The roster was in the hands of the Garrison Commander. After reviewing it for a moment, he nodded and waved his hand. "Good. Make your preparations. The forbidden ground's formations—activate them immediately!"
A contingent of formation masters dispatched by the Garrison Command set to work, beginning the process of unsealing the restrictions on the outer perimeter of the Black Nightmare Mountains to welcome the trial.
"The Black Nightmare Mountains have been sealed for three hundred years. God knows how many vicious beasts and malevolent spirits have been breeding inside, and how many dangers lurk within. Your trial has two objectives: first, survival; second, harvest. The trial will last half a month. Anyone who cannot endure the full half month will be considered to have failed. Only those who persist for the entire duration will qualify for the final evaluation. During this trial, we will select the one hundred strongest prodigies. These one hundred will also receive precise rankings. The basis for those rankings will be your harvests. Remember—every single item inside these Black Nightmare Mountains bears its own unique characteristics. Don't even think about trying to pass off your own possessions as something from within. If anyone is caught cheating, they will be immediately disqualified!"
The rules of the trial were not complicated—in fact, they could be called exceedingly crude.
This took Jiang Chen somewhat by surprise. Logically speaking, a trial of this caliber and level should have been meticulously designed. The rules should have been intricate, carefully considered, thorough.
Yet these rules were anything but. They were simple, rough, and announced at the last minute. Jiang Chen found this mildly puzzling.
If the organizers didn't care, the sheer scale of the proceedings suggested otherwise—the setup was grand, the formation impressive.
But if they did care, then the rules should have been drafted well in advance, not declared on the spot.
Jiang Chen couldn't quite figure it out. Still, this minor question didn't throw him off balance. Standing among the ranks, he remained composed.
The formation masters quickly dismantled the outer layer of restrictions.
Streams of black light shot upward into the clouds like evil spirits clawing their way out of the underworld. The sight was genuinely terrifying.
After a bout of violent trembling, the breach in the outer formation slowly stabilized.
"The breach is open. Everyone, step forward to receive your contestant numbers, then enter in order!" The Garrison Commander issued his command, officially declaring the trial underway.
Jiang Chen and the other elite cultivators naturally received numbers at the front.
Jiang Chen drew number 17. After the first sixteen contestants entered, he stepped through the breach after them.
The moment Jiang Chen passed through, his heart gave an inexplicable jolt. In the depths of his divine sense, a strange ripple flashed by, as if a needle had suddenly pricked him.
This sudden premonition caught Jiang Chen off guard.
"What does this mean?" he murmured to himself. "Could it be that the Black Nightmare Mountains are exceptionally dangerous inside?"
He was certain that this inexplicable omen carried some kind of message—and more likely than not, it was a warning of danger.
"Well, no matter what, safety comes first." Once inside the Black Nightmare Mountains, Jiang Chen felt as though he had stepped into a sunless, gloomy world. The temperature around him seemed to have plummeted by over a dozen degrees, giving everything an eerie chill.
As far as his eyes could see, there was nothing but a dense, black canopy of forest and an endless, clinging mist.
This place had been sealed for three hundred years. It was devoid of human presence, which only made it feel more sinister and terrifying, lacking any trace of warmth or life.
"A place like this, capable of becoming a land of nightmares, is certainly no safe haven. I've only got half a month, but I need to tread carefully."
No matter the situation, Jiang Chen never forgot to remain vigilant.
……
Outside the Black Nightmare Mountains, all the trial participants had entered.
The Garrison Commander held the roster and handed it to Prince Huo. "Your Highness, here is the consolidated contestant list. It contains detailed information on every cultivator, with clear notes on which ones are elites."
Prince Huo smiled faintly. "Well done."
He took the list and hurried over to the white-haired Elder Tong. "Elder Tong, this is the roster for this trial along with detailed profiles on each contestant. Please review it. I wonder whether these young cultivators can meet your discerning eye?"
Elder Tong stroked his beard and chuckled. "Let me take a look."
He accepted the list and studied it for quite some time, then nodded with evident satisfaction. "Not bad. Fine aptitude, and even better quality overall. I observed them earlier as well—there are quite a few prodigious talents among them. Prince Huo, the Rejuvenation Island Domain has clearly put genuine effort into this. And Winterend Island does indeed have some true talent."
Prince Huo was overjoyed. "To receive such praise from Elder Tong is the greatest honor these prisoners could ask for. Even if they were to die in there, they could smile upon entering the Nine Springs."
Winterend Island was, after all, a place of exile. Calling them prisoners was not inaccurate.
Elder Tong smiled faintly and passed the roster to the representatives of the Eight Great Noble Houses. "Take a look, all of you. The quality of these trial participants is genuinely impressive. A number of the elite contestants are formidable. I believe you'll find yourselves quite satisfied this time around."
The representatives of the Eight Great Noble Houses accepted the roster without ceremony and began leafing through it.
Each of them browsed for a while before finally returning the list to Elder Tong.