bookrandom Chapter 209 "Immense Pressure"
Chapter 209 "Immense Pressure"
"Alright, alright, let's have a go!" Zhong Ming said "alright" three times in a row, his spirit soaring.
Matt led his team and charged forward immediately.
Not to be outdone, Yue Kaishan was about to run a few steps when Zhong Ming grabbed his arm. However, Zhong Ming seemed to have gained some strength, and for a moment he couldn't hold on and was pulled a step.
"What's wrong, Brother Cuihong?"
"Keep the pace; victory or defeat isn't decided in a moment."
Upon hearing Zhong Ming's words, Matt chuckled and led his team forward quickly, disappearing from sight shortly afterward.
Yue Kaishan was a little annoyed as the crowds on both sides quickly overtook them, and soon there was almost no one around.
"Brother Cuihong, why don't we charge in?"
Seeing that Matt and the others had gone far away, Zhong Ming said with relief, "That was just a trick on them. This is an assessment that allows you to advance if you reach the top of the mountain on time. There are no fighting events involved. They were just trying to make them expend some energy."
He spoke casually, resting his hands on the back of his head as he leisurely moved forward. But if you looked closely, you would find that the chiming rhythm was well maintained, and it was very comfortable to follow his footsteps.
"Oh, I see. But...shouldn't we walk a little faster?"
"Save your energy, I don't think this test will be that easy." Zhong Ming was already feeling the strain, and looking at the other contestants, he felt something was wrong.
Given his physique, if he felt strained, those cultivators who hadn't cultivated their physiques much were already panting heavily, but those ahead of him didn't slow down at all.
He turned to Xuan Jing and asked, "Xuan Jing, how are you feeling? Are you tired?"
"Not tired at all, this is nothing compared to my armor."
Zhong Ming pondered for a moment, sensing something was wrong. "The pressure on my shoulder is strange. Could it be... because there's a dragon soul inside me? Is it counting me as two people?"
Wait a minute, what about the ones with a bunch of pets? I remember seeing some new recruits with many spirit pets, they seemed to be beast tamers, and they're up ahead now.
Could it be a spirit retirement home...? Impossible, with that many, I would have been crushed to death long ago.
While he was thinking, there was another person behind him who was also lost in thought.
Such a test of physical strength would put Chen Dahai in the most awkward position.
Is going there in a wheelchair considered cheating?
Wait a minute, I'm a cultivator. Isn't it normal for me to ride mounts and use magical artifacts? Just because others fly on swords and I'm in a wheelchair doesn't mean I'm incapable.
Once the idea took hold, he wanted to activate the acceleration device.
Don't ask, this wheelchair racing is really addictive.
"Quihong, can I activate the wheelchair acceleration? Let's go for it."
"Wait a minute, try again when you can't hold on anymore, just push forward in one go." Zhong Ming remained calm, but he took his hands down and started climbing normally.
The ground beneath your feet is transparent, and a cloud drifts by. The distance between you and the cloud is more than dozens of floors, which is terrifying to watch.
After walking for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, fine beads of sweat appeared on Zhong Ming's forehead. His breathing was still relatively normal, thanks to the oxygen stone.
It's really...tiring.
.....
At this moment, the administrators of this trial, a group of powerful cultivators sitting atop the mountain, were chatting and discussing issues related to this trial.
"I think it's too easy. Aren't you going to add some physical pressure?"
"Hey, cultivators, physical strength isn't that important. Do you think you're in the North? The weak can hide in the back. Everyone doing their job will lead to victory." A burly man wearing a bearskin held a large wine bowl that could be used as a washbasin, took a sip of the purple liquid inside, and made a satisfied sound.
A noblewoman sitting next to him frowned and retorted, "It's too simplistic to only provide pressure based on cultivation aptitude. Those who can catch the eye of the new recruit instructors can't be that bad at cultivation. Besides, testing only this is too low an intensity."
"Oh, forgot? It's about selecting talent. On the path of cultivation, one must either have exceptional talent or an amazing will. This trial only tests the sum of these two qualities."
The burly man took another big gulp, let out a burp, and muttered, "What's so difficult about this? It was set up so that you could all pass it."
At the same time, Zhong Ming felt his muscles stiffen, as if pressure from nowhere was squeezing his flesh.
This force was invisible and intangible, leaving him unsure how to resist it.
"Brother Cuihong, why don't we hurry up?" Yue Kaishan's voice came from behind, and he seemed quite unhappy that his team was in last place.
“You’re very strong, aren’t you? You push Chen Dahai and walk in front.”
For the sake of... the barely existing captain's face, Zhong Ming gritted his teeth and endured it, speaking casually.
Yue Kaishan was a little confused. Why had Zhong Ming's attitude suddenly changed so much? A month ago, even if he refused, he would have given a convincing reason.
"What's wrong? Are you angry because we didn't take care of you while we were doing the mission? Oh, I know, you're in a bad mood because you failed to break through. Well, when we get up there, I'll drink a few jugs with you."
Yue Kaishan is very arrogant; he always talks about drinking at forums.
Zhong Ming's veins throbbed, and he immediately said, "Phew~ What mission did you guys carry out this time? How many military merit points did you earn? You're talking so confidently."
"Hey, that's a long story. Let me tell you..."
Yue Kaishan started talking non-stop, completely unaware that Zhong Ming's steps had become somewhat stiff. What was this little bit of pressure? What was the difference between this and having a few bricks on his head?
The team walked slowly. Zhong Ming no longer held back and began to catch up with the others. While listening to Yue Kaishan talk, he pushed Chen Dahai ahead. After walking for a while, they were almost halfway up the mountain.
Suddenly, Zhong Ming spoke up, "Brother Yue, stop for a moment."
"Huh? What's wrong?" Yue Kaishan stopped and saw Zhong Ming throw the storage bag onto Chen Dahai's wheelchair.
"What's wrong with you, Captain?" Xuan Jing asked teasingly. "You're not too weak to walk anymore, are you? Did you spend the last ten days or so with some 'strong' woman? Are you that exhausted?"
Zhong Ming let out a long breath, only to find that the pressure on his body had not lessened.
Then it's not a problem with the Spirit Retirement Home; the storage bag containing the late spring cold is no longer in his possession.
"No, let me test it to see where this pressure is coming from."
Zhong Ming stopped trying to hide it and started panting heavily. He was really tired; his muscles ached, his bones creaked, and it felt like there was an anvil pressing on his head, making his thinking sluggish.
"Oh no, really?" The others were somewhat incredulous; even an ordinary person could withstand this kind of pressure.
They then realized that everyone's stress levels seemed to be different.
Xuan Jing immediately began to take stock, "Chen Dahai, how much pressure do you feel?"
"Not very big, maybe... he was just holding a big dog?"
"And you, Yue Kaishan?"
"I think it's only about 100 pounds. What's going on?"
Xuan Jing patted the armor and said, "I feel a little heavier than you, 120 jin?" For mortals, this weight is already quite heavy, but for a cultivator in the mid-stage of Qi Refining, it is nothing.
"And what about you, Captain?"
"I feel like I'm carrying all three of you on my back."