After passing through the iron chain checkpoint, Zhou Yan headed up the mountain. The summit didn't appear to be very far from here. As long as there weren't too many difficult trials on the path, he would reach it soon.
His powerful mental energy detected anomalies ahead, yet everything seemed normal. Still, he could sense that a formidable formation had been laid out, and this formation was unlike ordinary ones.
This formation was clearly set up by a powerful expert. He could feel an immense energy emanating from it.
Ultimately, he had to face it. He walked in and immediately felt a strange energy from all directions, surging towards him like a mad tide.
When he looked around again, the surroundings had completely changed, and there were no longer any energy fluctuations. He seemed to have been teleported to a strange place.
He found a weapon in his hand, though he didn't know when it appeared.
"Help me!"
A voice came from ahead. Zhou Yan saw a person covered in blood running towards him.
"Lin Tan!"
Zhou Yan was curious yet found it odd. Something felt wrong.
"Zhou Yan, thank goodness! Quickly, run! There are powerful monsters chasing me ahead, we need to leave here immediately."
Just as Lin Tan was about to pull Zhou Yan along, Zhou Yan asked, "How did you get ahead of me?"
"Oh, what time is it to talk about that? Let's just get out of here first. This place is really not safe."
Lin Tan urged him on.
"Just a few monsters. No need to run. I can deal with them easily," Zhou Yan shook his head.
He still felt something was amiss, but his powerful mental energy detected no abnormality. Yet, he remained vigilant. This place was too bizarre; he couldn't be misled.
"Roar~"
At that moment, he saw several monsters appearing ahead. He raised his weapon and charged at them. His immense strength cleaved the monsters in two.
He shattered the monsters with ease. As he was about to turn back, he felt something was very wrong and quickly moved aside.
He saw Lin Tan lunging at him with a weapon.
Zhou Yan quickly said, "You're not Lin Tan!"
"I am Lin Tan! How can I not be Lin Tan? We are good brothers."
Lin Tan raised his weapon and attacked him.
Zhou Yan was certain this guy was not Lin Tan. The real Lin Tan absolutely did not possess such strength. He was merely a farming lord; his level hadn't risen that high. How could he have such power?
With his formidable strength, he brought his weapon down on the "Lin Tan's" head. This "Lin Tan" immediately died before him.
"Zhou Yan!"
At this moment, another person appeared ahead. It was Ye Bufan, who had just witnessed Zhou Yan cleaving Lin Tan.
In a moment of desperation, Zhou Yan quickly said, "Ye Bufan, this Lin Tan is fake. You must not believe him."
"What I saw with my own eyes can't be false, can it? Zhou Yan, I was blind to consider you a brother! I will kill you to avenge Lin Tan!"
Ye Bufan quickly drew his weapon and attacked him. A terrifying dragon-shaped energy erupted from his hand, slamming towards him.
Seeing this, Zhou Yan quickly dodged aside and said, "You're not the real Ye Bufan either!"
"You killed your own brother, and you say I'm not real!" Ye Bufan said, holding his sword at him.
"The students undergoing the assessment are all wearing this specially made equipment. None of us can use even a sliver of spiritual energy, yet you are unaffected. Do you think you're too clever, or do you think I'm too foolish?"
Zhou Yan pointed out the flaw.
At these words, the Ye Bufan before him burst into laughter and began to transform into a strange being. He then said, "Little fellow, you do have some discernment."
"Indeed, he has some discernment." The previously dead Lin Tan also stood up, transforming into his true form simultaneously.
Their appearances were both peculiar. They wielded their weapons and began to speak, "You are alone, but we are countless. Do you think you are our match?"
Suddenly, the surroundings were filled with enemies identical to them, densely packed. They all attacked Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan continuously resisted with his weapon. They couldn't use any spiritual energy now and could only rely on their physical skills to deal with the enemies.
Fortunately, he was highly proficient in the "Seven Star Swordplay." Every move and stance was familiar to him. He continuously used his swordplay to kill the surrounding enemies.
However, these enemies seemed inexhaustible. No matter how many he killed, more would appear.
"This must be a very advanced illusion and enchantment formation. I must find a way to leave here, or I'll be trapped and die here."
His powerful mental energy was surprisingly ineffective here. This formation must have a strong suppression effect on such mental energy.
He was curious. Who had set up such a formation? Even he couldn't break it in a short time, let alone others.
Of course, those who were familiar with formations from a young age might have an advantage in such a place, but most people would surely find it difficult to pass.
The entrance examination for Ziwei Academy was indeed extraordinary. Ordinary people truly couldn't pass.
"Ordinary formations must have an eye. And the person who set up this formation must have left a flaw. What did he forget?"
He began to quickly recall everything he had encountered since the moment he entered this place, every item, and every strange detail.
"Right, it's the trees! Every now and then, I saw identical trees. These trees must be problematic!"
He discovered something and looked around. Indeed, he saw a tree planted in a certain spot.
He quickly rushed towards it, intending to chop down the tree.
"Stop him! Don't let him get close to that place!"
The guy who had transformed into Ye Bufan saw him rushing over and became extremely anxious.
But Zhou Yan's strength was too great. No one could block his sword. He quickly carved a path and then chopped down the tree with a single strike.
"Crack!"
The entire space seemed to shatter, dissolving into nothingness, and finally returning to the appearance it had when he first entered.
On the ground lay many humanoid leaves, which were now emitting smoke.
Who would have thought that what he had been cutting down all along were these leaves?
He continued to walk up the mountain. There were no more trials along the way, and he directly reached the summit.
On the mountaintop, he saw many instructors standing at a high vantage point. He also saw several students who had passed the assessment.
"Zhou Yan, I knew you would definitely pass."
Ye Bufan was ahead. Seeing Zhou Yan arrive, he smiled slightly at him.