Chapter 219

Compared to the large grounds of the Wenjian Sect, Changming Sect seemed much smaller. The Wenjian Sect was filled with sword cultivators both inside and outside, and their back mountain was also large. When the five sects gathered, they wished they could be three meters apart from each other. Now, the back mountain couldn’t even accommodate their five teams.

Once everyone had arrived, the elders from the five sects led the way, each riding their flying magical tools towards the place of inheritance. Along the way, some excited direct disciples couldn’t help but whisper.

“We’ll soon see the things left by the ancestors.”

The place of inheritance contained legacies from many direct disciples who came before them, including the ancestors themselves. However, to be able to enter and seek opportunities, they had to successfully pass the tests given by their respective predecessors.

“Let’s talk about the inheritance after we pass the trials,” one of the direct disciples couldn’t help but pour cold water on the excitement.

The flying boat was packed, but due to the sects not getting along with each other, they had divided into two groups: the Bishui Sect and the Chengfeng Sect, along with the Changming Sect, were squeezed together on the far left.

The Changming Sect in red, the Chengfeng Sect in yellow, and the Bishui Sect in green—these three sects’ colors combined created an inexplicable sense of harmony.

Ye Qiao found it quite amusing. “Our three sects together are like a traffic light combo.”

The three sects did manage to maintain some harmony.

However, when the Wenjian Sect and the Yueqing Sect were together, it was a different story. These two sects, known for their arrogance, seemed to be in a competition to see who could look more aloof. They sat on the far right, with indifferent expressions, as if they were strangers to each other.

Chu Xingzhi clicked his tongue. “The Yueqing Sect can’t even get their people together and still have the nerve to be with us.”

“Oh, you’re only slightly better than a dog,” Song Hansheng replied bluntly.

Su Zhuo chimed in, mocking the Wenjian Sect, “Once we’re outside, they’ll probably just bully the demonic beasts in the secret realm.”

Ye Qinghan’s eyes turned cold. “If you want to die, you can just say so.”

The elders leading each sect were having headaches from the noise and wondered if this grouping was really a good idea. Would they really avoid fighting just because they couldn’t stand each other’s faces?

—

“Is it really possible for them to get anything from the inheritance site so early?” Qin Fanfan walked back and forth, looking worried. After all, the inheritance site was said to contain everything.

— “Everything” covered a lot.

It wasn’t just about opportunities.

After all, danger and opportunity always coexist.

“It’s inevitable,” Xie Chuxue said, feeling a bit down as she leaned on a desk, her tone somewhat ambiguous. “There are the demon races and the devil races lurking. We can only hope they handle things well, right?”

He feared that when they returned, based on his memories, the cultivation world might fall into a brief period of turmoil, and these kids would have plenty to deal with.

However, even with his memories, he couldn’t reveal a single word. The secrets of heaven truly couldn’t be leaked. One wrong word might ruin the cultivation world that the heavenly way had painstakingly reset.

—

Half a month later, when they finally reached the inheritance site, the flying boat had traveled a long distance. The site was vastly different from what they had imagined; it was a place of picturesque mountains and rivers, with dense spiritual energy almost overflowing. As soon as they stepped off the boat, they could feel the energy gathering in their dantian, warm and comforting.

Upon entering, the trials reportedly began, with a strong sense of antiquity and mystery enveloping them.

The first trials were said to have been left by the predecessors of the Bishui Sect.

Looking at the surrounding environment filled with the sounds of birds and flowers, Shen Ziwei clicked her tongue. “What a gentle place.”

It was completely different from what she had imagined.

“After all, it’s the Bishui Sect. Their predecessors were all very gentle female elders,” Qin Huai said with a hint of bitterness. Unlike their sect, where they hadn’t even seen a single female disciple, let alone a female fly.

Ye Qiao followed behind Si Miaoyan, curiously observing the seemingly moving grass at her feet.

“Be careful, some of these are poisonous.”

“Some smoke or colorless and odorless flowers can be deadly,” Si Miaoyan explained as she led the way. Since this was the Bishui Sect’s inheritance site, they had to take responsibility. “Some even have hallucinatory effects, so don’t get trapped.”

Just as she finished speaking, the Changming Sect team behind them began recklessly picking the strange plants.

