Chapter 855

Is this the Illusory Realm? Su Yang said this tests one's constitution and will—beyond soul pressure, he also sets up illusions!

"Definitely. I hope Yu Long and Shi Zhuang can push harder! Don't let the young geniuses of the Southeast lose face—better yet, climb to the summit of Mount Qingliang and make Su Yang produce a Royal-rank Potential Beast Egg!"

"Who doesn't want Jin Jin Longhao and the others to win? But Su Yang's test is just too strong!"

Just five minutes later, Yu Long and Shi Zhuang awoke one after another from the Illusory Realm.

The first trial's content was simple: alcohol.

Any young Beast Tamer with even a modicum of cultivation would find it hard to fall to alcohol!

After Jin Jin Longhao and Shi Zhuang regained consciousness, they glanced at the others still undergoing the test, said nothing, and continued climbing the Stone steps.

Just as they took one step forward.

Both their faces changed instantly!

The increased pressure—they'd mentally prepared for that!

But this crushing pressure from the aura made their spirits dizzy and excruciatingly uncomfortable!

A dual trial of spirit and body, the illusionary challenge grew harder with each level—starting from the tenth Stone step, the difficulty doubled!

Su Yang gave them eight hours; two hours had already passed in the blink of an eye.

Yet in these two hours, eighty percent of the contestants hadn't even reached the top of the Stone steps.

Some young Beast Tamers with weak constitutions and subpar defensive pets had their backs bent lower with every step, faces flushed red, like可怜 shrimp being deep-fried.

Each step they took made their legs tremble; climbing a single Stone step felt like using every ounce of strength they had.

Slowly, they were overtaken by other contestants.

Some contestants collapsed directly into the Illusory Realm, standing on the ground, eyes vacant, unconscious for long stretches.

Others failed due to weak willpower.

They couldn't bear the mounting pressure the Seven-Colored Illusory Butterflies were placing on their companions' souls!

One Beast Tamer whispered: "Is it really this terrifying?"

"It seems terrifying!"

"Is the seventh Stone step a checkpoint in the Illusory Realm? So many have passed—why are still over ten stuck? What's the first trial even about?"

"Honestly, I want to know too!"

"Look over there—someone's sneaking up the mountain. Trying to test Su Yang's trial?"

"Where?"

"……"

Some Beast Tamers with strong curiosity and boldness sneaked up the mountain from the other side of Mount Qingliang.

Su Yang's trials increase in difficulty with altitude, covering the entire Mount Qingliang.

Here, one can still experience everything the contestants feel during their climb.

But there are no Stone steps!

The Southeast Military's Beast Tamers maintaining order noticed people sneaking up and asked Su Yang's opinion; Su Yang told them to ignore them.

He'd seen people sneak food.

He'd seen people sneak vehicles.

But sneaking up the mountain? Su Yang had never seen that before.

So he simply let those people experience it too.

Please go to Fei Lu Mu—the preliminary round still has time left.

Some contestants collapsed halfway.

Some stood on the ground, motionless for minutes. Others simply gave up, sprinting down the cliffs along the Stone steps.

"Running down is easy!"

But Su Yang knew: these people had lost.

Su Yang's gaze settled on the boy at the very front.

That boy—Su Yang found him vaguely familiar.

Su Yang thought back a moment, barely recalling.

A few days ago, when he first arrived in Haicheng and visited the military guesthouse, he'd seen this boy.

He seemed from Xincheng.

Of Xincheng's three young contestants, this boy was one of the two military-affiliated youths!

He'd left no impression on Su Yang then—tall, sturdy, seemed dull and simple-minded, ordinary-looking—but his performance was outstanding!

And from Su Yang's observation, this boy's own Beast was a Dragon-type, with mediocre defense.

His body was already covered in countless tiny blood spots.

These spots were caused by his body's inability to withstand the crushing gravity, rupturing his skin cells…

His rise to first place relied solely on his iron will and ruthless, no-holds-barred determination!

Su Yang was watching him closely, fearing this boy would push himself too hard and destroy himself.

Gravity is no joke.

If your body can't endure it, you die.

As chief examiner, Su Yang didn't want anyone dying during the preliminary round.

Right behind that boy were Jin Jin Longhao and Shi Zhuang!

These two young geniuses from the Southeast were also doing remarkably well.

But because their defensive pets were so outstanding, Su Yang had mentally lowered their scores slightly.

Even with such an excellent defensive Beast, they still couldn't match him… that was just ridiculous!

"Who's the first-place kid?"

"No way!"

"How could he surpass Brother Shi?"

"Impossible!"

Some even questioned: "Yes, is this competition truly fair, or is there cheating?"

"........"

Su Yang glanced toward the other side of Mount Qingliang, at those would-be corpse-controlling beast masters.

Their performance surprised Su Yang slightly.

These beast masters were almost all non-military.

Military beast masters had strict discipline; without official permission, they wouldn't dare attempt climbing Mount Qingliang.

These beast masters' strength wasn't particularly high.

Strong, yes—but only Gold Top-Grade.

Yet overall, their results were worse than those of the younger contestants.

Most of them had fallen victim to the Illusory Realm set by the Rainbow Illusory Butterflies.

It wasn't lack of ability, but lack of willpower.

Of course, among these older beast masters, a few outstanding ones climbed higher than even the youngest contestants, taking first place.

This didn't surprise Su Yang.

Older beast masters who had endured life-and-death trials should naturally surpass younger ones in endurance and willpower!

It was those older beast masters trapped in the Illusory Realm that left Su Yang with a faint sense of regret.

They had merely fallen into decline.