Brutal

Returning along the same path, Luo Zheng felt as light as a feather, as if he could fly with a slight jump.

Now at the peak of the Viscera Refining Realm, his breathing was longer and smoother, and his strength had increased slightly. He practically sprinted the entire way back to the square.

Those who hadn't passed the assessment had already left on their own. The people remaining in the square were those who had passed. He roughly estimated that about a thousand people had passed the assessment. The elimination rate for these Sea Trials was actually as high as ninety percent!

As soon as he entered the square, someone excitedly waved and greeted him.

"Brother Luo Zheng! You passed the assessment!" Mo Can's gaze fell on the jade pendant on Luo Zheng's chest, which had turned bright red.

Luo Zheng nodded and asked, "I heard we exchange the jade pendant for a Disciple Token? Where do we exchange it?"

Mo Can pulled Luo Zheng and walked towards a corner of the square. In that corner, there was a long counter. As they walked, he said, "This is the place. After exchanging for the Disciple Token, we'll be considered temporary trial disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect."

Following Mo Can's guidance, Luo Zheng took off his jade pendant and placed it on the counter.

Behind the counter, two people from the Azure Cloud Sect were busy. One of them glanced at Luo Zheng, took the jade pendant from his hand, and examined it closely for a while, likely checking the information recorded in the pendant.

After the examination, the person took out a small wooden plaque wrapped in silver edges and a small carving knife.

The person wielded the carving knife and carved the two large characters "Luo Zheng" onto the small wooden plaque. The carving skill was quite remarkable, as if the person wasn't holding a carving knife but a brush, writing in a flowing, natural style.

A moment later, Luo Zheng's Disciple Token was ready. The person said, "Please keep your Disciple Token safe and wait over there."

Luo Zheng held the exquisite Disciple Token in his hand and played with it for a while before waiting with Mo Can.

The atmosphere in the square wasn't good. The thousand or so people each found a corner, subtly revealing their wariness towards those around them.

The Sea Trials weren't an elimination system; as long as one reached the distance specified by the Azure Cloud Sect, they could pass. If one didn't provoke anyone like Luo Zheng did, they could pass with a hundred percent certainty by just running to the required distance with their head down.

However, the difficulty of the subsequent trial assessment increased because it was an elimination system. More than eighty percent of the thousand-plus people present were destined to be eliminated.

After waiting for a while, someone came over and gathered all the trial disciples, leading them away from the square.

Following the complex paths within the Azure Cloud Sect, they stopped on a gentle mountain. Compared to the steep mountains of the Azure Cloud Sect, this mountain wasn't prominent, but what was peculiar was that the entire mountain was a blood-red color.

Whether it was the soil on the mountain or the various plants, everything was a blood-red color. This uniform redness stood out sharply against the surrounding lush green mountains.

Seeing that mountain, Mo Can said to Luo Zheng, "This should be the famous Bloodcolor Mountain."

"Bloodcolor Mountain, this mountain is truly unique, just as its name suggests," Luo Zheng was also attracted by this sight, seeing it for the first time.

"It seems this trial disciple assessment should be the legendary 'Bloodcolor Trials'," Mo Can said with a solemn expression.

"Is there anything special about these Bloodcolor Trials?" Luo Zheng asked again.

In terms of knowledge, Mo Can was actually not as knowledgeable as Luo Zheng. However, as a resident of the Imperial City, Mo Can had aspired to enter the Azure Cloud Sect since childhood and was naturally much more familiar with the various rules within the Azure Cloud Sect than Luo Zheng. He explained to Luo Zheng, "The reason this mountain is blood-red is because it is rich in a mineral called Crimson Illusion Sand."

"Crimson Illusion Sand? The mineral used to create illusion arrays?" Luo Zheng raised an eyebrow. He had heard of Crimson Illusion Sand; it was an important material for cultivating illusion techniques. For example, some Profound Artifacts incorporated Crimson Illusion Sand during their refinement process, which could give the Profound Artifacts a deceptive effect. In addition, this mineral was also commonly used in illusion arrays and illusion talismans.

Mo Can nodded, "Yes, I heard that powerful individuals within the Azure Cloud Sect used Crimson Illusion Sand to transform the entire Bloodcolor Mountain into a large illusion array for trial assessments. Bringing us here today should be for the Bloodcolor Trials."

As for the details of the Bloodcolor Trials, Mo Can wasn't too clear, but in short, the Bloodcolor Trials were definitely related to illusions.

The internal affairs personnel of the Azure Cloud Sect led the thousand or so trial disciples to the foot of the mountain, where there were rows of impressive residential buildings. All the trial disciples were accommodated there.

That evening, everyone rested early, preparing to welcome the Bloodcolor Trials the next day.

Early the next morning, the thousand or so trial disciples began to gather at the foot of the mountain.

However, the internal affairs personnel of the Azure Cloud Sect did not issue the order to ascend the mountain.

After waiting for about an hour, everyone understood the reason. It turned out they were waiting for someone.

In addition to the thousand or so trial disciples who had passed the Sea Trials, there was another group of people who would participate in this Bloodcolor Trial: the Scholar Clans.

