Chapter 635: Chapter 267: Stunned, the Astonishing Zhao Yuankong

Can anyone really get promoted?

It’s not just Xiao Hen who thinks this way.

Liu Peng, all members of group 52, and most people in the square, are almost all thinking the same thing at this moment.

But regardless of their thoughts, Qiu Peng did not call a halt.

The third round of assessments continues methodically.

Groups 22 to 32 quickly drew their lots and began entering their respective iron cages.

“This round probably doesn’t hold much hope; there are six groups whose internal relations are still in conflict, and the remaining four don’t have conflicts, but too many people are speaking!”

Upon hearing Liu Peng’s words beside him, Xiao Hen roughly scanned the situation of ten groups.

Sure enough, in this round, more than half of the groups had intense arguments before entering the iron cages. Some felt it was simply impossible to get promoted, considering it a waste of time to go in; some kept cheering others on, suggesting there’s no harm in trying; and some appeared anxious, their eyes flickering, clearly afraid.

The remaining four groups, although not arguing, have distinct factions still discussing ways to join forces against the Cold Beast—some feel one hour is too short, advocating for rushing in; others believe the time is sufficient, suggesting a slow strategy; and some think the abundance of rocks and trees in the iron cage should be utilized for a strategic hunt, considering the beast’s characteristics.

After roughly observing the situation of the ten groups in the third round, Xiao Hen shook his head, nearly certain in his heart that no group would advance this round.

“Father has said that when the camp is weak and encounters a strong adversary, unity is the only path forward. Before executing a plan, there can be many different opinions, but once the action begins, there can only be one voice, or else those different opinions will inevitably become the fuse for failure!”

Xiao Kangcheng had been a leader for over a dozen years. As his only son, Xiao Hen had been raised as the next leader from childhood and learned a lot from his father.

These 172 teams wanting to advance are no different from the numerous weak camps in the Ice Abyss. The Cold Beast in the iron cage is the formidable enemy they face now. Without total unity, success at promotion is impossible…

Bam!

Xiao Hen’s train of thought was interrupted by a loud noise.

He looked up at iron cage number 1 and realized that the group that had just gone in was already engaged with the Snow Mane.

“Ah!”

“My leg is broken.”

“My chest hurts so much.”

“Save me, save me!”

………

Rather than saying they were engaged, it was more accurate to say this group was serving themselves to the Snow Mane.

A hundred-strong group armed with sharp blades and clad in Iron Armor were instantly upturned by the Snow Mane that suddenly rushed in as they entered the iron cage.

Despite having more than a dozen people nearing the Earth-digging Realm, quite strong, they hastily wielded large knives and Strong Bows trying to resist, but compared to the Snow Mane, they fell short in both speed and strength.

More critically, unlike them who only held a mindset of assessment, the Snow Mane in the cage was genuinely fighting for its life!

“Roar……”

Snow Mane’s furious roars were unending. After scattering the crowd, it remained agile; its limbs, tail, and even its knotted long tongue served as weapons. Within less than ten minutes, the hundred people in the iron cage were chased and scattered into all corners by it.

Taking the chance of knocking the assessment persons into the air, the Snow Mane frequently rammed the cage’s barriers, clearly intending to find an opportunity to smash open the cage and escape. Many people had already realized this but intentionally ignored it.

Soon, cries for help echoed from iron cage number 1.

“Help!”

“I forfeit.”

“Forfeit.”

“Help.”

……

The iron cage door was open, and those in the Earth-digging Realm outside had never been idle; whenever someone was seriously injured, they’d rush in to rescue them. Those with minor injuries who declared forfeit were also brought out.

“Get away!”

A person wielding a large knife in the Earth-digging Realm rushed in to save an injured person. Coincidentally, the Snow Mane charged towards him, and the Earth-digging Realm angrily shouted while brandishing the knife horizontally.

Despite having its eyes shot out, upon hearing the angry shout, the Snow Mane’s frantic figure halted immediately, fear flashed across its face, and it turned to pursue others instead.

Two rounds of assessment had concluded by this point. Not only this Snow Mane, but the other nine Cold Beasts in the corresponding nine iron cages roughly grasped the pattern; as long as they don’t kill anyone, those wielding Strong Bows encircling the cage won’t act against them.

So they got smart—injuring the person seriously and stopping immediately, then continuing to find those still capable of moving.

This assessment involved 172 teams with similar personnel configurations, with around fifteen people from the Peak of Wood Cutting Realm. Once the group’s majority was dispersed, those remaining fifteen couldn’t make much impact.

In iron cage number 1, the remaining ten-plus people eventually hid up the tall trees. But being up in the trees didn’t guarantee their safety.

Especially atop the trees where they continued shooting arrows. Even though the Snow Mane lost its sight, it could locate them purely by sound.

“Roar……”

Ignoring the Iron Arrows shot from the front, Snow Mane charged directly to the tree, needing only three to four breaths to swiftly climb it.

“Run!”

“Run fast…”

Two people sounded the alarm first. The remaining dozen or so on the tree panicked immediately, hurriedly jumping down.

But some still weren’t fast enough.

Two bodies were pierced by the Snow Mane’s two forest-white tusks.