Chapter 46: Trial by Life and Death

Wu Tian was truly overjoyed; the effort spent on defeating the Giant-Armed Bear was not in vain. It finally propelled Wu Tian from a tenth-level martial artist to a first-level martial spirit. The indescribable sensation of fatigue vanished as Wu Tian basked in the glow of the level advancement, feeling rejuvenated.

Even more satisfying for Wu Tian was the acquisition of the Earth-grade superior defense equipment, the Black Bear Armor, and the Level 5 Demonic Beast Giant-Armed Bear's core. Not every demonic beast possessed a core, making it a matter of chance. A Level 5 Demonic Beast core was highly sought after in the market, easily fetching upwards of a million silver coins.

The Black Bear Armor, a superior Earth-grade equipment, held a value even greater than the demonic core. Earth-grade lower-tier equipment often sold for over a million silver coins, and the superior Earth-grade variant surpassed several million. Wu Tian had no intention of selling it, as the Black Bear Armor provided him with valuable defense.

Black Bear Armor (Earth-grade superior): Increases the player's defense by twenty percent, boosts health by twenty percent, and comes with the exclusive skill 'Defense Stealth.' Defense Shield - Releases a ripple of energy capable of blocking eighty percent of attacks from martial spirits below the first level, reflecting fifty percent of the damage. Against attacks from martial spirits at or above the first level, it blocks thirty percent of the damage.

"This Black Bear Armor is truly exceptional. Not only are its attributes outstanding, but the inherent skill is also extraordinary. No wonder the Giant-Armed Bear's defense was so formidable. I almost got rebounded to death by that last attack – turns out it was because of this skill!" Wu Tian exclaimed.

Recalling the final move, Wu Tian shuddered. He had exerted almost all of his strength, narrowly avoiding using his insta-kill skill, and nearly fell victim to the rebound effect.

"Boss, Boss! My goodness, following you to kill that giant black bear, I actually broke through to the fourth-level martial artist. You're amazing!" Niu Wuji, at this moment, happily danced and shouted.

Wu Tian looked at Niu Wuji, recognizing that this companion, who had teamed up to kill the Giant-Armed Bear, had indeed been of great help. Niu Wuji had consistently drawn the bear's aggro, preventing Wu Tian from getting killed several times. Niu Wuji deserved the experience gained in those moments.

"Dealing with that giant black bear delayed us for quite a few hours. Now, it's unlikely for us to secure the first place in the first round of the life-and-death trial," Wu Tian shook his head.

"Boss, that's not a big deal. The first round of the life-and-death trial is just to assess our strength and eligibility for the next round. It doesn't matter if we get the first place or not. As long as we reach the finish line in the end, it's fine. The crucial part is the second round of the arena competition. Boss, you're not afraid even of Level 5 Demonic Beasts; getting the first place there is a piece of cake!"

"You're right. Since we can't get the first place, there's no need to hurry. Let's leisurely make our way to the finish line."

Thus, Wu Tian and Niu Wuji casually progressed towards the finish line. Although killing the Giant-Armed Bear had cost Wu Tian considerable time and prevented him from achieving the first place in the first round, he had still leveled up and obtained the Earth-grade superior defense equipment, the Black Bear Armor, making it worthwhile.

As Wu Tian and Niu Wuji leisurely moved towards the finish line, someone trailed behind them – the senior disciple who had been monitoring Wu Tian from the shadows.

"Damn! I actually dozed off just now. I've lost track of Wu Tian after passing through that intense battle zone. He probably didn't encounter any trouble; otherwise, it would have been a disaster. We're almost at the finish line; there shouldn't be any major issues." The senior disciple silently thought to himself.

Evidently, the disciple tracking Wu Tian had missed a thrilling scene.

...

When Wu Tian and Niu Wuji reached the finish line, it was already late evening. At the finish line, some of the judges for the sect competition were already waiting. Many disciples had also arrived at the finish line.

"Wu Tian, Niu Wuji, respectively the 230th and 231st to pass the finish line. Congratulations on surviving the first round of the life-and-death trial."

As they passed through the checkpoint, the judges recorded Wu Tian's and Niu Wuji's rankings at the finish line.

"Over two hundred people have already reached the finish line; we seem to be a bit late," Wu Tian sighed.

Clap clap clap!

At this moment, applause erupted.

"I didn't expect you to really pass the first round of the life-and-death trial. Although it's a bit late to reach the finish line, it's not bad. Congratulations!" Long Zhan came to Wu Tian's side, offering a smiling congratulations, though it was apparent he wasn't entirely sincere. "Congratulations on passing the first round, as I will be able to thoroughly dominate you in the arena competition!"

"I'll also congratulate you on reaching the finish line, because I'll be tormenting you in the arena competition!" Wu Tian's momentum did not waver; instead, he awaited Long Zhan's words. He had accepted a side mission from the system, and the rich rewards fueled Wu Tian's determination.

"You're quite arrogant, but your arrogance will only last for a short while. I'm the first to reach the finish line, and you can expect to be tormented by me in the arena!" Long Zhan pointed at Wu Tian disdainfully and then walked away.

After Wu Tian reached the finish line, other disciples sporadically arrived. In total, out of the five hundred participants in the life-and-death trial, only three hundred managed to reach the finish line. Forty disciples met unforeseen circumstances in the Hengduan Mountains, and another one hundred sixty gave up on the trial midway, brought back to the sect.

This was the harsh reality of survival of the fittest. Many disciples who were confident before the life-and-death trial now seemed dejected. Some had lost their close companions, while others mourned for the comrades who gave up on the trial.

On the day the last person passed the life-and-death trial, the sect master announced the arena competition would take place two days later. The two days in between would serve as a break for participants to rest and prepare for the arena battles.

Two days passed swiftly. Three hundred disciples who successfully passed the first round gathered in a massive arena at Qitian Sect. The arena was enormous, featuring fifty combat platforms.

The arena competition had two stages. In the first stage, the three hundred disciples would battle on the fifty platforms. The order of the battles was arranged based on the rankings of the participants when they reached the finish line in the first round of the life-and-death trial. The first and last ranked disciples would face off on the first platform, the second and second-to-last on the second platform, and so on. The top seventy-five participants would advance to the second stage.

Since Wu Tian's ranking in the first

 round was closer to the middle, he had to wait for the first wave of battles to conclude before stepping onto the stage. However, the initial round ended quickly, as the top fifty participants who reached the finish line in the first round were all formidable. The latter fifty, on the other hand, had significantly weaker strength.

As the first wave concluded, it was time for Wu Tian to step onto the stage. His opponent was the disciple who ranked 73rd when reaching the finish line in the first round.

"Xiao Yi, Wu Tian, on the 23rd platform, please come up, you two!"

The referee announced loudly beside the platform.