Initiation Trial

"My goodness! What a terrifying giant bird!"

"It's easily stronger than Elder Zhao Yuanji's Giant-Toothed Vulture from before!"

The Martial Arts Arena had already erupted into a commotion, everyone watching the giant cyan bird in midair with utter shock.

This Flaming Cyan Bird alone was enough to destroy the greater part of Tianshui City.

"Get on!"

In midair, Chi Zhenheng stood tall on the back of the Flaming Cyan Bird, and as he waved his hand, an invisible force immediately acted upon Qin Hao and the other two down on the arena platform.

Instantly, as if wrapped in power and losing control of their bodies, Qin Hao and the two others rose into the air and then slowly landed on the back of the Flaming Cyan Bird.

"Greetings, Elder Chi!"

Qin Hao and the other two hastily cupped their fists in respectful salute.

"Mm, all of you sit down."

Chi Zhenheng swept a cold gaze across the three of them, pausing for a moment when it landed on Qin Hao before slowly shifting away again.

"Father!"

At that moment, Qin Hao also looked toward the spot where the Qin family stood, where Qin Yuntian, Liu Wei, and numerous Qin family members were located.

"Hao'er, once you reach the Myriad Phenomena Hall, you must cultivate diligently and bitterly." Qin Yuntian was both emotional and worried.

His son had finally entered the Myriad Phenomena Hall!

Only, before they had even reached the Myriad Phenomena Hall, Liu Chengfeng had launched a midnight assassination attempt; once they arrived at the Myriad Phenomena Hall, crises would likely be even more numerous!

On the other side, Chen Yuntian and Liu Xiao were also bidding farewell to their own clansmen.

How vast was the jurisdiction of the Myriad Phenomena Hall, and Tianshui City was merely an insignificant small city within it.

Amidst everyone's envious and expectant gazes, the Flaming Cyan Bird moved.

"Caw! Caw!..."

The Flaming Cyan Bird emitted several incomparably sharp cries, immediately flapping its huge, fiery-red wings. Carrying rolling waves of flame, a single flight covered several hundred zhang.

An invisible force enveloped the back of the Flaming Cyan Bird; despite the howling gale, the few of them were not affected in the slightest.

In the blink of an eye, it was reduced to a small, fiery-red speck before completely vanishing.

Inside the Martial Arts Arena, everyone felt a sense of loss.

The once-every-three-years Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament had officially come to an end.

"After the three of you arrive at the Myriad Phenomena Hall, you must still cultivate with a focused mind."

Chi Zhenheng stood with his hands behind his back and said indifferently, "The Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament is merely your starting point; you must hold higher goals in your hearts and walk the path toward greater strength. Of course, if you wish to become experts, bitter cultivation alone is not enough—you need even more to temper yourselves and temper your state of mind."

"Understood, Elder Chi!" Qin Hao spoke respectfully.

"We understand."

Chen Yuntian and Liu Xiao also spoke up one after another.

"These are the Myriad Phenomena Hall Rules; take a look!"

With a wave of Chi Zhenheng's right hand, three thin, archaic books appeared in midair.

Qin Hao took one of the books, and several large characters were striking upon the cover: Myriad Phenomena Hall Rules!

As the largest sect within a radius of ten thousand li, the Myriad Phenomena Hall had stern and rigorous rules.

Three points in particular must never be violated.

First, never betray the sect!

Second, killing is forbidden within the Myriad Phenomena Hall!

Third, passing on cultivation methods and secret skills externally is prohibited!

Aside from these, there were numerous introductions.

Such as the various halls of the Myriad Phenomena Hall, including the Enforcement Hall, the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, the Mission Hall, the Martial Arts Hall, and so on.

Among all these, the things that attracted the three of them the most were the Initiation Trial and the requirements for Outer Hall disciples to advance to the Inner Hall.

According to the traditions of the Myriad Phenomena Hall, every batch of new disciples would be arranged to undergo a trial.

The trial carried risks, and deaths could even occur.

However, the Myriad Phenomena Hall made it mandatory for all new disciples to participate.

Naturally, one could also refuse, in which case they would go back the way they came.

"The Initiation Trial carries massive risks, but the rewards far surpass the Genius Tournament. However, even if you cannot secure the rewards, as long as you don't die, you pass."

"By contrast, advancing from the Outer Hall to the Inner Hall has somewhat harsh conditions!"

"There are two major conditions for advancing to Inner Hall disciples!"

Qin Hao looked at the ancient book in his hands. "First, become one of the top one hundred on the Bronze Ranking! Second, pass the test of the Stone Man Secret Realm!"

"The Bronze Ranking is the leaderboard for Outer Hall disciples, tallying only the top one hundred."

"The Myriad Phenomena Hall has tens of thousands of Outer Hall disciples, and those who can enter the top one hundred are geniuses among geniuses, every single one possessing formidable strength! Even so, one still has to pass the Stone Man Secret Realm."

