All the divine beasts headed toward the sand dune without stopping.
The sand dune had been reinforced by all manner of Formations, solid as a fortress. Inside was a spacious hall, where a white-bearded old man sat upright.
"A human form?"
What puzzled Nie Yun was that this old man, unlike the other divine beasts, was actually in human form.
Ever since entering the Boundless Abyss, he had encountered one stranger creature after another. He had not expected the White-bearded Elder Hou Kong spoke of to look like this.
"No wonder Qiuyuan hadn't said anything when he saw me earlier. So the Boundless Abyss isn't inhabited entirely by divine beasts—there are humans here too!"
Nie Yun suddenly understood.
When Qiuyuan had seen him in human form earlier, he had not found it strange, nor had he considered him an outsider. Now it seemed that was likely because of the White-bearded Elder's human form.
"Everyone, present your rewards first. Your questions will be answered in order according to the grade of the rewards!"
The divine beast that had just ushered them into the sand dune announced loudly.
At this moment, the White-bearded Elder looked as though he were asleep, his eyes slightly closed, his head lowered, utterly motionless.
"Yes!"
All the divine beasts knew the rules. Without wasting words, they walked toward a stone platform at the side.
The stone platform stood over three meters high. That was nothing to the enormous divine beasts, but it was rather tall for Nie Yun.
The first divine beast to reach the stone platform lightly slashed with its hoof-claw, and a drop of blood appeared above it.
Buzz!
The blood gleamed brilliantly. With a whoosh, orange light burst forth, illuminating the surroundings.
"Orange light. Passed. Grade Six!"
The voice rang out.
The divine beast