More than half an hour later, a group passed through the area and found five people tied up together, their faces filled with astonishment.
"There are signs that people were stationed here before." Xiao Yu crouched beside a small pit, studying the faint traces around it as he spoke to the others behind him. "It looks like they only left recently. Keep a close watch on the surroundings."
Xiao Yan nodded, and the group cautiously began examining the area.
"Wait." Xiao Yu stopped and closed his eyes, sensing the surroundings. With his exceptionally powerful soul strength, he detected faint energy fluctuations to the left. "There are people on the left." He glanced at the others and led them in that direction.
Before long, Xiao Yan, Hu Jia, and the others also sensed the aura of battle ahead.
When they drew closer, they saw two groups fighting. One side consisted of Inner Academy students, while the other had only three people. Xiao Yu recognized one of them—it was Yue Yao, whom he had encountered during the earlier competition.
The three were not in good shape. Yue Yao's two teammates appeared to be injured and could barely contribute to the fight. Yue Yao was supporting them on her own, but it seemed she would not last much longer. Five Inner Academy students surrounded them, watching with mocking expressions.
"Hey, if you agree to our boss's request, once you enter the Inner Academy, he'll definitely look after you!" A man dressed in yellow grinned teasingly at Yue Yao while unleashing disruptive Dou Skills at her group.
The others jeered from the side, while a man in black, who appeared to be their captain, sat nearby with his eyes fixed on Yue Yao in the middle of the field.
Xiao Yu briefly discussed the