Southern Mountain of the Western Frontier

After returning home, Huo Kai and the elders explained things to their families before sending them back. Huo Hai was once again called aside alone and lectured at length. He was not released until that evening.

Dragging his exhausted body back to his own courtyard, Huo Hai let out a long breath. "Finally back. I was almost bored to death. I can't tell them too much about the insects either. Honestly, isn't it just cultivating properly? Did they really need to lecture me for an entire afternoon?" Huo Hai did not feel tired physically, but mentally, he could not take it anymore.

He had not expected that he had often been nagged by teachers on Earth, only to be nagged even more fiercely after coming to this world.

Huo Hai shook his head and turned his attention back to the insects he had raised earlier. Since the Star Gu beetles had only just hatched that morning, he had not brought them with him. But after digesting a certain amount of herbs and spiritual energy—

Huo Hai discovered that the insects were already fully usable. He tested them with the only Profound Grade dagger in his hand. Even with a forceful chop, it could only leave a tiny white mark on a Star Gu's body. Even if other experts possessed Profound Grade weapons, they could forget about harming his Star Gu without pouring in a great deal of spiritual energy. There were more than five hundred Star Gu in this batch.

"What should I use to carry them? Keeping them on my body definitely won't work." Every person who cultivated Gu arts could keep Gu Insects within their body. But at the thought of his body being filled with bugs, Huo Hai's scalp went numb.

When he watched it on television, he did not feel much about it. But if it were himself, there was no way he could accept it. Suddenly, Huo Hai noticed that these Star Gu were extremely small. Though there were five hundred of them, gathered together, they probably would not take up much space.

Gu Insects were merely supplementary tools, after all. Even if they were rolled into a ball, there would be no problem. With that thought, Huo Hai sent out a command in his mind, directing the beetles to gather in his palm. When the mass of Star Gu had completely assembled in his hand, it was not even the size of an egg. Huo Hai smiled faintly. Now he had a way to carry these Star Gu.

Looking around, Huo Hai casually took a rather exquisite grass cage and fastened it at his waist. It looked just like an ornament, though it was not worth much. "All of you, get inside. Don't come out through the gaps."

Huo Hai gave the order in his mind. Through Little Star, the Insect King, the Star Gu easily understood what he meant. All the beetles swiftly took flight, streaking like meteors. In the blink of an eye, they had entered the grass cage at Huo Hai's waist.

All the Star Gu stayed perfectly still. Unless Huo Hai himself revealed it, no one would know what dangerous things were hidden within that grass cage. Huo Hai smiled in satisfaction, casually sent out a stream of spiritual energy to feed the Star Gu, then began practicing combat techniques. He did not know whether it was because of his own talent or because of Perfect Body Tempering.

Huo Hai progressed incredibly quickly in these basic combat techniques. Judging solely by his mastery of combat techniques, few people his age could compare to him. Even those older than him were inferior.

The only thing he lacked was practical experience. A person who had never gone through battle would never truly know how to fight, no matter how well they had practiced their combat techniques. This deficiency could not be remedied before the trial.

Huo Hai shook his head, thinking of those people cramming at the last minute. They worked bitterly hard every day, yet feared being seen by others. Each one shut themselves away to build a cart behind closed doors, so Huo Hai had no interest in seeking them out. As for Huo Yuner, she had been confined for the past few days under the excuse that she was not allowed to disturb Huo Hai, and was forbidden from coming to play with him.

After all, Huo Hai had given that spot to her. As his younger sister, she did not need to thank him, but she could not cause trouble either. Huo Yuner, who was likewise diligently cultivating while confined, was filled with unwillingness and frustration.

Time slowly passed, and in the blink of an eye, five days had gone by. During those five days of registration, Huo Hai could sense the commotion even without leaving his home. Not far from his doorstep, the place was like a vegetable market. Many people had come to register.

Naturally, a huge number were immediately eliminated for failing to meet the age requirements. Of those who did meet them, another large group was removed after testing. Yet even so, more than three thousand people had registered for this competition.

In truth, every registration held once every ten years attracted no fewer people than this one. If not for the addition of the trial this time, let alone three thousand, they might have gathered five thousand people. Trials were no trifling matter; they carried a certain degree of danger. Even if someone died during the trial, as long as there was no evidence against anyone else, nothing could be done to them. They might not even find the killer.

Five days later, it was still the steward who called Huo Hai out. After Huo Hai gathered Little Gold and the large mass of Star Gu, he followed the steward outside. This time, their destination was still the City Lord's Estate, but not its interior—rather, the area outside it.

The open space outside the City Lord's Estate was already a sea of people. A great many of those around them were not participating in the trial, but had come to watch.

