Missing Thoughts Literature

As the students from the Third Practice Hall dispersed, a fierce Level Up Challenge was underway in the Martial Path Arena.

The first batch of students admitted for the challenge were taking the stage in order to face the disciples defending the platforms.

Most of them were Grade D students challenging for Grade C, or Grade C students challenging for Grade B. Only a few especially headstrong students chose the Martial Path as their first challenge when trying to advance from Grade B to Grade A.

The two Thirteenth Realm teachers seated in the viewing stands alternated between watching the platforms and studying the list of matchups in their hands.

"Legalist Xun Zhiya has been at the academy for only about two years, and she's already ready to challenge for Grade A. The younger generation is truly impressive." The Thirteenth Realm teacher Zhu Rong sighed. "No wonder she's a disciple personally taught by Sage Yu. From what I can see, she's already completed both the Zhou Tian Test and the Five Elements Birth Technique. All she needs is to pass this year's Martial Path challenge, and she'll be a Grade A Disciple."

The other teacher overseeing the matches, Mu Wu, kept one eye open and one closed as he looked over the list. "Gu Gan was a surprise too. He cultivates both Name and Law, which should make things harder for him than for most, yet he's already passed the first two challenges so quickly. The Martial Path is all that remains."

"He'll have a tough time today." Zhu Rong glanced at the third-floor viewing stands and laughed. "I don't think any of the disciples challenging for Grade A will have an easy time today."

Mu Wu also looked toward the third floor. When he saw his student Kong Yiyi trying to get past Nian Qiuyan so she could beat up Cang Shu, even his normally cold expression softened into a smile.

"Though the disciples defending the platforms have to volunteer and meet the requirements for overall ability, and we also select some of them ourselves to prevent them from going easy on anyone challenging for Grade A, it's still rare to see all the strongest fighters gathered in one place." Zhu Rong shook his head. "Nian Qiuyan from the School of Techniques is unmatched in divination. I heard his divination influenced this round of selections for the defending disciples."

Mu Wu nodded. "Nian Qiuyan's Against the Odds Divination determined whose names we'd draw when we picked the disciples."

Zhu Rong tapped the list in his hand. "Isn't that a bit much?"

"The academy's rules say divination is unrestricted as long as it can't directly determine the final result and cause serious casualties or losses. Nian Qiuyan is the only student capable of Against the Odds Divination to that extent." Mu Wu smiled. "He's a rare talent, and the School of Techniques is protective of him."

Then he added, "Besides, everyone at the academy knows a bit of divination. If we banned it on campus, we might as well make the School of Techniques disappear."

Zhu Rong looked at him. "I didn't say that."

Mu Wu glanced at Cang Shu upstairs. "Your student is here too."

"If he wants to come, I can't stop him." Zhu Rong leaned back in his chair and sighed. "You know, students these days are more unruly than ever. He looks mild-mannered, but once he loses his temper, he's worse than me. There's no talking him out of it."

Mu Wu nodded in agreement. "They're all the same."

As they talked about their unruly students, both men glanced at Mei Chengyu, who was looking down and fiddling with the Listening Wind Ruler. Then they looked at each other. Zhu Rong's expression turned solemn. "If I were Old Man Chang, I'd have kicked him out of the sect eight hundred times by now."

Mu Wu continued nodding in agreement. "He really doesn't follow a single rule. Students like ours at least pretend to behave. That brat doesn't even bother pretending. He'll even slash you twice on his way out and say you're in his way."

"If Mei Chengyu had even a little less talent, I don't think Sage Chang Gen could put up with him." Zhu Rong had just finished speaking when he remembered Sage Chang Gen's other disciple. Curiously, he asked, "By the way, what's the story with the second disciple Old Man Chang took in? I've been too busy these past few days to ask around."

"She's the County Princess from Qingyang Nation, Nangong Ming's Daughter." Mu Wu gave a brief introduction, but every word was important. "For now, she seems to be a Normal Practitioner."

