A Mortal's Journey to Immortality: Wang Yu Transmigrates into a Book, the Dao Ancestor of Rein

Chapter 68 Team
"Alright, everyone, you've all come to the right place, haven't you? This is the group heading to the Crimson Forbidden Land."

A middle-aged figure walked out of the main hall.

He is the publicly acknowledged leader of Huangfeng Valley.

"Greetings, Master Uncle."

Outside the palace square, twenty-five people bowed in unison.

Compared to the usual ten or so participants in previous years, this year saw a rare full attendance.

As for why everyone is so enthusiastic this time?

The reason is simple: news suddenly spread half a month ago that after the next Crimson Trial in five years, the Crimson Forbidden Land would be temporarily closed by the seven sects for sixty years. This has made many elite disciples who originally planned to try again in a few years restless. Even a fool knows that the trial five years from now will be the most intense and brutal.

This resulted in a full complement of 25 people participating in the trial.

At that time, Han Li was extremely grateful that he had befriended Dong Xuan'er early on. If Dong Xuan'er hadn't helped him rent several spirit beasts a few months earlier, his chances of success would have been greatly reduced.

It is also worth mentioning that...

When news spread that the Crimson Forbidden Land would be closed for sixty years in five years, the elite disciples preparing to participate in the trials considered investing heavily in contracting several top-tier level 1 spirit beasts to enhance their overall strength. However, time was running out; less than half a month was simply not enough time for them to develop a rapport with their newly contracted spirit beasts.

Therefore, some family members pinned their hopes on the next and final Blood Trial.

In the next five years, there will be no shortage of wealthy people who will spare no expense to purchase and raise top-tier spirit beasts, or seek out exquisite or even rare top-tier magical artifacts.

There's also the hoarding of talismans, and so on.

This also means that the trial five years from now will be unprecedentedly brutal.

How could Han Li not be relieved by this?

Fortunately, he was familiar with the timeline and managed to squeeze into the team as quickly as possible. He certainly didn't want to participate in the one five years from now.

It is said that the seven major sects only revealed the news of sealing off the forbidden area half a month in advance, which must have been for other reasons.

...

"Well, since you've all come to the right place, let's talk about the rules of this Crimson Trial."

Master Zhong nodded.

Forbidden Zone Rule 1: Only those in the Qi Refining stage can participate.

The ancient sealing formation of the forbidden area prohibits beings with cultivation levels above the Qi Refining stage from entering.

Rule 2: No one may conceal any century-old medicinal herbs harvested within the forbidden area. Each century-old medicinal herb brought out will be recorded as a merit and rewarded accordingly. Sect rewards may include spirit stones, talismans, magical artifacts, or even Foundation Establishment Pills.

The reason why everyone signed up so enthusiastically this time is precisely for the Foundation Establishment Pill.

"A single century-old spiritual herb can be exchanged for at least one hundred low-grade spirit stones as a reward..."

"The older the spiritual herb, the more merit points you can gain, and the greater the benefits you can exchange for it."

"If you bring out a thousand-year-old spiritual herb, you will be rewarded with a Foundation Establishment Pill!"

"Furthermore, not only can you exchange these merits for Foundation Establishment Pills, but you can also use them to exchange for pills that grant you Foundation Establishment cultivation..."

For example, the Qi-Harmony Pill is a miraculous medicine suitable for the early and middle stages of Foundation Establishment.

Rule 3: The trial can last for a maximum of 5 days. After 5 days, you must leave the Crimson Forbidden Land through a temporary passage opened by the outside world.

"Sect Leader, what if we miss it and can't get out before the forbidden passage closes?"

"Then you'd better pray for good luck, junior disciple."

If you're trapped inside, you're sure to die.

The seven major sects had repeatedly sent their disciples to remain there, some even to establish their foundations. But in the end, they all vanished without a trace. What happened to those disciples who were used as guinea pigs? And why did they disappear without a trace?
Rule 4: One must not persecute fellow disciples, nor collude with outsiders to plot against them…

Just treat this as decoration; don't take it too seriously.

After explaining the rules, Master Zhong went on to discuss other important points and gave a pep talk and encouragement to boost morale.

It did have some effect, but not much.

After that, the person above had two disciples carry two trays forward.

On a tray were dozens of colorful mid-grade spirit stones: "Come up one by one, one stone each, according to your needs."

Upon hearing this, everyone's spirits lifted. Since there were plenty of mid-grade spirit stones, there was no need for a fierce battle among the twenty-odd people. Consequently, their serious faces quickly transformed into expressions of joy.

Clearly, something tangible is far more effective than empty rhetoric, and sure enough, everyone's morale has increased significantly.

