262 Process of Selection

"The land within the independent space contains insurmountable amounts of negative energies that not any of us can possibly withstand, even myself..." Mathias suddenly announced, his words booming like muffled thunder that sent a jolt down each and everyone of the listener's hearts.

Soft murmurs echoed out and the disciples below him looked somewhat pale and anxious. Within every person's hearts, negative energy was the most prominent energy. Part of the reason was that a truly perfect and stainless heart didn't exist. Everyone that lived under the heavens possessed a stain that negative energy could amplify and take root.

Evidently, each and everyone of these disciples didn't believe that they possessed the capability to withstand nor diffuse negative energy once it entered their heart. And what was the consequences of being infected by negative energies? It was simple, one would just become a mindless husk that knew nothing and desires nothing but slaughter and destruction.

Alexandra and Annie tightly clenched their fists and bit their lips, their aggrieved expressions painted a scene that could ignite the sadistic sides of any male disciple. Unfortunately, none of them had the drive to do such a thing. They merely stood and tallied the risks and rewards in entering the Mystic Realm of the Undead.

If it was too dangerous, they wouldn't dare to enter. After all, it took them several years of incessant hardwork to reach their current boundary. Throwing their life away for the sake of the once in a million chance sounded so silly and stupid.

Vincent furrowed his eyebrows and fell into deep contemplation. Meanwhile, amidst all of these commotion, there existed three people that looked as serene as a clear river. Dan, Natalie and Grace merely stared at each other and sweetly smiled. Towards these three that cultivated on the Demonic and Aberrant Path, negative energies were their nutrition.

"Dan, what do you think? Negative energies... According to the books that I have read, once you're infected and the infection was deep enough. There's no way that you could recover...And according to the Headmaster, that place is teeming with negative energies... Would someone still go there despite those conditions?"

Vincent curiously asked for Dan's opinion whose expression turned into a solemn one as a pretense. Dan who had his arms wrapped around his wives thought for a moment before turning to stare at him and saying: "I don't think that the Headmaster would purposely send us to our graves. Since he's making us compete for a spot into this so-called Mystic Realm of the Undead, there should be countermeasures against those negative energies..."

"Yeah, you're right. I'm overthinking it. What I'm curious about is what would the process of selection be and how will the Academy eliminate so many participants in a short period of time..." Vincent lightly smiled and expressed his thoughts.

Towards his words, Dan lifted a smile on his face. His eyes blazed with the light of battle intent. Natalie and Grace who were extremely sensitive to his emotions noticed this change and they simultaneously glanced at him.

"Dear, do you have any idea about the incoming selection process?" Natalie asked with a slight smile on her face, she looked so confident about her husband's thoughts despite not knowing it. Grace had the same expression but she didn't say any words.

"Yeah, if they're looking to eliminate as much disciples as possible and make those truly strong, stand out from the crowd. That certain method is definitely possible. But who knows, it's not that I can read minds and in the end, I don't know what the Headmaster is thinking..."

Dan's tone contained utmost confidence at the first half but when he reached the end of his sentence, he shrugged in a nonchalant manner and continued to stare at Mathias. The latter seemed to have noticed his gaze and glanced at him for a moment before lightly smiling in an ambiguous manner.

"I know that each and everyone of you has safety concerns regarding those negative energies. Fear not, we will be distributing necklaces that could safely absorb those negative energies and keep you away from harm. However, even with our resources, we only managed to create ten necklaces! In other words, out of all of you Core disciples, only ten people can possibly acquire the chance to enter that Mystic Realm!"

Mathias dropped another bombshell, but this time. The bomb that he dropped created waves after waves of murmurs. The Core disciples who looked relaxed and amiable to each other abruptly turned cold and glared at the direction of their respective enemies.

Dan who kept his silence all this while received innumerable cold stares from every disciple around him. Vincent lifted a bitter smile on his face. His brother and comrade, Dan. Expectedly became a magnet for hatred and resentment. With how he acted earlier, this was an expected outcome.

Dan disregarded all of these gazes. Instead, he stared at Mathias's direction and inwardly cursed the man inside his man.

Damn! How insidious! What a savage man! To think that he would truly do such a thing to squeeze out everything that I have! If he really followed through his plan, I may get overly-exhausted and burn out until my defeat!

Natalie and Grace felt the same thing but they merely stared at Dan with a "I told ya" look. If he didn't act so condescending against these disciples earlier, they he wouldn't have garnered so much animosity that these disciples looked like they didn't want to breathe the same air as him.

"And now, for the announcement that each and everyone of you anticipates for... The Process of Selection... Since there are only ten bracelets and the opening of the Mystic Realm is nearing everyday. The Selection Process would thoroughly be brutal..." Mathias tone turned indifferent, and his eyes sparkled with cold lights that could freeze the soulds of those that dared to look into his eyes.