Zhu Rong rubbed his eyebrow. "As expected of Old Man Chang. The disciples he takes in are always so unusual. Still, who would've thought Nangong Ming's Daughter would be a Normal Practitioner? Incredible."

Even Nangong Ming couldn't make sense of the fact that Yu Sui was a Normal Practitioner.

He had tested Yu Sui's talents several times, but never gotten a result. She hadn't shown any particular aptitude either. Sometimes, she even seemed a little dull. Apart from her sweet tongue and pretty face, Nangong Ming couldn't find much to praise her for.

Mu Wu said, "Since he chose her as his successor, she must have something exceptional about her."

Nangong Ming probably never expected anyone to say that about her.

As the two men chatted, the next matchups were announced. They glanced at the names and then had them posted at the platforms.

Everyone saw:

Challenger: Legalist, Xun Zhiya.

Defender: Ghost Dao School, Mei Chengyu.

Challenger: School of Names, Gu Gan.

Defender: Military School, Kong Yiyi.

"Her again." Ji Meng stared at the names for Xun Zhiya's match. Seeing that she'd been paired with Mei Chengyu, he sighed. "Are we picking a fight with Mei Chengyu lately, or what?"

Gu Gan also furrowed his brow and said to Xun Zhiya, "Be careful. That guy has a reputation for loving a fight."

He didn't want to admit it, but Mei Chengyu was the hardest opponent to get past in today's Martial Path challenge.

Xun Zhiya looked serious, her gaze focused. It was unclear whether she had heard him.

The two of them walked toward the platforms together.

At the edge of the third-floor viewing stands, Mei Chengyu put away the Listening Wind Ruler. Kong Yiyi pointed at Gu Gan. "That guy's been making quite a name for himself lately!"

"Be careful," Nian Qiuyan said gently.

Kong Yiyi covered the back of her neck and rolled her head. "What's there to be afraid of? Do a divination for me and see who'll win."

Nian Qiuyan smiled faintly. "I can only divine three times a day, but there's no need to divine this. I already know you'll win."

Kong Yiyi turned and winked at him. "I love hearing you say things like that."

Mei Chengyu and Kong Yiyi used Wind Riding Technique to reach the platforms below in an instant. The circular arena was divided into five sections by a barrier. To the spectators, it looked like five separate platforms, with one-on-one matches taking place on each.

The rules seemed simple: all they had to do was knock the defender off the platform.

But that was easier said than done.

The defenders were almost all Ninth Realm disciples.

The challengers, however, could be in the Seventh or Eighth Realm. The gap of a single realm could sometimes be as wide as the distance between heaven and earth.

As soon as Gu Gan stepped onto the platform, he saw Kong Yiyi turn to face him, her red robes blazing like fire. She had braided her long hair into a single plait that hung over her left shoulder, and delicate silver rings adorned both wrists. She set her hands on her hips and lifted her chin toward Gu Gan, her pride plain to see.

The Martial Path rules prohibited the two sides from speaking to each other on the platform.

Neither of them spoke. After exchanging a glance, they both began to circulate Five Elements Qi. The silver rings on Kong Yiyi's wrists suddenly tightened, catching her sleeves. She clenched a fist and used Wind Riding Technique to flash toward Gu Gan in an attack. Gu Gan didn't dodge. He raised his hand and caught her punch.

Kong Yiyi moved lightly, but every strike landed on Gu Gan with the weight of a collapsing mountain, making him stagger.

Both moved with equal speed and ferocity, but a closer look revealed that Kong Yiyi had been attacking relentlessly from the start, while Gu Gan was on the defensive.

Watching Kong Yiyi and Gu Gan's match, Teacher Zhu Rong stroked his chin. "Not bad. He can hold out for a while with just physical techniques."

Mu Wu, however, said, "He cultivates both Name and Law, doesn't he? He's an Eighth Realm practitioner. There are a hundred and eighty-six Legalist Judgment Techniques, and he knows at least eighty-six of them. If he knows the advanced Judgment Technique, Star Fixing, he'll win this match."

