185: Chapter 185 Huge Casualty Rate

"However, the 'holy grail of life' is a precious heirloom of my clan. Its appearance and ownership are of great significance.

At that time, it won't just be my request; many of my brothers and sisters will also dispatch top geniuses to compete for it.

Among them, there will also be invitees or allies from other powerful races."

"Canglin Ancient Peak is also a treasure land containing countless opportunities.

But because of this, it will become the most brutal gladiatorial arena for the younger generation of the entire Eternal Song Star Realm.

Danger always accompanies opportunity.

You will inevitably encounter and compete with the geniuses of various races, and even... engage in real, no-holds-barred killing."

Fang Yan stood to the side, his expression darkening as he looked at his students. Their faces still showed traces of eagerness or even a hint of dismissal, brought on by terms like 'treasure land' and 'great reward.'

He couldn't help but take half a step forward, his voice stern and carrying an unprecedented gravity:

"Listen to me clearly!

The 'killing' Princess Anya spoke of isn't the kind of 'scuffling' you do on a stage, where you stop at the point of contact, referees watch, and rules protect you!"

"That is a true life-and-death struggle where any means necessary are used!

There are no rules, no referees, and no such thing as surrendering or giving up!

To win, to survive, any method can be employed.

The environment itself could be a lethal killer, and your 'ally' could turn into a venomous snake stabbing you in the back the next second!"

"We humans are not participating for the first time.

Five years ago, at the last Hidden Dragon Assembly, thirty of our top young human geniuses went.

When they left, which one of them wasn't full of confidence and high spirits?

Not a few of them viewed the geniuses of other races as mere clay chickens and pottery dogs! But in the end?"

"In the end, only six returned alive! A casualty rate of a full four-fifths!

Those twenty-four, which one wasn't exceptionally brilliant? Which one didn't carry the high hopes of their family or school?

Some of them even had strength that was by no means inferior to your performance on the stage today!"

A four-fifths casualty rate?!

This number was like a heavy hammer, slamming hard into everyone's hearts!

The slight excitement that had just surfaced due to the opportunities and challenges was instantly frozen and shattered!

Qin Yan's heart also tightened as he thought, "As expected... I knew things wouldn't be this simple."

How could there be both treasure land opportunities and a princess's great reward without a corresponding price?

That price was life itself.

"Alright, I've finished saying what I needed to say."

Anya spoke up at the right moment: "The opening time for the entrance to Canglin Ancient Peak is set for April 10th of this year.

There are still more than three months from now.

During this time, I will be stationed at Modu University of Martial Arts's First Institute.

If any of you make up your minds and are willing to go, you can come find me at any time."

She paused and added, "Although I am the one making the request, I will also do my best to provide participants with some necessary help and information.

But whether you can ultimately succeed and return alive depends on your own strength, wisdom, and luck."

After speaking, she nodded slightly to Fang Yan, glanced at the students, and her figure was once again surrounded by a faint green light.

The emerald-like book flashed and vanished, and her figure disappeared from the office as mysteriously as she had arrived.

As a Grandmaster-level expert and the actual administrator of a territory within the Elf Clan.

She had many affairs to attend to; being able to come in person to talk with these young students already showed her sincerity and the importance she placed on this matter.

After Anya left, the sense of oppression in the office lessened slightly.

Fang Yan looked at the students before him, his tone softening a bit:

"The University's high-level management is aware of this matter and has communicated with Princess Anya.

The university's stance is clear: this matter is entirely for you to decide for yourselves.

If you want to go, then strive for it and prepare yourself;

If you don't want to go, you can completely refuse. No one will force you, nor will anyone have any negative opinions of you because of it."

"The University Library has some records and intelligence regarding previous 'Hidden Dragon Assemblies'.

Although incomplete, it's enough to give you a more direct understanding of its dangers.

I suggest that before you make a decision, you go there and take a look to understand it thoroughly. Remember, this is no child's play."

The students' expressions shifted, their eyes flickering with light, but no one gave an immediate answer.

After leaving Instructor Fang Yan's office, the group almost instinctively turned together and headed straight for the University Library.

They needed information; they needed to know more clearly what they might be facing.

The library was grand in scale and divided into multiple areas.

Qin Yan and the others went straight to the area housing niche knowledge, historical secrets, and materials on other worlds.

It was relatively quiet here, with tall bookshelves and the stale scent characteristic of ancient books.

With the help of the search system, Qin Yan quickly found several bookshelves labeled 'Eternal Song Star Realm · Hidden Dragon Assembly'.

There weren't many related books or reports; some were even hand-copied unique volumes or internal document photocopies, which showed how secretive they were.

Qin Yan took down a thick leather-bound volume titled 'Eternal Song Star Realm — A Brief Analysis of Participation in the Last Three Hidden Dragon Assemblies,' walked to a quiet reading area, sat down, took a deep breath, and opened the title page.

For the next while, the only sound in the reading area was the occasional, extremely faint sound of pages turning.

Everyone was immersed in the words recorded with a calm, even indifferent, touch.

The content wasn't much, and before long, Qin Yan had finished reading.

He also understood why the human race's casualty rate had been so tragic last time.

The Hidden Dragon Assembly was an ancient tradition jointly established by the major races of the Eternal Song Star Realm to define spheres of influence, allocate scarce resources, resolve disputes, and showcase the power of the new generation.

It was held every five years, hosted in rotation by several Overlord races. This year, it happened to be the Elf Clan's turn.

The core of the assembly was to gather the top geniuses under twenty from the major races of the Eternal Song Star Realm.

They would enter a specific trial ground provided by the host.

The trial content was diverse, potentially including exploration, treasure hunting, survival, combat, and even completing specific tasks.

Ultimately, rankings were determined based on the participants' overall performance in the trial.

These rankings directly related to the say each major race would have in certain public areas of the Eternal Song Star Realm over the next five years, the allocation proportions of newly discovered resources, and even the ownership of certain disputed territories!

The interests involved were so vast that any race would go all out, sparing no expense to cultivate and dispatch their most outstanding young people.

Because of this, every Hidden Dragon Assembly was not just a testing ground for young geniuses, but also a wrestling match between major races and a bloody, brutal miniature battlefield.

For rankings, for profit, and to weaken potential rivals.

Various overt and covert struggles, ambushes, and encirclements were common occurrences.

"It seems this year's trial location is Canglin Ancient Peak, and the 'holy grail of life' is extremely valuable!"

Qin Yan speculated in his heart.