227: The third level begins

Pan Han recalled the rules for the third Trial: extreme cold, scorching heat, torture, and beauty, with each checkpoint worth 5 points.

Passing all of them would grant a perfect score of 20 points, but it might take a week, and only one day's worth of rations would be provided at most.

"Damn it!" Pan Han cursed under his breath, then picked up the menu again and aggressively ordered several lobsters and steaks.

He casually tossed two packs of cigarettes to Mo Li: "Mr. Mo, you won't lose out!"

"Haha, no problem, I'll let you eat your fill!"

...

By the time they returned to the Trial participant base, it was almost nine in the evening, and Pan Han was so full he could barely walk, with Cheng Xiao slowly helping him along.

"Cheng Xiao, I'm afraid I can't tonight. You should sleep by yourself!" Pan Han said, rubbing his belly.

"I know. As if someone needs it every day!" Cheng Xiao's face instantly flushed, like a newlywed wife experiencing the delights of human intimacy for the first time.

"Tsk! I wonder who was screaming last night."

"Oh, this is so annoying!"

In a flash, it was the next day, Pan Han kissed Cheng Xiao goodbye and followed the convoy to the third Trial grounds.

It wasn't as large as the first Trial's zombie siege because only the extreme cold and scorching heat checkpoints took up significant space.

The administrator handed each Trial participant an emergency backpack containing one day's worth of rations, some tools, a flint, gauze, needle and thread, rope, and so on.

"Everyone listen up, for the extreme cold and scorching heat checkpoints, everyone must experience them, and the cumulative time cannot be less than 5 days.

After completing them, your wristband will give a prompt, then you will proceed to the torture and beauty checkpoints. Understand?" After distributing the emergency backpacks, the administrator addressed the group.

"Understood!"

"Anyone who doesn't stay for 5 days in the first two checkpoints, or who hasn't emerged from these two checkpoints by the end of 7 days, will be considered to have failed the Trial and will receive 0 points!" the administrator added.

"Understood!" everyone replied in unison.

Pan Han calculated in his mind, meaning that as long as one passed the extreme cold and scorching heat according to the rules, even if they failed all subsequent checkpoints, they could still get 10 points.

If they didn't follow the rules, they would get 0 points!

Another rule designed to widen the score gap!

Hmph, those scheming Twelve Palaces!

By then, many people might not even pass the first two checkpoints, getting 0 points and being eliminated, essentially bidding farewell to any chance of competing.

"Everyone, prepare to depart. I wish you good luck." The administrator opened the car door, urging people out.

Just like the first checkpoint, everyone still passed through a large gate and entered within the walls.

As soon as they entered, everyone saw before them a sky filled with strong winds and blizzards, and biting cold!

Pan Han checked his wristband, which showed -23℃!

The Trial participants were uniformly dressed in tight-fitting competition suits provided by the Twelve Palaces, while their outer clothing could be chosen freely, but the weight and number of items could not exceed the regulations.

Pan Han wore a fleece-lined waterproof and snowproof jacket and tactical pants with thickened knee protection, pushing the limits of the regulations.

Adjusting his collar and putting on his hood, Pan Han felt the current temperature was still acceptable.

Looking at the other Trial participants who came in with him, their conditions also seemed okay.

So, everyone scattered and proceeded on their own.

Compared to scorching heat, Pan Han preferred to stay in a cold environment.

After all, if it's cold, you can just eat more and wear more clothes, but if it's hot, even stripping naked won't help!

Therefore, his provisional strategy was to stay here for four and a half days, and then go to the scorching heat for the remaining half-day.

After walking for less than three minutes, all the other Trial participants were out of sight.

The wind and snow were too heavy, visibility was at most about ten meters. Pan Han could only brave the wind and snow, moving slowly forward.

The biting cold wind howled past, and the bone-chilling cold made people shiver involuntarily.

The accumulated snow on the ground was very soft, and every step required strenuous effort, making Pan Han's progress even more difficult.

The most urgent task now was to find a sheltered place, such as a cave or a depression.

However, Pan Han thought this, and others would inevitably think the same, so if everyone favored the same spot, disputes would inevitably arise.

Pan Han considered himself fearless of anyone, but now that he was the Big Brother, others would definitely try to fight him to the death, putting him at a pure disadvantage.

So, he opened his wristband display to check the terrain.

The terrain of the extreme cold checkpoint was extremely rugged, with uneven elevations, covered with snow-capped hills and glaciers.

Ice pillars and icebergs were ubiquitous on the snowfield, like sentinels of the cold world, guarding the Trial participants' progress.

"Damn it, no glaciers, no hills. I can only go back and find a small grove of trees." Pan Han set his direction and walked straight back; about two kilometers away, there was a small forest.

But after walking less than 100 meters, he suddenly felt the cold wind intensify.

He checked his wristband; the temperature had actually dropped to -30℃.

"Holy crap! What the hell!" Even though it was only a 7℃ difference, the feeling was completely different!

Pan Han had felt perfectly fine a moment ago, but now he was starting to feel cold.

After walking less than another 200 meters, the temperature dropped to -35℃!

After walking less than another 200 meters, the temperature dropped to -40℃!

"Damn it, at this rate of temperature drop, by the time I reach the small grove, the temperature will be -100℃!"

Pan Han finally stopped; -40℃ was his current limit for resistance.

"I can't go any further." He started moving his body to build up some warmth inside his clothes.

He began to look around and found a rocky hill in the distance that seemed to offer some shelter from the wind.

Although he was extremely reluctant, it was better than freezing to death! Plans never keep up with changes!

Pan Han walked towards the hill, stepping through the snow-covered ground one step at a time.

The wind and snow constantly assaulted him, but he advanced steadily.

Finally, he climbed the hill and stood on a relatively flat area.

Although the cold wind was still biting, it was relatively calm compared to the wilderness in the storm.

Pan Han began to explore the hill, hoping to find a more secluded and protective spot.

He found some large rocks and depressions on the hill that could provide some windbreak.

He found a relatively spacious depression, placed his backpack aside, and secured it with a rope.

Pan Han sat in the sheltered area, leaning against the rock wall, trying to minimize the area of his body exposed to the wind and snow.

He checked his wristband; it was already -50℃!

This place offered shelter from the wind, but it couldn't withstand the cold! Pan Han could only continuously stomp his feet in small steps to keep his body warm.

Under normal circumstances, he could keep jumping like this for a whole day!

But in the current environment, it consumed more physical strength, and there was no hope; continuing to jump like this would only lead to death!

"Damn it, the Twelve Palaces are so stingy! They wouldn't even give a blanket!"

Although the jacket was windproof, it wasn't very cold-resistant. Pan Han fantasized about having a thick scarf and wrapping himself in a blanket; that would be wonderful.

What was that?

A small rock rolled down onto Pan Han's head, making him rub his head.

He looked up, and holy cow! Pan Han's legs went weak, and he almost fell over.