"The Hundred Cities Jade Token isn't just your ID for this battle," Darius's voice boomed across the platform, crisp and deliberate. "It directly affects your results. I've infused each jade token with a special primordial energy—the white light you see. That means your token is in its first stage of activation. There are four stages in total: gold, purple, cyan, and white. Right now? You're at the very bottom."
Three hundred young talents on the White Jade Platform tensed. Fingers clenched around their tokens. Eyes locked on Darius, every thought focused.
"The white jade token proves your eligibility," he continued. "Each city sends three representatives, so each city holds three white tokens. Once you enter the Hundred Yuan Realm, your first task is to upgrade them to purple. If even one token fails to reach purple by the end of the first stage, all three representatives from that city are eliminated. That's the rule."
Darian held his Lungrath jade token. The stakes hit him immediately. Selene and Seraphina exchanged slow, knowing nods. This wasn't just a solo test. This was a team trial. Three representatives. One heartbeat out of sync, and all would fall.
Now it made sense why Valtor had drilled them endlessly in the Xi Long Battle Formation. Hearts in sync. Movements as one. Advancing, retreating, turning—flawless coordination. That was survival. That was victory.
But one question gnawed at them: how the hell does a white jade token even upgrade to purple?
Darius's piercing gaze swept across the platform. There was a cruel, playful glint in his eyes.
"There are two ways," he said. "First: hunt monsters within the Hundred Yuan Realm. Every defeated monster grants your jade token a portion of its spiritual energy. Stronger monsters, bigger boost. Second: collect rare materials infused with heavenly and earthly energy. The better the quality, the faster your progress."
The three hundred youths stiffened. Hunting monsters and hunting rare materials? That wasn't just about skill—it was about luck. One bad encounter with a high-level beast, and you could be done.
The three representatives from each city exchanged subtle glances. Silent trust. Silent understanding. Darian, Selene, and Seraphina had built that bond over twenty days of Xi Long Formation training.
Selene's eyes said: Lead. Decide. Seraphina's gaze nodded back, acknowledging Darian's strength, his strategy, his will. Early stage of the Yinpo Phase or not, his command was undeniable.
A faint warmth flickered in Darian's chest. Their trust bolstered him, fueled his resolve.
Darius's voice cut through their thoughts again, sharper this time.
"Hunting monsters and gathering materials upgrades tokens—but slowly. The first stage lasts only three days and nights. Fail, and elimination is guaranteed. Fastest method? Seize tokens from others. That's the quickest path to power."
A ripple of tension ran through the platform. Eyes narrowed. Teammates and rivals exchanged wary glances.
Seize other people's jade tokens? Darian's mind raced. This wasn't just a battle. It was cunning, strategy, and raw skill all at once. Thorne across the platform stared greedily. Very obvious.
Heh, Darian smirked inwardly. Anyone wants a piece of me? I'll gladly give them one… on my terms.
Darius's voice rang out again. Final. Commanding.
"All means are allowed to seize tokens—except killing. If anyone dies, the culprit faces severe punishment. Can't handle it? Shatter your jade token and exit. But participation is lost. Understand?"
A unified shout rose: "Understood!"
"Good. It's time. All enter the Hundred Yuan Realm!"
With a roar, three hundred figures surged forward, cultivation energy flaring as they leapt toward the pulling force of the spatial gate.
Darian exchanged a determined glance with Selene and Seraphina. Then, pushing off with a surge of energy, they pierced the gate together.
White light engulfed them. For a moment, everything vanished. Darian's jade token pulsed faintly in his hand. Moments later, the brightness dimmed, and they descended lightly to solid ground.
"Your tokens pulsed just now, right?" Darian asked.
Selene and Seraphina nodded silently. Darian's eyes narrowed as he examined his token. The gate separated representatives from the same city—it was a precaution to prevent early encounters. Smart.
Seraphina's icy gaze flickered with curiosity. "So City Lord Wei intentionally separated us?"
"Yes," Darian said. "To familiarize us with the Hundred Yuan Realm first. Perhaps to hunt monsters and gather materials individually. Eventually, teams from different cities will clash. That's when the real battle begins."
Selene and Seraphina nodded, impressed by the calm, strategic mind of their young teammate.
They now stood at the edge of a dense, ancient forest. Sunlight barely pierced the canopy. The humid, wild scent of earth and vegetation filled the air. Rugged mountain paths stretched behind them, while a pale, ethereal sun hovered above—a clear sign they were in a mysterious pocket world.
"All right," Darian said. "Let's move. There must be monsters here. Along the way, I'll show you some refinements to the Xi Long Battle Formation."
They nodded and placed their jade tokens into storage rings. Energy surged as they dashed into the forest.
Half an hour later, both Selene and Seraphina were exhilarated.
"Darian, where did you get this updated Xi Long Formation? It's at least thirty percent more complex than our training map. Did City Lord Qi give it to you?"
Darian explained the refinements he had discovered, enhancing their previous drills. They grasped the nuances quickly, moving in near-perfect sync.
"Roar!"
A sudden, ferocious roar erupted from the shadows ahead.
"Monster! Watch out!" Darian shouted.
A massive shadow leapt from the thicket, landing heavily in front of them. Bloody red eyes glowed. Claws dug into the ground. The creature radiated a ferocious, blood-soaked aura.
"Second-tier lower monster—Dark Red Blood Lion!" Seraphina identified.