The Spellcraft Trial Ends

The next morning, the first light of dawn glimmered faintly.

Chu Bai stood once more in the Martial Training Ground of the Anping Examination Hall.

After a night of Breath Regulation, aided by the unique nurturing effects of [Pure Bathing Spell Power], the aching sense of blockage in his meridians from yesterday had vanished completely. He was now full of vigor, his aura contained, and his condition restored to its peak.

Even so, he felt a trace of unusual pressure.

Compared with yesterday, the number of people on the grounds had not changed, but the atmosphere had grown more forbidding. Twenty-seven candidates stood in two lines, their eyes gleaming with either fighting spirit or solemn resolve.

Everyone knew that the first trial, qi gathering, tested root bone and luck. Although it had opened a gap between them, it had not been enough to decide their fate.

Today's spellcraft trial was where their true mettle would show. This was a contest of genuine combat strength, the trial most likely to widen the gap—or even leave them injured.

"Silence!"

County Commandant Zhang Cheng appeared on the raised platform once again. Today, he had changed into close-fitting martial attire, looking even more capable and imposing.

Without a word of preamble, he summoned the Official Seal and tossed it into the sky.

Humm—

As the familiar incantation rang out, the golden Law Net that blotted out the sky appeared once more.

This time, however, it did not lower Spirit-Gathering Platforms. Instead, twenty-seven golden curtains of light descended.

Like enormous screens, these curtains instantly divided the Martial Training Ground into twenty-seven separate, transparent compartments. Each was roughly five zhang square, giving one person enough room to maneuver.

"The second trial: Spirit control."

Zhang Cheng announced the rules coldly. "The time limit is two hours. The Law Net will place Beast-Shadow Puppets formed from spiritual energy inside your compartments. You must destroy them with spell arts. Whoever destroys the most wins."

"Enter!"

At the command, Chu Bai took a deep breath and stepped into the compartment numbered three.

The instant he entered, the light curtain behind him sealed shut, cutting off all outside sound and interference.

Awooo—

Almost simultaneously, the air at the center of the compartment twisted. Countless motes of green spiritual energy rapidly gathered, forming a green wolf the size of a calf.

Though the wolf had no physical body, its eyes glowed crimson, its fangs gleamed menacingly, and sharp wind blades swirled around it. The pressure it gave off actually rivaled that of an ordinary tiger.

"A Wind Wolf Puppet?"

Chu Bai's gaze sharpened.

Before he could examine it closely, the Wind Wolf roared and kicked hard against the ground with its hind legs. It became a green afterimage, lunging straight at him on a foul-smelling gust.

It was blindingly fast!

An ordinary person would likely have been knocked down and torn apart by that single pounce.

But the beatings Chu Bai had endured at the Zhao Residence these past few months had not been for nothing.

He shifted his footing and slid three feet to the left, his body like willow fluff drifting in the wind, evading the Wind Wolf's pounce by just the right margin.

At the same time, he raised his right index finger slightly.

Condense!

The spell answered his thought instantly.

A deep-blue water needle formed at his fingertip in an instant and shot out with bone-piercing cold.

Fast as lightning, the water needle pierced the Wind Wolf squarely between the brows.

The Wind Wolf did not even have time to cry out. Its body went rigid, then dissolved into a shower of green motes and vanished.

"One point secured."

Chu Bai lowered his finger without letting down his guard.

Sure enough, only three breaths later, the air twisted again. This time, two Wind Wolves appeared!

"The difficulty's already going up?"

Chu Bai kept moving, darting and weaving within the cramped space.

He did not rush to attack, instead waiting patiently for an opening in the two Wind Wolves' movements. The instant their pounces missed, when their old momentum was spent and new strength had yet to gather, he flicked both hands in rapid succession.

Two water needles struck the wolves separately, each killing its target in a single blow once again.

Time slipped by.

As his kill count increased, the types of puppets appearing began to change as well.

There were Earth Bears with astonishing defenses, Thunder Leopards wreathed in crackling lightning, and even Fire Foxes that could spit Fireballs. Their numbers kept increasing too, from a single opponent at the start to three or four at once.

Sweat gradually beaded on Chu Bai's forehead.

The Spirit Water Needle had powerful penetration and pinpoint accuracy, making it a deadly weapon against a single target. But against these group assaults, the weakness of having only one means of attack was laid bare.

He had no area-damage spell arts, nor any control skills. Surrounded by multiple puppets, he could only rely on his footwork to keep maneuvering desperately, searching for chances to destroy them one by one.

If I had the Water Binding Technique or Ice Curse, even at the beginner level, I could double my efficiency...

Chu Bai sighed inwardly, but did not dare pause his hands for even an instant.

He calculated the use of every thread of spiritual power to the utmost, refusing to waste even the smallest fraction.

Every water needle he fired took down a puppet.

On the raised platform.

The three examiners surveyed the entire field.

"That boy named Li Han really is ferocious."

Zhao Wu pointed to a compartment in the corner. Lightning flashed inside, and the rogue cultivator named Li Han looked like a thunder god descended to earth. Each blast of Palm Thunder sent Thunder Serpents dancing wildly, instantly blasting three or four puppets to pieces.

"With that kind of area damage, he's racking up points far too quickly."

Li Wenyuan looked in another direction. "Wang Teng is doing well too. He knows when to advance and retreat, with the bearing of a true master."

Finally, their gazes settled on Chu Bai.

"This boy... it's something of a pity."

Zhang Cheng shook his head slightly. "His footwork is exquisite, his control of spiritual power is even more finely honed, and he's trained that water needle spell to the proficient level. But his foundation is simply too shallow, and his repertoire too limited. Against this kind of encirclement, he's at a disadvantage."

"Still, to have held out this long with a single trusty trick, without ever missing, shows a steadiness of temperament that's truly rare."

As the final strike of the bronze gong rang out, the two hours came to an end.

The Law Net dispersed, and the curtains of light vanished.

All the puppets still attacking instantly dissolved, turning back into spiritual energy and returning to the world.

Chu Bai let out a long breath, feeling his legs weaken beneath him. This bout of intense combat had taken an enormous toll on his mind and stamina, leaving him even more exhausted than yesterday.

Before long, the clerks finished tallying the results and presented them.

Holding the register, Li Wenyuan read aloud:

"First place, Li Han. Seventy-nine puppets destroyed. Rating—Lower A!"

An uproar swept through the grounds, and countless awed gazes turned toward the cold-faced youth.

"Second place, Chu Bai. Seventy-five puppets destroyed. Rating—Lower A!"

"Third place, Wang Teng. Sixty-eight puppets destroyed. Rating—Upper Grade B!"

Hearing his result, Chu Bai was neither surprised nor particularly disappointed.

Seventy-five was already the limit of his current abilities.

He had done his best with every water needle and every dodge.

Though he had failed to claim the crown outright again, his Lower A rating still placed him firmly among the top two.

"The spellcraft trial is over."

Zhang Cheng's voice rang out again, drawing everyone's thoughts back. "You have a quarter of an hour for Breath Regulation and recovery. After that comes the final trial—Heart inquiry!"

At the words "heart inquiry," the still somewhat noisy Martial Training Ground instantly fell silent.

Everyone knew that this trial was the true gate of hell. It tested neither cultivation nor spell arts, only that elusive, intangible Dao Heart.

Chu Bai sat cross-legged, swallowed a Qi-Replenishing Pill, and closed his eyes to practice Breath Regulation.

Next came the final trial.