Chapter 44: Ten Thousand Beasts Secret Realm, the Strife of Raising Gu!

At Wanxiang Sect Main Peak, over three thousand Outer Disciples gathered on the square, surrounded by dozens of Blue Robe Stewards maintaining order, waiting for the selection to begin.

A flying sword came speeding from afar, upon which stood a Foundation Establishment Elder.

Behind him followed the Ba Dao Peak Elder, carrying a Great Blade and walking through the air.

The Yu Ding Peak Elder sat upon a square cauldron.

The Shu Fa Peak Elder, with lotuses blooming at every step.

The Yushou Peak Elder rode in on a Fengye Bird.

Five figures arrived in succession, landing on the high platform, gazing at the three thousand Outer Disciples before them, whereupon the Yujian Peak Elder spoke: "This Outer Disciple Selection is about to begin, but the rules differ from previous years."

"This time the selection will no longer be arena combat, but will use the sect's Secret Realm for selection; next, I will announce the rules."

"The Ten Thousand Beasts Secret Realm is a First-Order Secret Realm under the Yushou Peak, containing nearly ten thousand First Rank Demonic Beasts distributed throughout its various corners, which will constantly stimulate you to fight and draw out your potential; defeating one First Rank Demonic Beast earns 10 Sect Contribution points."

"Furthermore, every one of you Outer Disciples will wear the Talisman Jade in my hand, which can detect your life aura and location; pouring Divine Sense into it allows you to see the map of the Ten Thousand Beasts Secret Realm."

"The Talisman Jades will attract each other; within ten kilometers you can sense other Outer Disciples possessing Talisman Jades. Defeating or killing them and seizing their Talisman Jades is your mission!"

"One Talisman Jade likewise earns 10 Sect Contribution points. After entering the Secret Realm, you have three days to slaughter; killing another grants you all their Contribution points. After three days, the top hundred disciples in Sect Contribution will pass this selection; the rest are eliminated."

"Therefore you must not only learn to fight and slaughter, but also learn to survive in the Secret Realm, struggling desperately!"

After speaking, this Yujian Peak Elder swept his sharp gaze over them.

These Outer Disciples turned deathly pale; some, upon hearing these cruel rules, had legs that went soft.

"Why did the sect suddenly change the rules?"

"If it were arena combat, I could still admit defeat, but in the Secret Realm who cares about you? Meeting means striking to kill!"

"It's over—I just broke through to Qi Refining Fifth Layer; how could I be a match for those veteran Outer Disciples!"

"I want to withdraw, withdraw from this selection!"

"I-I-I want to withdraw too!"

For a time, over a dozen weak Outer Disciples shouted to withdraw.

However, the Yujian Peak Elder gave a cold hum, and a sharp Sword Qi suddenly rose from his body, sweeping over them.

"Withdraw? Do you think the sect selection is a game? You want to withdraw, so you withdraw!"

"In the Dao Struggle, those who withdraw have only a dead end."

"Pfft!"

Those over a dozen Outer Disciples were simultaneously severed at the waist, their wide-eyed stares as if unable to imagine this scene.

They were also Wanxiang Sect Disciples—just because they wanted to withdraw, they were slain by a single sword?

Why? Why has it come to this!

Until death they never understood that so-called Outer Disciples, before the high-ups of the Five Inheritance Peaks, were merely expendables, mere ants of trash talent, not worth dying for.

Throughout history, how many have risen from Outer Disciple to become Foundation Establishment Powerhouses or even Golden Core? Thus they did not care at all about missing so-called genius prodigies.

The Yujian Peak Elder's act frightened many Outer Disciples into immediate silence, and also caused that Foundation Establishment Elder of the Yushou Peak to frown.

"Senior Wan, with the selection at hand, is this act somewhat inappropriate?"

"Hmph, Yun girl, since the sect demands change, then killing a few disobedient Outer Disciples to kill the chicken and scare the monkey is just appropriate, making them understand that without desperate effort they cannot climb up!"

Elder Wan showed no fear of the other, speaking in a cold tone.

Yun Hejing's complexion turned ugly.

As a newly promoted Transmission Elder, she wanted to refute, but lacked confidence in her heart, finally only letting out a sigh, gazing at these Outer Disciples with pitying eyes.

No one knew how many would survive this selection, and Yu Zhangsheng was among this group of Outer Disciples; hearing these new rules, he clenched his palm, not afraid or uneasy like the other Outer Disciples. Because he had long held no expectations for this cruel world.

"Raising gu—under such rules, even if I wanted to hide my talents, I couldn't."

"Forget it, let you see what a Beast Tamer is!"

In Yu Zhangsheng's eyes, a combat intent burned.

From the day one chose to step onto the path of cultivation, a cultivator has no retreat; want longevity? Want to become an immortal? Then you must fight your way out from among the masses of living beings.

Beside him, Zhuang Yan's mindset was not as strong as his; his lips were a bit dry, extremely nervous.

"What to do, should we find a place to hide after entering?"

"Or... strike first?"

Such a choice was very difficult for Zhuang Yan, who had always been a kind-hearted person.

At this time, that Elder Wan of the Yujian Peak spoke: "Alright, anyone else who wants to withdraw? I can send you on your way in advance."

"If not, then let the selection begin!"

"Dao Friend Chen, trouble you."

Beside them, Elder Chen of the Shu Fa Peak nodded, pinched a spell gesture, and cast out Talisman Seals that landed around the square, then joined them together.

"Teleportation!"

At his shout, the three thousand Outer Disciples in the square changed complexion, and everyone turned into pillars of light, vanishing from the spot.

When they appeared again, they were already before the Ten Thousand Beasts Secret Realm of the Yushou Peak.

A rotating Blue Vortex appeared before everyone's eyes.

"This is the entrance to the Secret Realm; after entering, you will be teleported to random locations. If unlucky, you will be attacked by Demonic Beasts before you even react, hehehe, so inside you must be extremely careful."

Elder Wan gazed at them, coldly laughing, then said: "One hundred per team, begin entering in succession, starting with you!"

The named Outer Disciple was somewhat afraid, but after thinking of those disciples severed at the waist, he still gritted his teeth and walked forward.

The next moment, his figure flew into the vortex, obviously having entered the Secret Realm.

The Outer Disciples behind, seeing this, learned to enter in like manner.

When it was Yu Zhangsheng's turn, he sent a sound transmission to Zhuang Yan, then secretly pinched the Beast Taming Art and advanced into the Secret Realm.

Zhuang Yan's expression froze, he firmly nodded, and followed him in.

And behind them, Wu Shang and the others were also there; seeing them enter, they pulled at the Outer Disciples ahead and forcibly squeezed their way through.

At this, the Elders seemed not to have seen it.

Thus, more and more Outer Disciples grew bold, rushing to seize positions and enter first.

Because the earlier one enters, the more advantage one occupies; if one enters late, not only might one suffer Demonic Beast attacks upon coming out, one might also suffer attacks from other Outer Disciples.

Struggle — this is also a kind of struggle.

Not struggling means falling behind one step and then falling behind step by step! "Oh? An Outer Disciple has already died, this Fei Fei hehehe." Elder Wan smiled with disdain.

After all Outer Disciples entered the Secret Realm, a Light Curtain appeared; they could not only see the rankings from it, but also see the movements of some disciples inside.

One Outer Disciple had just come out when he was stabbed to death with a single sword strike.

The killer: Wu Shang.

(Chapter End)