Finally.
After a morning of high-intensity combat, the top thirty contestants for this year's martial arts tournament have finally been decided.
At the same time.
The colossal cruise ship hosting the tournament, after sailing for some time, has finally arrived at an island.
"Everyone, this year's top thirty have emerged. Let's give them a round of applause!"
"Now it's time for the second round, the thirty-to-ten elimination matches. All top thirty teams, please pay attention to the big screen."
Zhu Tai, holding the microphone, stepped forward again.
The thirty top teams immediately looked towards the large screen.
"Everyone, do you see this deserted island where the ship has docked? This will be the venue for the second round of elimination matches."
"The thirty teams will all disembark shortly. The second round of elimination matches will only conclude once the top ten spots have been determined."
"Now, for the rules of the second round. Firstly, you are not allowed to consume any food from the island. You may only eat food brought from the ship."
"The food rations are not distributed based on the number of people in each team. Each team will receive only three loaves of bread, three bottles of water, and three compressed biscuits."
"Therefore, the more people you bring onto the island, the less advantageous it may be. Please consider this carefully and decide who will be the members going ashore."
"..."
After Zhu Tai announced the rules for the second round of elimination matches, the expressions of the top thirty teams became unnatural.
This year's martial arts tournament was much more rigorous than in previous years.
They couldn't help but wonder if there was another intention behind the organizers' actions.
Instantly.
The respective participating teams huddled together, discussing countermeasures.
Zhang Yang's group, on the other hand, was extremely relaxed. Upon hearing the rules, he directly told Yun Ying and the others.
"I can go up by myself. You guys can watch from the ship."
Yun Ying was very surprised and quickly suggested, "I understand Fang'er not going, but shouldn't I go onto the island to help you?"
"No need. In this type of elimination match, fewer people are better. It will be easier for me to perform without you there," Zhang Yang said with a smile, a plan already forming in his mind.
Hearing this.
Yun Ying also fell silent.
The strength of the top thirty teams who were about to disembark was considerable.
Even with his current strength, he felt he was not enough to face them.
These were families from Linhai City's martial arts circles, far beyond the level of their martial arts school.
"Senior, I am at least at the late stage of the True Yuan realm. Do you really not need me to go up and help you?" Yun Ying asked.
"No, there are quite a few people in the Primordial Chaos realm among these teams. You wouldn't be of much help even if you went. It's better for me to handle it myself," Zhang Yang said with a smile.
This!
Yun Ying was immediately startled.
He understood the implication behind Zhang Yang's words!
Yun Ying, who was in the late stage of the True Yuan realm, wouldn't be of much help even if he went!
Then...
Did that mean Zhang Yang was in the Primordial Chaos realm?
Otherwise, how could he say such a thing?
My heavens!
How did he achieve this?
Yun Ying couldn't help but take a deep breath and finally nodded.
"Alright, then Senior, please be careful," Yun Ying said.
"Heh, they're just a few small fries. It's fine," Zhang Yang waved his hand with a smile.
Then, he walked directly towards Zhu Tai.
He was the first among the thirty teams to step forward.
After receiving the food from the tournament staff,
Zhang Yang was the first to disembark!
This scene made all thirty teams very curious.
"Who is that?"
"He seems to be from the Sky Eagle Martial Arts School. I heard this young man has good talent and his strength is already in the late True Yuan realm."
"Perhaps he knows he can't win and plans to take all the food himself, then find a place to hide. This way, he might be able to improve his ranking."
Soon, someone thought they had guessed Zhang Yang's intention, and the leaders of the other teams nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, it's quite surprising for a martial arts school of their size to reach the top thirty. This person from the Sky Eagle Martial Arts School is quite clever, knowing to hide and wait out the competition for better rewards."
"However, we won't need to resort to such methods. We are aiming for the top ten. There's no need for this kind of tactic. We can simply..."
The various teams once again fell into discussion.
After making their decisions, teams began to collect their food and disembark one after another.
Among them, one team was particularly surprising.
Because their entire team, a total of twenty people, disembarked together!
With so many people disembarking together, the food they received would clearly be insufficient.
However, some people had already guessed their intention.
Their plan was to go all out after landing, eliminate the opponents, and seize their food!
This was also a good idea!
Of course.
The vast majority of teams were more conservative.
With insufficient food and no knowledge of how many days they would need to endure, they chose to send fewer people.
They generally kept the number between three to five people, sending their strongest members to compete!
