Madam, please ascend.

Chapter 46 The trial begins

It was unknown when the Chenghuang Trial would be held, so Yun Yi practiced sword and alchemy as usual, consolidating his cultivation in the middle stage of the Qi Refining Realm.

Xun Ziyu only suffered minor injuries and recovered after a short rest. He told Yun Yi about his experience in the Divine Forest. Compared to Yun Yi's encounter with the Spiritual Transformation Realm, he and Qi Ling'er were only besieged by several Qi Refining Realm cultivators, which was considered lucky.

Both believed it was a deliberate revenge from the Myriad Poison Sect and decided to stay within the sect as much as possible. However, Xun Ziyu didn't seem to suspect a spy within the sect, so Yun Yi didn't mention it to avoid further complications.

In addition, Yun Yi would go to Yunxia Peak every day and, with Su Qing's help, refine several furnaces of extremely useful elixirs. However, Su Qing said that she still hadn't figured out how to use the dragon fruit, and planned to make a decision after collecting some herbs from the forbidden area.

For a while, the entire Fuyao Sect was filled with an atmosphere of diligent practice, and it seemed that everyone was working hard for the upcoming Chenghuang Trial.

After all, the Sect Leader had said before that this trial was not about cultivation, this was a rare opportunity that only came once in many years.

These days, Song Xinci has become the most idle person. She has no interest in Fuyao Daoguo at all. If it weren't for Master Qingwei's urging, she wouldn't even bother to pretend.

After half a decade, the bell of Qingluo Peak suddenly rang seven times, summoning all the disciples. Instantly, countless disciples, riding their magical weapons, flew towards Qingluo Peak, a dazzling display of colors.

Yun Yi and others followed Elder Qingwei. The five of them squeezed onto a seven-foot square hexagram plate, which seemed quite crowded.

Qing Wei couldn't help but complain, "Yun Yi and Shi Yucheng have only been here for a short time, so it's fine if they're not proficient in controlling magic weapons, but why are you two joining in the fun?"

Qi Ling'er immediately explained, "Senior Brother Xun's injury hasn't healed yet, so it would be best if he could save some energy."

"Nonsense, his injury has healed long ago."

Xun Ziyu said helplessly: "Junior sister, I'm really fine now."

Qi Ling'er glared at him: "Don't talk, I'm just looking for an excuse to be lazy."

Qingwei sighed and shook his head, thinking, these were his own disciples, so what could a master do without pampering them? So, in the end, he personally sent them to Qingluo Peak, to the spacious training ground in front of the sect's main hall.

As the hall became crowded with people, Daocheng finally appeared with a group of elders, and Piaomiaozi explained the rules of the Chenghuang Trial.

As previously rumored within the sect, this trial was held in the forbidden area behind the mountain, where a "Soul Locking Formation" would be activated. As the name suggests, any cultivator below the Hedao realm who entered the formation would have their entire spiritual energy restricted and locked.

In other words, all disciples who participated in the trial would lose their cultivation and become ordinary people again without any cultivation.

As soon as these words were spoken, the disciples in the Spiritual Transformation Realm sighed in sorrow, while the disciples in the Qi Refining Realm cheered with rapturous applause. As for the disciples in the Return to Void Realm, there were only a few scattered around, and Meng Fan was the most outstanding among them.

There was no special expression on his face, as if he was determined to win the first prize in this trial regardless of whether there was a Soul Locking Array or not.

Those who can cultivate to the Return to Void Realm are all outstanding people. Even if their cultivation is suppressed by the Soul Locking Array, their character and experience are incomparable to ordinary disciples.

Next, Daocheng took out a fruit the size of an egg, which was golden in color. Everyone in the room immediately quieted down upon seeing this.

Yun Yi's eyes also lit up, thinking that it must be the Fuyao Dao Fruit, which looked and tasted good.

Song Xinci secretly glanced at her cheap husband's reaction and thought to herself that he was indeed a bumpkin.

Piaomiaozi said, "The first prize of this trial is this Fuyao Dao Fruit. To obtain it, you must be the last person to walk out of the forbidden area in the back mountain!"

