Chapter 1030: Trial
“The future generation who passes three stages will become the disciple of Hong Chen!”
…
Everything around was white and misty, and there was only a small path ahead.
The voice he heard when he was refining the stone talisman earlier was still lingering in his ears.
“This is actually an inheritance! And the person passing down the inheritance can even shift voids! He’s absolutely someone almighty!”
Fang Yuan’s eyes widened. He was slightly delighted, knowing that he had come across a great opportunity.
In this world, a true expert always loved leaving their inheritance behind.
The main reason was due to the influence of the rumors about samsara. They hoped to teach an impressive disciple that would lead them back onto the cultivation path in the future.
Of course, some genuinely wished that their skills and abilities would not be lost, or hoped that their disciple could avenge them or fulfill their other wishes and so on.
Even people in the Flybarb tribe would often hear ancient stories about lucky people who received an inheritance pass downed from predecessors and soared. These stories were very enviable.
“Unexpectedly, I was this lucky too!”
However, Fang Yuan did not immediately celebrate how this sudden meat pie came to him. Instead, he quickly began to consider it.
“Hmm, the stone talisman is pivotal and the key to entering and leaving this place. I can sense that it can send me out with just a single thought. This is extremely important because not only is there a way out but also because it shows that Hong Chen, who built this place, is a kind person and that this isn’t some kind of Demon Dao trap!”
There were many types of inheritance. For example, after you entered some dangerous inheritances, you would not be able to leave unless you satisfied a certain condition.
Furthermore, some Demon Dao cultivators liked to harm others even after they died. These so-called lands of inheritance were basically dead ends.
Meanwhile, this inheritance that Fang Yuan obtained allowed him to leave at any time, making it pretty good.
He walked forward and sized up the surroundings. “About thirty meters is the limit for movement. In addition, I have to embark on this path to accept the trial. Huh? The Qi of Heaven and Earth here?”
Since it was a world and there was an energy within, Fang Yuan directly named it the Qi of Heaven and Earth.
As a mid Predatory realm cultivator, his senses toward the Qi of Heaven and Earth naturally exceeded that of an ordinary person.
“A place like this is considered a blessed land. Given the high density of the energy here, any ordinary person who stays here would be able to prolong their life. Any cultivator here will be able to dedicate themselves to progressing vigorously and boldly!”
Fang Yuan arrived before the path.
On one side was a black stele.
“Stage One: Questioning Heart Path. Tests the temperament of the inheritor. Those who pass this stage will receive some cultivation techniques and treasures as rewards. If you pass all three stages, you will become my disciple! Take note! Even if you don’t pass the first stage, you can retreat safely. However, there are dangers in the second and third stages! Be cautious! Be cautious!”
“This Hong Chen seems like a pretty good guy.” Fang Yuan touched his nose. “There are rewards after the first stage, and he even reminded others of the later dangers…
“Hmm… that three-tailed spiritual fox must have gotten lucky and dripped its blood onto the stone talisman and arrived here. Unfortunately, it probably couldn’t even get past the first stage. However, relying on the Qi of Heaven and Earth here to nourish it, it slowly cultivated to become a mutated beast.
“It seems this Hong Chen’s criterion for a disciple is irrespective of their background. Whether they are human, beast, or Fey, as long as they are a living being in this world, they have a chance!”
He sat cross-legged and sensed the immense density of the Qi here. He felt slightly regretful. “If I could stay here for a year or two, I could advance my totem to the late stage solely with this nourishment. And this is without a cultivation technique… However, it would take far too much time!”
This inheritance might have more than one stone talisman.
Moreover, the nourishment of the Qi here was still slower compared to killing beasts and absorbing their spirit essence.
Fang Yuan took a deep breath as he stepped onto the Questioning Heart Path.
“Fang Yuan!”
The weasel’s strange head appeared, opened its massive mouth, revealed incredibly sharp teeth, and bit into his arm.
Pain!
Immense pain!
Excruciating pain!
Even though it was also an illusion, the Questioning Heart Path was much more frightening than the three-tailed spiritual fox’s illusion. This pain was unbearable even if you knew that it was an illusion!
However, Fang Yuan did not even flinch as he continued moving forward past the weasel’s figure.
Poof!
The next moment, the weasel disappeared, and his arm was undamaged. The surroundings changed, and he arrived in the Flybarb tribe.
“Fang Yuan, hand over the inheritance!” Brutal Bones and Brutal Thunder stood together with stern expressions. “You should know that with your strength, you definitely can’t protect a treasure like this!”
At the same time, a mysterious power started acting on Fang Yuan’s heart, making him gradually forget that he was in a trial and convinced that this was the real world.
…
After an unknown amount of time, nine flights of steps appeared in front of Fang Yuan.
“The second half of the temperament trial?” Fang Yuan shook his head. “It seems like… even the illusion that Hong Chen arranged can’t pry into my true inner heart!”
He took a step forward onto the flights of steps.
Rumble!
A pressure came down on him, seeming as though he were confronting a fierce tiger or a giant dragon. The aura alone was enough to force ordinary people to jump off the steps.
