The week-long entrance exam continued to quickly pass by, as day by day the trial was coming to an end. As the trial winded down, the frenzied nature of the branch disciples within grew. Those who had their badges stolen were doing everything in their power to get it back, even teaming out with other badgeless youths, as they targeted the ones who had stolen their badges.
As long as they were able to retrieve their identification badges before the trial ended, they would still be able to pass the trial.
Meanwhile, those who had amassed a large collection of badges didn't stop but continued to do so with even more haste and passion. The branch disciple rankings were based on who could collect the most badges, and everyone at the top knew the rewards for placing first would be beyond compare.
The Divine Martial Continent's Heavenly Lightning Sect was beyond anything they could compare their branch sect to, and their rewards would be the same. They were already at a disadvantage when compared to the true disciples who had grown up in this sect all their lives, and they knew they needed to grasp every opportunity available to them to make the gap.
…
In an incredibly thick part of one of the trial area's forests, a lone youth could be seen resting amongst the branches up high. Roots, leaves, and vines wrapped all around the area he was in, shielding him from sight from any of the other disciples.
Concealed within the cocoon of vegetation, Chase studied some documents related to the pill Dao, completely ignoring the rest of the trial. He had collected enough badges to satisfy passing the trial comfortably, and as such had retired to a safe place.
With his Wood Constitution, he was able to control any and all vegetation, and had used his control over it to make a shield for him from the rest of the disciples. Even if they managed to stumble upon him and find him within the cocoon of vines and roots, its defense was far more than it was worth to break apart, and everyone eventually left empty handed.
Boom!
A loud boom washed over the area, disturbing him from his studies.
"How barbaric!"
Chase muttered under his breath and frowned as he looked towards the source of the sound, which was two disciples fighting in the distance, before his gaze once again fell onto the document before him.
…
In a cave somewhere under the earth, Adam was lounging about in a makeshift abode he had created. Taking inspiration from what he had seen John do, Adam decided to do the same, and so had dug himself a deep hole in the ground far beneath the earth, and had covered it back up, making it look as if he had never dug a hole.
His powerful formations reinforced the walls of the makeshift cave, while his shrouding formation that he had personally crafted himself hid him from any unwanted divine sense scans.
"Ahhh, this truly is so much better," Adam sighed in a relaxing tone with a satisfied smile on his face while he laid back on a soft bed he had brought out of his spatial realm. A formation disk appeared in his hand as he began to study it, while the muffled sound of battles taking palace topside filled the cave below.
…
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Successive powerful attacks shattered the mountainside, as Aaron continued his rampage of destruction within the entrance exam. He had been hunting other disciples non-stop for six days, and even hunted those from within his own branch sect.
None were spared from his wrath as he took badge after badge.
"Aaron, we're from the same branch sect. Can't you let me off just this once?" a panicked girl spoke out to Aaron as he cornered her against a cliffside. She was a disciple that belonged to the same branch sect as Aaron and was trying to use that to get out of this situation.
She knew firsthand just how strong he was and knew no one else within the entrance exam trial could fight against him. Her only hope against him was for him to let her go, which she tried desperately to make happen.
"Sorry, Kayle. Our Sect Leader instructed me to win this trial no matter what, even if it means eliminating everyone else from the branch sect. You can only blame your dogshit luck for running into me," Aaron replied with a care as he suddenly shot forward.
Kayle tried to flee, but Aaron caught up immediately and slammed her into the cliffside, before taking the badge from her waist. He shot in another direction immediately after, and all the battered Kayle could do was watch as her hope of joining the main Heavenly Lightning Sect faded away.
…
Night descended upon the trial area as the battles continued to heat up, before the light of the seventh day washed over the land.
John's eyes slowly opened as he light fell upon his face, and he got out of his makeshift bed and stretched deeply while wiping the sleep from his eyes. He washed up in the nearby river, before donning a fresh new robe for the day.
His face, which had been one of pure bliss and relaxation over the last six days suddenly hardened as his gaze shifted to the central land of the testing area, which was just over a small mountain range. A series of incredibly powerful explosions lit up on the other side of the mountains, rocking the land and sending light cascading in all directions.
"I guess my little vacation has finally come to an end," John mused while stretching his arms and legs in all directions. "It seems the main battle is taking place over there. I've let my prey fatten up nicely over the last six days, so I think it's just about time that I go hunting."
After stretching, John hopped on his toes back and forth several times, getting his hot blood flowing through his body once again, before he suddenly pressed off the earth.. The power of his steps shattered the earth behind him as he sped towards the source of the explosions in the distance.