"The advanced Judgment Technique, Star Fixing, is the bane of Kong Yiyi's Armor Techniques. But I don't think Gu Gan knows it yet." Zhu Rong smiled with a knowing air. "He's Elder Zhu's student in the School of Names, where he's cherished, but he's not very well received by the Legalists. His studies there haven't gone as smoothly as they have with the School of Names."

The fight between Gu Gan and Kong Yiyi grew faster and faster. Their afterimages blurred until it was nearly impossible to tell what moves they were making. Kong Yiyi gave Gu Gan no chance to create distance, sticking close and attacking him almost without pause.

The spectators could only see Kong Yiyi keeping Gu Gan on the defensive. Only Gu Gan himself could feel the pressure she exerted growing heavier and heavier. His senses were gradually being affected. A fierce wind howled in his ears for no reason, and though he hadn't been cut, he could smell the thick stench of blood.

When Kong Yiyi struck him head-on again, Gu Gan saw blood spraying three feet into the air.

During a brief pause, Kong Yiyi punched Gu Gan to the edge of the platform. He nearly fell off. At that very moment, black and white swallowed his world. The crimson Martial Path Arena became a black-and-white ancient battlefield.

Black smoke drifted over the wasteland. Corpses littered the ground, and rivers of blood ran through it. The city consumed by flames filled the sky with ash.

A grim, murderous battle intent and resentment surged into Gu Gan. Standing amid the countless corpses, he frowned and focused. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a battered suit of armor rattle. It stirred, and a withered hand reached out from beneath it. Withered warriors clad in bloodstained armor erupted from the earth.

Military Formation · Ancient Battlefield.

Gu Gan glanced at the White Bone Warriors emerging from the ground, but rather than looking tense, he smiled.

He had fought this long without counterattacking because he had been waiting for Kong Yiyi to use her Military Formation.

Illusions from the Military School were among the easiest to bewilder the mind, and they were also some of the most lethal.

They weren't ordinary illusions, either. Sometimes they were closer to a recreation of the scene itself, with half of it "real." That made it even harder for anyone caught in them to break free.

Kong Yiyi stood among the White Bone Warriors. The foul wind of the ancient battlefield whipped at the hem of her red robes. She raised a hand, and the silver rings on her wrist jingled. "Three Armies."

At that moment, she was the commander giving orders to the Three Armies on the battlefield.

The White Bone Warriors charged with swords in hand, rushing at Gu Gan from every direction.

Kong Yiyi had used this advanced Armor Technique to end the fight quickly, but she hadn't underestimated her opponent. She had heard the rumors about Gu Gan and knew he was no weakling. Using an advanced Armor Technique against him was a sign that she was taking him seriously.

Gu Gan formed a seal with one hand. Golden waves of energy blazed around him, and Five Elements Qi enveloped his body. He pivoted on one foot, then shot toward Kong Yiyi behind the Three Armies like an arrow loosed from its bow.

The White Bone Warriors' blades moved far too slowly to keep up with Gu Gan. They struck one another with dull clanks. Gu Gan's footwork was uncanny. He dodged every attack with ease, leaving the White Bone Warriors far behind and cutting a path through the Myriad Army.

Watching Gu Gan break through the White Bone Warriors' line, Kong Yiyi gave another command. "Loose the arrows!"

From the half-collapsed city, countless flaming arrows flew toward the battlefield.

Like stars falling from the heavens, they cut streaks of fire through the smoke. Amid the rain of arrows, Gu Gan was as small as an ant, yet he refused to concede. He drew in the golden Five Elements Qi, exhaled, and called out, "Follow the Tiger."

School of Names Nine Schools Technique · Words.

The School of Names' Nine Schools Techniques included methods that gave tangible form to Five Elements Qi, binding it with the constraint of a "name."

Everything in heaven and earth had a name.

As long as you knew its name, you could give it meaning and decide whether it lived or died.

The School of Names' Words could even "kill" another person's Nine Schools Techniques.