Mu Chongxi swiftly climbed a tree and soon came back with a pile of items.

Blue fruits, purple spiritual mushrooms, and black apples. Xue Yu saw what they had picked and couldn’t suppress his urge to complain. “Don’t pick these; they’re obviously poisonous with their bright colors.”

Ming Xuan couldn’t resist suggesting Xue Yu take a bite to test its effects.

Zhao Long, with a punch, silenced the two.

Ming Xuan, holding his head, sighed. “Look at these colorful mushrooms. They’re so intriguing. Let’s take them back and let the little master uncle try them another day.”

“But… if we give them to the little master uncle, he might end up meeting our ancestors, right?” Mu Chongxi hesitated, still retaining a sense of conscience.

Ming Xuan waved his hand. “They won’t kill anyone.”

Those knowledgeable about spiritual plants began to harvest, while those who didn’t understand wandered aimlessly.

Ye Qiao had no such concerns. She only picked valuable and useful items. Given the current peaceful situation, there seemed to be no immediate danger. So far, besides the occasional vine trying to ensnare people’s ankles and some plants causing fainting, the Bishui Sect’s trial seemed excessively friendly.

Since it was the Bishui Sect’s trial, Si Miaoyan and her team had to stay behind for the assessment. The rest of the journey, they had to manage on their own.

Having passed the first trial with almost no danger, Duan Hengdao expressed envy. “It’s truly the gentlest sect. I hope the remaining trials are just as easy.”

Ye Qiao avoided the vines and crushed a branch. “Which sect’s trial is next?”

The friendly start made her feel like something big was coming.

As expected, Ming Xuan said, “It’s the Wenjian Sect. Get ready. Those sword cultivators aren’t as easy to deal with.”

As they moved further in, the scene gradually changed from a forest full of spiritual plants to cold stone pillars and ground. The atmosphere and eerie silence were in line with the solitary nature of sword cultivators. Inside was pitch black, and Ye Qiao attempted to light a talisman but was stopped by the elders.

Elder Zhao shook his head. “Don’t be disrespectful to the predecessors.”

With no light and the surroundings completely dark, they had to press on, pushing and shoving each other forward, until several figures suddenly appeared, startling everyone into drawing their swords or preparing defensive actions.

However quick their reactions were, they couldn’t match the speed of the Wenjian Sect’s elders stationed here. In the blink of an eye, everyone was unceremoniously slammed against the wall with a loud thud.

“Damn it,” Ye Qiao shifted her shoulder, which had been hurt from the impact. “What’s this? Are they going all out against their own juniors?”

Her suspicion was confirmed.

The Bishui Sect might have been overly gentle, but the Wenjian Sect’s approach was harsh and caught them completely off guard.

Song Hansheng, who was slammed into the wall, hated pain the most. Naturally, he wasn’t about to go and get beaten up. He glanced at Ye Qinghan. “Hey, you’re the one who has to deal with this trial, so you’d better go and handle it.”

Without needing further prompting, Ye Qinghan understood. He furrowed his brows, drew his sword, and attempted to engage in combat with the shadowy figure. The figure threw him a sword that clattered to the ground, and Ye Qinghan, realizing that the opponent was looking to spar, picked up the sword with a serious expression.

Ye Qinghan drew his sword and began his attack, but before he could complete his move, the shadowy figure’s cold, long sword pressed against his neck. The figure easily maneuvered, pinning Ye Qinghan down. Ye Qinghan looked slightly surprised but quickly adjusted, lifting his sword and kicking to scatter the shadow, then aiming to stab at the figure’s left side.

The figure moved like a ghost, effortlessly mirroring Ye Qinghan’s sword style but with far superior speed. The sword flashed white light and easily sliced through Ye Qinghan’s sword, splitting it in two. If that sword had been aimed at Ye Qinghan’s neck…

He would have been severed head from body.

The young man’s face remained expressionless, but his clenched fists betrayed his frustration.

Ye Qiao understood his frustration well. After all, a main character like Long Aotian would never experience having his sword broken.

“So this is the Wenjian Sect’s trial? Tempering one’s heart?”

Duan Hengdao folded his arms and said, “Pretty much. They’ve been so arrogant for years, and the only person they’ve met who’s made them back down is Ye Qiao. Otherwise, they’re unrecognizable in their arrogance. They need this kind of tempering to avoid future issues with their mindset.”

