A Reckoning Must Be Had

"4,000 yuan!"

That price made many people in the vehicle visibly moved.

They were not Martial Warriors yet. As Quasi-Martial Warriors, 4,000 yuan was roughly a month's salary.

Hunting a single Blade Tooth Hound could earn them that much. If they hunted one every day, wouldn't their monthly income exceed 100,000 yuan?

"Look over there, what kind of Monster is that?"

At that moment, another Martial Warrior in the vehicle spotted something new.

Everyone looked over in unison.

They saw a plump bird walking through the shrubs. It resembled a hen, but stood as tall as a person.

Huang Jiancheng said, "That's a Purple Feather Chicken, an Elementary Monster. It's not very intelligent, but its feathers are quite valuable. Its market price is around 4,500 yuan."

"That chicken is so fat. It must taste amazing roasted!" Someone smacked their lips.

Everyone had eaten Monster meat before and knew how delicious it was.

Just thinking about how tasty such a big, fat chicken would be made their mouths water.

But the convoy was heading to the Wuping Mountain Range for the practical combat assessment, so it would not stop for that.

The vehicles continued onward, encountering quite a few other Monsters along the way.

Huang Jiancheng and Jin Wenxin were like two commentators, constantly introducing the Monsters' strength and value to everyone.

Qin Heng listened with great interest while secretly thinking, The assessment target is Monster ears. Flying and insect-type Monsters seem to have no ears, so we can only target beast-type Monsters.

This limited their hunting targets. They could not simply kill any Monster they encountered and count it as an achievement.

Several hours of travel passed amid their discussions of Monsters.

The convoy crossed uninhabited wastelands and open wilderness before finally reaching the outskirts of the Wuping Mountain Range.

"Get off."

The driver spoke.

Qin Heng and the others sprang into action, slinging on their backpacks, taking up their weapons, and filing out.

Seven Wilderness Battle Vehicles were parked neatly in the open clearing, while the 174 trainees consciously formed ranks.

"The practical combat assessment is about to begin."

The chief commander of this wilderness assessment was a bald young man named Fu Yuntai, a Great Martial Master from the Martial Warrior Alliance.

He addressed the crowd in a ringing voice. "Quasi-Martial Warriors, you have three days and three nights to act freely. Three days from now, at 2 p.m. on June 30, everyone must gather here. We will spend one hour inspecting your battle results, then immediately return to Base City. Anyone who fails to gather here by then will be considered dead. Understood?"

"Understood!" everyone answered in unison.

Once they entered the wilderness, they had to take responsibility for their own lives. The wilderness would not coddle them, and no one else had any obligation to protect them.

If they could not return within the allotted time, then even if they were not dead, they would be abandoned in the wilderness and left to fend for themselves.

So the mission could fail, but they had to return alive!

"All right, begin!"

At the order of Fu Yuntai, the chief Supervising Examiner, more than 170 people immediately slung on their backpacks, took up their weapons, and headed toward the Wuping Mountain Range in groups of three and five.

"Qin Heng, Zhao Dongxing, follow me. I heard some information about the Wuping Mountain Range from a senior. It'll help us find prey!"

Huang Jiancheng had long been unable to wait. The instant the operation was announced, he called out to Qin Heng and the others.

"Mm, let's go."

The team followed Huang Jiancheng.

At that moment, a lazy voice drifted over from nearby. "Hey, Qin Heng."

Qin Heng turned his head and saw Wang Peng.

Wang Peng had Qian Feilong and six other trainees from the War God Martial Hall with him, making seven in total, the same number as Qin Heng's team.

With a hint of mockery on his face, like a cat playing with a mouse, he sneered, "The wilderness is dangerous. Be careful. Don't go losing your life."

To others, those words sounded like concern between friends.

But Qin Heng knew full well that Wang Peng was making a declaration. He was preparing to target him.

"You too," Qin Heng replied, composed and calm.

The grudge between them had begun when they first met at the Trial Martial Hall three years ago.

The repeated frictions and fights over the years had made them as irreconcilable as fire and water.

Recently, Qin Heng's talent had erupted, and he showed signs of rising strongly. Wang Peng, meanwhile, had been acknowledged by Wang Jianming and gained considerable influence.

Both of them sensed the lethal threat radiating from the other.

So this wilderness operation had to end with a reckoning!

Otherwise, neither would know peace in sleep or food!

Qin Heng's and Wang Peng's gazes met in the air. Beneath their seemingly calm eyes danced an icy killing intent.

"Let's go."

Qin Heng called out and left first with his teammates.

"We should go too."

Wang Peng called to his companions and headed toward the mountain range from another direction not far away.

There were Supervising Examiners here. This was not the place to make a move.

Once they entered the forest, they could wait for an opportunity.

The dense jungle swallowed the more than 170 Quasi-Martial Warriors, and the teams gradually vanished into the wilderness.

Huang Jiancheng asked Qin Heng, "Little Brother Qin Heng, do you know that Young Master Wang from the War God Martial Hall?"

Quite a few people knew Wang Peng's identity.

Qin Heng replied, "Yes, we have some grievances. We need to watch out for their attacks over the next three days."

"Huh?"

Jin Wenxin froze for a moment. "I thought you two were friends. I was just about to ask why you weren't acting together..."

Qin Heng chuckled. "My friends can be anyone, but never him."

If he could still be friends with someone who frequently harassed his girlfriend and spread rumors to slander him, then there had to be something wrong with his brain.

Zhao Dongxing looked somewhat grave. "Those trainees from the War God Martial Hall are no pushovers, especially Qian Feilong. In a one-on-one fight, I'm afraid none of us would be his match."

Qin Heng was not worried. "It's fine. If they dare come, leave that person to me."

Then he added, "By the way, if you're afraid of being dragged down by me, you can split up with me. I'll be fine on my own."

He did not want to force anyone into this. If they feared Wang Peng and did not want to act with him, then they could part ways. His strength was decent enough that he could survive in the wilderness alone.

But Zhao Dongxing did not care about that. "I only think they're quite strong, so fighting them might be troublesome. But I never said I'd abandon my companions the moment danger appeared. Qin Heng, you said you could deal with Qian Feilong... Do you have some trump card?"

Qin Heng nodded. "Thanks... I do have a few tricks."

He had no special ultimate move, but he had concealed some of his strength.

If it came to a real fight, his immense strength should be able to catch his enemies off guard.

"Brother Huang, Brother Jin, what about you two?" Qin Heng looked at Huang Jiancheng and Jin Wenxin.

"We..."

The two exchanged a glance.

They had spent longer in society and understood how to weigh gains and losses better than Zhao Dongxing and the others, who came from Martial Halls.

Reason told them that less trouble was better, and avoiding Wang Peng would be safer.

But after thinking it over, Huang Jiancheng said, "Little Brother Qin Heng, you're a fierce man who broke the citywide record. You'll definitely accomplish great things in the future. Now that you're in trouble, we brothers will help you! When you soar high and prosper someday, just don't forget the bond between us brothers."

Jin Wenxin echoed, "We agreed to act together. If we ran away now, our friends in the Alliance would laugh at us for the rest of our lives."

Qin Heng was somewhat moved. "Thank you!"

They had only met by chance, yet these people were willing to step forward and help him, even knowing how powerful their opponents' backing was.

This bond was worth remembering!

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