C17 Knocking the Stick

The assessment had only just begun, so everyone was proceeding with caution. Even the skirmishes were tentative, with no one willing to reveal their ace moves just yet. After all, they needed to survive for ten days, and since no one had shown their full strength, going all out now would make them easy targets.

At three in the afternoon on the first day, a stout figure made his way to the base of the tree where Lin Hann was concealed.

"What a stroke of luck to find such a large tree to hide behind. I'll stay put here until I can contact Brother Liu, then we'll settle the score!" the chubby man grumbled under his breath before taking a moment to catch his breath behind the tree.

Soon after, Lin Hann took a Spirit Recovering Pill and felt his Spiritual Energy return. He sensed an unfamiliar presence nearby and, using the tree for cover, he discreetly observed the stout figure.

"Why is Qi Xiaosheng here? He doesn't seem to have spotted me. He must have fled here after a fight," Lin Hann mused. He pondered his next move.

As Qi Xiaosheng was meditating with his eyes closed, he suddenly felt a cold sensation at the back of his head, followed by a heavy blow that left him reeling. He collapsed, and through his haze, he heard a voice from behind,

"Taking out one. With the Lau family in the mix, the Liu family won't stand a chance in this assessment..."

After uttering those words, Lin Hann saw that Qi Xiaosheng had passed out. He moved him into a space within the tree, confiscated his food and water supplies, and then dashed off in a specific direction.

"The Spirit Connecting Staff combined with Shadow Escape is incredibly effective," Lin Hann reflected as he sprinted. He had slipped into Qi Xiaosheng's shadow and conjured the Qi family's Spirit Connecting Staff, delivering a stunning blow to the back of his head. Impressed by the staff's potency, Lin Hann acknowledged that, despite its simplicity, each weapon possessed unique abilities. The 'stun' feature of the Qi family's Spirit Connecting Staff, paired with Shadow Escape, was indeed the ultimate stealth attack.

Lin Hann's journey through the forest was far from aimless. With Qiu Ziang's sensory abilities and the guidance from the forest flora, he was diligently tracking his next target.

Before long, he spotted a figure sprinting about a hundred meters ahead. He swiftly masked his presence and stealthily closed in on the target. When he was roughly twenty meters away, he vanished, merging with the shadow of a nearby tree. He deftly manipulated the shadow's position and, seizing the opportunity, slipped into the person's shadow without raising any alarm.

Zhang Qi was having an incredibly unlucky day. He had planned to lay low for three or four days, avoiding the early skirmishes. Fate, however, had other plans, as he ran into his family's archenemy. Outmatched, Zhang Qi's only recourse was his ability, "Flash," which he used repeatedly to shake off his pursuer. Just when he thought he was safe, a vine beside him began to grow wildly, lunging at him. Realizing the danger, he quickly activated his ability and reappeared ten meters away. But just as he was catching his breath, a staff struck him from behind, and he succumbed to unconsciousness.

Lin Hann emerged from behind Zhang Qi, expertly collecting Zhang Qi's food and water supplies. He caressed Zhang Qi's pale face before turning and vanishing into the distance.

Despite his successful ambush on Zhang Qi, Lin Hann recognized the high caliber of the participants this time. His meticulously planned attack had been anticipated. Had he not employed "Shadow Escape" beforehand, the final Staggering Blow would have been futile, as his target might have been alerted and escaped, leaving Lin Hann unable to catch up.

"I really shouldn't underestimate anyone," Lin Hann mused internally. "Next time, I need to be even more cautious and decisive before making a move."

Over the next couple of days, the forest was abuzz with tales of the 'Staggering Blow Mad Devil.' Victims described the assailant's technique as quick, precise, and fierce. No one had caught a glimpse of the assailant's face, so their gender remained a mystery. They were known for their penchant for striking with a staff, yet they never took a life. The assailant left victims with their belongings, except for food and water. Zhang Qi from the Zhang family publicly claimed that the 'Staggering Blow Mad Devil' must be a woman, as he felt he had been inappropriately touched while in a haze. While his claim seemed dubious, it surprisingly gained widespread agreement.

As the number of victims grew, a heightened sense of vigilance spread among the group. Teams clung to each other for safety, and even those without a team began forming alliances to avoid falling prey to the 'Staggering Blow Mad Devil.'

Meanwhile, Lin Hann, the instigator of these events, was secluded in a remote, low-lying thicket, replenishing his Spiritual Energy. Over the past two days, aside from his initial encounter with Qi Xiaosheng, Lin Hann had launched nineteen successful attacks. There was only one exception, where his target transformed into lightning at Lin Hann's appearance, evading the Spirit Connecting Staff and temporarily paralyzing him. Luckily, Lin Hann had previously copied another's Physique Strengthening ability, which mitigated the paralysis. He quickly regained his composure and retreated using Shadow Escape.

In truth, had Lin Hann exerted his full strength, he might have been able to contend with the man. However, he was aware that even if he could defeat him, it would be a tough battle and any unforeseen complications could easily blow his cover. Thus, he chose to withdraw decisively, forgoing even the use of a flash escape.

Among the victims were some highly skilled individuals. Despite being rendered unconscious by Lin Hann's Spirit Connecting Staff, several banded together and deduced that Lin Hann's strikes weren't particularly forceful, yet they had all succumbed to unconsciousness. This was especially puzzling to a man with an enhanced physique, who was normally resistant to many forms of control and impervious to physical knockouts. His succumbing to the attack suggested an influence of either an ability or a weapon's attribute.

The group was savvy. After scrutinizing the abilities of the assessment participants, they quickly zeroed in on Qi Xiaosheng from the Qi family. The Qi family, a well-known entity in the capital, had their Family Inherited Esper's attributes widely recognized. The distinctive 'knockdown' effect of the Qi family's Spirit Connecting Staff became the prime suspect.

With reasoned analysis, they began to disseminate their findings among the others. Despite the shame of being collectively ambushed, their desire to not let their adversary escape justice was stronger. Before long, the rallying cry "Topple the villain Qi Xiaosheng, reclaim our untarnished honor" echoed through the woods.

Where might our unfortunate Qi Xiaosheng be at this moment?