A total of two thousand people registered for the trial in the "Monster Spirit Realm."
However, only a little over nineteen hundred actually arrived.
This was because some people, after registering and watching the promotional video, had weighed their own abilities and decided to back out.
Today, everyone had gathered in the Immortal Cultivation Era Square. Whether they were here to obtain cultivation techniques or just to watch the excitement, a large crowd had turned up.
This square, completed just over a week ago, had already developed into a commercial street.
Some people were setting up stalls to sell cultivation techniques, while others were peddling spirit stones.
Not everyone who obtained a cultivation technique wanted to cultivate immortals. While the techniques were still valuable, even low-grade mortal-level ones could fetch twenty to forty thousand.
Small vendor stalls, eateries, and milk tea shops had sprung up one after another.
As long as the customer traffic was sufficient, there was profit to be made.
Moreover, in the long run, as long as people still desired to cultivate immortals, the customer flow here would not diminish.
However, today's protagonists were the more than nineteen hundred participants in the trial. Some of them wanted to achieve success, some wanted to make money, and some simply enjoyed seeking thrills.
Li Qingyun and his fellow pioneers stood at the very front of the crowd.
Unlike the others, they knew Chu Yang's expectations of them and understood their mission.
Others had choices; they had none. They had to fight for their lives! To strive for every bit of resource they could obtain!
Chu Yang stood before them and said loudly, "All of you who have the courage to participate in this trial are already stronger than most! Once you enter the 'Monster Spirit Realm,' prioritize your own safety. Monster beasts are not cats and dogs; you might want to pet them, but they only want to eat you!"
Upon hearing this, everyone erupted in laughter.
"Since this is a trial, I will not save you, no matter what dangers you encounter! Remember, do not place your hopes on any monster beast showing you mercy. Once inside, perhaps even your companions are not to be trusted. You must remain vigilant at all times!"
Even though everyone had been informed in advance, hearing Chu Yang reiterate that he would not save them made their faces turn somewhat pale.
"Monster beasts have demon cores within them. The demon core of a first-order monster beast is worth 1 point, a second-order one is worth 2 points, and so on. Rankings will be based on points. The duration is seven days. Your actions within the realm will not be governed by any rules, but they will be broadcast live. Therefore, before doing anything, consider whether you will still be able to face people after you come out."
Afterward, Chu Yang extended his hand, and a giant black vortex materialized before the crowd.
He said calmly, "I won't say any more. So, the first phase of the Monster Beast Secret Realm Trial... begins!"
As Chu Yang's words fell, all the registered participants, with their various emotions, stepped into the vortex one by one.
"I bet! Li Qingyun will be first!"
"That's not interesting! You're just picking the one with the best talent!"
"Then I bet Brother Da Teng will be second!"
"I disagree! Although Brother Da Teng has True Dragon bloodline, he must have spent his time in bed. The old Daoist priest is still amazing!"
"I think that Meng Zibin looks quite reliable!"
"Doesn't anyone speak up for my Brother Wei?"
"......"
The crowd's attention had shifted from the "Talent Appraisal Stone" to the Monster Beast Secret Realm trial.
For the past few days, they had watched people appraise their talents, and besides shouting "666" or gasping in amazement, there seemed to be little else of interest.
Chu Yang had introduced something new this time, and everyone's curiosity was piqued again.
Xue Qianwei had already prepared a huge screen for Chu Yang.
Chu Yang pointed into the distance, and a kind of power emanated from his fingertips, landing on the massive screen.
Instantly, the screen rippled and distorted.
A new scene appeared before everyone's eyes: rolling mountain ranges, winding rivers, towering volcanoes, and snow-covered peaks.
A small world, containing so many things.
Even though they had seen it in the video, the crowd still gasped in astonishment.
Beams of light illuminated, and approximately two thousand trial participants were teleported to the outskirts of the "Monster Spirit Realm."
And among these two thousand trial participants, many of their first thoughts upon entering were to take out their phones and take pictures.
This was a world untouched by industrial pollution, where the air was filled with a fresh, invigorating scent.
"Ah! The scenery is really beautiful! Shouldn't I take a selfie?"
"Looking around, there are no monster beasts at all. It seems Brother Xian exaggerated!"
"Haha! Where are all the dangers! Guys, hold my phone for me and take a cool picture!"
The crowd looked around and indeed saw no monster beasts. They all relaxed their vigilance, even joking with each other.
One trial participant held his phone, taking pictures of the other three.
However, the person taking the photos suddenly turned ashen, his lips trembling as he looked at the image on his phone.
"Did you get it?"
"What's wrong? Do you have diarrhea?"
"Stop shaking! It's just a photo!"
The photographer, however, shouted in terror, "Run!"
"Run what... mmm... mmm..."
From the trees behind them, a giant green snake with branches growing from its body emerged. It opened its cavernous maw and directly engulfed the head of a trial participant who was striking a pose.
Sharp fangs pierced his neck, and crimson blood splattered out.
The trial participant struggled a few times. The giant snake shook its head and directly bit off his head, then tilted its head back and swallowed it whole.
"Ah!!!!"
Screams of terror immediately shattered the tranquility of the forest.
The other trial participants also witnessed what had happened here, and they realized that their mental fortitude was not as strong as they had imagined!
Some were screaming in terror, others had legs that turned to jelly, and only a very few attempted to channel the spiritual energy within their bodies.
"Tree snake, a first-order monster beast. It can use its form and color to camouflage itself on trees and likes to ambush prey. It can also spray green poisonous mist that causes dizziness. Don't sit down to rest by a tree once you're inside..."
Chu Yang's words from the promotional video echoed in their minds, but it was too late to recall them now.
Because the first ones to meet their fate were not just one trial participant.
As everyone panicked, a young man's eyes were fixed on the tree snake that had just eaten someone and was now chasing others.
"Demon core..."
He held an axe, charging forward fiercely. Red flames flickered on the axe.
The tree snake was happily chasing people. These people, who went limp at the mere sight of it, had given it no reason for caution.
It wasn't until an axe flashing with fire struck its head fiercely, creating a ghastly wound, that it began to roar in pain!
Its thick tail swept towards the young man, but he ducked down, and the tail swept over his head.
Then, the young man let out a roar, raised his axe, aimed at the snake's vulnerable spot, and brought it down with full force!
After a violent struggle, the tree snake, which had just killed a trial participant, lost all signs of life.
The young man was named Zhang Xiaohu. He was merely an early-stage Qi Condensation cultivator with low-grade talent, but he wanted to compete for a spot on the rankings...