Meng Fan stared at the Fuyao Dao Fruit with an extremely hot look in his eyes.

Just as he once looked at Song Xinci.

Qi Ling'er whispered, "Master said that the last one to leave the forbidden area will obtain the Fuyao Dao Fruit. Does that mean we have to fight on our own to see who can survive the longest?" Xun Ziyu said, "In the past, we fought on sight and the winner took all. It seems that this trial has many variables."

Qi Ling'er poked Yun Yi and said, "We are all masters of the same family, so we should all advance and retreat together!"

Yun Yi shook his head and said, "I'm afraid it's not that simple. If they really team up, wouldn't it become a melee? The six preaching elders and the three great elders each have a group of disciples. If their cultivation is locked, the fight will definitely not be a good one."

Xun Ziyu agreed: "Ling'er, you still have to be independent and strong. You can't just hide behind when things go wrong."

Qi Ling'er pouted her lips high.

At this time, Piaomiaozi was heard talking about the rules of the trial. Each disciple would bring a jade talisman into the trial. Once the jade talisman was damaged, the disciple would be automatically teleported out of the venue and would be considered to have failed the trial.

As for the content of the trial, it is too complicated to explain clearly. The disciples will know it when they enter the forbidden area.

In order to prevent disciples from crossing the levels in groups, everyone will be randomly teleported to different locations after entering. In this way, even if they want to cooperate, they may encounter problems before finding teammates.

While Yun Yi was listening to the rules carefully, he noticed several unfriendly eyes looking at him in the dark.

It was common knowledge that Elder Qingwei had accepted two remarkable new disciples, one of whom was extremely talented, while the other had recently killed a Spiritual Transformation Realm cultivator. Consequently, Yun Yi and Shi Yucheng became targets of widespread vigilance, with everyone eager to see them eliminated first.

Song Xinci completely ignored the hostility of those people. In her opinion, if anyone made her unhappy, she wouldn't mind exposing her Hedao realm cultivation and killing them.

The Soul Locking Formation can only bully those in the Return to Void Realm.

Yun Yi knew her temper well and whispered a reminder: "If you really don't like it, just stay in there for a while, then crush the jade talisman and teleport out. Don't ruin the trial, I still want that Dao Fruit."

"Does this count as begging me?"

"Let me beg you."

"Okay, remember you owe me a favor."

Faced with Song Xinci's bullying behavior, Yun Yi could only swallow his anger, thinking that since they had already gotten married, it was no big deal for a man to give in to his wife.

He originally had no hope for the Fuyao Daoguo, but after listening to Piaomiaozi's explanation of the rules, he couldn't help but feel tempted.

For Yun Yi, who had cultivated for two lifetimes, the Soul Locking Formation undoubtedly provided him with considerable convenience. Everyone within the formation had lost their cultivation, and fighting against each other relied entirely on skill, strategy, and luck.

It just so happened that Yun Yi retained the memories of his previous life. His practical skills were at the peak level of the Return to Void Realm, and his intelligence was his strongest point. He believed that even if he met Meng Fan, he would definitely be able to fight.

After explaining the rules, Daocheng waved his sleeves, and the disciples in front of the hall felt the sky shaking and the earth spinning.

In just the blink of an eye, everyone appeared in front of the forbidden area in the back mountain.

He actually used the magic in his sleeves to bring nearly a thousand disciples directly from the front mountain to the back mountain. What a powerful magical power!
Song Xinci's face darkened, thinking that Daocheng's Hedao realm was only stronger than his own, not weaker, and this guy was not easy to mess with.

The disciples were also inspired by this and all wanted to obtain the Fuyao Dao Fruit and touch the unattainable Hedao realm in their lifetime.

Then Piaomiaozi and nine other elders cast spells together, and several human-sized portals glowing blue appeared.

"Disciples who wish to participate in the trial, please come forward and receive the jade talisman. Remember, there is a limit to fighting and violating regulations, and no one's life should be harmed. Anyone who persecutes a fellow disciple will have their cultivation immediately abolished and be expelled from the sect!"

(End of this chapter)