The disciples who stood below him all had knowing looks within their faces. It looks like if we didn't slaughter our way through the top. There's no way that we can get that chance! Some of them thought like this and became even more determined, while some had suspicious looks on their faces.

The Academy wouldn't do something stupid such as making them fight each other to their deaths, right? Dan, Natalie and Grace thought the same. The Academy spent so many resources into nurturing these geniuses only to end up making them kill each other for the sake of those necklaces. That doesn't sound right.

Mathias predicted the thoughts of everyone and he lightly chuckled. His imposing and indifferent expression defused as he swept his gaze at the disciples and announced: "Of course, we aren't so stupid as to really make you kill each other for the sake of that chances. But of course, we cannot allow those with faint hearts acquire a necklace or else it would spell disaster for the Academy... In a way, each and everyone of you disciples will truly kill each other but not in reality..."

When Mathias reached the end of his sentence, a smile blooomed on his face and those disciples that possessed some smartness within their heads realized what he was trying to say. That of course included, Grace, Dan and Natalie who simultaneously whispered along with Mathias's continuation.

"Thousand Worlds Changing Array... A virtual world..."

Mathias lightly chuckled, with his current boundary. Picking up the slight sounds of whispers around him was a task as easy as eating food. Sweeping his gaze at the disciples once again. He continued, "That's right, we will have all of you fight within the Thousand Worlds Changing Array. Since all of you are Core disciples, there should be no reason for me to further explain the function of that array and if truly works..."

Those who felt hesitant about his earlier announcement all sighed in relief. Their eyes flashed with ferocity, while some coldly snorted and blurted out: "Hmmph, even if it's not a virtual world, I'm prepared to kill my way to the top!"

Dan made a sidelong glance at the disciples around him and temporarily closed his eyes and opened them again: He now confirmed that most of the disciples within the Academy never experienced a true life and death battle. Most of their battle experiences should've come from that Thousand Worlds Changing Array. If not, why would they act so conceited and arrogant in the face of danger? Only those who are naive or truly strong do such a thing.

Natalie and Grace also made a sidelong glance at these disciples before snuggling back into Dan's chest, looking for that warmth. Apparently, they noticed and thought the same. Vincent looked somewhat confused of their actions, but the light within his eyes shone in excitement and the determination to acquire one of those necklaces.

"Each and every Core disciple will be transported into the world within the Array. And once you arrived, the battle would officially start. It will only end once there are only ten disciples remaining. Once the Array detected that, it would instantly transfer those ten back to reality, and they will be crowned as geniuses among geniuses!"

Mathias boldly declared and screams erupted among the disciples and the spectators, forming a chorus that shook the entire Core Disciples Region. The commoners who came to watch the battle waved their hands in the air and some even jumped up and down from excitement.

Since the battle occurred within a virtual world, each and every disciple could unleash everything that they had without restraining themselves. Of course, the problem of imperfect replication of their true strength within the real world didn't exist within the world of the mysterious Thousand Worlds Changing Array.

"Since all of you looked so ready and there's no time to waste, the Selection Process will promptly begin. To the spectators, every battle occurring within the Array will be projected so each and everyone of you can observe their battle and hopefully acquire inspiration from the strongest bunch of disciples within the Academy!" Mathias amiably smiled before turning his head to look at the Elders stationed at the sides.

"Elders, activate the Thousand Worlds Changing Array formation! Maximum Output and Input! Don't hold back!" Mathias announced and resplendent lights suddenly exploded amidst the crowd, an Elder stood among the crowd and held a huge sparkling Spirit Stone from their hands.

The light that soared through the skies formed a web that resembled a spiderweb which eventually turned into a huge gate that attracted the souls of every Core disciples including Dan, Natalie and Grace.

[The Host's soul and consciousness is being invited to the world within the Thousand Worlds Changing Array. Do you want to accept the invitation? Y/N]

A system notification popped out in the air and Dan observed as each and every disciple around him all collapsed into the ground including both of his wives and Vincent.

"Hmmph, so in the end. The Headmaster really chose such a vicious and savage method of sorting the diamonds from the stones..." He coldly snorted before positively responding to the system notification. Afterwards, his body collapsed beside his wives.

From above the clouds, directly overhead the Paradyne Academy, a figure silently floated. The figure's face and stature looked slender and one could deduce that his body definitely looked malnourished. The deep stench of death constantly accompanied this figure, but despite all of these. From within the hood of his robes, two crimson lights ignited with excitement and fervor.

"Aaaaah, the sacrifice... I know that you'll stand out among the crowd... I'll be waiting for you within that world..." He blurted out in a hoarse voice that lacked any sort of power. However, when he stretched his hand out, his finger tore the void as he silently disappeared into it.

Mathias who kept his amiable smile suddenly stiffened. Staring above him, his eyes narrowed before clicking his tongue in annoyance and anxiousness: "Well, this can also be considered as a tribulation and possibly the biggest obstacle that they would face..." He sighed and shook his head, sending that certain matter to the very back of his mind.