Chapter 10

At this moment, the children who were still standing on the mountaintop were only half of the original number, and their faces were filled with worry. (www..com) The first challenge was already so difficult, and the next two would undoubtedly be even more challenging.

"The next challenge is a test of endurance. Each of you will carry a ten-pound weight and climb the steps to the top of the Green Bamboo Peak. The time limit is two hours, and the test will begin in half an hour. Prepare yourselves."

Elder Wang looked at the exhausted children, showing no pity on his face.

Qin Fengming and the other children had been brought to this place early and had not yet eaten breakfast. By now, they were already famished. Upon hearing Elder Wang's words, they could not stop sobbing.

Green Bamboo Peak was over two hundred zhang high, and the steps wound up the mountain wall, sometimes steep and sometimes gentle. It was said that the entire mountain had a total of one hundred thousand steps.

Under normal circumstances, it would take these children about an hour to climb to the top.

Now, they were required to carry a ten-pound weight and reach the peak within two hours, despite their already limited strength. This was indeed a significant challenge.

"The time has come. The second challenge begins now."

Half an hour later, Elder Wang stood up, looked at the children, and said without any expression.

Although the children were very afraid, they all got up, picked up the weights, and began their climb.

At the beginning, the children made good progress, reaching a height of sixty to seventy zhang in just a short half-hour. However, their speed then sharply decreased.

On the mountain path, one could see children lying on the steps, drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

Although Qin Fengming had not stopped to rest, he was already feeling somewhat tired. Fortunately, this level of difficulty was not too challenging for him, as he was accustomed to walking on mountain paths.

On the way, he encountered Duan Meng and a few others. They did not speak to each other but encouraged each other with their eyes.

What greatly surprised Qin Fengming was that whenever he felt extremely tired and stopped, he would feel a warm current flow from his abdomen to his limbs, making him feel incredibly refreshed.

This sensation was incredibly mysterious, but no matter how he tried to control the warm current, it remained beyond his control, appearing and disappearing mysteriously.

Thus, Qin Fengming walked and rested intermittently, appearing very relaxed among the children.

After resting three times on the steps, he turned a corner, and the peak of Green Bamboo Peak was already in sight.

Climbing the steps to the peak, he found only one child, who looked lean but sturdy, sitting at the entrance. The child was looking at Qin Fengming with a strange expression.

Qin Fengming did not say anything but walked past the child and found a rock to sit on.

The child glanced coldly at Qin Fengming and then turned to look at the steps leading up the mountain.

After a while, another child climbed up the steps, reached the peak, and collapsed on a rock, closing his eyes and breathing heavily.

Time passed slowly, and as the set time approached, only Duan Meng and Wei Boqiang, who had come with Qin Fengming, reached the peak. The others were nowhere to be seen.

By now, there were already about forty children on the peak, all of whom looked completely exhausted, as if they had used their last bit of strength to reach the top.

Just as the two hours were up, Hall Master Zhang and Elder Wang silently appeared before Qin Fengming and the others.

"The time is up. Only forty-three of you have passed this challenge. The others have lost their chance to be selected again. Even if you fail the third challenge, you can still become an external disciple of Luoxia Valley."

Upon hearing Elder Wang's words, Qin Fengming and the others were all surprised. They had never heard of external disciples and did not know what they were.

At this moment, Qin Fengming had only one thought: to pass the third challenge and become a formal disciple of Luoxia Valley.

"Now, rest for a while. After a meal, the third challenge will begin."

Elder Wang's face showed no emotion, and he showed no mercy to the exhausted children. His voice was devoid of any warmth.

The children knew only that the third challenge would test their courage, but they had no idea how it would be conducted.

However, after experiencing the difficulty of the first two challenges, they all knew that the third would also be extremely challenging. Qin Fengming turned to look at Duan Meng and the others, who also looked bewildered.

When Elder Wang saw that the forty children had rested enough, he stood up and said:

"The third challenge tests your courage. This time, it will be relatively easier. You just need to pass through a path filled with venomous snakes, pick a ripe red fruit from a small tree by the path, and return. That will count as passing."

"However, I must warn you that the snakes may attack you. Getting injured is certain, but whether it will be life-threatening depends on your luck. If anyone is afraid, they can choose not to participate."

After saying this, he glanced at the children, turned, and walked into the depths of Green Bamboo Peak.

Upon hearing Elder Wang's words, the forty children immediately turned pale. Children have a natural fear of snakes, and now they were being asked to walk through a path filled with venomous snakes, which was a terrifying prospect.

After a long moment, the children gradually stood up and followed Elder Wang, who was walking slowly ahead.

Elder Wang did not turn back, but he was aware of the children's actions. Once they caught up, he quickened his pace and led them to a small path beside the square.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a long path appeared before them.

"Each of you will enter the forest ahead, pick a ripe red fruit, and return here. That will count as passing."

Pointing ahead, Elder Wang spoke without any emotion.

Following his finger, Qin Fengming focused his gaze and saw a path leading into the forest. On the trees and the path, various colored snakes were visible, their heads raised, tongues flicking, and hissing.

Faced with so many venomous snakes, even Qin Fengming felt a wave of fear.

The other children, seeing so many snakes, began to tremble uncontrollably. Some were already crying, and others had collapsed on the ground, too afraid to move. They all looked very helpless.

Elder Wang's face remained expressionless as he sternly looked at them, his voice devoid of any warmth:

"You have the time of one incense stick to pick the red fruit. Those who succeed will pass. You may begin now." He then took out an incense stick, lit it with a paper match, and inserted it into a crevice in the rock.