Chapter 175


    Jonathan''s group of candidates was set to have their meals on the other side, where there were five


    empty tables.


    Chester and Elijah naturally followed Jonathan along with Catherine.


    To everyone else, the four of them appeared to be a small group.


    Although the other candidates had not nned to form cliques initially, they decided to do so due to


    feeling pressured by Jonathan''s group.


    Walter naturally went over to Lesley''s side. Being a level-headed person, thetter was courteous


    toward him. Hence, the two hit it off right away. After that, Lesley also roped in two other candidates.


    The four of them formed a small group and sat at a table.


    In the end, the only ones left were Simon, William, and Landyn.


    William and Landyn immediately decided to sit together before casting their doubtful stares at Simon.


    Among all the candidates, Simon was probably ranked the first in terms of abilities.


    Hence, they felt that as long as they could win over him, they would no longer need to be afraid of the


    others.


    At that moment, he sat alone at a table while exuding the air of a loner, making it hard for anyone to


    approach him.


    He did not seem to require any friends.


    William and Landyn approached him with awkward smiles on their faces. “Let''s sit together, Simon!”


    While William was saying that, he and Landyn sat down at the table.


    Simon lifted his head and stared at them with an icy expression as he shouted without a hint of


    hesitation, “Get lost!”


    His response stunned William and Landyn as they did not expect him to be so unamenable.


    Furthermore, they dared not say a word upon sensing his imposing aura.


    Their faces reddened with humiliation, and after hesitating for a while, they got up and left.


    This scene was witnessed by all the other candidates.


    Chester nced in Simon''s direction before whispering to Jonathan and Elijah, “I heard that Simon is


    not the descendant of a prominent family. He used to be an assassin, but because he saved Old Mr.


    Tanner in Hallsbayter on, the man gave him a rmendation.”


    Jonathan shuddered while also feeling slightly taken aback.


    Having sensed Simon''s terrifying aura before, his thoughts were that a son of a prominent family


    should not possess this kind of aura, and now, Chester''s words had confirmed his spection.


    Elijah scoffed upon hearing that, saying, “So, he''s just a mere assassin. I thought that he was someone


    influential, acting all arrogant like that.”


    Jonathan nced at him. “Status and background don''t matter for spiritual fighters. The more reckless


    people are, the more they can get the true meaning of the fighter''s bloodthirst.”


    Elijah''s expression turned grim almost immediately.


    Noticing that the atmosphere had turned awkward, Chester immediately attempted to smooth things


    over. “Times are different now, so it''s pointless to say that.” After a pause, he continued, “However, I


    must say that Simon will be our biggest threat. Thankfully, he''s an introvert, so we don''t need to fear


    him.”


    Jonathan decided to drop the conversation.


    Although Simon was the strongest, Jonathan had experienced deadly wars and also possessed


    Haemocore, so he was not particrly afraid of him.


    Moreover, he also had another thought in mind. I''ll be wary of Chester instead as he''s definitely a two-


    faced person.


    The menu of the day consisted of four dishes, which tasted quite good.


    After they had their fill, everyone was sent back to the dorms to rest.


    Upon reaching the dorm, Simon immediately sat cross-legged and started cultivating.


    Due to theck of entertainment options, the others soon followed suit.


    Catherine did not utter a single word, merely doing whatever Jonathan told her to do. This made him


    feel deeply touched.


    As the night approached, everyone remained in their little cliques as they went for dinner.


    Simon was the only one without a group.


    William and Landyn tried to suck up to him, but unfortunately for them, Simon was not interested. They


    did not attempt to join another group, as the Divine Realm only had four ces this time. Hence, if a


    group had six people, two would have to be eliminated.


    As such, the group would certainly not be united.


    During the meal, Chester suggested to Jonathan''s group, “Jonathan, seeing as there are only four


    ces in Divine Realm, I sincerely hope that all four of us can be recruited. However, you can tell that


    the others aren''t weak either. So for us to win, we must be united. Don''t you think so?”


    Jonathan smiled and responded, “You''re right.”


    Chester then went on, “However, we should select a leader among us, shouldn''t we? Just so that it''s


    easier to handle things when there''s an unexpected situation. Don''t you think?”


    Upon hearing that, Jonathan stared at him a little longer before replying, “I think that there''s no one


    else more suitable for this role than you, Chester.”


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    Chester looked slightly surprised. “That won''t do! We should take a vote,” he suggested with a smile.


    However, Jonathan replied, “There''s no need for that. Anyway, my wife and I both think you''re best


    suited for this.”


    Elijah naturally had no objections.


    Seeing this, Chester no longer pretended to be polite. “Since everyone has agreed, then I''ll ept it


    begrudgingly.”


