chapter 46

After everyone got separated according to the group they had formed, Xua Yan, Wei Ming, Li Hua, Jian Cheng, Mei Ling, Chao Feng, and Jun Wang decided to stay together. Xua Yan had no intention of hiding his abilities, but he didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to himself either. Therefore, he chose to stay with Wei Ming and his close friends, who he trusted and knew he could work well with.

As the group ventured deeper into the jungle, they encountered a variety of challenges. They had to navigate through thick underbrush and avoid getting caught in dangerous traps set up by the organizers of the competition. They also had to be on the lookout for wild animals that could pose a threat to their safety.

Xua Yan took the lead, using his keen senses and sharp mind to guide the group. He was skilled at tracking and hunting, and he quickly found signs of game that they could pursue. Wei Ming, while not as experienced as Xua Yan, was also a capable hunter and helped to keep an eye out for potential prey.

Li Hua and Mei Ling proved to be adept at foraging for edible plants and berries, while Jian Cheng and Chao Feng focused on constructing shelter and setting up traps to catch small game. Jun Wang, the youngest of the group, was a quick learner and eager to help out in any way he could.

Despite the challenges they faced, the group worked together seamlessly, each member using their unique skills to contribute to the group's success. They shared food and water, and helped each other when someone stumbled or got injured. Xua Yan was impressed with the camaraderie and teamwork of his group, and he felt grateful to have such capable and trustworthy companions.

As they made their way through the jungle, Xua Yan also kept an eye out for any other groups they might encounter. He knew that some participants might try to form alliances or even attack other groups to gain an advantage in the competition. However, he was confident in his group's ability to defend themselves if necessary.

But after some time of observing his team's efforts Xua Yan felt that despite the group's efforts, they were not as efficient as they could be. He turned to Wei Ming and said, "We need to work together better if we want to succeed in this competition. We need to come up with a strategy that plays to our strengths."

Wei Ming nodded in agreement. "I think we should focus on gathering resources quickly and efficiently. That way, we'll be able to move on to the next round without wasting too much time."

Li Hua added, "We should also make sure that we're staying safe and not taking unnecessary risks. It's important that we don't get injured or lost in the jungle."

Jian Cheng chimed in, "I agree. We should also keep an eye out for other groups and try to avoid confrontations with them. We don't want to waste our energy fighting when we could be gathering resources instead."

Mei Ling suggested, "Maybe we could split up into smaller groups and cover more ground. That way, we'll have a better chance of finding resources quickly."

Chao Feng disagreed, "I think we should stay together as a group. We can cover more ground if we split up, but it also means we'll be more vulnerable to attacks from other groups or predators in the jungle."

Jun Wang added, "I agree with Chao Feng. We should stick together for safety, but also try to be as efficient as possible when gathering resources."

Xua Yan nodded, "I think we should focus on staying together as a group, but also try to be efficient in tracking beasts. If we do that, we'll have a better chance of making it to the next round."

"Do you have any plan?" Wei Ming asked Xua Yan as they walked through the jungle.

Xua Yan thought for a moment before replying, "Yes, I am familiar with this part of the jungle. If we follow the nearby river, we will have a higher chance of finding more beasts to hunt. But it also comes with risks."

Xua Yan had been to this part of the jungle before. He had come here for his solo training before the competition. During his training, he had explored the area and had become familiar with the surroundings. He had studied the behavior of the beasts and had learned how to track them down. This knowledge gave him an advantage over the other participants who were unfamiliar with the area.

Xua Yan had spent countless hours in the jungle in his previous life, learning how to track and hunt animals of all shapes and sizes. And when he started his training in this world, using his experience from his past life he had become intimately familiar with the terrain, the plants, and the creatures that lived there, and had developed a keen sense of intuition that allowed him to navigate even the most treacherous landscapes with ease.

Now, as he led his group through the jungle, he relied on that training and experience to guide them safely through the wilderness. He knew where to find the best game, which areas to avoid, and how to navigate the dense foliage and winding streams that crisscrossed the jungle floor.

After Wei Ming heard Xua Yan he looked at Xua Yan with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "What kind of risks are we talking about?" he asked.

Xua Yan sighed. "There are a lot of predators in this area, including some pretty dangerous ones. We'll need to be on high alert the whole time, and we'll have to move quickly if we encounter anything that poses a threat."

Xua Yan warned Wei Ming and others about the risks that came with following the river. He explained that the area was known to have more dangerous beasts and that they needed to be cautious. Wei Ming and others nodded, grateful for Xua Yan's advice.

