After the invigilator announced the assessment had begun, over a hundred Martial Warriors rushed towards the Soul Severing Bridge.
The Soul Severing Bridge was only one meter wide and thousands of meters long. It hung suspended above the Soul Severing River, wreathed in swirling clouds and mist, looking like a fairyland. Of course, everyone knew this was just an illusion; in reality, danger lurked everywhere.
Zhang Hao said calmly to Yun Qiuyu, Ying Da, and Dou Bi beside him, "Let's go!"
Xiao Kuang had already rushed over.
"Rumble!"
A loud noise echoed.
Everyone was crossing the Soul Severing Bridge for the first time. Upon hearing the sound, they instinctively looked up. They saw massive boulders falling from the sky.
These boulders were dense, raining down on the heads of the Martial Warriors like raindrops.
"Everyone, be careful!"
Zhang Hao quickly shouted to Yun Qiuyu, Dou Bi, and the others.
Yun Qiuyu, Dou Bi, and the others quickly used their movement techniques to dodge the boulders falling from the void. Fortunately, they had been practicing their movement techniques for the past few days and had made significant progress. Dodging these boulders was not a problem. Zhang Hao was even more relaxed, moving with ease, his eyes still fixed on Yun Qiuyu and the others. He was ready to step forward and help if they encountered danger.
Zhang Hao and the others could cope, but the other Martial Warriors could not. After dodging the first round of boulders, when the second, even denser rain of boulders came down, three Martial Warriors were unable to dodge in time and were immediately smashed into meat paste.
"Ah!"
A burly Martial Warrior, seeing that he couldn't dodge, roared and swung his saber towards a massive boulder.
After a "boom!" explosion, the boulder was shattered.
That burly Martial Warrior felt fortunate upon seeing the effect. Perhaps provoked, even more boulders rained down on that Martial Warrior.
"Ah!"
After screaming, that Martial Warrior was smashed into meat paste.
Such a tragic sight sent a chill down the spines of the Martial Warriors.
Some Martial Warriors with weak willpower immediately fled back the way they came.
"I'm not taking the test, it's too terrifying."
But coming was easy, leaving was difficult. Another round of stone rain fell. Immediately, eight or nine out of ten Martial Warriors were smashed into meat patties. This bloody scene shocked the Martial Warriors who had been preparing to retreat. At this moment, they secretly rejoiced that they had retreated earlier. Otherwise, they would likely have become one of them now.
After a round of stone rain, fewer than a hundred Martial Warriors remained on the scene.
Zhang Hao looked at Ying Da, Dou Bi, and Yun Qiuyu. Fortunately, none of them were injured.
"Be careful, that stone rain was just an appetizer. Everyone must remain vigilant at all times," Zhang Hao said solemnly.
As Zhang Hao said these words, his gaze swept towards Nangong Jin, Cai Fengchen, Xiao Jue, and the others. Compared to the mechanisms on the Soul Severing Bridge, he was more worried about these people's schemes. Although Zhang Hao was absolutely confident that he wasn't afraid of these people, Yun Qiuyu and the others would be in trouble. After all, open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against.
On the Soul Severing Bridge, no one dared to walk fast, because the faster they walked, the greater the attack they would face.
After that round of stone rain, the Soul Severing Bridge became calm, with no further attacks appearing.
A Martial Warrior seemed to think there wasn't much danger and used his movement technique to rush across the bridge first.
Suddenly, dozens of fireballs sprayed out from the mountain walls on both sides, blasting towards that Martial Warrior.
Seeing this, that Martial Warrior was greatly shocked and quickly swung his weapon with all his might to resist the attacks of the flames.
"Boom!" "Boom!"
However, there were too many flames. Although that Martial Warrior swung his weapon desperately to block the flames, there were too many of them. That Martial Warrior dodged the first round, but under the attack of the second round of flames, he was finally struck. That Martial Warrior let out a tragic cry. His entire body was sent flying by the flames. His body ignited, becoming a large fireball.
Perhaps in a desperate attempt, that Martial Warrior immediately jumped into the river, hoping to extinguish the fire on his body with the river water.
With a "plop!" sound, that Martial Warrior jumped into the river.
The fire on his body was indeed extinguished upon encountering the river water. But at the same time, he discovered countless blood-red, cold eyes staring at him from all around.
"These are Blood Crocodiles!" That Martial Warrior cried out in fear.
"Ah!"
The invigilator suspended above the Soul Severing Bridge shook his head upon seeing this scene. Although he could have saved the examinee who had fallen into the Soul Severing River, he couldn't do so. The invigilator's duty was to protect the order of the assessment. Rescuing examinees was not within his authority. Therefore, although he felt it was a pity, he could only pretend not to see.
That Martial Warrior was only a Great Martial Master of the Fourth Heaven. Although his cultivation was not weak, compared to these Blood Crocodiles, he was incredibly weak. He wanted to jump out of the Soul Severing River. However, a huge Blood Crocodile had already bitten his leg.
"Ah!"
That Martial Warrior's legs were both bitten off, bloody and gruesome.
The Blood Crocodile bit the two legs in its mouth, crunching them crisply, as if savoring a delicious meal. That Martial Warrior almost fainted from the pain.
After taking the first bite, the surrounding Blood Crocodiles seemed to have smelled blood, like cats, and all swarmed over. Soon, that Martial Warrior's body was submerged among the many Blood Crocodiles. In the end, not even a trace of that Martial Warrior was left.
The assessment continued.
Those flames were still constantly devouring the lives of the Martial Warriors. Either they were swallowed by the flames, or they were forced to fall into the Soul Severing River, becoming food for the Blood Crocodiles below. Regardless, these Martial Warriors were certain to die. Zhang Hao saw that these flames were not ordinary fire. Ordinary fire could be easily extinguished by Martial Warriors. However, these flames, once attached to the body, were like a persistent disease, impossible to get rid of.
Yun Qiuyu, Ying Da, and Dou Bi encountered dangerous situations several times. Fortunately, Zhang Hao was quick-witted and dealt with them in advance. This caused Zhang Hao to break out in a cold sweat a few times. If these flames stuck to their bodies, they would definitely be finished.
Finally, everyone reached the middle of the Soul Severing Bridge without serious incident.
Suddenly, a few Martial Warriors in front stopped their steps. They moved to the side, and several Martial Warriors swept past from the front. They were Nangong Jin, Xiao Jue, Cai Fengchen, Wang Zekai, Wan Potian, and others.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Zhang Hao slightly furrowed his brow.
"What meaning? Heh heh, of course, it's to keep you here. You have two choices: either we cripple you and throw you into the Soul Severing River to feed the Blood Crocodiles, or you jump down yourself?" Nangong Jin looked at Zhang Hao with a half-smile.
"Oh, what about my companions?" Zhang Hao asked with a slight frown.
"Hahaha, it's very simple. Since they are your companions, naturally, they should share the good fortune and the hardship. They'll go down together," Nangong Jin said lightly.
"Very well, then I choose to let you go down and feed the Blood Crocodiles! How about that!" A surge of anger welled up in Zhang Hao's heart.