Elder Yelore's words caused all the youths to fall silent as they eagerly awaited the start of the test. They didn't want to miss a single detail, as that could spell their doom.
"This year's exam will take place right here, in these valleys and on the mountains behind us," Elder Yelore began to explain as he gestured to the land behind him.
An expansive mountain range extended into the distance, with a mountain in the center of the mountain range standing high above any of the others in the area. Each mountain was covered in thick forests, making it look both beautiful, as well as dangerous.
"The area of the test is surrounded by a perimeter formation, which will be readily apparent. If you step outside of this formation, you will be counted as having failed the test."
Many disciples frowned upon hearing this, but remained silent as they continued to listen to the instructions. Such a rule was designed to allow those who wanted to forfeit or surrender to do so easily, without the threat of being chased outside of the formation by those stronger than them. However, doing so would result in their failure, and so such a thing would only be done by the timid and weak.
"The test will last one week, and there are only two goals you must strive to accomplish for this test. The first is that you are not to lose your identification badge. If you do so, you will be counted as having failed the test."
Upon hearing this goal, John could already surmise what the second goal was, as could the other disciples. However, they remained silent still to allow Edler Yelore to explain the rules clearly.
"The second goal...is to claim as many identification badges from the other disciples in the test as possible. The more badges you collect by the end of the trial, the higher your placement will be."
Although most were expecting this to be the second goal, mixed reactions washed through the crowd, as some were excited to hear such rules, while the weaker disciples were afraid.
"You are not to kill or permanently cripple anyone during this test, and doing so will count as failing the test. However, you may use any other means at your disposal to obtain the identification badges of others," Elder Yelore explained.
His message was clear, besides killing or crippling, any other means of obtaining another's identification badge would not be punished. This included things like torture, which caused John to widen his eyes ever so slightly.
'Seems as though they are doing the bare minimum to protect the disciples during this test. Although I suppose that's not a bad thing. The cultivation world is a cruel place, and only those willing to do what is necessary will thrive. Take the Bloodfiend Sect for example, they did whatever they needed to do to win, and with that attitude they dominated the other honorable sects without much trouble. Maybe this is this sect's way of toughening up the disciples a bit.'
John really didn't care about this rule either way, as it wouldn't affect him at all. John glanced at Adam, who appeared to be quite calm and collected, surprising him slightly. He expected Adam to be nearly scared to death at this point, but he seemed to be the opposite at the moment.
His surprise was interrupted by Elder Yelore, who spoke up once more.
"Lastly, you are not permitted to store your identification badges away in your spatial realms. They must be physically on you at all times. If you store your badge away, you will count as having failed the exam."
John nodded his head in approval at this rule. He was already thinking of ways to extract the badges from the spatial rings of others, but this rule had solved that for him.
'All I need to do now is beat them into submission and forcefully take it from them. Should be simple enough.'
"Are there any questions about the rules?" Elder Yelore asked the crowd as he finished explaining the test to everyone.
The rules were incredibly self-explanatory, and so no one had any questions.
"Good, then we will begin the test immediately," Elder Yelore said to the crowd.
Before anyone could say or do anything, their identification badges suddenly lit up and wrapped each of them with spatial powers. Each disciple felt their body dragged a short distance through space, before they found themselves standing in a different area.
John felt himself wrapped up by this power, and didn't resist it as he was transported a short distance as well. Almost immediately after, he found himself standing in a valley.
Nearby, a tall waterfall crashed down into a stream below, at which point the calm and gentle stream meandered deeper into the valley below. Both sides of the valley were lined by thick, dense trees, while the calls of wildlife seemed to bellow out occasionally.
John sent out his divine sense all around him, but was surprised to discover no one else in the area. He flared his power to take to the sky and get a vantage point of the area, but his eyes widened slightly as he felt himself pressed down to the earth.
"Hmm? The formation covering this entire area restricts flight as well? How interesting."
John sat down on a rock near the stream and thought over the rules of the exam, and how he was to proceed over the next week. He was slightly disappointed to be separated from his fellow disciples, as he was their best insurance of passing the test, but after thinking it over, he figured such a thing was a good thing.
"If I was with my fellow disciples, I would just protect them instead of letting them fend for themselves. Only by getting by with their own power will they truly improve, so I suppose its for the best that things ended up this way."
John picked up a nearby pebble and threw it into the stream as he put such thoughts aside and focused on himself.
"Elder Yelore said the exam lasts a week, and the only real goal for me is to collect as many identification badges as possible. There are several ways I could go about doing so, but I think I'll take the easiest of the routes."
A fishing rod, one that he had stored in his spatial ring, suddenly appeared in his hands as he sat down and cast the line into the stream before him.