Chen Xun Takes the Trial, Bone Age Twenty

Within Nine-Star Valley, Chen Xun led the Black Bull inside. Every face was unfamiliar. People moved about everywhere, Rogue Cultivators hurrying along, their eyes filled with longing for strength.

Three days later, people from the Ten Great Immortal Sects arrived, and countless voices erupted in clamor. Chen Xun and the Black Bull silently watched the platform.

The people sent by the Ten Great Immortal Sects differed every year, but all of them were Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.

"Old Bull."

"Moo!"

"The trial."

Chen Xun led the Black Bull toward the Purple Cloud Sect's platform. The Rogue Cultivators were astonished. This man was actually bringing an ordinary cow to attempt the trial—what a ridiculous sight.

At the top of the platform, three women stood with their hands behind their backs, their gazes sharp as lightning as they looked at the hooded man. A flicker of interest passed through their eyes.

The first trial was the Puppet Beasts: ten Mechanism Puppets at Qi Refinement Level Five. One had to evade their attacks and reach the next level. Quite a few Rogue Cultivators turned their attention toward Chen Xun.

He was actually a Seventh Layer of Qi Refinement cultivator.

As Chen Xun stepped inside, red light flashed over the Puppet Beasts' bodies. They formed a formation in all eight directions and charged at Chen Xun, fearless of Life and Death.

Chen Xun stomped hard, leaving an afterimage where he stood. With one hand, he lifted the Black Bull and swiftly dodged several spells, arriving behind a Puppet Beast in an instant.

Flames covered Chen Xun's palm. The Puppet Beast's back seemed to melt beneath molten lava, exposing a crystal, and the Puppet Beast suddenly became completely motionless.

Using the same method, Chen Xun brought speed, precision, and ruthlessness to their utmost limit. All ten Puppet Beasts were dealt with, and it seemed he had not expended much effort at all.

"What... what spell did that man just use?"

"The Purple Cloud Immortal Sect's puppets were actually taken down with one hand by him. You have to know that the materials for such puppets are worth a fortune."

"What an eye-opener! At most, we evade during these trials, yet he destroyed every single one of those puppets. What terrifying strength!"

Waves of uproar rose beneath the Purple Cloud Sect's platform. They had never heard of anyone dragging a black bull with one hand while taking down ten Puppet Beasts with the other.

At the top of the platform, shock flashed through the three women's eyes.

"Senior Sister Yun, wasn't that Rogue Cultivator going a little too far?"

One woman said indignantly. Those were Purple Cloud Sect assets, and he had ruined every last one of them.

"Interesting."

Senior Sister Yun parted her thin lips and spoke blandly, utterly unconcerned. "I would like to see just what aptitude he has."

As soon as she spoke, all three of them picked up a token.

The second trial was to test bone age and aptitude.

Chen Xun entered a great hall with the Black Bull. The hall shimmered in a kaleidoscope of colors, and a formation stood at its center. He stepped into it directly.

"Bone age twenty?!"

The woman looked at the token in her hand, her voice trembling. "Aptitude... Five-Element Mixed Spiritual Root..."

"What a pity. Still, among Rogue Cultivators, he could be considered someone noteworthy."

Senior Sister Yun spoke with slight regret. That Rogue Cultivator had clearly not used his full strength in the first trial, but Purple Cloud Sect was extremely strict about cultivation aptitude. Combat strength in the Qi Refining Realm was not important to them.

Inside the hall, Chen Xun smiled faintly. His objective had already been achieved. Purple Cloud Sect valued aptitude above all else, so there was no need to continue the trials.

The first trial had merely given everyone hope. He had observed this for several years and had long since seen through Purple Cloud Sect's methods.

"Old Bull, let's go."

"Moo!"

Chen Xun left through another door without continuing the trials, seemingly aware that his aptitude was lacking. Senior Sister Yun merely gave Chen Xun a deep look before turning her attention elsewhere.

