Chapter 133: Chapter 96: The Real Show Begins
The moon set, and the sun rose.
Before long, it was the third day of the trial.
Less than ten hours remained until the end of the trial.
On the magical screens floating high above the mountaintop, of the once densely packed feeds, only twenty-odd remained.
As their numbers dwindled, the individual feeds enlarged, becoming much clearer.
Down below, the mountainside was still packed with people. The dense crowd craned their necks, staring intently at the screens in the sky, an uproar occasionally breaking out among them.
Just half an hour ago, something had happened that shocked and stunned everyone.
Sang Fan of the City Guard Army—one of the Wizard Apprentices many had favored, and who was widely considered one of the most likely to win a spot in the final contest—had been defeated. His opponent was a young woman from Violet Academy named Xiao Xi. Forced to use his Teleportation Ring to leave the maze, he was eliminated from the trial.
The scene had sent shockwaves through the crowd of spectators.
No one had expected Sang Fan to lose to a little-known student.
This development was truly beyond most people’s expectations.
"That girl was really hiding her strength. Not even Sang Fan was a match for her."
"What in the world were those insects? How did they have such high Magic resistance? They’re the perfect counter to a Wizard Apprentice."
"Looks like Meng Wei and Su Shouhai have another tough competitor on their hands."
"And there’s Pei Ze. His strength is on par with Meng Wei’s group."
Cries of amazement rose one after another.
The sudden upset didn’t diminish the crowd’s enthusiasm. On the contrary, it brought the atmosphere to a fever pitch.
Many grew even more excited and eager, desperate to see more clashes between the participants.
"This Xiao Xi... she’s so strong!" Yin Guang’s expression was grave.
Gu Lin nodded slightly. "She specializes in bio-modification," he said gravely. "She must have a deep connection with Lady Yuan Meng of Violet Academy. Nine times out of ten, she’s her disciple."
Yin Guang’s expression grew even more solemn.
The Yuan Meng that Gu Lin mentioned was the dean of Violet Academy. She specialized in bio-modification and was a renowned and powerful Wizard in Chenxi City.
To be accepted as a disciple by the dean herself, this Wizard Apprentice named Xiao Xi must have top-tier aptitude and strength.
It was just strange that there had been no word of her before this.
Meng Kai frowned deeply, feeling a knot of anxiety in his stomach.
This trial had been one upset after another right from the start.
First Pei Ze, and now this Xiao Xi.
He had been completely confident that his older brother would secure a spot, but now he couldn’t help but feel nervous.
Pei Ze’s performance so far, in particular, was making him extremely anxious.
’If I’d known Pei Ze was this powerful, I must have been out of my mind to make that bet with Gu Lin.’
’But the contract was already sealed, and it’s too late for regrets now. I can only hope the others try harder... and that they, under no circumstances, let Pei Ze get a Rainbow Gemstone!’
As if some unseen force had heard his plea, a sudden gasp rippled through the crowd.
Meng Kai looked up and saw on one of the screens that Su Shouhai had been the first to reach the hall at the Maze Center.
In the vast, empty hall stood only three stone pillars, each about a meter high, arranged in an equilateral triangle at the very center.
On top of each pillar rested a Rainbow Gemstone.
In the torchlight, the Gemstones gave off a dazzling, seven-colored light, a mesmerizingly beautiful sight.
A look of joy spread across Su Shouhai’s face as he rushed to one of the pillars and snatched the Rainbow Gemstone from its top.
His eyes flickered. He tried to take the other two Rainbow Gemstones as well, but an invisible force blocked his hand.
Realizing it was futile, Su Shouhai didn’t linger. He turned and left the hall without hesitation.
The Rainbow Gemstone could neither be stored in Spatial Items nor be taken out of the maze.
With more than eight hours left until the trial’s end, he would have to guard the Rainbow Gemstone. Success meant holding onto it until the very last moment.
Surprisingly, the instant Su Shouhai rushed out of the hall, the participants on the other screens seemed to sense something. All at once, they quickened their pace and charged forward.
Even more astonishingly, they moved without pause, not even needing to use a Detection Spell. They chose the correct path every time, as if a map had materialized inside their minds.
And that was, in fact, the case.
Pei Ze had been exploring the maze when the Teleportation Ring on his right ring finger suddenly vibrated. A stream of information poured into the depths of his mind, forming a map.
It detailed all the paths of the maze and showed three constantly flashing points of light.
Two of the points were clustered together not far from his position, completely still.
The last point of light was moving rapidly in the opposite direction.
Pei Ze understood immediately. ’The three points of light must represent the locations of the three Rainbow Gemstones.’
’So as soon as someone gets a Rainbow Gemstone, the next phase begins immediately.’
Pei Ze pursed his lips.
’Those Wizards... they have the same twisted sense of humor as always.’
’Designing a feature that displays everyone’s real-time location is obviously meant to force the participants to fight and kill each other.’
’Even if someone gets a Rainbow Gemstone, they’ll be hunted relentlessly by the others until the trial is over.’
’But I have to admit, this is certainly the best way to test a person’s true strength.’
’Anyone without enough power won’t be able to hold on to a Rainbow Gemstone.’
His thoughts were racing, but his actions were swift. He immediately cast a Gale Rune on himself, then used the Jumping Skill to enhance his agility. Like a shooting star, he sped towards the location of the two stationary points of light.
