As for the criteria for passing… it was simply staying alive.
Ye Zhongming distributed simple gray-grade equipment and weapons to the kids, dividing them into ten squads of about fifty each.
From the moment they left Black Dragon City, the ten squads began hunting, scouting, cooking—any task that needed doing, they had to do it. Ye Zhongming, the female guards, and the hundreds of battle beasts were their “masters” to serve.
This wasn’t bullying but tempering.
If these had been kids from peacetime, all five hundred would’ve been dead within a day. But these children had survived five years in the apocalypse—some as young as five or six when it began, the oldest barely over ten. Many had survived alone.
Underestimating them would be a grave mistake.
Any one of them likely had more blood on their hands than the most notorious killers of peaceful times.
Their youth had left them lagging in evolution, but that didn’t mean they weren’t adapted to this era.
After two days, the youth corps had fewer than ten casualties, half of whom would recover after a few days of rest. Only five had died.
Before, they could hunt anything edible, so naturally, they targeted low-level, easy prey.
Now, Ye Zhongming assigned targets above their evolution level, drastically increasing the difficulty.
Each squad was assigned a few female guard members, not to rescue them in danger but to record their performance. Even if someone died right in front of them, the observers wouldn’t lift a finger.
By day’s end, deaths soared—over forty didn’t return, and more than a dozen were left permanently disabled. Without special jobs to heal their injuries, they were effectively crippled.
The next day, deaths dipped slightly to twenty, but another dozen-plus were severely injured and had to withdraw. And this was with Cloud Peak providing full medical care to the wounded—otherwise, the numbers would’ve been higher.
In just four days since leaving Black Dragon City, the five-hundred-strong force had been reduced by a fifth.
That night, Ye Zhongming gathered the remaining kids around a fire, scrutinizing each face before telling them they could quit now. They’d be sent back to Black Dragon City at dawn with the severely injured.
Not everyone had nerves of steel, even among these apocalypse-hardened youths. They were beginning to realize that joining Cloud Peak—the nation’s top faction—and following Ye Zhongming—the nation’s top evolved—came at a price. Their aspirations were grand, but achieving them meant walking through the gates of hell.
Life in Black Dragon City couldn’t compare to Cloud Peak, but at least there, they could survive by inertia—unlike now, facing deadly mutated creatures daily, teetering between life and death.
One by one, over fifty hands rose.
Ye Zhongming nodded, having them step forward. They were given warm tents, sweet porridge, perfectly roasted jerky, and even a silver-grade piece of equipment.
But many began crying as they ate, some wailing loudly.
They knew they’d been eliminated and missed perhaps the greatest opportunity of their lives to rise above.
But there was no helping it—they were afraid of death.
At dawn, the fifty-plus were sent off with the wounded. The injured would be cared for in Black Dragon City, given light work. Some outstanding performers had already been noted—they’d join Cloud Peak’s logistics.
For the remaining 340-plus youths, Ye Zhongming showed them what those who’d left had dreamed of—evolution potions.
Over 320 received potions matching their levels, but seventeen or eighteen didn’t. Ye Zhongming called them out, lining them up at the front.
“You won’t receive potions. You’ve been eliminated.”
At Cloud Peak King’s words, the kids were stunned.
One bold soul stiffened his neck and demanded to know why. Ye Zhongming signaled to a subordinate, who pulled out observation records and explained.
These kids had all made “mistakes” at critical moments.
Mistakes like avoiding battle, slacking off, or… harming their comrades.
“Cloud Peak warriors are ruthless—to outsiders. But your ruthlessness was turned on your own,” Ye Zhongming said simply before flicking his wrist. Six of them instantly lost their heads—they’d deliberately caused comrades’ deaths in battle.
“The rest of you, walk back to Black Dragon City on your own.”
With that, Ye Zhongming left, leaving the shivering youths feeling like they’d been cast into hell.
In truth, they’d been rejected not just by Cloud Peak but also by Black Dragon City.
Another new day arrived, with the 320-plus youths having evolved. The highest among them was now five-star.
Ye Zhongming rewarded the top performers with better equipment.
And a new mission began.
Five more days passed, reducing the 320-strong force to just over 300. However, their average evolution level had reached five stars, with standouts like Xiao Xuan hitting six stars.
These kids had never imagined that they’d match the core members of Black Dragon City’s major factions in less than half a month.
Ye Zhongming gathered them once more, distributing new equipment and potions. The top performers received higher-grade gear and potions, and Xiao Xuan got a blue-grade item and intermediate potions.
“What comes next will be your final trial. Those who pass will officially become members of Cloud Peak.”