Soon.
All thirty teams had disembarked.
A hundred drones were immediately launched from the cruise ship, flying towards the deserted island.
From various directions, they locked onto each team.
Once a battle broke out anywhere, the drones would transmit the real-time situation back to the large screen.
At this moment.
Several people sitting with Zhu Tai began to discuss.
"Who do you think will be the ten teams that last until the end this time?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, it should be the top ten teams from last year. These people are the backbone of Linhai City, with deep foundations in their martial arts families. Each team has two experts in the Primordial Chaos realm."
"Not necessarily. I heard that many powerful rogue cultivators have come this year, and their strength is not bad."
"It's not entirely absolute. Perhaps there will be dark horses this year? Like that young man who disembarked alone."
Hearing this.
Everyone's gaze turned to Zhang Yang, and then they shook their heads and laughed.
"Haha, old man, have your eyes gone bad? Although this young man has good talent, he's only in the True Yuan realm. How can he possibly reach the top ten?"
"I have a feeling this young man is not simple. Perhaps there will be a surprise," the person who supported Zhang Yang earlier said with a smile.
"I also have a feeling that perhaps this young man might have a spot among the top ten," Zhu Tai speculated when Zhang Yang was mentioned.
Everyone was immediately filled with surprise and looked at Zhu Tai in unison.
They hadn't expected even Zhu Tai to think highly of Zhang Yang. This made them focus more attention on Zhang Yang.
Meanwhile.
After all thirty teams had disembarked, the first battle erupted!
The team that had led twenty people ashore earlier launched an attack on a team of five.
After forcefully surrounding them, they didn't bother to talk and directly attacked, eliminating them all!
Subsequently.
This team continued to search around, eliminating another five teams before nightfall.
Other teams also encountered each other, but after a brief probing exchange, they each retreated.
It could be said that.
As time passed, the entire deserted island descended into chaos.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
The strong bully the weak.
The powerful form alliances to bully the weaker ones.
All sorts of situations occurred.
However!
Only one team remained leisurely, hiding in a secluded spot and quietly watching others fight.
That was Zhang Yang.
At this moment.
Night had fallen.
Most of the people who had disembarked chose not to light fires, spending the first night quietly.
After all, they had experienced several high-intensity battles today and were somewhat exhausted.
However, some people chose to light fires!
It was the team with the largest number of people. Even though it was dark, they were still carrying torches and searching the island.
But.
The visibility on the island at night was very low, and they searched for a long time without any success.
Just as they were about to give up and find a place to rest.
Suddenly, they noticed a flickering firelight not far away.
There...
Was Zhang Yang's resting place.
"Haha, isn't this guy a fool? He came to the island alone and dared to light a fire at night. Isn't this just making himself a target?"
"I thought the Sky Eagle Martial Arts School was clever this afternoon, choosing to go ashore alone to lower their profile and then survive the martial arts tournament. Now it seems this person who went ashore isn't that smart either."
"Look, the other party has already spotted him. This kid probably won't make it through the night..."
At this moment.
There were only two sources of firelight on the deserted island.
One was Zhang Yang, and the other was the team with the largest number of people.
Yun Ying and the others on the cruise ship saw this and their expressions changed greatly.
They hadn't expected Zhang Yang to be so bold!
This was a terrible situation.
"Haha, he's too arrogant! This kid is finished! He's about to pay a heavy price for his arrogance!" Guo Hanxiong, who had just woken up, let out a loud laugh.
The disciples of the Heavenly Xiong Martial Arts School beside him also laughed happily.
They secretly prayed that Zhang Yang would be crippled by others on the deserted island after the tournament.
This way, they wouldn't have to worry about Zhang Yang causing trouble at the Heavenly Xiong Martial Arts School after the competition.
Instantly.
All eyes were fixed on the large screen, anticipating a battle of vastly unequal strength.
And the next moment.
Something that surprised them happened.
Zhang Yang, who had been semi-reclining by the fire, suddenly moved as if he had sensed someone approaching!
He looked towards the firelight in the distance. Instead of running, he actively ran towards the firelight!
This action.
Caused the audience on the cruise ship to erupt in laughter, mocking Zhang Yang for seeking his own death!
However, Zhang Yang himself was not flustered at all.
He had noticed this team after landing on the island.
The reason he hadn't made a move was simply because it wasn't the right time. Eliminating thirty teams one by one was too tiring.
If someone helped him eliminate them, it would save him a lot of trouble and prevent him from exposing too much of his strength.