As Gu Gan spoke the words "Follow the Tiger," the golden Five Elements Qi transformed into a transparent giant tiger, seemingly tall enough to reach the heavens. Golden flames burned in its eyes. It threw back its head and roared, shaking the sky. The sound knocked the rain of arrows from the air.

Kong Yiyi raised an eyebrow. To summon such a massive embodiment of elemental energy through Words was truly impressive.

She still had to end this quickly.

"Soldiers!" Kong Yiyi pointed at Gu Gan, closed her eyes, and gave her command. "Six Cuts!"

She had no intention of forming a formation. Since Gu Gan was a disciple of the School of Names, if he had studied the School of Names' Six Eyes, then breaking the formation would only be a matter of time. Kong Yiyi wanted to end the fight quickly, so she went straight to the final killing move of the Military Formation.

The countless White Bone Warriors chasing Gu Gan suddenly crumbled into dust. Their armor fell to the ground. Gu Gan skidded to a halt, his expression wary. The earth trembled and split into several fissures. Black Five Elements Qi rose from them and rapidly gathered, taking shape as a gigantic White Bone Warrior.

The White Bone Warrior towered as high as the sky and held an enormous black saber. The light shining from beneath its armor was as blinding as daylight. Standing on the ground, Gu Gan felt an oppressive force weighing down on him. The hairs on his body stood on end. Under the White Bone Warrior's blinding gaze, he had nowhere to hide, and even moving became incredibly difficult. He desperately wanted to get out of the way, but the invisible killing intent of the ancient battlefield blocked his path. He couldn't move.

At that moment, Gu Gan seemed like a lone soldier from an enemy army, stripped of his thousands of troops. He had already lost to Kong Yiyi, and the enemy was about to pass judgment and execute him.

The White Bone Warrior raised its black saber and fixed its gaze on Gu Gan. Moonlight pierced the smoke of the ancient battlefield, falling across the blade and reflecting countless withered bones. Killing Intent filled the entire battlefield. The howling wind carried the voices of fallen soldiers, crying out for the execution of the last surviving enemy.

"First, Military Cut."

As the blade drew near, Gu Gan's composed face flashed across it. Suddenly, the black saber swung around and cut toward Kong Yiyi behind him.

How could this be?

Kong Yiyi opened her eyes, astonishment flashing across her face, but she reacted quickly and dodged to the side. Using Wind Riding Technique, she reached the top of a mound of corpses and looked from afar at Gu Gan, behind the White Bone Warrior.

Though Gu Gan was still unable to move under the restraint of the killing intent, he met Kong Yiyi's astonished gaze and gave her a faint, knowing smile. "Second, Rebellion Cut."

This was the first time a disciple of the School of Names had turned the soldiers of her Military Formation against her with Words.

Kong Yiyi snorted. As the White Bone Warrior swung its second slash at her, she leaped into the air, passed straight through it, and shattered it.

When the White Bone Warrior dispersed, Gu Gan was free too. But Kong Yiyi was quickly at his side. The arrows she had knocked from the sky earlier were now flying through the air. She caught one and sent it streaking toward Gu Gan.

The swords and blades scattered among the corpses on the ground rose at Kong Yiyi's command and all flew toward Gu Gan. Every weapon carried the hatred and killing intent of a fallen soldier. They attacked with ruthless resolve and never retreated.

Gu Gan drew in the Five Elements Qi from the ancient battlefield, expanding the range of his Words, Judgment Cut. He turned every sword, blade, and broken arrow that had obeyed Kong Yiyi's command and flown at him against her.

The battlefield changed in an instant. Countless broken arrows and swords suddenly turned and rushed toward Kong Yiyi behind them. Among all the weapons flying against the current, Kong Yiyi charged straight ahead. She gathered her strength and punched Gu Gan, blasting him out of the Military Formation.

Gu Gan had already been standing at the edge of the platform. Kong Yiyi's punch sent him flying off it.

He quickly steadied himself and looked up at Kong Yiyi as she emerged from the Military Formation. She raised a hand and wiped the cut the broken arrow had left on her face. Then she lifted her chin toward him, her eyes saying, You lost.

