Ch-4: The Battle Phase

A/N: Unedited. Not in the condition to edit it today, will edit later...

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The time limit for the current test was an entire month and no fixed rules made it a hellhole for those who were not a part of the top ten thousand that entered earlier. Around seventy-six thousand had entered first because the groups required 5-10 members but the ones left behind had to enter together, staggering over six hundred thousand.

The Demon Beast Forest had all kinds of environments ranging from lakes to volcanoes to low-level materials and even docile beasts as a few succeeded in taming them in just one month, which was a remarkable achievement.

The second test thinned down the participants to around 300.000 as around 200.000 died from beasts and humans alike while some could simply not meet the quota of 1000 points and a few gave up before the test even started.

The third test was non-fatal but no one knew that until a few thousand gave up the test in fear of the previous death counts which was close to a quarter of the initial participants.

It was a simple mental illusion where you have to use your mental fortitude to wake up but it could leave nasty nightmares or inner demons.

It could range from fighting your fears, and traumas or taking control over your lust depending on person to person making it unpredictable.

This was the only test where spectating didn't make any sense as every participant had to go through their unique illusions and the formation responsible for it could not read let alone show so many illusions.

Unfortunately, only about 50.000 succeeded in the given time limit of 1 day. It had already been over a month since the entrance test started and the number was down to such a small number.

The fourth test was easy and hard at the same time, your body would be put in a slumber and have to live without any cultivation whatsoever for a month while gaining clues to finish the test.

It was an easier and a 0 death test but that was also not told until a few hundred had given up and the test started, making them feel like idiots after knowing about it.

Of course, no one could ever speak of the recruitment tests even if they change every time due to different Elders taking charge.

This was one of the reasons many powers brought their disciples to broaden their horizons; they had no hope of entering the Academy, so they didn't mind giving up the test to preserve their own lives.

It also aided in weeding out cowards every round because if just one person gives up, a chain reaction would start raising that number to anywhere between a few hundred and a few thousand.

Less than 10.000 finished this test, after which they were told that since the number dropped to nearly fifty thousand, they were all talented and couldn't be lost so they removed death-related tests.

Well, it all depends on the Elder in charge, in this case Morl, as there have been times when till the last test, death could very much occur.

The fifth test was for side occupations like forging, alchemy, talisman, formations, music, painting, and various other occupations.

This test in particular was to reduce the number of participants in the battle test as anyone who participated in this test would not be allowed to take part in the battle tests.

It might sound easier but know that at most 300 would be accepted via this method and those who fail would be disqualified.

Still, cultivators who knew they were weak in battles or inexperienced would go for this as over 3.000 took part in it, and only 267 met the mark while others were below their acceptable range.

The last and most awaited test would occur in their stipulated arenas in multiple parts.

Nearly 7.000 participants were waiting for this test only because it was the easiest and best method to find great cultivators.

During the duration of the entire test, all the participants will have their cultivation limited to that of the weakest, which in this case was Raon.

Surprisingly, his team had reached up to this test. It did not make sense to even the others who got their participants' allowance from Kroste, let alone the Tesra family or the other powers.

Simply speaking, even from their main family only 1 team had reached here by joining three different teams to make up the team while Raon's team of 5 reached here.

It was quite a blow to the proud members of the Tesra Family as Kroste was exiled yet his children reached here but looking at the weakest being from their team, they just sent snarky remarks to Kroste, who ignored it as if used to it all.

No one would mind getting resources and more slots for the next Entrance Tests as many powers sell these slots for energy stones, trade, materials etc, etc.

No power wouldn't want to have more resources to nurture their juniors; it would bring more return when they make noteworthy feats.

It is a vicious cycle where the strong get stronger parallel to the rich get richer because you can't be strong without resources.

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Meanwhile, the Daiyu Sacred Land representative was having fun as this was a vacation for him, and looking at the young blood reminded him of his youth.

It was not like he wasn't paying attention though, nearly 3 months had gone by, and only now did the battle phase start much to his interest as he too was bored by the previous tests like all others.

