Chapter 951: Final Trial
"Oh?" Seeing Yun Che, Ji Hanfeng also froze for a moment.
"What's going on with this brat? He actually came out so quickly?" Li Mingcheng looked as if he'd seen a ghost in broad daylight.
"Indeed, it's abnormal." Ji Hanfeng glanced at Li Mingcheng's reaction, and said thoughtfully: "Junior Brother Mingcheng, you seem to be quite concerned about this brat. Could it be that the person you were referring to earlier is him?"
"Hmm, it is indeed him. I'm making a fool of myself in front of Senior Brother Hanfeng." Li Mingcheng spread his hands.
"Hahaha," Ji Hanfeng indeed laughed: "That sure is interesting. Could it be that he tried to flatter you but failed, then turned angry out of humiliation, which made you displeased?"
"You might not believe it, Senior Brother Hanfeng," Li Mingcheng sneered: "This brat is more 'accomplished' than we thought. Probably relying on Mu Bingyun's influence. Hmph, forget it. In the end, he's just a useless jumping clown, not even worth wasting words between me and Senior Brother Hanfeng. After the trial, as long as I wish, I can crush him easily."
"Better to be a bit cautious." Although he said "cautious," Ji Hanfeng's tone was full of contempt: "At least an Ice Phoenix Palace Master brought him back from the lower realm."
"Heh, Senior Brother Hanfeng is joking." Li Mingcheng sneered disdainfully: "It's true that Mu Bingyun brought him back, but a piece of trash who hasn't even stepped into the Divine Path and has a broken mind—I don't think a dignified Ice Phoenix Palace Master would specially protect him. The reason she brought back such trash, I guess..." Li Mingcheng's voice dropped to the lowest: "This brat has a pretty face that can seduce women. That Mu Bingyun knows she doesn't have many days left, so she thought it over and brought a pretty boy back for pleasure."
"Hahahahaha!" Ji Hanfeng burst into wild laughter: "Junior Brother Mingcheng sees through it clearly. If the Chief Palace Master hears this, he will surely be pleased, hahaha."
"Heh, I'm extremely curious now—how did he manage to get into the top thousand?"
"Who cares." Ji Hanfeng curled his lips: "The second trial doesn't restrict the use of profound artifacts or various tools. There are countless ways to cheat. What's the point even if he passed? Besides, he's just at the bottom. Consider it an extra bit of entertainment. Junior Brother Mingcheng, the next final trial is the main event. You must go all out. After all, the Yuluo Ice Soul Pill is a sacred medicine that even your senior brother cannot obtain. If you can perfectly refine it, not only will your profound power skyrocket in a short time, but it will also deeply temper your blood and marrow, greatly benefiting your future cultivation of the Ice Phoenix God-Sealing Canon."
"Naturally." Li Mingcheng looked determined. He lowered his voice again: "The reason my aunt made me delay until this year to participate in the trial is precisely for this 'Yuluo Ice Soul Pill.' These people are not qualified to compete with me for it."
On the other side, Mu Sushan's gaze locked onto Yun Che the moment he appeared, then he murmured thoughtfully: "It seems things are indeed not as simple as they appear on the surface."
"Huh? Senior Sushan, what did you say?" Mu Xiaolan looked up and asked.
"The Yun Che you brought has passed the second trial." Mu Sushan said: "Passing the second trial of the Cold Snow Hall with power that hasn't entered the Divine Path—seems it has never happened before in the history of Yin Xue Realm."
"Ah? You said Yun Che passed the trial?" Mu Xiaolan was stunned, almost thinking her ears were playing tricks. She subconsciously looked up and immediately saw Yun Che standing outside the profound formation, her mouth gaping open.
At that moment, with the flash of the last white light, the thousandth profound practitioner to pass the trial left the profound formation. Instantly, the light of the trial formation completely dissipated, revealing over nine thousand figures inside the formation. Most of them were sitting slumped on the ground, their faces gloomy.
