Once I enter the pass, great Confucian scholars will surely debate the classics for me.

Everyone is mentally prepared for the location to be revealed regularly, and they all know it in advance.

But it came so suddenly, without any warning.

The originally smooth plan suddenly took a turn for the worse, and the calm situation suddenly deteriorated. It can be said that plans can never keep up with changes, the battlefield can change in an instant, and a fierce three-way battle could break out at any time.

The hearts of everyone in the seven-person team led by Zhou Qingfeng instantly leaped into their throats. They knew this was not a fair fight that would end with a point, but a life-or-death struggle that would determine who was superior and who would die.

Even Zhou Qingfeng couldn't help but feel the overwhelming pressure coming his way.

It's no longer a one-on-one duel, but a team battle involving multiple squads.

The other two teams are all top-notch geniuses, not just some filler or mediocre members.

If we are strong, they may not be weak either.

Currently, we know nothing about the other two teams except for their numbers.

Who is the enemy captain? And what are the strengths of the enemy teammates?

Once one side engages in battle, the other side will inevitably seize the opportunity to reap the benefits.

We might get wiped out.

"Captain, should we kill them?" Ye Tingxiu moved closer to Zhou Qingfeng, his hand quietly gripping the hilt of the knife at his waist. As soon as Zhou Qingfeng uttered the word "kill," he would immediately draw his knife and charge into the enemy ranks, leaving no enemy alive.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hongyun immediately intervened, saying, "Absolutely do not move. Whoever attacks first will be forced to fight back. In the ensuing melee, there will inevitably be casualties, which will only allow the third-party team to benefit."

At this moment, Du Yanran, Tantai Minglan, Duan Hongsu, and Cheng Wuquan could not care about anything else. Their lives were at stake, and they had no choice but to quickly express their opinions in an attempt to influence the captain's final decision.

Du Yanran said, "We have no choice in this matter. Even if we don't attack, how can we guarantee that the other two teams won't launch an offensive? We're so close. Even if we retreat now, we won't be able to shake off their pursuit."

"Moreover, choosing to retreat immediately after being exposed is undoubtedly telling the other two teams that we are weak and afraid. How could they let us go? They will definitely hunt us down to the end."

Cheng Wuquan stepped forward, clasped his hands, and volunteered for the battle: "Hesitation will only lead to trouble, Captain. Instead of waiting passively, we should take the initiative. Our team is currently down by one point, and we must make up for it if we have the chance."

Tantai Minglan said, "Captain, we absolutely cannot retreat now. If we retreat, the whole situation will collapse. However, I also do not agree with launching an offensive first. It is too dangerous and we could be wiped out by a third-party team. I suggest that we immediately send someone to contact that eight-person team, join forces with the weak to attack the strong, and take down that ten-person team."

Duan Hongsu said, "Captain, the battle situation is changing rapidly. I suggest we remain still and observe the actions of the other two squads before deciding how to proceed."

After he finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to Zhou Qingfeng. As team members, they only had the right to offer suggestions.

They had no say in the fate of the squad; they only hoped that their captain wouldn't lead them to their deaths, otherwise they would all be wiped out.

Zhou Qingfeng looked at the eighteen red lines marking the positions that appeared on both sides of the horizon.

He remained calm and collected, his fingers rapidly rubbing together inside his sleeves as his mind raced.

The teams are now like being in a dark forest, unaware of each other's background or intentions, only knowing that the other wants to kill them to gain individual and team points.

Under such circumstances.

You can guarantee that your own squad is friendly, but how do you determine if the enemy squad is friendly?

Since the outcome is uncertain, the only option is to eliminate the enemy squad.

Therefore, once the location was exposed, there was no negotiation or probing.

Either fight, annihilate the exposed squads around you, and ensure your own absolute safety.

Either escape, escape as far as possible, flee for your life, escape at all costs, live a life of ignominy, don't think about climbing the leaderboard or making a name for yourself, just try to leave the world arena alive.

Fate took several forks here.

Zhou Qingfeng lacked sufficient information and was unable to make a choice based on his own judgment, so he simply summoned the mysterious scarlet divination bucket deep in his consciousness and cast a divination for himself.

[This is a very bad omen; retreat immediately. It's ominous.]

[A very bad omen; remaining still and waiting for the right moment will bring misfortune.]

[A very bad omen; allying with the weak to attack the strong, an ominous sign.]

[Neutral divination, take the initiative, auspicious]

Following the principle of choosing the auspicious option if there is one, and the neutral option if there is no auspicious option, Zhou Qingfeng made a decisive decision: "There is no need to discuss it anymore. The situation is constantly changing and opportunities are fleeting. Rather than waiting passively, we should take the initiative."

The crowd's expressions varied—some were excited, some nervous, some afraid, and some serious—but no one questioned Zhou Qingfeng's decision. This was because Zhou Qingfeng had already established the core leadership from the beginning, and those who disobeyed were already dead.

The rest were obedient. Even if some individuals were unwilling to fight to the death, they could not change the general trend. The only thing they could do was to kill the enemy and save themselves in the upcoming battle.

