In the early morning, the dew still lingered among the grass blades. Xiang Wan and Tu Hongye had already stepped onto the green grass and were walking towards the government office's desk.
Important figures from various sects had already gathered there, led by Shen Guang and Liu Qingshui, as well as the elders of the Rushan Sect.
"You two came out early enough, this way please!"
An official came and led Xiang Wan and her apprentice to register.
When Tu Hongye poured a whole bag of sacred objects onto the altar, the onlookers stared in disbelief.
"My God, those two found all the sacred artifacts inside the magic array?"
"Not necessarily. Murder for treasure is a common occurrence."
The crowd began to murmur amongst themselves, with Shen Guang and the others casting increasingly unfriendly glances. Liu Qingshui, however, furrowed her brow slightly, her suspicions remaining undisguised. It was unclear whether this was her true nature or simply a well-hidden expression.
The so-called sacred objects are actually jade stones collected by the imperial court, which are believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits. However, there are ghosts within the magic array, so wouldn't searching for the jade stones simply mean searching places without ghosts?
That's wrong, completely wrong.
The jade was buried in the soil and covered by an array, which not only failed to ward off evil spirits but might even attract them. Therefore, the person who obtained the jade not only had to deal with the evil spirits but also had to break the array to find the jade, making it an extremely difficult task.
Of course, those with true skill have nothing to fear. The final competition tests not only ability but also the human heart. There were those who tried to rob others along the way, and those who formed alliances to search for jade. But in the end, for the sake of profit and survival, they would inevitably fight each other before leaving. Those who truly kept their promises were few and far between.
The imperial court established the rule of "life or death is irrelevant" partly to deplete the strength of sects, but also to recruit truly talented individuals. Victory requires either exceptional strength and ruthlessness to carve out a bloody path, or a combination of ability and luck. The court would naturally not ignore the former, while for the latter, recruitment would be the primary method, with appeasement as a secondary measure.
After counting the sacred objects on the table, a man in official robes approached Xiang Wan to recruit her, which she naturally declined. However, she was willing to serve the Great Zhou Dynasty and would naturally receive the court's support.
In this life, if one establishes a sect or school of thought and goes against the state, only the common people will suffer. The original owner's wish was not for a sect with a status above the court, but for Taoism, which would be revered for generations, with its own constraints, yet still benefiting all people. This was his lifelong wish.
As evening approached, people gradually emerged from the magic array, handing over their sacred objects to the authorities for registration. However, the other disciples of the Pingyang Sect had already left, while Yang Sheng and Shen Beiming had yet to return, and Shen Guang's face showed slight anxiety.
Wen Shuang spoke with Liu Qingshui for a while, and the latter stepped forward to Xiang Wan, bowed, and thanked her, seemingly intending to befriend her. Xiang Wan rose to return the bow and began chatting with Liu Qingshui.
Liu Qingshui looks quite young, but the Qingshui Sect has been established for quite some time, so her true age remains to be determined. This woman is knowledgeable, open-minded, and possesses great wisdom in every gesture; no wonder she was able to establish the Qingshui Sect single-handedly.
Xiang Wan and she had a pleasant conversation, while Tu Hongye and Wen Shuang stood aside, listening silently.
As the sun rose higher, fewer and fewer people emerged. Many shook their heads and sighed, and those who didn't see anyone from their own sect looked sorrowful.
Those sent to the final trial grounds were all the elites of their sects. Now, some have emerged, some haven't, naturally causing joy for some and sorrow for others. But the joy of the joyful won't last long, because those who signed contracts with Xiang Wan no longer belong to their sects. They bid farewell to their respective sect leaders and stood behind Xiang Wan. Even worse, seeing no hope for their sects, some directly switched to other sects.
Of course, some remained on the sidelines, observing. Because they hadn't witnessed Xiang Wan's true strength, they dared not gamble on her.
Yang Sheng, who had been absent for a long time, stepped out as the great formation closed.
Shen Guang rushed forward, anxiously looking behind him, "Just you? Where's Ming'er? Why hasn't he come out yet?"
Shen Guang no longer cared about his own identity and wanted to find out where his son was.
Seeing that the magic array was sealed, Shen Beiming would have to wait for another opportunity to get out. Shen Guang's heart sank to the bottom.
He didn't want to think about the worst-case scenario, because in his heart, his son rarely encountered a worthy opponent; no one dared to oppose the Pingyang Sect and kill Shen Beiming. But his son hadn't come out, and no matter how unwilling Shen Guang was, he had to accept this fact. He desperately wanted that one in ten thousand chance of survival to happen to his son, but if he stayed inside for five years, food and drink would be a problem, and he would also have to deal with the evil spirits placed inside. Shen Beiming had never experienced hardship, and his chances of survival were slim.
Shen Guang's heart sank lower and lower, and he couldn't help but think of that rumor again. Shen Beiming and Yang Sheng were secretly vying for power; would Shen Beiming take this opportunity to eliminate the other? Now that Yang Sheng had emerged, was it even necessary to ask who would be the one to sacrifice themselves?
As he thought about it, Shen Guang's gaze towards Yang Sheng gradually changed. If his son really was dead, the most likely culprit was Yang Sheng.
After leaving the formation, Yang Sheng's gaze remained fixed on Shen Guang. He didn't want to believe what he had seen in his dream, but his master, who had raised him and taught him swordsmanship and magic, showed no concern for his delayed return, and even harbored a hint of murderous intent in his eyes. Yang Sheng's heart suddenly turned cold.
If everything that happened in the dream was real, then all these years he had been working for his enemy. How could he face his deceased relatives? No, their souls were no longer there, scattered into the world. He had failed to avenge them. How was he any different from a beast?
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