In the face of three options laid before him, he found none of them to be viable choices.
Two of the options presented a grave danger and could potentially cost him his life if he were to choose either.
The third option, although seemingly safer, would mean his complete withdrawal from the competition.
He knew that time was of the essence and he had to make a decision swiftly, for lingering in his current state would result in his elimination as per the rules of the game.
With the clock ticking, he quickly began to ponder his options. Should he opt to leave the cave and flee from the serpent-like Qi beast, he knew that he wouldn't stand a chance as the creature was exceedingly swift.
Eliminating himself by crushing the spatial token was not an option he deemed viable, having long since discarded the thought. This left him with just one option - to venture deeper into the cave.
After much consideration, Zhong Peng reached a decision.
He resolved to venture deep into the cave, armed with the knowledge that he could utilize the spatial token to instantly transport himself out of the perilous Thousand Beast Valley if the danger proved too great to handle.
Nonetheless, he was determined to fight on and survive for as long as possible in the competition. He cared not for his rank, as long as he qualified in the hunting contest, he believed he could still climb the ladder and make it to the top ten contestants.
Zhong Peng could not help but lament his ill fortune as he turned his gaze toward the vast, dark cave before him.
With a heavy heart, he steeled himself and began to tread deeper into the cavernous depths.
Those who witnessed Zhong Peng's choice from outside the Thousand Beast Valley could only watch in awe as he strode forward with determination.
What Zhong Peng did not realize was that by venturing deeper into the cave, he was moving away from the outermost reaches of the valley and towards the innermost part of the Thousand Beast Valley which was the heart of the valley itself.
Nonetheless, he pressed on, carefully treading deeper into the cave without any knowledge of the path ahead.
Zhong Peng's decision sparked a myriad of discussions among the onlookers, with some praising his bravery while others criticized his recklessness.
Even Elder Duanmu and Elder Yu Chuan, who stood shoulder to shoulder, could not resist discussing Zhong Peng's perilous situation.
"It appears that one of your contestants has already encountered such difficulties in the early stages of the competition," Elder Yu Chuan remarked to Elder Duanmu.
Elder Duanmu spoke with a grin, "He had it coming to him. Finally, he has learned his place."
Elder Yu Chuan laughed heartily before saying, "It seems that both of you started on the wrong foot. I wonder how long he can survive in such a perilous situation."
Elder Duanmu's face twisted into a wicked grin as he spoke, "It doesn't matter. He wasn't going to qualify in the first place anyway, so it makes no difference whether he gets eliminated now or later."
Elder Yu Chuan cast a knowing glance at Elder Duanmu, then turned his attention back to the stage, smiling all the while.
In the head seat where Elder Liang and Lin Daiyu were seated, they were having a similar conversation about Zhong Peng's predicament.
Elder Zheng Wei remarked, "This young man surely has the worst luck out of all the contestants in the hunting stage contest."
"I agree," replied Elder Liang. "He was transported directly to the most perilous spot in the outermost part of the Thousand Beast Valley. Nonetheless, I think he is a brave young man," he added.
Elder Lin Daiyu gazed at Elder Liang curiously and asked, "Why did you say that? I'm curious to know."
Elder Liang replied, "The way he fearlessly decided to confront what lay deep within the cave, even though it scared the serpent-like Qi beast shitless and he didn't even know what lay ahead, was a truly brave act that deserves commendation."
Upon hearing Elder Liang's words, Lin Daiyu responded with an air of haughtiness, "In my eyes, he is nothing but a naive, foolish, and unlucky youth who doesn't know when to pick his battles. If it weren't for the life-saving spatial token, he would have surely met his demise." Her words carried a hint of meaning as if she were alluding to something beyond the surface.
After hearing Lin Daiyu's words, Elder Liang turned to her and gazed at her for a moment before shifting his attention back to the front. With a solemn tone, he spoke, "I believe that he will indeed qualify for the next stage of the contest."
"How do you know that he will qualify for the next stage of the contest?" Lin Daiyu inquired, her voice tinged with surprise. The astonishment in her tone was palpable.
"Instinct," Elder Liang replied enigmatically, his gaze fixed on a spot in front of him as if he were peering into the future. There was a mysterious air about him as if he possessed some sort of prophetic ability.