Chapter 169: A Cruel Competition, With an Extremely High Elimination Rate

Lin Caier also looked in the direction of the sound.

A two‑meter‑tall Warrior bearing a massive warblade appeared before Jiang Chen and Lin Caier.

He looked at the two of them with a face full of displeasure.

Because the crowd was large, Jiang Chen and Lin Caier stood in the middle of the passage, blocking part of the thoroughfare.

The hulking Warrior could not go around them due to his size.

Normally, courtesy and understanding would resolve the issue, but this time seemed different.

Jiang Chen stared coldly at the Warrior, his gaze exuding coldness and threat.

The look was filled with murderous intent, making the Warrior feel immense pressure, as if a single word out of line would prompt a draw of the blade and a slash.

Mainly because Jiang Chen's aura was so terrifying, the Warrior had no doubt about Jiang Chen's killer‑like gaze.

To display such a gaze, perhaps he really has killed someone!

The Warrior quickly grew timid, hurriedly saying, "Hey, fighting is not allowed here; if you fight, you'll be disqualified."

Lin Caier also felt embarrassed, gently tugging Jiang Chen's sleeve to signal him to let go.

Jiang Chen nodded, stepping aside to clear the passage.

The Warrior hurried past, complaining as he quickly left.

Jiang Chen and Lin Caier continued forward.

"I've asked around; tomorrow's sea selection will be held by the Sea, and the Empire has built a mountain to fill the sea there, creating a huge plaza."

Liu Cui said, "It's not just the sea selection; the later contests will also be there."

Lin Caier quickly replied, "Then let's go take a look."

Fang Hongxiu shook her head, "We can't see it; it's sealed off, and no one can enter before tomorrow."

This is to prevent sabotage, and everyone can understand.

Lin Caier

Lin Caier's interest slightly faded, but her appetite rose again.

Fang Hongxiu mentioned that the Empire provides free gourmet food for contestants, with delicacies from everywhere.

The news made Lin Caier extremely excited.

Lin Caier exclaimed, "Free? All this gourmet food is free?"

Fang Hongxiu confirmed, "Yes, free supply, funded by the Empire."

"What!" Lin Caier let out a scream.

Several nearby people looked at Lin Caier oddly, thinking something had happened.

Lin Caier quickly lowered her voice, "Sister Hongxiu, you said all the gourmet food is free?"

"Hmm, I just found out too; here food and lodging are free, the Empire foots the bill."

Lin Caier, as if hearing bad news, made a sour face, "Had I known, I wouldn't have bought it."

But Jiang Chen lightly patted her head, comforting, "It's okay, we'll eat slowly."

The Empire dispatched a massive number of gourmet professionals for the tournament, so the food was dazzlingly varied from across the nation, and Lin Caier hardly knew which to choose.

"Unfortunately, people here can only eat for two days."

Today and tomorrow.

After tomorrow, those eliminated professionals will have to leave the base.

After tomorrow, the entire base will become quiet.

An elimination rate of over 90%, not just talk.

The second day arrived.

The sound of waves rose in bursts, and from afar one could see the azure sea.

The Light Screen lay on the ground like a giant inverted bowl.

Blocking everyone's forward steps.

The Light Screen was not transparent, and the interior could not be seen.

The plaza was packed with people; looking around, heads were dense and countless.

The Shenlong Empire publicly claimed that over 100,000 teams entered, this number being only slightly less, not much.

The sea selection rules have been stated clearly: form a team and enter the Light Screen.

Those who pass can stay; failure means immediate elimination.

The rules are very simple yet very cruel.

All teams are divided by group, and the Difficulty faced by the same group is identical.

Level 20 and Level 29 will encounter the exact same stage.

There will be no differences.

Generally, within the same group, higher level gives greater advantage.

But one must also consider Skill, equipment, adaptability, profession distinction, and team composition rationality.

So everything is unknown.

Jiang Chen's team appears to outsiders as a very standard formation.

Knight, double support, ranged mage, melee Assassin.

Along the pre‑established passage, all teams entered the Light Screen in order.

Stepping into the Light Screen marks the start of the assessment.

Today there are two sea selections: a team sea selection in the morning and an individual sea selection in the afternoon.

Jiang Chen has to take part in both rounds.

After the team entered the Light Screen, the scene before their eyes changed instantly.

A long corridor appeared before the few of them.

Jiang Chen felt a sense of déjà vu.

The aura permeating the corridor, Jiang Chen had seen several times.

The first time was during the college entrance exam, the second time was during the Mermaid Island Trial mission, and the most recent time was when Li Xueru helped him make an Abyss Teleport Stone.

"So the Empire employed Shenlong Tower for the assessment."

At this moment, the assessment appeared before everyone.

There is no corridor; defeating the innermost BOSS is the way to pass.

The rules are simple, with no extra requirements.

But in practice, it is certainly not easy.

Fang Hongxiu whispered, "Zhang Yang, add status!"

Zhang Yang responded and moved, quickly giving

the group filled their status.

Auras appeared on each of them.

Strength Amplify! Agility Amplify! Defense Amplify!

