Ghost Face Spider

The Flying Rainbow Mountain Range lay east of the Li Fire Sect, stretching over a thousand li from north to south, with complex terrain.

At the northernmost end, Outer Sect Elder Chen Tianyang released the last Spirit Beast, looking somewhat worried. "Senior Brother Jiang, aren't these Spirit Beasts a little too strong?"

It was only when he came today to arrange the Trial that he discovered there was actually a Late-Stage Qi Refining Ghost Face Spider among the Spirit Beasts the sect had prepared.

If any disciples were unlucky, it could very well lead to severe consequences.

"Junior Brother Chen, I already sought instructions. The True Person's meaning was that a few disciple casualties are acceptable."

"Why the rush? They're the sect's future."

"How could we not be in a rush? I heard rumors from the merchant associations in the market that the Reflecting Moon Immortal Sect has already collapsed. In a few years, the Demonic Calamity might reach our Li Province."

Hearing this, Chen Tianyang paused. "Could this time be real news? No wonder the merchant caravans passing through have seemed much fewer lately."

Ever since a century ago, Demonic Cultivators flying the banner of the Divine Fire Sect had been frequently active across the entire Southern Domain, attacking passing cultivators.

Such things had originally been normal enough. The immortal path was fraught with hardship, and cultivation was no easy undertaking.

Thus, there were always people who wanted to take shortcuts, willing to pay any price.

All manner of heretical paths and even evil demonic ways emerged one after another, and the various sects regularly took action to suppress them.

Yet the Divine Fire Sect was anything but ordinary. Though it had been defeated time and again, it always returned in force soon afterward, each time stronger than before. Now, it even showed signs of growing ever more intense.

Fortunately, Li Province lay on the western side of the Southern Domain and was relatively barren. Logically speaking, it should not attract the Divine Fire Sect and become its next target.

The True Persons were likely only making some preparations, preparing for a rainy day.

I just hope the Chen Family descendants have better luck and don't run into a Ghost Face Spider.

With that thought, Chen Tianyang called out a greeting and hurried toward the gathering point at the southern end of the Flying Rainbow Mountain Range, intending to give them a warning.

Since this year's assessment involved actual combat, the twelve Outer Sect Branch Academies would not be assessed together, but would set out one after another.

On the first day, only the disciples of Branch 1 entered the Flying Rainbow Mountain Range.

The task for this Trial was to safely cross the Flying Rainbow Mountain Range, now filled with Spirit Beasts, within seven days.

Furthermore, they had to kill any Spirit Beasts encountered along the way and retrieve the pre-placed Points Jade Tokens from their bellies.

Disciples who earned fewer than six Points, or failed to reach the gathering point at the northern end of the mountain range in time, would be recorded. After accumulating three such records, they would lose their qualifications to advance into the Inner Sect.

Of course, since it was a Trial, there were naturally punishments as well as rewards.

The ten disciples with the highest Points from each Branch Academy would automatically become the new year's Inner Sect Seeds. Based on their rankings, they could also receive additional rewards.

First place would receive any one Mysterious-grade Spell. Second and third place would receive one of three designated Mysterious-grade Spells.

Fourth through tenth place would each receive a Yellow-grade Spell of their choice.

Manager Chen gave them a special reminder. "I know many of you have chosen Mysterious-grade techniques, but do not underestimate the importance of Yellow-grade Spells because of that."

"Any spell singled out for dedicated cultivation has its own unique strengths, far surpassing general-purpose spells."

"For example, someone at the 6th level of Qi Refining who can only cast Fireball Art according to their cultivation method naturally cannot compare to a Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivator who has specifically practiced Fire Snake Art."

"It is no exaggeration to say that, with all other conditions similar, if these two fought, the outcome would be close to a nine-to-one split."

Just then, Chen Tianyang descended on his flying sword and added, "Indeed. The method is the Great Dao of Longevity; the art is the sharp weapon that protects the Dao. Methods guide those who have lost their way, while arts ward off calamity and hardship."

"These principles are all in the Sect Rules. You should read and contemplate them often in your daily lives. Now go make your own preparations for the Trial. Zhi'an, come with me first."

The disciples below all cupped their hands together. "Thank you for Elder's guidance."

Taking advantage of this rest period, Xiao Chen urgently reviewed the few minor spells he currently had at his disposal.

