Chapter Thirteen: The Trial Begins

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Upon hearing Lu Qingyun’s words, Xu Feng’s joy gradually froze on his face as he began to sense that something was amiss.

“This... this isn’t normal. They should have been transported here through the ritual as well.”

Lu Qingyun nodded, his intuition telling him that there was more to this situation than met the eye.

He began to recall every detail of the ritual, trying to uncover any overlooked clues.

“During the ritual, did you notice anything unusual?”

Lu Qingyun asked Xu Feng, hoping for some useful information.

Xu Feng shook his head, looking somewhat bewildered.

“The ritual followed the steps recorded in the ancient texts exactly. I didn’t find anything wrong.”

Lu Qingyun took a deep breath; he knew this was not the time for panic and that they must remain calm and analytical.

“This place is brimming with spiritual energy, and these treasures are no ordinary artifacts. But we cannot be deceived by appearances. We need to find the others, and we must be wary of any impending danger.”

Gradually calming from his initial exhilaration, Xu Feng nodded seriously.

“You’re right. We cannot afford to be careless.”

The two began exploring the mysterious space, searching for any clues.

Lu Qingyun noticed that although there were many treasures here, they all seemed anchored by some force, unable to be moved.

“Though precious, these treasures appear to be more ornamental than genuine riches,” Lu Qingyun analyzed in a low voice.

Xu Feng also noticed this and began to feel a stir of unease.

“Could it be... we were lured here? Might this be a trap?”

Lu Qingyun did not answer directly. His gaze was sharp as a blade, sweeping every corner.

“Whether it’s a trap or not, we cannot sit idle. We must find the others and leave here as soon as possible.”

Just as they prepared to explore further, a deep, powerful voice suddenly echoed through the space.

“You’ve finally arrived. I have waited for a long time.”

Lu Qingyun and Xu Feng immediately grew alert. They turned toward the source of the voice, seeing a vague figure gradually materialize in the light.

The silhouette carried an ancient and mysterious aura, impossible to ignore.

“Who are you? Where are the others?”

Lu Qingyun gripped the Azure Cloud Sword tightly, ready to face any crisis.

The figure did not answer directly but spoke slowly.

“They are safe, at least for now. But if you want to find them, you must first pass my test.”

Xu Feng couldn’t help but ask, “What test?”

The figure smiled faintly as the light in the entire space seemed to shift at that moment.

“Come, follow me, and you shall have your answers.”

Lu Qingyun and Xu Feng watched the figure warily. They could feel a sacred and inviolable aura emanating from the figure, coupled with an elusive sense of void.

This presence was entirely different from the black-robed elder they had encountered before—without suffocating pressure, but imbued with a mysterious and unfathomable depth.

Lu Qingyun glanced at Xu Feng, who shook his head, clearly as clueless about the figure and this place as he was.

The figure spoke again, voice imbued with a detached serenity beyond worldly concerns.

“You need not hesitate. He guided you here, didn’t he?”

Lu Qingyun’s heart stirred. He knew that the “he” referenced was likely the black-robed elder, but he refrained from answering directly and instead asked,

“Who are you? What exactly is this place?”

The figure smiled slightly, seemingly pleased with Lu Qingyun’s vigilance and directness.

“For centuries, I have sought those worthy to enter. Unexpectedly, it is two such young ones who have come.”

His gaze lingered on Lu Qingyun with a flicker of admiration.

“Especially you, Lu Qingyun... According to long-standing rules, at your age, you should have only recently begun your trials. For you, this place is truly a rare opportunity. In the past, you would never have qualified.”

Lu Qingyun and Xu Feng exchanged surprised glances; the figure seemed to know them intimately, yet they knew nothing of him.

The figure continued.

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“This is a sacred land, accessible only to those who pass its trials. And those trials were not something just anyone could endure.”

A chill ran through Lu Qingyun’s heart.

Trials?

He immediately recalled the black-robed elder’s mention of a “power to change the future.” Could these trials be related?

The figure glanced at the two young men and murmured to himself.

“Lu Qingyun? Xu Feng? Windstorm Gorge—is that a coincidence?”

Then, a hearty laugh filled the space.

Lu Qingyun sensed something unusual; this figure seemed to harbor a special expectation for their arrival, even a sense of destiny.

“May I ask, what are these trials you speak of?”

Curious, Lu Qingyun sought more information to decide their next steps.

The figure’s laughter gradually faded as he looked at Lu Qingyun, his eyes shimmering with profound light.

“Heh, it is a test of strength, wisdom, and courage. Now that you have arrived, the trials have naturally begun.”

As the figure’s words fell, the entire space suddenly blazed with brilliant light. Countless runes and patterns flickered on the ground, walls, and even in the air, forming a massive magic array.

Lu Qingyun and Xu Feng immediately prepared for battle.

The figure gradually became blurred within the light and finally left behind a single phrase.

“Go forth, young ones, let your journey begin here. Remember, true power lies not only in force but in the heart.”

As the voice faded, the figure vanished entirely into the light, leaving Lu Qingyun and Xu Feng standing at the center of the magic array, ready to face the unknown trial.

When the radiant light dissipated, Lu Qingyun and Xu Feng found themselves in an entirely new space.

The atmosphere here was vastly different from the previous grand hall—quiet and mysterious, with only the soft sound of a small waterfall and a pool ahead.

Lu Qingyun turned to Xu Feng, finally able to voice the questions weighing on his mind.

“Your sect probably knows nothing of this place either, right? And you never expected to face all this alongside me, did you?”

A complex emotion flickered in Xu Feng’s eyes as he nodded in agreement.

“That’s right. This place has been ruined for over a thousand years. Countless have tried to enter; some can’t even get near Windstorm Gorge’s outskirts.”