Ye Qiao thought this wouldn’t work if it kept going like this. With this setup, they wouldn’t be able to get out for ten or fifteen days, and they were eager to explore their own sect’s trials and inheritance.

She nudged Song Hansheng, who was also pressed against the wall. “Can I borrow your Mingyue Arrow?”

Song Hansheng handed it to her, and Ye Qiao prepared to assist Ye Qinghan with the Mingyue Arrow. Aside from its other uses, it was particularly good for disrupting opponents’ actions and attacks.

Ye Qiao planned to shoot from a high vantage point to distract the opponent.

She nocked an arrow, avoiding a sword strike, and shot it towards the figure. However, she underestimated the opponent’s strength. The shadow didn’t even turn around, simply slicing through the arrow with a casual sweep of his sword. The legendary arrow, said to transform like moonlight, was completely shattered.

Damn.

Ye Qiao cursed inwardly.

She tried to retreat, but the shadow wasn’t going to let her escape. It grabbed her by the collar and prepared to punch her.

As soon as the fist came down:

“It hurts so much! I’ve been injured internally, Grandmaster!” Ye Qiao exaggerated her pain, taking advantage of the shadow’s momentary confusion to wriggle free. She rolled on the ground and began to groan in apparent agony.

The shadow was somewhat speechless.

Where did this shameless disciple come from?

He picked up Ye Qinghan’s broken sword to test this disciple’s skills.

Ye Qiao, having recovered quickly, stood up and engaged with the elder, trying to spar with the same techniques she had seen from Ye Qinghan’s fight. She had observed the Wenjian Sect’s sword techniques earlier and, although she was familiar with them, she couldn’t match Ye Qinghan’s skill.

If Ye Qinghan couldn’t keep up, Ye Qiao had no chance.

Her strategy was to last a bit longer by dodging and using unexpected moves.

Using the Wenjian Sect’s initial stance but finishing with the Changming Sect’s style, though not highly advanced, was enough to confuse the shadow for a moment.

The shadow was taken aback by the combination of Wenjian Sect and Changming Sect techniques. This little rabbit actually had some ideas.

The shadow was really brutal, either slashing with the sword or punching with full force. Ye Qiao couldn’t endure it, crying out with every hit.

The shadow lost patience. “…If you scream again?”

Ye Qiao: “Argh!”

The shadow: “…” Damn it.

He continued to hit with real force, and though it was a sparring match, he had to admit this disciple was promising. After enduring Ye Qiao’s dramatic antics, he finally couldn’t tolerate it any longer.

Clearly, the Wenjian Sect was filled with temperamental individuals. The usually aloof elder, exasperated by Ye Qiao’s theatrics, delivered a final kick and, unable to endure further, spat out a single word:

“Scram.”

At the same time, a white mark appeared on Ye Qiao’s wrist. Subsequently, the indifferent elder ruthlessly sent Ye Qiao flying.

She didn’t want to be beaten for no reason, so she decided to end things quickly, as Ye Qiao wasn’t stubborn.

“…You really are something,” Chu Xingzhi said as he got up, genuinely impressed by the elder’s frustration.

Ye Qiao ignored Chu Xingzhi’s comments and said seriously, “I’ve tried. Ye Qinghan can’t handle it, and we won’t get through this in the short term either.”

“So should we make a dash for it?” She noticed that the elder seemed slightly interested in her because she knew the Wenjian Sect’s techniques, so he gave her a few pointers.

The elder had no interest in the other sects’ disciples and wouldn’t stop them.

Qin Huai agreed, “We can give it a try.”

The Wenjian Sect didn’t seem to make things difficult for disciples from other sects. The other three sects quickly decided to leave, not caring about the stubborn Wenjian Sect. After all, the trials weren’t given by their own ancestors.

They made a collective dash, but within a few steps:

They ran straight into a barrier.

Turning around, they found the scene had changed. The road behind them was completely blocked, and the elders were also kept outside. They knocked on the barrier but to no avail.

Elder Zhao shrugged, indicating he was powerless to help.

Now they had arrived at the Yueqing Sect’s trial grounds.

