"Over the past forty-eight hours, Team Leader Shen hasn't depleted much of his stamina or energy. We can't afford to match him in a prolonged pursuit through the forest; eventually, we'll be wiped out.
Qin Long looked at everyone and said, "Instead of us chasing him, let him come to us. We just need to lure him into a trap."
After speaking, Qin Long gathered everyone and, keeping their voices low, they discussed a plan.
While Qin Long and his team were strategizing, Shen Lang had already escaped two kilometers away. Shen Lang had prepared an excellent ambush point, intending to eliminate one person when Qin Long's team was unprepared. To his surprise, Qin Long's team didn't pursue him.
Shen Lang, being exceptionally astute, immediately understood Qin Long's intentions. They were waiting for him to come to them. If Shen Lang didn't confront Qin Long's team, they would pass the test smoothly after ten more hours. But if Shen Lang engaged them, the trap Qin Long had set would be waiting for him.
It had to be said, Qin Long's decision was very clever, even earning a nod of approval from Shen Lang.
However, Shen Lang would not allow Qin Long's team to pass these ten hours peacefully and succeed.
If the mountain won't come to me, I will go to the mountain.
Since Qin Long's team wasn't actively pursuing him, Shen Lang decided to take the initiative.
With this thought, Shen Lang turned back and found a spot near Qin Long's team to lie in wait.
Qin Long's seventeen members were now all within Shen Lang's line of sight. Shen Lang carefully observed each person and their positions, constantly trying to deduce their potential strategies.
Time ticked by. After two hours, Shen Lang had a rough idea of Qin Long's plan and had managed to wear them down to a state of fatigue and complacency.
"It's time to act."
Shen Lang smiled, then pulled out a smoke grenade and threw it directly towards Qin Long's position.
As the smoke grenade detonated, everyone was instantly engulfed in white mist, rendering them unable to see anything. Shen Lang seized this opportunity to charge out.
Shen Lang moved with great speed, his knife even faster. He easily plunged it into one member's chest, then turned and slit another's throat. He followed with a swift strike across the chests of four more, and finally, a precise stab into another's abdomen.
In less than thirty seconds, Shen Lang had eliminated seven people.
However, at this moment, the smoke began to dissipate. Shen Lang turned to retreat.
But as Shen Lang turned, a figure behind him suddenly lunged forward like a wild bear, throwing a punch.
"Bang—"
Shen Lang raised his hand to block, but was sent flying back three meters by the opponent's terrifying strength.
Before Shen Lang could land, four members of the special operations team rushed out from the left and right, pinning his arms tightly.
"Swish—"
With his arms restrained like this, an ordinary person would have panicked. However, Shen Lang remained calm and collected. With a swift move, the "Golden Dragon Entangling Silk Hand," he pulled his arms free and was about to swing his training dagger at two of them.
But as Shen Lang raised his dagger, a wooden sword was quickly thrust out, accurately striking the training dagger and knocking it to the ground.
The dagger fell, and Shen Lang's expression changed. He quickly rolled towards the dagger. However, as soon as Shen Lang grabbed it, two hands suddenly emerged from the ground, firmly gripping his arms.
"What?"
Shen Lang hadn't expected this, and was momentarily stunned.
In that split second of shock, from a towering ancient tree nearby, two individuals leaped down, each holding a net, and accurately ensnared Shen Lang.
And so, in less than a minute, Shen Lang had transformed from a hunter into prey.
Shen Lang tried to shake off the net binding him, but found it incredibly strong. With all his might, he couldn't break free.
"Brother Shen, don't waste your effort. This is a specially made net by Director Song, designed to deal with martial arts experts. Even at your peak, you might not be able to escape it, let alone now with your martial arts cultivation suppressed to the Yellow Realm."
Qin Long seemed to have seen through Shen Lang's intentions and said with a smile, "Now, let me make the final move to complete this training."
With that, Qin Long quickly drew his dagger, approached Shen Lang, and slashed across his throat, leaving a bloody mark.
This blood mark signified Shen Lang's elimination and that Qin Long's team had completed their training.
"Heh heh, Team Leader Shen, apologies for the offense just now."
As the results were revealed, the two members on the ground released Shen Lang's arms, and the other two untied the net.
"You really planned meticulously. Even I fell for your trap."
Shen Lang took out a tissue to wipe the bloodstain from his neck and said to Qin Long and the others, "I observed you in secret for two hours, thinking I had seen enough of your plan. I didn't expect your real strategy to be so deeply hidden."
Shen Lang had initially thought Qin Long's team would dig a hole to ambush him, but he hadn't anticipated them devising such a tightly coordinated plan that completely caught him off guard.
"Brother Shen, you flatter us. We had no choice but to plan meticulously when facing you," Qin Long said with a smile, looking at Shen Lang. "To make you let your guard down, seven of our brothers willingly sacrificed themselves under your blade."
"I'm convinced, completely convinced."
Hearing this, Shen Lang smiled and said, "It seems you have grasped the integration of mind and technique. Congratulations, you have at least a fifty percent chance of winning this grand martial arts competition."
"Only fifty percent?"
Upon hearing Shen Lang's words, the smiles on Qin Long and the others' faces froze. They said, "That low?"
"Do you want a hundred percent?"
Shen Lang asked with a smile.
"Is that possible?"
Qin Long asked with a look of anticipation.
The others also looked at Shen Lang expectantly. If anyone could achieve it, it would either be Song Sha Dao or Shen Lang.
"A hundred percent is unrealistic. There is no such thing as a hundred percent in this world, because anything done by humans is subject to variables. However, I should be able to guarantee ninety-nine percent."
Speaking of which, Shen Lang took out a book and handed it to Qin Long. "This is my self-created 'Eighteen Styles of Seizing,' also known as the 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.' It is said that three men can tie down a tiger, but if ten of you learn these 'Dragon Subduing Palms,' you can not only subdue a tiger but also easily capture any opponent at the middle stage of the Earth Realm."
"What?"
Qin Long and the others were greatly astonished. "Really?"
"Of course, I never lie."
Shen Lang glanced at his watch. "There's still plenty of time. It's enough for you to master these 'Dragon Subduing Palms' and make a stunning debut at the grand competition."