The Great Trial of the "Spirit Communication Academy" was specifically for those within the academy holding yellow tokens. Primarily, it involved taking them to a designated trial point and then opening a passage. Once inside, these students had to hunt demon beasts within a stipulated time and obtain the corresponding beast essence stones. Generally, three basic beast essence stones were required, meaning that to pass the trial assessment, one had to hunt at least three or more demon beasts.
Of course, any assessment would offer rewards to the victors, so the first-place student would also receive a special reward, though this reward remained secret.
This time for the Great Trial, Elder Tong Mu was still in charge of the "Avian Hall," while the "Beast Hall" side was led by senior student Hu Wantong, reportedly because their Elder Tong Rui had been transferred to handle other matters.
Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) and several yellow-token students from their "Beast Hall" lined up and followed Hu Wantong to the Great Trial location. To their surprise, it turned out to be a seemingly inconspicuous small grove, with only a large stone placed on one side, bearing the inscription "Trial Ground."
"Sister Qiushui, do you think the demon beasts inside this little forest are that powerful? Why don't I feel any danger at all?" Mao Peilan asked quietly beside her.
"These trial points all have barriers. Of course, the exterior won't reveal anything to you. If there were no barriers, what would happen if the demon beasts inside escaped and hurt someone?" Jin Lang, as usual, was still bickering with Mao Peilan, and once again took the lead in the argument today.
"Why are you everywhere? What does it have to do with you when I'm talking to Sister Qiushui?" Mao Peilan, still disliking him, immediately retorted.
Then the two demons were about to start their squabble again.
"Quiet!" Senior student Hu Wantong, at the front, turned back and reprimanded them sternly.
This finally silenced them. After all, they had to give face to their senior. However, the main reason was the sound of footsteps approaching from the front. Soon, the students from the "Avian Hall," led by Elder Tong Mu, also arrived.
Tong Mu glanced at Hu Wantong, who was leading the team today, and said nothing more. He merely made a gesture. Following this, Hu Wantong went with him to the side of the forest. Each took out a round stone and slowly infused spiritual energy into them. Everyone then noticed that the unremarkable giant stone began to vibrate gradually.
Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) saw Yan Qinghuai standing at the very front of the team from afar and secretly waved her hand to greet him.
Yan Qinghuai saw her and returned a brilliant smile, waving back.
However, this action completely stunned the "Avian Hall" students behind them, who all started whispering and gossiping.
"Was that Yan Qinghuai just greeting someone?"
"Who would he greet? Maybe he was just stretching his hand."
"No, he definitely was greeting someone. I saw him smile from the side!"
"Impossible! How could his poker face ever smile?"
"I saw it, it seemed like a girl from the Beast Hall waved at him first."
"Heh heh, could it be his sweetheart?"
"How could Yan Qinghuai, with his icy face, possibly have someone he likes? Stop joking!"
"Actually, I thought the girl opposite him looked quite cute..."
The chatter behind them ceased because, at this moment, the barrier of the trial ground had been opened. They saw the giant stone split open in the middle, revealing a dark, black hole.
Alright! They had originally thought the forest was the trial location, but the entrance was actually on the giant stone. Now that the barrier was open, the forest was still the same forest, but a teleportation array had appeared inside the giant stone.
"Students of both halls, please note that after you enter the teleportation array one by one, you will be randomly teleported to any location within the trial grounds. The demon beasts inside are likely a little stronger than you. To minimize academy casualties, you can also choose to fight in teams." Senior student Hu Wantong responsibly gave the pre-trial explanation. "Make sure to keep the teleportation positioning stone that was given to you safe. When the one-day time limit is up, no matter where you are inside, you will all be uniformly teleported out."
Hu Wantong then turned his gaze to the students of his hall, "If you feel your life is in danger, you can crush the teleportation positioning stone at any time to be instantly teleported out. However, there's one thing you should know: once you come out, you cannot re-enter, even if your time is not up and your mission is not completed."
"Finally, I'd like to add one more thing. The trial assessment is organized at a fixed time each year, so it's okay even if you don't pass. Everyone should conserve their strength. If you keep the green hills, you'll never run out of firewood, right!" Hu Wantong was truly worried for these junior students. Elder Tong Rui had repeatedly instructed him before leaving to bring the "cubs" back safely.
After Hu Wantong finished speaking, he looked at Elder Tong Mu, "Elder, would you like to summarize?"
"No need. Go in!" Tong Mu disliked idle talk and directly motioned for Yan Qinghuai at the front to lead the way.
Yan Qinghuai glanced at Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) and then was the first to enter the black teleportation array, disappearing instantly.
To ensure fairness, Tong Mu first sent five "Avian Hall" students, then five "Beast Hall" students, and so on, entering in turns. In a short time, all the yellow-token students had entered the trial grounds. Hu Wantong also brought out a large hourglass and began timing.
Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) entered in the same batch as Mao Peilan and Jin Lang, but after passing through the teleportation array, she was separated from them. Currently, beside her, there were no familiar demons, only a butterfly demon from the "Avian Hall" whom she had never seen before.
The other party naturally saw her as well, her eyes suddenly widened, and then she proactively stepped forward with a smile and extended her hand. "Hello, I'm Hua Dieyi from the Avian Hall. I just heard your senior brother say at the entrance that it's very dangerous inside. How about we cooperate to hunt together?"
Looking at the offered hand of friendship, Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) naturally wouldn't refuse. She quickly stepped forward and clasped the other's hand. "Hello, hello, my name is Bai Qiushui. Then let's go together for now!"
However, at the moment of physical contact, she suddenly heard the other party's true thoughts: "This demon seems to be the one who greeted Brother Yan at the entrance earlier. Let's follow her and see if I can get closer to Brother Yan!"
Good heavens, could this butterfly demon be a fan of Yan Qinghuai? Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) thought with amusement.
The two demons, meeting for the first time and with different objectives, walked forward leisurely. Suddenly, a girl's scream seemed to come from a distance.
They looked at each other, then quickened their pace towards the sound. They then saw a giant cow with five eyes attacking a sparrow demon from the "Avian Hall." The sparrow demon had already fallen to the ground, and the cow's hoof, as thick as two trees, was about to stomp down on her face.