These Scholar Clans had special privileges, so they didn't need to participate in the Sea Trials.

Compared to these trial disciples from common backgrounds, the Aristocratic Clan Disciples were much more ostentatious.

Hundreds of Flying Carriages, covering the sky, flew over from mid-air and stopped neatly not far ahead. Each Aristocratic Clan Disciple participating in the Bloodcolor Trials was accompanied by three or four people. Among the accompanying personnel, there were quite a few experts who exuded powerful auras.

When those Aristocratic Clan Disciples saw the thousand or so trial disciples, most of them had expressions of disdain on their faces. It was the attitude of those in a higher position facing commoners.

After getting off the Flying Carriages, the Aristocratic Clan Disciples also gathered together, forming a small group, and did not approach.

At this time, the thousand or so trial disciples on this side also felt a lot of resentment. Although the cultivators generally had good temperaments and wouldn't feel anxious waiting for a few hours, because of this group of arrogant Aristocratic Clan Disciples, they had to waste time waiting for them here?

However, although they were angry, they only dared to curse in low voices. As people from common backgrounds, they were well aware of the power of the Aristocratic Clan Disciples. These were people they couldn't afford to offend.

Moreover, they were about to go up the mountain to participate in the Bloodcolor Trials. Although these Aristocratic Clan Disciples were all arrogant, they had received excellent training since childhood. Under the nourishment of various elixirs and powerful cultivation techniques, their strength would not be weak. If they were to stick their necks out here and be attacked by those Aristocratic Clan Disciples on the mountain, who could bear it?

Just then, a small group of Aristocratic Clan Disciples walked directly towards the trial disciples.

Seeing the aggressive demeanor of that group of Aristocratic Clan Disciples, the trial disciples subconsciously made way, the crowd dispersing to both sides, but one person stood in the middle: Luo Zheng, who was meditating with his eyes closed.

Luo Zheng had been standing in the team, closing his eyes to rest his mind. Ever since he discovered that he could delve his consciousness into his mind, he often maintained this state of meditation, not paying attention to what was happening around him. Anyway, he would wait until the supervising instructor arrived.

But he suddenly felt that the atmosphere was a little off. Only then did he open his eyes and see a group of richly dressed Aristocratic Clan Disciples walking directly towards him.

Luo Zheng even looked left and right twice before realizing that this group of people was coming for him.

"Is there something you need?" Luo Zheng asked with a smile. As long as it didn't offend anyone, Luo Zheng tried not to offend anyone. He wouldn't unnecessarily make enemies for himself.

At this time, two people walked out from that group of Aristocratic Clan Disciples. One of them was Wang Hengzhi, and the other was Luo Zheng's cousin, Luo Peiran.

Seeing Luo Peiran, Luo Zheng's eyes immediately flashed with cold light, and his face darkened. He said coldly, "Luo Peiran, the matter between you and me doesn't need to involve so many people."

Luo Peiran's face showed a sinister smile, and he was about to speak, but unexpectedly, Wang Hengzhi patted Luo Peiran's shoulder, "Peiran, don't speak yet." Then he walked up to Luo Zheng and smiled, "I heard you sent me a message, telling me not to interfere in the matter between you and Luo Peiran?"

"Young Master Wang, the conflict between Luo Peiran and me is a family matter and has nothing to do with you," Luo Zheng said calmly, suppressing the anger in his heart.

Wang Hengzhi strolled a couple of steps casually, playing with a dark blue Butterfly Jade Pendant in his hand. "What if I think it does?"

"Please be lenient, Young Master Wang," Luo Zheng cupped his hands.

"Heh heh, I, Wang Hengzhi, never reason with people. If you want me not to interfere, then promise me one thing," Wang Hengzhi said, looking up.

"What is it?" Luo Zheng frowned slightly.

"Withdraw from the Azure Cloud Sect's Bloodcolor Trials, then go to the Wang Family shop in the south of the city and buy a knife. Stand on the Wei River Bridge and slit your own throat. Then I, Wang Hengzhi, can ignore this matter," Wang Hengzhi's tone was always so indifferent, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

After hearing Wang Hengzhi's words, a flush rushed to Luo Zheng's cheeks, and anger instantly filled his chest. After a moment, he suddenly burst into wild laughter.

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Luo Zheng had repeatedly tolerated, and even the four people Wang Hengzhi sent yesterday, he didn't severely punish them. The reason was that he didn't want to offend Wang Hengzhi too much. After all, the Wang Family was a Scholar Clan, and he was alone and weak.

But he found that his tolerance was useless. In Wang Hengzhi's eyes, he was like an ant. The other party didn't take him seriously at all. In this guy's heart, he was simply a dead man and had no right to negotiate with him.

For this kind of person, patience is useless.

"You surnamed Wang, do you really think I'm afraid of you? You want me to withdraw from the Bloodcolor Trials? You want me to slit my own throat? What a ridiculous joke! My life is right here. Let's see if you have the ability to take it!" With that, a strong aura burst out from Luo Zheng's body. His face was like a killing god, exuding endless malevolence.