Soon.
Zhang Yang arrived in front of them and said with a smile.
"Aren't you guys resting at night? Aren't you tired after a whole day of high-intensity combat?"
"Heh, who was it that had such guts? So it was you who lit the campfire. You're truly bold!" the leader of the other party said with a smile.
"I'm not used to not lighting a fire at night. You guys coming to find me with so many people, are you perhaps trying to eliminate me?" Zhang Yang asked, feigning surprise.
"You eliminated quite a few people this afternoon, so you should have enough food. There's no need to rush to your death, is there?" Zhang Yang asked.
"Hmph, watch your words, kid. We don't need you to tell us what to do. You, a mere martial arts school disciple, have already been lucky enough to enter the top thirty! It's time for you to leave!" the other party said sternly.
"If you know what's good for you, hand over your food quickly and announce your surrender. Otherwise, if we have to do it ourselves, it won't be as simple as just taking your food."
Facing the other party's threat, Zhang Yang sneered dismissively.
He feigned a look of fear and took a few steps back.
"Oh, bullying the few with the many, and saying it so righteously. It's truly frightening!"
"But it won't be that easy for you to eliminate me. Don't you believe me? Try it?" Zhang Yang said mysteriously.
That strange smile made the other party pause. After carefully observing Zhang Yang for a moment, he raised his hand.
"Hmph, you refuse a toast and insist on a forfeit! Then don't blame us! Go, all of you! Cripple him!"
Instantly.
A group of accompanying experts rushed towards Zhang Yang.
The audience on the cruise ship, witnessing this scene, could already predict Zhang Yang's fate.
In their perception, Zhang Yang was only in the late True Yuan realm.
And among the opponents, there were many at the same level as him.
With two experts in the Primordial Chaos realm overseeing, Zhang Yang was bound to lose tonight.
However!
Something that stunned them happened.
Facing the attack of over a dozen people, Zhang Yang was surprisingly at ease.
Although he hadn't actively attacked, his defensive capabilities were as solid as a rock.
He dodged all his opponents' attacks like a nimble fox.
He even took the opportunity to give them the middle finger and mockingly taunted.
"Are you guys even capable? So many of you can't even touch me? Turning a numbers advantage into this makes you lose all face."
"If you can't do it, then just get lost. Don't overestimate yourselves!"
This!
Zhang Yang's mockery completely enraged the other party.
The two experts in the Hidden Yuan realm who hadn't acted directly joined the fray.
"You insolent brat, how dare you provoke us? You brought this upon yourself!"
"I will cripple you and make you a cripple for life!" the two Primordial Chaos realm experts said angrily.
Their vital energy erupted, and their bodies turned into afterimages as they charged towards Zhang Yang.
Seeing this.
A flicker of panic flashed across Zhang Yang's face, which was coincidentally captured by the drone.
But.
This was just Zhang Yang putting on an act.
At this moment.
With the other party fully engaged, Zhang Yang's plan was already half successful. He immediately turned and ran.
"Old geezers, so many of you bullying me alone, and you can't even touch my clothes. You're truly useless. I'm not playing with you anymore, bye!"
"You! Kid, if you have the guts, don't run!"
"Haha, if you can catch me, then you'll be truly humiliated. The situation here is being broadcast live by drones, so I'm sure the audience has seen it all."
Zhang Yang let out a wild laugh and then ran in a certain direction.
To save face, the other party naturally led their men in pursuit, intending to kill Zhang Yang for revenge.
But...
What they didn't know was that they had unknowingly fallen into Zhang Yang's trap.
Zhang Yang, who was running ahead to escape the pursuers, led them towards the coast.
The audience on the cruise ship let out another round of laughter.
"Haha, this kid is truly audacious. It's one thing to not be able to fight, but he even dares to insult them. If he gets caught, his fate will be miserable."
"Look at his escape route, it's quite interesting. He's not running into the jungle in the center of the island, but instead heading to the beach where there's no cover. Isn't this seeking his own death?"
"If you ask me, he's given up. He can't win, so he plans to jump into the sea and swim to the cruise ship?"
Immediately, the cruise ship erupted in laughter.
But!
As time went by, someone among those who had been laughing suddenly noticed something was wrong.
"Not good! Why is this kid running in that direction! Our people are hiding there!"
"You bastard, is he doing this on purpose, or did he stumble upon it accidentally? He's trying to drag us down with him!"