The Scum Is A

The faces of the participants became dark as their future after they heard what Zheng Yi and Cheng Sheng said. They felt faint, but they know they can't since xiao Bao and xiao Ling might pop up anytime. They have to be on guard.

They admit that they felt guilty and shameful since they have been complacent after the first point threshold was announced. Now, reality slapped them in the face very hard in the forms of xiao Bao and xiao Ling. They shouldn't be complacent anytime, anywhere.

"This??? this!" Wen Wen muttered in a panic and he looked at his elder brother, Wen Yan.

Wen Yan's face is dark. They actually have guessed yesterday when xiao Ling and xiao Bao appeared and they fought against them. Fortunately, they have more people than the two so the two retreated. Though, it was really a close call. Then, Ling Yun arrived and told them the news, clarifying everyone's guesses.

"Calm down." Wen Yan spoke. Right now, everyone is in the base. After Ling Yun explained to them everything, they immediately sent Message Talismans to the others to summon them and reconvene a meeting.

Xiao Bao and xiao Ling guessed what they wanted to do so they intercepted their Message Talismans. But, how can they stop hundreds of them, though? Fortunately, Bai Tan wasn't included in this or else Bai Tan would've devoured those hundreds of Message Talismans. That would truly leave them participants helpless.

"Oh, geez! Fortunately, xiao Bao and xiao Ling didn't appear in our area!" Tang Li exclaimed as he patted his chest to comfort himself.

Li Yan, Qian Jue and Qian Meng nodded in agreement. Those two devils are definitely tough nuts to crack. Even if there will be the four of them??? they highly doubt that they can win against them.

He Shun was frightened and uncontrollably shivered as he imagined the horror of facing xiao Bao and xiao Ling. He knows that he is the weakest in this stage. If he would face xiao Bao and xiao Ling??? nah. He will just directly admit defeat and withdraw from the competition even if he will lose his face.

He is too weak to face even just one of these devils.

"We have to plan a counterattack." Wu Lian proposed.

The others nodded in agreement.

"We can't just always be on defense." Chen Wu added.

"But, how do we counterattack?" Jing De asked. "Those two are insanely strong." He said.

Chen Wu frowned since he was also stumped with this question. "For one, let's go in groups." He suggested.

"Yes." they agreed since they also noticed that xiao Bao and xiao Ling don't just recklessly attack them who are in a group.

Of course, it could also be that they are estimating their strength as a group, including their unity. Or that, they would snipe at them.

"Currently, there are twenty-one of us." Wen Yan spoke.

That is, eight from the Xinfaxian Sect ??? Fei Yinzi, Wen Yan, Zhu Xi, Su Mi, Su Yi, Wen Wen, Cui Xiang and Cui Xiao; four from the Youxiwang Sect ??? Wu Lian, Chen Wu, Chen Su and Chen Yu; two from the Zunjingde Sect ??? Jing De and Jing Xu, and Qianxu Sect ??? Qian Jue and Qian Meng; one from the Yuling Sect ??? Ling Yun; Huakai Sect ??? Tang Li; Huli Sect ??? Li Yan; Guhe Sect ??? He Shun; and a rogue cultivator, Qi Lan.

"Excluding Cui Xiang who has to remain here in the base to refine magic pills and potions for us, and also Wen Wen to make talismans for all of us, that leaves nineteen people." Wen Yan continued. "We can leave one here to guard the both of them and the base. That would leave eighteen people, then." He looked at them. "I think, six people is an ideal number for one group. That way, we can have a higher chance to win against xiao Bao and xiao Ling, so they wouldn't recklessly attack us." he explained.

"You are right." Jing Xu agreed after he thought about it. "The Shanliangde Sect also has six people." He reminded them.

"Could they have been attacked by xiao Bao and xiao Ling, too?" Wen Wen curiously asked.

"That is likely." Su Yi answered.

"But, Wu Tie and Jin Yu should be the ones who are most in danger, right?" He Shun asked when he remembered those two who had gone duo.

"They must have some tricks up their sleeves to go just the two of them alone." Chen Su shrugged.

"You have a point???" they muttered.

