But Ji Yuanchi's smile at this moment was not much better than her tears. She probably knew this herself. She closed her mouth and, with Xu Yuehuai's help, began to resist again. After she felt a little better, she was also able to use her spiritual power. "I can do it myself!"
Seeing that she was alright, Xu Yuehuai actually moved his hand away. Ji Yuanchi was struggling to hold on. She studied alchemy and was not very strong in spiritual power. Her spiritual power was stronger.
The oppressive pressure and pain lasted for a mere fifteen minutes, causing many in the audience to cough up blood and sustain injuries. Fortunately, elders were on the sidelines, and upon discovering an injured disciple, they immediately stepped forward to erect a barrier to protect him from further harm, serving as a test for those disciples.
The more than two hundred disciples in the competition area all looked unwell, but none of them vomited blood. On the other hand, the people from the two major families looked refreshed and seemed to have suffered no harm at all.
After the disaster subsided, the audience looked at the contestants and naturally noticed this as well. "The two major families are very strong this year. Do you think the senior students from the academy will be completely defeated?"
“I think it’s possible! And I saw several people from the main lineage of the family inside. These people are not simple. They have received the best education since childhood. Unlike us.”
Some disciples began to make bold guesses. It's no wonder they said that; the two families had performed so well that some people had overheard their words and were looking at them with unfriendly eyes.
People from both families heard it, but the person who heard it didn't take it to heart at all.
After the first round of torture ended, seven people descended from the sky, dressed in various robes, each bearing a distinctive pattern.
The seven people exuded a strong aura. They sat on the arena, looking around. After glancing at this year's contestants, one of the old men clicked his tongue and said, "This year's prospects don't look very promising."
"Alright, Elder Yan, it's good enough that you have it, stop being so picky."
The voices of the group were quite loud and full of energy, so that the deans could hear them. Some of the participants, who were also quite skilled, released their divine senses and heard the words as well. The disciples who heard the voices had unpredictable expressions, and they all looked rather unwell.
"These people are too arrogant!" Most of these disciples considered themselves extraordinary, and they felt uncomfortable being judged like this.
Xu Yuehuai naturally heard those words as well. She didn't deliberately try to eavesdrop; her senses were better than others, and since she was sitting close by, she could hear a little even without using her divine sense.
However, she remained calm on the surface, showing no sign of feeling insulted.
The dean and the others felt somewhat saddened upon hearing this, but they couldn't say anything.
The one who spoke was Elder Yan, an elder from the Gale Sect, and also one of the people the Gale Sect came to recruit from the third floor this time.
The one who asked Elder Yan to say less was Elder Zhan of the Ten Thousand Zhang Sect.
An elder with a serious expression stood at the front, looking at the disciples and amplifying his voice with spiritual power to ensure that everyone could hear him. “Disciples, today our seven major forces are holding an election here. Only fifty people will be able to go to the second floor. In the competition, death is death. So I hope you will take this seriously and consider whether you still want to participate.”
After the introduction, the person began to address the main topic. The one who came out to preside over the event was Elder Sikong of the Mountain and Sea Sect. He had a kind face and spoke without any discrimination against his disciples.
The competition consists of two rounds, with about two hundred participants. The two rounds are enough to select fifty winners.
The first challenge involves placing everyone into a secret realm where they must capture a flag within one hour. Players can steal flags from others, and the top 150 players advance.
"These are the rules. Are you ready?" Elder Sikong said, conjuring up a small house-like object that floated above his palm.
Elder Sikong placed the object in the air, and it instantly grew to a size many times larger than the arena. Below it was a set of steps leading to the top. "Participants, please enter the secret realm. Disciples who cannot fly may use these steps."
Xu Yuehuai was very skilled in the art of flying, but Ji Yuanchi was not so familiar with it, so Xu Yuehuai had to take her there.
Many disciples felt a strange sense of goodwill towards them when they saw the steps.
The members of both families all flew in, while only a few inner disciples of the academy, who had not yet learned to fly, walked up the steps in twos and threes. "You know what, they're quite considerate."
The two walked side by side, discussing how thoughtful the organizers were, knowing to prepare steps like that.
However, when the group reached the middle, Elder Yan and Elder Zhan, who were sitting in the elders' seats, sneered and looked at them, who were walking up the steps, with disdain in their eyes.
Elder Sikong, seeing this, was not surprised and made no attempt to stop it.
However, an elder who looked slightly younger and was sitting at the very edge spoke up: "Hey you two, what are you laughing about at a time like this? If you want to laugh, go away and don't get in my way!"
Elder Yan was immediately enraged by these words. He glared at Elder Zisang, his eyes wide with fury, "You!"
Suddenly, he remembered something, suppressed his anger, snorted, and said sarcastically, "That's all your Qingtao Sect is like. You don't even have the right to laugh. It's pathetic."
Elder Zisang showed no sign of anger.
He watched as the disciples entered the secret realm, completely ignoring Elder Yan.
The disciple walking on the top of the steps then realized that this was not a gesture of kindness, but a public execution.
It wasn't just the two elders who were laughing at them; looking into the audience, many people were looking at them with expressions that were hard to describe.
Everyone was fed up with the stares, but no one wanted to give up the opportunity. People who had walked up with their heads held high all lowered their heads as they went up the steps.
Once you go up there, you'll see a huge map and a teleportation array.
Xu Yuehuai finally understood why the academy required collecting crystals upon entry; it was all in preparation for today.
Everyone's positions were shuffled upon entering.
Therefore, Xu Yuehuai did not end up with Ji Yuanchi or Quan Cang.
She landed in a dense forest, where weeds covered everything and it was difficult to find a place to step.
Xu Yuehuai lifted her foot to leave this place, but accidentally stepped on something. She glanced at it and saw it was a green flag.
Xu Yuehuai: "..." Is this a test of strength or eyesight?
She could only mutter a few complaints to herself before continuing on her way.
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