King of Ten Thousand Years

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Hidden Test

’The trial has begun?’

An uncanny mist enveloped the entire valley. The world turned into a vast expanse of white, blurring everyone’s vision.

In an instant, the entire valley fell silent. The hundreds of youths present were as quiet as cicadas in winter, and the atmosphere grew oppressive.

In the Azure Cloud Kingdom, the difficulty of the Holy Mansion trials was common knowledge.

Most of the youths present had a cultivation at the Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening. In their respective cities, they were considered the most dazzling of geniuses, widely admired and pursued.

However, during the Holy Mansion’s trial, these youths at the Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening were all tense and uneasy, their palms slick with sweat.

Even top geniuses from the county cities like Qi Hong, Wu Chuan, Lin Haofei, and Mu Yuyan—who possessed cultivation at the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening or higher—wore solemn expressions.

Even being at the Fifth Layer of Meridian Opening only meant one’s chances of passing were slightly higher; the slightest carelessness could still lead to elimination.

Across the entire field, only three great geniuses managed to remain calm and composed.

’Excellent! My chance to show my true strength has arrived,’ thought the Young Marquis, Tang Wei, his demeanor carefree and brazen.

’So, it’s begun?’

Nangong Yu sat alone, his long hair fluttering. He suddenly opened his eyes, which shone like cold stars.

Princess Yunxiu was dressed in magnificent court attire, her bearing elegant and poised. She exuded an intangible royal aura that exerted an inexplicable pressure on those around her.

"The entrance trial for the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion begins now!"

A deep, resonant voice echoed through the mist-shrouded valley.

"This valley is shrouded by the ’Four-direction Illusionary Mist Array.’ This array can conjure a large number of ’Mist Shadow Warriors,’ each with different strengths and abilities."

"For this trial, you will be ranked based on the number of ’Mist Shadow Warriors’ you kill. The top one hundred will be admitted."

"The person who takes first place in this trial will receive a special reward!"

After the deep, resonant voice announced the rules, the valley instantly erupted in an uproar.

"The trial is about killing Mist Shadow Warriors?"

"Mist Shadow Warriors? Where are they? I don’t see any!"

Among the geniuses from the various counties, some were nervous and on guard, while others were rubbing their hands in anticipation, eager to start killing Mist Shadow Warriors and secure a high rank.

With four to five hundred participants present and only one hundred spots available, the competition was exceptionally fierce!

Tang Wei’s interest was piqued. ’First place gets a special reward?’

With his background and cultivation, passing the entrance trial was no challenge at all, and he wouldn’t have given an ordinary reward a second glance.

But first place... that was a symbol of talent and strength!

The first-place winner in every trial was always groomed for success by the Holy Mansion.

"Young Marquis, I’ll be in your care during this trial!"

Qi Hong walked over and bowed with a smile.

"But of course."

Tang Wei nodded and smiled, pleased with Qi Hong’s initiative in pledging his allegiance.

’Even though Qi Hong has lost an arm, his strength is not to be underestimated.’

"That peasant! How dare he cripple your arm. Don’t worry, I will get revenge for you."

Tang Wei shot a cold glare at Luo Tian, who wasn’t far away.

Luo Tian had previously humiliated Wu Chuan and then publicly rejected Tang Wei’s recruitment offer, which had already displeased him.

’The Holy Mansion’s trial is the perfect opportunity to teach this peasant a lesson.’

’At the same time, avenging my underling will help me win over more followers. It’s killing two birds with one stone.’

’What could the reward for first place be?’

Luo Tian wondered.

’As one of the Three Great Holy Mansions, any reward they offer is bound to be extraordinary.’

’However, the Holy Mansion’s trial is different from the Wu Mansion’s assessment. The top geniuses from more than a dozen counties are gathered here; the competition is just too fierce.’

Luo Tian wasn’t deluding himself into thinking he could get first place.

He scanned his surroundings, wanting to see what these Mist Shadow Warriors looked like.

’Huh? Where did everyone go?’

Luo Tian suddenly realized that the people around him were disappearing one by one.

Chen Haofei, Mu Yuyan, and the others who had been beside him had also mysteriously vanished.

WHOOSH!

An imposing, tall figure materialized in the mist ahead, his back facing Luo Tian.

"Tian’er, wait for your father’s return!"

The deep, powerful voice was so warm and familiar.

"Father!"

Watching the figure walk away, Luo Tian felt an urge to stop him.

Back when his father was alive, his might was renowned throughout Qingchang City, and countless Noble Families vied to curry favor with him.

’Something’s wrong!’

Luo Tian frowned, sensing that something was off.

Suddenly, several more figures appeared in the mist.

’Xueyao?’

Luo Tian saw an ethereally beautiful young woman—it was none other than Ning Xueyao, who had left him not long ago.

Right now, Ning Xueyao was bound hand and foot, being carried away by several men in black.

"Help me, Xiaotian! Save me!"

The bound Ning Xueyao cried for help, tears streaming down her beautiful face.

WHOOSH!

