Chapter 158 - 99: Truly Mastering Thunder Power
Tailing the crowd was inconspicuous, and by staying at the forest’s edge, they also greatly reduced the risk of being attacked by monsters from within.
The Dazed Girl thought, ’Only Mr. Mo Ning could come up with such a reliable plan in a split second!’
Anya also thought it was a brilliant plan. She said nothing, only nodding slightly.
The three of them walked a dozen or so steps, leaning on their staffs. Muddy water churned under the tips, making a SQUELCH SQUELCH sound.
The anti-slip gel stuck the soles of their boots firmly to the slick ground. Each step landed securely, so they didn’t have to waste energy cautiously maintaining their balance.
Just then, a roar suddenly tore through the curtain of rain. It exploded from the front of the crowd, carrying the vibrations of Qi and Blood Power.
"I am Uma! In the name of the Battle Group, I announce that we will fulfill our promise to protect you!"
"All new members who have joined the Battle Group, gather around me immediately! The entire Battle Group will enter the forest to take shelter from the downpour!"
Through the rain, a burly figure could be faintly seen standing before the crowd. His hands were on his hips and his chin was slightly raised, like a strutting rooster.
Uma’s next words dripped with unconcealed arrogance and menace:
"Anyone who hasn’t joined the Battle Group, get the hell away from us! Don’t even think about leeching off our protection!
"Otherwise, don’t blame us for what happens next! We have ten thousand ways to kill you without breaking a single academy rule!"
He finished with a thunderous roar, pushing his Qi and Blood Power to its limit and blasting everyone’s eardrums:
"Scram! The farther the better!"
Uma was a Warrior who had mastered Qi and Blood Power. That roar was a Qi and Blood Secret Skill, and the eardrums of the newcomers standing closer vibrated, BUZZING painfully. Some instinctively clapped their hands over their ears.
A commotion instantly erupted among the newcomers.
The crowd quickly split.
The newcomers who had paid the protection fee started gathering around Uma.
Meanwhile, the "Loose People"—the unaffiliated newcomers who hadn’t paid—quickly backed away, no longer daring to approach the Battle Group.
No one dared to utter a peep or argue back. After all, the Battle Group had top-ten-ranked Strong Persons, not to mention Sitt, whose performance in the Steel Bamboo Forest battle had been the most dazzling of all.
Mo Ning’s expression darkened instantly, a sinister light flickering deep in his eyes.
Just now, using the high-altitude, top-down perspective of his [Insightful Secret Eye], he had clearly seen the movements within the Battle Group and the role Uma was playing.
The Battle Group’s top decision-makers, known to the newcomers as the "Group of Six," had suddenly gathered.
This group consisted of the five most talented individuals, serial numbers 001 through 005, plus the "pay-to-win" Strong Person, Princess Phoebe, who was decked out in Witchcraft Items.
Potter, serial number 005, was one of them. He was usually very low-key, but he pointed a finger toward the sky, his lips moving as he spoke a single sentence.
Clearly, he had also spotted something in the sky.
’It has to be said, the Battle Group is full of talent. It’s not just Sitt putting on a front.’
The Group of Six conferred quickly, and in the end, Sitt made the decision.
Although his [Insightful Secret Eye] couldn’t capture sound and the curtain of rain severely hampered his vision, by analyzing their lip movements, he could still make out the general gist:
"Quickly... forest... gather the Battle Group members..."
From these fragments, it was clear that while Sitt was arrogant and always looked down on others, he had at least a shred of a conscience. He had taken their protection fees, and he was willing to follow through.
Then, Mo Ning saw Uma.
That sycophant suddenly squeezed out from a gap in the crowd and sidled up to the Group of Six. Bowing with a fawning smile, he whispered something to them.
His ability analyzed every movement of the man’s lips, parsing out fragmented phrases: "Drive the others away... select a few... secretly sprinkle... attract monsters..."
From these keywords, Mo Ning instantly pieced together Uma’s venomous scheme: drive away those who hadn’t paid the protection fee, select a few unlucky souls from that group, secretly sprinkle some kind of powder on them, and lure the monsters to them.
To put it bluntly, he wanted to use others as bait, paving a safe path for the Battle Group with the flesh and blood of their peers.
The number of monsters in the area was limited. If bait drew them away, the Battle Group would naturally be safe.
Everyone knew that hidden monsters were the most terrifying—you never knew where they were or when they would strike.
But once a monster was exposed, the Battle Group was strong enough to deal with it.
In other words, it was a malicious plan to kill two birds with one stone.
However, Mo Ning saw Sitt shake his head. Princess Phoebe followed suit.
In the end, the Group of Six did not adopt this venomous plan.
Uma gave an awkward laugh and sheepishly walked away.
Arrogance and insolence returned to Uma’s face, which led to the scene of him using the Battle Group’s name to drive away the other newcomers.
At this moment, Mo Ning watched Uma’s figure through the vision of his [Insightful Secret Eye], his gaze as cold as ice.
For the first time in his life, he felt a powerful urge to kill someone.
But it was just a thought.
After all, Uma was far away and surrounded by Battle Group members. It was impossible to kill him.
Mo Ning planted his Multi-functional Staff in the mud, took a step in another direction, and said in a low voice, "Let’s stay far away from the Battle Group."
The two girls already saw him as their leader and followed without the slightest hesitation.
KABOOM—!
Another brilliant flash of lightning split the heavens.