The Nine Trials of Guardianship

Bi Zihan and Qian Renxue both found the state of their current bodies strange, yet they could clearly sense the power within this angelic body and understood what was happening.

Martial Soul Fusion Skill: Seraphim. Ordinarily, a Martial Soul Fusion Skill was dominated by the person with the higher-quality Martial Soul. But theirs was different—neither of them was dominant, and each controlled half of its abilities and attributes.

Qian Renxue controlled the light attribute. The skills she could use were: Forbidden Arts of the Gods, as well as the physical damage reduction provided by the white wings.

Bi Zihan, meanwhile, controlled the darkness attribute. The skills he could use were: Origin of Sin, as well as the energy damage reduction provided by the black wings.

Moreover, the two of them could jointly unleash a combined attack skill: Heaven's Punishment and God's Retribution.

Fusion Skill: Forbidden Arts of the Gods—used light to restrict the enemy's movements before condensing it into countless sharp swords for wide-area bombardment, ignoring the opponent's defenses.

Fusion Skill: Origin of Sin—wielded a sword with one's own darkness and the seven sins of pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, lust, and gluttony. It possessed tremendous single-target power, and attacks could stack when they struck the same target.

Seraphim Combined Attack Skill: Heaven's Punishment and God's Retribution—gathered the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from the surroundings, using the Sword of Angels and Doomsday Judgment to form countless sharp swords. It invoked attributes such as wind, fire, thunder, lightning, water, space, light, darkness, and death, restricting everyone within its range before delivering indiscriminate strikes. Its range increased along with their Soul Power. After using it, both would enter a weakened state for half a month.

Faced with the giant snake and spider's attacks, Seraphim spread its white wings before its body. The attacks of the two enormous creatures struck the wings, yet caused Seraphim no harm at all. Its body did not even shift in the slightest.

A pale golden radiance flowed across the white wings, instantly knocking the two enormous creatures away. Then, an ancient and sacred voice emerged from Seraphim's mouth.

"Forbidden Arts of the Gods!"

The Sword of Angels in Seraphim's hand emitted an intense golden glow. The light transformed into pale golden chains that bound the two enormous creatures in place, restricting their movements.

As the Sword of Angels rose, countless gleaming blades appeared in midair. Like raindrops, they descended upon the two enormous creatures. The sharp swords easily pierced through their bodies, and crimson blood continuously flowed from their wounds.

The giant snake and spider's roars echoed through the surroundings. In just a few blinks, their bodies had been completely riddled with swords. They struggled on the ground a few times before collapsing helplessly.

After the battle ended, Seraphim's body gave off golden and black light, and Bi Zihan and Qian Renxue's bodies emerged within the radiance.

The two exchanged a glance and smiled. The feeling of using their Martial Soul Fusion Skill just now had been excellent, and its power had been unprecedented. However, using those skills had also consumed an enormous amount of their Soul Power. Their breathing was therefore somewhat rapid.

Just then, a noble and sacred voice suddenly rang out from midair. "Trial passed. Trial-taker Bi Zihan meets the qualifications for the Nine Trials of Guardianship and shall now officially become the inheritor of the Nine Trials of Guardianship."

As soon as the words fell, a pale golden beam landed on Bi Zihan's arm, forming a golden marking resembling a longsword.

Everything around them began to gradually shatter like a mirror, and their consciousnesses returned to their respective bodies.

Inside a room at Lake Heart Pavilion, Bi Zihan suddenly opened his eyes and sat up in bed. His gaze swept over the surroundings, and when he realized he was in his own room, he unconsciously let out a breath.

"Was it a dream? But if it really was a dream, it felt far too real." Bi Zihan ran a hand through his hair and happened to see the golden longsword marking on his arm.

"Looks like it wasn't a dream. The Nine Trials of Guardianship... who am I supposed to protect?" Bi Zihan lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling without the slightest trace of sleepiness.

What flashed through his mind were all the scenes he had experienced together with Qian Renxue. They were incredibly clear, as though engraved into his mind, impossible to dispel.

After a long while, he got out of bed and walked straight out of his room. He sat in a pavilion in the garden, watching the flowers sway in the breeze, lost in thought.

Within the Worship Hall, Qian Renxue walked out of her room and saw Qian Daoliu seated before the Divine Statue of the Angel God. She walked over, sat beside him, and asked, "Grandfather, do you know about the Nine Trials of Guardianship?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Daoliu opened his eyes and slowly said, "As the name suggests, the Nine Trials of Guardianship are trials born for the sake of protection. However, these trials do not belong to any divine position. Furthermore, no one from our Angel Lineage has triggered the Nine Trials of Guardianship in ten thousand years, so I do not know the specifics either."

"Besides, I do not recall ever telling you about the Nine Trials of Guardianship. Xue'er, how did you come to know of them?" Qian Daoliu looked at Qian Renxue beside him, a kindly smile appearing on his face.

After thinking for a moment, Qian Renxue recounted everything that had happened in the illusion to Qian Daoliu in detail. She did not conceal anything, including the matter of the Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

As Qian Daoliu listened to Qian Renxue's account, surprise appeared in his calm eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Xue'er, since the Angel God chose him to undergo the Nine Trials of Guardianship, there must naturally be a reason. You need not overthink it. Just let everything take its course." Qian Daoliu looked at the Divine Statue of the Angel God ahead, his voice calm.

Since the Angel God had chosen Bi Zihan to undergo the Nine Trials of Guardianship, the Angel God must have had a reason for doing so. As the Angel God's divine envoy, Qian Daoliu only needed to fulfill his own duties. After all, the Angel God's choice could not possibly be wrong.

Qian Renxue nodded lightly and said nothing more. She rose directly to her feet and walked out of the Worship Hall. Qian Daoliu watched her leave without asking any further questions, then closed his eyes again.

"When necessary, you must act to protect him. You cannot allow anything to happen to him on the continent. After all, Fallen Angels are also part of the Angel Lineage. Do not blindly judge friend from foe based on the attributes of one's Martial Soul."

"Light does not represent justice, nor does darkness represent evil. They merely exist to complement one another. Without light, where would darkness come from? And without the contrast of darkness, where would light come from?" That noble and sacred voice entered Qian Daoliu's ears.