The closure of the Blizzard Realm also meant that they had failed this trial. To participate in the trial again, they would have to wait at least five years.
"The second trial ends. For now, congratulations to those who passed." Ji Hanfeng stepped forward and said unhurriedly, then swept his gaze over the formation: "As for you all, hmph, you can leave now. Train well and come back in five years!"
After speaking, he grabbed with his hand, and at the same place, another profound formation appeared, instantly teleporting all those who did not pass the trial outside the Cold Snow Hall.
"Yun Che... you... you actually passed the trial?" Mu Xiaolan stared at Yun Che as he walked over, her face full of shock.
"I passed, but you seem quite unhappy." Yun Che said with a look of frustration.
"This has nothing to do with being happy or not!" Mu Xiaolan quickly moved closer to Yun Che and said cautiously: "How did you do it? Everyone who participated in the trial with you has the power of the Divine Path. Even the weakest is tens or hundreds of times stronger than you! How could you possibly pass! You didn't use some kind of cheating device, did you?"
"..." Yun Che pressed his forehead: "Mm, you might have guessed right."
"Hmph! I knew it!" The naive Mu Xiaolan didn't catch the meaning in Yun Che's words: "Could it be that Master told you about the Cold Snow Hall trial content when you were in Tian Xuan Continent, and gave you some kind of profound stone that can travel through the Blizzard Realm? Hmph, no wonder you dared to participate in the Cold Snow Hall trial."
"Alright, alright, you guessed right." Yun Che curled his lips.
A total of one thousand people passed the second trial, and among them, Yun Che was a complete and unique anomaly. Most people's gazes were fixed on Yun Che, either greatly puzzled or whispering among themselves.
Ji Hanfeng's voice came over at this moment: "Passing the second trial has already proven your strength to some extent. However, don't be too happy too soon. You've only crossed another threshold that is neither high nor low. The upcoming third trial is the moment that decides your fate."
Ji Hanfeng's words instantly made the atmosphere exceptionally heavy. All excitement on the faces of every profound practitioner had completely dissipated, replaced by deep tension. Passing the second trial only meant they had taken a small step closer to the Cold Snow Hall. Next was the true moment that decided their fate—whether they could enter the Cold Snow Hall or not was absolutely two different destinies.
Among those who passed the trial, a full ninety percent would be eliminated in the final trial! It was extremely cruel.
"The final trial is called the 'Ice Profound Realm'." Ji Hanfeng's gaze was cold and stern: "This trial is relatively much simpler than the second one. It tests the most important thing about you—that is your true strength!"
"In the Ice Profound Realm, you will be attacked by powerful profound beasts. The longer you stay inside, the more profound beasts you will encounter! Moreover, the space is limited; you can only fight, with nowhere to escape! As for how to pass the Ice Profound Realm trial, I believe you already understand it in your hearts—"
Ji Hanfeng extended his hand: "That is, the longer you persist, the better! The last one hundred people to leave the Ice Profound Realm will pass the final trial and become disciples of our Cold Snow Hall from now on! And the one who persists the longest will obtain the 'Yuluo Ice Soul Pill'!"
Hearing the name 'Yuluo Ice Soul Pill' from Ji Hanfeng's mouth, more than half of the profound practitioners still couldn't help swallowing hard.
"The Blizzard Realm trial teleports your true body to the Blizzard Realm, and it does not restrict the use of any profound artifacts. So, perhaps some will use certain teleportation profound stones or similar items to cheat—oh no, no, it can't even be called cheating. Since it's not restricted, it can be considered allowed."
Ji Hanfeng deliberately glanced at Yun Che as he said these words: "After all, the second trial is only used to filter out the excess people. What determines the result is the third trial. A piece of trash, even if they use external items to pass the second trial, cannot pass the final trial, and they would only waste precious profound artifacts that can interfere with the Blizzard Realm. Tsk tsk. So, our Cold Snow Hall has always been too lazy to prohibit this meaningless 'cheating'."