“It seems like this temperament trial is split into two parts. The earlier half tests the Dao Heart, while the following nine flights of steps directly tests willpower!”
Fang Yuan nodded as he stepped onto the second step.
After his True Spirit had reincarnated across countless worlds, the accumulation of his mental state was incomparably deep. Even though the physical quality of this body might not be the best, its psyche strength was quite impressive.
He crossed seven levels before finally coming to a halt and breathing somewhat heavily. “I’m almost unable to take it anymore…”
If this were a Dao Heart trial, even an Immortal would not be able to match Fang Yuan. But regarding the overall amount of psyche strength, those in ancient times did not have techniques in this respect, so theirs would merely be slightly stronger than that of ordinary youths.
“There’s still a chance!” Fang Yuan took a deep breath. “Splashing Wind!”
He executed Splashing Wind and charged forward onto the eighth level.
Rumble!
He felt a terrifying pressure, but he had expected it and held on.
“My limit is probably the eighth level, but I can still push further!”
He held nothing back as he stepped onto the ninth level.
An immense force acted on him, and he rolled forward onto a stone platform.
Instantly, all pressure disappeared, and Fang Yuan lay on the platform catching his breath.
“The first stage is already this difficult, so the next two stages might not be possible for me…
“Fortunately, there are rewards after completing the first stage!”
After a short rest, Fang Yuan stood up and looked around.
In addition to the stone platform that he was on, the surroundings were the same white and misty as before, and another path appeared not too far away.
Before the next path, there was a stele with a few items on it.
Fang Yuan did not look at the rewards and chose to look at the second stage. “The second stage tests combat talent. You will have to defeat all the combat puppets on the way to the third stage!” He shook his head. “There probably isn’t much hope for me in this one. Moreover, there are dangers…”
After deciding to give it up, he looked at the rewards.
On the stele were three items. A silver manual made of timber, a beast skin, and a… saber?
Fang Yuan picked up the manual. “Chaotic Cloak Saber Technique? Fierce and domineering, every strike is stronger than the previous one. After cultivating to the end, it can overlay nine layers of dark bursts! Eh?”
Looking at the introduction, he found it slightly familiar. “Isn’t this the Splashing Wind Saber Technique? Was the Flybarb tribe’s Splashing Wind Saber Technique simplified from this?
“And this saber…”
He picked up the saber from the stele.
The saber was pitch-black and had a rough shape. The handle and the blade were blended together well, as though carved from the same piece of pure iron. However, it was extremely heavy when he tried holding it.
“Magic artifact?” Fang Yuan was delighted. “In the Flybarb tribe, only High Priest Brutal Bones possesses a magic artifact. Above magic artifacts are spirit artifacts, and above spirit artifacts are dao artifacts. However, these aren’t within my reach at this moment.”
He did not hesitate and immediately dripped his blood on it to refine it. He received a message. “Black Profound Saber, low-grade magic artifact! Using force to pressure others and conquer every obstacle!”
“Well, if it were a flying sword magic artifact and so on, it would naturally be exceedingly sharp. However, the saber technique that I’m practicing is to be bold and unconstrained, sturdy and fierce. Heavy weapons are best for me!”
He nodded and looked at the last beast skin.
The material of this beast skin was extraordinary, likely the skin of some mutated beast. There were even runes on it, and it had its power ready for use at any time.
On the back, there was a description. “Earth Escape Talisman, activate with blood refinement. Escape through the earth for over five kilometers to avoid calamity!”
“This is a life-saving talisman!” Fang Yuan quickly put it away.
“The inheritance and treasures mentioned are all superficial because the premise is to stay alive. The owner of this land of inheritance knew this very well.”
He bowed respectfully at the land of inheritance. “Junior Fang Yuan thanks Senior for the treasures. If I have the fate of completing the trial, it could be considered as fulfilling Senior’s wish!”
With a thought, he was immediately sent out of the land of inheritance.
At this moment, he muttered to himself doubtfully while tracing the stone talisman. “The treasures I received are all suited for me. How can there be such a coincidence in this world? There is definitely someone watching over the inheritance. No! It should be some contracted spirit beast or some magic treasure’s spirit. Either way, there isn’t anything wrong with showing respect and gratitude.”
Besides this, he was beaming from ear to ear. “I was just getting worried about not having top techniques. This came at the right time. If I can somehow attain the complete inheritance of the owner of this cave abode, I should be able to cultivate beyond the Materialization realm, right? After that, I might just be able to walk out of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.”
To him, a mere barbarian tribe was simply too insignificant.
He had to walk the entire world to compete for more resources in order to progress quickly and trace the location of his nemesis.
“In the future, I will cultivate secretly and give priority to further exploring this cave abode!”
Fang Yuan tossed his saber and replaced it with the Black Profound Saber. He inserted it by his waist as he walked out of the cave.
After this magic artifact acknowledged its master, it became even more plain and simple. Unless he directly took it out to fight with other magic artifacts, it would be incredibly hard to see its roots.
“I was delayed for quite some time here. It’s time to meet up with Moon!”