The True Trial

Chapter 7: The True Trial - Heaven Defying Sect

Kite Plaza.

As everyone watched Ning Ri speak of respecting the choices of a small group of people, a burst of laughter erupted…

This laughter was directed at Xun Zang, who was sitting to the side.

This was practically a traditional event hosted by Elder Xun of the Joyful Union Courtyard—

His sexual orientation being questioned!

If it were Xun Zang's turn to recruit disciples, the questions he asked would all be like this.

If the person Xun Zang was questioning was suitable in age and had a strong capacity for acceptance, able to handle a broader scope, Xun Zang would even show them many brilliant scenes that pointed directly to the core.

Among the disciples watching the excitement in Kite Plaza, quite a few had either had the good fortune or misfortune to witness these scenes.

And at the same time.

An elder with a calm expression, his face as beautiful as jade, stared at Xun Zang and said with some indignation, "Elder Xun, when you ask others these questions in the future, don't associate them with our sect's philosophy."

"This is the philosophy of your Joyful Union Courtyard, not the philosophy of the Heaven Defying Sect, nor the philosophy of my Casting Sea Peak."

Mo Cuidao was the Peak Master of Casting Sea Peak, which was the artifact refining peak.

Therefore, many disciples would ask, "Since it's the artifact refining peak, why is it called Casting Sea? Does Elder Mo like being with the sea?"

If they were simply asking, it would be fine, but for those who had undergone Xun Zang's Heart Questioning, none of their questions were simple.

Seeing the anger contained within Mo Cuidao's words, Xun Zang chuckled and said, "Elder Mo, don't be anxious. You are often in seclusion and haven't been down the mountain for a long time, so you don't understand. Times have changed now, and the disciples are more lively."

"They are just asking playfully because they don't know any better, not truly questioning your choice. They just want to get closer to you..."

Mo Cuidao snorted coldly and directly interrupted Xun Zang, saying, "There's no need to say more."

Xun Zang fell silent.

At the same time.

As Ning Ri finished his Heart Questioning, the fourth water screen in mid-air also appeared.

As for the top three trial-takers, including Ning Ri, after being "driven" out of the Heaven Defying Sect, they all experienced the same thing—

A plea for help!

Behold.

After Liang Chengdao left the Heaven Defying Sect, he released his magical treasure mount—a horse-less carriage.

The horse-less carriage was extremely fast, and in just a short while, it plunged straight into the forest, far away from the Heaven Defying Sect.

Halfway through the journey, Liang Chengdao, who was sitting in the carriage, suddenly heard a cry for help from ahead:

"Kind person, please, save me!"

"I'll give anything!"

"Please save me..."

Hearing the voice, Liang Chengdao opened his eyes, his expression indifferent. He had intended to close his eyes...

His mother had told him that when something happened outside, he should protect himself first, just like in the palace...

But as the cries for help outside the carriage grew more urgent, his eyes flickered for a moment before he took out the Prince's Token, applied a layer of concealment to his face, and lifted the curtain...

Ahead, a petite woman who looked frail and weak ran out in a panic. Her clothes were heavily soiled, and her hairpin was messy, making her look like she had rolled around in the mud several times. She had the aura of a Qi Refining First Rank cultivator, but she was already extremely weak.

It was clear at a glance that she was about to collapse from exhaustion!

Behind the woman, a masked mountain bandit of Qi Refining Second Rank followed, a saber in hand, keeping close behind her.

And the moment Liang Chengdao lifted the curtain, the woman stumbled and fell, crying out in pain. She then looked back in panic at the bandit who had already closed in beside her.

At this moment, she showed a look of utter despair...

This drew an excited laugh from the masked bandit: "Heh heh, there's no one around. Let's see how you run this time... Huh? Kid, you want to interfere with my good deed?"

The masked bandit seemed to have just noticed Liang Chengdao, who had stopped, and turned to look at him.

Liang Chengdao, whose features were obscured by a faint glow, spoke calmly, "I don't want to kill anyone. I'll give you one breath's time. Scram."

As soon as he finished speaking.

The masked bandit immediately burst into laughter: "Hahahaha, kid, do you know who you're talking to... Uh..."

Before he could finish speaking, the bandit clutched his throat in agony, blood gushing out. He looked at Liang Chengdao and squeezed out a sound from his throat: "You... you, how could you ambush me?!"

Bang--

As the words fell, the bandit collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Liang Chengdao put away the Prince's Token in his hand. To avoid any complications, he had just used the spell on the Prince's Token to instantly kill the bandit.

The Prince's Token could both prove his identity and be used to launch a surprise attack when his identity was revealed, catching the opponent off guard.

Seeing the bandit killed, the woman became so emotional that tears welled up in her eyes. She repeatedly kowtowed, "Thank you, Young Master, for your great kindness!"

Liang Chengdao glanced at her and said faintly, "No need..."

After speaking, he tossed a pill to the woman and turned to leave. Before departing, he left another sentence:

"Follow my carriage. There's a mountain village ahead."

As soon as he finished speaking.

Liang Chengdao got into the horseless carriage and started it. A surge of spiritual wind erupted from the wheels, enveloping the woman and making her feel instantly lighter...

Immediately after.

After Liang Chengdao drove past the woman, he suddenly found that the scene before him completely changed. The bandits and the woman disappeared, replaced by the world he was in when he first entered the water curtain.

He was momentarily stunned. Then, he turned and walked out, only to find the elders not far away looking at him with smiles...

Seeing this, Liang Chengdao's expression shifted slightly, and he narrowed his eyes—

He understood immediately!

So the Heart Questioning he encountered earlier was just to confuse his vision.

The bandits and the woman later on were the real trial!

At this moment, the grey-robed elder Guan Yan smiled and said to Liang Chengdao, "Thank you for your help, young friend Liang! The trial results will be announced after everyone else has participated. Please wait for now."

Liang Chengdao was silent for a moment, then said, "Thank you, Elder Guan."

Then, he walked to the side and sat down, observing Gao Hong and Ning Ri in the water curtain, his expression somewhat vigilant...

He was worried if this place was still an illusion...

But as he touched the jade pendant in his embrace, he felt something was wrong...

His jade pendant had the ability to break illusions, and ordinary illusions could be easily shattered.

Everything in the trial felt so real, without a single flaw. Was this truly an illusion?

Or perhaps, had the Heaven Defying Sect specifically invited a powerful illusionist to create the illusion for their disciples' most realistic test?

That seemed completely unnecessary!

Meanwhile.

Gao Hong, the second trial participant, encountered the same situation as Liang Chengdao after descending the mountain.

However, because he walked slower, it took him half a day to encounter the bandits and the distressed woman.

When Liang Chengdao, who was in Kite Plaza, saw the woman fall before Gao Hong once again, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly...

In the water curtain, Gao Hong saw this and immediately roared, "How dare you, villain?!"

As soon as he spoke.

Gao Hong charged forward like a giant bull without hesitation. Spiritual energy surged in his feet, and as he shot out like an arrow from a bow, the immense power that erupted from his body shattered the dirt road...

The bandit was still laughing menacingly, not having time to utter his second sentence, "You dare interfere with my good deed..." before he was directly smashed to death.

Bang—

After the bandit died, Gao Hong intended to help the woman up and send her back, but his water curtain immediately shattered...

Then, just like Liang Chengdao, he walked out of the light portal.

He was still a bit dazed as he emerged...

Next.

All attention focused on the third water curtain.

At this moment, Ning Ri also encountered a woman who had fallen before him.