Li Hua, who had been listening intently, chimed in. "But if we're careful and stay together, we should be able to manage. And if we can catch enough beasts, we'll be sure to make it to the next round."

Jian Cheng nodded in agreement. "It sounds like a solid plan to me. Let's give it a shot."

As they started to make their way along the river, they encountered a few small beasts that they were able to take down with relative ease. But as they moved deeper into the jungle, the terrain became more treacherous, and the beasts they encountered became larger and more dangerous.

After a while, they heard a loud growling sound coming from up ahead. Xua Yan signaled for everyone to be quiet, and they slowly made their way towards the source of the noise. As they got closer, they could see a massive beast with sharp claws and teeth, tearing apart the carcass of a smaller animal.

Li Hua gasped in fear. "What are we going to do? That thing looks like it could take us all down in a matter of seconds!"

Xua Yan took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. "We have to stay quiet and move slowly," he said. "If we can get close enough, we might be able to take it down together."

They slowly started to inch forward, trying not to make any sudden movements that might attract the beast's attention. But as they got closer, the beast suddenly looked up and let out a deafening roar.

They all froze, unsure of what to do next. But Xua Yan quickly snapped into action. "Now!" he yelled, and they all rushed forward, attacking the beast from different sides.

Despite the danger, they worked together seamlessly, using their individual strengths to take their first stronger beast down. When it was finally over, they all collapsed on the ground, panting and exhausted but triumphant.

"That was amazing," Jian Cheng said, grinning from ear to ear. "I never would have thought we could take down a beast that big."

Xua Yan smiled. "We did it together. That's the only way we're going to make it through this competition."

Xua Yan was already at level 8 of the energy-gathering stage in his martial arts cultivation and was experienced in hunting beasts in the jungle, and he was confident in his skills. However, he noticed that his friends were not as experienced and skilled as he was, and they seemed a bit nervous about the competition. He didn't want to intimidate them by showing off his full strength and abilities, as that could make them doubt their own abilities and lower their confidence.

Instead, Xua Yan decided to take a more subtle approach and show them that they were capable of hunting beasts on their own. He intentionally used less of his strength to hunt the level 2 energy gathering beast, which allowed his friends to participate in the hunt and feel like they were contributing to the group's success.

By doing this, Xua Yan hoped to boost their confidence and morale, which would help them perform better in the upcoming rounds of the competition. He understood the importance of teamwork and wanted his friends to feel like they were part of a strong and capable team.

Overall, Xua Yan's decision to hold back on his full strength was a strategic move to build up his friends' confidence and help them become more effective hunters in the competition.

As they celebrated their first successful hunt, Li Hua turned to Xua Yan and asked, "What should we do next?"

Xua Yan thought for a moment before replying, "We need to continue hunting and gather as many points as we can. We also need to be cautious and work together as a team to avoid any potential dangers."

Mei Ling interjected, "But we also need to make sure we are not being followed or watched by other groups. We don't want to reveal our location or our strength too early."

Jian Cheng added, "We should also consider expanding our hunting range and exploring other areas of the jungle. We might be able to find more valuable beasts to hunt."

Chao Feng agreed, "Yes, but we should also make sure to stick together and not split up too much. Safety should be our top priority."

Jun Wang nodded in agreement, "I also think we should prioritize hunting beasts that are worth more points. We can also try to take down higher level beasts if we work together."

Xua Yan smiled at his friends and said, "I'm glad we're all on the same page. Let's continue working together and making smart decisions. We can do this."

The group nodded in agreement and continued their hunt, each member feeling more confident and motivated thanks to their successful first hunt and their effective teamwork.

In the competition, each participant was given a token that served as their identity and allowed them to participate in the event. These tokens were equipped with a special tracking system that recorded the number and type of beasts that the participants had hunted. As soon as Jian Cheng had successfully taken down the first beast, the tracking system on his token updated to show the number 1.

The purpose of the tracking system was to keep a record of each participant's performance and to determine their ranking in the competition. The more beasts a participant hunted and the higher the level of the beasts they hunted, the higher their ranking would be. The participant with the most beasts hunted and highest level beasts would be declared the winner.

For Jian Cheng, seeing the number 1 on his token was a significant achievement. It meant that he had successfully hunted his first beast and was on his way to ranking higher in the competition. It also gave him a sense of confidence and motivation to continue hunting and improve his skills.

However, he knew that he couldn't let his guard down. The competition was fierce, and there were many skilled participants hunting in the jungle. Jian Cheng needed to keep his focus and work together with his team to increase their chances of success.