Ye Tingxiu asked excitedly, "Captain, since we're going to take the initiative, which one should we target?"

Zhou Qingfeng's expression was icy, his eyes deep and unfathomable, like a still spring: "Both teams are our targets. Since it's a three-way battle, no one can sit back and watch. Drag them all into the fray."

"Let's get started right away. I'll tell you the detailed plan on the way."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Qingfeng leaped down from Xiaoling Peak, followed quickly by Ye Tingxiu, Xiao Hongyun, and the rest of the team. The seven-person team landed one after the other from the hundred-zhang-high peak without any injuries.

The team then quickly disappeared into the forest.

The tall, dense trees in the forest provide excellent cover, making it easy to conceal one's movements. Although the location is constantly exposed, the cover can be used to block the enemy's line of sight, which is better than being a sitting duck in the air.

The seven-person team leaped swiftly across the thick trunks of the towering trees, which were dozens of meters high. The forest was teeming with swamps, poisonous snakes, venomous insects, and lurking monsters. Leaping across the tree trunks ensured a wide field of vision and reduced the risk of encountering unexpected dangers.

Let's consider both sides of the story, focusing on one side only.

The 10-person team was located on a pile of rubble, which seemed to be an ancient sacrificial site, with strange stone carvings and pillars standing everywhere.

The 10-person team was led by Shenwei City, the Lan Clan, and the Three Ghosts of the Lan Family.

The three brothers of the Lan family are Lan Yinhuang, Lan Yinwen, and Lan Yintang. They are called the three ghosts not because they are proficient in controlling ghosts, but because they are all geniuses who appear only once in a hundred years in the Lan family. Their calamity-level physical technique, "Disgusting Mantis," is famous throughout the region.

However, the three brothers had a well-known peculiar hobby: they preferred men to women and kept many muscular men in their household.

In this competition for the title of "Heavenly Pride," all three members of the Lan family have made it to the world stage. Their strength is extraordinary, and they are the favorites to climb the Heavenly Ranking. Lan Yinwen, the second son of the Lan family, is even known as the strategist.

The third brother, Lan Yintang, said, "Big brother, aren't we going to take action yet?"

The eldest brother, Lan Yinhuang, slapped Lan Yintang across the face, making him turn his head to look up at the sky: "What are you calling me, big brother? Who is your big brother? When we're on business, you should be called captain. How many times have I told you? You never learn. Remember your place. In my Lan Yin team, you are just a member. You have no special privileges and you have no right to ask me questions."

The third brother, Lan Yintang, was humiliated by the slap, but he still turned around, forced a smile, and said, "Yes, Captain."

Seeing that the captain's younger brother would be beaten for asking even one more question, the other team members dared not ask any more questions.

Lan Yinhuang coldly looked at his other teammates. Apart from his second and third brothers, these people were nothing more than tools in his eyes. He didn't care about their thoughts at all. If they didn't listen, he would beat them. If they still didn't listen after being beaten, he would kill them.

At this moment, only Lan Yinwen stepped forward to explain: "Please calm down, everyone. We don't need to get involved in the battle now. Look, that seven-man squad is heading straight for another squad. Obviously, the other team's captain is a reckless fool."

"The other eight-man squad has no choice but to fight, even if they want to. Our position is always exposed, so the eight-man squad is forced to fight and engage in a team battle with the seven-man squad."

"Hehehe... Once the two sides start fighting, there will inevitably be casualties."

"At that time, when both sides are exhausted, we will wipe out both teams in one fell swoop, and none of them will escape."

Lan Yintang couldn't help but ask, "Second Brother, so they're not going to fight a team battle, but rather they're going to join forces against us? We outnumber them and have the advantage. If it were me, I would definitely join forces with the weak to fight the strong."

Lan Yinwen slapped his third brother across the face: "Call me the vice-captain during battle!"

Lan Yintang was slapped again and was furious, but there was nothing he could do. He was the youngest, and his two older brothers had always bullied him like this since he was little. He had no choice but to endure the beatings: "Yes, Vice Captain."

Lan Yinwen nodded in satisfaction and said, "Yin Tang, you know you're brainless. It's easy to say that you're allying with the weak to attack the strong, but given the current situation, it's basically impossible to achieve."

"Firstly, each squad is a target for the others, killing each other to earn points. This is the ultimate goal and an irreconcilable contradiction. Their positions are naturally opposed, and there is no basis for trust in cooperation at all. Putting everything else aside, can you guarantee that the squad you cooperate with won't betray you at a crucial moment?"

"Secondly, cooperation requires sitting down to talk. The moment our position is exposed, it means that a life-or-death war has begun. No squad will passively wait for an unknown attack."

"Because you can guarantee that you are well-intentioned, but you can't guarantee that the enemy is not well-intentioned. Before the two sides even make contact, the enemy may release a spell to attack you from a distance in order to ensure their own safety."

"Do you understand? Do you want me to continue explaining?"

