Midday, the atmosphere on the trial grounds was even heavier.
The testing location for the second trial was unexpectedly set in front of that stone tablet outside the mountain gate.
"The second trial, testing the foundation." Along with this cry, the person in charge of the assessment changed to a middle-aged woman with a stern face.
Yet, in sharp contrast to her icy expression, a smile that seemed forcibly squeezed out appeared on her face.
Perhaps because she had already learned the news of Mu Bai's talent, she behaved this way.
"How long you can persist before the Ancestor's Tablet represents how profound your martial arts foundation is," the middle-aged woman explained expressionlessly.
At this moment, the number of people present was much greater than before. Obviously, more people had taken an interest in this assessment.
Whispers began to spread through the crowd as everyone quietly discussed what had just happened.
I was scared to death just now, oh my god, was that the Grand Elder just now?!
It definitely is. Aside from the Grand Elder, who else could make both the Third Elder and Fourth Elder drop to their knees?
Goodness, I really regret not coming to watch the first trial just now. It is said the Third Elder and Fourth Elder almost fought over trying to take him as a disciple.
These discussions rose and fell, and the people were filled with shock at the scene that had just transpired.
Mu Bai stood once again before that three-zhang-tall black Mysterious Stone Tablet, the two blood-colored characters still emitting piercing sword intent.
The difference was that five elders were sitting cross-legged around the stone tablet this time, casting their gazes toward Mu Bai in the center of the arena to see just how deep the martial arts foundation of someone with such talent truly was.
"Begin."
At the middle-aged woman's single command, Mu Bai gazed intently at the tablet's inscription.
The blood-colored handwriting twisted and deformed once more, transforming into a sky full of palm prints that descended upon him.
Yet this time, having prepared, Mu Bai did not close his eyes, instead circulating his Light Spirit Sword Intent to construct a defense within his sea of consciousness.
One breath passed, and fine beads of sweat seeped from Mu Bai's temples.
Two breaths passed, and his legs began to tremble slightly.
Three breaths passed, and a streak of fresh blood slowly flowed down from his nostril.
The instant the barrier withdrew, Mu Bai staggered back two steps, steadied by Langya Xing.
He panted heavily, the terrifying sword intent still echoing within his mind.
Three and a half breaths! Unexpectedly a three and a half breaths!
The last person to last three breaths was the current head of the lineage back in his youth...
The onlookers grew restless once again.
That middle-aged woman took a deep look at Mu Bai, then turned to the recorder and said, "Second trial, passed. Result: Top-grade A."
The setting sun slanted westward, and everyone arrived at a new trial ground.
Twelve ancient bronze lamps were lit upon the trial grounds.
The venue for the third trial had expanded threefold, appearing to be pieced together from thick stone slabs.
"The third trial, testing actual combat."
An elder dressed in a black robe led a strange beast into the arena.
The strange beast resembled a leopard, yet it possessed three tails and was covered entirely in silvery-white scales, while a single vertical pupil between its brows emitted a faint blue light.
Three-eyed Silver Scale Leopard! Someone gasped in shock. This is a strange beast at the Houtian Limit level!
The lineage actually dared to part with this for testing...
The black-robed elder reluctantly stroked the strange beast's head, unfastened the silver collar from its neck, turned to look at Mu Bai, and spoke, "If you cannot match it, immediately admit defeat."
The instant the strange beast was freed, the temperature in the arena plummeted drastically.
Its three tails stood high erect, and the vertical pupil between its brows locked onto Mu Bai, radiating chilling killing intent.
Mu Bai slowly drew his Qinglin Sword, the blade reflecting a blood-colored glow under the setting sun.
He could sense that this strange beast's aura was even three tenths stronger than Master Dehua's had been!
Roar—
The Silver Scale Leopard launched an attack abruptly, its speed so fast it dragged out an afterimage.
Mu Bai dodged sideways, his blade brushing across its scales and kicking up a string of sparks.
Such hard scales!
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
After three probing moves, Mu Bai had already figured out his opponent's speed and strength.
He took a deep breath, circulating his true qi through a specific route, and a cyan glow gradually emerged upon the Qinglin Sword.
Tornado Rain Strike!
Following a crisp shout, Mu Bai's figure suddenly blurred, and the whirlwind stirred up by his blade swept the Silver Scale Leopard directly into it.
Countless sword qi poured down like a torrential rainstorm, striking the strange beast's scales and producing dense, rapid sounds.
The Silver Scale Leopard roared furiously, its three tails lashing toward Mu Bai like steel whips, yet all of them were blocked by the sword qi.
Just as its old force was spent and its new force had yet to be born, Mu Bai suddenly changed his technique, the cyan light on his blade condensing into a single point as he pierced straight into the vertical pupil between the strange beast's brows with the speed of a thunderbolt leaving no time to cover one's ears!
Squelch!
The blade entered the brain, and the Silver Scale Leopard let out a shrill, mournful cry. Its massive body crashed heavily to the ground, blood gushing out from its seven orifices.
Dead silence fell over the sidelines.
No one had expected this match to end so quickly.
"Third trial, passed." The black-robed elder announced with an unsightly expression, stepping forward quickly to check on the strange beast's condition before shaking his head. "Killed with a single blow."
The stillness persisted for several breaths, immediately followed by the eruption of heaven-shaking discussions.
The elders seated cross-legged looked at each other in dismay, their eyes filled with shock.
"Without the lineage's nurturing, he actually mastered a Xiantian Level sword technique while still in the Houtian realm. This is simply..." an elder said in shock.
"All three trials passed, results all grade A." The middle-aged woman announced loudly, "According to ancestral rules, you may become a Guest Elder of our Langya Family and be bestowed—"
Her words could not be finished, because that gray-robed Grand Elder had appeared once more.
The old man drifted down gracefully, landing before Mu Bai, his turbid eyes flashing with brilliant light at this moment.
"Kid," his voice was hoarse yet filled with power, "would you be willing to take this old man as your master?"
This sentence was like a sudden clap of thunder, causing every Langya clansman present to reveal an expression of sheer disbelief.
Star-Picking Ancestor had never taken a disciple in three hundred years, yet today he was actually going to break precedent for this outsider!
Before you continue