Xiao Yan paid little attention to the middle-aged man's obsequious and overly fawning attitude, which was almost exaggerated in its radiance.
He merely nodded slightly with a calm expression, his gaze not even lingering on the other person's face. That composed and aloof demeanor was itself a silent statement.
The middle-aged man was sensible enough. Seeing Xiao Yan's lukewarm reaction, although his smile didn't diminish in the slightest, he stopped his noisy flattery and instead led the way even more diligently.
Soon, led by the middle-aged man, he and Lin Wan'er passed through several winding corridors and around several imposing pavilions, and arrived at a secluded courtyard.
This area was clearly designated by the Wind Lightning Pavilion to accommodate its guests. Neatly trimmed dwarf pines lined both sides of the road, and the bluestone path was swept clean, with not a single fallen leaf in sight.
A faint fluctuation of lightning-attribute Soul Power could be sensed in the air, emanating from the central area of the Wind Lightning Pavilion. Although thin, it enveloped the entire area in a unique and chilling aura.
"Seniors, please rest here. If you need anything, just let me know."
I'll be waiting in the guardhouse not far ahead, ready to respond at any time.
The middle-aged man led the two to the courtyard gate, bowing and scraping as he spoke to Xiao Yan and Lin Wan'er, pointing to a low house not far away to indicate that he wouldn't go far.
Immediately after speaking, he bowed and took a few steps back before turning and walking out of the house, his steps light and relieved.
Xiao Yan watched the middle-aged man's departing figure with a calm gaze, then withdrew his gaze and led Lin Wan'er into the courtyard.
The courtyard wasn't very spacious; it was surrounded by a wall made of blue bricks, and the courtyard was paved with smooth stone slabs, with a few stubborn clumps of green grass sprouting from the cracks.
There are three guest rooms in the courtyard, arranged in a "pin" shape. The one in the middle is slightly larger, and the ones on the sides are slightly smaller.
The doors were all made of solid wood, painted a dark red, and the brass rings on them were polished to a shine.
In the corner of the courtyard stands an old locust tree, its branches and leaves lush and casting a large patch of shade. Beneath the tree, a stone table is set with four stone benches, creating a unique and tranquil atmosphere.
Xiao Yan and Lin Wan'er each chose a room; Xiao Yan stayed in the one on the left, while Lin Wan'er chose the one on the right.
The two pushed open their respective doors. The rooms, though not luxurious, were clean and tidy.
After settling in quickly, the two of them went to the courtyard without prior arrangement. The sun had already set, and a dark red afterglow lingered on the horizon, casting a long shadow of the old locust tree.
" Brother Tang, tomorrow is the trial for the Wind Lightning Pavilion. Aren't you worried?"
In the courtyard, Lin Wan'er looked up at Xiao Yan, blinked her clear eyes, and asked curiously with a smile on her face.
Her tone was light, as if she were asking about a trivial matter, but a hint of concern lingered deep in her eyes.
Xiao Yan turned his gaze from the distance to Lin Wan'er's face, and looking into her bright and innocent eyes, a warm feeling swept through his heart.
He shook his head silently, a slight smile playing on his lips that reassured Lin Wan'er.
He wasn't blindly confident about this trial; his current strength was enough to rival that of Dou Emperor.
With the multiple uses of his Heavenly Flames Martial Soul and his newly created Twin Flame Wings, he was confident that he would not be at a disadvantage against opponents of the same level.
As night deepened, the two returned to their respective rooms to rest and recharge for the trials the following day.
Xiao Yan returned to his room but did not rest immediately. He sat cross-legged on the bed, formed hand seals, and slowly began to cultivate and regulate his breathing.
The energy from the surrounding world poured into his body like a trickle. After being refined through the meridians, it was finally transformed into pure soul power and flowed into his Dantian.
Tonight, he doesn't plan to continue researching the Twin Flame Wings; instead, he wants to get himself into peak condition.
Tomorrow's trials may hold unpredictable challenges, so it's always good to be prepared.
In the next room, Lin Wan'er was also awake.
She sat on the edge of the bed, holding the jade pendant her father had left her in her hands, her fingertips gently tracing the warm, smooth patterns on its surface.
He muttered a few words to himself, then carefully put the jade pendant back close to his body and closed his eyes to enter a meditative state.
Nothing more was said that night.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Xiao Yan's Soul Power circulated smoothly and freely within his body. Every bit of power was at his command, and his spirit and energy had reached their peak.
He slowly opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance appearing briefly before his gaze deepened and became more reserved.
He wanted to face this trial in the best possible way, as it was not only a stepping stone for him to enter the Wind Lightning Pavilion for cultivation, but also an important opportunity for him to verify his own strength.