The time soon arrived, and the examiner suddenly shouted, "Time is up! Everyone taking the test, come with me to the Southern Mountain region. Our destination for this test is Southern Mountain. Once we arrive, I will explain the rules."

After a pause, the examiner said gloomily, "Don't blame us for not warning you. The area around Southern Mountain has already been sealed off by our people. Anyone without the right to participate who dares enter Southern Mountain's boundaries will be killed on sight. If you don't believe it, feel free to come in and try. Those inside may not leave either, or they will die as well."

The examiner's words, brimming with Killing Aura, thoroughly extinguished the flames in the hearts of those harboring little schemes. Although there were always some lucky fools who took action during every stage of testing, that did not matter.

As long as they dared violate the rules, they would absolutely be killed on the spot. Every year, quite a few people died this way. Thus, whenever a trial ground needed to be sealed off, many people with heavy killing intent signed up to participate—and often could not even secure a spot.

Southern Mountain was a great mountain in the southern part of the Western Wall. It was not particularly large, but ordinary people still did not dare enter it. Quite a few Spirit Beasts lived within. The Southern Mountain region was not far from the Western Frontier either, though it was not at the southernmost edge of the Western Frontier.

Setting off from there, the group arrived by noon. At this time, Southern Mountain was already surrounded by people. It was difficult to spot where these people were hiding; they were all Imperial City Academy students specially assigned to monitor the surroundings. Every one of them had formidable cultivation. Even the weakest had reached the Spirit Bone Realm, so no one dared act rashly.

"Alright, this is the trial ground. After entering Southern Mountain, your main objective will be to fight over this." The examiner took out a thin, unknown card. It was very thin, yet remarkably tough and difficult to destroy.

"These cards are specially made by the Imperial City Academy. Every card represents one point. As long as you obtain one hundred points, you can join the Imperial City Academy. Many cards have been placed in extremely dangerous locations. If you have the ability, you may also snatch them from others. Of course, do not underestimate these cards. Once you return to the Academy, they can be exchanged for items. Whether it is the Academy's pills or Spirit Arts, all require points. These will be your first points after entering the Academy."

Huo Hai's eyes suddenly lit up. It seemed the points needed to obtain Blood Refining Pills were these points as well. "May I ask how many points a Blood Refining Pill costs?" Huo Hai suddenly asked. No one found it strange; after all, he had already reached the Blood Refining Realm.

The examiner frowned, but when he saw that the one asking was someone he wanted to befriend and perhaps even take in as a lackey, his expression immediately improved. "A Body Tempering Pill costs one point, a Blood Refining Pill costs ten points, and a Bone Tempering Pill costs one hundred points. Pills of the same realm that cannot improve one's cultivation cost half as much. Do you have anything else to ask?"

Huo Hai shook his head, indicating that he had nothing else to ask. It seems one hundred Blood Refining Pills will require one thousand points. No, when I tempered my body, I used two hundred pills. Perhaps that might bring some benefit. If possible, I should get two thousand points. If I'm going to do it, I should do it to the very best. Some vague instinct told Huo Hai that this was definitely the right choice.

Even if he was wrong, he would only waste a few things. With Little Star's help, two thousand points should be very easy for him to obtain. Huo Hai had no further questions, but others did.

Seeing the examiner answer Huo Hai's question, everyone assumed he was easy to talk to. They began asking about the prices of the things they wanted, secretly calculating how many points they would need.

Watching them, the examiner sneered inwardly. Hmph, with thoughts like yours, most of you probably won't even pass. If you can't pass, what use are any of those things? Gradually, the examiner became somewhat irritated by their endless questions.

"Enough nonsense. Time is up, so hurry inside. If you have questions, wait until you pass the test. You only have half a month—fifteen days. If you cannot emerge from Southern Mountain after fifteen days, you will be considered to have failed. Anyone who does not enter Southern Mountain within ten minutes will also be considered to have failed." The examiner's words made everyone come to their senses.

That was right—they had not even joined the Imperial City Academy yet. Their most important task now was passing the test. Carrying reverence for the Imperial City Academy, fear of the trial, and wariness toward those around them, the crowd entered Southern Mountain. First come, first served.

"Hmph, once we're inside, let's see who can help you then." He Ya stared coldly at Huo Hai, his eyes filled with venomous hatred. He had placed all the blame for the previous incident on Huo Hai, and this trial was the perfect opportunity.

Behind Huo Hai, Huo Yan's eyes were likewise filled with hatred. "The direct line, hmph. I won't be inferior to you. If something happens to you inside, I wonder what will become of the Huo Family's direct line. Will it still have the right to exist?"