"As for the final trial, no one should hope to take shortcuts." Ji Hanfeng sneered: "Because what enters the Ice Profound Realm is not your true body, but your 'projection'! Your power and will will be fully projected, but you cannot use any external items inside—including your weapons and contracted profound beasts! The only thing you can rely on is your true strength!"
"In the Ice Profound Realm, once you die, you will be immediately teleported out, with no second chance. But rest assured, what dies in the Ice Profound Realm is only your 'projection.' No matter how miserably you die inside, you won't really die, not even a single scratch. However, if any of you are afraid of death, you can shout 'surrender' and it will do as you wish, directly sending you out of the Ice Profound Realm."
"In other words, to pass the Ice Profound Realm trial, try to die as slowly as possible inside. Is that clear?!"
"Understood!" Li Mingcheng was the first to answer, with a faint smile of determination on his face: "Senior Brother Hanfeng, I am ready. We can start at any time. I just hope the profound beasts in the Ice Profound Realm won't disappoint me too much."
"Very good." Ji Hanfeng nodded. He extended his arm, and at the same place, he activated the third profound formation. This time, however, it emitted a deep blue profound light: "Now, all those who passed the second trial, step into the center of the profound formation. The final trial that decides your fate is about to begin!"
Yun Che roughly understood what the third trial was about. However, it was his first day in Yin Xue Realm, unlike other examinees who had prior knowledge of the trial content. The key point was that in the second trial, he could judge his ranking based on the auras of other examinees, but in this final trial, everyone seemed to be 'projected' into an independent space, unable to see other examinees, let alone interfere with each other. Thus, he couldn't determine his ranking based on the time he persisted.
If he persisted too long and accidentally obtained a high ranking, it would surely bring trouble to himself.
If he held back too much and ended up outside the top hundred, he would have no hope of entering the Cold Snow Hall, and his idea of winning face for Mu Bingyun would become a bubble.
"Hey, to pass the 'Ice Profound Realm' trial, how long does one usually need to persist inside?" Yun Che did not immediately step into the profound formation but asked in a low voice.
"How would I know? I entered the Ice Phoenix Palace directly, and never participated in the Cold Snow Hall trial." Mu Xiaolan said smugly, then shot him a glare: "Why are you asking? You heard them just now. Everyone can tell that you definitely cheated in the Blizzard Realm. But in the Ice Profound Realm, it is absolutely, absolutely, absolutely impossible to cheat."
"I'm just asking casually." Yun Che muttered quietly. This little girl, aside from being good at rebutting, really didn't know anything when asked.
"According to the results of previous years, to pass the Ice Profound Realm trial, persisting for a quarter of an hour is considered the minimum baseline." Mu Sushan, who was beside Mu Xiaolan, suddenly said: "And some remarkable geniuses can even persist for nearly half an hour. Good luck to you."
Yun Che turned to look at Mu Sushan, slightly surprised, then nodded: "Thank you for the guidance, Senior."
After speaking, he turned and walked toward the profound formation.
At the same time, the corner of Mu Sushan's mouth twitched, and a mysterious strangeness flashed in his eyes.
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The concept of projection will be used in many places later, such as the extremely crucial 'Profound God Convention'. Take note of it.
The submissions for the third anniversary fan fiction event of Evil God have concluded. The list of the top seven fan fictions will be announced on the 30th of September at noon on the Tieba forum. During the seven-day National Day holiday, there will be an exciting fan fiction of Against the Gods released every day. Interested readers can check the pinned post on the Against the Gods Tieba or Mars Gravity's WeChat public account (huoxgyli99) to view.
If you feel that's not enough, follow the Against the Gods Tieba. There will be more fan fictions that didn't make the top seven also published on Tieba during the National Day. After the National Day ends, all Against the Gods side stories will be compiled into the Heaven-Defying World Scripture. Looking forward to everyone's attention.
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