Chapter 148: The Trial Begins, the Earth Collapses

Chapter 148 -79: The Trial Begins, the Earth Collapses

HUMMM—!

One hundred and eight acupoints related to the Primordial Sea were scattered all over Jiang Xuan’s body.

Emitting a faint, clear light, they appeared in Jiang Xuan’s Heart Soul perception like a sky full of celestial stars in the distant cosmos—limpid, brilliant, and reflecting one another’s glow.

Moreover, these one hundred and eight celestial stars were expanding and contracting in harmonious resonance, echoing one another to form a perfect star map that seemed to have a life of its own.

And Jiang Xuan’s Primordial Sea Spirit Core was the very heart of this vast star map, the point where it all converged.

At the same time, wisps of pure Magical Power, like the ebb and flow of a tide, surged toward him in a ceaseless stream from those one hundred and eight stellar acupoints.

The convergence of so much Magical Power, combined with the resonance of the All-Sky Star Map, gave Jiang Xuan the feeling that something was gestating within his Primordial Sea.

And soon enough, Jiang Xuan realized what it was.

‘If I’m not mistaken, this should be the gestation process of a Divine Power Seed.’

However, the gestation lasted only for a moment before Jiang Xuan furrowed his brow. He discovered that his star map had some imperfections. Because he had only just drawn out the acupoints without yet nurturing them, he hadn’t fully completed the process of “Refining Illusion into Truth.” His star map was, indeed, regrettably flawed.

“So, there’s still one last step.”

Of course, even with this illusory star map, this state of Half-Step Perfection still increased the carrying capacity of his Flesh Body by a third out of thin air.

More importantly, his Nine Breath Qi Ingestion Technique had reached the Fourth Realm several days ago, meaning he no longer had to worry about nurturing and tempering his acupoints himself.

The Cultivation Technique’s automatic Circulation of Qi meant that even while he was asleep, his acupoints would be continuously tempered and polished by Magical Power, day and night.

This also meant that in the upcoming Tri-School Joint Exam, he could act without reservation and fight as he pleased.

Even if he entered an Illusion Realm, his Cultivation would continue to grow. He could have a sudden breakthrough and achieve Perfection at any moment during the trial.

This feeling of being able to cast aside all worries made Jiang Xuan lift his gaze in the direction of the Yin Daoist School.

Now, facing those arrogant, high-and-mighty students, Jiang Xuan was no longer worried. His heart surged with nothing but a ferocious will to fight.

‘Chen Qianjun, let me see just what you’re relying on that gives you the audacity to use a Treasure Level One item as bait to lure us all here!’

…

“Jiang Xuan.”

Just as Jiang Xuan was stabilizing his Cultivation, his heart brimming with battle intent as he waited for the trial to begin, Dong Hao, who had gone to negotiate at the joint Daoist School gathering, returned. However, his face was grim, his brow furrowed with gloom and anxiety.

The sight of him immediately told Jiang Xuan that something was wrong.

“It didn’t go well?”

“No.” Dong Hao didn’t hide anything, speaking with some distress. “For this cooperation, our side is mainly led by Qin Feng and Fang Xiao. Many Cultivators have gathered behind them.”

“The two of them have joined forces and now represent the main faction of Cultivators from our Chen Daoist School, considering themselves the leaders.”

“As for the rest of us, Qin Feng gave only two options: either follow their orders and receive their protection, or act on our own and fend for ourselves.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan chose the second path with almost no hesitation.

Dong Hao wasn’t surprised by Jiang Xuan’s decision. His real worry wasn’t about picking sides but about the perilous situation at hand. “The Yin Daoist School will definitely pick off the outliers first before concentrating their forces to deal with the two main factions. If we act alone, we’ll be the first ones they target.”

Jiang Xuan agreed with this assessment of the Yin Daoist School’s strategy, but he had a different perspective.

“Qin Feng and Fang Xiao have gathered a lot of people, but that large crowd also makes them an easy target. There are only a few of us, with only three core members. It won’t be so easy for the Yin Daoist School to encircle and kill us.”

As he said this, Jiang Xuan glanced at his Celestial Heart Mirror, along with a series of Skills like Celestial Heart Sensing and Asking Heaven.

Although most of a Qi Cultivator – Celestial Observer’s Skills were supportive, their effectiveness was not to be underestimated. For reconnaissance, prediction, gaining the initiative, and avoiding danger, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call these Skills strategic-level in a real battle.

With these abilities combined, Jiang Xuan had no fear of being surrounded.

‘If we’re talking about encirclement, they’re the ones who should be feeling wary and anxious.’

Of course, Jiang Xuan didn’t speak in absolutes.

He still didn’t know the specific content of the Tri-School Joint Exam.

If they were to simply throw everyone into a Beast Fighting Arena and force them into a melee to the death, then he could only curse his luck and prepare to fight against many opponents at once.

Hearing Jiang Xuan’s words, Dong Hao laughed.

“The academy probably wouldn’t use that kind of test format. Whether it’s the internal exams at the Daoist Schools or the Hundred-Day Exam, the Shenxiao Sect’s original intention is to find and cultivate students with outstanding Talent and potential, not just to have us kill each other.”

“Just throwing everyone into a gladiator arena to fight until only one is left… that might test strength and Heart Nature, but it relies too much on luck.”

At this, he shrugged and added, “Besides, that kind of test can only determine the first-place winner. It would be very difficult to rank everyone else.”

“Surely the Shenxiao Sect isn’t planning to recruit only a single Inner Sect Disciple this year…”

Before he could finish, Dong Hao started laughing at his own words.

But halfway through his laugh, his expression shifted back to one of worry. It was clear that his laughter had been mostly an attempt to relieve his stress, an attempt that had obviously failed.