Chapter 565: Chapter 565 Treated as a Burden

Another crucial factor was that the strength of a team’s members could not differ too much, lest their coordination be poor.

However, with Mu Changfeng present, these Inner Sect Disciples didn’t dare to whisper among themselves. Instead, they were all planning who would make a good teammate.

Mu Changfeng continued, "One more thing, and it’s the most important. Once you enter the finals, the battles are to the death. Unless you surrender and admit defeat, your life is forfeit!"

Mu Changfeng’s words once again caused a stir.

Logically speaking, competitions between academies were primarily for exchanging pointers. Why was such a rule established this time?

After all, everyone participating in this assessment was the cream of the crop from their respective academies. And of those who could make it to the finals—which one of them wasn’t a dragon among men? The death of any disciple during the finals would be a tremendous loss for their academy.

But Ye Qingchen understood. Of everyone here, I’m probably the only one who has truly fought the Demon Clan. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The cruelty of the Demon Clan and the images of rivers of blood were still vivid in his memory.

The purpose of this assessment was to select disciples for the Demon Clan battlefield. The fundamental reason for these harsh rules was to allow the disciples to experience the true brutality of war. In fact, the real Demon Clan battlefield was undoubtedly far more brutal and shocking than this assessment.

Mu Changfeng spoke earnestly, "Each and every one of you is the pride of Central Celestial Academy. If you truly can’t continue, surrender. No one will ridicule you for it."

Some Inner Sect Disciples nodded silently upon hearing this.

Mu Changfeng glanced at the nodding disciples, sighed, and continued, "Now, let’s discuss team formation. I’ve discussed this with the deans of your respective academies, and we’ve decided that teams will be formed voluntarily. Any students left over will be assigned to a team by drawing lots."

After Mu Changfeng finished speaking, he gestured for the Inner Sect Disciples to begin communicating with one another.

No one had expected the academy to propose such a method for forming teams. The disciples had just realized the importance of team composition, so it was rather baffling that the academy wasn’t taking the lead in the matter.

This was actually one of the reasons Central Celestial Academy had ranked last in the assessments in recent years. The academy’s approach to training disciples emphasized long-term achievement and cared little for superficial honors like rankings.

Teams formed voluntarily would naturally have a better understanding of one another, leading to more synchronized cooperation. Moreover, on the Demon Clan battlefield, they would likely form teams in the same way, so it was good to get accustomed to it beforehand.

Soon, the students had organized themselves into teams, but an awkward situation arose.

Most of the Inner Sect Disciples from Central Celestial Academy often trained together, so they were quite familiar with one another. When team formation was first announced, most had already decided who they wanted as teammates. The newly promoted Inner Sect Disciples teamed up with the senior brothers and sisters from their own academies. Even the more solitary disciples were invited to join teams because of their relatively high strength.

Ye Qingchen, however, didn’t fit into any of these categories. First, he was a newly promoted Inner Sect Disciple and had no familiar friends. Second, he was the only one from the Divine Wood Academy participating, so finding senior brothers or sisters from his own academy was out of the question. Finally, his apparent strength was only at the Seventh Layer of the Martial King Realm. He was the only person present at that cultivation level.

Everyone knew that the weakest participants in this assessment were at the Martial Emperor Realm. Wasn’t someone in the Martial King Realm just dead weight?

Zi Xing had invited Ye Qingchen to join his team, but the other Inner Sect Disciples from the Ferocious Fire Academy refused. Although Zi Xing repeatedly vouched for Ye Qingchen’s impressive strength, how could they possibly trust someone in the Martial King Realm?

Not wanting to make things difficult for Zi Xing, Ye Qingchen took the initiative and declined the offer. It doesn’t matter which team I’m on anyway. At worst, I’ll just follow the academy’s arrangement and be assigned to one.

But even he hadn’t anticipated that among the hundred people present, everyone but him would find a team. Even the one team that was short a person would rather keep the spot vacant than let Ye Qingchen, who was only in the Martial King Realm, join them.

In the end, Mu Changfeng had to step in and persuade the team to accept Ye Qingchen, though it was clear they would simply ignore him once inside the Secret Realm.

Mu Changfeng gave Ye Qingchen a meaningful glance. Recalling Ye Qingchen’s senior brothers and sisters, he couldn’t help but shake his head. It seems Elder Yang misjudged this time.

After the teams were sorted, Mu Changfeng activated the Teleportation Array and gave one last instruction to the participating students, "Students, the Teleportation Array has been locked onto the Secret Realm’s location. The moment you step inside, the assessment officially begins. This Secret Realm was jointly created by the four great academies and contains both opportunities and dangers. Be cautious after you enter, and do not push yourselves beyond your limits!"

When he finished, Mu Changfeng gestured for the Inner Court Disciples to enter the Teleportation Array.

The disciples entered in their pre-arranged teams, leaving Ye Qingchen, the last-minute addition, at the very end.

As soon as he stepped into the Teleportation Array, Ye Qingchen’s vision went dark. After a dizzying whirl, light returned.

"Hmm?"

Ye Qingchen surveyed his surroundings. He was in a spacious room with his nine new teammates.

A youth with a resolute face spoke to the others. "It seems this Secret Realm uses random teleportation. Disciples from the four great academies have been sent to random rooms within the Secret Realm in their teams. Everyone, get ready. We’re moving out."

Ye Qingchen recognized him. It was Li Chunshan, the captain the team had originally elected.

Li Chunshan was at the peak of the Second Layer of the Martial Emperor Realm, making him the strongest member of the team. Moreover, he had joined the academy on many training expeditions and had plenty of experience. Therefore, no one objected to him being captain.

What left Ye Qingchen speechless, however, was that as Li Chunshan spoke, his eyes swept over everyone in the circle except for him, as if he weren’t part of the team at all.

Just then, another Inner Sect Disciple pointed at Ye Qingchen and asked Li Chunshan, "Brother Chunshan, what do we do with this kid?"

In this Inner Sect Disciple’s eyes, Ye Qingchen was clearly a drag on the team.

Only then did Li Chunshan finally look toward Ye Qingchen and say helplessly, "Who dares to disobey the Headmaster’s orders? We just have to bring him along."