Chapter 121: The Trial Begins

“Everyone, be careful to harmonize your energy and blood flow. Don’t take it lightly. The gravity and vital energy on the other side of the passage are somewhat different. If anyone embarrasses themselves on the spot, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Before the spatial passage, Tang Zhixuan walked at the front, then turned around with a bright smile that dazzled everyone’s eyes.

Judging by her expression, she seemed to take great delight in the prospect of someone making a fool of themselves.

Xiao Nan, walking in the middle, noticed that one or two boys ahead were so distracted by that smile that they collided and almost fell together.

Suppressed laughter echoed around.

Everyone could empathize.

Wei Yun quietly scoffed, casting disdainful glances at the two boys.

“That’s the teacher, yet what on earth is going on in these people’s heads? Always lost in wild fantasies.”

She quickened her pace to walk closer to Xiao Nan and whispered, “Aren’t you worried?”

“Worried about what? Don’t be nervous. Just treat it like a game. Measure your limits, and once you meet the passing standard, return immediately. Don’t be greedy for credit.”

Seeing Wei Yun’s mix of nervousness and excitement, Xiao Nan couldn’t help but offer some advice.

In truth, for Wei Yun, whose sole goal was to get admitted to an average martial university, a conservative approach was the best method.

Given her ability, passing the trial shouldn’t be a problem.

Xiao Nan deduced this from the tones of Tang Zhixuan and Principal Sun. The trial for martial high school students wasn’t difficult.

However, obtaining a high evaluation was quite challenging.

Before departure, Tang Zhixuan quietly gave a reminder. Xiao Nan didn’t understand its meaning at the time, but it made him more cautious.

Tang Zhixuan, as a graduate of Qingning Academy, had come to Yuanjiang Prefecture to serve as a temporary martial arts teacher at the high school. This arrangement was somewhat unusual.

Xiao Nan had sometimes speculated about her true motives.

He had heard that graduates from prestigious schools were assigned tasks before their final defenses.

Their graduation with honors depended on how well they completed these missions.

By extension, Tang Zhixuan was here on such a task. And if it required a top student from a prestigious school to intervene, the mission was surely not simple.

There must be some hidden difficulties.

What had she discovered?

What had she been doing all this time?

Tang Zhixuan’s affairs were none of Xiao Nan’s concern. In fact, the two didn’t have much of a relationship, and she wouldn’t confide her secrets to him.

His occasional care had been only out of courtesy to Qin Shuang.

Thinking of this, Xiao Nan turned his thoughts elsewhere.

The spatial passage ahead resembled a vortex, standing upright.

To the naked eye, it shimmered with seven-colored light, flickering continuously and appearing very beautiful.

As Xiao Nan and his group passed, there were buildings on both sides. Small clusters of soldiers armed with swords and knives stood around, their bodies stained with blood, their gazes cold and merciless.

Outside these cold-weapon soldiers, there were armed troops providing cover, encircling the vortex from three directions.

Judging by the strict defense, this passage must have a brutal history.

The surrounding ground was scorched and barren, the hills flattened over tens of miles, desolate and uninhabited — likely the aftermath of continuous battles.

Moreover, the military camp built here must once have been shelled.

Recalling the oppressive feeling earlier, Xiao Nan even suspected that large-scale forbidden weapons had been used here.

So much so that no grass or trees could grow; the environment was harsh.

...

Passing through the passage, Xiao Nan felt a slight dizziness. Before he could fully sense the surroundings, his body suddenly grew heavy.

A crushing pressure penetrated his internal organs, weighing down his bones and muscles, making them emit faint groans.

A startled cry came from beside him — Wei Yun.

The girl, closely following Xiao Nan, suddenly felt her knees weaken upon exiting the passage and collapsed face-first.

Xiao Nan awkwardly helped her up, thinking to himself why he had always been single in his past life.

“I’m fine,” Wei Yun said, unbothered by her public embarrassment.

She greedily inhaled the fresh air, ignoring the sharp pain in her knees from the fall, and curiously looked around.

Whether those who had fallen or those who remained steady, everyone’s first instinct was to survey the environment.

The gravity was three times stronger. Entering here was initially very uncomfortable...

But after a while, they noticed its benefits.

Breathing became smoother, energy and blood surged more powerfully, and everyone felt a primal hunger stirring within their skin, muscles, and bones.

Xiao Nan paid no heed to these sensations, nor to Tang Zhixuan’s quiet giggles as she watched the spectacle. Instead, he turned to the side, where someone was standing.

Seeing Xiao Nan’s gaze, the person quickly averted his eyes, hastened a few steps, and rejoined the group.

It was Lin Hao.

Along the way, he had neither provoked nor shown hostility.

He walked silently with his head bowed, barely noticeable — a stark contrast to his usual lively demeanor.

Quite the self-control...

Xiao Nan smirked silently but felt a shadow cast over his heart.

Because from Lin Hao, he sensed a trace of danger.

It was strange.

With Lin Hao’s strength, he posed no real threat to Xiao Nan. The sudden sense of danger was illogical.

As for Li Shaohua, the fiercest competitor in the Bloodbath Trial, he hadn’t even glanced back at their group.

He seemed confident and well-prepared for the trial.

...

Exiting the long metal passage, they stepped into an open expanse.

Blue waters and skies stretched out, dotted with fluffy white clouds.

Beyond the dense, dark barracks, there were verdant mountains and vast pastures.

Rolling hills and low forests undulated like waves, extending into the distance.

Wildflowers blossomed brilliantly, releasing a refreshing fragrance carried by the breeze.

Yet, faint traces of bloodstains lingered in the air.

Blood had soaked into every inch of grass and soil.

Beauty and cruelty intertwined, forming a breathtaking scene.

...

The Bloodbath Trial, a traditional imperial entrance exam event, had unique rules.

After Principal Sun’s brief instructions, they were handed over to the military.

In the square before the barracks, soldiers with stars on their shoulders formed a circle.

Without much conversation, equipment distribution began.

Xiao Nan received a badge and a backpack.

The backpack bore the number 002.

He guessed it was a number assigned based on their energy and blood test scores.

Informed students had already pinned the badge on their chests, hoisted their backpacks, and gripped their weapons.

A young officer with three stars on his shoulder stepped forward and announced loudly, “Inside your backpacks are clean water, rations, and a map indicating your mission’s destination.

“Do not whisper among yourselves. I can assure you, each of you has a different task, and the enemies you encounter will appear randomly.

“Your results depend entirely on your judgment and performance.”

The announcement tightened everyone’s nerves; some whispered anxiously.

“I’ve heard this Bloodbath Trial isn’t humane. They treat us like soldiers. Is there a risk to our lives?”

A trembling voice asked, uneasy about the unknown foes.

“You can choose not to participate,” came a confident reply.

“Come on, judging by your scared looks, someone’s secretly protecting you this time... Even if you fail, the danger won’t be too great unless you’re asking for death.”

That was from a braver student.

Xiao Nan noticed a faint smile flash in the three-star officer’s eyes. He must have overheard the whispers and added, “I see some have already pinned their badges. Yes, don’t lose these — they are tracking devices.

“If you’re in danger, we can locate you for rescue.

“At the same time, the badge records your achievements... how many enemies you kill and their strength — all will be documented.”

Hearing this, Xiao Nan grew more attentive to the badge.

It must be a miniature military surveillance device.

The officer implied it wasn’t just a locator but also had recording functions.

This greatly enhanced their safety.

Yet, for some reason, Xiao Nan still felt something was off, though he couldn’t pinpoint what he had overlooked.