When Li Xuan punched into the stone statue's head and it passed straight through, Li Xuan was momentarily stunned as the statue's voice slowly sounded.
The next moment, all three stone statues vanished.
"This trial isn't about a true challenge, but rather whether the challenger has the courage to face death head-on!" As the three stone statues disappeared, Li Xuan stood stunned, his eyes filled with sudden realization.
Only now did Li Xuan finally understand why Bai Suxin Bai Zun had transmitted her voice to him at that moment. If he had used his second chance, the outcome would likely not have been like this.
Even more, Li Xuan had a vague feeling that the stone statue for the second choice would have been a true entity of the Primal Transformation realm!
*Buzz.*
Accompanied by a buzzing sound, Li Xuan's figure slowly vanished under a ray of spiritual light. When his surroundings stabilized, Li Xuan found himself back on the cloud ladder. This time, the number of contestants on the cloud ladder was noticeably fewer than before.
"Sister Suxin, if you hadn't transmitted your voice to him, do you think he could have succeeded?" Mo Ningxiang, standing on the high platform, looked at Li Xuan and then transmitted her voice to Bai Suxin Bai Zun.
"I didn't break any assessment rules; it was just a trivial reminder. Otherwise, do you think Jin Guangshuo Zhizun would have stood by and done nothing?" Bai Suxin Bai Zun smiled faintly.
"That's true, after all, the choice was always in his hands. Looking at it now, it's not too bad," Mo Ningxiang nodded with a smile.
Time passed, and after Li Xuan waited for about twenty minutes, the illusionary painted scrolls in the sky slowly vanished. The second trial had finally concluded.
"This is somewhat beyond my expectations; over six hundred thousand people were eliminated in this round." Jin Guangshuo Zhizun spoke to the crowd on the cloud ladder as the second round of screening ended.
"Although these two rounds were merely screening tests, they are sufficient to demonstrate the contestants' temperament and individual comprehension. With nearly a hundred thousand people remaining, selecting a thousand spots is akin to choosing prodigies from amongst prodigies. Such disciples are indeed worthy of entering Tianyi Pavilion." Mo Ningxiang said with a slight smile.
"Since the esteemed madam deems it appropriate, I shall formally begin the assessment," Jin Guangshuo Zhizun said, rising with a smile.
With a nod from Mo Ningxiang, Jin Guangshuo Zhizun turned to the contestants who had passed the cloud ladder, "Congratulations to all of you for successfully passing the two rounds of screening. Standing out among over a million participants proves your temperament and comprehension. However, I urge you to remain humble and not grow complacent, as the true test begins now!"
"While Tianyi Pavilion values temperament, potential, and comprehension when selecting disciples, personal strength is paramount. Possessing talent without commensurate strength will naturally lead to failure. Diligence can compensate for deficiencies; you should all understand this."
"In the upcoming first round of assessment, you will need to acquire as many Rakshasa Fruits as possible within one hour. The top twenty thousand who obtain the most will proceed to the next round of assessment."
"Now, the assessment officially begins!"
As Jin Guangshuo Zhizun finished speaking, he waved his hand, and the cloud ladder bearing everyone flashed with dazzling light. All over one hundred thousand contestants, including Li Xuan, vanished under this radiance.
"Here... is another illusion?" After the spiritual light dispersed, Li Xuan looked at the vast mountain range around him, his brow furrowed in thought.
Li Xuan had no idea what the Rakshasa Fruit mentioned by Jin Guangshuo Zhizun was. However, he assumed it must be within this mountain range.
"My divine sense is also suppressed. As expected of a Supreme's grand undertaking." After probing for a moment, Li Xuan discovered with surprise that his divine sense could only sense about fifteen meters around him.
With a shift in his thoughts, Li Xuan felt a sense of relief. Since this was an assessment of strength, it likely involved direct combat. As for the Rakshasa Fruit, it probably wasn't that difficult to obtain.
*Boom!*
Just as Li Xuan was contemplating, a loud roar suddenly sounded. Li Xuan turned his gaze towards the source of the sound, which was only a few hundred meters away from his location.
