Chapter 199: Hong Dou Number One

The exemplary performance of the three Heavenly Court representatives lit up the whole venue.

Hope was reignited in the tens-of-thousands of students gathered in the stands. They now knew that none of the three representatives were push-overs, and as long as they put their mind to it, they would definitely be able to catch up to the other powers.

An Lin and his team received a total of 25 points for their performance, which should allow them to close down the gap significantly between themselves and the other teams.

The conference continued.

The Garden of Eden representatives received six, six, and seven points for a total of 19.

The Buddhist Kingdom representatives received five, six, and seven points for a total of 18.

The Hall of Creation finally had their turn under the spotlight as well for six, seven, and seven points, amounting to a total of twenty which placed them in second.

Hong Dou was finally not bringing up the rear as he received seven points during his trial. His true intent of fire was pretty strong after all.

After the Intent segment, all four powers were at totals of around sixty points, so everyone was at the same starting point yet again.

The leader of the Garden of Eden made her way on the stage. Her explosive figure, tapered waist, and her 36D balloons instantly made everyone fall silent.

The sun shone upon her, exuding a faint glow which appeared both holy and majestic.

She cleared her throat and began to read out the instructions for the Life segment.

“All living beings will encounter countless obstacles during their growth, some of which may even be insurmountable ones.

“It is a vital skill to learn how to survive in all types of dangerous environments. The path to Dao is long and arduous and the survivors are the winners in the end. Only by preserving their life can one gain the opportunity to become a mighty figure.”

The trial of life would be a test of how everyone could persevere in the face of perilous situations.

She crossed her arms in front of her chest. As she elaborated, a white orb of light appeared from within her body. It then expanded in front of her before transforming into a special passageway.

“This is the gate toward the perilous trial realm. I’ll plant a seed of life in all of you. The moment the seed shatters is the moment you’ll be eliminated. During the course of the trial, contestants are not permitted to attack one another or they will be immediately disqualified.”

Green orbs of light began to appear in Vanessa’s hands as she concluded her explanation.

The twelve green orbs of light merged into each contestant’s body and disappeared.

An Lin could feel the seed of life in his body. There was an invisible barrier enveloping it, within which the seed of life exuded a strong aura of vitality.

Vanessa continued, “There are ten perilous realms in this trial, you’ll be considered to have passed if you last ten minutes in each realm, for which you’ll receive one point. Contestants, please enter the spatial passageway toward the trial ground. Your trials will be broadcasted through the crystalline screen.”

Is this a quest for survival?

An Lin raised his eyebrows. He did not know why, but he suddenly recalled his experiences in the Purple Star Research Institute ruins.

The twelve representatives made their way collectively into the spatial passageway where they appeared in an underground world filled with flowing lava.

“The trial will now commence, please persevere for ten minutes.”

A voice reverberated throughout the space, causing everyone to focus their attention.

“Phew… it’s so hot…” Liu Qianhuan began to use a cooling immortal spell as her face began to redden.

“Don’t get complacent. If this is a perilous realm, then there are definitely some hazards we have to be mindful of,” Wang Xuanzhan cautioned.

An Lin nodded solemnly as he surveyed his surroundings cautiously.

All the other representatives were also doing the same while they prepared to activate their protection spell techniques at a moment’s notice.

Rumble… rumble…

Bubbles frothed within the lava but aside from that, it was extremely quiet.

Aside from the rumbling of the magma, there were no other sounds.

Five minutes passed…

There were still no further developments.

Everyone was beginning to feel quite confused as they stared cautiously at their surroundings.

Time ticked by slowly.

“Congratulations, you have all progressed past the first perilous realm.”

Vanessa’s congratulatory voice suddenly reverberated through the air.

Everyone was caught by surprise before coming to a sudden realization. So this was a freebie round!

Everyone was struck by a rush of dizziness as they were teleported once again.

This time, they appeared on the side of a mountain.

They were surrounded by a vast expanse of snow and ice as the wind howled around them, sending snow and ice billowing into the air.

“We’re not just gonna have to stand in the cold for ten minutes, are we?” Liu Qianhuan puffed her cheeks out in protest at the bland and unimaginative nature of the trial.

“Vanessa is probably treating us to a fire and ice experience. I have to say, it’s not bad.” An Lin stretched lazily.

The temperatures were quite low, but it posed no threat to cultivators like them.

Everyone else was also standing around with expressions of resignation. There was no challenge at all, the whole thing was just boring…

Boom!

Heaven and earth suddenly began to tremor violently.

Everyone looked toward the source of the disturbance anxiously.

“What was that sound…” Qing Zhi furrowed his delicate brows.

The sound seemed to be approaching them as it grew stronger and stronger like a wave.

“It’s an avalanche! Everybody run!” An Lin exclaimed.

“Calm down, we can fly, you know.” Augus chuckled lightly as he spread his white wings and flew up into the sky.

An Lin came to his senses and couldn’t help but blush with embarrassment before he also rose into the air on his brick.

He was a little bit hyperactive due to the survival nature of the trial.

Everyone also began to rise into the air to avoid the avalanche.

Hong Dou laughed as he watched the vast expanse of snow and ice hurtling toward him. “What a pathetic little avalanche, I’d have no problems even if I were to just lie down here.”

He lay down with contentment on his face as he sent scornful gazes up at everyone rising into the air.

Rumble…

Huge waves of snow tumbled down, causing the ground to tremor and quake, instantly drowning Hong Dou’s body.

An Lin stroked his chin. This magnitude of avalanche would definitely not be able to harm Hong Dou in the slightest, but it was unnecessary for him to flex like this.

Moments later.

“Hong Dou eliminated. Score, one point.”

Vanessa’s voice sounded in the air.

Everyone was taken by surprise by this announcement and looked down at the vast expanse of snow below them in shock.

Boom!

Hong Dou exploded out of the snow and ice.

He had clearly heard the announcement too, and he had a look of disbelief as he immediately argued, “Impossible! I’m completely unscathed, so why am I eliminated!?”

“Are you sure you’re completely unscathed? Have a look at your seed of life.” Vanessa’s voice sounded again.

My seed of life?

Hong Dou came to his senses, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

He could feel that the seed of life in his body had completely vanished.

“How… This is bullsh*t, how could the seed be this fragile!”

Hong Dou yelled in defiance, completely unable to accept the reality at hand.

“You looked down on potential hazards and are overconfident in your own abilities, this is a cardinal sin while on the path to seeking Dao. One has to remember to be vigilant and cautious throughout their lives, otherwise, next time it may be your very life force that gets snuffed out instead of just this seed of life.”

A cold voice sounded again.

Hong Dou roared in defiance but to no avail as his body was already beginning to slowly vanish.

Everyone looked at Hong Dou with gratitude and sympathy.

They were sympathetic as he only scored one point and would undoubtedly be placed in dead last again. But they were also grateful as he alerted everyone to the fact that the seeds of life they were carrying were so fragile…

Huang Shan and Dong Yan were completely unmoved by Hong Dou’s elimination.

Dong Yan even yawned with a bored expression. “That idiot’s finally gone.”

Huang Shan nodded as golden flashes of lightning crackled in his eyes. “He really is an idiot, no wonder we came last in every Dao Exchange Conference. The higher-ups just had to send an idiot like him to drag us down.”

An Lin: “…”

Is it really fine for them to speak so badly of Hong Dou like this in front of everyone? Everyone can hear their conversation!

“Congratulations, you have successfully progressed past the second perilous realm!”

The voice sounded again after a few minutes.

This was immediately followed by another dizzying bout of teleportation.

Everyone appeared in a deep ocean where they immediately became engulfed under terrifying water pressure.