Chapter 149 - Not Giving Up Yet? (1/2)

After the time was over, everyone was already in front of the door. Krune's group and the other Major Cores were at the forefront. There are very few groups with more than 3 or 4 contestants remaining. And the Major Cores are one good example of those out of the norm. In Makui Planet's side, eight contestants were remaining, Krune, Ao, Arlan, Yusa, Shinja, Tasier, Joty, and Lofa. Ula is not from their Planet, so she couldn't exactly be counted in the same group.

Nala's group had a total of 9, which is already counting her and her sister. Krune and Nala haven't met each other during the previous floors. Still, now all Major Cores are together, which made it very interesting to watch.

Gomat had a total of 11, Krune's group, obviously, wasn't the only one to separate after the number of slots wasn't enough anymore.

Finally, Colen was the one with the most remaining participants. His group had a total of 14, and that was counting with him.

Even though Krune's group was the Planet with the least amount between the Major Cores, it didn't matter at this point anymore. Not to mention that the difference in their Planet's powers and the number of contestants that came was also big. If anything, Krune's group was the one to lose the least amount of participants proportionally to their initial number.

---

The door finally opened, and the groups and lonely ones started to enter. Immediately, the pressure of the peak of the Void Breaking Realm assaulted everyone who stepped inside. There were even some who fell on their knees as soon as they tried to move ahead. As said before, this is a test of will, physical abilities and cultivation have no meaning here.

Between the four Major Core groups, no one seemed to have any problems moving forward. It was as if there wasn't any pressure to start with. But deep inside, it was different. Take Lofa, for example. Although she did resist the wave of pressure, she still got affected by it. But because she didn't want to look bad in front of Krune, she greeted her teeth and kept walking forward. In a certain way, that is also a type of will.

Slowly, everyone moved forward. So far, no one had given up or lost consciousness yet. Not even those who were struck down at the start. They sat down and let their bodies get used to the pressure, after some time, they also stood up and moved ahead.

It wasn't before 537 meters into the door that the first cultivator passed out. The guy was someone from the Jalo Planet, ranked 1439th. Fortunately for the Jalo Planet, he wasn't their only contestant in this place at the moment. His two companions, one girl and demon beast, looked at him and tried to help, but before they could even touch his body, it disappeared in thin air.

The only thing they knew was that their companion wasn't dead. He only fainted, after all. After his bode disappeared, something that looked like a flag made of energy appeared in his place. After the contestants used their Divine Sense to check, they noticed some information flowing in their minds.

”Jalo Planet, Marui Haveny, 537meters.”

Everyone who saw that finally understood how they would be classified. It won't matter if you are sent out first or last. Once again, the contestants got the certainty that only the total distance mattered. Of course, if you got the far ahead faster than the others but finished around the same distance, you would still be considered better by the Sect. It would show that your will is stronger.

Marui's faint seemed to have activated a chain reaction, and more and more contestants started to pass out and their bodies disappearing. Some were worse than Marui, others were better. Still, no one knew just how many would pass. From what they heard from their elders and relatives, the Divine Path Sect usually enrolls around 1% to 2% of all contestants who came for the exam.

But that wasn't absolute either. There had been cases where not even 0.1% passed and also others where over 2% got in too. In the end, those numbers are just an average, nothing more.

On Krune's group side, things were still pretty okay. Of course, the Major Core groups aren't the only ones doing well either. Strong-willed geniuses are definitely what the Divine Path Sect Entrance Exam doesn't lack. But the contestants around Krune group were feeling like they wanted to skin Krune's group alive. Even though they were still okay, they are still putting some effort to resist the pressure.

As for Krune's group? Well...

”I'm telling you! Spiritual Brazed Pork Ribs is definitely the best choice for dinner after we leave here.”

Ao shook his head.

”I disagree, cooled spiritual rice with four winged eagles eggs in the right choice! Our bodies outside haven't eaten for quite some time, we need something light.”

Shinja then commented.

”We are cultivators and demon beasts, there is no way our stomachs would be that weak. Still, I also don't want Brazed Pork Ribs. We should instead make a three-legged chicken soup with spirit water mushrooms!”

Yusa looked at Shinja and complained.

”Why you like mushrooms everywhere? By the way, I don't care much about the food, but make sure to bring a lot of spirit wine!”

'...'

How could the other contestants around not be angry at that? Here are them, suffering to move forward and to be approved inside the Sect, but Krune's group minds aren't even inside the test to start with. Food? Why the hell would you care about that at this point?