Chapter 223 The Green Corpse

"Finished, finished. This Saint-tier Killing Formation is for assessment. If Elder Chi Mu finds out, I'm done for."

Xue He was extremely anxious and distressed, only wishing Elder Chi Mu wouldn't blame her.

In the Shadow Realm, the Shadow Hall.

After Xin Ci entered the bronze door, he found himself in this dim hall.

Nearly seven hundred people stood in the center of the hall, each wearing a hideous mask just like Xin Ci.

It seemed they were all examinees for this outpost, just like him.

At the front of the hall stood a middle-aged man in a red robe, wearing a bamboo hat. He was burly and tall, exuding a murderous aura.

This red-robed man was Chi Mu, a 'Xiao' rank assassin of the Killing Heart Sacred Court.

Elder Chi Mu stepped forward, his eyes like a falcon's, staring at the crowd. "Welcome everyone to the disciple selection of the Killing Heart Sacred Court. I am Chi Mu, the person in charge of the assessment at the Youdu outpost. Now, I will announce the content of the first trial."

As he spoke, Elder Chi Mu made a gesture in the air, and everyone was transported from the Shadow Hall to a swamp.

This swamp was filled with purple poisonous gas in many places, and the stench from the piled-up bones was unbearable.

Everyone was surprised by this location.

Xin Ci, however, focused his attention on Elder Chi Mu. The elder had just moved his fingers and was able to transport everyone here.

It seemed this so-called Shadow Realm was merely a small world created by Elder Chi Mu using spatial power.

Elder Chi Mu continued his introduction, "This is the Green Corpse Swamp, and it is also the location for your first trial."

"What you need to do is simple: survive here for three days, and you will pass the assessment."

"Furthermore, a supplementary rule: the masks you are wearing were crafted by the Lord of the Yama Hall of the Killing Heart Sacred Court. Without using true essence or soul power, their hardness is comparable to true artifacts. However, if you use soul power or true artifacts, the evil ghost mask will automatically be destroyed."

Elder Chi Mu's words also clarified that it would be difficult for someone to deliberately destroy another's mask through trickery and cause their elimination.

The crowd began to discuss upon hearing this.

One person scratched his head and said, "This place is a bit disgusting and smelly, but surviving for three days doesn't seem too difficult."

As soon as he spoke, everyone else looked at him as if he were an idiot.

"Heh, idiot, don't forget, we cannot use true essence or soul power."

"Exactly. Moreover, who knows what strange demonic beasts inhabit this swamp? Without true essence or soul power, we are no match for them."

The man, feeling rebuffed, showed displeasure and retorted, "Then I'll just find a place to hide."

"Hide? Heh heh, why don't you look around first? This is a swamp, filled with poisonous gas. One wrong step and you'll be sunk."

"Are you sure there's a place for you to hide?"

Upon hearing this, the man's face stiffened. He finally realized the seriousness of the situation.

Xin Ci also knew the dangers of this swamp, but he was more concerned about the other participants.

Since Elder Chi Mu had not mentioned any rules about mutual destruction, during these three days, he not only had to be wary of the swamp's poisonous gas and demonic beasts, but he also needed to keep an eye out for the schemes of these individuals.

"The assessment begins now!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Elder Chi Mu vanished from his spot.

The over seven hundred examinees left behind began to act.

At this moment, eerie roars echoed from the surroundings of the swamp, sending shivers down their spines.

Everyone instinctively retreated, warily observing the movements around them.

As wisps of white mist floated up, figures appeared in the distance around them.

They were suddenly surrounded, and their expressions turned panicked.

Xin Ci remained calm and collected, gazing intently at those figures.

What appeared before their eyes were grotesque creatures covered in strange green fur, emitting a foul corpse odor.

"It's Green Corpses!"

Someone exclaimed, pointing at the monsters.

"We're almost done for. Elder Chi Mu mentioned earlier that this is the Green Corpse Swamp. This is trouble," another said nervously.

Mu Qingqing, in the consciousness space, also got goosebumps looking at these green corpses, recalling zombie movies she had watched.

She never expected to encounter something like this here.

"If I get bitten by one of these things, will I turn into a zombie?" Mu Qingqing worried.

Old Han transmitted to Xin Ci, "Xin Ci, don't get too close to those green corpses. These green corpses are not only poisonous all over but also have bodies as hard as iron. They also feed on flesh and blood, making them difficult monsters to deal with."

Xin Ci's heart sank upon hearing this.

Now, wearing the mask, he couldn't use true essence or soul power. Facing such monsters, he could only choose to retreat.

Most people made the same choice as him, keeping their distance from these green corpses.

However, a few arrogant fools, not knowing the consequences, charged forward with arrogant and dismissive attitudes, saying, "Just a few green corpses scare you all like this? What cowards."

As they spoke, the few individuals took out true artifacts from their spatial rings, preparing to fight.

But to their surprise, the moment the true artifacts in their hands glowed, the masks on their faces shattered, revealing their shocked and ordinary faces.

Before they could speak, a golden light flashed on them, and they instantly disappeared from their spots.

It seemed they had used true essence, violated the rules, and were forcibly teleported out by Elder Chi Mu.

The remaining people found the foolish actions of those few to be laughable, mocking them as they fled.

"Those few fools are hilarious. Do they really think using true artifacts doesn't count as using true essence or soul power?"

"Exactly. Any normal person knows that to unleash the power of true artifacts, one must infuse their own true essence."

"Yeah, these guys are too stupid."

...

While the others were mocking, Xin Ci noticed something strange.

That was, the masks of those few individuals did not shatter when they took out their true artifacts from their spatial rings. It was only when they used the true artifacts that the masks shattered.

Taking items out of a spatial ring requires infusing true essence, although the amount of true essence needed is minuscule.

It seemed the use of spatial rings was unrestricted.

However, the amount of true essence the mask could withstand was likely limited to the use of spatial rings. Those who used true artifacts like just now exceeded the limit.

At this moment, the green corpses were already charging towards them madly.

Their speed was incredibly fast, and they soon caught up to the examinees.

A few at the back cursed, "Damn it!"

Unable to use true essence, they couldn't even use their movement techniques, and their speed had slowed considerably.

An unlucky fellow was pounced upon by several green corpses. He was so frightened that he quickly used his true essence to repel them.

But he was also eliminated and teleported away as a result.

In less than a moment, several others were transferred out in similar situations, losing their qualification to continue the assessment.