Being challenged more often was, to a certain degree, disadvantageous. Therefore, among those with equal win rates, the one who had been challenged more times would rank higher. This arrangement accounted for the burden placed on those who received more challenges — perfectly fair.
"I've explained the basic rules. Most of you here come from the Yellow Spirit Zone. Once inside, the person in charge of the Yellow Spirit Zone will assign you a rank — Grade A, B, C, or D — based on your preliminary assessment results. Those placed in Grade A, don't get cocky. Those placed in Grade D, don't lose heart. Because you have three months to change your fate. Will you advance to the Profound Spirit Zone, or be eliminated entirely? You have three months to decide your own destiny."
"Of course, the Hundred-Battle Examination runs on a three-month cycle. That's four times a year, twelve times over three years. If you can't advance to the next zone this time, you'll still have eleven more chances. Ultimately, opportunities abound. Whether you're a dragon or a worm, your fate is still in your own hands. The strong control their destiny; the weak complain about it. I hope you all choose to be strong — don't grumble endlessly about the rules, and certainly don't cry foul about unfairness. Once you enter here, everyone faces the same rules. The difficulty each person encounters may vary slightly, but by and large, it remains fair."
The examiner had clearly put considerable thought into his words, earnestly advising this group of mortal martial artists.
"Alright, that covers the general rules. Each zone has its own specific conditions. After you enter, the person in charge of your zone will announce the details. Now, the top ten from the preliminary assessment — step forward. Everyone else, follow this path straight ahead. It will take you directly to the Yellow Spirit Zone."
Watching the top ten emerge from the crowd, the examiner's expression softened slightly. He smiled and said, "You ten — I'll personally escort you to the Profound Spirit Zone."
The Yellow Spirit Zone was exclusively populated by mortal martial artists. Right now, none of them offered anything worth currying favor with. There was naturally no need to be overly accommodating.
But these ten were the strongest performers in the preliminary assessment. Their talent and aptitude already showed genuine promise.
So, the examiner's somewhat improved attitude was entirely understandable.
Hands clasped behind his back, the examiner walked step by step in a different direction.
After roughly two hours, they arrived at a corridor where a massive stone stele was carved with the three archaic characters for "Profound Spirit Zone." The calligraphy soared like dragons and phoenixes, radiating a powerful aura of antiquity.
"Go on. Once you enter, you'll be examinees of the Profound Spirit Zone. For you, this brings both advantages and disadvantages."
"The advantage is that in the Profound Spirit Zone, your starting point is different, and the environment differs from the Yellow Spirit Zone."
"The disadvantage is that your opponents will no longer be mortal martial artists, but sect disciples. Sect disciples, no matter how low their rank, are still sect disciples."
The examiner offered his earnest counsel: "You'd best prepare yourselves mentally. Don't assume sect disciples will be as easy as the opponents you've faced before. Every sect disciple who has made it here is no ordinary talent. Even a Grade-D disciple in the Profound Spirit Zone is, on the whole, stronger than the most outstanding mortal martial artists. Once you enter, you must maintain the right attitude. Fight to carve out a survival space for yourselves in the cracks. For you, the greatest victory in this first Hundred-Battle Examination over the next three months would be simply avoiding demotion. Of course, even that won't be easy."
In the examiner's heart, he still leaned toward the sect disciples. Mortal geniuses, no matter how exceptional within the mortal world, were still at a considerable disadvantage when compared to sect disciples.
So, he believed that these ten being placed in the Profound Spirit Zone would most likely end up demoted, sent back to the Yellow Spirit Zone after three months.
Shaking his head, the examiner seemed unwilling to overly crush their spirits and smiled instead: "In the martial world, anything is possible. If you want to stand above others, merely surpassing other mortal martial artists is meaningless. You must constantly surpass, constantly tread your opponents underfoot. That is the path of a true genius's rise. Come — we're almost there."
Jiang Chen heard every word the examiner said. However, his heart was firm as bedrock. The examiner's words were merely a reference point. He wouldn't grow disheartened because of them, nor would he become intoxicated by whatever encouragement they offered.
Jiang Chen had his own rhythm, his own plans.
Stay true to his heart, and move at his own pace.
Walking along the long corridor, he felt subtle fluctuations in spiritual energy throughout, and couldn't help but marvel. The Undying Spirit Mountain truly lived up to its name — the density of spiritual energy here was genuinely extraordinary.
Cultivating in an environment like this, compared to the mortal world, was truly a pleasure.
"If the Profound Spirit Zone already has spiritual energy fluctuations like this, then what must the Earth Spirit Zone and Heaven Spirit Zone be like? How heavenly and blessed must they be? What vast and powerful spiritual energy must they contain?"
Jiang Chen felt a spark of anticipation toward the Earth Spirit Zone and the Heaven Spirit Zone.
"Three months…" he thought silently. "One three-month cycle. I will seize a spot in the top ten of the Profound Spirit Zone and advance to the Earth Spirit Zone. Only by entering the Earth Spirit Zone will I qualify to compete for the Heaven Spirit Zone!"
Jiang Chen understood clearly that the Heaven Spirit Zone was reserved exclusively for the four great sects' most outstanding and prized disciples.
The examiner had once mentioned that the disciples in the Heaven Spirit Zone were carefully handpicked by the sects — only one hundred spots.
The competition for those spots was beyond imagination.
Yet Jiang Chen also knew he was currently in the Profound Spirit Zone, far from the Heaven Spirit Zone. To challenge the Heaven Spirit Zone, he first had to enter the Earth Spirit Zone.
Only after entering the Earth Spirit Zone could he, in the next Hundred-Battle Examination, once again place in the top ten and advance to the Heaven Spirit Zone.
"The Heaven Spirit Zone…" A new ambition had taken root in Jiang Chen's heart — the Heaven Spirit Zone.
"That Long Juxue, born with a Celestial Constitution. She also has every resource the sects can provide. In terms of both innate gifts and external advantages, she surpasses me. Over these two years, her Celestial Constitution must have flourished spectacularly. This time, she's almost certainly been placed in the Heaven Spirit Zone. If I don't make it there, how will I ever settle our old scores?"
Jiang Chen harbored deep, visceral hatred for Long Juxue.
It wasn't merely because of the irreconcilable enmity between them. He knew perfectly well what sort of person she was — venomous and ruthless.
If she were allowed to grow stronger, she would never let him go.