The stone door was wide open!
It was a sign that the most brutal Devil Hero preliminaries in history had officially begun!
The crippled old man led the way slowly and entered the stone door.
The contestants followed closely behind him.
Xiao Han and the others were also mixed in the crowd.
Behind the stone door was a dark and bottomless tunnel.
It was seven or eight feet wide and more than a hundred feet high.
When someone entered it, it was like being swallowed by a giant beast.
In the dark cave, the contestants' bodies emitted the light of True Qi, which could illuminate the cave.
But the atmosphere in the cave was gloomy and horrible. Vaguely, there were even sounds of ghosts wailing and wolves howling, which made people's scalps numb.
And the most frightening thing was … no one knew how long the cave was!
The crippled old man walked at a steady pace in front of them. No contestant dared to surpass him, so they couldn't fly in the cave with their True Qi.
The team moved forward slowly and no one knew when they would reach the end.
"Xiao Han … this cave is very deep." Shao Yunrong whispered in Xiao Han's ear. Her voice was also a little timid.
"I don't know why, but it makes people feel scared.
This place is filled with the smell of danger everywhere … "
"Haha … Sister, are you afraid?" Mo Qingtong smiled.
"If I'm afraid, why should I participate in the main competition?
It's not so easy to become a Devil Hero … If you are really afraid, you might as well give up as soon as possible … "Mo Qingtong seemed to be very used to this gloomy and strange environment. She smiled like a bell.
"You …" Shao Yunrong stared at her.
"Well, don't quarrel." Xiao Han smiled faintly.
"In this cave, there is an inexplicable atmosphere that makes people have inner demons.
Actually, it's nothing. Yunrong, your sword intent can quench nothingness and all negative emotions. I think you are too nervous and even forgot your sword intent. "
"Huh?"
Shao Yunrong was stunned. Soon, a flash of sword light flashed in her bright eyes and forcibly cut off the panic.
All of a sudden, he felt relaxed.
She said with relief.
"Much better now.
Xiao Han, I was really out of my wits.
At the beginning of the competition, I was so nervous that I even forgot to use my sword intent. Thank you for reminding me. "
…
Just like that, everyone followed the crippled old man and walked in the cave for several hours!
The road ahead was still completely dark.
It seemed to be boundless.
Panting sounds began to rise and fall in the team.
…
After more than twenty hours!
Some of the contestants started to slow down and become tired. Their footsteps and eyelids became heavier and heavier. Some even bent over and panted heavily.
This was not a physical exhaustion, but a mental exhaustion and hollowing out.
It was enough to make people collapse.
Another few hours passed.
The crippled old man led the team around a corner.
Shockingly …
"Drip ~ ~ Drip ~ ~ Drip ~ ~ ~"
The sound of water dripping could be heard ahead.
In the quiet cave, the sound of water dripping suddenly resounded. It was extremely frightening!
Moreover, the sound of water droplets seemed to be a sharp sword that could pierce through one's soul!
Each sound was like a heavy hammer that directly pounded on one's soul!
"Ah!!!!"
In the team, a young man from the Northern Domain finally let out a hysterical wail, almost beating his chest and stamping his feet as he bawled.
"I … I give up … I don't want to participate in the main competition …"
He covered his ears, turned around, and ran back.
Panic that made people collapse spread out like a plague. Soon, more than a hundred people could not endure the ravaging and torture that originated from their souls. They all gave up and turned to run.
…
"Heh … Those who want to give up can return the way they came," said the crippled old man with a dry laugh.
However, most of the contestants present were geniuses with firm willpower. They were invincible and could withstand it.
There were even some contestants who let out mocking sneers, expressing their disdain for the people who had fled.
Soon …
"Bang!
Bang!
Bang! "
Not far away, the sound of heavy objects falling to the ground could be heard.
"There are 137 names that have completely faded from the list.
Alright, the rest of you, continue forward! "The corners of the crippled old man's mouth twitched as he turned around and walked forward.
"Ah?
Boss Xiao, those fellows who gave up on the main competition and ran back are all dead? "Fatty Zhu said with wide eyes.
"Previously, the examiner said that only the essence of true energy that was infused into the names of the dead contestants would be destroyed, causing their names to become dim … Those people must have already died," Huo Gang said with a palpitating heart.
"The first examination has not even officially begun, but more than a hundred people have died on the way … It is indeed cruel."
"Actually, this is also telling us that if we don't advance, we will perish in the Devil Hero preliminaries." Xiao Han nodded seriously.
"I think that to become a Devil Hero, one's spirit must be as sharp as a treasured blade, flawless and untainted.
If one can't even withstand this little bit of training, how can one cultivate true qi?
How can one become a Devil Hero?
Let's go, continue forward! "
Xiao Han had experienced many life and death battles and had undergone several transformations. Therefore, even without using his saber intent, he could still resist the strange atmosphere in the cave.
Suppress the inner demons.
He still had strength to spare.
Furthermore, Xiao Han realized that under the treacherous atmosphere of the cave, breaking through the true acupoints was much easier than usual!
"Hmm?" Xiao Han's heart stirred slightly. Immediately after, while walking slowly, he tried to break through the 31st true acupoint.
The 31st true acupoint was a bottleneck from the Third Level to the Fourth Level of True Qi. It required sufficient foundation and opportunity to break through.
"Drip ~ ~ Drip ~ ~ Drip ~ ~ ~"
The sound of water dripping in the cave became more and more frequent. The demonic sound seeped into the brain and destroyed the liver and intestines.
However, Xiao Han had already entered a mysterious state of no man and no self. The various intrusions from the outside world did not affect him.
He was gradually entering the optimal state of breaking through the true acupoint.
After walking for a few more hours, the sound of water dripping disappeared and was replaced by a faint salty smell. Some light shone through the cave entrance, accompanied by the sound of waves rising and falling.