Lin Wan'er pushed open her door before dawn and was pacing back and forth in the courtyard, her hands sometimes behind her back and sometimes clasped together.
A hint of nervousness was barely concealed on her face.
Hearing Xiao Yan push open the door, she stopped, turned around, and forced a smile at Xiao Yan:
" Brother Tang, you're awake."
"Yes, you got up earlier than me." Xiao Yan nodded, then asked, "Hasn't that middle-aged man come to inform us yet?"
"Not yet." Lin Wan'er shook her head.
"I've been waiting in the yard."
Xiao Yan didn't say much, but simply walked to the stone table and sat down, his expression calm.
The two waited there in the courtyard as the morning light gradually brightened.
Footsteps could be heard outside the courtyard, sometimes rising and sometimes fading away, but they never stopped in front of their gate.
As the sky gradually brightened, the sun had climbed to its zenith.
Xiao Yan estimated the time; it was already close to noon.
We've been waiting since early morning, at least two hours, but Elder He to inform Xiao Yan to prepare for the trial.
This is very unusual. Trials are usually arranged in advance.
The time, location, and procedures will be communicated to the participants in advance. A major sect like Wind Lightning Pavilion should not be in a situation where they leave people waiting without saying a word.
Xiao Yan frowned slightly. He stood up, walked to the courtyard gate, and glanced outside.
The bluestone path outside was deserted. Occasionally, one or two disciples from the Wind Lightning Pavilion would hurry by, but none of them would give their courtyard a second glance.
Lin Wan'er also sensed something was wrong, walked to Xiao Yan's side, and whispered:
" Brother Tang, has something happened? Why hasn't anyone come to call us yet?"
"Don't worry, let me ask."
Xiao Yan then summoned the middle-aged man who had led the way yesterday. He leaned out of the courtyard gate and called out in the direction of the guardhouse, and the middle-aged man quickly ran over.
A moment later, the middle-aged man appeared before Xiao Yan and Lin Wan'er with a troubled expression.
His round face wore an indescribable look of embarrassment and awkwardness.
His lips moved several times, but he couldn't say a word. He rubbed his hands together in front of him, and his gaze was evasive, not daring to look Xiao Yan in the eye.
Looking at the expression on the middle-aged man's face, Xiao Yan knew that things had probably changed.
This hesitant, stammering manner often indicates that what the other person is about to say will not be good news.
"What's wrong?"
Xiao Yan got straight to the point, his tone calm, but his gaze was fixed on the middle-aged man's face, leaving him no room for ambiguity.
"Reporting to Senior, Elder He just sent someone to say... that..."
The middle-aged man stammered for a moment, sweat beading on his forehead, before gritting his teeth and blurting it out in one breath.
"The formation that initiated the trial has malfunctioned and is currently undergoing emergency repairs, which will take some time to be completed."
Therefore, I'm afraid today's trial cannot proceed for the time being. Please forgive me, senior, and we will have to wait a little longer.
Xiao Yan frowned upon hearing this.
He stared at the middle-aged man's face for a long time.
The middle-aged man felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze; the smile on his round face almost crumbled, and beads of sweat trickled down his temples, soaking his collar.
But the other person didn't seem to be lying.
Xiao Yan's soul perception clearly captured the emotions of the middle-aged man at this moment.
He was tense, fearful, and genuinely embarrassed. It was certain that these words were not fabricated by him, but rather he was indeed conveying Elder He's meaning.
However, the problem lies in Elder He He's words are true or false; that remains to be seen.
Formation malfunction?
Given the resources and foundation of a major sect like Wind Lightning Pavilion, would there be any problems maintaining the operation of a trial formation?
And the fact that the problem occurred precisely when he was preparing to participate in the trial was just too much of a coincidence.
Okay, I understand.
Xiao Yan finally nodded and did not make things difficult for the middle-aged man.
Making things difficult for him is useless; he's just a messenger, and the real decision-making power isn't in his hands.
The middle-aged man felt as if he had been granted a pardon. The tension on his face suddenly relaxed. After letting out a long breath, as if afraid that Xiao Yan would change his mind, he hurriedly turned around and left in a hurry.
Lin Wan'er watched all of this from the side. Once the middle-aged man's figure had completely disappeared from sight, she finally couldn't help but speak:
" Brother Tang, something's not right. Wasn't anyone checking for array malfunctions beforehand? And of all times, a problem occurs just when we're about to participate?"
"Something's not right," Xiao Yan said calmly. "Let's wait and see what they do next."
However, Xiao Yan had already become more wary. He didn't rush to react, but simply kept this suspicion in mind.
Since he was on the other side's turf, he wanted to figure out what the Wind Lightning Pavilion and Thunder Pavilion was really up to.