"What is the final assessment?" someone eagerly asked.
Elder Chimu glanced at the person and said indifferently, "Assassination!"
These two simple words caused the expressions of the ten candidates present to stiffen slightly.
"Assassination? Then who is the target of the assassination?"
Elder Chimu did not answer their questions and simply waved his sleeve forward.
Ten brocade boxes flew out from his spatial ring, hovering before Xin Ci and the others.
"These ten brocade boxes contain different weapons and information about assassination targets. Each of you must choose one from these boxes, and you can only use the weapon within the box to assassinate your target."
"In addition, I must remind you that when assassinating your target, no third person can be present, and you can only use the weapon from the brocade box to assassinate the target. Non-targets must not be harmed. Violating the rules will result in immediate disqualification."
"Furthermore, the masks you wear not only restrict your true essence and soul power but can also negate one fatal injury when it occurs. If this function is triggered, it means the assessment has failed."
Elder Chimu's words made the ten people present become serious.
Although Elder Chimu did not explicitly state it, Xin Ci and the others understood clearly.
The assassination targets contained within these ten brocade boxes were likely the ten people present.
This meant they were to kill each other!
"What if one picks the brocade box containing their own information?" Ye Xinran asked the question on everyone's mind.
Elder Chimu glanced at her indifferently and said, "Each brocade box has a transfer rune carved at the bottom. If the situation you mentioned occurs, the brocade box will randomly swap with another person's brocade box."
Hearing this explanation, everyone had no further concerns.
"Since that's the case, let's start quickly. I want to pick first."
Li Fulan could no longer contain herself. Eagerness showed on her small, impatient face as she stepped forward, reaching out to choose the brocade boxes.
However, before she could even touch the brocade boxes, Elder Chimu grabbed her and lifted her into the air like a chick.
Suddenly lifted, Li Fulan struggled in mid-air like a startled, bristling kitten.
"Elder Chimu! Hurry and put me down, this is so embarrassing!"
"So impetuous, you start picking things before I've even finished speaking," Elder Chimu admonished her.
He had intended to simply toss the little girl back, but since this young girl was the little princess of the Canglan Dynasty, Elder Chimu dared not go too far.
Therefore, he had no choice but to put the little one down first and explain to them, "The order of picking the brocade boxes will follow the ranking from the second round of assessment. Each person is allowed to pick only one."
According to the ranking, Xin Ci would be the first to pick a brocade box.
"What a nuisance, they're making this shorty pick first. What if she picks a good weapon?"
Li Fulan pouted and muttered.
However, Xin Ci, as the first to pick, did not feel any advantage.
Because these brocade boxes were sealed and had restrictions placed on them. Currently, he could not use his true essence, nor could he check what was inside.
Therefore, at most, he had a few more brocade boxes to choose from than those who picked later, and the probability of picking a suitable assassination weapon was quite low.
"Leave the weapon selection to me," Mu Qingqing transmitted to Xin Ci.
Hearing the confidence in Mu Qingqing's tone, Xin Ci handed over the right to choose to her.
Due to the isolation of the consciousness space, Mu Qingqing's use of true essence and soul power would not be detected by the ghost mask.
With the special ability of her Star Wheel Eyes, the restrictions on the brocade boxes could not hinder Mu Qingqing's investigation.
Her soul power quickly penetrated the restrictions, revealing the situation inside the brocade boxes.
The weapons in each brocade box were different. Two of the brocade boxes contained weapons that made Mu Qingqing want to laugh and cry.
Inside were a toothpick and a soup ladle!
How could these two items be used to assassinate someone?
"Hey, stop dawdling. Have you picked yet?"
Seeing that Xin Ci had not picked for a long time, Li Fulan, behind him, impatiently urged.
"This little girl is a bit noisy," Mu Qingqing frowned slightly, then decided on her choice and transmitted to Xin Ci.
Although he didn't know what weapon Mu Qingqing had chosen for him, Xin Ci trusted her. Without hesitation, he directly chose the third brocade box from the left.
After receiving the brocade box, Xin Ci put it into his spatial ring.
After he made his choice, Li Fulan eagerly stepped forward.
"You're so slow even picking a brocade box. Finally, it's my turn." Li Fulan glanced at Xin Ci angrily, then reached out and chose the second brocade box from the right.
As she passed Xin Ci, she didn't forget to puff out her small chest, showing a proud expression.
It was as if she was saying, "See? I picked my brocade box much faster than you."
Xin Ci was speechless towards this little girl, not understanding what she was competing with him about.
However, he was too lazy to pay attention to Li Fulan and quietly waited for the remaining people to finish choosing.
Mu Qingqing, in the consciousness space, felt curious and investigated what weapon Li Fulan had chosen in her brocade box.
Upon seeing this, Mu Qingqing almost burst out laughing.
Li Fulan had chosen the soup ladle.
And looking at how smug and proud the little girl was, it was as if she had picked some incredible treasure.
Now, however much pride and happiness she felt, the moment Li Fulan opened the brocade box, her heart would be filled with despair.
After everyone had chosen their brocade boxes, someone asked Elder Chimu, "Elder Chimu, when can we open the brocade boxes?"
Elder Chimu waved to a disciple and instructed him in a low voice.
"After two rounds of assessment, you must also need some rest. Next, Feng Mian will arrange rooms for you. You can temporarily rest in your rooms and open your brocade boxes."
"But remember one thing: the moment you open the brocade box in your room, the third round of assessment will begin, and there will be no time limit until only five candidates remain."
Afterward, the disciple named Feng Mian, from the Killing Heart Saint Court, led everyone out of the Shadow Hall and to their respective rooms.
After entering their rooms, everyone chose to open their brocade boxes immediately.
The moment they opened their brocade boxes, there were naturally some who rejoiced and some who despaired.
Especially when Li Fulan opened her brocade box with anticipation, her expression was worse than crying.
"What the heck, a broken spoon? How can I win with this?!"
Li Fulan's face turned red with anger. She was the second to pick, yet she managed to get such a useless item.
Feeling dejected, she ran to the adjacent room to pour out her frustrations to Li Fulong.