"Then, let's leave one person here and divide our large group into three smaller groups?" Li Yan asked.

"Who will remain here first?" Qi Lan asked.

"I'll stay." Ling Yun raised his head.

Everyone looked at him.

Ling Yun wryly smiled. "Xiao Ling has already declared 'war' against me after he was forcefully woken up to save me before???" he inwardly cried.

Everyone looked at him with sympathy in their eyes.

Chen Wu pondered. "I have to take my brothers with me." He spoke.

Everyone nodded in understanding. They know how close the Youxiwang Sect as a family.

"I'll go with you." Wu Lian told Chen Wu.

Chen Wu smiled and looked at him with a grateful gaze. Wu Lian just nodded. But, in the eyes of the others, why did they suddenly see these four Youxiwang Sect disciples as a family? Wu Lian as the father, Chen Wu as the 'mother' and Chen Su and Chen Yu are the children?

They all shook their heads and looked away.

"Who will go with us?" Chen Wu asked.

"Us two." Qi Lan spoke.

Everyone understood. He Shun is the weakest in their group and Qi Lan is there to protect him. But, he also can assist Wu Lian and Chen Wu in protecting Chen Su and Chen Yu, likewise with the two protecting He Shun. Their defense is strong.

"We'll go as a group!" Jing De spoke as he pulled Qian Meng with them. "Tang Li-ge, Li Yan-ge, will you go with us?" he asked.

"Wait." Fei Yinzi spoke.

They looked at him.

"It's better for the Xinfaxian Sect to split up." Fei Yinzi turned to Wen Yan and the others.

Wen Yan nodded. "We have the most resources on us. In case a battle ensues???" he said.

Everyone immediately understood. The Youxiwang Sect also has many resources, so Qi Lan and He Shun should be secured with Chen Wu's group.

"I'll take my brother with me." Su Mi decisively spoke as she pulled Su Yi to Jing Xu's group.

"Great! We have a mage!" Jing De exclaimed while Su Yi politely nodded at them.

"Tang Li, Li Yan, team?" Wen Yan asked.

"Good! We also have a girl in our team!" Tang Li smiled.

Li Yan grinned. Although Cui Xiao is a girl and looked weak, no one dared to underestimate her since she can be as ferocious as Su Mi in a fight.

"Then, it's decided." Zhuo Xi spoke.

The first group are Wu Lian, Chen Wu, Chen Su, Chen Yu, Qi Lan and He Shun. Although they don't have a mage, their group is very stable with Wu Lian, Chen Wu and Qi Lan as their main fighters. The second group are Jing De, Jing Xu, Qian Meng, Qian Jue, Su Mi and Su Yi. All of them are attack and the ferociousness of their group can be used as a defense, too. The last group are Fei Yinzi, Wen Yan, Zhu Xi, Cui Xiao, Tang Li and Li Yan. Cui Xiao will be responsible for their defense and the rest will protect Cui Xiao.

Wen Wen looked at them enviously. "I wanna go, too???" he pouted.

Cui Xiang chuckled. "You can, but you have to finish two hundred talismans tonight." She told him.

Wen Wen's shoulder sank in dejection.

"Even if we won't go with them and fight, our support is enough to make them safe." Cui Xiang added.

Wen Wen fell silent. Then, he raised his hand to pick up his brush and started writing.

Ling Yun smiled as he watched them. The supports also are included in the team, since they also fight in their own way by securing these teams' safety through their magic pills, potions and talismans. And, these two are very amazing to support these three teams. He thought and looked at the three teams who started to discuss about tactics and helped each other devise one for their respective team.

Even though they were split into three teams, all of them combined still is one team.

???

"The participants???" Fan Wen wiped the tear in the corner of his eye when he felt emotional after watching the participants huddled together and discussed.

The elders didn't say anything, but their chests swelled with emotions.

"See?" Cheng Sheng spoke with a smile. "Facing adversity makes them grow. And the more the adversity they will face, the faster they will grow." He explained.

Everyone froze and looked at him.. "???" so you are actually thinking for the growth of the participants?! We thought that you are just thinking on how to pit them! They thought and inwardly cried.