574: The examination has begun

Chapter 573: The Assessment Has Already Begun

As night fell, at a manor on the outskirts of the Suweier Imperial Capital, the Didalian Family’s banquet was held as scheduled.

A total of 684 prodigies from various parts of the Demon Spirit Continent arrived one after another, and the square in front of the manor gate was filled with all sorts of Magical Vehicles.

As the number of participants far exceeded previous years, most people believed that the assessment method this year would definitely be different.

But no matter what, the assessment was bound to be cruel. The Didalian Family would eliminate prodigies based on a certain ratio or number.

After all, resources were limited, and to ensure the quality of cultivation, the Didalian Family could only “select the best.”

Therefore, there was no doubt that this year’s assessment would be the most competitive and intense!

The manor was large. Inside and outside the banquet hall, the prodigies subconsciously formed circles based on their regions, and very few people “crossed circles to socialize.”

Among these, two social circles were particularly special.

First, there was the circle of prodigies from the Central Region. They were the most numerous, accounting for one-third of the total.

Being from the most developed and wealthiest region of the Demon Spirit Continent, the Central Region prodigies equally discriminated against prodigies from the other four regions, often speaking with disdain.

In fact, the vast majority of prodigies who successfully passed previous assessments were also from the Central Region.

As for the prodigies from the other four regions, to put it bluntly, they were just stepping stones for the Central Region prodigies.

What’s more, this year there was also a world-class Isurna, which further fueled the arrogance of the Central Region prodigies.

Second, there was the circle of prodigies from the Northern region. They were the fewest in number, with only a pitiful few dozen.

Everyone knew that the Northern region was the most barren and backward region on the entire continent, and the prodigies born here were at the bottom of the discrimination chain!

Generally, in previous assessments, the presence of Northern prodigies was almost nonexistent. Even if there were one or two, they were just there to participate.

No one looked down on Northern prodigies, and unfortunately, they were also the least competitive, always at a great disadvantage in various confrontations and eliminated in the first round.

"I heard that Isurna from the Central Region is recognized as having the potential of a Hero. Is she really that powerful?"

"She is 22 this year, but her level is only in the thirties, not even as high as mine..."

"And that Dick Grudia, just a Northern bumpkin, is being praised so much in the Central Region..."

"Hmph, Central Region people are all hypocritical, always liking to create false momentum!"

"Hey, what are you Westerners talking nonsense about? Don't you know that Isurna has already been internally selected?"

"What a joke, the assessment emphasizes fairness and justice. How can there be an internal selection?"

"Idiot, we Central Region prodigies are born superior. Isn't internal selection normal, unlike you..."

"Central Region guy, do you want to test if my precious sword is sharp?!"

A fierce verbal conflict erupted in a certain part of the banquet hall, and then the situation got out of control and escalated into a violent conflict.

Two prodigies from the Central and Western regions, neither of whom would yield to the other, insisted on a real fight to the death.

Instead of mediating, the staff of the Didalian Family even set up a temporary arena in the square outside the banquet hall to facilitate the duel between the two prodigies.

However, the cost was that the loser would lose their qualification for next week’s assessment.

Perhaps out of confidence, or for the sake of face, neither of the two prodigies backed down and engaged in a duel under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

A few minutes later, the prodigy from the Central Region was inferior in skill, was heavily injured and flew out of the arena, unconscious.

This unexpected result caused an uproar at the scene and also ignited the emotions of many prodigies.

Many prodigies from other regions began to ridicule the Central Region prodigies, and the atmosphere of the banquet instantly became tense.

In the past, when they were weak and few in number, they could only humble themselves in the face of the Central Region prodigies' various suppressions.

But now it was different. Under the influence of “Destiny Is Not Fixed” and the “Child of Prophecy,” prodigies from various regions were constantly rising, and the Central Region was no longer the sole dominant force.

Coupled with the lack of intervention from the staff on site, the situation escalated, and dozens more duels quickly broke out.

Among them, the vast majority were duels between prodigies from the Eastern, Southern, and Western regions and those from the Central Region, with wins and losses on both sides.