Gu Gan smiled at that and cupped his hands. "I'm impressed."

He hadn't been dead set on passing the Grade A challenge today. He'd come to test his strength. In the Military Formation, he had managed to turn the soldiers of an Armor Technique against their Ninth Realm practitioner. That alone had given him the answer he wanted.

Kong Yiyi glanced at the blood on her fingers and snorted. "You weren't bad either."

The two teachers below the platform were recording their evaluations of the match.

On the third-floor viewing stands, Cang Shu rested both hands on the railing. His dark eyes shifted from Gu Gan to Kong Yiyi.

"Being able to wound her means Gu Gan's stronger than I thought," Cang Shu said softly.

Nian Qiuyan smiled, then turned to watch the other match. "Don't underestimate Gu Gan. He hasn't used all his strength."

Gu Gan stepped off the platform and rolled his wrist. He asked Ji Meng beside him, "How's Xun Zhiya doing?"

"There." Ji Meng gestured for him to look, his expression displeased. "They've been at it for a while. No matter what technique Xun Zhiya uses, Mei Chengyu returns the same one. It feels like he's mocking her."

Gu Gan's brow furrowed.

Quite a few people nearby were discussing the fight between Mei Chengyu and Xun Zhiya.

At that moment, golden Five Elements Qi filled the air around Xun Zhiya. She retreated from Mei Chengyu, who had been fighting her at close range, and furrowed her brows while still in midair. "Thunder Punishment."

Blue lightning roared with a deafening crack. Five Streaks of Lightning flashed, forcing Mei Chengyu several steps back.

The Legalists believed that human nature was evil.

Therefore, the one hundred and eighty-six Legalist Judgment Techniques were all forms of punishment.

Mei Chengyu had returned every Legalist Judgment Technique Xun Zhiya had used so far. Now, Xun Zhiya unleashed the only Legalism Heavenly Secrets Technique she knew: Thunder Punishment.

Five bolts of lightning, like long serpents or Jiaolong, crackled as they scorched Mei Chengyu's Five Elements Qi. They watched his every move, preventing him from launching any kind of attack.

Mei Chengyu stood where he was and glanced at Xun Zhiya's five bolts of lightning. Blue flashes gleamed in his cold, shadowed eyes. The Lightning Threads dancing before him seemed like the Legalist sages, high above, judging him. His gaze slowly shifted to Xun Zhiya. "Thunder Punishment," he said coolly.

His attitude and presence were completely different from when he had sparred with Yu Sui last night.

He wasn't underestimating her or mocking her. Like Kong Yiyi, he intended to end the fight quickly, so he'd chosen the fastest way.

But this was a platform match, not a fight to the death. Every time Mei Chengyu returned the same technique, he did it fast, hard, and precisely, finding the weakness and breaking through with one strike. But Xun Zhiya was stubborn. She refused to admit defeat or give up.

Xun Zhiya was nearly knocked off the platform several times, but each time she fought her way back to the middle.

Lightning flashed across the Martial Path Arena, blazing as brightly as the sun. Many spectators instinctively raised their hands to shield their eyes or squeezed them shut.

They heard the deafening clash of thunder as the two Thunder Punishments clashed and devoured each other.

Xun Zhiya stared at Mei Chengyu in shock, unable to believe what she was seeing. Before, she could have explained him using the Legalist Judgment Techniques as a gift for the Five Elements Birth Technique. But why could he use the Legalist Heavenly Secrets Technique as well?

He was clearly a Ghost Dao Disciple. How could he know the Legalist Heavenly Secrets Technique?

Xun Zhiya's concentration wavered. Mei Chengyu gave her no chance to recover. With a flick of his hand, a Lightning Thread lashed her off the platform.

Xun Zhiya had fought until she was exhausted. Her Five Elements Qi scattered, leaving her completely unprotected as the strike knocked her away. While the spectators were still recovering from the flash of lightning, Gu Gan leaped down from the viewing stands and used Wind Riding Technique to catch Xun Zhiya as she fell.