Seeing his second brother speaking so confidently and as if he had everything under control, Lan Yintang was still unconvinced and retorted, "Fine, even if the two sides don't cooperate as the vice-captain says, what if one of the captains attracts the other team and forces us into the battle as well? Wouldn't that turn into a three-way melee?"

Lan Yinwen smiled contemptuously: "You're so stupid, yet you still argue back. What do you know? If you were the captain, leading your squad towards me, trying to drag us into the battle, you'd be courting death."

"Our squad is at full strength and is attacking you head-on. At this moment, you are being pursued by another squad behind you. In this situation of being attacked from both sides, you are caught in the middle and instantly bear the concentrated fire of both squads."

"You will turn to ashes in an instant, my dear silly brother."

In the end, Lan Yinwen shook his head repeatedly, feeling increasingly that his younger brother was so stupid it was suffocating. But there was nothing he could do. After all, he was his own brother. He could hit him or scold him, but he couldn't kill him.

The eldest brother, Lan Yinhuang, waved his hand impatiently: "Alright, Lan Yinwen, why are you paying attention to him?"

Second Brother Lan Yinwen smiled slightly: "Captain, Yin Tang is a bit stupid, but he is still our own brother. We should teach him. We can't just beat him all the time."

The eldest brother, Lan Yinhuang, snorted coldly: "He's just a stupid idiot who won't amount to anything unless he's beaten."

Lan Yintang's face flushed red and then turned pale, his expression showing anger and grievance. However, he also felt a strange sense of enjoyment. Being insulted and slapped in the face by his two older brothers gave him a masochistic pleasure.

The Blue Silver Squad planned to sit back and watch the fight unfold, then seize the opportunity to annihilate the Green Peak Squad and the Awakening Squad.

At this moment, the Awakening Squad, led by Wu Juexing, is attacking the Qingfeng Squad.

Wu Juexing, a genius girl from the Wu family in Tianyuan City. The Wu family of Tianyuan is most skilled in boxing. Their ancestors once produced a female boxer who shook the ages and made no hero in the world dare to compete with her.

Wu Juexing leaped quickly across the thick tree trunk. Seeing the seven red lines getting closer and closer, he immediately stopped and raised his fist to signal the seven female team members to stop advancing: "Fire Phoenix, prepare for a long-range, wide-area ground attack. Let's teach those bastards a lesson and show them what pain and despair are like."

A female teammate named Huoluan clasped her hands in a fist and asked, "Captain, what is the area of ​​effect?"

Wu Juexing sneered and pointed to the seven thin red lines marking the way ahead: "Hehe, see the number of people and their positions marked by those thin lines? Aim and fire with all your might. Cover as much area as possible. I want these bastards to never even see us before they're reduced to ashes."

Huo Luan nodded slightly: "No problem, Captain, I need about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea to prepare."

Wu Juexing said, "Don't worry, with us here, you can focus on your spells without anyone disturbing you."

Fire Phoenix leaped to the ground and sat cross-legged in a forest clearing. Its hands quickly formed hand seals, gathering magical power in preparation to unleash the 'Purgatory Burning City Technique', a technique that didn't even rank in the top 100 of the Disaster-level ranking spells.

However, this does not mean that its magical power is weak; it's just that it's not very practical.

The Purgatory Burning City Technique, as its name suggests, is extremely destructive and catastrophic. It releases calamity fire to cover the enemy's position, indiscriminately scorching the ground, turning a radius of twelve miles into a scorched wasteland.

Even cultivators of the same level couldn't withstand this attack; a mere glancing blow would instantly reduce them to ashes.

This technique is incredibly powerful, but its drawback is obvious: it requires a full 10 minutes to cast. It was originally intended as a large-scale, destructive spell used only in military warfare.

With a 10-minute preparation time and a cost of a thousand coins' worth of mana per cast, this spell is inherently too limited. In a one-on-one fight, the user will be killed before even using it, and in a group battle, the fight will be over before the spell is even cast.

Wu Juexing stood atop the treetop, observing the enemy's movements. He noticed the enemy squad rapidly approaching and silently estimated their speed and the time required to cast a spell: "The time should be about right."

"During the insurance period, you few go and ambush them ten miles ahead. If they rush close ahead, try to intercept them to ensure that Huo Luan has enough time to cast her spell. You can retreat after a cup of tea."

"I'll stay here to protect Huo Luan from interference." Wu Juexing didn't show any mercy just because her teammate was a woman. She needed someone to slow down the enemy team's advance, and she didn't care about her teammate's life.

Upon hearing this, the six female cultivators of the Awakening Squad clasped their fists in response and each flew off to ambush ten miles ahead.

Wu Juexing looked at the seven-person team approaching from afar and sneered: "Heh, you dog men, you dare to hunt me down? I'll hunt you down too. Die!"

P.S.: This chapter is 4,500 words long, which is equivalent to two chapters for others, hehehe. Please follow, please tip, please urge me to update, please give good reviews, please give free gifts, please comment. I'll ask for any data. Please, please, thank you for your support, hehe.