C49 Number One

The observation platform was set up in the area with the best view outside the arena. Empress Dowager Chu sat in the main seat, accompanied by Beiming Yuan and Dugu Rou. Feng Qing and many military officials had also found their seats. Rong Qi was among them.

In the arena, thirty-three candidates had already spread out. From above, Xie Ruxuan and a few others had chosen a shortcut. Though the path was shorter, it was filled with fierce beasts. Fortunately, their numbers made it manageable to handle a few tigers and wolves.

Guu Ruochen and Jun Wushang seemed to have teamed up, increasing their chances of success with their combined strength. Observing the scene, many were puzzled as to why Feng Tiange had chosen to pair with Su Hu, a candidate without any notable background.

Feng Tiange felt wronged. In the time it took for half an incense stick to burn, she had spent most of her efforts avoiding the beasts and trying to shake off Su Hu. She had no intention of teaming up because the third trial wasn’t about who could defeat the most beasts, but who could reach the finish line the fastest despite the beasts and other competitors' interference.

Feng Tiange didn’t see Su Hu as a burden; she just didn’t want the responsibility that came with having a partner.

"There's a tiger ahead!" Su Hu called out, still maintaining his casual posture with his hands behind his head. As he spoke, a tiger's roar echoed through the air.

Feng Tiange turned her head, expressionless, and looked at Su Hu. "If you hadn't stepped on that dry branch, the tiger wouldn't have been alerted."

Su Hu shrugged. "It wasn't on purpose."

Ignoring Su Hu, Feng Tiange drew 'Broken Shadow' from her back. "Let's take care of it, then we can go our separate ways."

Su Hu was shocked, looking at Feng Tiange with an innocent and aggrieved expression. "Are you planning to abandon me?"

I never intended to bring you along!

Before Su Hu could respond, a tiger with piercing eyes and a white forehead lunged at them, its sharp fangs aiming for Feng Tiange's neck.

Su Hu drew his sword, ready to step forward, but saw that Feng Tiange didn't dodge. Instead, she suddenly leaned back, parallel to the ground, and thrust 'Broken Shadow' forcefully into the tiger's side!

As Su Hu watched, Feng Tiange moved like a shooting star, her sword slicing through the air. The moment the tiger hit the ground, it was lifeless.

"Wow!" Su Hu exclaimed. "Did I just hit the jackpot? Feng Tiange, you're incredible!"

Not only Su Hu, but everyone watching from the stands was stunned.

Feng Tiange had slain a tiger with a single strike!

Empress Dowager Chu instinctively stood up, her initial worry transforming into excitement, her eyes sparkling with a brightness they hadn't shown in a long time.

"Nanny Sunn exclaimed with excitement, 'Miss Tiange's decisiveness and calmness are just like yours back in the day, Empress Dowager!'

'Even more so,' Empress Dowager Chu replied, slowly settling back into her chair, feeling a joyful energy coursing through her. She had seen it! The aura surrounding Feng Tiange had traces of the Grand Yin Scripture. Her granddaughter had begun practicing it and had succeeded...

'Tiange is indeed impressive,' Beiming Yuan remarked with approval.

'Congratulations, Empress Dowager. Who would have thought Miss Tiange would make such a stunning impact?' Dugu Rou added, trying to flatter the Empress Dowager alongside Beiming Yuan.

However, Empress Dowager Chu seemed oblivious, showing no reaction at all. Dugu Rou's face flushed slightly with embarrassment, her gaze turning a bit colder as she looked at Feng Tiange.

In the arena, besides Guu Ruochen and Jun Wushang leading the way, Xie Ruxuan and five other candidates were also at the forefront. Among the remaining candidates, Ye Qinghua and Hsiang Yan stood out.

After slaying the tiger, Feng Tiange continued forward, with Su Hu persistently following.

'If we keep taking this path, we won't catch up with Guu Ruochen and the others,' Su Hu said earnestly, moving closer to Feng Tiange.

Feng Tiange understood. She also knew that if Su Hu hadn't stepped on a dry branch, attracting a pack of wolves, they could have moved even faster!"

Without them, it's just her! But now, Feng Tiange had to change her route to buy more time. So when she reached a fork in the road, she decisively turned left and firmly told Su Hu, "I need you to take the right path."

"But I don't want to," Su Hu replied, looking like a puppy about to be abandoned.

Normally, Feng Tiange would have a unique way of making Su Hu understand that what he wanted didn't matter. But now, she couldn't waste time on stubbornness. Yes, she really wanted to smack Su Hu. Is this how you repay me? Could you be any more obvious about holding us back?

Feng Tiange abandoned the risky path and took the only shortcut in the training grounds. This led her to cross paths with Xie Ruxuan and her group, who had just taken down two fierce tigers.

Enemies meeting face-to-face, the tension was palpable. Xie Ruxuan, seeing it was Feng Tiange, immediately signaled her companions to surround her. "Well, well, who do we have here? It's you, the ugly one. Why cover your face? I bet if you took off that veil, your face would scare the tigers to death!" As Xie Ruxuan finished, laughter erupted around them.

"Get out of my way," Feng Tiange said, urgency in her voice.

"Oh! Such big talk! Let's see how tough you really are. Everyone, get her!"

Xie Ruxuan was clearly the leader of this small group of candidates. As soon as she made her move, the other five followed suit.

Feng Tiange, seasoned from many battles, knew the strategy of taking down the leader first. As Xie Ruxuan's sword tip came straight at her, Feng Tiange swiftly sidestepped and raised her own sword, "Broken Shadow," which clashed with Xie Ruxuan's blade, sending sparks flying.

In an instant, Feng Tiange closed in on Xie Ruxuan, forcing her to retreat several steps! Just as the five candidates were about to attack Su Hu, he suddenly shouted to the sidelines, "If you've seen enough, come help!"

At Su Hu's call, five people leaped out from the shadows, led by Hsiang Yan.

"I'll leave this to you!" Su Hu shouted, then rushed towards Feng Tiange.

At that moment, Feng Tiange kicked Xie Ruxuan to the ground. Before she could strike again, Su Hu pulled her back, saying, "This one's not worth your time!"

Hearing this, Feng Tiange glanced around and noticed the five newcomers in the fray. Time was of the essence, so she ignored Xie Ruxuan and turned to move forward with Su Hu.

"Are those your people?" Feng Tiange asked as they walked.

"No need to thank me," Su Hu replied with a bright smile.

Feng Tiange's mouth twitched slightly. Why did I end up on this path in the first place?

Outside the arena, the shock among the spectators continued to spread.

Everyone witnessed it—Feng Tiange forced Xie Ruxuan into a corner with just one move. Xie Jin's face was as dark as coal...

An hour had passed since the candidates entered the trial arena. From the viewing platform, it was clear that although Feng Tiange and Su Hu encountered fierce beasts multiple times, their pace was nearly identical to that of Gu Ruochen and Jun Wushang. A confrontation was inevitable.

"Su Hu..." On the viewing platform, Rong Qi quietly repeated the name, his eyes sparkling with intrigue. "Look into this person's background."

"Yes." From the shadows, Lei Yi accepted the order and vanished.

Some people are destined to meet. Some events are bound to happen.

Just as Feng Tiange and Su Hu were about to reach the exit, Gu Ruochen and Jun Wushang arrived at the same spot. Since this was a competition, a winner had to be determined.

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