Chapter 149: Chapter 148: Gathering of Storms
After Hong Yuan was called away by the maid, Ji Qingxue still appeared to be in a daze.
She could never have imagined Hong Yuan would reject her so decisively. After all, she was a Snow Shadow Rabbit, a Dao companion with a special constitution coveted by countless Demon Cultivators.
Xuan Guangqiao... Ji Qingxue’s rabbit-like eyes trembled slightly, a hint of pure foolishness in them.
Meanwhile, Hong Yuan returned to the main hall. He stayed quietly in a corner, listening to the teachings of the elders, Xuan Qi and Wan Xuerou.
"In Soul-shocking Valley, there are treasures for breaking through to the Hundred-fold Soul..."
"On Luopo Mountain, there are treasures for breaking through to a thousand-fold soul..."
"The Gate of Life and Death holds the Soul Shocking Thorn..."
Facing Wan Xuerou’s intentional hints, Hong Yuan silently memorized the critical shortcuts of each secret realm in the Heart-questioning Trial.
The focus of the Heart-questioning Trial assessment was on soul strength, not on being the first to pass.
However, because the number of soul-strengthening treasures in the Heart-questioning Trial was fixed, and participants faced being devoured by others, an unwritten rule emerged: the strongest would be the first to exit.
Fourteen Demon Saint juniors were participating in this Heart-questioning Trial. Hong Yuan aimed for fourth or fifth place, which would be just enough to get his name into the disciple records of the Dragon God Sacred Land.
If he aimed for the top three, Hong Yuan saw no hope at all.
Ten days flew by in an instant, and the Heart-questioning Trial was about to begin!
At 1:00 AM that day, the Dragon Star Building on Dragon Star Main Island suddenly blazed with light, transforming the night sky over the Dragon Star Archipelago into day. Countless Demon Cultivators craned their necks, gazing at the Sky-reaching White Pillar of light.
The Sky-reaching White Pillar pierced the clouds, as if rending the heavens to usher in daylight.
"The Heart-questioning Trial is finally starting," a woman in purple robes remarked with emotion.
"Yes, I wonder if a monstrous genius at the ten thousand soul level will appear this time," a bald youth chimed in.
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on the Dragon Star Building, waiting to see who would appear first. Hong Yuan, too, was filled with anticipation.
At that moment, thanks to the convenience provided by the Black Dragon Demon Saint, Hong Yuan was already on the third floor of the Dragon Star Building. As soon as he stepped out, he could enter the Heart-questioning Realm through the guiding pillar of light.
But Hong Yuan, aiming for fourth or fifth place, had no intention of being the first to act.
"Li Jianqiu?!" Hong Yuan’s eyebrows twitched slightly in surprise.
Below, Li Jianqiu, in a red palace gown and holding an orchid-patterned oil-paper umbrella, slowly approached from the distance. Her swaying figure and captivating charm enchanted all onlookers.
Faintly, Hong Yuan heard a series of sharp intakes of breath.
Clearly, everyone was surprised by Li Jianqiu’s early appearance.
"This girl has excellent aptitude and temperament. Some old immortals in the inner courtyard already regard her as a strong contender for the Six Tao Species."
Wan Xuerou spoke softly, explaining to the Black Dragon Demon Saint and Hong Yuan.
The Black Dragon Demon Saint said little. A dark glint flickered in his eyes as he attempted to probe Li Jianqiu’s background.
Can’t see clearly? Old Man Li certainly treasures his precious granddaughter.
The Black Dragon Demon Saint glanced briefly and did not probe further, as doing so would be an open confrontation.
He turned to Hong Yuan and said, "Li Jianqiu’s strength far surpasses yours. Avoid her if you encounter her."
"Yes, Godfather. I understand," Hong Yuan responded.
After Li Jianqiu’s appearance, Zhang Daoliu and Zhang Fan rushed forward, almost competing with each other.
Zhang Daoliu was dressed like the scion of a noble family. Coupled with his original body being a Gale Qilin, he moved with a more dashing and elegant flair than Zhang Fan.
Zhang Fan, beside him, was completely overshadowed, utterly outclassed.
"Zhang Daoliu and Zhang Fan are decent enough," Wan Xuerou murmured, clearly not as impressed as she had been with Li Jianqiu.