Mana Activation! Speed Activation! Berserker Soul!

Under each status buff, the attributes received huge boosts.

Strength, Agility, Constitution, and Spirit all increased by 30%.

Moreover, this 30% includes the equipment bonus.

The better the gear, the greater the Amplify.

Mage skill power increased by 20%.

Unfortunately, this status is ineffective for Jiang Chen.

Speed Activation, attack speed increased by 30%.

Berserker Soul, skill damage increased by 30%, damage taken reduced by 20%, pain perception lowered by 50%.

These two skills are practically Divine Skills for physical classes.

All statuses last for one hour.

With the status buffs, Fang Hongxiu and Lin Caier's combat power increased by at least 200%.

As for Jiang Chen…

It's the same whether he has it or not.

Jiang Chen looked at the long corridor: "Should we…"

Fang Hongxiu cut Jiang Chen off: "We'll try it ourselves first; if we can't get through, you can go up."

Lin Caier meant the same.

This is a team competition; we can't rely on Jiang Chen alone all the time.

Although ultimately we'll still need him, at this preliminary selection stage we can certainly give it a try.

"Alright!"

Jiang Chen didn't force himself, staying at the back of the team.

If any problems arise, it's not too late to act.

The corridor is long, about five meters wide.

As they stepped into the corridor, a monster appeared before them.

Jiang Chen's pupils narrowed slightly.

Its appearance was exactly the same as an Abyssal Demon Dog.

Only its aura wasn't as powerful as that of an Abyssal Demon Dog.

This is Shenlong Tower's creation based on the Abyssal Demon Dog

made.

"So, does that mean the final gate‑guarding BOSS might be a Dog Demon?"

Fang Hongxiu assumed a combat stance and activated a Detection Technique.

"Abyssal Demon Dog (Fake)"

"Level: 27"

"Strength: 2800"

"Agility: 3500"

"Spirit: 1000"

"Constitution: 2000"

"Skill: Bite"

Its level is four lower than a real Abyssal Demon Dog; the real one is Level 31, while this one is only Level 27.

All attributes have dropped significantly.

Dealing with it is not difficult.

Even though Fang Hongxiu is only Level 24, with full status buffs her attributes already exceed those of a Level 27 Abyssal Demon Dog.

Dealing with it is not difficult.

Fang Hongxiu Jiao shouted and activated the Charge skill, rushing forward; the Charge slammed into the Abyssal Demon Dog with massive impact.

Skill: Shield Strike!

The skill activates, and the Shield swings suddenly, striking the Abyssal Demon Dog's head.

The Abyssal Demon Dog is not only wounded, but also falls into a dizzy state.

At this moment, a faint light flickers behind it.

Lin Caier unwittingly reaches the back of the Abyssal Demon Dog.

Skill: Lethal Strike!

The Dagger thrusts out, pierces the demon dog's body, and emits a bang.

The demon dog lets out a wail and collapses motionless on the ground.

When it comes to instant burst power, the Assassin says second, and no one dares to claim first.

The mage's high‑power skills all require brewing preparation.

At least ten seconds, at most several dozen seconds.

Unlike the Assassin, who bursts instantly.

It seems not too difficult.

A few people show a hint of relaxation on their faces.

Jiang Chen, however, smiles secretly, thinking it could not be that simple.

Having gone through the college entrance exam, he knows the ins and outs too well.

This assessment has only just begun

Outside the Light Screen, it is already empty.

All teams have entered, beginning the sea selection.

On the massive Light Screen, dense letters appear, all the names of the Team Leaders of each squad.

Jiang Chen's name is also among them.

Originally there was a 0 behind the team, now it has become 1.

"Jiang Chen Squad, 1"

This 1 represents their current score, having killed one demon dog.

As categories shift, the teams' ranking names are changing.

In the Level 20 to Level 29 bracket, over 30,000 teams are participating.

Now Jiang Chen Squad ranks over ten thousand, neither good nor bad.

Many people are watching this competition.

The Shenlong Empire has opened video livestreams to the whole world.

Every country can see this competition.

As the sea selection progresses, the teams' names change in real time.

Suddenly, a team's name turns gray, and its rank drops straight to the bottom.

This indicates that the team has been eliminated.

The sea selection has only been underway for five minutes, and the first team has already been eliminated.

It is evident that the sea selection is far harder than imagined.

A worldwide grand discussion is raging intensely.

"It's only been a few minutes, and someone's already eliminated."

"Looks like this sea selection is tough."

"Of course it's hard; the Shenlong Empire officials said the sea selection will eliminate over 90% of teams."

"What if we don't eliminate? Over a hundred thousand teams; even by next year we couldn't produce results."

"I think 90% is already conservative; the sea selection stage will probably eliminate at least 95% of teams."

"Look, another team has been eliminated."

At the same time, three teams' names turn gray, eliminated.

The eliminated people appear on the Light

Screen outside, each hanging their heads in dejection.

They have already lost the qualification to continue.

They can't even see the real arena.

Those who can't pass the sea selection have no right to enter the real arena.

The rules are cruel, and also realistic.

Glory will only belong to truly capable contestants!