A cold, arrogant, and dazzlingly beautiful woman materialized—it was Liu Ziyan.

"Luo Tian, I’ll make sure everyone you care about dies because of you!"

A disdainful sneer played on Liu Ziyan’s lips.

His revered father, his beloved Ning Xueyao, the sinister Liu Ziyan—all of them appeared before him now.

PHEW!

As he watched these scenes, Luo Tian’s expression flickered, but he ultimately let out a long sigh.

’A pity. It’s not real, after all. And it’s riddled with flaws.’

Luo Tian’s Creation Technique began to circulate on its own, and his clear eyes gradually sharpened.

Under his focused gaze, the scene before him dissipated like mist.

Everything he had just seen was an illusion!

Once his mind was clear, Luo Tian looked around. The youths nearby were all frozen in place, each trapped in the Illusion Realm.

Chen Haofei stood beside him, his expression shifting from joy to sorrow, one moment grinding his teeth in anger, the next surging with passion.

Not far away, Nangong Yu was also trapped in the Illusion Realm.

’As expected of a Holy Mansion trial. The difficulty is immense.’

’They set a trap right from the moment they announced the rules. Everyone thought we were supposed to start killing Mist Shadow Warriors, but no one expected to be hit with an illusion.’

Luo Tian reflected with a sigh.

"Aah, help me! Why is there a Mist Shadow Warrior at the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening?"

A youth suddenly collapsed to the ground, so terrified that he had wet his pants.

Clearly, the Mist Shadow Warrior at the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening was a product of his illusion.

WHOOSH! THUMP!

The surrounding mist converged, wrapped up the youth who had wet his pants, and tossed him out of the valley, eliminating him from the trial.

THUMP! THUMP!

In the span of just a few breaths, one youth after another broke down within the Illusion Realm, only to be swept up by the mist and thrown out of the valley.

’Should I help Brother Chen?’

Luo Tian glanced at Chen Haofei. The latter was still trapped in the Illusion Realm, his face contorted in a struggle.

But on second thought, he dismissed the idea.

’The rules of the Holy Mansion’s trial are unclear. If I interfere rashly, I might actually harm him.’

Luo Tian proceeded alone, deeper into the mist.

Just after Luo Tian left, Nangong Yu broke free from the Illusion Realm. He opened his eyes and scanned his surroundings, a faint trace of pride on his face.

’It seems I’m the first one to overcome the illusion trial!’

WHOOSH!

Nangong Yu darted away to search for Mist Shadow Warriors.

Shortly after,

Tang Wei and Princess Yunxiu broke free from the Illusion Realm at almost the same time.

"Yunxiu, your Martial Arts Will is quite tenacious. You broke free from the Illusion Realm so quickly," Tang Wei said with a smile as he approached her.

"He was faster than both of us!"

Princess Yunxiu looked off to one side.

There, Nangong Yu’s tall, handsome figure was gradually swallowed by the dense mist.

"Nangong Yu... The Seven Great Martial Arts Families are truly something else!"

Tang Wei’s expression darkened.

’It seems Nangong Yu will be my greatest rival for first place.’

"Huh? Where’d that peasant go?"

Tang Wei scanned the area, but there was no sign of Luo Tian, who had been nearby just moments before.

「Meanwhile, at the edge of the valley.」

A plain-looking youth with a sallow complexion had his eyes slightly closed, the corners of his lips twitching into an almost imperceptible smirk.

’Tsk, tsk. To think the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion would design a hidden preliminary test. I’ll keep up the act a little longer to avoid drawing any attention...’

...

High above the valley stood a dozen or so Mentors from the Holy Mansion, all dressed in white robes with the pattern of a sun emblazoned on the back.

"Hahaha, these little rascals all thought the trial was just about killing Mist Shadow Warriors! So naive, so naive!" a stout, middle-aged man laughed heartily.

This year’s Holy Mansion trial offered a special reward for first place, so the difficulty had been raised accordingly.

"These kids made it through the Wu Mansion selections to participate in the Holy Mansion’s trial, so their talent and cultivation can’t be bad. But on the path of Martial Arts, a tenacious Martial Arts Will is just as important," an elderly man in a white robe stated calmly.

If Luo Tian had been present, he would have recognized this white-robed elder as the Spirit Sea Realm expert who had come to Lingyun County to receive them.

"Oh? Who is that boy? He broke free from the illusion trial so quickly!" a female Mentor exclaimed in surprise, her gaze falling upon a handsome youth in a green robe.

The green-robed youth was none other than Luo Tian.

"He broke free from the Illusion Realm several breaths faster than even Nangong Yu. This boy’s will is truly tenacious!"

"How strange! The boy only has a Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening cultivation."

Several of the Mentors clicked their tongues in amazement.

"It’s that kid?"

A sharp glint flashed in the white-robed elder’s eyes.

Luo Tian’s last-minute arrival at Lingyun Peak had left a deep impression on him.

He never expected this commoner boy, with only a Fourth Layer of Meridian Opening cultivation, to become the most dazzling performer in this hidden test!