When Yilong and Leifeng’s team arrived at the trial area, they indeed received the news that the trial time had been postponed due to the beast tide anomaly at the base.
Everyone was stunned for a moment. This was the first time such a thing had happened in so many realms of Tielin. Their trial time being postponed meant that the time for other participants would also be postponed.
This, in turn, implied that their upcoming missions might undergo many changes.
If nothing else, just the importance of those participants would increase as time went by.
"Leifeng, you know the progress speed of those participants, especially the Sacred Beast holders. Although we have our Sacred Beasts back, their strength will be greatly diminished without their masters," Yilong said, his voice filled with resentment. If Leifeng hadn't insisted on severely punishing Li Chonglou, Pang Zheng's matter could have been downplayed.
Moreover, since he already knew that this was all Pang Zheng's scheme, he couldn't hold back any longer.
"What's the use of saying this now? How could I have known that the beast tide would suddenly become erratic?" Leifeng retorted somewhat irritably. The postponement of the trial time now meant that the Sacred Beast holders would have more time to synchronize with their Sacred Beasts. Originally, they had thought that even without Li Chonglou, with the advantage of their Sacred Beasts, they could at least secure a good ranking.
But now, it seemed that this advantage had been minimized to the extreme. In the end, their entire Dark Division might even become a laughingstock, and the title of "the weakest Sacred Beast holder team in history" might fall upon them.
If that were the case, it would be better for the Dark Division to not have this Sacred Beast at all.
At this moment, Pang Zheng began to feel a bit uneasy. Yilong's occasional glances at him made him feel flustered. As the instigator of the current situation in the Dark Division, Pang Zheng knew very well what consequences he would face if this matter were exposed.
Therefore, his unease stemmed precisely from those who knew the truth.
Taking advantage of Leifeng’s inattention, Pang Zheng secretly pulled a few people aside and warned them again.
"If any wind of this leaks out, you know the consequences!"
As Pang Zheng spoke, a murderous intent flashed in his eyes. Immediately, his expression tightened, and he quickly agreed.
People are not afraid of ruthlessness, but they are afraid of those who are desperate. All of them understood that if this truly leaked out, Pang Zheng would basically be unable to continue in the Dark Division. Moreover, as someone abandoned by a hunting team, Pang Zheng wouldn't even be able to stay in Tielin.
Cutting off someone's financial support and ruining their future are grudges as deep as life and death. Therefore, despite their internal dissatisfaction, they could only swallow their bitterness.
Pang Zheng then felt slightly relieved. Thinking that the postponed trial would also benefit his recovery and allow his strength to return to its peak, his face soon showed a look of confidence.
"Hmph, just a newcomer. So what if he's a Sacred Beast holder?"
Pang Zheng, regaining his confidence, let out a cold sneer. He had even secretly made a decision in his heart: even if Li Chonglou managed to survive the beast tide, he would find an opportunity to kill him.
Those who offended him never had a good ending, let alone…
Pang Zheng touched his neck. Although the wound had been sutured, it still ached faintly, and there was a high probability of a permanent scar, which would be a lifelong humiliation for him.
There was only one trial area in the entire Tielin. This meant that all the hunting teams were gathered around the perimeter of the trial area, and these hunting teams also had rankings.
According to the ranking order of the previous session, none of the top ten hunting teams included members from the Light Department or the Dark Department. The first-ranked hunting team was the Ghost Team from the Heavenly Department, whose captain, Yan Gui, was a formidable figure that even Leifeng and Yilong treated with respect.
The Ghost Team currently occupied the position directly in front of the entrance to the trial area.
And if Li Chonglou were here, he would definitely spot a familiar figure among them – that bald, burly man.
"Old Qiang, how is it? You've been given a few extra days, do you have confidence?"
The bald man's strength was already considerable. Coupled with his good luck in snatching another person's Sacred Beast, his position within the Ghost Team was quite good, and he was doing quite well.
The one speaking to him was the captain of the Ghost Team, Yan Gui.
Looking at the hawk-eyed man who exuded immense power at all times, the bald man, also known as Bo Qiang, replied distractedly, "Of course. After all, it's also my responsibility."
Yan Gui thought that Bo Qiang was just nervous and offered a few words of encouragement before falling silent. However, he did not know that ever since the bald man Bo Qiang arrived here, he had been observing his surroundings, searching for a figure.
He now paid no attention to anyone else, because in the final beast cage battle, he had successfully broken through his own limits!
Not only was he more powerful than before, but with the Sacred Beast he had acquired and the guidance of some seniors in the Ghost Team, he dared to challenge not only the other contestants but even some veteran captains.
However, within his heart, there was a shadow, a shadow that he might never overcome in his lifetime.
"Why don't I see that guy? Could something have happened?"
Bo Qiang muttered to himself. This shadow was none other than Li Chonglou, whom he had encountered several times.
He had only ever encountered one person whose strength felt unfathomable, and that was Li Chonglou! Even the Ghost Captain Yan Gui, who was talking to him, couldn't give him that feeling.
"I hope something really happened. It's best if this guy doesn't show up here."
Even with his greatly enhanced strength, Bo Qiang still lacked the courage to face Li Chonglou.
Among all the hunting teams, besides the bald man Bo Qiang, figures like the blond Henry were also present, and they had each discovered the whereabouts of other teams.
However, their identities were now completely different from a day ago. They merely exchanged glances with each other before looking away, without any further communication.
They all silently wished not to encounter each other.
After all, once two hunting teams met, whether during the trial or outside, the rules were the same: death or injury.
The postponement of the trial area's opening time brought both joy and sorrow to the hunting teams. The joy was naturally for those teams that possessed Sacred Beasts, while for the hunting teams that were not strong enough and did not have Sacred Beasts, it was like adding insult to injury.
After all, the longer the time dragged on, the better the opponents' synchronization would become.