Seeing how she was drenched in sweat and terribly weak, he realized that the lightning strike had shattered the last of her Five Elements Qi defenses. Gu Gan held her in his arms and looked up at Mei Chengyu with a cold stare.

Mei Chengyu found that look amusing. His normally cool expression turned into a wicked challenge in response to Gu Gan's actions.

He seemed to say, If you don't like it, come up here and fight me in her place.

Gu Gan suppressed his displeasure and looked away. Holding Xun Zhiya, he withdrew from the platform.

The two Thirteenth Realm teachers recording the matches didn't comment. As long as Gu Gan didn't actually rush up and fight Mei Chengyu, they wouldn't interfere in this kind of taunting between students.

Zhu Rong scratched his head. "I don't think anyone's going to pass the Grade A challenge today."

He knew Mei Chengyu, Kong Yiyi, and the others weren't deliberately causing trouble. But the moment they stepped onto the platform to fight, they were all set on one thing: They had to win. They absolutely would not lose.

Mei Chengyu and Kong Yiyi returned to the third-floor viewing stands together.

Kong Yiyi said, "Why are you even lashing girls off the platform?"

Mei Chengyu walked ahead without looking back. "Should I have let her lash me off instead?"

Kong Yiyi hurried after him. "Fair enough. The Martial Path Arena doesn't distinguish between men and women."

It was nearly noon. The sun shone high overhead, and the blue light reflected from the Third Practice Hall enveloped the area. To the naked eye, it looked as though they were in the middle of a vast sea.

The Yin-Yang and Five Elements Field designated by Jing Yun Kui was in the Yin-Yang School.

The Yin-Yang and Five Elements Field lay to the west, a gigantic circle reflecting stars that never went dark. All the stars in the world seemed to be contained within that single "circle."

At first glance, it seemed no larger than a lake.

There were plenty of buildings around it, and the Martial Path Arena stood just across from the field.

On her way there, Yu Sui saw Xing Chun heading toward the Martial Path Arena. He was looking down as he sent a message on the Listening Wind Ruler. Yu Sui called out, "Senior Martial Brother Xing Chun!"

She had greeted him first, so Xing Chun couldn't pretend not to have seen her. "What are you doing here?" he replied.

"Teacher said today that we're supposed to come to the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Field for a trial," Yu Sui said with a smile. "Will it be difficult?"

Xing Chun shook his head. "They're just some basic trials. Nothing difficult, so don't be scared."

Yu Sui asked again, "Are you going to find my Senior Martial Brother for a meal?"

"Oh, your Senior Martial Brother has to guard the ring today. He probably won't have time to eat with me. I was planning to go watch at the Martial Path Arena, too." Xing Chun raised a hand and pointed. "It's over there, pretty close to you."

"I see. Then, Senior Martial Brother Xing Chun, can we add each other as friends on the Listening Wind Ruler? My Senior Martial Brother is busy, and if I run into something I don't understand at the Yin-Yang School, could I ask you about it first?" Yu Sui took out her Listening Wind Ruler and asked sweetly.

Xing Chun didn't think it was a big deal. He took out his own Listening Wind Ruler and tapped it against hers. "Sure."

"Hmm? It looks like it didn't work," Yu Sui said.

"Let me see." Xing Chun leaned over to look at her Listening Wind Ruler, puzzled. As he moved closer, Yu Sui deftly tossed over a Five Elements Light Core.

"Let's try adding each other again." Xing Chun, completely unaware, held out his Listening Wind Ruler and tapped it against hers once more.

"This time it worked." Yu Sui waved her Listening Wind Ruler and said goodbye to Xing Chun. "Then I'll go do the trial first. Goodbye, Senior Martial Brother Xing Chun."

Xing Chun waved back at her, thinking that Mei Chengyu's Junior Martial Sister was truly adorable as he headed for the Martial Path Arena.

