Chapter 272: Chapter 272: The Green Talent List Begins

However, this path seemed to lead to certain death. Lin Yun swore to himself that no matter how difficult, he would carve a bloody path forward. This was his last chance to save his parents, his teacher, and his friends.

Before the Green Talent List competition, Lin Yun successfully broke through to the Seventh Layer of the Qi Sea Realm. With only two days remaining, he spent the time completely stabilizing his new cultivation.

The Green Talent List competition was divided into two rounds. The first round was essentially a screening process. Anyone who couldn’t even pass it was deemed unqualified to attract the attention of the great forces.

As in previous years, when the Green Talent List began, the other Five Great Forces from the Eastern Domain would come to spectate. On one hand, it was a chance for everyone to gather. On the other, these Five Great Forces were also there to see if any demon fiend-level geniuses had emerged in the Southeast Domain.

However, to even have a chance of catching the eye of these great forces, one had to survive the first round. Representatives from the great forces wouldn’t be present for the first round; they would only appear for the arena battles in the second.

Following a Steward, Lin Yun was led to the entrance of Celestial Eagle Valley.

The first round’s trial was Celestial Eagle Valley. All geniuses participating in the Green Talent List had to traverse the valley and emerge from the exit on the other side within seven days.

Standing at the entrance to the valley, Lin Yun sized up the talented young people around him. This group represented the most gifted individuals in the entire Southeast Domain.

There were two hundred of them, but at most, only twenty or thirty would successfully traverse Celestial Eagle Valley. Only those few would earn the right to compete in the final contest before the great forces.

"Haha, Junior Brother Lin Shan, I knew you’d be here!" As Lin Yun was observing the crowd by himself, a hearty laugh rang out from behind, and a young man clapped him on the shoulder.

"Senior Brother Wu..." Lin Yun thought, surprised. ’I can’t believe someone still dares to associate with me, now that I’m an enemy of the Yanhuang Royal Family.’

Seeming to read Lin Yun’s mind, Wu Tianyuan laughed nonchalantly. "I don’t care if you’re Lin Yun or Lin Shan. I only know that you’re my friend."

Lin Yun was deeply moved that Wu Tianyuan would say such a thing at a time like this. However, the Crown Prince and his entourage, who were watching, merely sneered.

’Everything is in place. There’s no way Lin Yun will make it to the second round. This first round will be his end.’

The Crown Prince sneered to himself. ’Lin Yun, once you’re inside the valley, let’s see how you’ll contend with me then.’

Of the ten top geniuses on the Yanhuang List, eight now stood behind the Crown Prince. Only the carefree Wu Tianyuan stood with Lin Yun.

And that wasn’t all. In addition to those from Yanhuang Academy, members of the Wind Forest Sect were also glaring at Lin Yun with ill intent. Ziyi, in particular, had a faint glint of murder in his eyes as he watched him.

"So you’re Lin Yun," Ziyi said. "You certainly hid yourself well."

These hostile gazes did not escape Lin Yun’s perception. He knew they were all waiting for the moment he entered the valley.

Not wanting to implicate Wu Tianyuan, Lin Yun said, "Senior Brother Wu, I will always remember this kindness. Your sentiment alone is more than enough for me..."

After some convincing, Lin Yun finally managed to persuade Wu Tianyuan to leave him. ’He’ll definitely get dragged into my troubles if he stays with me,’ Lin Yun thought. In this situation, he preferred to be alone. It would be easier to escape if anything happened.

The crowd waited outside the valley, its entrance guarded by four Celestial Eagle Valley Elders. No one was allowed to enter before the designated time.

Just as Noon approached, a group of more than twenty young people wearing the attire of Celestial Eagle Valley’s Direct Disciples made their way through the crowd.

Every single person in this group had a cultivation at the Primordial Ocean Realm, and their faces were filled with calm and confidence.

Lin Yun sighed softly as he looked at them. ’So these are the Direct Disciples of Celestial Eagle Valley?’

’As expected of a great force. Even their weakest Direct Disciples are at the Primordial Ocean Realm. And the true number one of Celestial Eagle Valley’s younger generation, one of the Five Great Demon Fiends of the Eastern Domain, hasn’t even shown up.’

’The Green Talent List is probably beneath his notice now. As one of the Five Great Demon Fiends, his sights must be set on the Green Hero Venerable List, which spans the entire Celestial Spirit Continent.’

Upon arriving, the group of Direct Disciples walked straight to the front of the crowd, not giving anyone else a single glance from start to finish. It was as if, in their eyes, geniuses from minor factions like Lin Yun’s group weren’t even worth their attention.

These were only some of Celestial Eagle Valley’s Direct Disciples. Each year, the sect selected a portion of them to participate in the Green Talent List alongside disciples from other forces.

After another quarter of an hour, the four Celestial Eagle Valley Elders guarding the entrance rose to their feet in unison. One of them addressed the more than two hundred young geniuses present.

"Celestial Eagle Valley is about to open. The trial will last for seven days. Anyone who successfully passes through the valley within this time will pass the round. Remember, Celestial Eagle Valley contains lethal dangers. Each of you carries a Token. If you encounter a life-threatening situation, you may crush it. However, crushing your Token means you have failed."

After he finished speaking, the four Celestial Eagle Valley experts began forming hand seals. As their Seal Techniques changed, the Array at the valley’s entrance slowly activated until it was fully open.

This valley was Celestial Eagle Valley’s greatest source of pride. Ages ago, the sect’s founder had fought a great battle against a Tier Seven Demon Beast here, and their clash had carved out the valley itself. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

In the subsequent millennia, Celestial Eagle Valley continuously inscribed Arrays within the valley, carved wooden puppets and Stone Men, and transformed it into the sect’s most famous trial ground.

There was a saying in the Southeast Domain: anyone who could make it through Celestial Eagle Valley was, without a doubt, a top-tier genius.

There were no Demon Beasts inside the valley, but there were countless wooden puppets and Stone Men. Arrays were inscribed upon all of them, giving them Combat Power ranging from the Qi Sea Realm to the Early Stage of the Primordial Ocean Realm.

Passing through the valley in seven days was truly no easy feat.

"Alright, the Array has been activated. You may enter now," the Celestial Eagle Valley Elder announced, having successfully opened the Grand Array.

The moment his voice fell, a dark shadow shot into the valley. It was, of course, Lin Yun. With both the Crown Prince and the three top disciples of the Wind Forest Sect eyeing him like tigers stalking their prey, his only choice was to enter the valley first and figure things out from there.

"Damn it! Don’t let that brat get away!" Seeing Lin Yun dash into the valley first, the Crown Prince snorted. The geniuses from the Yanhuang List immediately gave chase.

The members of the Wind Forest Sect followed right behind the Crown Prince’s group. Both factions were dead set on killing Lin Yun; there was no way they would let him escape.

After Lin Yun, the Yanhuang List faction, and the Wind Forest List faction had entered, the rest of the participants began to file into the valley. It was worth noting, however, that the Celestial Eagle Valley Direct Disciples seemed completely at ease, a hint of mockery on their faces as they watched the others rush in.

"They’re completely clueless. What a bunch of idiots."

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