"After I passed the first trial, the Heart-Questioning Path, I received three rewards—the Chaotic Wind Saber Technique, the Black Profound Saber, and an Earth Evasion Talisman!"
"Perhaps this means that, in the spirit of the cave dwelling, if I mastered the Chaotic Wind Saber Technique and paired it with the Black Profound Saber, I might be able to pass. If not, I could use the Earth Evasion Talisman to save my life. Does that mean the second passage is no more than ten li long?"
"Of course, that's only my guess. And I might not be able to use talismans inside the passage. Otherwise, I could simply burrow underground and pass the second trial. They wouldn't make it that easy. Perhaps the talisman's power lets me retreat, but not advance?"
Fang Yuan considered it briefly and quickly figured out most of the second trial.
"But... yesterday's me is no longer me!"
He chuckled and entered the second passage.
The passage grew wider the farther he went. Both sides were made of bluestone, and by the end it was several zhang across, vast and empty.
Thud! Thud!
Heavy footsteps sounded. At the far end of his vision, three blue Soldier Armor Puppets appeared.
"Battle Puppets?"
Fang Yuan swung his saber from afar.
Pop!
Blade Qi, infused with Blade Intent, shot through the air in an instant, smashing the heads of all three Battle Puppets.
"Now that's satisfying!"
He tightened his grip on the hilt. "Out in the world, I have to hold back and keep a trump card or two up my sleeve. But here, the better I perform, the more likely I am to earn their favor. And there's no risk of leaking secrets!"
"These three puppets are only at the late Plunderer Realm. At most, they're tougher than usual.