Chapter 66: Assessment Begins; Gourd Valley

  "Hmph, this time, as long as they dare to make a move, I'll make sure they have no way back." Fang Yan let out a cold snort, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. Today's sea selection had the strong men of the Hao Han Sect keeping watch, and he was thinking of making a sneak attack to kill Gao Jin, but the chances of success were less than one in ten. However, during tomorrow's actual combat survival training, he would have plenty of opportunities to make his move against the young masters of the Gao Wang families.

  "Be careful, there's no big mistake. The enemy is numerous and I am few. If the two families of Gao Wang want to deal with you, they will definitely strike suddenly. So, you must be careful. Everything is based on your life, even if you don't pass this assessment, it doesn't matter. As long as you can come back alive, that's all I need." Fang Zhen still said with some worry.

  Fang Yan's progress over the past six months has been plain to see, but as he progresses, his enemies are also making relentless progress. This time, if they make a move, it will definitely be a thunderous strike, and there may be more than 20 Explosive Realm cultivators. Fang Yan is not afraid of facing them alone, but if they swarm him, he will be in danger.

  "Don't worry, Uncle. Fang Yan and I will advance and retreat together. As long as we don't fall into their ambush, we shouldn't be in any life-threatening danger." Fu Qingxuan said, seeing the worried look on Fang Zhen's face.

  "I hope so! You must come back alive." Fang Zhen sighed and shook his head, it was strange that the Fang family had a single heir in each generation, and none of them were prosperous.

  "You'd better get some rest early, we still have an assessment tomorrow."

  ……

  The next morning, Fang Zhen led a group of Fang family generals to escort Fang Yan and others to the Gourd Valley in the Hengyue Mountains.

  This gourd valley is the place where the proud cold sect's real combat trial of survival will take place.

  Hulu Valley, as the name suggests, is like a giant gourd, with steep cliffs on all four sides. The cliffs are covered in moss and are extremely slippery. The surrounding mountains are towering and reach into the clouds, making it difficult for birds to fly over. The valley is often shrouded in thick fog throughout the year due to its unique geography, with only one entrance and exit. Although Hulu Valley is not particularly treacherous, the Xiuzhen families of Yangzhou City often come here to collect spiritual herbs. Due to its relatively low level of danger, this time it was chosen by the Haohan Sect as a testing ground.

  In the Gourd Valley, as long as the entrance is guarded, some 4th or 5th level demonic beasts and some fugitives captured by the Great Song Dynasty are released inside. Unless they have reached the Xiantian realm and can fly with their swords, it's impossible to leave through the exit. Fang Yan and his group only need to survive for half a month in the Gourd Valley, and those who come out alive will pass the assessment.

  When Fang Yan and his group arrived at Hu Lu Valley, it was already three poles high in the sun, and many people had gathered here.

  When Fang Yan and others rushed to the Gourd Valley, it wasn't long before the young masters of both the Gao and Wang families also arrived at the Gourd Valley in a mighty manner.

  Compared with the low-key Fang family, the Gao and Wang families are extremely arrogant, one of which is overbearing.

  "All 108 people are present, I hereby declare the trial of survival assessment officially started." Looking at the noisy crowd, Wei Ming Mountain of the Proud Cold Sect suddenly said.

  "Gentlemen, before the formal assessment begins, I'd like to reiterate that this survival trial assessment contains four or five levels of powerful demonic beasts. Inside, there are 108 mid-term Void Realm cultivators who have abandoned all hope, and what you need to do is to kill all 108 of them. The more heads you collect, the higher your chances of passing the assessment. During this process, your lives will be threatened, and you may die at any moment. If you die, the Hao Han Sect will not take any responsibility, which means that if you die, it's just a meaningless death. You should consider carefully now; it's still possible to withdraw, but once you enter, life and death are in the hands of fate."

  "Commander Wei, we swear to fight to the death and never retreat from the assessment."

  "I will die before I quit the assessment."

