Inside the venue, as the animals finished their meals one after another, the audience showed expressions of lingering satisfaction.
After all, it was truly their first time watching animals eat at such close proximity.
The time also slowly approached two o'clock in the afternoon.
According to the schedule, the next event was the rock climbing competition.
Compared to the preceding events, the rock climbing competition was significantly more thrilling.
Of course, until the venue was specifically revealed, everyone did not have a clear perception of the degree of thrill.
It wasn't until the large screen displayed the venue for this competition that the expressions of the audience immediately underwent a subtle change.
This was because the competition site shown on the screen was clearly a natural rock face.
By visual estimation alone, it was nearly a hundred meters high, with undulating rocks that were completely different from indoor climbing venues.
Some sections even presented a right-angle formation, giving one a sense of trepidation just by looking from afar, let alone climbing.
Just as everyone was wondering where the host had gone, a helicopter suddenly appeared on the large screen, and a familiar figure also appeared on this helicopter.
The next moment, a familiar voice resonated from around the competition site.
"Hello, dear audience, I am currently located at the main venue for this rock climbing competition."
"The cliff face you are now seeing is a trace left by the fourth glacial period, a purely natural cliff face."
"The overall angle is greater than 60 degrees, with some sections exceeding 90 degrees, and a vertical height of 98 meters."
"Our contestants will need to choose a route from the base of the cliff and climb to the top."
As the host spoke, the camera zoomed in for a close-up of the cliff.
Only a few safety ropes dangled precariously on the treacherous cliff, while below was a thick layer of inflatable mats.
Even with the organizing committee taking every safety precaution, ordinary spectators still dared not even consider trying.
Amidst their apprehension, they couldn't help but start speculating about the contestants who would participate in this competition.
"Could it be a monkey this time? I feel like any type of monkey would have an advantage over humans in a climbing competition."
"That's true. Even though Grandpa Strong is so old, if he were to participate in this competition, he might climb faster than most professional athletes."
"You're mistaken. They might be good at climbing trees, but when it comes to climbing a cliff like this, almost all primates are similar."
"The main issue isn't climbing, but how to maintain stability and balance at such a height."
...
Before the crowd could reach any conclusion, the camera quickly panned down, and figures began to appear at the base of the cliff.
Due to it being a niche sport, the audience didn't immediately recognize these contestants.
Only one individual, a free climber who had previously challenged skyscrapers, left a slight impression on some.
However, when the camera focused on the last contestant, the audience was immediately filled with surprise.
This was because the figure was far too familiar; it was the Himalayan blue sheep that had previously clashed with the Tibetan antelope, a nationally protected second-class animal.
If memory served correctly, it was also among the first batch of animals banned by the organizing committee.
To think that it, once banned, had now returned.
"Am I seeing things correctly? Is Xihong Zoo sending a sheep this time?"
"I can understand a sheep participating in the long jump, but rock climbing is a bit baffling."
"Are its four hooves really suitable for climbing?"
"No way, no way, surely no one has forgotten its name so quickly."
"Exactly, why would anyone think a Himalayan blue sheep can't climb?"
"Precisely, guess why it's called a Himalayan blue sheep."
"Let me put it this way, for a Himalayan blue sheep, anything over 90 degrees is a slope, and anything less than 90 degrees is just a path."
"I'm starting to suspect the park director intentionally had this Himalayan blue sheep eliminated back then."
...
While everyone was still debating whether the Himalayan blue sheep was suitable for this competition, the judges on-site announced the start of the race.
Immediately, the rock climbers each secured their safety ropes and began to ascend the cliff face using their climbing techniques.
It wasn't until they had climbed nearly 10 meters that the Himalayan blue sheep finally moved at its own pace.
To everyone's astonishment, this Himalayan blue sheep had absolutely no safety equipment on its body.
Before they could exclaim, the blue sheep began to ascend at a speed that surpassed everyone's imagination.
Wherever it went, there seemed to be no obstruction. Protrusions and cracks appeared to not exist in its eyes.
Even on the steeper sections, it only paused for a moment before leaping over.
Its four hooves seemed to be equipped with hooks, always firmly planted on the cliff face.
The only thing that might cause it to pause slightly was the weeds and herbs growing on the cliff.
By the time its climbing progress was past the halfway mark, the human contestants had barely climbed one-fifth of the way.
The human contestants' mouths hung open in astonishment.
Just as the human contestants were about to observe how this animal expert was managing such steady progress, round, smooth pearls began to fall from the sky, nearly landing in the mouths of these contestants.
This scene was naturally captured by the aerial camera and presented to the audience.
"Now I finally understand what 'flying at high altitude' means."
"Disdain. This is utter disdain. Not only does the Himalayan blue sheep contestant need to eat during the race, but it also needs to defecate during the race."
"Himalayan blue sheep: Have a taste of the Hundred Herbs Pill, brothers."
"What kind of a shit-raining-down competition is this?"
"A brief科普: Many of the grasses that Himalayan blue sheep eat have medicinal value, so their feces themselves possess medicinal properties. Clearing heat and improving eyesight are all within their capabilities."
"So, not only are there obstacles during rock climbing, but there are also attack items."
"What do you call this? This is like saying, 'You climb so slow you can't even catch the shit while it's still hot.'"
"Eating at such a height can easily lead to catching a cold in the stomach. It's a mercy if we don't get diarrhea."
"It's really no different from us walking on flat ground. Are the animals' talents all this heaven-defying?"
"If it weren't for those few people still dangling there, I would have suspected my screen was tilted."
...
At this moment, everyone finally understood why the Himalayan blue sheep was called a Himalayan blue sheep. This extraordinary performer from the animal kingdom had truly opened their eyes today.
As the Himalayan blue sheep successfully navigated one perilous section after another, the audience's praises never ceased.
Even when it successfully reached the summit, everyone was still immersed in the shock brought by its incredible climbing skills.
ps: Another six chapters today. I'll see if I can manage eight tomorrow, I need to speed up the plot. The day after tomorrow should also be a minimum of seven chapters. I'll aim for a million words before the Lunar New Year.