“What’s happening? Other four Western Academy of red shirts teams calling for help in such a short time?”
“What’s happening in the southwest?”
At this time, everybody started to take the signals seriously.
Swordsmanship-seeking Sect’s nominal disciples had been tested by numerous tests, thus they must have a strong will and capability. If one or team released the signal because they were afraid, that would be reasonable. However, in such a short time, over 100 people from five to six teams all chose to surrender. There must be something terrible in the southwest.
They all stared at each other with a serious face.
However, no one expected that more astonishing things happened at that moment.
Swoosh!
Swoosh!
Swoosh!
In the northeast, streaks of purple flames rose to the sky and formed a line of huge purple swords.
“What? The purple ones? That’s signal from Southern Academy of purple shirts!”
“What happened? Why did the Southern Academy of purple shirts teams suddenly give up too?”
“Damn it! Why is that? What on earth happened?”
Including Ding Hao, everyone was seized by a tremendous fear.
Apparently, an unknown change took place in the ninth trial area. It was getting worse and worse. Disciples from Southern Academy of purple shirts and Western Academy of red shirts must have been badly inflicted to give up the trial. If worst came to worst, someone might have perished in this wilderness.
The situation changed dramatically.
An unknown danger was approaching everyone slowly but surely.
“I’ll give all of you 15 minutes to get changed into your best armor. Grab only necessities. We’ll travel light. Let’s head to the east.” Ding Hao thought for a while and made a decision.
On one hand, the strongest of the five academies, Central Academy of white shirts was allocated in the eastern area. Ding Hao might seek help from them. On the other hand…
Ding Hao had always had a good intuition. At that moment, a voice in his heart was telling him to go east for no reason.
No one hesitated and they immediately switched into their best state. Getting rid off unnecessary stuff, they hopped on their horses and galloped to the east.
Zhang Fan, Wang Xiaoqi, and Fang Tianyi were leading the way in the front, while Ding Hao protected the entire team from behind.
The entire team was like a pack of startling rabbits. They stuck up their buttocks and crunched low on their horses to gallop to the ever-stretching mountains in the east.
At that time, the situation in the entire ninth trial dramatically changed.
Things were getting worse.
With streaks and streaks of ear-piercing SOS, the sky was no longer peaceful.
Various patterns in the sky almost formed into a grand firework show. Swooshes were heard and signals of different colors were sent to the sky. Teams from Western Academy of red shirts, Northern Academy of yellow shirts, Southern Academy of purple shirts, and Eastern Academy of green shirts had all released their signals to call for help from the sect.
What on earth had happened that things had gotten into such a plight?
Did beasts invade in large groups?
Ding Hao’s team galloped their horses to the east side.
Fortunately, the horses they were assigned to were all Wind-chasing Beasts that could be deemed as half a mythical creature. The horses galloped fast and traveled over 100 kilometers in about two hours. They had completely walked out of the ocean of withered grass and approached the mountain forests in the east.
Now, the SOS in the sky was gradually fading.
However, everyone knew that it was not getting better. Nearly all the nominal disciple’s teams had issued signals. At a rough estimate, there were at least 70 of them, which meant over 1,400 nominal disciples chose to give up.
What kind of terrible things happened?
Ding Hao’s team failed to guess.
Under such a condition, it was best for them to issue a signal for help. They should wait for the hidden experts to rescue them out of here as fast as possible.
Nevertheless, his team actually did not encounter any life-threatening crisis. Carefully sending a signal seemed inappropriate.
Ding Hao discussed with the team and they unanimously decided to carry on. They should not give up so soon.
Moreover, if everyone had surrendered, and Young Pioneers stayed, they would surely be greatly rewarded and taken seriously by the sect in the future.
“Hitch the horse somewhere. We’ll walk into the mountain.” Ding Hao made a decision.
The forest in front of them was steep and was not suitable for riding a horse. A horse would be a total drag if they decided to ride into the mountain.
Zhang Fan was experienced in handling animals and went to hitch the horses with other two team members.
Ding Hao and his team were all alert and preserved their strength. They vigilantly watched around in case of any sudden danger. Everyone was highly strung with their eyes wide open.
Afte a while, Zhang Fan and other disciples returned.
“Let’s go.” Zhang Fan’s hunch became even more intense: Danger was behind them, and it was approaching.
It was a forest where evergreen plants grew. It was deep and hardly frequented by people. Birds’ chirping made the mountain seem even quieter. Tall trees were covered in leaves which sprang like umbrellas over 20 meters above their heads. The leaves almost block everything, except for a few streaks of sunshine that flowed through the gaps between the leaves.
The ground was covered in dark green mosses, whiled trunks were shrouded in ferns and vines.
Monsters’ roars came from deep in the valleys.
Ding Hao and his team were covered in some kind of paints that Zhang Fan gave them. As if camouflage-clad, they slowly advanced.
Their initial plan was to find a relatively covert and high platform to stay. They wanted to first find out what was happening, and then decided if they should continue the trial.
“Listen! I heard someone fighting!” The hunter youth who was leading the way in the front suddenly gestured.
Everyone kept quiet and listened carefully.
In the northeast on their right, they could barely hear someone fighting, the clashes of weapons, and people’s shouts.
“Go ahead, but be careful. Do not expose yourself right now.” Ding Hao was completely acting as a leader now. He thought for a moment and decided.
The entire team tiptoed and advanced in the direction of the noise.
About 5 minutes later, something emerged in the middle of the forest.
At first sight, they saw a turquoise lake and an emerald grassland. On the grassland by the lake, at least 30 people were fiercely fighting each other. Swords clanged and people shouted.
