Chapter 1873: The Harsh Law of Survival

When he reappeared behind a rock, barely steadying himself, he felt a cold gleam skimming the ground, thrusting straight toward the jade token on his chest.

If it struck, he would be eliminated instantly.

It seemed that those who had entered earlier had already set an ambush, waiting for latecomers to fall into the trap.

"Pretty fast!"

With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan extended a finger to meet it.

Hum!

The cold gleam was blocked by his finger, unable to advance a single inch.

Though he was only exerting the strength of a Saint Realm Ninth Layer, with his eyesight and reflexes, even a Great Saint would find it hard to contend with him. How could this sneak attacker, merely an ordinary Universe Realm, succeed?

After blocking the ambush, Zhang Xuan looked and saw a young man in black. Seeing how easily Zhang Xuan had blocked the cold gleam, terror filled his eyes. Without attempting a second move, he turned and fled.

It seemed he had recognized Zhang Xuan's strength; if he didn't flee, he would only be eliminated.

"Quick reflexes, but if you want to leave, it's too late..."

With a look of approval, Zhang Xuan pointed again: "Freeze!"

Swish!

As if water had frozen, the young man in black instantly stiffened in midair, unable to move.

"Space seal..." The young man in black was filled with shock.

A Saint Realm Ninth Layer comprehending this ability... among the descendants of the Seventy-Two Ancient Sage Families, he must rank among the top few. How unlucky to run into him directly?

"Friend, I was blinded by greed to attack you. You're magnanimous; please spare my life..."

Gritting his teeth, he quickly begged for mercy.

His strength was top-notch in his family. He had thought that by hiding well, he could easily hunt down examinees, never dreaming that his first strike would hit such a tough opponent.

If only he had known, he would have stayed hidden. Why make a move?

"Spare your life? Not impossible." Zhang Xuan said.

"Any conditions? Name them!"

The young man in black gritted his teeth: "I can buy my life with treasures. But you should know, each family member's supplies are fixed; I don't have many good things either..."

"I don't want your things. I'll give you two choices: first, crush your jade token and be eliminated; second, tell me what I want to know..."

Zhang Xuan looked at him: "Don't worry, what I ask won't involve family secrets or put you in a difficult position."

"I choose the second option!"

Without hesitating long, the young man in black spoke.

To reach this point, his family had expended no small amount of resources. If he couldn't enter the Great Confucian Hall, all resource supplies would stop, and future progress would be nearly impossible.

No matter what, he couldn't give up the opportunity.

"Good!" With hands behind his back, Zhang Xuan looked at him calmly: "From the start of your cultivation, how did you step by step reach your current level? Include every trial and assessment! I want to know in great detail."

"This..."

Thinking he would be asked something else, hearing this question that almost everyone knew, the young man in black was startled. Though full of curiosity, he answered truthfully: "I have undergone twenty-seven assessments since starting cultivation, almost one every year. Each assessment eliminates many people of the same age. Those eliminated have their resources and techniques cut off and settle into managing family businesses..."

Soon, the young man in black recounted his experiences.

Zhang Xuan listened, frowning.

As he had guessed, competition among the Hundred Schools of Thought was extremely harsh. Assessments began from the start of cultivation. Those who passed received subsequent techniques and resources; those who failed could no longer cultivate.

This was no longer nurturing juniors; it was raising gu.

It was said that those who raised gu would cultivate tens of thousands of gu insects, let them fight each other, and the survivor would be the strongest.

Now the Seventy-Two Ancient Sage Families seemed to use this method. Everyone who came to participate in the Great Confucian Hall assessment had endured countless hardships to stand out from the countless youths in their families.

No wonder he had noticed earlier that these people all had cold eyes, somewhat like war masters. With such experiences, humanity in their hearts must have long become as indifferent as waste paper, ready to be discarded at any time.

No wonder Yan Xue and others could ally with the alien race without any qualms... In their hearts, there was probably only victory and defeat, long devoid of the moral standards unique to master teachers.

"It seems the Hundred Schools of Thought truly follow the rule of the strong, survival of the fittest..."

Sighing inwardly, he looked again at the young man before him: "You just said resource supplies are fixed. What does that mean?"

"As a family disciple, you don't know?"

The young man in black was again full of doubt, but knowing he was at Zhang Xuan's mercy, he had to answer: "What level you reach, what assessments you pass, how many resources you get—all are fixed. As far as I know, every family is like this; no one is an exception."

After speaking, he explained a bit more.

Hearing this, Zhang Xuan drew a sharp breath, finally understanding the specific operational model of the Ancient Sage Families.

Initially, all juniors were selected for cultivation. Those who didn't reach a specified level within a set time were eliminated, losing resource and technique supplies. This happened every year. To obtain techniques and resources, one had to undergo various assessments and achieve accomplishments.

One could say... this world's control over resources was precise to an appalling degree.

"Can't they search for certain ruins or treasures?"

He couldn't help asking.

Cultivators on the Master Teacher Continent didn't have that many resources either, but they would search for special ruins or treasures. Even if they faced dangers, once successful, they could cultivate for a long time.

Why didn't the people here do that?

"What ruins or treasures? After a cultivator dies, all resources are taken back by the family. For example, if you kill me now, you can't take my resources, because when I left home, every item I carried was registered. If something goes missing after my death... they'll trace it to your family and demand compensation!"

The young man in black said.

"..."

Zhang Xuan's brow twitched.

The Hundred Schools of Thought, as descendants of Confucius, controlling resources like this... what exactly were they trying to do?

Could resources in this world be so scarce?

He asked a few more questions, clarifying everything he wanted to know and what the other knew, then flicked his finger.

Whoosh!

The young man in black fell to the ground.

"You'll wake up after I leave. When you do, you'll forget everything that just happened."

With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan stamped his foot and shot straight ahead, disappearing in an instant.

At his level of cultivation, he could easily erase a person's memory. Though what he had asked wasn't important, it would inevitably cause trouble for Fan Xiaoxu later.

Thus, eliminating it in advance would reduce potential risks.