Chapter 144: The Trial Ends

Chapter 144: Chapter 144: The Trial Ends

"In a few more hours, the trial will be over."

After dinner, Xie Xichen looked at the last volcano that had yet to light up with a pillar of light and couldn’t help but shake his head. The Fire Dragon Valley trial would be over in the blink of an eye.

The beginning of the trial had been perilous. Not only did he have to activate the light pillars, but he also had to hunt down traitors from Purple Cloud Valley and even guard against the troublemaking Black Feather Royal Family.

However, ever since the light pillars in the outer and central areas were activated and the Loose Cultivators left one after another, things here had changed. Most disciples from the Three Immortal Sects were setting up stalls, while a small number prepared for the fight over the remaining pillars.

The Noble Family disciples were fully exhibiting their annoying traits, practically following the disciples of the Three Immortal Sects around every day.

"It’s finally almost over. I haven’t been sleeping well, and I can’t seem to learn any Magic. I can finally go back to Purple Bamboo Peak."

Liu Chen let out a long breath. He truly missed Purple Bamboo Peak. Compared to Fire Dragon Valley, the back mountain of Purple Bamboo Peak was small, but it felt very comfortable to him.

"I’ve seen you heading to that underground warehouse a lot recently, Junior Brother. I thought you must have mastered plenty of Magic by now."

Yang Haichen couldn’t help but look over, his eyes filled with astonishment. Liu Chen’s Talent for Magic was an enigma. Yang Haichen didn’t know much about it, but he admitted he couldn’t replicate the Recovery Technique Liu Chen had displayed on Purple Bamboo Peak.

"I’ve been trying to master them. I can pull them off sometimes, but it’s hit-or-miss. I can’t rely on them under these circumstances."

Liu Chen shook his head. The only thing left he hadn’t practiced was the Celestial Thunder Technique he’d gotten from Nangong Ye. It was an Intermediate Magic, and quite difficult to cultivate—it would probably take four days.

But with only a few hours left until the trial ended, there was no time to practice it.

"I still think it’s a good idea for you to find a Guardian, Junior Brother. What do you think of me?"

Xie Xichen couldn’t help but speak up. If a Spirit Chef was also skilled in Magical Battles, wouldn’t people like them feel utterly defeated in every aspect? After spending so much time together, Xie Xichen no longer wanted to hide his true intentions.

Before Xie Xichen could even finish his sentence, Ren Xunchun also looked over. He, too, had ideas about becoming Liu Chen’s Guardian.

"You jest, Senior Brother."

Liu Chen shook his head. ’Xie Xichen’s strength is likely in the top three among the Inner Sect Disciples from Purple Cloud Valley participating in the trial. His power is definitely sufficient, and his Talent is also quite good.

The only problem is, I feel like I could kill this Senior Brother—who is by all accounts a prodigy—with a single casual Attacking Skill.

My disguised Talent is effective among the disciples, but before my master gave me the Talisman, I surely couldn’t have hidden it from the eyes of Stewards and Elders. Even though I’ve only met Steward Lin face-to-face, the moment someone like him saw my current Cultivation, they’d probably understand what’s really going on.

Not to mention my master and mistress. Even if they wouldn’t object, I don’t want someone else watching my every move for no reason.’

"Eighteen pillars of light. Purple Cloud Valley has secured seven, while Qingxu Hall and Thunder Mountain each have five so far. It all comes down to midnight."

Ren Xunchun chose to change the subject directly. He sensed that Junior Brother Liu didn’t want to continue the discussion about a Guardian. If they kept talking about it, the friendship they’d built over this short time might come to an end.

"The last pillar of light should go to Qingxu Hall. Although neither Thunder Mountain nor Qingxu Hall have Spiritual Cuisine for recovery, Thunderstorm from Thunder Mountain has already made his move several times. Nangong Ye, however, hasn’t acted since that one fight for a pillar. He must be Qingxu Hall’s trump card for the finale."

Xie Xichen analyzed silently. ’The last time I chatted with Nangong Ye, he should have been fully recovered. To not have made a move for so long must mean he’s waiting for the final fight over the last pillar of light.

Of course, it’s possible he’s being ostracized by the rest of Qingxu Hall, but those disciples aren’t idiots. If they gave up Qingxu Hall’s interests over some petty matter, they could just wait to be punished when they got back!’

"Nangong Ye of the Nangong Family... I was hoping to have a talk with him, but it’s a shame Nangong Mu died just like that."

Liu Chen shook his head. ’Nangong Mu is now a perfect Soul Slave that I can refine. If I weren’t planning to take him back to prove I hadn’t forgotten my mistress’s instructions, I would have already purified his True Spirit and reduced him to a mere Spirit Ghost.

Everything about a person is derived from their True Spirit. Therefore, a Spirit Ghost whose True Spirit has dissipated has no gender. The Spirit Ghost of Nangong Mu, after his True Spirit was gone, could even become nourishment for my junior sister, but only if the side effects of the Spirit Ghost can be resolved somehow.

I wonder if Master and Mistress have a way.’

"Nangong Ye suspects that the Hundred Ghosts Elder might still be alive, possibly hiding in some inconspicuous item, planning to slip out of Fire Dragon Valley while the water is muddy."

Xie Xichen shook his head. ’Nangong Mu’s death was arguably the best solution. Purple Cloud Valley wouldn’t have to confront the Nangong Family directly, the Ye Family’s problem would be perfectly resolved, and as for the Nangong Family, they would likely have fewer enemies in the future.’

"Who knows? It’s not like the Eldest Prince of the Black Feather Dynasty was necessarily telling the truth."

Yang Haichen shook his head. Nangong Ye claimed he got the information from Yu Haoyong that the Hundred Ghosts Elder hadn’t left through the Black Feather Dynasty’s entrance. But who knew if that was true? The Black Feather Dynasty wasn’t part of the original plan for this event; their sudden appearance made them inherently untrustworthy.

"Either way, we don’t have to worry about it," Ren Xunchun said. "Even if the Hundred Ghosts Elder is bold enough to try and fish in troubled waters, he wouldn’t target disciples from the Three Immortal Sects. That wouldn’t be fishing in troubled waters; that would be throwing himself into a net."

Ren Xunchun wasn’t concerned about the matter. The Hundred Ghosts Elder might be strong in the Meridian Passage Realm, but he was nothing before the Three Immortal Sects. Any given Steward could crush him with ease.

Liu Chen watched this exchange quietly, recalling the Hundred Ghosts Elder dissipating with unwillingness in the cave. ’This Hundred Ghosts Elder, who made a name for himself by killing a member of the Nangong Family, definitely has no chance of leaving Fire Dragon Valley. However, if I need to do some dirty work in the future, it’s not out of the question to disguise myself as him.

That would give me two potential identities to use: one impersonating a Guard from the Black Feather Royal Family, and the other impersonating the Hundred Ghosts Elder himself. The only regret is that I don’t know the Magic he mastered. The only thing that guy dropped was the Soul Control Technique; there was nothing else in his Storage Ring.

In fact, most of the Storage Rings from the Fire Dragon Valley Loose Cultivators didn’t contain any Magic. The ones that did were in the minority, and the amount of Spirit Stones was pitifully small.’

The four of them chatted for a while longer before returning to their rooms to pack their bags. When midnight on the thirtieth of September arrived and the pillar of light on the final volcano appeared, the four gathered in the courtyard once more.

A short while later, the sigil representing Qingxu Hall appeared on the pillar of light. The Tokens in the four’s hands began to glow dazzlingly, enveloping them in light before turning into streams of light that teleported them directly out of Fire Dragon Valley.

The Fire Dragon Valley trial was officially over.