Chapter 49: Ending the Trial Early, Truly the First

On this day, although Xiao Bei was in the tent, he kept listening to see if there was any movement outside.

Not long after the morning sun came up, Xiao Bei learned through the conversations of the Xiao family disciples passing by his tent that the news of Xiao Bing and others being harmed had already spread like wildfire among the tents where the Xiao family disciples were stationed.

This was because not long ago, Xiao Sa had returned to the tent!

Yes, not long ago, Xiao Sa, with his injured body, stumbled and returned to the tent where the Xiao family disciples were stationed, covered in blood!

Immediately after, several Xiao family disciples who were about to go out to hunt beasts gathered around Xiao Sa and, through his description, learned that Xiao Ling and Xiao Peng were severely injured, while Xiao Bing had died.

Subsequently, this news spread like a heavy stone thrown into a calm lake, exploding throughout the group of Xiao family disciples in the tent area!

Moreover, from the conversations of the Xiao family disciples not far from the tent, Xiao Bei also learned that the development of events was roughly as he had anticipated.

Xiao Sa firmly claimed that the reason for Xiao Bing's death was that he, along with Xiao Ling and Xiao Peng, had been incited by Xiao Bing to go deep into the mountain forest to hunt powerful beasts, aiming to cut off the heads of strong beasts to secure a place in the top ten of the beast-hunting competition, thereby gaining the qualification to enter the trial arena.

Furthermore, Xiao Sa specifically mentioned that the reason he and Xiao Peng were severely injured, and Xiao Bing died, was because Xiao Bing had lured out a wolf-type beast of the innate realm.

All the blame was on Xiao Bing!

His death was his own fault!

Even when Xiao Bei used his sharp hearing to listen to the conversation of the two Xiao family disciples discussing the matter, he heard that when Xiao Yun learned of his brother Xiao Bing's death, he immediately became agitated, especially when Xiao Sa pushed all the responsibility onto Xiao Bing, which made Xiao Yun attack Xiao Sa in anger.

Fortunately, Xiao Sa was protected by the Xiao family steward; otherwise, Xiao Yun might have inflicted even more injuries on the already wounded Xiao Sa.

However, Xiao Yun was also severely warned.

At noon, Xiao Bei was called out of the tent by a disciple of the fifth-level innate realm.

The reason, as Xiao Bei learned from the seemingly honest and straightforward disciple, was that one of the five innate realm elders of the Xiao family trial command team, Elder Xiao Lie, had disappeared.

Because of this, the Xiao family trial was to be ended early.

Upon first hearing this news, Xiao Bei was stunned... If the family trial ended at this point, he would be the Xiao family disciple who had hunted the most beast heads.

Then, he would be the first in the beast head-hunting competition! That is to say, he would have the qualifications to participate in the final trial arena competition to determine the rankings!

"First place, first... Yuan'er, I will win another first place in the trial arena! Then, we can be together openly!"

Following the Xiao family disciple in front of him, Xiao Bei said to himself, a smile playing on the corner of his mouth.

However, Xiao Bei's smile was seen by one of Xiao Yun's followers, who, after a moment of thought, ran a few steps to where Xiao Yun was.

Xiao Bei was taken aback, then shook his head and continued to follow the Xiao family disciple in front of him.

...

At the center of the tent area, Xiao Qi and others had extremely poor expressions, all very gloomy.

Xiao Bai, who had the highest status and seniority, looked a bit more composed, and while Xiao Qi and the steward were standing, Xiao Bai was sitting in a meditative posture, seemingly indifferent to what was happening.

However, Xiao Bai's eyes, which swept over the Xiao family disciples present, made everyone feel a chill, unable to meet his gaze!

Xiao Bei looked around and found that, besides Xiao Bai, Xiao Qi, and the steward, another elder named Xiao Lu was missing, in addition to the already deceased Xiao Lie.

Moreover, Xiao Bei sensed that the injured Xiao Sa was not there, and Xiao Yun had not appeared either.

Not long after, Xiao Bei learned from the conversations of other Xiao family disciples that the innate realm holy-grade martial artist, Elder Xiao Lu, was currently following Xiao Sa's directions to the incident site.

Accompanying him were over a dozen higher-realm Xiao family disciples.

As for Xiao Yun, he was ordered to stay in his tent and not come out.

Not long after Xiao Bei arrived, more and more people gathered around the tents.

Three hours later, the Xiao family disciples who had gone out all returned.

Following Xiao Qi's orders, they began to report the numbers.

In the end, the only ones missing were Xiao Sa, Xiao Lu, and Xiao Yun.

Another two hours passed, and the sun was already setting when Xiao Lu and the others who had gone out with Xiao Sa finally returned!

They brought back the severely injured and unconscious Xiao Ling and Xiao Peng, as well as the cold, lifeless body of Xiao Bing!

The fifty-something-year-old Xiao Lu, with a sullen face, when he saw the inquiring gaze of Xiao Bai, who, although not the commander, was undoubtedly the highest in seniority and status at the moment, immediately said, "Seventh Uncle, from the traces at the scene, it was indeed a wolf-type beast. From the traces, this wolf-type beast is a Black Fierce Wolf that has reached the strength of an innate realm martial artist, and..."

Xiao Lu's eyes turned red, "There were traces indicating that Brother Xiao Lie had been there."

Xiao Bai's expression finally changed.

A wave of anger appeared on Xiao Bai's face, "Go on."

"Yes, Seventh Uncle," Xiao Lu responded, "At the scene, I found the blood of the Black Fierce Wolf, and I also saw Brother Xiao Lie's blood... Moreover, there was a lot of Brother Xiao Lie's blood, which is enough to prove that he... his fate is unknown. I followed the Black Fierce Wolf's footprints deep into the mountains but lost its trail. Further in, my strength is not enough to enter."

Xiao Lu's words left the Xiao family disciples, except for those who had reached the innate realm, with looks of shock.

Because from Xiao Lu's words, they understood that Xiao Lie was not missing, but dead!

The meaning of "fate unknown" was that Xiao Lie had been devoured by the so-called Black Fierce Wolf, a beast stronger than Xiao Lie!

Such news made them panic.

With a holy-grade martial artist of the innate realm dead, how could they, who had not even reached the innate realm, not be afraid?

At this moment, what family trial rewards, what beast-hunting rankings, in the face of death, they were all in chaos, afraid...

"What a mess!"

Xiao Qi roared, looking at Xiao Bai, whose expression had returned to normal, and seeing that he was not bothered by his roar, Xiao Qi knew that he could still act as the leader of the Xiao family trial command team with Xiao Bai's tacit approval.