The Stone Man Secret Realm was a trial ground established by the Myriad Phenomena Hall specifically for the Outer Hall.

It contained one hundred and eight puppets within, with strengths ranging from the peak of the ninth stage of the Body Tempering Realm to the ninth stage of the Meridian Opening Realm.

When Outer Hall disciples ventured into the Stone Man Secret Realm, though it wouldn't cost them their lives, it was extremely dangerous. With good luck, one merely sustained injuries; with poorer luck, breaking arms and legs was a common occurrence.

"Nor can just any Outer Hall disciple venture into the Stone Man Secret Realm; their cultivation must reach the peak of the ninth stage of the Body Tempering Realm, and within a year, they only get two chances to enter the Stone Man Secret Realm—it's very precious! Aside from that..."

Qin Hao clicked his tongue in wonder. "Every time one enters the Stone Man Secret Realm, it requires paying five thousand Contribution Points!"

The first-place winner of the Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament was only rewarded with one thousand Contribution Points.

It seemed like a lot, but in reality, within the Myriad Phenomena Hall, it could not exchange for many things before being completely depleted.

Meanwhile, the Contribution Points required to enter the Stone Man Secret Realm were even greater.

"No wonder!"

Qin Hao's gaze burned brightly. "The requirements to advance from the Outer Hall to the Inner Hall are simply too strict."

"There are tens of thousands of Outer Hall disciples, whereas the Inner Hall has a mere sparse total of fewer than three thousand people."

"However, only by entering the Inner Hall can one cultivate the core cultivation methods and martial arts of the Myriad Phenomena Hall."

"Therefore, no matter what, I must enter the Inner Hall."

On the other side, Chen Yuntian and Liu Xiao also wore shocked expressions, their eyes flashing with excited brilliance.

They had yearned for this day for far too long.

Tianshui City was, after all, merely a remote and narrow corner.

Only by entering the Myriad Phenomena Hall could one come into contact with a broader world!

"The strong stay strong, and the weak stay weak!"

"Future competition will only be even more cruel and fierce!"

Each of the three thought to themselves, their hearts filled with utmost anticipation.

The Flaming Cyan Bird flew extremely fast; between the flapping of its huge, fiery-red wings, it covered several hundred zhang, and flying at full strength, it traveled several hundred li in the blink of an eye!

After a full day and night, they were already approaching the Myriad Phenomena Hall!

"What a majestic mountain peak!"

Looking from afar, one could see that wherever the eye could reach, there was strikingly a colossal peak piercing straight into the clouds; upon this giant peak, there was even pristine white snow, wreathed in clouds and mist.

A massive amount of various architectures were scattered across all four directions of the giant peak.

Beside the giant peak were nine relatively shorter mountain peaks, yet they still reached a height of a thousand zhang.

Not far beneath the giant peak stood a majestic giant city.

"Myriad Forms City!" Qin Hao's mind was shaken. "As expected of a city directly governed by the Myriad Phenomena Hall—this city alone is more than ten times larger than Tianshui City."

Inside Myriad Forms City, an immense mass of martial artists was entering and exiting in dense swarms.

Aside from Myriad Phenomena Hall disciples, many rogue cultivators gathered right here.

"Caw! Caw!..."

In the sky, there were likewise numerous flying fierce beasts of all kinds. Standing atop every flying beast were young men and maidens, all of them geniuses from various major cities and new disciples of the Myriad Phenomena Hall.

"All new disciples must head to the Myriad Phenomena Hall on your own! You will descend from here and go yourselves to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to collect your Entrance Token."

"Your rewards will be issued together at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall."

Chi Zhenheng controlled the Flaming Cyan Bird to slowly descend. Below them was strikingly a grand avenue leading toward the Myriad Phenomena Hall; its width alone reached several zhang, making it exceedingly massive.

"Many thanks, Elder Chi; we will certainly not fail Elder Chi's nurturing!"

Qin Hao, Chen Yuntian, and Liu Xiao jumped off the Flaming Cyan Bird and, suppressing their excitement, hastily spoke in respectful salute.

Chi Zhenheng nodded and said indifferently, "Ten days from now, the Initiation Trial will be conducted uniformly. Each batch's Initiation Trial takes place randomly."

"By then, Outer Hall enforcers will notify you."

"This old man still has important matters to attend to. If there is anything you don't understand, you may ask your senior brothers and senior sisters!"

With that, Chi Zhenheng tapped his feet lightly, and immediately the Flaming Cyan Bird beneath him was seen sinking downward, creating a wave of air ripples before Chi Zhenheng glided straight toward the main peak of the Myriad Phenomena Hall.

The Flaming Cyan Bird let out a cry, likewise flying toward one of the other mountain peaks.