Their collective sprint had clearly triggered the barrier and formation, pulling them into a deadly killing formation. Surrounded by a myriad of dangers, even a slight misstep led to a deep abyss. The illusions and murderous intent made it clear in just a few seconds—this was an extremely sinister formation.

Ming Xuan couldn’t hold back: “Your Yueqing Sect must be toxic or something. You’re so insidious and despicable, it really suits your style.”

Song Hansheng retorted, “Don’t be in a hurry. Next up is your ancestor’s trial. I’m afraid your Changming Sect won’t fare any better.”

“Hey, our Changming Sect isn’t as treacherous as your Yueqing Sect. We don’t start off with killing formations.”

The Changming Sect is famous for its integrity and clear principles, represented by the imagery of a gentle breeze and a bright moon. Although their reputation has been somewhat tarnished recently, their formations, sword techniques, and alchemy are all well-regarded and not as underhanded as the Yueqing Sect’s methods.

In these formations, a moment’s carelessness can lead to death. Those with some experience might manage, but those who don’t understand at all can only passively defend. For Shen Ziwei and the other equipment cultivators, who were the first to face the brunt, the fierce spiritual energy attacks came down like relentless rain. If not for their numerous magical tools, this single attack could have broken their ribs.

Damn, that’s ruthless.

Are they always so merciless to their juniors?

Song Hansheng pushed aside the obstructive Duan Hengdao and, after much probing, finally found the formation’s core. “Stand properly at the formation’s core.”

“Just break it.”

Since it’s a trial, there should be more formations ahead. For now, they needed to get this group out of the way.

Otherwise, they’d just be a hindrance.

“We’ll handle the breaking. You all stay quiet.” Just don’t cause more trouble.

There were only four talisman cultivators from Yueqing Sect left. With Yun Que gone, only three remained, each standing at a corner of the formation. The formation flickered and wove together, like a blue canvas unfolding into a landscape map.

Although it was hard to admit, Yueqing Sect’s formations were visually pleasing. The light blue formation glowed softly, and the compass in their hands intersected with the formation.

It was grand and romantic.

Ming Xuan folded his arms, “Our Changming Sect’s formations are also quite beautiful.”

“But.”

“They only have three people.”

“One corner of the formation is missing.” Ming Xuan rubbed his chin and quickly saw through the situation: “The Yueqing Sect’s formation…”

Currently, Yueqing Sect’s direct disciples were not all present. With four positions in the formation, the last corner needed someone to fill in.

It seemed that only Ye Qiao could fill that spot. Although she was a latecomer, she learned things very quickly and might just be able to take on that role.

Ye Qiao, eager to leave this dreadful place, picked up the fallen compass, checked the ground, calculated the formation’s core position, and took the last corner. “Alright, alright.”

After landing, she pondered for a moment, mimicking Song Hansheng and the others. The talisman she crafted was a Yueqing Sect seal, and the light blue symbol formed effortlessly, almost perfectly like a direct disciple of Yueqing Sect.

With her addition, the talisman grew larger, and the image on the totem became nearly complete. The final edge was filled in.

After all, they had fought and loved each other for so long. Direct disciples had their tacit understanding.

The four of them raised their hands simultaneously, casting the talisman. The light blue pattern flowed into the formation, exchanging positions with ease, leaving behind mysterious patterns where they stepped. As the talisman struck, the positions were successively broken, and before the formation could shatter, four symbols were quickly inscribed onto their foreheads. Ye Qiao paused, touching her forehead where a light blue mark had appeared and soon vanished.

What was that?

She instinctively rubbed it, but it only felt slightly warm and nothing else.

The elder watching from outside the barrier chuckled, his tone ambiguous: “So, did the ancestor of Yueqing Sect just brand Ye Qiao with the mark of a Yueqing Sect direct disciple?”

This was getting interesting. The Changming Sect’s direct disciple had been branded by both Yueqing Sect’s ancestor and Wenjian Sect.

Elder Zhao: “Did these old ancestors misunderstand something? That little rascal isn’t your sect’s direct disciple.”

Moreover, the next trial would be for the Changming Sect’s direct disciples.

“Quickly, quickly, let’s see what kind of trial our Changming Sect’s ancestors left behind.” Mu Chongxi, not thinking too much, saw the barrier break and hurriedly pulled Ye Qiao forward.