    Jonathan smiled in response.


    He naturally would notpete to be the leader, knowing that even if he did, Chester and Elijah


    were unreliable.


    Chester''s words were clear and he was merely going with the flow.


    By seven in the evening, everything was covered in white.


    Theyer of snow that nketed the training ground was an inch thick, extending into the horizon.


    In the dorm, all the candidates were focused on cultivating.


    Sitting with his legs crossed, Jonathan was channeling his senses into feeling the power of the


    Haemocore.


    With a shift of intention, he could allow the Haemocore to absorb part of his vitality.


    ording to a secret technique by the Requiem, all of Jonathan''s energy, spirit, and essence had been


    concealed, making him seem like a person without cultivation.


    This was the mystical power of the Requiem.


    He also discovered that his Haemocore was still growing alongside his continuous cultivation, and he


    did not know to what extent it would reach.


    After cultivating for two hours, Jonathan finally opened his eyes.


    The lights in the dorm were off, and all was quiet.


    Noticing that the others were still cultivating, he decided to lie down.


    There was a tension around him that he did not like.


    It gave him the feeling of a prison that was trapping him inside.


    In this ce, he had to abide by the rules of Divine Realm and must obey instructions.


    Jonathan was used to living a carefree life, wandering around every corner of the world. Because of


    that, he did not enjoy feeling burdened.


    Despite that, he knew that he could only ept it. In life, one cannot live freely without any constraints


    forever as there would always be responsibilities to shoulder.


    Jonathan gave it a lot of thought. He knew that Mabel and Polly did not need to enter the Divine Realm


    as they did not require any motivation to keep improving.


    However, he was aware that he was toox and required this environment to train him.


    He figured that his master had sent him to Smend back then because his master had an astute


    understanding of Jonathan''s personality.


    Jonathan knew very well that if he wanted to be free, he had to keep climbing upwards. It was only


    when his abilities had reached a certain level that he would attain a certain degree of freedom.


    However, little did he know that his life''s turmoil would begin once he had stepped into the Divine


    Realm.


    Apanied by these mixed emotions, Jonathan slowly drifted off to sleep.


    He slept exceptionally well for the rest of the night, and it was seven in the morning when he woke up.


    Everyone did not need to wash up, as a Nascent Soul expert''s body was free from filth.


    Shane came to take everyone to breakfast. “You have fifteen minutes to have breakfast. Gather at the


    training ground after that,” he instructed.


    Everyone was engrossed in their own thoughts during breakfast, trying to guess what the test would be


    like on that day.


    Once breakfast was over, they went to the assembly location on the training ground.


    Amid the snow, the first person they spotted was Lah, who looked valiant and charismatic in her


    military uniform.


    Behind her were several service staff as well as two military aircraft.


    As everyone arrived in front of her, she nced at them before shouting outmands, “Attention! At


    ease! Look left! Look ahead!”


    Everyone was well-trained by now, so they followed obediently like a new recruit.


    Lah stood before them, sweeping her gaze across all the candidates before saying seriously, “I have


    bad news for you. I received an order from the headquarters of Divine Realm, which is that only one


    spot is avable at this time. The person who gets it shall receive intensive training from our


    organization.”


    Everyone''s faces fell upon hearing that.


    Jonathan was also inplete shock. He was not afraid of any enemy. However, if there was only one


    ce, a choice had to be made between him and Catherine.


    We''ll rely on our own abilities. Anyway, no matter which of us is chosen, I''ll still protect the Harrington


    family in the future to repay Old Mr. Harrington''s kindness.


    With that thought in mind, his heart settled instantly.


    Lah continued, “The final elimination round is also the cruelest. We''ll send you to Ophidian Ind in


    Norham. You''ll have to kill everyone else to win, and the final survivor will be recruited.”


    Jonathan''s heart sank again.


    The faces of Chester, Elijah, William, and the others also turned ashen except for Simon, who


    remained impassive as usual.


    Jonathan could not help but sneak a nce at Catherine. She appeared indifferent like Simon.


    A hint of anguish shed across his eyes.


    Never would he have expected that the entire universe would conspire to y a practical joke on him.


    If only one could live between him and Catherine, there was no doubt what his choice would be, for he


    could never take her life for his own survival.


    Jonathan had a quick change of mind. I''ll quit or ask Catherine to quit. However, I''m worried about her.


    She''s so na?ve. What if someone took her life on the ind? How will I face Old Mr. Harrington then?


    Just then, Lah eximed, “I have eleven golden silkworms here. Consume them if you''re willing to


    participate in the final assessment. If not, you may quit now. I would like to remind all of you that once


    you''ve consumed the silkworms, you''ll be killed by them if you don''t return within ten days and get


    close to their mother.”