Just as Manager Chen had said, most cultivation methods came with several basic spells. For instance, the Yang Qi Breathing Technique came with five minor spells.

Corresponding to the five elements of heaven and earth, they were called Golden Light Art, Wooden Vine Art, Water Healing Art, Fireball Art, and Earth Shield Art.

Though their effects were generally quite ordinary, for the time being, these were all the means Xiao Chen could rely on in this pseudo-actual-combat Outer Sect Trial.

The effects of these minor spells were simple and straightforward, nearly identical to their literal meanings.

They corresponded respectively to five common situations: warding off evil, trapping enemies, healing injuries, attacking, and defending.

Each spell consumed at most one strand of Mana, though he could also deliberately reduce the Mana supplied to lower its power.

Although they seemed the same for everyone, different results could be achieved entirely through training in specific casting techniques.

The sect had cultivation rooms specifically for practicing spells. Three hours cost only one Spirit Stone. Xiao Chen had gone once before, but later gave up studying them.

The reason was especially simple: the Hextech enhancement of a Featherweight fighter worked on spells as well. At the very least, practice had proven that it worked on the spells that came with the Yang Qi Breathing Technique.

Inside the cultivation room stood a Refined Mysterious Iron Tablet used for repeatedly testing Fireball Art.

The first—and only—time Xiao Chen tried it, he naturally went all out. As a result, the Refined Mysterious Iron Tablet, which should have withstood thousands of attacks, was burned with a huge crater.

That had been rather awkward. He seemed to have damaged public property.

So Xiao Chen did not test any of the other spells. He immediately turned around and slipped away.

Strangely enough, no disciple later came to question him or inform him that he needed to pay compensation. The matter simply passed.

Xiao Chen did not know that the disciple responsible for the inspection had only thought about it for a quarter of an hour before reasonably concluding that the Refined Mysterious Iron Tablet itself had a quality problem.

After all, it was a new tablet that had only been replaced a month ago. How could it possibly have been damaged by a disciple in the Qi Refining Realm?

Thus, Xiao Chen was actually quite confident in his Spell Power.

Whether it was through arena matches or actual-combat simulations like this, he had more than enough confidence.

He even hoped the assessment would be a little harder this time. Otherwise, it would not be easy to widen the gap between himself and the other disciples.

The disciples of Branch 2 would not set out until the next day, so Xiao Chen slept soundly through the night.

Only when they gathered the next morning did he realize that several junior brothers looked exhausted, clearly having slept poorly.

"Senior Brother Xiao, you don't seem nervous at all. I only slept for two hours last night."

"Junior Brother Liu, you usually devote yourself to studying combat spells. Why are you worried instead?"

Junior Brother Liu, who had spoken to him, had also chosen Spirit Field cultivation. Their Spirit Fields were right beside each other, and seeing one another every day, they had gradually become familiar.

Usually, Junior Brother Liu loved seeking people out for spell-combat training. He had invited Xiao Chen many times, and even though Xiao Chen had politely declined every time, he would still call out whenever he had the chance.

Logically, he should have been more confident about this kind of confrontation.

Unexpectedly, Junior Brother Liu directly leaned his head closer. "This time, the Spirit Beasts are scored according to their Cultivation Realm. To get six Points, you have to kill a Spirit Beast at the 6th level of Qi Refining."

He lowered his voice. "I heard something happened to some junior brothers in Branch 1."

Hmm?

Xiao Chen was a little surprised. Did that mean the sect wanted them to fight opponents of the same level?

He had originally thought the sect would only capture a few Spirit Beasts around the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

But judging by this, could there already be Spirit Beasts at the 6th level of Qi Refining in the Flying Rainbow Mountain Range?

Soon, this news was confirmed.

At Chen Shi and a quarter, Manager Chen gathered all the disciples of Branch 2 with a grave expression.

"This Trial carries a certain degree of danger. If anyone does not wish to participate, you may come to me and withdraw within One Hour."

"Some of you may have already heard. I will not hide it from you: yesterday, something happened to the Branch 1 disciples who entered the mountain range."

"One disciple at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer was severely injured and rescued by Elder Jiang. Another new disciple at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer encountered a Ghost Face Spider..."

Manager Chen paused for three breaths.

"His death has been confirmed!"

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