"Someone's already engaged in combat. I can go and take a look." Li Xuan moved, then quickly dashed towards the direction of the sound.
*Bang!*
As he approached, the sounds of fierce combat grew louder. Li Xuan hid behind a large tree and looked down. Two contestants were locked in a fierce struggle.
Not far away, a plant bearing over a dozen green fruits was emitting a faint glow.
"Could this be the Rakshasa Fruit?" Li Xuan's heart stirred, and he shot directly towards the vegetation.
"Who goes there!"
The moment Li Xuan made his move, the two contestants who had been fighting immediately stopped and unleashed a palm strike towards Li Xuan. Judging by their aura, both had reached the early stage of the Infinite Realm.
"I want this Rakshasa Fruit!" Li Xuan naturally sensed their attack. Without hiding his strength, his mid-stage Infinite Realm aura instantly spread out. The attacks of the two were instantly repelled by Li Xuan's imposing presence.
"Leave!" After retreating several steps, the two glanced at each other, then simultaneously moved and fled into the distance.
"The spirit masters of this Great Thousand World are indeed extraordinary." As the two contestants departed, a hint of surprise appeared in Li Xuan's eyes. He had expected a great battle but didn't anticipate them making a decision to leave so quickly.
"This action is somewhat inappropriate, but since it's an assessment, it has to be this way." Li Xuan waved his hand, collecting the dozen Rakshasa Fruits from the plant, and then moved towards the depths of the mountain range.
"Sister Suxin, how many Rakshasa Fruits do you think he will obtain in this assessment?" On the high platform, Mo Ningxiang looked at Bai Suxin Bai Zun and transmitted her voice.
"In this Luo Guang Illusion, there are approximately eight hundred thousand Rakshasa Fruits. With over a hundred thousand people collecting, and the possibility of them being stolen by others, it's estimated that one would need around a hundred fruits to have a chance of entering the top twenty thousand. As for him, I reckon he'll get about eighty." Bai Suxin Bai Zun mused.
"Sister Suxin, you are being too conservative. While eighty Rakshasa Fruits might allow entry into the top twenty thousand, there's no guarantee. Since Li Xuan has come to our Tianyi Domain, how can he impress others in the future if his performance is mediocre?" Mo Ningxiang said with a smile.
"Then what is your expectation? How many does he need to pass your assessment?" Bai Suxin Bai Zun immediately understood Mo Ningxiang's thoughts. After all, Mo Ningxiang hadn't seen Li Xuan's previous performance, so it was normal for her to have doubts. Moreover, it concerned the future of Tianyi Domain, and Mo Ningxiang had to be cautious. However, Bai Suxin Bai Zun knew Li Xuan very well and asked with a smile.
"If he can obtain ten thousand Rakshasa Fruits, I believe it would meet my expectations," Mo Ningxiang said after a moment of silence.
"Ten thousand? Then he would have to snatch them from other contestants! You know, among these over one hundred thousand contestants, there are no lack of powerful individuals. With his strength, he's merely average. Furthermore, he's the one chosen by the Scribe." Bai Suxin Bai Zun frowned.
"If he can't even accomplish this, how can he face the Eternal Great Venerable? Sister Suxin, my decision is made," Mo Ningxiang transmitted with a sigh.
"So be it. Since you have decided, then so be it," Bai Suxin Bai Zun also sighed. Fortunately, Li Xuan was unaware of the exact number of Rakshasa Fruits in the Luo Guang Illusion. With an hour, he would surely do his best to collect them. With this thought, Bai Suxin Bai Zun felt a little more at ease.
At this moment, Li Xuan had no idea he had become the subject of a wager between Bai Suxin Bai Zun and Madam Mo Ningxiang.
However, along the way, the Rakshasa Fruits Li Xuan had collected had increased to sixty-nine. This number was naturally obtained from plants Li Xuan had discovered himself. Currently, Li Xuan was concealing his aura and moving deeper into the mountain range. Just moments ago, Li Xuan had sensed the aura of intense combat once again. And this aura, Li Xuan had identified, was at the peak Infinite Realm!