Chapter 72: Survival in Desolate Land
In a desolate land, filled with wilderness and savageness, the sky darkened as numerous objects began to fall from above. But they weren’t rocks, they were creatures. Participants, plummeting from the sky like rain.
"This is the third assessment: the Survival Trial. You are expected to survive for three days in this harsh environment. Your Origin Rings and powerful armaments have been confiscated by the academy for the duration of this trial."
Lucien and the others found themselves free-falling, the wind rushing past them as the ground rushed up to meet them. The second assessment had ended, and they had been expecting Sylas to say something, but instead, their vision had shifted to this.
Most participants immediately panicked, their screams echoing through the air as they flailed helplessly. Some attempted to use their cultivation to slow their descent, while others simply closed their eyes and prayed.
Then Sylas’s voice echoed in their minds, calm and authoritative.
"The rules are the same as your first assessment, with one exception: there is no restriction on killing fellow participants. And also, there will be participants from other continents. I wish you success, and I’ll see you in three days."
Lucien heard the words in his mind and was surprised, as they invoked memories. As he took in the air of his new environment, it wasn’t as harsh as the Land of Death, but that didn’t mean it should be underestimated. It was even more dangerous now, since there were other races with him, other participants from different continents, each with their own goals and ambitions. One mistake, one moment of trust misplaced, could end his life.
But while some were panicking, their faces filled with fear and desperation, Lucien still remained calm. His expression was steady as he began to calculate.
Even though they were falling like comets, everyone landed safely in different locations in this desolate land. Lucien surveyed his surroundings, he was in a swampy area, seemingly at its edge. The ground beneath him was soft and muddy, and the air was thick with the scent of decay and stagnant water.
He checked his body and noticed his Space Ring had disappeared, but he could still sense the Abyss Carver within him. A small relief, but one that reminded him that not everything had been taken.
After a moment of orientation, he headed in a certain direction, his instincts guiding him.
---
Meanwhile, in a certain space, runes filled the area, glowing with ancient light. Different screens displayed scenes of the participants in the desolate land, each showing a different part of the wilderness.
Sylas’s figure appeared in the space, and not long after, eleven more figures appeared, each with different features and from different races. They were the examiners from the twelve main continents.
"Sylas, you’re already here," a low chuckle escaped a blue-haired young man wearing glasses, dressed like a scholar.
Sylas glanced at the person and simply harrumphed without any reply. The scholar was about to speak again when they all sensed a new presence.
Seraphina’s figure appeared.
Sylas saw her and smiled. He had expected her to appear, this assessment had intense dangers, and there was no way she would stay away when Lucien is participating.
The others, who had never seen Seraphina before, immediately became vigilant, their eyes became sharp as they studied her seriously. They hadn’t seen her in the academy before, and her sudden appearance put them on edge.
Sylas, seeing their reaction, immediately stopped them and transmitted Seraphina’s identity into their minds.
When they heard of Seraphina’s identity, their faces paled. Shock rippled through them, and they began to shiver as they realized they had almost attacked someone of her stature. Some of them instinctively moved to bow, but Seraphina waved her hand dismissively.
"There’s no need for that," she said, her voice calm, almost bored.
She didn’t bother with them further, simply taking a seat while watching the trial unfold on the screens. After a moment, she noticed the examiners were still standing, hesitant to sit in her presence.
"You can sit," she said, her tone indifferent. "There’s no problem."
It was only after she spoke that they finally sat down, including Sylas, who let out a quiet breath of relief.
---
Meanwhile, Lucien was still walking through the swampy area, his steps were careful and light as he continuously sensed and surveyed his surroundings for any sign of danger. The murky water rippling with each step, and the air was thick with the buzzing of unseen insects.
Suddenly, from behind him, a volkoid burst out of the shadows, a massive, reptilian beast with scales the color of mud and eyes that were burning with hunger. Its jaws gaped wide, ready to tear into its prey.
But Lucien wasn’t surprised. A longsword materialized in his hands, its blade gleaming faintly in the dim light. In one fluid motion, he swung behind him, his movements sharp and precise.
With just a single slash, the volkoid’s head was severed from its body, its momentum carrying it forward before it crashed into the muddy ground with a heavy thud. The body twitched once, then fell still.
This was the third volkoid that had attacked him in this swamp, but they were weak and dispatched with a single attack. Lucien didn’t even pause to examine the corpse, there was no time to waste for that. He continued forward, his senses still stretched wide, scanning for any new threats.
He walked for what felt like hours, leaving the edge of the swampy area as the terrain slowly shifting from swamp to rocky highlands. The air grew cooler, and the vegetation sparser. Then, something caught his eye, a faint, ethereal glow emanating from a crevice between two massive boulders.
Lucien approached cautiously, his blade was still in hand. Peering into the crevice, he saw it: a small cluster of crystalline flowers, their petals shimmering with a soft, golden light. They pulsed gently, as if alive, radiating a dense, concentrated Originat.
Origin Bloom Flowers. A rare cultivation resource, highly prized for their ability to accelerate cultivation and refine Originat purity. They were valuable, extremely valuable.
But Lucien knew better than to rush in. Cultivation resources of this caliber never went unguarded. He scanned the area, his eyes narrowing as he searched for any sign of the guardian or volkoid.
Suddenly the air grew still. The sounds of the wilderness seemed to fade, replaced by an oppressive silence.
Then, from the shadows of the boulders, a low, guttural growl rumbled, deep and menacing. Two massive, glowing eyes opened in the darkness, fixing themselves on Lucien with predatory intensity.