Half an hour later, Li Yanshan came out. His luck had been good: he had dug up ninety-three Glazed Mushrooms, most of them top-grade.
After turning them in, he received 320 points. He was pleased with the result. After all his years on the Trial Path, this was his best showing yet.
Besides the Glazed Mushrooms, he had gathered plenty of Spirit Medicine and picked up many treasures along the Trial Path.
An hour later, Elder Yun came out too. He had dug up even more Glazed Mushrooms—over three hundred. With the black dog Xiao Liu helping him, finding them had been much easier.
Elder Yun finished with exactly one thousand points.
Li Yanshan found Elder Yun and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Elder Yun! I didn't expect you to find so many mushrooms!"
"Haha! My luck was incredible this time!"
Elder Yun smiled at Li Yanshan, plainly delighted. "Has Fang Chen come out yet?"
Li Yanshan shook his head. "Not yet."
Elder Yun frowned and glanced toward the lake. More than eighty percent of its surface had frozen over. In roughly another half hour, the lake would be under Ice Seal.
"There's still half an hour," Li Yanshan said. "He might come out."
"I hope so."
Elder Yun nodded slightly.
Half an hour later, the lake had been completely covered by Ice Seal. Fang Chen had not come out.
Elder Yun and Li Yanshan exchanged a look, regret showing on both their faces. Neither had expected their fears to come true.
"Very well. The trial is over. I announce that first place in this Trial Competition goes to Su He, a disciple of Lingxi Valley on Zixiao Peak! Her total score is 18,888 points!"
The Yellow Springs Peak Master's booming voice echoed through the Sky Lake Barrier.
"Wow, she