After a long silence.
Then someone whispered, "I inquired beforehand, and this person was only at the Qi Refinement Fourth Layer before leaving the mountain... Now..."
No one responded to that.
Those pairs of eyes, filled with envy or surprise, surged in from all directions like a tangible tide, seemingly threatening to drown Chen Shuangbai.
Chen Shuangbai remained calm, first accepting the heartfelt congratulations from He Qi and Fu Qianlan, and then responding with a humble smile and thanks to the several fellow disciples who came forward to offer their congratulations and were friendly, unmoved by external things.
But among these many pairs of gazes, there were a few that Chen Shuangbai had to pay attention to.
Aside from Lin Jingtao, who came from the Lin Immortal Clan, and Ji Ruohua, who was promoted from the lineage, there were two other people who also caught Chen Shuangbai's attention. However, those two gazes were only for a moment before they were swept away by the fellow disciples who rushed forward to offer their congratulations.
Once the disciples had vented their emotions, a young attendant behind Deacon Feng struck the jade bell. The melodious sound of the bell drew the disciples' attention back to the present.
Chen Shuangbai knew that this was an announcement of the preliminary Martial Edge Trial.
"Quiet!"
Although Deacon Feng was not Foundation Establishment cultivator, he had been at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining for many years, so when he was serious, he naturally had a certain air of authority.
The sudden silence was like a clap of thunder in spring, instantly silencing all the noise in the room.
He stepped forward, standing on high ground, his gaze sharp as lightning, slowly sweeping over the hundreds of disciples below who had fallen silent again, their eyes displaying a variety of expressions. With a clatter, he collected the golden list.
"Your names are on the honor roll, your merits and demerits are settled! This is the result of the joint trial by the Abyss Suppression Hall and all the halls, and also the sect's final assessment of your three years of hard work!"
Deacon Feng's voice was deep and serious as he changed the subject.
"But your past achievements only prove your ability to guard this area. However, for us cultivators, in the end, methods are king and cultivation is supreme. Our ultimate goal should be to protect our sect, slay demons, and eliminate evil!"
"Therefore, Abyss Suppression Hall, by order of Master Bo, has specially set up Martial Edge Trial to True Person Bo skills and prove true worth! It is also to select the most outstanding talents from within the sect, and to scout out usable weapons for the upcoming war!"
Chen Shuangbai was somewhat surprised.
Has the sect made up its mind completely?
Then, Deacon Feng explained the details of this Martial Edge Trial.
The disciples immediately split into two factions.
One group was discussing the rewards offered by the sect during this Martial Edge Trial, rewards that even inner disciple would envy.
Unfortunately... the inner disciple were excluded this time.
The other faction is more concerned with the sect's decision.
The struggle between Heart-Eroding Stronghold and Empty Sword Sect has been going on for seven or eight years. Instead of gradually subsiding, it has intensified. The sect's current actions are undoubtedly an indication that it intends to get involved.
As the chimes faded, Deacon Feng turned and left with several attendants.
On Morning Dew Peak, many disciples had dispersed, but most remained, discussing the matter.
"Let's go too."
Chen Shuangbai withdrew his gaze, and together with Fu Qianlan and He Qi, each activated their magical Law Artifact, transforming into three streams of light and swiftly leaving Morning Dew Peak.
Outside the cave abode on Lesser Yang Peak.
He Qi let out a long breath, breaking the silence.
"Although I already knew that the sect was most likely going to send troops to Heart-Eroding Stronghold, now that I have received accurate information, I feel... uneasy."
War is never an easy topic.
Although the three of them had joined the number one immortal sect in the Jing Kingdom, which had three Golden Core True Person and even a Golden Core sect leader comparable to Nascent Soul cultivator, not everyone craved war.
Confusion and anxiety are the most genuine feelings of many low-level cultivators when facing war.
Cultivation is for longevity and transcendence.
It was so that they could ride the wind, roam freely on swords, gather herbs and refine elixirs, and live the kind of immortal life described in folk tales.
This is the initial and most simple thought of a young cultivator embarking on the path of cultivation.
Reality often forces you to get your hands stained with blood, struggling in the quagmire of life, death, and profit.
Fu Qianlan seemed to share a similar sentiment, saying, "Once war breaks out, the front lines will surely be awash in blood, with countless fellow disciples and even innocent mortals perishing in the chaos. Although we possess cultivation, before Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, or even more terrifying beings, we are nothing more than slightly larger ants."
The atmosphere was somewhat silent.
Chen Shuangbai could understand their worries.
Even he, subconsciously, felt a resistance to war.
But that's just how the world is.
A grain of sand in the era, falling on these minor repairmen, is like a sacred mountain, pressing down on them, making it hard to breathe, and even shattering them to pieces.
After the two left.
Chen Shuangbai returned to the quiet room, lit the incense in the incense burner to calm her mind, but did not begin her cultivation. Instead, she quietly sorted out her thoughts.
The shadow of war looms large, and the future remains uncertain.
He also felt fear, but beyond that fear, there was also a hidden excitement and anticipation.
After much deliberation, he realized that perhaps he was not someone who was content with the status quo.
"A storm is brewing..."
The day the Martial Edge Trial officially began.
For this grand gathering of outer disciples, the sect specially opened a large competition arena in the southwest of the sect.
This training ground is located in " Crouching Tiger Plateau " in the southwest of the Jade Spring Sect. It covers a vast area and is large enough to accommodate thousands of people to practice martial arts at the same time. The ground is made of a special stone called Azure Gang Stone, which is extremely hard and is engraved with many array patterns, making it even more solid.
Platforms have been carved out on the peaks on both sides, with numerous viewing platforms set up on them.
The room was now filled with inner and outer disciples who had come to witness the ceremony, and even some figures with profound auras who were clearly stewards or outer elders.
It was a bustling scene with people.
Following the directions, Chen Shuangbai arrived at a special platform, which was filled with disciples whose auras were solid, including He Qi and Fu Qianlan.
This is where the disciples participating in the Martial Edge Trial gather.
Among this group, Chen Shuangbai naturally spotted several fellow disciples, including Lin Jingtao and Ji Ruohua, who Late Qi Refining Stage.
After glancing at the group of people briefly, Chen Shuangbai looked around and saw that on the platforms and seats on the surrounding peaks, there were not only the outer sect's stewards and elders, but also many unfamiliar faces that he had never seen before.
"People from the inner sect have also arrived, and there are several Foundation Establishment cultivators among them."
He Qi leaned closer, whispered something, and pointed her right hand to the sky.
Looking up, Chen Shuangbai saw several figures in the sky.
Whether sitting on the back of a white crane, coiled on Law Artifact, or riding on auspicious clouds, surrounded by colorful light and auspicious energy, they displayed the full poise of Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Among these people, Chen Shuangbai also spotted a figure radiating divine light.