"They’re alright." The Black Dragon Demon Saint assessed them for a moment, then instructed Hong Yuan, "Neither of them is a cause for concern. You can attack them in the latter half of the Heart-questioning Trial." Hong Yuan nodded.
He also felt that these two were obviously inferior to Li Jianqiu; they lacked a certain ’presence.’
After the Black Dragon Demon Saint had commented on several other participants, Hong Yuan bowed his farewell to the two elders and left the Dragon Star Building, heading straight for the Sky-reaching White Pillar.
Wan Xuerou watched Hong Yuan’s departing figure, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. She asked the Black Dragon Demon Saint, "Qi, your godson doesn’t seem like one to settle for mediocrity."
The Black Dragon Demon Saint shook his head. "You’ve misjudged Guangqiao. He is precisely lacking in ambition but more than adequate in maintaining the status quo. He is a qualified ruler in preserving what is established."
People often judge by appearances.
Perhaps Hong Yuan’s human-form Dao Body, with its spirited and youthful appearance, was indeed deceptive. However, the Black Dragon Demon Saint was all too clear about Hong Yuan’s true nature and actions.
TAP. TAP.
Exiting the Dragon Star Building, Hong Yuan walked forward calmly.
Under the watchful eyes of thousands, he successfully arrived beneath the Sky-reaching White Pillar, found a corner, and waited for the Heart-questioning Trial to begin.
Li Jianqiu noticed Hong Yuan’s arrival and gently twirled her oil-paper umbrella.
Unlike Zhang Daoliu and Zhang Fan, she had spoken with an ancient figure from the inner court of the Dragon God Sacred Land and knew something about the Black Dragon Demon Saint, one of the Six Tao Species of the previous generation.
To be accepted as a godson by the Upper Three Tao Seeds, this Xuan Guangqiao fellow must have something extraordinary about him, Li Jianqiu mused. Could it be that Xuan Guangqiao has been lent some luck?
With this thought, she immediately employed a technique to observe luck.
A white light emanated from her crimson eyes. Above Hong Yuan’s head, she saw a vibrant White Luck Little Python coiling energetically.
Before she could observe further, the White Luck Little Python hissed and spat a white gleam at her.
Li Jianqiu calmly opened her oil-paper umbrella, deflecting the luck backlash.
"What’s wrong, Jianqiu?" Zhang Daoliu asked.
"Nothing," Li Jianqiu replied indifferently, putting away her umbrella.
Finally, Li Jianqiu gave Hong Yuan a deep, meaningful look.
Xuan Guangqiao possesses great fortune; it seems this was why the Black Dragon Demon Saint took him as a godson.
Hong Yuan, standing in the corner, felt as if he were being maliciously spied upon, and his brow furrowed slightly.
He looked around, a sense of unease pricking him. Spotting Li Jianqiu’s profound gaze, he grew even more bewildered.
Li Jianqiu is spying on me, not Zhang Fan? What’s going on? Hong Yuan wondered, sensing the situation was tricky.
Li Jianqiu was a Luck Tao Demon Cultivator, after all, and her methods were exceedingly strange.
One’s own luck, the luck of all beings, the Heaven and Earth Movement... I don’t know what stage her cultivation has reached. Most importantly, I have no way to defend against Luck Tao attacks.
"Xuan Guangqiao," Ji Qingxue suddenly approached. "Let’s form an alliance. We’re both the weakest."
Interrupted from his thoughts, Hong Yuan looked up to see Ji Qingxue proposing an alliance, which made him feel somewhat helpless.
This girl really isn’t too bright, he thought with some exasperation. If the two weakest among us ally, wouldn’t we just be devoured faster? We’d last longer by staying separate.
"In the Heart-questioning Trial, our arrival points are random," Hong Yuan replied. "We can discuss it if we happen to meet."
"Okay," Ji Qingxue bit her lip, reluctantly agreeing.
Soon, after all the Demon Saint juniors had arrived, the various elder Demon Saints made their appearances one by one, eliciting wave after wave of astonished gasps.
Under the arrangements of Messenger Wan Xuerou from the Dragon God Sacred Land, the junior Demon Saints entered the Sky-reaching White Pillar one after another.
The Heart-questioning Trial began!