Zhang Biao was stationed at the edge of the Trial Ground to keep overall order in case of emergencies.
Still, he could watch everything happening inside in real time through the equipment.
In the Monitoring Room, Shao Han and Shen Moran had also come to watch.
As Geniuses admitted early, their request to observe was naturally approved.
Shao Han's face bore a barely concealed grin; he had set everything up and was just waiting to see Zhao Mu eliminated.
He had no intention of killing Zhao Mu, but snatching his number tag and beating him into forced forfeiture—thereby cutting him off from Qingfeng Camp—would achieve Shao Han's goal perfectly.
"From now on, our lives will never intersect again! Zhao Mu, a commoner with low talent like you isn't worth my personal effort."
After greeting the instructor, Shen Moran stood to one side, eyes fixed through the Giant Eagle's view on the boy who, back carrying a heavenly halberd, stepped into the arena with calm resolve.
"Zhao Mu, it doesn't matter if you're eliminated, but please don't die."
That's what Shen Moran was thinking... Zhao Mu received a white number tag—Number 96—and tucked it into an inner pocket of his jacket.
Then, together with many Trial Participants, he crossed the sealed gate of the Xiuyun Mountain Trial Ground. On guard against one another, the crowd split up and raced into the forest.
Only after the instructors gave the signal could they fight and snatch one another's number tags.
Zhao Mu wasn't in a hurry; he first raised his head to size up Xiuyun Mountain's environment.
Xiuyun Mountain wasn't large—just over four hundred meters high and covering less than fifteen square kilometers.
With more than two thousand Trial Participants pouring in, hiding undetected was nearly impossible, so a brutal melee would erupt in short order.
Every eight hours the combat zone would shrink.
"So—the smartest move is to avoid battle at the start and conserve enough stamina, then lie in wait to ambush those who wasted energy in the first round."
"Because the zone shrinks, heading near the peak from the start saves a lot of stamina later and lets you seize high ground early to fight from above."
Zhao Mu quickly worked out what looked like the optimal strategy.
Yet a sly glint flickered across his eyes.
"Everyone can figure that out, can't they?"
Judging by the paths the surrounding Trial Participants took, all of them wanted to charge to the summit first.
With everyone thinking that way, the mountaintop became the most fiercely contested spot in phase one.
At that thought, Zhao Mu turned and plunged into the forest on Xiuyun Mountain's left side.
Light and Agile Steps made him as fast as a cheetah, and he zipped through the woods like a gust of wind.
A minute later he spotted an area halfway up where every tree trunk was painted blue.
This was the boundary line for zone contraction.
"If I'm right, there's another boundary higher up. With so many people converging on the peak, it'll be the bloodiest killing ground."
"I have twenty-four hours; no need to show off. Staying in the middle zone is wisest for now."
Zhao Mu drew the heavenly halberd from his back, slung a Short Bow and Quiver, and made sure the flying knives at his waist were ready to grab.
He stopped and hid behind a tall tree, then activated Turtle Breathing Technique.
Turtle Breathing Technique slowed his Breathing and heartbeat, weakening his aura while sharpening all five senses.
But at the same time every sense was heightened.
The forest was carpeted with fallen leaves, and it was hard to walk without making noise.
Large numbers of Trial Participants flooded in; some moved in groups—Golden Elephant City, for instance.
He had gathered a mighty fifty-plus followers, among them several faces familiar to Zhao Mu.
Wang Qing, Sun Wei and Chen Mingming were all beside Golden Elephant City.
The three had naturally been placed there by Shao Han.
They had been classmates with Zhao Mu for twelve years and knew his personality and combat habits; with them around, Golden Elephant City could eliminate Zhao Mu more easily.
Unlike the rest, Golden Elephant City didn't rush toward the peak; he found a spot at the foot of the mountain, clapped his hands and laughed, "All right, everyone! Next we'll outline our tactics!"
Golden Elephant City squatted atop a large rock and looked levelly at the crowd.
"Our team has the most people, so remember—we are the strongest!"
"We have two tasks from here on."
"First, work as a team and use absolute numbers to crush every enemy we meet! number tags will be split strictly by contribution."
"Second—" his smiling eyes snapped open, a cold gleam flashing: "Find Zhao Mu and deal with him! I'll personally throw in two extra number tags as a reward!"
The crowd let out a deliberately hushed gasp.
When the time came, a huge bell rang; its clang echoed across the entire mountain, startling flocks of birds.
A sharp light flashed in Zhao Mu's eyes.
"The hunt has begun!"
Wearing a headset, Zhang Biao sat under an awning outside the Trial Ground, observing everything via the equipment.
He said to the people in the Monitoring Room, "This kid called Golden Elephant City is impressive! In such a short time he's rallied over fifty teammates. A force that big will be hard to beat."
Xu Zhixiong nodded slowly.
"His organizational skill is outstanding. Gathering so many and keeping the group stable without internal strife is very difficult."
"Yet those people seem happy to follow his orders."
"Whoever gets targeted by this wolf pack is in for a world of trouble!"
In a corner of the Monitoring Room, Shao Han lowered his head, the corners of his mouth slowly curling upward; he could barely stifle his grin.
Zhao Mu, with a wolf pack like this on your tail, how will you deal with it?
...The bell rang—the hunt began!
After getting the signal, Zhao Mu decided to strike.
Pass the trial?
No, that wasn't his aim.
What he wanted was first place!
While concealed by Turtle Breathing Technique, he had sensed at least three Trial Participants hiding within five hundred meters of him.
They had passed nearby without spotting him, instead revealing their own tracks.
One of them was less than a hundred meters away in a straight line.
Zhao Mu picked up a few pebbles, crouched low and darted toward the front left.
Then with a swift flick of his right hand he sent the pebbles flying into a bush.
Startled, the Trial Participant hidden behind the bush jolted.
He swiftly nocked an arrow, rose and assumed a firing stance in one fluid motion.
But when he stood up, only foliage lay before him; no one was in sight.
In that instant of distraction, a figure darted out from behind a large tree to his front left.
Zhao Mu already had an arrow on the string.
The powerful Short Bow was drawn to a full moon; with a twang the shaft shot forth!
The Trial Participant hastily tried to pivot his arrow, but a split-second delay saw the blunted alloy shaft slam into his chest.
The thin shield of Qi couldn't withstand the fierce impact.
Pfft!
He staggered back five or six steps, blood spurting from his mouth as he collapsed.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)