Trial

Rain splashed against the blue-gray bricks, the swaying leaves, and the eaves.

Yet it somehow avoided the old man sitting on a stone stool in the courtyard.

Chen Yan met the gaze of the old man seated in the courtyard.

"Indeed."

As he answered, Chen Yan bowed toward the old man:

"This junior is Chen Yan."

The old man merely glanced at Chen Yan, ignoring his impeccable courtesy.

"I heard from Jia Wen that you're a Rogue Cultivator?"

The old man's tone was utterly flat, as if he were asking, "Have you eaten today?"

Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled.

The fresh scent of rain mingled with the smell of soil and filled Chen Yan's nostrils. The rain had already soaked through the soles of his shoes.

It was a little chilly.

"That's right."

Chen Yan answered frankly.

In the next instant, the old man who had been sitting on the stone stool in the courtyard suddenly vanished.

The dry stone stool was soon drenched by the rain, blending rapidly into its surroundings.

Then Chen Yan suddenly felt immense force clamp around his throat, leaving him barely able to breathe.

His whole body shot into the air and hurtled backward, until he slammed heavily into the wall.

Nearly all the air was forced from his lungs. Chen Yan could clearly feel the pain in his back.

But it didn't matter.

No pain inflicted on his physical body could make Chen Yan furrow his brow.

The old man gripped Chen Yan by the neck with one hand and pinned him against the wall.

Looking at Chen Yan, whose life was in his hands, the old man's expression remained calm, but a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

Nan Taiping knew full well that the boy before him was genuinely as young as