Setting out

That day, Xiao Yu and the other twenty disciples stood in orderly ranks before the council hall on Giant Sword Peak, while a white-haired elder addressed them!

The elder was Chu Yunfeng, the current sect master of the Giant Sword Sect. He was a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, over a hundred and fifty years old, with a kindly face that seemed to greet everyone with a smile.

Four other Foundation Establishment cultivators stood beside Sect Master Chu. One was Uncle Zhao, whom Xiao Yu had met when registering; he had no idea who the other three were.

Sect Master Chu stroked his beard and said, "Once you enter the Forbidden Grounds, you must be especially careful. Help one another when necessary. I hope every one of you can find spirit herbs and bring them out safely. When the time comes, the sect will reward you most generously...

"The sect will give each of you a map jade slip. It contains the terrain mapped by disciples who entered the Forbidden Grounds in previous trials, as well as the locations where certain spirit herbs grow. You can follow the map to find what you seek..."

Once Sect Master Chu began speaking, he launched into a lengthy sermon, ladling out chicken soup for their souls and pumping fire into their veins! His voice rose and fell, impassioned and forceful, until the Qi Refining disciples' blood surged and their enthusiasm soared!

Xiao Yu, however, was unimpressed. His eyes narrowed slightly as he considered his own affairs, taking stock of the means at his disposal. He now had two premium top-grade magical artifacts, one offensive and one defensive;

He had around three hundred enhanced Fire Serpent Talismans, enough for a dozen or so uses if deployed in batches, and twenty-odd enhanced Firecloud Talismans, also enough for several uses, along with one Talisman Treasure.

With these powerful means to rely on, bringing out spirit herb seedlings should pose no problem, provided he remained careful and avoided reckless risks.

Only after a long while did Sect Master Chu say, "To ensure your safety in the Secret Realm, the sect will issue each disciple a mid-grade spirit stone and a high-grade magical artifact!"

"What? A high-grade magical artifact!" Some of the disciples were overjoyed!

A high-grade magical artifact cost one or two hundred spirit stones. Most rogue cultivators struggled to obtain even a mid-grade artifact, let alone a high-grade one.

As sect disciples, everyone present enjoyed far better cultivation conditions than rogue cultivators and owned at least a few high-grade magical artifacts. Still, they were hardly wealthy enough to disregard such treasures. Who would not be delighted to receive an artifact worth one or two hundred spirit stones for nothing?

After all, few besides the elite disciples possessed top-grade magical artifacts. For most Qi Refining disciples, high-grade artifacts were the best they had.

Since the Forbidden Grounds were not yet due to be sealed, this Blood Trial had not drawn the same gathering of experts as the one Han Li would attend five years later.

Most of those who had signed up this time had little hope of advancing further in their cultivation and wanted to take a gamble inside. Only three were at the thirteenth layer. Though there were just three, Xiao Yu reckoned at least two were elite disciples, since the sect needed disciples like them to bring out spirit herbs.

Of the remaining eighteen, thirteen were at the twelfth layer of Qi Refining, four at the eleventh, and one at the tenth. Their overall strength was not particularly impressive.

Xiao Yu did not see a single familiar face among them. The "Martial Fool" had not joined this trial.

That was only natural. In the years since joining the sect, he had mostly shut himself away to cultivate and rarely socialized. It would have been stranger if he had known anyone.

Although Xiao Yu already possessed the top-grade Spirit Turtle Shield and Radiant Mother-and-Son Swords, and even the Scarlet Cloud Sword Talisman Treasure, he was still pleased to hear he would receive a high-grade magical artifact for free. The sect was rather generous.

After thinking it over, he understood. These artifacts were certainly valuable, but if the disciples could use them to bring spirit herbs out of the Forbidden Grounds, it would all be worthwhile. They did not expect many to succeed, but as long as a quarter returned with spirit herbs, the sect would suffer no loss.

The moment Sect Master Chu finished speaking, he shook his sleeve toward a broad table nearby!

