557 Lets Begin! (2/2)
Despite having no knowledge of the rules, Wang Baole predicted that the rules should be able to offer the weaker participants some measure of protection. This would allow the trial a semblance of fairness on the surface. As for what went on in reality… it was clear that the law of the strongest would still prevail!
Everyone inside and outside of the public square listened quietly as Mie Liezi's voice, colored with its typical coldness, rang out in the air.
”When the six hundred of you enter the place where the trial will take place, you will receive a key that's conjured from the array formation!
”Every twenty-four hours—that is, every day—the array formation will activate a teleportation that will affect the entire region where the trial is taking place. Key-bearers are to sacrifice a key to resist the power of the teleportation and prevent being teleported away. Those without keys will be teleported away forcibly and eliminated from the trial!”
Mie Liezi's words rang out loudly. Everyone had been trying to control their reactions, but after hearing the full set of rules, a myriad of emotions flashed across their faces. They began to discuss amongst themselves in a heated manner.
Wang Baole and company had never come across such rules before. Even the disciples from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace had not. Simply put, this was a trial conducted via elimination. The smarter ones immediately realized how harsh the rules were!
”The trial's going to be brutal with these rules!”
”Besides one's intrinsic strengths and weaknesses, I can imagine that protecting your own key and snatching keys from others will be the critical factors in determining who remain the last ones standing in this trial!”
”Every teleportation will consume a key. This means that the number of keys will dwindle… If everyone remains peaceable and doesn't fight after they enter the array formation, there will be no keys left after the first twenty-four hours! Of course, that's not going to happen!”
Xu Ming and Lu Yun frowned. They weren't aware of the complete set of rules. They found the changes to the rules too drastic after they had heard them. Huang Yunshan felt the same way too. She had a considering look on her face and began discussing it quietly with Zhou Chudao. Only Dugu Lin remained unaffected, the expression on his face remaining cold and distant. He seemed to pay no attention to the rules at all.
Wang Baole had a contemplative look on his face as well after he heard the rules. Zhao Yameng, who was standing beside him, frowned. She quickly analyzed the situation. Such rules were simply another way of stating the law of the strongest. They were similar to what she had expected and yet different at the same time.
”There's an additional component of luck that's introduced in the trials with these rules. The weaker participants will have more means at their disposal. Extreme danger is also present, which might even result in a chaotic battle!” Zhao Yameng said softly in the voice transmissions to Wang Baole and Kong Dao.
Kong Dao nodded. He was frowning as well. As he considered their situation, Wang Baole suddenly laughed. He didn't say anything, but he had clearly thought things through. The rules were important and unimportant at the same time. There was really no point in making everything so complicated. In the end, everything boiled down to one simple rule… the survival of the fittest!
Everyone was deep in discussion. The participants in the public square, especially, were all discussing fiercely with one another. Mie Liezi's eyes grew colder.
”Silence!” He shouted. His voice was like thunder, descending with a deafening boom that rumbled and resounded in the air. Everyone was shaken and fell silent immediately.
”Those are the rules. The teleportations will take place until there are three or fewer of you left. The trial will end immediately then. If three participants remain, each will get a leaf from the Hyacinthus Tree. If two remain, each will get a leaf and then decide what you will do with the third. If only one person remains… he or she will have all three leaves!”
”Now, let the teleportation begin!” Having said that, Mie Liezi raised his right hand and swept it sideways. The enormous hurricane in the sky rumbled with a deafening roar and unleashed an overpowering suction force that sucked all six hundred participants on the public square into it!
The trials had begun!