"Finally, we are going to pass through this tunnel!
It seems to be an ocean outside. "Huo Fan blurted out in Xiao Han's ear.
At this moment …
"Pu!"
From within Xiao Han's body, the sound of a butterfly breaking out of a cocoon burst forth!
It was as if a wild beast had awakened in Xiao Han's body!
A sharp light flashed in Xiao Han's eyes like a bolt of cold lightning, illuminating the pitch-black cave!
"Phew … I have finally broken through the 31st true acupoint and reached the Fourth Level of True Qi!" Xiao Han exhaled a mouthful of turbid air.
"Eh?
Brother Xiao, are you breaking through the true acupoint? "Mo Qingtong was the first to react.
Xiao Han smiled faintly.
At the same time …
"Pu!
Pu!
Pu!
Pu! "
In the cave, the sound of eggshells breaking rang out one after another.
For a moment, the cave was filled with light, giving off a dense aura of treasures.
It seemed that Xiao Han was not the only one who knew how to make use of the atmosphere in the cave to break through his acupoint.
…
At the front of the group.
The crippled old man's footsteps paused slightly. The corner of his mouth curled into a faint smile as he muttered in a barely audible voice.
"This group of little fellows, there is a portion of them that is quite interesting … quite interesting …"
…
Finally!
The group exited the cave!
Outside the cave, the sky was clear and the sun blazed like fire. It was a stark contrast to the gloomy and ghostly environment in the cave!
This was a golden beach!
Under the illumination of the sun, the sand reflected a dazzling brilliance, as if it was shards of gold.
Beyond the beach, there was a vast and boundless ocean!
The scorching heat waves brought along a salty sea breeze mixed with a fishy smell. Flocks of seabirds soared above the blue sea.
These seabirds were of a different species, like the Luan birds of the vast wilderness. They were huge in size and had gorgeous and beautiful feathers.
From time to time, giant fish would leap out of the sea, stirring up huge waves.
Not far away, there was a port where dozens of metal ships were anchored.
But there was no one around.
On these metal ships, there was the image of a sea god holding a trident, engraved with a large number of complicated lines and characters, emitting a mystical brilliance. It seemed to be some kind of formation.
The contestants looked left and right curiously.
"Alright, let's all board the ship.
Head to the island.
Begin the first test. "The crippled old man walked towards the port.
"Choose a ship at will.
Remember two things. First, there are ancient sea beasts hibernating in the deep sea that even the Sea God has to avoid. Therefore, you can't casually release your True Qi to fly. You must board the ship, otherwise you will die without a burial. Second, you must know your place on the ship. Don't quarrel or fight.
Otherwise, you will be disqualified from the main competition. "
Hearing this, the contestants swarmed towards the port.
They each chose a giant ship.
Xiao Han and the others boarded one of the ships.
There were also a large number of young people from the four regions on the same ship as Xiao Han and the others. There were even some children of the vast wilderness.
The huge deck was full of people.
Soon, a total of ten ships were loaded with nearly ten thousand contestants.
They pulled the anchor and set sail.
The ships were very magical. They did not need to be piloted and could sail automatically to their destination.
Xiao Han, Mo Qingtong, Shao Yunrong, Huo Fan, and Fatty Zhu stood by the railing, talking in low voices while admiring the sea.
There was indeed an island in the distance, like a pearl embedded in the sea.
"This should still be within the territory of the Yaoxia Region, right?" Xiao Han asked with a frown.
Mo Qingtong smiled faintly.
"Perhaps.
But there is no one in this area. It is a specially set up examination venue. "
Suddenly, everyone saw some buildings that looked like lighthouses standing on the surface of the sea. The top of the lighthouse was inlaid with a kind of black gem that looked like a strange pupil. It radiated a misty light that spun here and there.
"Hmm?" Xiao Han was stunned.
"This is a strange ore that is very precious. It is said to come from beyond the heavens.
It can record images.
Qingtong had read about it in a book when she was young.
It is called the 'Magic Eye Stone', "Mo Qingtong blurted out.
Mo Qingtong blurted out, and then a thoughtful look appeared in her eyes. "Qingtong knows. Our exam process has also been recorded. Maybe someone is watching us through the Magic Eye Stone!"
"Is that so?" Xiao Han touched his nose.
At this time, Li Ziqi and Cheng Feng appeared on the left of Xiao Han and the others.
"The sea is magnificent.
But it hides great danger.
Death is very close to us, isn't it? "Li Ziqi looked at Xiao Han and the others coldly.
"Xiao Han, the younger generation of the Eastern Region and the vast wilderness is stronger than we imagined.
I will give you one last chance. You can choose to join our team.
Otherwise … "
"As I said, get out of here," Xiao Han said lightly.
"Good, very good.
I hope you won't regret it. "Li Ziqi and Cheng Feng glared at Xiao Han with resentment. Then, they walked away.
Xiao Han glanced around and saw Li Ziqi and Cheng Feng walk to the other side of the deck and talk to a sturdy young man wrapped in animal skin.
That man must be from the vast wilderness. His body shone with 41 five-pointed star true acupoints, indicating that he was at the fifth level of true qi. His flesh was as strong as the sea and flowed with precious light.
"Let's take a break.
It will take some time before we can go to the island. "Xiao Han sat down directly.
"Maybe there are other dangers on the island besides the contents of the examination."
Xiao Han saw that the young man from the vast wilderness who was talking to Li Ziqi and the others was staring at him with an undisguised murderous look.
Moreover, he kept staring at Mo Qingtong, Shao Yunrong, and Huo Yang.
Xiao Han also saw that Li Ziqi and Cheng Feng were laughing and looking at him with gloating eyes.
…
…
…