“Those people, their cultivation is all at the first level of Martial Lord. Not one of them is ordinary. It seems the competition in this first round will be fierce.”
“These must be the strongest among the four from each faction. Let alone taking first in the first round, even making the top ten will be intensely competitive.”
The crowd gasped in amazement. These thirty-five individuals were among the strongest in the first round.
The reason they stood before the Illusion Array Gate was to prove to others their strength to vie for top rankings.
Every young genius had spirit and pride, unwilling to appear weaker than other factions.
None of the Martial Emperors present spoke. This was a contest for the younger generation, full of youthful vigour, flaunting their prowess, which was entirely normal.
“Huh? It seems two factions haven’t sent anyone up?”
At that moment, someone counted the thirty-five in the air and exclaimed in surprise.
“The teams from the Purple Family and the Ling Family in the southeast haven’t gone up,” someone quickly noticed.
“The Ling Family is a new emperor. It’s understandable they might not compete for top ranks and avoid confronting other geniuses. But the Purple Family is an established Martial Emperor faction. Can they not produce a single decent youth?”
“Even if they lack strength, they shouldn’t lack spirit. The Purple Family people are too timid.”
Numerous gazes turned towards the Purple Family’s direction, accompanied by scornful remarks.
“Let’s enter the illusion array,” Lin Xiao said, glancing at Zi Ling.
Zi Ling nodded.
Then, together with Lin Xiao, they soared into the sky, rushing straight into the Illusion Array Gate under everyone’s gaze.
Yes, they charged directly into the Illusion Array Gate without pausing or showing any intent to provoke others.
The crowd was speechless. These two from the Purple Family were utterly unconventional.
Other factions went up to challenge or show defiance, but these two just rushed into the Illusion Array Gate, ignoring everyone else.
As a result, they became the first youths to enter the gate, drawing considerable attention.
The thirty-five youths waiting at the gate, including Duan Tianya, were stunned. They hadn’t entered first due to an unspoken agreement.
Yet these two disregarded that agreement, charging past them straight into the gate.
“Huh? Why haven’t you gone in? What are you waiting for?”
At that moment, a hearty, puzzled voice rang out. A burly youth with a bear-like frame flew up.
The thirty-five in the air darkened with anger.
However, upon recognising Ling Hu’s face, many dismissed their initial thoughts.
This was the youth recently famed in Shengshi City, son of a Martial Emperor.
Compared to others, his connection to a Martial Emperor was two generations closer.
Most notably, his father, the new emperor Ling Xiao, was only in his forties. He fought even the younger generation without regard for his status as a Martial Emperor.
He even challenged other Martial Emperors without adhering to norms.
This made many wary.
Of course, not everyone was intimidated. Though Ling Xiao was unconventional, they too had Martial Emperors backing them.
This was the Southeast Region Youth Assembly. Attacking Ling Hu here would leave Ling Xiao with no justification.
If Ling Xiao acted, other Martial Emperors would not stand idly by.
“Hmph. Don’t let me meet you, or I’ll eliminate you first,” Duan Tianya snorted loudly, then leapt into the Illusion Array Gate.
“Ignorant fool. Not even a Martial Lord. Even without meeting anyone, you won’t make the second round,” Ping Tianhao said calmly, also entering the gate.
The others in the air, along with those yet to take flight, followed suit, rushing into the array.
Inside the illusion array, Lin Xiao’s vision blurred, and a scene like a primeval forest appeared before him.
Ahead, steep peaks rose, waterfalls cascaded, ancient trees towered, and lush greenery abounded. Faintly, beast roars echoed from afar.
It felt like the real world, every blade of grass and tree utterly lifelike.
Lin Xiao even wondered if this was truly an illusion and whether dying here meant actual death.
“So real, so vast. This illusion is remarkable,” Lin Xiao marvelled quietly, recalling Sheng Qianyu’s words. He raised his hand instinctively.
In the array, their scores appeared on their palms.
On his left palm, words appeared, instructing him to write his name.
Following the prompt, Lin Xiao traced his name with his right hand.
The prompt vanished, leaving his name and a “zero” below it.
Clearly, this was his score.
Moments later, Zi Ling’s name and zero score appeared, along with rankings.
No rankings were numbered yet.
Zi Ling must have written her name on her palm too.
Though randomly placed elsewhere, everyone in the array could see others’ names and scores.
Soon, more names appeared on Lin Xiao’s palm, small but clear.
“It seems in the array, everyone can see all scores and rankings. This makes competition fiercer but also more convenient.”
Sighing, Lin Xiao scanned his surroundings, then flew low, searching for targets.
Unlike training, this was an illusion with no treasures. Hunting illusion beasts for points was everyone’s goal.
Killing beasts was also good practice.
Within ten miles, a youth’s figure appeared ahead.
Dressed in fine robes, poised and standing on a peak, he surveyed the valley below.
“Zi Yi?” Lin Xiao was slightly surprised.
What a coincidence to meet Zi Yi first in this random dispersal.
Lin Xiao flew up, speeding towards the peak.
Sensing someone approach, Zi Yi raised his aura and turned. Seeing Lin Xiao, he looked astonished. “Lin Xiao, it’s you?”
Lin Xiao nodded. Before he could speak, Zi Yi said joyfully, “What luck, Lin Xiao. Let’s travel together. It’ll help us kill beasts and fend off enemies.”
“Sounds good,” Lin Xiao agreed.
He wasn’t afraid to go alone, but two were better than one. He could protect Zi Yi from elimination.
At the peak, Zi Yi pointed to the valley. “By the way, Lin Xiao, this illusion is strange. Look at the valley. It seems to hide something.”
“Oh?” Curious, Lin Xiao stepped forward, gazing at the valley.
The valley spanned a few dozen zhang, surrounded by lush vegetation and jagged rocks. A one-zhang-wide cave entrance loomed ahead, pitch-black inside.
“Could it be a beast nest, like an illusion snake?” Lin Xiao wondered.
But at that moment, a sharp sense of danger surged. He turned to see Zi Yi, dagger in hand, striking at him with lightning speed. In a blink, the dagger was at his chest.
