The Troublesome Matter

With a light push from him, the flying dagger suddenly shot out, swiftly sinking into the Devil Race member's back.

Even stranger, the Devil Race member's sturdy body seemed to turn into air at that moment. The flying dagger entered through one end, pierced through the Devil Race member's chest, smashed through his skull, then flew five or six zhang into the sky before finally falling when its strength was exhausted.

At that moment, Luo Zheng was so shocked that he could not speak. There were only two possibilities for achieving such an effect. Either his strength had reached an utterly terrifying level, allowing the flying dagger to borrow his power and easily pierce through the Devil Race member—but that was clearly impossible.

The other possibility was that this damaged flying dagger was itself incomparably sharp, needing only a tiny amount of force to effortlessly pierce through the Devil Race member.

Only the second possibility remained before Luo Zheng.

Just what level of treasure is this flying dagger? Luo Zheng could not help sighing inwardly.

The Devil Race member, who seemed to be a small mountain, clutched his chest and staggered forward several steps. In the end, he held his head and transformed into countless specks of light.

The only level-five phantom beast on the Fifth Layer had been slain by Luo Zheng!

"Clink, clink..."

A pitch-black Crystal Shard fell to the ground and bounced to Luo Zheng's hand.

All it takes is one Black Crystal Shard to pass the trial...

Not knowing which idiot had designed this rule, Luo Zheng picked up the Black Crystal Shard and could not help cursing inwardly that the person who had set up the formation would have sons born without an asshole.

The Devil Race member had been so powerful that Luo Zheng would rather have killed a hundred level-three phantom beasts than provoke that level-five phantom beast.

The Crystal Shards in Luo Zheng's hand had long since been enough. Compared with this Black Crystal Shard, he was more concerned about his flying dagger.

He struggled to his feet and took two steps, but could not find the flying dagger on the ground.

If he had not witnessed the flying dagger's power, it would have been one thing. But now that he had discovered it was definitely a supreme treasure, he could not allow himself to lose it no matter what.

How could it have disappeared?

Luo Zheng searched back and forth several times before finally discovering a tiny hole in the ground.

This is bad... The flying dagger is so sharp that even the Devil Race member's flesh could not hinder its momentum in the slightest. After falling, it must have plunged deep into the ground.

He forcefully dug open the ground bit by bit. He dug two or three meters deep, yet still failed to find the flying dagger.

Just then, the scenery around Luo Zheng suddenly changed color, and specks of radiance emerged.

The entire illusionary realm actually began to collapse. Seeing this, Luo Zheng's expression changed. This is bad. The Bloodcolor Trials must be over, and these formations have gone out.

The place where Luo Zheng stood also underwent a shift of heaven and earth, changing completely. He now found himself in a blood-colored forest. The surrounding soil and plants were all a vivid blood red. This was the true appearance of Bloodcolor Mountain.

As for the place Luo Zheng had just been digging, it had vanished as well.

"This, this... My flying dagger!"

Luo Zheng was instantly on the verge of tears.

Because the illusionary formation had been dispelled, the injuries he had suffered earlier had completely recovered as well. Those wounds had actually all been illusions created by the formation. Now, he had plenty of strength to dig.

But Bloodcolor Mountain was so vast. Who knew where the flying dagger had been transferred? If he wanted to find it, would he have to turn the entire Bloodcolor Mountain upside down?

Just then, a Flying Carriage flew over from the horizon and stopped beside him. An examiner jumped down and invited Luo Zheng aboard the Flying Carriage.

The instructors were still engaged in heated discussion at that moment.

But their focus was no longer Luo Zheng. Instead, they were discussing several other trial disciples and Aristocratic Clan Disciples who had performed equally well.

Although they had not seen Luo Zheng's final outcome, he had surely been eliminated. Though they were looking forward to seeing how Luo Zheng would perform when he applied to join the Azure Cloud Sect next time, there was no need to pay attention to him for at least this month.

But just as Luo Zheng rode the Flying Carriage down, he actually walked straight over and then asked, "Excuse me, who should I hand these Crystal Shards to?"

"Over here!" A woman in yellow waved to Luo Zheng. She was responsible for counting the Crystal Shards obtained by the trial disciples. Before her were four-colored baskets, each used to count a different color of Crystal Shard.

The instructors all wore stunned expressions, and at the same time, they were rather confused.

According to the rules of the Bloodcolor Trials, Luo Zheng had already been eliminated. So even if he had obtained more Crystal Shards, they were useless. After all, being eliminated in the illusionary formation meant "death." If the person was already dead, what qualifications did he have to pass the Bloodcolor Trials?

Zhong Ming had of course noticed Luo Zheng as well. Earlier, he had activated the Illusory Formation Plate, released that level-five phantom beast, and locked Luo Zheng as its target. Afraid of arousing suspicion, he had not dared touch the Illusory Formation Plate again.

Now that he saw Luo Zheng coming down the mountain, he felt rather pleased with himself. Luo Zheng had clearly already passed the Bloodcolor Trials, yet had ultimately been eliminated. That fellow must be suffering terribly right now, mustn't he?

As things stood, Luo Zheng apparently still had not understood the situation. He actually intended to hand over his Crystal Shards! Zhong Ming felt it necessary to explain the rules of the Bloodcolor Trials to Luo Zheng and tell him: You're already considered dead. Even a thousand or ten thousand Crystal Shards are useless!

