Chương 146: Chapter 35: The Challenge

The two men locked eyes, each discerning the profound wariness and burgeoning hostility within the other. In their estimation, across this entire assembly, only the person standing opposite possessed the caliber to truly threaten their ambitions. Yet, unnoticed by the crowd, Reyn withdrew the jade slip from his forehead. Beneath the concealment of his flowing sleeve, his palm clenched into a tight, white-knuckled fist before slowly unfurling, a flicker of absolute resolve igniting within his gaze.

Though the remaining cultivators understood their prospects were dim, hope remained a volatile thing. Should fortune favor them and grant even half of the Mu Jade Swords, it would mean an opportunity for a meteoric rise. Their faces flushed with a feverish, desperate excitement. Mu Shen observed their reactions with grim satisfaction. He waved a dismissive hand.

"The preliminary trials commence tomorrow at high noon. Return to your quarters and recuperate. When the hour strikes, attendants will guide you to the grounds." As the crowd prepared to depart with respectful bows, a sudden streak of crystalline light lanced through the air, halting directly before Yang Dawei. The radiance dissipated, revealing a transmission jade slip—a sophisticated medium far superior to standard talismans, reserved for Golden Core experts to communicate across tens of thousands of miles.

Yang Dawei pressed the slip to his brow. Moments later, his expression soured into a mask of chilling fury.

"Venerable Mu Shen," he began, his voice trembling with suppressed rage, "I have just received word from my sect elders. Mo Huahua of our Purple Mist Sect has been murdered. I implore the Venerable to uphold justice for my sect." Mu Shen's brow furrowed. To strike down Mo Huahua was not merely a slight against the Purple Mist Sect, but a blatant act of defiance toward the Mu Family's hospitality.

"This Venerable shall issue the order immediately. We will hunt this assassin. Once found, they shall face the full weight of our retribution!" Yang Dawei bowed deeply, though his heart remained heavy. In a sea of countless cultivators, tracking a single killer was a gargantuan task. None, however, noticed the brief, inscrutable glint in Reyn's eyes before he returned to his mask of indifference. The next day at high noon, the trials began within the grand hall of the Mu Family's secondary estate.

Names were called: Yang Dawei of the Purple Mist Sect, Xing Tianxie of the Pomie Sect, Jun Wuqing of the Luoyang Sect... and Reyn of the Xuanxiao Sect. The protocol was twofold: first, the verification of bone age; second, the measurement of cultivation. Only those under twenty-two with a cultivation of at least the Eighth Level of Qi Condensation were deemed worthy of the Holy Land. Those bearing the Mu Family's invitations were the elite of their respective sects. The testing proceeded with blistering speed.

Within moments, half the candidates had already passed, congregating on the far side of the hall.

"Purple Mist Sect, Qing Huo!" At the call, Qing Huo strode forward, casting a cold, mocking sneer over his shoulder as he moved. Reyn's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as his gaze swept across the hall, colliding directly with the venomous, resentful glare of Li Zhupu. After a brief moment of silent contemplation, he crossed his arms over his chest, a cold, derisive sneer echoing in the depths of his mind.

If this man truly intended to weave some petty scheme, Reyn wouldn't mind stepping forward to dismantle him entirely.

"Bone age test!" Qing Huo commanded, his face a mask of indifference as he strode beneath a treasure shaped like a grand archway. Upon the smooth jade surface embedded in the center of the arch, the number twenty flickered into existence with crystalline clarity.

"Twenty years old. Bone age test: Passed," the Mu family cultivator responsible for the examination declared with a curt nod. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Cultivation test!" The instrument used for this assessment was another exotic marvel of the cultivation world—the Layered Spirit Stone. This artifact possessed an exquisite sensitivity to the fluctuations of spiritual essence; with a single palm strike, the stone would manifest distinct patterns, allowing the examiner to judge the exact depth of the practitioner's power. Boom!