Black wooden boxes, each roughly a foot across, shot out one after another,

Turned slightly in the air, and settled gently onto the tabletop! Every disciple stared at the dozens of boxes with gleaming eyes!

Xiao Yu swiftly swept his spiritual sense over the wooden boxes, but it was rebuffed by every single one! Clearly, some sort of restrictions had been placed on them.

Looks like choosing will come down to luck, Xiao Yu thought as he examined the black wooden boxes!

Seeing the excitement on every disciple's face, Sect Master Chu smiled faintly and said, "Go ahead and choose your magical artifacts!"

At his words, the disciples were delighted and hurried forward to make their selections.

Once the others moved, Xiao Yu headed straight for a wooden box he had already picked out. With a wave of one hand above it, he put it into his storage pouch.

After spending some time considering their choices, the others each selected a wooden box and put it into their storage pouches, then returned to their places to wait!

Once everyone had chosen, Sect Master Chu began rambling again!

A moment later, an immense pressure suddenly swept over them, bearing down upon every Qi Refining disciple. Their bodies involuntarily sagged beneath it!

At the same time, a hearty voice rang in their ears. "Brat Shang, are you finished yet? What a dawdler. I'm waiting to set off!"

Sensing something amiss, Xiao Yu hurriedly circulated his cultivation technique, which eased the pressure considerably!

Hearing those words shocked him even more! This person could strike fear into their hearts with his pressure alone, and he spoke so rudely to the sect master. He had to be a high-level Core Formation cultivator.

While Xiao Yu was still reeling, a handsome middle-aged man in black robes, carrying a massive sword on his back, appeared out of thin air before them. He stood suspended in the air, radiating a powerful aura. Clearly, he was the one who had spoken so impolitely to the sect master.

The moment Sect Master Chu and the other four Foundation Establishment cultivators saw him, they respectfully approached and bowed. "Chu Yunfeng (Zhao Gang)... pays his respects to Uncle Wang!"

"Dispense with the formalities! I detest all that tedious ceremony. All that dawdling is a nuisance." The black-robed middle-aged man casually flicked his right sleeve as he spoke.

"Yes..." Sect Master Chu and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators hurriedly answered with respect.

The five Foundation Establishment cultivators then began conversing with the black-robed man, their faces full of ingratiating smiles!

At the sight, Xiao Yu sighed inwardly. The ways of the world are everywhere! Even the cultivation world is no exception. He dared not show it on his face, however, and merely stood with his hands at his sides alongside the other disciples, looking exceedingly respectful!

Before long, the Foundation Establishment cultivators finished their conversation with the black-robed man.

Sect Master Chu addressed the disciples:

"This is our sect's Grandmaster Wang. Come and pay your respects!"

Not daring to delay, the disciples bowed in unison and said:

"We pay our respects to Grandmaster Wang!"

Grandmaster Wang glanced at the sky and said, "Mm, rise, all of you. We leave now. We still have several days' travel ahead!"

Then Grandmaster Wang took out a sword-shaped magical artifact, formed several spell seals with one hand, and tossed it into the air!

Before their very eyes, the flying sword instantly grew into a colossal object two hundred feet long and thirty feet wide!

"Everyone, get on. We'll travel much faster with me taking you." After addressing Xiao Yu and the other low-level disciples standing nearby, along with the four Foundation Establishment cultivators other than the sect master, Grandmaster Wang floated onto the flying sword.

At his instruction, Xiao Yu and the others employed their movement techniques and leaped onto the flying sword.

Then Grandmaster Wang flicked his sleeve, and the enormous sword shot toward the horizon so swiftly that every Qi Refining cultivator was left staring, tongue-tied!

A translucent barrier of light also appeared around the enormous sword, enclosing them all. Not even the slightest breeze reached them!

Xiao Yu gazed with burning eyes at Grandmaster Wang, who stood at ease up ahead. So these are the powers of a Core Formation cultivator! One day, I'll surely be able to do the same.