Chapter 244.1: The Evil God Lu Changsheng Manifests His Saint Body, Destroying the True God in the Moon Capital With a Single Blow! (I)

Tang Lu's arrival at the Kang City county yamen did indeed cause an uproar, for her looks, her standing, and the recent rumors about the Tang family made her a subject worth talking about. Regardless, Tang Lu paid it no mind and went straight in to stand with the other entrants. There were 132 people sitting the county trial, and Tang Lu was the only woman among them, so it was hardly surprising that she drew attention.

The trial was presided over not by the county magistrate but by an official sent down specially from the province to guard against fraud, which showed how seriously the Great Moon Divine Empire took the Divine Child Trial.

"The Kang City Divine Child Trial now formally begins. For the first step of the county trial, the participants must lift this stone lock that weighs three hundred jin."

This part was essentially a filter. Naturally, anyone who could not even lift a three-hundred jin stone lock had no business continuing with this trial.

As it turned out, quite a few people were unable to pass even this entry-level test. One after another they put out every ounce of their strength and still failed to lift the stone lock; many were eliminated on the spot and left with their heads down.

At last, it was Tang Lu's turn, and the crowd perked up, eyes brightening. Among a pack of rough, brawny men, someone like Tang Lu was a rare thing indeed.

Tang Lu stepped up to the stone lock. It was a large one, especially next to her rather slender frame. Many in the crowd were sweating on her behalf, assuming she would simply fail to lift the thing. Still, Tang Lu did not hesitate. She simply pulled with both hands.

It was easy—easier than she had expected. She could probably have lifted the three-hundred jin stone lock with just one hand, but she decided against making a show out of this and used two hands instead.

"What? Ms. Tang Lu actually managed to lift the lock?"

"Huh? To me, it looked like she didn't even break a sweat."

"How in the...? She actually did it?

"With those scrawny arms and slim build? Where is she getting that strength from?"

"Well, well... Maybe Tang Lu actually has a chance of passing the county trial."

Plenty of people were astonished, and even the official sent down from the province to preside had his eyes drawn to Tang Lu, making sure to pay more attention to her from then on.

Next came the test of endurance, which was simple enough: run, and keep running. Those who fell short were eliminated. In this test, seven or eight out of every ten participants were out.

Last came the test of reflex and agility. By the end of this one, only eight of the 132 participants remained. Naturally, Tang Lu was among them.

"Very good. The eight of you have passed the county trial. In three days, travel to the prefectural capital for the prefecture trial."

The presiding official sent the names up the chain. Those who had watched the whole county trial exchanged looks, their faces alight with excitement.

"Ms. Tang Lu really passed the Divine Child Trial?"

"I mean, this was only the county trial. Still, her performance was remarkable."

"Impressive... Ms. Tang really is impressive."

"If she can pass the prefecture trial too, the Tang family will flourish in the world."

Various discussions burst out in the crowd.

The prefecture trial was relatively easy to get through, and passing it was already a considerable achievement that came with certain privileges within the Great Moon Divine Empire, one of the ways the empire encouraged people to hone their bodies and enter the Divine Child Trial.

But when it came to the provincial trial, no one dared to even consider it, as the difficulty was simply brutal.

Soon, Tang Lu returned to the Tang Manor, where she came before Lu Changsheng. "Master, I am happy to announce that I have not disappointed you. I have passed the county trial."

Lu Changsheng nodded. "Yes, I saw everything. The county trial is easy, and the prefecture trial isn't that hard either. The provincial trial is the one that truly matters. There are only three days until the prefecture trial, so set out for the prefectural capital at once. Travel alone. I shall follow behind."

One of Lu Changsheng's priorities was attracting as little attention as possible, so rather than departing with Tang Lu, he would trail her from a distance.

"Yes, Master."

Tang Lu made her preparations at once, settled the affairs of the family, and set out for the prefectural capital, with Lu Changsheng following behind and shepherding her the whole way. They met with no trouble at all throughout the journey.

Three days later the prefecture trial began. There were more entrants this time, eight of them women, but Tang Lu drew the attention regardless, for no other reason than that her beauty stood out.

Lu Changsheng maintained some distance from the prefectural yamen. He could feel how potent the power of faith was around it; if he got too close, he could not be certain the anomaly in him would go undetected.

So, he waited a few hours, and at last Tang Lu returned with good news. She had passed the prefecture trial cleanly, and next came the province trial in a month's time. This round left them far more room to breathe.

Lu Changsheng left no room for hesitation. "To the provincial capital."

A provincial capital was no ordinary place, so this time, he did not leave Tang Lu's side. They traveled in secrecy, blending with the people of Tang Manor in one of their carts, which spared them a great deal of trouble.

By now, Lu Changsheng had noticed that the larger the city, the denser the power of faith and the tighter the deities' control.

A long night breeds bad dreams...

Indeed, the longer he stayed here, the more likely it was for his movements to be discovered. He had to complete his mission as quickly as possible.

If nothing unpredictable happens, she should pass the provincial trial too, and then we can go to the Moon Capital. But there's only this one chance. Once I'm in the Moon Capital, I have to find exactly where the Great Moon True God is hiding. Then, I have to settle everything with one strike and secure the deity fragment. If I miss this chance, there's no way I can go on hiding in the Great Moon Divine Empire...

Lu Changsheng understood his position clearly. The danger increased with each passing day in the Great Moon Divine Empire.

The two of them took to the road again toward the provincial capital, and the journey passed without incident. The power of faith around the provincial yamen was even greater, and even drawing slightly nearer gave Lu Changsheng the sensation of being watched. He knew perfectly well that a single glance from a False God or a True God would expose him, so he could not approach.

A month later, the province trial began, with more entrants than ever. At this stage, Tang Lu was beginning to feel the pressure—not that she was worried. A little pressure was nothing to her, not with her formidable physical condition and Lu Changsheng's guidance.

This time, Tang Lu would no longer hold back, as per Lu Changsheng's instructions. She had to shine at this provincial trial and attract enough attention, so that she would be noticed at the Divine Child Trial in the Moon Capital. The best way for Lu Changsheng to determine the precise location of the Great Moon True God was for it to turn its attention to Tang Lu. From that point on, everything would fall into place.

And so, Tang Lu rose head and shoulders above the field of entrants and took first place in the provincial trial. With that, her name rang through the whole of Xia Province. Now, everything was asking about Tang Lu, where she had sprung from, and how she had suddenly seized first place. Word about her spread swiftly across the province.

That was the nature of the Divine Child Trial. Regardless of one's background or history, one dazzling performance in the trial was all it took for one to ascend to heaven in a single step and change their fate.