The cattle herd gradually calms down, and everyone finally breathes a collective sigh of relief!
Only the herd leader remains utterly furious, steadfastly guarding beside the snow-white milk cow!
Wherever the herd passes, the earth lies in utter devastation!
After this wave, another twenty-plus people are eliminated…
Watching the main battle tank drive out from the herd!
The contestants, though grateful to Jiang Nan for dealing with Qi Fei Yu this major headache!
Yet the strength displayed by Jiang Nan’s team in this battle!
Leaves everyone feeling wary!
In the all-star match, truly only one team claims ultimate victory!
And in the end, only the top three proceed to the national-level competition.
After Qi Fei Yu, Jiang Nan is their greatest threat!
Every person’s eyes carry wariness, who knows if Jiang Nan might seize the chance to go berserk?
By the time Jiang Nan and his lot tidy up the tank and such, everyone’s long gone.
Jiang Nan surveys the surroundings, grins wide, naturally knows what the other contestants are thinking!
“Let’s go then, this way we get some peace and quiet, off to hunt our spirit pearls!”
In the distance, Jiang Yun with bandages wrapped around his abdomen sneers coldly at Jiang Nan’s squad!
A cold chuckle: “The championship can go to anyone, but absolutely not you, Jiang Nan!”
With that, he slinks off towards the direction the Divine Feather squad departed!
Jiang Nan and his crew head off to hunt spirit beasts, specifically targeting silver-grade ones!
Nights bring inflatable tents with little barbecues, hiding in the tents playing landlord, drawing little turtles!
A few people snuggled in sleeping bags watching pre-downloaded Crayon Shin-chan, utterly leisurely!
While Jiang Nan hires Bear Two for night watch at the price of one vitality ginseng per night!
Days in the spirit ruins pass one by one.
Meanwhile!
The remaining three of the Divine Feather squad, the lanky youth Kui Yuan Yang, the short youth Ma Hao, and Chu Qi sit encircled by a stream, munching on hard compressed biscuits!
None of the three speaks, recalling Qi Fei Yu’s elimination still sends shivers of fear!
Thinking of Jiang Nan, it itches their teeth with hate!
Just then, Chu Qi narrows his eyes: “Who’s there?”
Jiang Yun emerges from the bushes, hands raised.
He smiles: “Don’t tense up, no malice here!”
Ma Hao’s hand already touches the ground: “You think I’ll buy that?”
Jiang Yun grins: “You can trust me, I know you’re not reconciled, as the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend!”
“Besides, fighting now benefits no one, with my strength, I can at least take two down with me!”
Ma Hao, Kui Yuan Yang narrow their eyes, Chu Qi presses his hand: “You’re also…”
Jiang Yun lifts his shirt, reveals the wound: “No need for more words on that, you know full well, without taking out Jiang Nan, our chances of advancing are slim!”
Chu Qi’s gaze flickers: “Who else have you roped in?”
Jiang Yun: “You nod first, then I’ll tell!”
“Even without Qi Fei Yu, our squad’s strength in the spirit ruins ranks top-tier!”
“Pull us in, what do you offer?”
Jiang Yun grins: “What do you want?”
Chu Qi without hesitation: “Championship!”
“Deal!”
Ma Hao narrows his eyes: “And the other squads…”
Jiang Yun sneers: “You think the weak have bargaining chips with me?”
“Just disposable trash to use and toss!”
Chu Qi flatly: “Hope we’re not that in your eyes, can cooperate!”
“But more people the better, Jiang Nan’s tricks… you know!”
Jiang Yun chuckles slyly: “I’ll handle recruiting, you track Jiang Nan’s movements, how’s that?”
Chu Qi’s straightforward enough: “Fine!”
Jiang Yun waves smiling: “Catch up later!”
Seeing him leave, Kui Yuan Yang frowns: “Qi Sis, he agreed too quick! What if…”
Chu Qi shakes his head: “Can’t take down Jiang Nan, no one claims the crown!”
“As for after, if that Jiang Yun reneges, we can eliminate him easy enough!”
“This plan, viable!”
…
While over with Jiang Nan, utterly clueless about Jiang Yun’s scheming behind the scenes!
Daytimes for hunting spirit beasts, snapping photos!
Nights for little barbecues, tents with plug-in Little Overlord consoles, Contra with 30 lives!
Losers get forehead flicks!
Each time, Xia Yao with a head full of lumps from flicks pouts her little mouth, face full of fury!
Vowing to get revenge tomorrow!
Only ends up with more lumps…
During this, every squad encountered flees headlong at sight of Jiang Nan!
Jiang Nan doesn’t pursue, content to hunt his spirit pearls, isn’t that sweet?
Eight days pass in a row, circle shrinks four times!
By now, the signal reception zone’s shrunk quite small!
Received battle reports show!
Currently 43 squads remain!
145 people!
The rest all eliminated, notably, one squad wiped out by a gold-grade spirit beast pack!
All four perished without survivors!
Eyeing the reports, Jiang Nan’s brows furrow slightly!
Such a small circle, yet so many squads left! Truly a bit much!
Feels off!
Jiang Nan’s crew, camped and settled, circles the campfire roasting meat!
Half-beastified Xia Yao twitches her nose, furry ears flick lightly!
She sidles quietly to Jiang Nan: “Little Nan, I smell something off, and some noises!”
“Someone’s tailing us!”
Jiang Nan nods: “Mm, got it!”
Xia Yao: “For real! These past days I’ve felt it, why don’t you believe?”
Jiang Nan presses her lips: “Shh!”
Xia Yao’s eyes sparkle, Jiang Nan’s long sensed it?
Then why stay mum?
Could it be…
Her little schemes stir again!
Five hundred metres off, Ma Hao and Kui Yuan Yang prone in the grass!
Watching Jiang Nan’s lot roast meat, the aroma wafts over, drool nearly drips!
Ten days! Exposed to wind and dew, can’t get a hot meal!
Look at them!
Barbecue, tents, game consoles!
[Resentment value from Ma Hao +666!]
[Resentment value from Kui Yuan Yang +888!]
“Bloody hell! Starving me out!”
“Hmph! Won’t prance much longer, folks nearly rounded up…”
“Heh heh, then we’ll strip that gear off him!”
Jiang Nan roasts the rabbit, checks the resentment list, a cold chuckle!
Linking to the odd squad numbers…
Not hard to guess!
These squads so harmonious, likely banding to take him down!
“Didn’t want to tear faces, but they rush to die!”
“Just wonder how many’ll show? Heh heh!”
With over 1.8 million resentment points already, Jiang Nan craves a big wave!
Second day, all as usual!
Dusk falls!
Wu Liang’s out starting the fire, Bear Two sits beside munching vitality ginseng with relish!
In the tent, Jiang Nan, Zhong Ying Xue, Xia Yao circle up, legs crossed!
Jiang Nan pulls out a deck of cards, just about to shuffle!
Xia Yao snatches it: “Hmph hmph! My shuffle! Or you’ll cheat again!”
Jiang Nan spreads hands!
Just then, Bear Two mid-bite on the ginseng bolts up, roars at Wu Liang!
Wu Liang: “What’s up bro? Eager? Haha! No rush, tonight’s roast whole lamb!”
Xia Yao in the tent startles, wolf ears twitch, she lowers voice: “Little Nan! They…”
Zhong Ying Xue’s face darkens slightly, spirit energy churns restlessly!
Jiang Nan beams brightly: “What you freezing for? Deal the cards?”
Xia Yao’s stunned: “What?”