As for the Northern prodigies, due to their small numbers and weak morale, they did not get involved due to their inferiority complex.

On the balcony of the second floor of the banquet hall, Dick looked calm, quietly watching the duels in the square one after another.

These were not friendly spars, but death matches that would result in fatalities!

By now, more than ten prodigies had died in the arena, which was clearly intentional on the part of the Didalian Family.

In the afternoon, while drinking milk tea, Afra told Dick everything without reservation, informing him of many arrangements made by the Didalian Family.

The number of applicants was simply too large, and the Didalian Family had to have more filtering methods to weed out those who were relatively weaker.

And the duels at tonight’s banquet were one of these methods.

This seemed simple and unadorned, even a bit crude, but it was highly effective, directly eliminating those prodigies with poor temperament and weak strength.

The assessment had, in fact, already begun from now!

Not just Dick, a small number of prodigies also discovered this and thus only watched from the sidelines, not participating.

"That Berserker from the Southern Region is so arrogant. Although he has won three consecutive matches, his strength is only so-so..."

Xiao Nai was full of displeasure, complaining about the duels below while gnawing on a beast leg.

As early as when they first entered the banquet, Xiao Nai was already very unhappy because Northern prodigies were always being ridiculed.

If not for Cecilia and Mina persuading her, Xiao Nai would probably have been the first to initiate a duel.

Most of the girls had come to tonight’s banquet.

As top-tier prodigies, they all, like Leon, could directly register for the assessment without any guarantees.

However, Isurna, the central figure, did not come.

Because tonight, a distinguished guest from the Saint Ander Continent was visiting, and Isurna had to personally receive her.

Boom—

Accompanied by a violent explosion, a prodigy wearing heavy armor flew out of the arena.

A large area of his chest was caved in, and he was covered in blood, lying motionless on the ground, clearly having lost his breath.

"Hahaha, Eastern prodigies are only this much, similar to that bunch of trash from the Northern region, truly disgraceful, hahaha..."

The speaker was a giant man with muscles all over his body, also the Southern prodigy Xiao Nai had just complained about. He had already won four consecutive matches.

Dick casually glanced over and found that the giant man’s information showed he had the destiny of a Berserker Hero.

And this was the capital of his arrogance.

If it were in previous assessments, he would definitely pass easily, successfully become a key training target of the Didalian Family, and reach the pinnacle of his life.

But unfortunately, there were simply too many monsters this year. Just the prodigies who had awakened the destiny of a Hero numbered over a hundred!

Among them, there were even more than a dozen prodigies who had awakened the destiny of a Witch!

It was just a pity that Dick did not find the Blight Witch. They were all Witches who duplicated those under his command, and all of them had to be excluded!

"Haha, what Central Region prodigies, they are the same kind of trash as the Northern region!"

As a Central Region prodigy fell, the prodigy from the Southern region won again and was now shouting arrogantly.

"Mmm mmm mmm..."

Xiao Nai puffed out her cheeks and let out a low murmur, her fists tightly clenched, her knuckles cracking continuously.

Although no Northern prodigy dared to step onto the arena for a duel, they were always mentioned and used as a derogatory adjective.

"Can't stand it anymore?" Dick asked softly.

Hearing this, Xiao Nai nodded heavily and replied through gritted teeth, "I can't stand it anymore!"

"Then go down and participate in the duel, but I have one more request..."

Before Dick could finish speaking, Xiao Nai interrupted, "I know my limits, I will show mercy, don't worry."

With that, Xiao Nai rolled up the wide sleeves of her dress and eagerly prepared to flip over the balcony and jump down.

"Wait!"

Dick was a little speechless, grabbing Xiao Nai by the back of her collar and frowning, "When did I say you should show mercy?"

"Then..."

Xiao Nai was a little confused. She thought Dick preferred a low profile and wanted her to be forgiving, not to cause any fatalities.

"You were taught by me, don't embarrass me. Later, you must go all out... kill if you can!"