On another tray was a storage bag with gold trim, containing about a hundred high-grade magical artifacts of various kinds.

"Still the same line as before, one per person." This storage bag has the effect of preventing cultivators from probing it with their divine sense. Cultivators have to put their hands in and then try their luck to choose one.

It's hard to say whether Han Li was lucky or unlucky, but he chose a small bell.

"This brass bell can change size at will, expanding to a maximum of about ten feet. It can be used for both defense and offense. When defending, you can hide under the bell when it grows to about ten feet in size; even ordinary top-tier magical artifacts might not be able to break through that tortoise shell. When attacking, you can trap your opponent under it and continuously strike the bell's walls with your magic power to create a considerable sonic attack. It can also suddenly shrink, compressing and restricting your opponent." Dong Xuan'er's soft and charming voice transmitted to Han Li's ear.

The next moment, the woman and another Foundation Establishment stage manager in charge of this trial walked out of the main hall.

When Han Li spotted Dong Xuan'er among the five people in the square, he was stunned for a moment.

He hadn't expected that this person would be among the five Foundation Establishment stage cultivators leading the team this time.

In addition, there was Uncle Wang, one of the three Foundation Establishment stage cultivators who was in charge of the Ascension Ceremony two or three years ago.

Just as the disciples had finished selecting their spirit stones and magical artifacts, another figure stepped out from the main hall.

He was an elderly man with a square face. He appeared to be in his fifties or sixties, with somewhat gray hair, but his complexion was ruddy and he was full of energy. His piercing eyes exuded an imposing presence. The first impression he gave was that of a venerable and resolute senior figure.

"Greetings, Uncle Li."

As soon as this person appeared, all the Foundation Establishment stage cultivators in the sect, including Sect Leader Zhong, bowed in respect.

The disciples in the square naturally followed suit and bowed as well.

"Greetings, Master Li."

This person was none other than Li Huayuan, one of the eight Core Formation elders of Huangfeng Valley.

"Hmm, the kids this time were all pretty good."

There were as many as seven people at the thirteenth level of Qi Refining.

Other mainstream practitioners also have the twelfth level of Qi Refining.

There are also two at the eleventh level of Qi Refining.

Of the twenty-five people, only two were considered "slackers," including Xiang Zhili. Huangfeng Valley's full-strength team this time was quite impressive.

As Li Huayuan nodded slightly to the crowd, his gaze swept over them, seemingly able to see right through their very being, sending chills down their spines. When he saw Han Li:

"what?"

The brief, soft exclamation drew the attention of several Foundation Establishment managers.

It seems that the residual effects of the Foundation Building Pill in his body have been exposed.

Fortunately, the surprised attention only lasted a moment before dissipating.

"Alright, it's getting late, we can set off now."

With a flick of his sleeve, Li Huayuan released his spirit pet from his spirit beast pouch, immediately eliciting gasps of surprise from all the Qi Refining stage disciples present.
"what is that?"

"So big..."

"It's my master's mount..."

"Hiss, what a terrifying spirit beast!"

It was a giant python-like monster that was over twenty feet long.

Its entire body was silvery, with a single, massive black horn atop its head. As it looked down, its fangs were exposed, making it ferocious and terrifying. Its enormous size and overwhelming spiritual power were extremely oppressive, causing Han Li and the other Qi Refining cultivators to feel a strong sense of suffocation. Being stared at by this monster was truly unpleasant.

"Does a level three silver-armored horned python possess such power?"

The black dragon inside the forbidden area that is about to advance to the second level should not be too bad either.

Can I really face it?
"If even a level three demonic beast has such a majestic aura, what about those at the Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages?"

Suddenly, Han Li felt as if the blood in his body was flowing backward, as if he were trembling, or perhaps... excited?!

"Come on up, all of you, and stand still. My silver-armored horned python is much faster than any of you flying on your magical artifacts."

With a light leap, Li Huayuan touched the ground with his toes and instantly appeared atop the silver-armored horned python's head. His speed was so great that Han Li and the others on the plaza only caught a fleeting glimpse of him. If he were to attack them, it felt like a total annihilation would occur within three to five breaths.

The Silver-Armored Horned Python was indeed very fast, reaching at least 70 meters per second, which was two points faster than the flying speed of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.

It truly lives up to its reputation as a benign variant.

It's understandable that Li Huayuan had high hopes for him.

And so, the group rode the majestic silver-armored horned pythons and flew into the twilight glow on the horizon.
-
P.S.: It's the last day of the month, please give me any leftover tickets. Thanks!

(End of this chapter)