After the red-haired middle-aged man finished speaking, he casually glanced over the people in the great hall, taking in everyone's expressions. He nodded and shook his head inwardly from time to time, branding those who had been scared pale as unworthy of cultivation.
Fear is a natural human emotion, but in a world where the law of the jungle prevails, those who have chosen the path of becoming strong must be prepared to face life and death with detachment and have the confidence that they can overcome any challenges. Without these two basic mentalities, even if they manage to pass this test, they won’t get far in the future.
However, while many in the great hall were frightened by the words of the red-haired middle-aged man, some showed no significant change in their expression. Not only were they not afraid, but a desire to challenge also rose in their eyes, earning a slight appreciation from the red-haired middle-aged man.
"Not bad, not everyone was scared. It seems that this batch has a few good prospects. I wonder how many of them will pass the test this time." The red-haired middle-aged man muttered to himself before turning and leaving the great hall, leaving all the candidates feeling the pressure.
Although the trial had not officially begun, the mysterious atmosphere had already roused everyone’s spirits.
"Xing Peng, what kind of trial do you think is coming? Even at this point, the envoy hasn't told us what dangers we'll face," a youthful-looking boy beside Xing Peng asked with a smile after the red-haired middle-aged man had left.
"Who knows? The trials at White Tiger Academy are different every time, with no pattern to speak of," Xing Peng replied with a glance and a shake of his head.
"Ah, I really hope this trial will be like the last one. Then we'd all be sure to safely enter White Tiger Academy!" Xing Xin, not disappointed by Xing Peng's lack of an answer, sighed. His question to Xing Peng wasn't out of genuine curiosity but an attempt to ingratiate himself with Xing Peng.
This was the task his father had given him before attending the White Tiger Academy trial. Ever since Xing Peng had shown his strength at the Xing family’s trial competition and entered the fourth floor of the Martial Tower, everyone in the Xing family had realized that Xing Peng was destined for greatness. Now was the time to befriend him, or it would be too late later.
"Hopefully. If it's really like the last trial, it would indeed be easier for us!" Xing Peng smiled. The previous trial at White Tiger Academy involved navigating a special wooden dummy lane. Though challenging and a stumbling block for many, it posed no significant risk to life. It was known as the trial with the fewest deaths in recent years at White Tiger Academy.
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"Xing Peng, if we encounter any dangerous trials later, could you help us out, seeing as we're all descendants of the Xing family?" Xing Xiaofeng suddenly asked, looking at Xing Peng with a longing gaze. Xing Xiaofeng had a face that could make women jealous, with extremely soft features, almost hinting at the potential for androgyny.
When Xing Xiaofeng spoke, Xing Peng couldn't help but glance at him, and upon meeting that hopeful and passionate gaze, he involuntarily grimaced.
"Damn!" If a beautiful woman looked at Xing Peng that way, he would enjoy it, but it was a different story when a man, more beautiful than most women, did so. It made Xing Peng feel like there were thorns on his back.
"Um... I remember your name is Xing Xiaofeng, right? You're a man, aren't you?" Xing Peng asked nervously.
"Yes, of course, I'm a man! I didn't expect you to remember my name! I'm so happy!" Xing Xiaofeng's eyes 'sparkled' as he looked at Xing Peng, his gaze filled with tenderness.
"Shiver!" Xing Peng shivered intensely. A comrade! Damn, this is a comrade. I can't believe a comrade is interested in me.
"Um, Xing Xiaofeng, could you not look at me like that? We're all descendants of the Xing family. Rest assured, if I can really help during the trial, I won't just stand by and do nothing." Xing Peng had never dealt with a 'comrade' like this before and felt under immense pressure. His heart was pounding.
As Xing Peng felt a chill down his spine, the people within five meters of him suddenly scattered, each looking at Xing Xiaofeng with wariness. It seemed they were also frightened by Xing Xiaofeng.
This only added to Xing Peng's pressure, feeling it was not a delightful experience to be alone with such a comrade. Suddenly, he moved away, leaving under the resentful gaze of Xing Xiaofeng, and appeared next to other city's candidates.
After leaving Xing Xiaofeng, Xing Peng didn’t look back, but he could still feel Xing Xiaofeng’s resentful gaze, which made his heart twitch again, almost provoking a murderous intent.
What kind of situation was this? In Xing Peng's view, dealing with such a 'comrade' was even more dangerous than fighting a Heaven Level expert. If possible, Xing Peng would rather fight a Heaven Level martial artist than be subjected to Xing Xiaofeng's gaze.
If Xing Xiaofeng wasn't a member of the Xing family, Xing Peng would have already taught him a lesson for looking at him that way. But unfortunately, Xing Xiaofeng was a member of the Xing family. Although Xing Peng had complaints against the elder members of the Xing family, for the sake of the family’s so-called honor, he had to endure it for now.
When Xing Peng suddenly moved from the Gu Mu City candidates to those from other cities, many regarded him with wary eyes.
"Kid, are you looking for trouble, jumping around like that?" An arrogant voice rang out beside Xing Peng as the others watched him with suspicion.
Xing Peng narrowed his eyes and looked towards the source, seeing a person with an arrogant demeanor, dressed in white, looking down on him at a forty-five-degree angle, exuding arrogance.
"What are you looking at? Get the hell back to where you came from! Damn, can't you see what you are? This isn't a place where you can just run around wildly. Watch it, or I'll cut you down!" The man in white glared at Xing Peng fiercely, his dandyish arrogance fully on display, his eyes filled with disdain and contempt.
"grandson! Who are you cursing? " Xing Peng's face turned cold as he spoke in a deep voice.
"Of course, I'm scolding you! What about it, you want to bite me?" The man in white was not afraid at all, continuing to curse arrogantly.