Talisman', and set them all at the entrances and corners of the third and fourth paths! Remember, only set them on these two paths!"

"Senior Brother Li, Senior Brother Zhang, follow me. We'll add some 'extra ingredients' for them on these two paths!"

The "ingredients" Wen Youyi spoke of were sourced locally. They quickly gathered dry moss and withered branches, mixing them with special fungi that produced thick smoke when damp, and several plants that could slightly irritate the eyes and respiratory tract, which Wen Youyi identified using his wilderness survival knowledge from his previous life. They skillfully hid these in rock crevices and along essential paths.

Their movements were extremely fast and their coordination seamless, as if they had practiced thousands of times.

Just as they finished setting up, Liu Ming's arrogant voice came from outside: "Eldest Senior Brother, their scent is strongest here. They must be hiding inside!"

The cold and stern Disciple known as Eldest Senior Brother (named Chen Jian) gave a cold snort and took the lead into the Rocky Area, with Liu Ming and two others following closely behind.

"Watch out for ambushes," Chen Jian warned, remaining somewhat cautious.

Not long after the four entered the stone forest, they were faced with a choice. Several branching paths appeared before them.

"Should we split up to search?" one Disciple suggested.

"No," Chen Jian rejected. "They are good at combined attacks. If we separate, it will be easy for them to pick us off one by one. Go this way!" Relying on his scent perception, he chose the third path, which was where Wen Youyi and the others had focused their preparations.

Just a few steps into the path, Liu Ming, who was at the front, let out an "Aiya" as his foot suddenly went soft. He had stepped on an enhanced Mud Mire Talisman, and half his body instantly sank. Although he wasn't completely trapped, his movement was greatly affected.

"Be careful! There's a trap!" Chen Jian shouted, his gaze turning even colder.

At that moment, on the rock walls on both sides, several failed semi-finished "Cooperative Force Talismans" were triggered remotely (connected by thin strings, pulled when someone passed by)!

"Puff!" "Sizzle!" "Bang!"

There were no orderly Spell effects, only chaotic spiritual energy turbulence! Some exploded into a small cluster of harmless sparks, some released a pungent odor, and some even just blew a gust of crooked wind, sending the dry moss and withered branches Wen Youyi and the others had placed flying everywhere.

Although there was little lethality, this sudden and bizarre scene greatly interfered with the vision and judgment of Chen Jian and the others.

"Tricks of a petty sort!" Chen Jian waved his sleeve to disperse the smoke and sparks in front of him. He was annoyed, feeling toyed with. Convinced that Wen Youyi and the others were just ahead, he quickened his pace to give chase.

However, before he had gone far, he triggered an Entanglement Talisman underfoot. Although he easily shook it off, his pace was blocked again. At the same time, the hidden fungi and irritating plants were crushed or shaken by spiritual energy, beginning to release a faint, pungent thick smoke. Liu Ming and the others couldn't help but cough, and their eyes began to sting.

"Eldest Senior Brother! This smoke is a bit wrong!" a Disciple shouted, covering his nose and mouth.

Chen Jian also frowned. This smoke not only obstructed vision but also seemed to have a very slight interference with the flow of spiritual energy. He became increasingly irritable.

Just as their attention was drawn by the continuous low-level traps and smoke, a sudden change occurred!

"Boom!!"

A loud noise came from behind and to their side! Accompanied by a roar from Zhao Iron Pillar, who deliberately let loose: "Where do you think you're running!"

Chen Jian and the others instinctively looked back and saw that in the direction of the fourth path, a huge rock seemed to have been hit by some force and rolled down, blocking part of the entrance, with dust and smoke filling the air.

"They're over there! Trying to run from the other side!" Liu Ming pointed at the fourth path and shouted.

"Chase them!" Chen Jian did not doubt it and immediately led his men to turn and rush toward the fourth path. He believed in his Tracking Technique; the other party's aura had indeed fluctuated over there.

However, when they rushed into the fourth path, they were faced with the same endless stream of mud mires, entanglements, and even more, thicker irritating smoke! Moreover, the path here was even narrower!

"Cough, cough... Eldest Senior Brother, have we been tricked?" another Disciple asked, tears streaming from the smoke.

Chen Jian's face turned ashen. He had also realized it. The other party was using the complex terrain and these petty tricks to stall for time and wear down their patience and spiritual energy!

"Get out here! Wen Youyi! If you're a man, come out and fight me face-to-face!" Chen Jian roared, his voice echoing in the stone forest.

The only response he got were weak but annoying small Wind Blades and small Water Arrows (Senior Brother Zhang and Senior Brother Li were using the lowest-level Spells for remote harassment) shot from rock crevices in all directions, as well as even thicker, maddening smoke.

The core five people, including Wen Youyi, were like ghosts hidden in the mist. Using their familiarity with the terrain and advance preparations, they constantly maneuvered, harassed, and lured. They never engaged in direct combat, retreating after a single strike, making full use of every rock and every corner.

Chen Jian had the cultivation of the Qi Refining Fifth Layer and sharp sword techniques, but it was like a fist hitting cotton—he had power but nowhere to use it. His spiritual energy was constantly consumed in the pursuit and the breaking of low-level traps, and his mood became more and more anxious. Liu Ming and the others were even more pathetic, covered in dirt and soot from various traps and smoke, their morale low.

"Eldest Senior Brother, this can't go on! Our spiritual energy consumption is too high!" a Disciple said, panting.

Chen Jian looked at the thick smoke permeating the surroundings that wouldn't dissipate for a while, and listened to the faint sounds of fighting from other Disciples competing for tokens in the distance, knowing he couldn't be dragged here any longer. This Minor Competition concerned the qualification to enter the "Meteor Ancient Ruins," and he couldn't lose the big picture for a small gain.

"Retreat!" Chen Jian spat out the word almost through gritted teeth. He glared fiercely into the depths of the thick mist, as if trying to remember Wen Youyi's face.

"Eldest Senior Brother, just like that?" Liu Ming was unwilling.

"Shut up!" Chen Jian was in a terrible mood and slapped Liu Ming on the back of the head. "There will be plenty of opportunities to deal with them later! Let's go!"

Watching the four of them, led by Chen Jian, retreat hurriedly from the Rocky Area in a sorry state and with anger, disappearing into the mist, The core five people, including Wen Youyi, who were hidden in the shadows, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhao Iron Pillar plopped down on the ground and laughed loudly, "That was satisfying! So damn satisfying! Seeing those guys spinning around like headless flies is just too gratifying!"

Wang Wu and the others also had smiles on their faces. Although they had been highly tense just now, the result was undoubtedly heartening. They had actually forced back a team led by a Qi Refining Fifth Layer!

Wen Youyi did not relax. He checked the remaining Talismans and supplies and said in a heavy voice, "Don't be happy too soon. We only temporarily forced them back, and we've also exposed more of our trump cards. We must be even more careful next. And..."

He looked deep into the forest, his gaze profound.

"We need to hurry up and get more points. The real challenge is still ahead."

After this battle of wits and courage, The core five people from the D-7 Courtyard reached a new height in confidence and coordination. They rested briefly and then, like ghosts again, blended into this Mist Forest where slaughter and opportunity coexisted.

(End of Chapter)