Eight Trials of Goodness

After sharing their secrets, the atmosphere in the room had eased considerably.

Xiao Xiao's stomach let out an untimely growl, and she scratched her head sheepishly.

Hearing it, Ji Jing chuckled. He had also heard Xiao Xiao complain of being hungry outside the door, so he took the initiative and said:

"Perfect, I'm a little hungry too. Since we're waiting anyway, I'll make you all a late-night snack."

"Class monitor, you can cook?"

Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up instantly, sparkling with anticipation.

"Oh, right! I heard Huo Yuhao say your cooking is practically divine, way better than his! I've never had the chance to try it for myself!"

"Then consider yourself lucky tonight."

Ji Jing smiled. With a thought, some cookware and ingredients appeared out of thin air in the suite's small kitchen.

Since it was already late and they shouldn't eat anything too greasy, Ji Jing decided to make them a bowl of heartwarming, stomach-soothing noodle soup.

His movements flowed like water. He took out a piece of Dragon Tendon Beast Meat, its enormous life force making it gleam like jade, and swiftly sliced it into thin pieces.

Then he took out several fresh, tender Ice Marrow Cabbages, their emerald leaves giving off a faint, delicate fragrance.

The noodles were made from specially prepared flour infused with the power of the stars, and were crystalline in their own right.

Even while he was just preparing the ingredients, the spiritual energy spilling from them left Xiao Xiao staring in astonishment. She was practically drooling.

Before long, Ji Jing brought the broth to a boil, added the noodles, and blanched the toppings. Soon, steaming bowls of noodle soup were ready.

The broth was clear, the noodles springy, and the meat and greens added a splash of color. The aroma wafted through the room, making mouths water.

"Here, give this a try."

Ji Jing brought out several shimmering cups, along with the simple Best Wine Cup in the Village.

He poured each person half a cup of amber-colored liquor, and its crisp, mellow fragrance instantly filled the room.

Ji Jing explained:

"This is Hundred Flower Calming Wine. It helps calm the mind and focus the spirit, and it's a great help for meditation and cultivation at night."

Xiao Xiao was thoroughly stunned.

Those ingredients were clearly no ordinary fare!

She had never smelled a wine that could compare to this!

She carefully picked up her bowl and took a sip of the broth. An indescribably warm current surged through her body, as if every cell were cheering.

She couldn't hold back any longer and immediately dug in with gusto.

After a few mouthfuls of noodles, Xiao Xiao felt that even the hidden injuries she had sustained during cultivation had eased considerably.

She put down her bowl, her face flushed—partly with excitement and partly from the steam—and spoke to Ji Jing with utmost solemnity:

"Class monitor! From today on, I'll serve you loyally and brave fire and water for you! I'll be your most fearless fighter among the Shrek Seven Devils!"

Hearing her bold declaration, Wang Dong burst out laughing. She teasingly pinched Xiao Xiao's cheek.

"You? If you want to be a fighter, beat me first."

Ji Jing smiled mysteriously and said to Xiao Xiao:

"Sure. I'll be looking forward to it."

With that, he filled another bowl of noodles, placed it on a tray with a cup of Soul-Calming Wine, and handed it to Xiao Xiao.

"Take this back for Jiang Nannan. She must be hungry too."

"Mission accepted!"

Xiao Xiao stood at attention and saluted. She took the tray and left, perfectly content.

At last, only Ji Jing and Wang Dong remained in the room.

Soon, the two of them finished their late-night snack.

Wang Dong took the initiative and expertly cleared away the bowls and chopsticks.

Then, as if by unspoken agreement, they sat cross-legged facing each other, their four palms pressed together.

They closed their eyes. Soul Power flowed between their palms, slowly forming a perfect circulation, and they entered meditation together.

Late into the quiet night, Ji Jing and Wang Dong cultivated in meditation, their Soul Power blending together. Their cultivation efficiency far surpassed that of ordinary people.

Deep in his own Sea of Consciousness, he called softly:

"Mother."

Far away in the Divine Realm, Lie Yan sat upon the throne in the Temple, her body surrounded by gentle white divine light.

As if sensing something, she slowly opened her eyes.

A tender smile bloomed across her exquisite face. She already knew what her son wanted.

With a thought from Lie Yan, a wisp of divine sense silently descended upon the Douluo Continent. It precisely entered another room in the Star Luo Grand Hotel and merged with Xiao Xiao's mind as she meditated.

Xiao Xiao was focused on absorbing the wondrous energy brought by the Soul-Calming Wine and guiding her Soul Power through her meridians.

Ever since she had become able to control the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron and the Nine-Phoenix Flute—her two Twin Martial Souls—at the same time, she had been able to clearly sense and look within her Sea of Consciousness.

Yet the very next moment, she suddenly found herself drawn by a gentle force she could not resist. Her consciousness plunged into her Sea of Consciousness.

But the sight before her filled her with unprecedented shock and terror.

Was this... still her Sea of Consciousness?

Her once-calm spiritual world was now surging like storm-tossed seas. Boundless white light filled every inch of space, like the first holy ray of dawn—warm and sacred.

At the center of her Sea of Consciousness stood a white humanoid figure, seemingly a thousand meters tall. Its form was hazy and indistinct.

But the vast, benevolent, and purely virtuous aura it radiated left Xiao Xiao with no thought of resisting. She wanted only to prostrate herself in worship.

"Child."

A gentle yet solemn voice rang out.

The white humanoid figure spoke:

"I am the God of Goodness, one of the Five Great God Kings of the Divine Realm."

"G-God of Goodness?!"

Xiao Xiao was completely dumbfounded. She had never dreamed that a deity, so elusive and distant in legend, would descend into her Sea of Consciousness!

Lie Yan's divine sense continued:

"I see in you a pure nature and extraordinary potential. I am willing to give you an opportunity—the chance to reach the realm of the gods."

"I will set trials for you. If you can pass them all through your own will and effort, you will have the chance to enter the Divine Realm in the future and inherit a god's position."

"But if you fail or give up along the way, there is no need to worry. You will simply lose this opportunity and live out your life as you normally would."

This was a choice capable of changing her fate.

But for any Soul Master, godhood was the ultimate dream.

Xiao Xiao barely hesitated. She bowed in her Sea of Consciousness and answered with unwavering resolve:

"I'm willing! Respected God of Goodness, I'm willing to accept your trials!"

"Very good."

Approval colored Lie Yan's voice.

In the original story, Xiao Xiao had been exceptionally talented from the start. Both of her Twin Martial Souls were top-tier, and her potential far surpassed Tang Ya's.

It was just that she wasn't among the most diligent in her training, and her path of development wasn't clear enough. That was why she hadn't fully lived up to her potential later on.

In Ji Jing's plans for the future, Xiao Xiao was naturally among those he could cultivate.

Lie Yan had recognized that potential and was willing to offer her son's companion a higher platform. So she gave Xiao Xiao a complete divine trial—

the Eight Trials of Goodness.