Well, he was also tasked with keeping an eye on different factions and their representatives to report to his Elder if he found someone talented enough.

"The number of participants that have passed and wish to take part in the last test to enter the Arcane Academy is 6.570"

"There will be a Battle Royale test for every 500 participants while 70 will move to the next round based on luck"

"No team will be segregated which means 14 teams of 5 will get a free pass while each team will be sent to the same battle royale meaning 100 teams in each arena"

"Your team will only be counted as eliminated if all 5 were eliminated without any recovery points or simultaneous elimination without any time for recovery"

"That is to say, it will be quite a long time. So, all of you will be given a bracelet that will read your condition and teleport you out if you're critical"

"If your team has enough points, you'll be given healing pills and sent next to your teammates, otherwise you'll have to watch from the sidelines"

"The fatal attacks will be blocked and the same procedure will follow but if your entire team is eliminated then you can join your guardians and spectate alongside them"

Elder Morl explained the rules before the lucky 70 were selected. Lo and behold, Raon and his team escaped the battle royales.

The 6.500 participants looked at the 70 with intense hostility but what could they do about it? The first 500 batch was already announced and just before they entered the teleport formation.

"Oh right! You all younglings think you're heaven's chosen so your enemies and the environment for the battle royale will be entirely random" Elder Morl chuckled while smiling playfully at the previously confused cultivators at his comment.

"Ahem... Before you enter, know that 250 of you will be moved to the next round bringing the total to 3.250 and these 70" finished Elder Morl as he vanished after that.

Due to several unknown reasons on the 15th day, the 70 lucky ones were also sent into a battle royale amongst themselves much to the 14 team's dissatisfaction.

Anyone with a few brain cells could guess that those guardians of 6.500 complained and used some deals to do this or maybe it was the plan all along? Who knows...

Only 20 participants or 4 teams would be eliminated which was way less than others but then again the total was also far less, still, it dragged on for 6 long hours.

The rules were the same and slaughter formations to speed up the process were activated just like the 500 participants battle royale.

The difference was that all 70 participants' positions were shining brightly from the start whereas in the 500 battle royale, it only happened when the number reached below 300.

This was the reason that hiding endlessly to stretch time wouldn't work but even with the slaughter formation and position markers, it still took quite some time.

Some teams broke apart due to not having enough recovery points or the required number being reached just when someone from their team was eliminated or even betrayed.

Well, it took 20 days for the battle royales to finish and the rest time given to the participants to end.

"For the next phase, it is pretty simple. You all will fight with your sealed cultivations. You have a simple goal to find enough tokens spread around the Island that you'll be teleported to"

"Now, before you ask, killing is prohibited but you can take each other's tokens. The time limit is one month. The top 2.000 will reach the last stage after one month or before if the rest are eliminated by you or the dangers inside"

"The protective equipment will be with you in this round, same as the previous one but it will bring you to one of the several safe zones placed across the island from where you will be teleported here" said Morl as he waved his hand and teleported the participants, not allowing any of them to give up at all.

Unknowingly, all of the participants were standing on the inactivated teleport formation that was activated a little too fast for any of them to react.

Many guardians who had all their participants dead had left while some stayed but they all felt frustrated that even after all this, the Test would continue.

Much to their satisfaction though, in only 21 days, 1.300 participants were eliminated leaving 2.000 who were thrust into team battles of 5 much to the displeasure of those who had eliminated their teams and people like Elric whose teammates had the smug expression of 'Told you so...'.

The teams were given 4 days to rest, organize, and make their plans for the next test as it was direct 5v5 in random environments.

The guardians and some smart cultivators realized that the order of the tests was on purpose to create team discord and make the last one a team test.

Without a doubt, with all kinds of cultivators gathered, be it righteous, evil, sacrificial, or any other method, it was very obvious that some would betray to get in the top 2.000 to have a chance at joining the Arcane Academy rather than getting eliminated for some team spirit bullshit.