“You, Lu Qingyun, having just finished your initial trials, have managed to come to such a sacred place. I must admit, I’m a bit jealous...”

Lu Qingyun understood Xu Feng’s feelings, knowing that Xu Feng, raised in a sect and trained from youth, had long yearned for such an opportunity.

Yet, the reality was that both of them now faced an unknown challenge together.

“Brother Xu, I understand your feelings, but our immediate priority is to figure out the current situation,” Lu Qingyun said, gesturing to their surroundings.

“There’s no obvious path ahead, and behind us lies a forest shrouded in mist, possibly toxic. We must find a way through.”

Xu Feng took a deep breath, calming himself. He knew Lu Qingyun was right; now was not the time for personal grievances.

Recalling the words of the elusive figure, Lu Qingyun spoke slowly.

“He mentioned strength, wisdom, and courage—likely three trials. This must be the first.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Feng began to scrutinize their surroundings for any clues.

“If it’s a test of wisdom, then there must be some kind of puzzle here.”

The two started searching around the pool and waterfall for mechanisms or hints.

Lu Qingyun noticed irregularities in the stone face behind the waterfall and decided to take a closer look.

“Brother Xu, come take a look here,” Lu Qingyun called.

Xu Feng hurried over and, following Lu Qingyun’s finger, saw strange patterns carved into the rock behind the waterfall.

“This could be a mechanism,” Xu Feng said excitedly.

Lu Qingyun nodded and reached out to touch the carvings, attempting to find a way to activate it.

Through their joint efforts, they eventually discovered a stone block that could be pressed.

Upon pressing it firmly, the sound of the waterfall shifted, revealing a passage behind the rock face.

“Looks like we’ve found an entrance.”

Xu Feng smiled as well.

Carefully, the two stepped into the passage, knowing this might only be the beginning of their trial.

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Lu Qingyun and Xu Feng entered the passage, and as they went deeper, Lu Qingyun’s doubts grew heavier.

The trial seemed too simple, far from the difficulty they expected.

Lu Qingyun thought to himself, “This is far too easy—just like that, it’s done?”

Yet his intuition told him things were not this straightforward.

Especially since his system couldn’t summon any assistance, leaving him uneasy and displeased.

After walking some distance, Xu Feng suddenly spoke seriously.

“The figure we saw, the one testing us, is probably just a divine consciousness, a fragmented one at that. If I’m not mistaken, it should be the former High Priest of this place.”

Hearing this, Lu Qingyun’s confusion deepened.

“If it was so powerful, why was this place destroyed? Disaster? Human error?”

Not ashamed to ask, he sought to understand rather than guess.

Seeing Lu Qingyun’s humble attitude, Xu Feng explained the ruin in detail.

“The destruction of the sacred land didn’t happen overnight. Rumor says it was due to fractures within, a loss of pure faith, causing the source of power to dry up.”

“Others say it angered higher beings and was struck down by divine punishment. Still others claim that the powerful here, in pursuit of greater strength, accidentally triggered forbidden forces, resulting in catastrophe.”

Listening to Xu Feng, Lu Qingyun gained a deeper understanding of the sacred land’s history.

He knew that regardless of the truth, its destruction was a tragic chapter and a warning to them.

They must learn from it and avoid repeating the same mistakes.

“Let’s move on. No matter what happened here before, our task now is to pass the trials, find the others, and leave together.”

Lu Qingyun said as he pressed onward.

Xu Feng nodded, and they walked side by side. Though riddled with questions, their steps were resolute.

They knew that only through continuous exploration and perseverance could they unravel the mysteries and find the true answers.

When Lu Qingyun and Xu Feng emerged from the passage back to the pool’s edge, they felt unprecedented confusion.

They had thought they found a way out, only to find themselves back at the starting point.

At that moment, the elusive voice sounded again, as if reminding them that the trial was far more complex than they imagined.

Lu Qingyun remained silent, convinced the trial would not let them pass so easily.

Xu Feng, however, grew restless, his emotions finally erupting.

“Why must we undergo this trial? What will passing it even accomplish?”

His voice echoed through the cavern but met no response.

Lu Qingyun did not respond immediately to Xu Feng’s doubts but began carefully observing the surroundings.

He realized this trial was not merely a test of their strength but also of their wisdom and courage.

Taking a deep breath, he spoke earnestly to Xu Feng.

“Since we’re already here, there’s no reason to back down. We must find a new way to solve this puzzle.”

Xu Feng’s mood calmed somewhat but still harbored complaints.

“It’s your fault! If I hadn’t met you, how would I have ended up in this mess? Wouldn’t it have been better to be the top disciple at Heavenly Spirit Sect?”

Lu Qingyun detected the helplessness and anxiety in Xu Feng’s words but did not get angry. Instead, he replied calmly.

“If we just want to run away, then sure, we can shout and complain. But if we want to leave here, we must calm down and find a solution. If you still want to be the top disciple of Heavenly Spirit Sect, then show your strength.”

Lu Qingyun’s words completely calmed Xu Feng.

He knew Lu Qingyun was right; now was not the time for blame but for unity to face their predicament.

Lu Qingyun did not rush to find an exit but began scrutinizing the pool’s edge.

He noticed the water flow was unusual, with its direction and speed constantly shifting.

He approached the pool, examining the stones and aquatic plants on the surface.

After some time, Lu Qingyun suddenly discovered that the stones in the pool seemed arranged according to a certain pattern.

He immediately called Xu Feng over.

“Brother Xu, look at these stones. Their arrangement doesn’t seem random.”

Xu Feng came over, looked carefully, and his eyes lit up with surprise.

“Indeed, their pattern resembles an ancient formation. Let me think... I feel like I’ve seen this before...”