Some of the demon kids whispered amongst themselves when the Veilmaster verified their suspicions on what the marble is.
Some were about to keep on talking, but they suddenly recalled what happened to the previous nobles and they instantly kept shut.
The Veilmaster was about to point her fingers, and when the kids who were talking noticed this, they could not help but thank their lucky stars they quickly kept shut.
"Mongrels." The Veilmaster scoffed in disdain, then she continued speaking.
"We accepted a total of 1,200 of you mongrels... Now, 1,190 of you mongrels are left."
She paused for a moment, and when she saw that none of the kids spoke out like a fool, she nodded in satisfaction.
"There are 900 condensed shadow essences placed in this valley. You have ninety minutes to bring me a condensed shadow essence."
The Veilmaster snapped her fingers, and a hourglass appeared above her palm.
"Anybody that does not bring me a condensed shadow essence would fail this first trial and would not be allowed to partake in further trials."
The Veilmaster paused and observed the mongrels one by one.
She could see the disbelief, shock, confusion, and despair in the eyes of many.
’Two hundred and ninety of you mongrels would either leave here alive but as failures... or you die here. You’re mongrels, but your deaths serves a higher purpose to the clan.’
The Veilmaster’s eyes flashed with a cold and ruthless light.
Meanwhile, Simon and some other trial members furrowed their brows slightly in thought after hearing what the first trial was.
The Veilmaster was about to speak, but then a noble kid raised a hand, signalling that he had a question.
Some had expressions of disbelief at the audacity of the noble to raise a hand and try to ask a question.
"Good. At least some of you have manners."
Some demons widened their eyes in disbelief, and the Veilmaster scoffed when she saw this.
"This is why we refer to you fools as mongrels. Speak boy."
The noble who had raised his hand, bowed slightly then spoke.
"Are there condensed shadow essences on this side of the valley? Or do we have to cross those bridges to get them?"
The Veilmaster chuckled softly, then she clapped with a smile behind her mask.
"You asked a smart and important question that would save the lives of many of these foolish mongrels."
She shifted her gaze from the noble to all the other trial members.
"There is no condensed shadow essence on this side of the valley. You’ll have to get to the other side of the valley, find a condensed shadow essence, then bring it back here to me before your time is up."
"Even if all the condensed shadow essences have not been found before the time is up, the trial would still be over and those who have not brought a condensed shadow essence to me will fail."
The Veilmaster took one last look around, and another demon noble raised his hand.
"You’re the last person I’m permitting to ask a question. Speak."
The boy calmly and coldly spoke. "Are we allowed to kill in this round and in future rounds?"
"Of course." The Veilmaster said with a pure and utter indifferent tone and gaze.
Some trial members shuddered at the indifference in her tone and gaze, while some smiled brightly at her words.
After answering the question, she swirled her fingers and the hourglass turned midair. She had used her demonic energy to control the hourglass.
"The trial starts now."
Bang!
Boom!
"Out of the way!"
"Get the fuck out of my way!"
"Move!"
Hundreds of demon teenagers ran wildly to the narrow stone bridges ahead of them.
The five Veilmasters stood in front of two stone bridges, but none dared to make the mistake of even touching the clothes of the Veilmaster’s.
Every demon that wanted to use the stone bridges behind the Veilmasters all had to be careful.
The scene was chaotic, and Simon could see some unlucky demons fall of the bridges down to their deaths.
Some were pushed while some lost their footing because of how unstable the bridge was.
Not only was the bridge not steady in the slightest, the powerful and chilling winds of the Blackwind Valley blew at the bridges and trial candidates.
A few candidates were unlucky because a powerful gust of wind suddenly appeared and swept them off their feet.
Simon stood in front of his house with his arms folded and his eyes indifferently scanning the scene ahead of him.
He looked to the side from the corner of his eyes, and he saw that there were other demons who also stood on their spot and waited.
All of them knew that it would be unwise to be in the chaos they were witnessing. Even if they were stronger and more talented than many of the candidates rushing ahead, a single mistake and they’d lose their lives.
Simon observed every single thing, then a few minutes later, other demons who waited like him began to approach the stone bridges when they noticed that the chaos had reduced.
Simon looked at them, but he didn’t move. He leaned on the wall of his house with his arms folded and an indifferent expression in his eyes.
Some demons looked at him, but he ignored.
But a familiar group of six demons approached him, and Simon rolled his eyes while releasing a sigh of frustration.
"Hey, you."
The demon who he guessed was the leader of the group called out to him, but Simon didn’t respond.
Grab!
"What the fuck?! Are you deaf?!"
The leader grabbed his clothes, and Simon looked at him with soul-chilling eyes.
"Do you want to die?"
The leader felt a chill erupt in his bloodline and mind, but a second later, he shook his head and glared at Simon with killing intent in his eyes.
"You dare threaten you fucking lowly mixed breed? Who the fuck do you think you are?!"
Simon said nothing and just kept on staring at the leader. His right hand slowly moved toward the demon’s arm, but one of his companions suddenly held their leader’s shoulder.
"Hey Vikram, we need to leave now. If we don’t, we might struggle to pass the first trial. We can deal with him later."
The leader gritted his teeth, then he let go of Simon and pushed him, but Simon did not take a step back in the slightest.
"Fucking lowlife. This is not over."
Simon said nothing and just stared at him indifferenly, then the group turned and left for the bridge.
Even after they left, he didn’t say or do anything, and his expression was one of pure indifference as he straightened out his clothes.
Though, he did notice one of the girls in the group stealing glances at him.
’So, that might be why... How very much annoying.’
Simon shook his head slightly, then he also approached the stone bridges.
He was the last person to approach the stone bridges, and the Veilmasters looked at him with indifferent expressions but different thoughts in their heads.
But to their surprise, Simon did not walk on the bridge but sat with his legs crossed in front of a bridge that was not too far from the Veilmasters.
What was he doing?
The Veilmasters and those who had been observing Simon wondered in confusion.