35 First Team Fight
"Do try to keep note of where you are at in the forest. We can come out with certain symbols to describe our movements if we were to get lost. Typically…" Hong Yao started to explain to about the way the Li Army normally relayed information. He had taken part in training camps for youths that were passionate about Strategies and learnt about certain markings meant certain scenarios.
An example would be that three lines on a surface meant that there was a Demonic Beast ahead. Three lines and a slash through it meant that there was a Demonic Beast that was under attack by some foe. For the sake of the exercise, Hong Yao explained the five most basic symbols, to which he wanted them to commit to memory. Li Tian, having been through trainings with the Li Army, knew of these symbols.
While discussing about the symbols, groups of students were driven away to their respective starting points. For Li Tian's group, luckily, they were starting at the same location as where they took their attendance. After an hour of waiting, it seems that every group and teacher was in their places. Li Tian did some stretching as he got ready for the countdown on their walkie-talkie.
"5. 4. 3. 2. 1. You may begin."
Li Tian's team left their position and entered the forest which they would call home for the next three days and two nights. On their backs was a military backpack that contained a sleeping bag, different types of clothing ware for different terrains, a standard military knife, a compass, and an empty water bottle. The students also had to carry along their weapon of choice. Li Tian wielded a sword, Hong Yao used the saber, Kong Huo Yu used the spear and Lin Xi Xi used the bow.
The team entered the forest and temporarily made a checkpoint. Following their original plan, Li Tian and Lin Xi Xi was activated to scout around, while the other two followed behind as they foraged resources. Li Tian oversaw the North direction, while Lin Xi Xi checked the East.
Even though he was alone, Li Tian did not want to use his Origin Energy and risk getting it exposed for now. He would rather be a wolf in sheep's clothing than have his trump cards exposed. As such, he willed the Wind Qi around him as he sprinted around at a crazy speed. Li Tian did not bother to do scouting atop the trees as the Red Iron Forest they were practising in, only had Red Iron Trees. These trees were on average one of the tallest types of trees in the world and so, with their large coverage from above, Li Tian wouldn't be able to obtain any relevant information from it.
At the very most, Li Tian leaped on the lower branches and propelled himself forward. After about five minutes of sprinting, Li Tian noticed a group of Red Iron Monkeys sitting atop the tree. These Red Iron Monkeys were Rank 1 to 2 Demonic Beasts and were the most common type of Demonic Beasts in the forest. They were busy munching on some delectable-looking yellow fruits. Making sure that he did not make any excessive noise, Li Tian calmly backed away to a safe distance, before marking the nearby tree with three lines. Although he could've easily killed them, he did want to test out the competence of his team.
Li Tian's ears tingled a little as he picked up a soft flushing sound to his right. Moving over in that direction, he realised that his deduction was correct and there was a freshwater stream ahead. Seeing how the water flowed down East, he knew that Lin Xi Xi should've found the freshwater stream earlier than he did. As such, he simply made a mental note and went back to group with the team.
"Did you find anything?" Hong Yao and Kong Huo Yu were running towards Li Tian's North direction when they bumped into each other. Hong Yao asked Li Tian, who told them about his findings.
The team's first step was to secure a food source, safe housing, and a water source, of which, Li Tian found two of it. The place where they could set camp may be around the water source. For their preliminary scouting, Hong Yao instructed Li Tian and Lin Xi Xi to report back to the group the instant they found something worth taking note of. This was why Li Tian had come back. He told them to head straight down to the marking which he made earlier, while he decided to go and explore the West direction.
Hong Yao agreed to Li Tian's proposal and left him to do his thing. Li Tian zoomed off into the distance with soundless footsteps. Both of his teammates were flabbergasted at Li Tian's Wind mastery. It was like the little youth was an assassin lurking around the forest, waiting to snap the neck of his enemies.
With Li Tian's clear instructions, Hong Yao and Kong Huo Yu found the location that they were looking for. When they saw that there was a group of five Rank 2 Red Iron Monkeys, they started to plan out their next course of action.
"Are you confident in your ability to handle two Red Iron Monkeys?" Hong Yao asked Kong Huo Yu. The two of them oversaw foraging food and those yellow spotted fruits were edible by humans. As such, it was crucial for them to take down the monkeys that were standing in their way.
"Yes. It wouldn't be a problem. Let me handle it." Kong Huo Yu slapped his chest confidently. Both Kong Huo Yu and Lin Xi Xi had recently entered the Qi Refinement Realm and gained some strength in their abilities. Although the captain of the Enthusiast club was a crazy anime addict, he did not skimp on his cultivation as his family would disown him if he could not make into a prestigious University.
"Alright. On the count of three we engage." Hong Yao prepared his first move. He counted down with his hands touching the ground. "One, two, three!"
"Uproot!" Under Hong Yao's command, the Earth and Water Qi merged to form the Life Qi, that stemmed from the creation of flora. The massive giant roots of the Red Iron Trees started to bend and move under his command as it blasted towards the group of Red Iron Monkeys.
As the proclaimed strategist of Li Tian's team, he had already briefed Kong Huo Yu of his ability. Immediately as he had casted his Uproot ability, one of the roots of the tree had propelled Kong Huo Yu into the sky. As of now, the frizzled afro haired youth was high up in the air, spinning his metal spear.
