First Trial: Soul-Shaking!

This day, the heavens were not cooperative.

Low-hanging dark clouds pressed down over the sea surface like lead.

Fierce winds whipped up thousand-layered waves, crashing against the reefs with a dull roar.

Zhang Family Courtyard.

Zhang Chen stood with his hands behind his back, letting the wild wind tousle his robes, which snapped loudly.

His gaze was calm as he looked into the distance, toward the venue of this Arena Competition—Sunset Island, located at the center of the archipelago.

It was a desolate island, chosen as the site for the Life and Death arena because of a naturally formed, massive flat area shaped like a colosseum.

"Husband."

Lin Qingxue walked up behind him. Today, she had set aside her gentle long dress and donned a palace robe instead.

"Are Dao Yan and the two little ones settled?"

Zhang Chen did not turn around, asking softly.

"They're all with Mother!"

Lin Qingxue nodded, her voice gentle.

"That's good."

"Qingxue, let's go."

With that, Zhang Chen turned around and saw that everyone in the courtyard had already assembled.

Even those old-line Golden Core families, seeing such a neat and orderly formation, would likely have to think twice.

"Let's set out."

Zhang Yunshan and Zhang Yunhai, seeing Zhang Chen arrive, did not utter any grand declarations.

They simply waved their hands lightly.

By now, Sunset Island was already packed with a sea of people.

Though it was a Life and Death arena, in the Cultivation World, this kind of large-scale family clash was a rare and grand spectacle.

Nearly every notable force in the East Mountain Islands had come.

The five Foundation Establishment families, dozens of small cultivation clans, and countless rogue cultivators who had gathered like sharks catching the scent of Bloody Scent.

They moored their Flying Boats around the island or occupied high ground, craning their necks like spectators waiting for a feast to begin.

At the center of the island stood a massive arena.

On the open ground below the arena, countless makeshift betting stalls had already opened for business.

"Come, come, come! Place your bets and no take-backs! Wang Family wins, one-to-one point one odds! Zhang Family wins, one-to-ten odds!"

"With those odds, Jian Shou might as well be treating the Zhang Family like dead men."

A rogue cultivator clicked his tongue and shook his head, saying, "Can't be helped. Who told the Zhang Family to be so unambitious?"

"I heard the Wang Family really went all out this time. Just the Guest Officials they hired with heavy money include several tough customers. As for the Zhang Family... tsk, tsk, tsk!"

Among the crowd, discussions rose and fell, almost unanimously writing off the Zhang Family.

Even some old-timers who remembered past favors from the Zhang Family could only sigh.

Silently pulling out a few Spirit Stones and betting on the Wang Family—friendship was friendship, but Spirit Stones were their own.

"They're here! The Wang Family is here!"

Someone shouted, and the entire venue instantly fell silent.

To the north, a dark cloud pressed down over the sky.

It was dozens of Black Scale Eagles.

On each eagle's back stood over a dozen Wang Family cultivators.

At the lead, on the largest eagle, Wang Family Head Wang Lie wore a black robe. Beside him were several Wang Family Golden Core Stage cultivators, each one brimming with energy and holding their heads high.

Behind them came ten Foundation Establishment cultivators set to fight, along with the Wang Family's Foundation Establishment elders and stewards.

Every single one of them held their heads high.

Especially the two black-robed men standing behind Wang Lie. Though they said nothing, the cold, viper-like aura they exuded

made the surrounding temperature drop a few degrees.

"Sss... this lineup is absolutely terrifying."

"Who are those two people? Haven't seen them before. Their aura feels like it's not far from False Core, isn't it?"

The crowd drew in sharp breaths, their gazes toward the southern sea surface growing even more pitying.

The Wang Family landed on one side of the Arena.

Chairs and tea were immediately brought over.

Wang Teng sat down with a swagger, his gaze sweeping the crowd contemptuously before settling on the empty southern sea surface. He sneered, "Where are the Zhang Family people?"

"Could it be they've been scared shitless and don't dare to show up?"

"Hahaha! If they really don't dare, then just admit defeat and hand over the Spiritual Vein. We might even leave them their underwear!" A Wang Family elder taunted loudly, drawing a burst of laughter from those around.

Just then...

From the southern horizon, several cyan Spirit Boats cut through the waves, approaching unhurriedly.

The Spirit Boats docked.

Zhang Yunshan led the group as they disembarked.

Compared to the Wang Family's ostentatious display, practically screaming "I'm strong" in bold letters, the Zhang Family seemed rather too "plain."

Soon, the Zhang Family's cyan Spirit Boat came to a steady stop at the shore.

Zhang Yunshan took the lead, stepping down the gangplank with a steady gait.

Behind him, a procession of Zhang Family Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators filed out.

These cultivators wore stern expressions. Though they didn't deliberately release their pressure, the killing intent in the air made the onlookers, who had been jeering moments before, instinctively shut their mouths.

Wang Lie stood on the other side of the Arena, his gaze sweeping over the Zhang Family crowd.

"Zhang Yunshan, I thought your turtle-withdrawal habit had flared up again, and you were planning to forfeit to save your skin."

Wang Lie gave a fake smile and cupped his hands, his voice dripping with condescending arrogance: "What, did you drag out all your funeral savings for this?"

Zhang Yunshan stopped in his tracks, his expression calm, his tone even: "Family Head Wang jokes. The good show has only just begun—how could the lead actor be absent?"