Chapter 61

Just now, a series of magical changes left over three hundred people on the platform dazzled and speechless.

"Hmph! Listen up, the iron chain before you is the object for our sect’s entrance selection. You must step onto this iron chain and advance a hundred meters. If you can reach the fork in the chain, you will be considered an outer sect disciple. If you can reach any of the seven giant peaks, you will be an inner sect disciple. Otherwise, you will fall into the abyss and become a laborer. Additionally, you may not use any spells for the first hundred meters, and you may not use any spirit artifacts throughout the entire process." The half-old man coldly snorted, drawing everyone’s attention from the iron chain. A hint of an inexplicable smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he spoke calmly.

"May I ask, Senior, is there any difference in the iron chains leading to the seven giant peaks? If there is a difference, could you inform us?" A handsome young man stepped forward, bowed to the half-old man, and asked respectfully.

The half-old man nodded slightly at the young man and chuckled, "Of course, there are differences in the iron chains leading to the seven giant peaks, but what those differences are, you will have to discover for yourselves. I won’t tell you. Now, you will form seven groups, each sending one person at a time, forming a small team of seven, and proceed in batches. Begin now!"

As soon as the half-old man finished speaking, Zhao Jinghong and the others began to casually arrange the order of the people they had brought.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, among the over forty people from the Great Martial Empire, Hua Xiajiu was placed last by Zhao Jinghong.

Hua Xiajiu did not think much about this.

Soon, under the half-old man’s urging, the first group of seven people lined up and walked toward the iron chain.

Although the iron chain was only as thick as an adult’s foot, the people were not ordinary mortals. Despite their low cultivation, they were genuine Spirit Formation Realm cultivators. Normally, crossing this bridge would not be difficult, and they should be able to walk on it as if it were flat ground.

However, the first group of seven people all had solemn expressions, as if they were about to step into a mountain of knives and a sea of fire. In fact, not just these seven people, but everyone on the platform, including Hua Xiajiu, felt the same way.

Everyone who had passed the first round of selection and reached this place was naturally not stupid. They knew that the Purple Mist Sect’s selection was no small matter and would not be as simple as just walking on an iron chain. They guessed that there must be some profound mystery to the iron chain. Moreover, the scene of the seven Spirit Formation Realm experts using tokens to summon the iron chain earlier clearly showed that this iron chain was no ordinary object.

Additionally, below the iron chain was an abyss. Once someone fell, they would plummet into it. With their Spirit Formation Realm cultivation, it seemed certain death, but the half-old man had said they would become laborers or outer sect disciples, indicating that there was some mystery to it. Therefore, no one was overly worried about their lives.

Hua Xiajiu stood at the back of the crowd, closely watching the seven people as they stepped onto the iron chain.

Hua Xiajiu could see clearly that the moment the seven people stepped onto the iron chain, their faces changed, and their bodies swayed. It took them several breaths to take the first step, and it took even longer to take the second step. As they progressed, their speed slowed, and their expressions became increasingly solemn.

"Ah!"

A scream of pain rang out as the first young man to step onto the iron chain, for some reason, turned pale and suddenly fell off the chain, disappearing into the abyss.

The second person was a mid-Spirit Formation Realm, fifteen or sixteen-year-old, somewhat shy young man. Seeing this, his body trembled, almost causing him to fall. Although he managed to stabilize himself, his face had lost all color, and it took him several breaths to take a step forward, biting his lip.

The other five people were not much better off than the shy young man.

At this point, the six people on the iron chain had only managed to walk about thirty meters.

On the platform, everyone, though slightly better off than those on the iron chain, all had solemn expressions. A few people with weaker minds and courage were already showing signs of despair. If the half-old man had not clearly stated that falling off the iron chain would result in becoming a laborer or an outer sect disciple, with no risk to their lives, some might have directly forfeited.

Hua Xiajiu, like the other nearly three hundred people, had already covered the iron chain and the first group of seven with his soul perception, repeatedly probing. However, apart from what could be seen with the naked eye, no one discovered any abnormalities, as if the person who fell had simply slipped.

Hua Xiajiu’s face was stern, and his mind was working rapidly, but he still had no conclusion.

Soon, three more screams echoed, and three more people fell into the abyss.

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the remaining three people from the first group finally passed the hundred meters and reached the fork in the iron chain. To everyone’s surprise, the shy young man, who seemed to have the weakest cultivation, was among them.

The fork in the iron chain was a platform about two meters in diameter, emitting a red glow. The shy young man and the other two, with expressions of excitement and fear, glanced back at the hundred-meter chain behind them and then stared at the seven chains in front of them, looking at them with solemn and uneasy expressions. No matter how they looked or probed with their soul perception, they could not discern any differences among the seven chains.

At the same time, under the half-old man’s command, the next group of seven people, trembling with fear, stepped onto the iron chain one by one.

Based on the number of people from the first group who passed the initial hundred meters, only three out of seven made it, which was less than half. And this was just the easiest initial hundred meters.

To reach the seven giant peaks from the fork, the closest peak, the fourth, was about three to four li away, while the farthest, the first and seventh peaks, were nearly ten li away. Moreover, although the second half of the iron chain seemed no different from the first hundred meters, everyone knew that the second half would be even more dangerous.

At this moment, the three people at the fork were looking at each other, all waiting for the other two to make a decision, so they hesitated and did not move.

"You three must make a decision within ten breaths, or you will be considered to have forfeited in the subsequent selection," the half-old man said, his face showing impatience.

Upon hearing this, the shy young man and the other two changed their expressions. The other two looked at each other and then forced the shy young man.

"Boy! You must make a decision quickly, or the two of us will team up and push you into the abyss," one of the young men said with a fierce expression, his voice cold.

The shy young man, upon hearing this, showed fear, glanced at the two with a look of grievance, and stepped onto the iron chain connected to the fourth peak, taking several quick steps forward before closing his eyes and standing still. After all, in the absence of any discernible differences among the seven chains, choosing the shortest one seemed to be the best decision.

Seeing this, the other two young men at the fork showed signs of joy and, without hesitation, followed the shy young man, stepping onto the iron chain connected to the fourth peak.

"Ah! Ah!"

Two screams of agony echoed as the two young men, after the shy young man, stepped onto the iron chain, their eyes turned red, and they fell off the chain, plummeting into the abyss.

Today, I have an appointment to go to a countryside resort, so the chapter in the afternoon will be posted after 5 PM, and the evening update will be normal. I still shamelessly ask for red votes, favorites, and good reviews.