Yu Sui returned to the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Field. The others had already descended into the sea of stars and were waiting for her below. Yu Sui walked down a few steps and set foot in the Five Elements Field. Only then did she feel the world turn upside down. They seemed to be standing atop the stars, in the vast universe and its river of galaxies; all around them was a night sky lit by the stars.

Xue Mushi scratched his head and asked, "What do we do?"

Wei Ren pointed at the star chart in front of them. "Within the range of the Five Elements Birth Technique's Sixty-Four Hexagrams, which school's trial would be best to choose?"

Xue Mushi's expression said, I'll go with whatever you decide.

Li Jinshuang, meanwhile, looked as if she were saying, Pick whatever you want. I don't like giving opinions anyway.

Wei Ren looked to Yu Sui. She glanced from side to side, but nobody said a word, so she had to speak up. "The Military School, maybe. Li Jinshuang has the highest cultivation, so choosing what she's best at gives us the best chance."

"Then the Military School it is." Wei Ren adjusted the star chart, then noticed something interesting. "Hah, there's a protection mechanism from the Yin-Yang School. It was probably designed for Normal Practitioners. The Military Formation in the trial will adjust its strength according to the lowest cultivation level in the team."

After he said that, the other three all turned to look at Yu Sui.

Yu Sui slowly raised both hands. "Ah, I didn't have time to say it earlier. I'm not really a Normal Practitioner anymore. I have a Five Elements Light Core. I'm a Nine Schools Practitioner."

"You do?" Wei Ren raised an eyebrow. "When did you get it?"

"Last night," Yu Sui said.

Wei Ren smiled. "Did Old Man Chang dig your Senior Martial Brother's core out and stuff it into you?"

Yu Sui's eyes widened slightly. "Do you have a problem with my Senior Martial Brother?"

"He uses techniques every night to mess with my mind, so I have nightmares whenever I sleep. I have a big problem with him." Wei Ren spoke through gritted teeth.

Yu Sui put on an honest expression. "My Senior Martial Brother also said you throw poisonous creatures into his room every day."

"They crawled in there by themselves. I didn't throw them." After saying that, Wei Ren stepped aside and motioned for Yu Sui to come to the star chart. "Since you say you're not a Normal Practitioner anymore, what realm are you in with the Nine Schools Techniques?"

Yu Sui gave an awkward smile. "First Realm, I guess."

That was the truth.

Wei Ren nodded toward the star chart. "Then you're still the weakest among us. You can activate the Military Formation. If it's a First Realm formation, we'll be out in less than a quarter of an hour."

"Okay." Yu Sui went to the star chart and placed her palm on it as instructed.

Yu Sui also thought this trial would be simple. After all, Li Jinshuang and Wei Ren were both Fifth Realm practitioners, and Xue Mushi was Fourth Realm. An ordinary trial within the range of the Five Elements Birth Technique wouldn't give them any trouble.

So she focused all her attention on the other Five Elements Light Core.

As Xing Chun entered the Martial Path Arena, Yu Sui could see what it looked like inside. There were even more people than she'd expected. As Xing Chun passed the spectator stands, Yu Sui could see the disciples still fighting on the rings.

She spotted Gu Gan, holding Xun Zhiya with an unfriendly expression, and Mei Chengyu standing on the ring with a haughty look.

She heard the people around her gossiping about the fight that had just happened.

Yu Sui thought, Woohoo, what a lively place.

Xing Chun went up to the third floor and met up with Mei Chengyu and the others. "Are you done fighting?"

"Not yet for Wei Kun," Cang Shu answered. "Those two just finished."

"I just heard people talking. You fought Xun Zhiya?" Xing Chun looked at Mei Chengyu in surprise. "Your relationship with Gu Gan really is getting worse and worse."

Mei Chengyu said nonchalantly, "What relationship do I have with him?"

"When I got here, I ran into Nangong Sui. She was doing an initiation trial in the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Field next door."

Mei Chengyu turned his head to look at him. Xing Chun continued, "Isn't she on good terms with Gu Gan? You're her Senior Martial Brother, and you see each other all the time. She'll probably be caught in the middle and feel awkward."