He took two steps toward Luo Zheng, then his legs seemed to have been welded to the ground. He watched as Luo Zheng casually tossed out a Black Crystal Shard.

In Zhong Ming's eyes, that Black Crystal Shard was dazzlingly conspicuous.

The woman in yellow blinked and asked in puzzlement, "Huh? How did a Black Crystal Shard get here?"

Ever since she had taken charge of the tally, only four-colored baskets had ever been placed there. She had not even known that Black Crystal Shards existed.

The moment she said this in surprise, everyone immediately understood.

That Devil Race phantom beast had been killed by Luo Zheng.

This Black Crystal Shard had naturally been dropped by the Devil Race phantom beast.

The entire scene instantly fell silent.

When this phantom beast had been designed here, no one had ever considered that someone might kill it.

Yet now, Luo Zheng had tossed the Black Crystal Shard onto the table. Its black radiance appeared extremely mysterious, even carrying a hint of temptation.

"How could there be a black Crystal Shard?" The woman in yellow was puzzled by the people around her reaction. Raising her voice, she asked again. She suspected that Luo Zheng had cheated and was trying to pass off the black Crystal Shard as a genuine one.

At that moment, a handsome, refined middle-aged man stepped forward and said, "There is a black Crystal Shard, and there is only one. Since the illusionary formation on Bloodcolor Mountain was activated, no one has ever obtained it. Xiao Shi, you're responsible for the tally, so naturally you've never seen one."

Only then did the woman in yellow, whose surname was Shi, suddenly understand. She nodded and said, "I see."

The handsome, refined middle-aged man then came before Luo Zheng and said, "Young man, your performance in this Bloodcolor Trials was outstanding. I'm Instructor Zhou of Raging Wave Peak. We would be delighted to have you join Raging Wave Peak."

"What's so good about Raging Wave Peak? It ranks below twentieth among the Thirty-Three Peaks. If you're coming, come to our Spirit Ring Peak. Our Spirit Ring Peak ranks fifth among the Thirty-Three Peaks, and none of our benefits and treatment can compare with theirs." A bald man rushed out as well, practically roaring those words.

"Bald Jiang, what do you mean by that? Are you saying my Raging Wave Peak is inferior to your Spirit Ring Peak? The rankings change every year. Ten years ago, our Raging Wave Peak was firmly in the top three. In terms of heritage, your Spirit Ring Peak isn't worthy even to carry our shoes!" Instructor Zhou was instantly enraged when he heard the bald man's assessment of Raging Wave Peak.

Instructor Jiang was about to retort, but another instructor cut into the conversation. It was Instructor Xu of Heaven One Peak.

Luo Zheng remembered that Luo Peiran and Wang Heng were both in Heaven One Peak!

After Instructor Xu took his place, he slowly said, "Our Heaven One Peak leads the Thirty-Three Peaks. We have always ranked first. I hope you can join our Heaven One Peak."

Faced with Instructor Xu's invitation, Luo Zheng neither agreed nor refused. No matter where he went, he would never choose Heaven One Peak. It was not that he had any prejudice against Instructor Xu; he simply hated everything related to Luo Peiran.

"Luo Zheng isn't going anywhere. He'll come to my Little Rain Peak." That clear voice finally rang out. Su Lingyun felt she could no longer sit still. Luo Zheng had been the first person she discovered, so what did these detestable fellows think they were doing crowding around him?

When the instructors heard Su Lingyun speak, wariness flickered in their eyes. Although Su Lingyun was only an instructor, if they were to get serious, these people would still have to kneel respectfully and address her as "Your Highness."

Wariness was one thing, but the instructors were all shrewd figures. They could yield on other matters, but asking them to yield even an inch on this matter was absolutely difficult.

"Instructor Su, that's not right. Last time, and the time before that, two outstanding trial disciples were taken by you, and everyone let you have them without arguing. But this time you want to take someone away again. In that case, the other thirty-two peaks might as well stop coming to select disciples. We'll just wait until Little Rain Peak has picked through the leftovers before making our choices," Instructor Xu said without changing expression.

"That's right, Instructor Su. You can't keep doing this..."

"Besides, your Little Rain Peak ranks dead last..."

The instructors chimed in one after another.

Everyone had already been deeply dissatisfied with Su Lingyun's domineering selection of disciples. Now that she wanted to take Luo Zheng away as well, the instructors could no longer endure it. Led by Instructor Xu, they all began denouncing Su Lingyun.

Faced with their words, Su Lingyun suddenly waved her hand. "Enough, enough! Stop talking!"

Only then did the instructors fall silent. Of course, they did not truly dare to anger Instructor Su. Otherwise, none of them would be able to remain in the Azure Cloud Sect.

Su Lingyun sighed and said, "Fine. We'll follow the usual rules. First, we'll tally all the disciples who passed the Bloodcolor Trials according to their rankings, then assign them based on their rankings and their own wishes. That works, right?"

When Su Lingyun said this, the other instructors immediately breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in agreement.

But the instructors had forgotten Su Lingyun's personality. With her temperament, anything she took a liking to, from childhood until now, had never ended up in anyone else's hands.

The reason she was willing to make this concession now was that she had already thought of another way.

As the tallying continued in an orderly manner, a sly smile crept across her face.