Chapter 1152: Opening the Trial Gate
"Alright, Master Bai, it’s about time. We need to go to the teleportation array area." Pure Yang Daoist didn’t want to delay any longer, so he clasped his fists in respect and headed into the Celestial Pill Sect’s Forbidden Land.
Thus, everyone followed slowly behind him, and soon they arrived at a large stone altar.
The stone altar was quite imposing, a typical rectangular shape surrounded by stone railings, with a Qiankun Eight Trigrams Map right in the center.
The Sect Leader led everyone onto the stone altar, then instructed them to spread around the edges, forming a circle with the Qiankun Eight Trigrams Map left in the center.
"Everyone, check your belongings. Make sure you have water and food supplies. This could last for three days, so ensure you have enough. Once inside the trial area, you can’t turn back. Complete the tasks and return here through another array, or if you need to abandon the mission, we’ll send someone to bring you back." Pure Yang Daoist reminded.
At this moment, everyone searched their supplies and confirmed everything was in order, continuing to listen to the Sect Leader’s instructions.
Pure Yang Daoist raised his head to look at the night sky, seeing a full moon hanging therein, he gave a slight smile and said, "The time has come. Is everyone ready?"
"Ready."
The group replied in unison, having waited long for this moment, feeling both tense and excited.
"Good. Starting now, each group will go in turn. First is Group Five, Zhang Shanfeng, lead your members into the teleportation array." Pure Yang Daoist stated.
"Yes, Sect Leader." Zhang Shanfeng responded respectfully, then led his group ahead.
Once Zhang Shanfeng’s team was in position, Pure Yang Daoist gave a low grunt, and several Hall Masters flew over to form a circle around the teleportation array, with Pure Yang Daoist included.
They all simultaneously cast a spell, each palm emitting a light beam, radiant and strikingly beautiful.
Soon, a beam of light emerged from the ground beneath the Qiankun Eight Trigrams Map, like a column two meters in diameter.
Pure Yang Daoist quickly spoke up, "Zhang Shanfeng, stay alert. We’re about to teleport you to the trial realm. The rest is on you. Remember, each task you’ve been assigned is different and will automatically enter your mind. You can’t share it or ask for help, or the task will disappear."
"Understood, thank you, Sect Leader." Zhang Shanfeng replied.
"You’re welcome, alright, get ready."
After Pure Yang Daoist spoke, he signaled to those nearby, exerting their strength, and with a swift move, Zhang Shanfeng’s team vanished before everyone’s eyes.
"Alright, next group, prepare. Gao Diaosheng, lead your team onto the teleportation array immediately." Knowing time was short, Pure Yang Daoist urged without delay.
"Okay, Sect Leader." Gao Diaosheng was aware of the urgency and quickly led his team onto the Qiankun Eight Trigrams Map, and they disappeared in an instant.
...
"Last group, prepare. Chen Tianlong, it’s all up to you now. Remember not to assist where you shouldn’t. In the final area, we must ensure those we’re sending through have secured the Evil Qi, or this mission will be deemed a failure."
Pure Yang Daoist viewed Chen Tianlong as the main force for this trial and specifically instructed him.
"Understood, Sect Leader."
Chen Tianlong responded solemnly.
Beside him, Hao Shuai evidently sensed something amiss, feeling slightly unsatisfied but had to comply given the Sect Leader’s authority, so he decided to proceed first.
Hao Shuai, Chen Tianlong, Du Nong, Lin Wushuang, Liu Ting, and Bing Ruxue, the six of them stepped into the teleportation array, as the four Hall Masters and Pure Yang Daoist exerted effort, the four vanished in the last flash of light, disappearing before Pure Yang Daoist.
At this point, Pure Yang Daoist exhaled deeply.
"Phew, finally accomplished. Now it’s up to them." Pure Yang Daoist remarked.
"Yes, Sect Leader, don’t worry, they’ll handle it." Fatty Xu said with a smile.
"Indeed, I believe so, especially that Chen Tianlong. That child is extraordinary, with an Immortal Bone and remarkable wisdom, a destiny beyond reach. If he is not to be ours, he must be let go." A cold glint flashed across Pure Yang Daoist’s face as he left the forbidden land.
The two remaining Hall Masters stayed back on rotation duty, with Fatty Xu scheduled for the next day, so he headed home to sleep.
In the trial realm.
The realm was a desert, swept by strong winds raising rolling dust clouds, making Lin Wushuang cover her mouth instinctively.
"Chen Tianlong, where are we? Have we been teleported to the wrong place?" Lin Wushuang asked in confusion.
"Shouldn’t be. This is our trial area."
Chen Tianlong trusted the Sect Leader’s caution in all matters, unlikely to make such a mistake.
Hao Shuai glanced at Chen Tianlong and Lin Wushuang, conversing here, and felt a surge of irritation: "Are you two here for romance or trial?"
Lin Wushuang stuck her tongue out at Hao Shuai, indicating his interference, then smiled at Chen Tianlong, asking, "Have you received your task yet?"
"Not yet, I think it’s not so soon."
Chen Tianlong replied with a slight smile.
Du Nong surveyed the surroundings, but saw nothing but desert in all directions.
The trial’s duration was only three days, a short time for three challenging tasks, compounded by ignorance of their content.
"Alright, let’s explore. Standing here isn’t going to help." Chen Tianlong confirmed no distinctive features around them.
Thus, the four began walking through the wild and chaotic desert sands, when suddenly Chen Tianlong felt a mental wave surging in, first feeling dizzy, then hearing a voice.
"Chen Tianlong, I am the trial task issuer. Your first task is to collect Life-extending Licorice, growing in extremely dangerous locations, with serrated leaves and a yellow stem. Task announcement complete, good luck."
The voice ceased afterwards.
"Life-extending Licorice? What kind of thing is that? In such a barren desert, not a leaf in sight." Chen Tianlong thought to himself.
Meanwhile, Lin Wushuang clearly received her task, murmuring softly, "Millennium Reishi? How is there any Millennium Reishi here?"
She looked at Chen Tianlong approaching, considering to ask him, but recalled the Sect Leader’s warning against seeking help, or it would result in automatic task abandonment.
Seeing Lin Wushuang’s hesitation, Chen Tianlong guessed her intent and smiled, saying, "Wushuang, you can do it, trust in your abilities, okay?"