  ……

  Wei Ming Shan's reminder fell, and the 108 examinees let out a thunderous roar, demonstrating their unyielding fighting spirit.

  To quit at this moment would be humiliating, and it would also mean missing the opportunity to become a strong person. When it comes down to it, everyone knows that there is a possibility of losing their lives, but still no one chooses to quit.

  "Well, since everyone has considered it, let's enter this gourd valley!" Wei Mingshan nodded in satisfaction.

  As Wei Ming Shan's voice fell, the 108 examiners present rushed towards the entrance that was several meters wide in a file.

  "Fang Yan, this time I'll see how you escape." At this moment, the disciples of the Gao and Wang families entered the valley under the leadership of Gao Jin and Wang Chu. As they passed by Fang Yan and others, they coldly smiled and made a throat-slitting gesture before leaving quickly.

  "It's not certain who will be the last one standing with a smile, let's just wait and see." Fang Yan's eyes were gloomy, he knew that this trial assessment would not be peaceful, as the two families of Gao and Wang had joined forces against him from the start. With a cold laugh, he followed the crowd into the Hulu Valley.

  "Alas..." As the 108 examinees entered the Gourd Valley, the two innate cultivators who followed them guarded the entrance of the valley. Wei Ming Shan let out a sigh and secretly lamented: "These disciples have just started their first trial and are already plotting against each other... Truly..."

  As soon as the crowd entered the Gourd Valley, Wei Ming Mountain and his party from the Ao Han Sect began to disperse the young masters of various families in Yanzhou City. Now that they were no longer needed, they were just a hindrance, so they were all driven away. Wei Ming Mountain himself sat at the entrance of the Gourd Valley.

  In the afternoon, the golden sunlight enveloped the entire gourd valley, and the intense sunlight dispersed some of the dense fog above the gourd valley, allowing the sparse tree branches in the gourd valley to filter through the mottled sunlight.

  This period of time is not long, after noon, the gourd valley will be shrouded in thick fog again. In the gourd valley, it will be impossible to distinguish east, south, west and north. At any time and place, you may encounter fugitives from the valley and powerful four or five-level demon beasts.

  The gourd valley is very large, about 30 or 40 miles in circumference. One or two hundred people enter it, like a mud cow entering the sea. At first, you can still see a few human shadows, but soon, over a hundred people disappear into the dense forest of the gourd valley.

  "Brother Wang, now that we've also entered the Gourd Valley, should we take down Fang Yan this little thief right away or first take care of the over a hundred fugitives in the Gourd Valley before talking?" As soon as they entered the Gourd Valley, Gao Jin led a group of young masters from the Gao family and gathered together with Wang Chu's group of young masters from the Wang family.

  "Gao Jin, this gourd valley didn't have much danger before, but now there are over a hundred fugitives in the valley. I don't know how the Haohan Sect will deal with these fugitives. Before we figure out what to do with them, it's not easy for us to fight each other and waste our strength. Instead, we should first kill the fugitives in the gourd valley and get their heads." Wang Chu was very old-fashioned, 25 years old this year, and was the commander of the Wang family this time.

  "In the midst of the violent air boundary, we are lone fugitives. If we encounter each other alone, it's a matter of life and death. Our two families must unite. I suggest we first investigate the situation in this gourd valley, because we also don't know when this trial will end." Gao Jin heard this and couldn't help but nod.

  "I was just thinking of that." Wang Chu nodded in agreement.

  ……

  In the gourd valley, at this moment, 108 fugitives are gathered in the gourd valley. They were death row inmates waiting to be executed within the Great Song Dynasty, and were brought out by City Lord Mo Shi'an and handed over to Wei Ming Shan of the Proud Cold Sect. Wei Ming Shan did not immediately kill these wicked fugitives, but instead gave them a chance to live, as long as they killed the young masters of various families who entered the gourd valley from Yangzhou City, each person could leave the gourd valley alive and gain their freedom with just one human head.

  A massacre against these young masters of wealthy families is quietly unfolding.