Cultivators are inherently selfish and greedy making themselves their priority no matter which path they follow. It is just the time needed to betray and most if not all would have betrayed or would have gotten betrayed.

The 400 teams were divided into 40 groups as each team fought 9 and the best 60 teams were recruited in the Arcane Academy.

For 1 victory, 3 points were rewarded and 0 for draws while 1 was deducted for a loss.

Without a doubt, this test was for spontaneity, and those who think ahead as many would need to find new unknown people for their team but also be wary of them in case of any betrayal.

The time given might not seem like much but those that had their teams or could join with others from the same powers would have an advantage here.

It might seem like a bias but every test had one or other advantage while this one was the final test so obviously it would check parameters other than just strength.

Well, Raon and his team faced equal or weak-powered enemies and got 7 victories, 1 draw, and 1 loss bringing their score to a total of 20 making them the 50th in the final ranking.

Raon's team reaching this place was surprising, to say the least as only 3 of the main bloodline reached 57th team rank.

One might call it luck or plot armor but they still went through the same tests as others and there were teams in which all 5 were from different regions too making their fighting prowess lesser than Raon's team.

Just like that, the results were declared and without any surprises, the top 2 teams were both teams of the Arcane Empire Imperial Family led by two different members while the next 7 were of the Tier-1 Empires but the 3rd ranked team brought the most ruckus and according to laws of clichés, it was the team of Raon's fiancé.

The reason for the ruckus was that the power from which she comes is a reclusive one and they lived near the Capital City Ruskil of the Arcane Empire.

No one knows where they stay but they are one of the few powers that can compete with the Russell Imperial Family to a certain degree.

The only reason no one bothers them is that they usually send their descendants in the Arcane Academy selection whenever they wish to and the last time was during Raelyn's generation who was the girl's elder sister.

In all truth, their father was supposed to marry Raon's mother but he was in love with someone else and married her, bearing only two daughters till now.

Their family is also weird in the fact that one can not have more than one husband/wife for their entire life until their deaths at least but most of them never remarry.

This was the reason that his role of marrying their bloodline was passed on to his daughter but his firstborn was also a daughter, so Raelyn was free from it along with Aria.

The second born is Raon's fiancé since she was born one month after Raon and her family forced a soul-binding contract on the souls of babies!!

Both of them only met when they were six years old and were informed about the forced marriage which didn't bode well with Raon's family but how could any of them go against such a powerhouse?

Coming back to the present day, where all the remaining participants and guardians were gathered, Elder Morl brought forward the representative from the Sacred Land.

"Congratulations to those who have passed the Test. I wish you luck that someday you will be able to join the Daiyu Sacred Land."

Just these words of the representative were enough to excite those who joined and those who failed jealous when he dropped his next words.

"Due to the approaching 100-year Daiyu Recruitment and the continent-wide competition, it has been decided that the top 2.000 will be allowed to join the establishments of all the Titled Empires."

"But of course, only the 567 will be placed in the Outer District and the rest 1.700 will be reserve forces of the establishment."

"With this, my job here is complete, so... Hope we meet in Daiyu." finished the representative as he left while Morl handled the situation and explained the pros and cons.

The obvious ones were better resources and a chance to become official disciples that wouldn't be given to any of the participants who failed but not being able to take part in power struggles and competitions was what stopped many from joining it.

The weak powers forced their participants to accept as they would gain certain benefits even from just this in the long term.

The total of reserve warriors joining was well over one thousand just because of the denser energy and resources given to them.

Most of them who reached this point were at least in the top 5 strongest amongst their peers in their respective powers making them well aware of the advantages and disadvantages.

The major change was being able to reach the outer district that is becoming true disciples which aided quite a hesitant few into joining.

The Arcane Empire always rewards the powers whose participants join the Academy with resources ranging from energy veins, energy stones, rare ores, and herbs to cultivation and weapon techniques, etc.

If not for such rewards, no one would send their talents to die and would much rather cultivate them inside their territories increasing their overall power while being able to hide the ones with better talent to act as their trump cards.