Qing Huo's palm descended with significant momentum, yet when it struck the azure stone, only seven faint lines slowly rippled across its surface. The Mu family cultivator standing beside the Layered Spirit Stone blinked in momentary confusion before shouting tonelessly, "Seventh level of Qi Condensation. Disqualified!" Qing Huo seemed to have anticipated this outcome long ago.

With a chilling smirk, he took his place on the far side of the hall, closing his eyes and ignoring the bewildered stares of the surrounding crowd. However, those with sharper wits felt a flash of realization in their eyes. Their gazes flickered toward Reyn, their lips curling into mocking smiles. The subsequent tests proceeded with remarkable efficiency. Most of the candidates passed with ease, and soon, it was time for the final participant.

"Xuanxiao Sect, Reyn." As he spoke, the Mu family cultivator's eyes betrayed a hint of curiosity. He cast an inquisitive look at Reyn; after all, it had been centuries since a cultivator from the impoverished North Yue State had received an invitation, a fact that sparked no small amount of intrigue among the hosts. Li Zhupu gnashed his teeth, his eyes gleaming with a sinister, predatory light.

It seemed as though he wished for nothing more than to tear Reyn limb from limb to satiate the burning hatred in his heart. Yang Dawei, conversely, frowned slightly, his gaze sharpening with caution. For reasons he couldn't quite fathom, facing this obscure youth stirred a faint sense of trepidation within his soul. Meanwhile, Xing Tianxie of the Pomie Sect stood to the side with a playful smirk, his expression radiating the smug satisfaction of someone anticipating a delightful tragedy.... Reyn gave a steady nod.

His expression remained composed, his inner light restrained, as he walked toward the archway with firm, measured strides.

"Eighteen years old! Bone age test: Passed!" The recording cultivator's eyes widened in genuine shock. He studied Reyn intently for several heartbeats before slowly speaking the words aloud.

"Cultivation test!" Standing before the Layered Spirit Stone, Reyn paused for a fleeting second. Then, with a casual flick of his wrist, his palm slammed into the artifact. Boom! As a faint, crimson glow shimmered across the Golden Crow Stone, the gathered cultivators couldn't suppress their collective gasp of astonishment.

To reach the early stage of Foundation Establishment at a mere eighteen years of age—especially coming from a backwater region like North Yue State—was a feat of talent that surpassed the vast majority of those present. At the head of the great hall, Mu Shen's eyes flashed with a brief moment of surprise. Once Reyn had taken his place, Mu Shen spoke in a resonant voice: "The testing is concluded. Those who have passed shall follow me to the Teleportation Hall to enter the Holy Land via the array."

But at that exact moment, Qing Huo suddenly snapped his eyes open. He bowed respectfully toward Mu Shen and said in a heavy tone, "Wait. This junior has something to say." Mu Shen's expression shifted slightly.

"What is it?"

"If I am not mistaken, there is a specific rule," Qing Huo began, a cold, calculating edge sharpening his voice.

"If a candidate passes the bone age test but fails to reach the eighth level of Qi Condensation, they may choose to challenge any successful candidate. Should they emerge victorious, they may claim that person's spot to enter the Holy Land." As he spoke, his finger suddenly shot out, pointing directly at Reyn.

"If the regulations permit, I choose to challenge this man!" Even the dim-witted realized something was amiss. The eyes of the various sect disciples lit up with excitement. They finally understood. Qing Huo had failed on purpose, all for the sake of orchestrating this confrontation with Reyn! Reyn's eyebrows arched slightly. He sneered inwardly, yet his face remained a mask of tranquil indifference.

"There is indeed such a rule," Mu Shen replied after a moment of deliberation. He turned to Reyn.

"Are you willing to accept this challenge? This regulation was established by our Mu family ancestor, the Manifest Saint. Once you step onto the arena, life and death are left to fate! You may choose to decline, but if you do, your qualification to enter the Holy Land will be forfeited to Qing Huo."