Mitchell and Ange exchanged a knowing look. The daunting task before them was clear: to form a strong, cohesive group. They needed not just numbers, but synergy, complementing each other's strengths and weaknesses. They also needs to watch out for people who could pose a threat and at the same time find potential group members. Observing the chaos around them, they saw aspirants of varying ages and cultivation levels—some already forming groups with practiced confidence, others standing alone, eyes darting around in anxious contemplation. Groups coalesced with a swift efficiency, clans forming around shared origins, or affinities in cultivation methods, or mutual need for extra strength. The air thrummed with the chaotic energy of nascent alliances and shedded blood.
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"Sir the trial has just started and I have passed the message across." A young man said with respect evident on his face as he spoke to a middle aged man by the side.
The middle aged man revealed no ounce of power and that made the respectful gaze of the young man to become even more evident.
"Good. Let's see how this goes. This batch of candidates are a lot more sloppy than the last batch, but that person who outright just went ahead and attacked the person by his side immediately as soon as it started left even me a bit baffled. It seems like this batch would be the most interesting. Keep an eye on the them especially those two who ran away immediately the chaos was about to happen. I want to see how long they can last." The middle aged man said and then turned his back to leave.
Following behind him was a very beautiful woman. Her hair was as white as snow and the color of her eyes were the same, her beauty could be almost outmatched. She also looked at the screen that showed them the entire outlook of the trial lands. Her gazed wandered on Mitchell and Ange for a few more seconds before leaving with the middle aged man.
********
Meanwhile,
Mitchell, with his sharp mind and keen observation, recognized an opportunity. "Let's look for cultivators with complementary skills," he whispered to Ange, his voice barely audible above the rising chorus of introductions. "Someone adept at defense—or offensive abilities perhaps. That would be a significant gain to a group."
Ange, ever practical, nodded. "And someone adept in qi manipulation would be well-suited too. It'll make all the difference."
They began their search, moving slowly through the bushes, whenever they see any nearby approaching cultivators, they would immediately hide by the side and watched as they passed them by.
As they were hiding, they watched as a cultuvator chased down another and was throwing out techniques to reduce the speed and distance from the other while laughing menacingly.
"I've got you now." He laughed as he threw a short dagger at the one running.
"But we had a deal Derek, why are you doing this. I said I would give it to you after the trial ended". The one being chased said as he dodged the short daggers being thrown at him from behind.
"Why should I wait till the trial ended and collect it then when I can just kill you now and take it. If I have that treasure, my chances of being in the top thousand will be all but assured as far as I don't meet any of those monsters" the one called Derek laughed again as he responded. Fear was evident on the cultivator being chased but he did not let his speed reduce for even one moment, instead his speed increased and he started to gain an advantage.
Mitchell and Ange just watched as they passed them by, they did nothing to interfere because they knew that getting involved would bring unnecessary trouble and waste of time.
What they needed now was to find a safe place to keep hiding and pick at the opportunities they saw before them before striking. Also finding some good team members that would increase their chances.
Mitchell knew he could take on almost everyone who was still in the foundation building realm because of his newly acquired techniques. He had not even tested the technique he got from the purple god yet. But fighting against them time and time again without end and with much as they are . . . he didn't have infinite energy so in the end he would still die.
He could almost be sure for Ange, with her Immortal Ghost Monarch technique, she could hide in the void for as long as she possible could and her existence could change the tides of any battle. If she was careful and bid her time carefully, she could eventually reach the top and make it to the top one thousand.
They went silently surveying the various groups that were forming, noting the auras of powerful people emanating from the prospective members. They spotted a young woman with flowing black hair, her eyes blazing with a potent fire aura, meticulously checking the proficiency of each prospective teammate. Ange recognized her as someone with an impressive aptitude for fire style techniques,something that could greatly benefit a well-rounded group. "This is perfect," she muttered.
"No not her" Mitchell saw the person she was speaking about and gave his conclusion. The look in her eyes and the way that she looked down on some of her teammates, he didn't trust someone like her to be on their team. No matter how powerful they were.
Mitchell scanned the surrounding area, seeking the perfect complement for this new prospect. He spotted a robust young man, his physique hinting at immense physical strength, engaged in a heated sparring match with a similarly toned fellow, clearly demonstrating both aggressive and defensive prowess. "We must watch out for him" he murmured, giving a silent nod to her. "He has great strength."
"We do not need to look for teammates this early one. Most of the teams that have formed by this time would not last long. We should wait and first find a suitable hiding spot, then we should watch and pick out the most people who will be a threat and then we can start finding people for our group. But I can assure you now that if we start our group now, it would not last long." Mitchell said his own thoughts while shaking his head. The voice did not say which time we should form groups, neither did he say how large the group should be. Instead they should focus on scouting out people who can become problems later on and at the same time search for people that are suitable for their group.
With a combined effort, the two searched for a hiding spot they could use to wait till the initial chaos was over. At the same time they found several aspirants with the necessary elemental style affinity. Their path was clear; they needed a combination of strength, offensive and defensive capabilities and versatility, and a good balance of elemental manipulation.
They found that an adept at controlling and manipulating earth elements would be a perfect asset to their developing group—someone skilled both on the battlefield and in the realm of strategies. They scanned the crowd, keenly observing individual energies and abilities. Time pressed; every passing moment shrunk their
Finally, they found a young man with a serene demeanor and the capacity to channel earth magic, an ability to bolster defense, and a considerable understanding of strategic planning. He seemed as keen on finding suitable teammates and shelter as they are, but mitchell did not make any attempts to ask him to join their group. He was serious when he wanted them to find shelter first . They watched as a small group of five individuals, stood out in the sea of aspiring cultivators, a beacon of synergy and shared purpose. The group's combined power radiated confidence and their cooperation was a testament to their shared determination to enter the Divine Pavilion Academy.
They formed a circle, their voices low and resonant in the space, discussing their strategies for the coming trials. Their shared understanding proved crucial. They agreed that they would target specific environments on the island–the forest region, perhaps - focusing on areas that maximized their combined strengths. They recognized that their chances of success were greatly enhanced by working together.
Mitchell watched as their group finalized, they turned their focus to the trials ahead, a sense of sharpened resolve coursing through them. They knew the upcoming challenges would be formidable, but they were ready. They were a team, and as a team, they would succeed. Their journey, amidst the colossal mountain and the diverse landscapes of the island, had only just begun. Their future, as participants for students of the Divine Pavilion Academy, now hinged on the outcome of the various trials awaiting them.
Mitchell and Ange just watched with nonchalant expressions on their faces as they watched them go about. He really wanted to see what would become of them after this first chaotic incident. He was also sure that more things would be on the way.