"Even Sheng Zui doesn't think she's in a difficult position, so why should I worry about it?" As Mei Chengyu spoke, his gaze narrowed as he stared at Xing Chun's shoulder. "What's that on you?"

"Hm? What?" Xing Chun looked around but didn't notice anything.

Nian Qiuyan and Kong Yiyi looked over, too.

Yu Sui sighed inwardly. Senior Martial Brother is so annoyingly perceptive.

Before Mei Chengyu could notice, Yu Sui crushed the Five Elements Light Core hidden on Xing Chun.

Xing Chun tugged at his clothes and searched for a long while without finding anything unusual. He couldn't help asking suspiciously, "Are you messing with me?"

Mei Chengyu didn't answer. He only said, "Be careful lately."

Xing Chun turned to Nian Qiuyan. "Is that true?"

Nian Qiuyan nodded.

Xing Chun asked again, "Did you cast a divination?"

Nian Qiuyan smiled. "I'll cast one for you tomorrow."

Xing Chun turned back to Mei Chengyu. "So you were messing with me just now?"

Mei Chengyu had already changed the subject. "What did Nangong Sui say to you?"

Xing Chun took out his Listening Wind Ruler. "She said she wanted to add me as a friend on it, so she could ask me whenever she didn't understand something. I agreed."

Mei Chengyu said lazily, "You're from the Yin-Yang School. What could she possibly ask you?"

"Don't be so overbearing. What if she wants to study Yin-Yang Techniques through External Cultivation? Then she could have plenty of questions for me. As a core disciple, I know more than you, an outsider, do, right?"

Mei Chengyu looked baffled. "If she's studying through External Cultivation, why wouldn't I know what she can learn? Besides, even you, a core disciple, can't teach her other Yin-Yang Techniques."

Xing Chun said, "It's not like she can't learn them!"

Nian Qiuyan said gently, "Why don't you two wait until Nangong Sui says she wants to learn before you start arguing?"

Xing Chun and Mei Chengyu said in unison, "Who's arguing?"

Nian Qiuyan fell silent.

Yu Sui crushed the Five Elements Light Core, then entered the Military Formation.

The universe and its river of stars faded away. Before they even opened their eyes, the four of them smelled the heavy stench of blood. Ash from the burning battlefield brushed across the survivors' faces. A sudden clap of thunder split the smoke, and Yu Sui opened her eyes to see corpses stretching for thousands of miles.

The scene before them, like Asura Hell, left all four of them silent.

Thunder Punishment flashed across the sky. Reeds swayed by the river, stained red by the dead's blood, while the reed fluff drifting skyward looked like sparks.

A gigantic armored general stood guarding the city gates, sword in hand. Its eyes were like the blazing sun, impossible to look at directly. Wherever it gazed, the earth burst into flames.

Evil Ghosts emerged from the flames, picked up the swords dropped by the dead soldiers, and continued guarding their city.

Military Formation: Asura Hell.

Killing intent swept across the battlefield. The pressure rushing toward them was suffocating, making all four tremble from head to toe. Their heartbeats and breathing grew heavy.

Yu Sui wiped the ash that had blown onto her face, leaving a streak of black across her fair cheek.

She could hear her own heartbeat.

"This is a First Realm Military Formation?" Xue Mushi asked hesitantly, looking incredulous.

"Just look at the City Defense King General up ahead. There's no way this is a First Realm Military Formation." Wei Ren wiped his face and asked Li Jinshuang, "You should know, right? Could this be a Fifth Realm formation?"

"No." Li Jinshuang had already gripped her sword hilt with one hand, her gaze fixed on the City Defense King General brimming with killing intent. "A formation with a City Defense King General is a Special Grade Armor Formation. Thirteenth Realm or higher, at the Sage Realm."

Yu Sui looked at Li Jinshuang. "That's the most I've ever heard you say."

The other three looked at Yu Sui.

Yu Sui could tell what their expressions meant. She raised her hand. "I really am only in the First Realm."