Death... and me

Kentucky had to admit it was true. "Well, it is indeed lively."

The building's entrance hall was enormous, but it was bustling with people and demon beasts. The twins' group could tell that there were at least a few thousand of them gathered here, but there was more than enough space for everyone.

Surprisingly, at least 30% of the beings there were demon beasts in humanoid form. That meant they were all experts at the Transition Realm and above.

"I'm impressed with the average level of cultivators and demon beasts here. I can barely see anyone below the Transition Realm, and that's only the humanoid races," Rean mentioned.

Rean then looked at the attendant after that, asking, "By the way, what's your name?"

"Sir can call me Dipsy," he answered in response. "I'm just one of the numerous attendants of the Jhiod Sect's Trial Building."

He continued, "As for the number of high-level experts, that's normal. You have to understand that only people and demon beasts of that level could really pay to teleport all the way here to take the test. Anyone at the Elemental Transformation Realm and below would probably find it hard to afford."

Everyone had to admit Dipsy was right. Even if one waited for the teleport formations' activation, that wasn't something anyone could easily afford. Besides, those who came from outside the continent were definitely rich to start with.

Dipsy also mentioned, "The other reason is that it would be quite crazy to enter the tests without being at least in the Elemental Transformation Realm. It's already this dangerous, so you have to have the strength to back yourself. The tests are often known for being impossible to finish for anyone below that level."

Roan couldn't help but ask after that, "We heard about how dangerous those tests are, but not about the tests themselves. What are they about?"

Dipsy immediately began to guide the twins through the wall after hearing that. "Oh! Then please follow me!"

When they arrived at the center of the entrance hall, Dipsy pointed in several directions. "On your left, you have the Volcano Hell test. This is pretty good for Fire Element Affinity cultivators and demon beasts. Well, good for the ones who survive, that is."

"Starting from the Volcano Hell test on the left and moving to the test beside it, the next one is the Snow Golem Island test. It is obviously a good place for Water Element users... as long as they don't die."

"The next one is the Life Siphon Forest test. This one would be good for a Water and Earth Element user that could merge them into Wood Element. Pretty much any user of both elements can do that, but how proficient you are will definitely help here. Right, Fire Element is also quite useful... as long as your heart is still beating in the end."

"The next one is the Thunderstorm Breakthrough test. Lightning Element has the advantage, of course. It's quite a fast test if you don't get charred to bits."

"Next, the..." Dipsy continued to showcase the multiple tests available... and how it would be good to not die in them. The twins' group couldn't tell anymore whether he talked like that normally or if he was just messing around.

Eventually, Dipsy finished showcasing the tests to the twins' group. "How is it? Did you like it?"

Rean nodded before saying, "Definitely... until the part that you mentioned how good they are if you stay alive."

"Well, no one wants to die, after all," Dipsy added. "So, as you can see, we have a total of twelve tests. This month's test is the Deep Sea Monster Assault. Do you wish to give it a try? The test will start eight days later."

Roan narrowed his eyes in response. "Wait, how many tests do we need to pass?"

Dipsy smiled in response. "Oh! I knew sirs would notice. That's correct. Passing a single test is far from enough. If you want to join Jhiod Sect, you have to pass all twelve tests these next twelve months. Of course, you can give up and come back later. A lot of people and demon beasts do that."

"All twelve..." The twins were quite surprised by that. Nevertheless, it explained why the rate of death was so high. One might be good at some specific elements, but definitely not all of them. A Fire Element Affinity cultivator would obviously struggle in this Deep Sea Monster Assault since it happened in the water. There was no such thing as a surface for the candidate to escape to.

Kentucky thought about something else, though. "You said we can give up?"

Dipsy nodded, replying, "Yep, you can give up at any time. All you need to do is crush the participant badge we will give you, and you'll be instantly teleported out of the test area. You won't be able to try it again until next year, though."

"It seems it's far more dangerous than I thought," Roan mentioned.

Rean and the others agreed with him. "If you can escape that easily but still have a 90% death rate, then it's so hard that you don't even have the time to give up before dying."

Dipsy's smile didn't disappear, though. "That's not entirely correct. A lot of the dead simply don't want to give up no matter what. Some people and especially demon beasts don't like the idea of sitting an entire year until the next test."

"That doesn't make sense," Roan pointed out. "Even if you fail this one, you could try the next ones after each month."

Dipsy then put a hand on his head. "Oh! Sorry, sorry! I forgot to mention. Once you start the test, you have to succeed in all twelve consecutively to be accepted. Suppose you succeeded five of them but failed the sixth. The results from the five tests before would become null and void. It doesn't matter which test you start with, but you have to finish all of them."

Roan glanced at Dipsy, wondering if he had really forgotten or just did not mention it on purpose. "Whatever."