The other cultivators wake up one by one, their eyes frantic and anxious. Wei who is close to Xia, had a sweat going down her face. Like she just came out of walking a lifetime under the scorching sun. Xia's skin is ice cold and every time he breathes for a while cloud form.
'Even if it is an illusion, its effects are still visible'
"Of course, they are. The mind when fooled to think of something as real makes it "real""
'….'
Xia did not answer because he did not comprehend what Kathako is saying. Soon a crisp hand clap echoes in the room, everyone focuses their attention on the source of the sound. Finding the ever-beautiful Zhihui standing with a large smile painted across her face.
"Welcome all to the real world, did you guys have fun exploring-"
"AH!!!"
A painful, ear-breaking scream came from a frightened cultivator. Xia quickly recognizes the male cultivator as the one who made a scene with Zhihui on the elemental test.
"Death! Death! She is Death! Save me! Save me!"
"…."
Zhihui move her hand as she made a stone pillar appear next to the screaming cultivator. Hitting him on the head and knocking him out. The room turns quiet as every look at Zhihui, a certain amount of fear in their eyes. For they could not get the words of the screaming cultivator out of their minds.
"Sorry for that everyone. Some people can't fully recover from the illusion and start to hallucinate even in reality. He will be back to normal soon enough"
"Hahah! That poor bastard for sure aint getting accepted"
Kathako said with a mocking tone directed at the knockout male cultivator. Zhihui continues to speak as everyone continues to pay attention to her.
"As you all know there our world is constantly battling against corruption, both outer and old world. In these hard times with Spirits joining the war, we must become purer in mind. We must fight against all forms of corruption!"
'Hey old man, how many outer world corruptions are there?'
"Like I fucking know kiddo. Even back in my time, we had no idea how many different types of corruption there are. We only know of the knows are truly the strongest and hardest to deal with"
'And those are?'
"I sometimes forget that did not teach you anything of common knowledge"
"The outer world corruptions that I know about are Infernal, Blood, Death, Life, Hot, Cold, Holy, Hunger, Order, and Chaos"
"Then for the old world, I know about Evolution, Metal, and Insanity"
'I see..I take it the one we saw in the Cold?'
"Yes, in this area it not really felt. It's more of a problem for the northern part of the Plains Region"
Zhihui looks at the cultivators, her all-knowing eyes scanning every one for anyone that is acting weird. After confirming that is no one hallucinating, she spoke to everyone.
"This marks the end of the mind test. With that comes the end of the test I will proctor. Your next test will be the practical fight test. Follow me"
Zhihui said as she walks towards the door on the other side of the room. She opens the door and leads the group of cultivators up a staircase. Xia and Wei were next to each other as they spoke.
"So, what did you see?"
"I was in a massive tundra with numbing cold, you?"
"A massive never-ending desert under the scorching sun"
"Ouch, that sounds unbearable"
"I could say the same thing about the numbing cold. Do you think the practical fight test will be like a tournament?"
"Let's hope it's not. That will take like two or three days to finish, and I don't really like waiting around"
Wei smile softly at what Xia said. The group soon encountered the sunlight. A couple of cultivators, including Wei, flinched a bit, as they were reminded of something. The group found itself in the seating area of a large colosseum. In the inner arena of the colosseum is a male cultivator wearing a black mask.
The male cultivator extends out his left hand as a cloud of mist appears next to him. The cloud broke apart and reveals a female figure. The woman is none other than Zhihui, as she has disappeared in front of the group of cultivators and appears next to her husband.
The couple holds hands as Mors started to speak in a Qi-enchanted voice.
"Welcome all to the arena and where your fifth test will take place! I am sure a lot of you have some questions about this test, so let's get to it"
"This test is not a tournament and it's not measuring if you win or lose. What you will be evaluated on is your combat skills and how you handle yourself in a fight. After everyone fights once, the test will be over, and you all will be given a break to recuperate before starting the final test"
"Zhihui will stay around to heal anyone that is badly wounded! You won't be allowed to use any of your own personal weapons. We will provide you with a blunt weapon to use. Any questions!?"
"Great, now take your seats and I will start calling out the first two combatants"
The cultivator group started to walk around as they find empty seats to take, not like it was too hard, as there are more empty seats than cultivators. After everyone takes their seat, Mors speaks up.
"Jinshu Xia!"
"Oh, looks like you are first," Wei said with a smile as she looks at Xia as he stands up.
"Bai Wei! Both of you enter the arena!"
The two cultivators look at each other, neither of them believing the probability of being called at the same time.