Purple Cloud Sect also sent out several disciples, who released Puppet Beasts from their storage bags. A new round of trials continued.

"Please wait, Fellow Daoist."

A middle-aged man in azure robes, with a kindly expression in his eyes, stopped Chen Xun outside the other door.

Hunters often appeared in the guise of prey. Chen Xun led the Black Bull and looked at him blankly. "What is it, Fellow Daoist?"

"I am Yin Jun, a disciple of Five Aggregates Sect in Zhiyang Prefecture."

The middle-aged man introduced himself, then sighed softly. "Just now, I observed your formidable combat strength, Fellow Daoist, yet your aptitude has limited you. It is hard not to feel regret."

Gan Kingdom had Nine Provinces, while Ningyun Mountain Range lay in Yongquan Prefecture, far away from here. Traveling by foot would take at least half a year.

Five Aggregates Sect was also a major Immortal Gate in Zhiyang Prefecture. Though it could not compare to the Ten Great Immortal Sects, its name still rang loudly throughout the Cultivation World of Gan Kingdom.

Five Aggregates Sect was on good terms with Purple Cloud Sect as well. It was said that their upper echelons had quite a good relationship. That was also why Yin Jun could come here to pick up the leftovers.

"So you are a disciple of Five Aggregates Sect. A pleasure, a pleasure."

Chen Xun cupped his hands, realization dawning in his eyes as he waited for what would come next. This man was actually a Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator.

"Would Fellow Daoist be interested in joining Five Aggregates Sect?"

Yin Jun smiled. Yongquan Prefecture had no major sects, and its cultivation resources were comparatively underdeveloped. In the past, those Rogue Cultivators had always been overjoyed upon hearing such invitations, with no objections whatsoever.

"How can Fellow Daoist prove that you are a disciple of Five Aggregates Sect? Surely I cannot simply follow you based on a single sentence?"

"I have actually observed for quite some time. Why do some sects always seek out Rogue Cultivators with stronger combat ability without caring about aptitude? I hope Fellow Daoist will tell me honestly."

"After joining Five Aggregates Sect, what would I need to do? There is never a free lunch in this world—I understand that principle."

"And most importantly, can I bring along my family's ancestral Black Bull?"

Chen Xun spoke solemnly. These questions had weighed on his mind for a long time. They were also the greatest reason he had truly never dared join the Ten Great Immortal Sects.

With disciples of these mid-tier sects, there was still room for reason. But those Foundation Establishment Realm seniors would not waste breath arguing with you. What if they told him to get rid of the Black Bull?

When he first came here, that little fatty had told him it would be best to get rid of the Black Bull. He might as well have killed him.

Yin Jun was dumbfounded, his mouth opening wider and wider. What was wrong with this man? Had he suffered some enormous trauma in childhood...

"This is the Five Aggregates Sect disciple token. Please inspect it, Fellow Daoist."

Yin Jun took out a green token from his storage bag. The words Five Aggregates were inscribed upon it, its patterns mysterious. At a glance, it was clearly no ordinary object.

"If this token is activated, disciples of Five Aggregates Sect within a hundred li can sense it and come to provide support."

Yin Jun was slightly speechless. If recruiting a qualified disciple did not bring benefits, he would never have wasted so much breath.

"Then activate it and let me see. Please do not take offense, Fellow Daoist. A Rogue Cultivator like me cannot compare with disciples of your great sects."

"When the valley closes, I will naturally activate it. Then, Fellow Daoist will be able to distinguish truth from falsehood."

"Alright." Chen Xun nodded with a smile, looking expectantly at Yin Jun.

Yin Jun drew a deep breath, blinked, and said, "Actually, it is not much of a secret. It concerns the lifeline of Gan Kingdom's low-level cultivators."

"Please speak plainly, Fellow Daoist."

"It concerns the spirit herbs for the Foundation Establishment Pill..." Yin Jun began slowly.