Ma Jun's appearance, laced with animosity, made Wu Jiu and the others' expressions grim.
If Chen Nan could become a Yin Messenger, even if he had previously beaten Ma Jun, the Ma family wouldn't dare to scheme against him in secret. After all, the reason so many people vied to become Yin Messengers was ultimately due to the improved benefits of the position. Conversely, if Ma Jun took first place, Chen Nan would undoubtedly miss out on becoming a Yin Messenger. In such a scenario, the Ma family would surely not let Chen Nan off the hook, which was their primary concern.
"Whether you can defeat me or not will be known once the martial trials begin," Chen Nan's lips curved into a faint smile. "You'd best not fall into my hands, or I'll beat you until you're kneeling and calling me dad!"
Ma Jun chuckled. "Sorry, I also broke through to the sixth level of the Cai Yin realm yesterday. Even if we meet on the battlefield, you won't be able to defeat me." He knew Chen Nan was stronger than him, but having reached the sixth level of Cai Yin, he believed he could defeat Chen Nan and emerge victorious.
"Oh, is that so?" Chen Nan sighed. "I'm so sorry, I've also broken through, reaching the seventh level of Cai Yin!"
???
Ma Jun's expression instantly froze. He hadn't expected Chen Nan to have broken through as well. This was rather awkward.
"Even if you've broken through, you still won't achieve ultimate victory!" Ma Jun snorted coldly and left the county office in a huff. He had come specifically to boast to Chen Nan about his advancement to the sixth level of Cai Yin. Who would have thought it would backfire on him?
After waiting for about an hour, the one hundred participants who had advanced to the third round gathered in the martial arts arena. Many others had also come to spectate.
Han Zongyuan, clad in official robes, appeared at the judges' table. To his left and right stood four examiners from Fengdu City. Han Zongyuan looked at the one hundred contestants and announced in a loud voice, "Congratulations to all of you for defeating other participants and advancing to the third round's martial trials."
"Since it is a competition, there must be winners and losers."
"The third round's assessment is simple."
"This round is divided into three sub-stages."
"The first sub-stage is willpower."
"After all, the job of a Yin Messenger is not easy; they often have to deal with ghosts."
"Only those with great willpower can be competent."
As he finished speaking, a county official brought an incense burner into the midst of the contestants.
"As soon as you light this incense, you will see the thing you fear most in your heart," Han Zongyuan said. "This stage appears to be without danger, but it carries great risk; you might die within the illusion."
"Therefore, if anyone is overcome by fear, they may choose to withdraw."
At these words, everyone's expression changed. They had never expected this stage to require them to confront their deepest fears. It even carried the risk of death. Instantly, some people left the martial arts arena. The benefits of being a Yin Messenger were indeed good, but not worth such a great risk.
One by one, and then two by two, as time passed, a total of thirteen people abandoned the martial trials.
Han Zongyuan continued, "The four examiners beside me are all from Fengdu City. They will give you a comprehensive score based on your performance during the trials."
"The comprehensive score from the third round will be added to your score from the previous written trials."
"The top fifty highest-scoring individuals will proceed to the second stage of the assessment."
"If there are no questions, you may begin."
The eighty-seven remaining contestants stood silently, their expressions solemn.
Han Zongyuan: "Light the incense!"
"Yes!"
The official took out a stick of black incense, lit it with a flint, and inserted it into the burner. The others saw this and sat cross-legged, displaying expressions of resolute preparedness.
Chen Nan held his breath, intending to slow his breathing to delay the onset of seeing his deepest fears. However, he underestimated the black incense. Even if you controlled your breath, it would penetrate everywhere, invading the body and eroding willpower.
"I underestimated this thing," Chen Nan dared not be careless, his expression growing increasingly grave.
The next moment, he felt as if he had traveled through time and space, appearing in the depths of a vast, boundless universe. Before him lay the three realms: the mortal world, the underworld, and the divine realm. Suddenly, a blinding light erupted from the underworld. Immediately after, the underworld began to collapse and annihilate. His friends, the women of this world, his family, all turned to ashes at this moment. No one could escape this cataclysm. He watched helplessly as familiar faces perished before his eyes, unable to do anything. He felt as if his heart was being sliced by a knife, experiencing a suffocating sensation.
Then came the divine realm. He saw countless celestial beings desperately trying to resist the approaching cataclysm, but none could hold on. Even though they were high and mighty gods, possessing supreme divine abilities and great fortune, they were as humble as ants before this catastrophe. The divine realm and the underworld perished one after another. Subsequently, it was the mortal realm and the immortal realm. His beloved family and loved ones all met tragic deaths before his eyes. He watched them leave him, unable to prevent this catastrophe no matter how hard he tried.
He saw Qing Long. Before dying, Qing Long roared at him in fury: "You entered the underworld, yet why couldn't you prevent this cataclysm? Chen Nan, I am very disappointed in you!"
"You are unworthy of rebuilding the Heavenly Court!"
"You have failed the expectations of all the Sages!"
Qing Long's words filled him with immense shame. He wanted to explain his experiences in the underworld, but Qing Long died before his eyes. Immediately after, the mortal realm began to annihilate. Billions of living beings met their tragic ends. If it were just this, it would be one thing. But what Chen Nan hadn't expected was that all the sentient beings of the three realms had died, yet he alone remained alive. Only he was left in the three realms. Although he was still alive, his life was worse than death. He wanted to die, trying every method of suicide, but for some reason, he couldn't. He lived in pain and guilt day after day.
"No!"
"This cannot happen!"
"I will absolutely not allow the three realms to be destroyed!"
A low roar emanated from Chen Nan's heart. Some pain, once experienced, was unforgettable. If what he was seeing were to truly unfold, he would indeed wish for death more than life. Therefore, he had to prevent the possibility of the three realms being destroyed. He had to become a Yin Messenger. Only then could he rise step by step, enter the eighteen levels of hell, and return the human and beast realms to Empress Houtu.
He experienced unprecedented torment in his heart, and his face contorted in a look of ferocious pain.
Seeing this, Wu Jiu sighed inwardly. "This time, Chen Nan is probably not going to become a Yin Messenger!"
Song Yunfei couldn't help but ask, "Boss, why do you have no confidence in Chen Nan?"
Wu Jiu shook his head. "Look at Ma Jun, and you'll know why I said that!"
Song Yunfei and the others all looked at Ma Jun. Compared to the expressions of pain, anger, and solemnity on everyone else's faces, Ma Jun appeared composed, with a hint of peacefulness on his face. Was this reasonable?