Chapter 406

Chapter 406: The Test

The sect leader of Wan Gu Sect’s words resonated with authority. Imbued with an undeniable power, they fell upon the gathering like the crash of thunder, unchangeable.

With his declaration, Yao Wu’s position and the subsequent arrangements were finally settled.

Yao Wu was surprised that she would be studying directly under the sect leader. Given his standing, it seemed a favorable development that he would instruct her.

Yet, sinister schemes clearly lurked behind this, though she currently had no room to argue.

Moreover, what exactly was this test at Lieyang Mountain?

Yao Wu had no idea. For now, she simply had to take things one step at a time.

"Ling An, take her back. Once she is ready to undertake the trial, arrange her entry into Lieyang Mountain," the Wan Gu Sect leader stated impassively.

Master Ling An clasped his fist in acknowledgment, transformed into a streak of light, and vanished from the spot.

Ling An brought Yao Wu to the mansion on Spirit Peace Mountain (Ling An Mountain).

Inside the mansion, seeing her husband Zhou Luo and daughter Zhou Shixin, Yao Wu’s taut nerves finally eased.

"Mother, what happened?" Zhou Shixin pressed urgently the moment they arrived, as Master Ling An had departed immediately after delivering them.

Having learned from her father about the Gu insects incident, Zhou Shixin had been deeply worried about her mother. Now, seeing her mother unharmed, she breathed a sigh of relief.

After sitting down, Yao Wu recounted the events that had just transpired to both of them.

After hearing her story, Zhou Luo voiced his concern: "What is this test at Lieyang Mountain?"

According to what was said, failure meant Yao Wu would lose everything.

This seemed utterly unreasonable.

For her, attempting to pass such a trial at Qi Refinement would likely be immensely difficult.

Was this perhaps the Wan Gu Sect’s ploy?

A pretext to seize Master Lieyang’s possessions under the guise of legitimacy?

But which faction would ultimately lay claim to these things?

Zhou Luo sensed the situation was far more complex than it appeared.

Yao Wu shook her head. "Master Ling An didn’t tell me any details. He said I’ll find out when the time comes."

Zhou Luo gave a slight nod. "Rest for now."

Under a bright moon and sparse stars, Spirit Peace Mountain lay utterly silent.

After much deliberation, Zhou Luo summoned Xuanqing.

"The test at Lieyang Mountain?"

Upon hearing this, Xuanqing showed a flicker of astonishment.

Clearly, he too had not anticipated the situation unfolding this way.

"Brother Zhou, it seems your wife is in danger," Xuanqing said earnestly.

The test for the Mountain Master is a ten-thousand-year tradition of the Wan Gu Sect.

However, this test was clearly targeted at the Mountain Master, at the Golden Core master.

But how could a small Qi Refinement cultivator like Yao Wu compare to a Golden Core master?

If she was forced to undergo the test, what awaited her was inevitable death with no chance of survival.

"The Wan Gu Sect probably wouldn’t be so ruthless," Zhou Luo said with a frown.

If they didn’t want Yao Wu to inherit the things from Master Lieyang’s branch, then why bring them here from afar?

Xuanqing said gravelly, "Since Master Lieyang died, Lieyang Mountain was sealed. It seems the sect leader wants you to break the seal and reach the mountaintop."

He also didn’t know how the sect leader had arranged things.

In his view, how could a Qi Refinement cultivator ascend Lieyang Mountain?

After hearing this, Zhou Luo’s expression grew darker. He suddenly asked, "Can I ascend with her?"

If Lieyang Mountain had a sealing formation, then as a formation master, he might be able to lend a hand.

Hearing this, Xuanqing shook his head and said, "I don’t know either. This matter still needs to be asked of my master."

Zhou Luo said sincerely, "Then I trouble you, Brother Xuanqing, to help me inquire. After all, my wife is pregnant and shouldn’t take the test now."

With that, he bowed respectfully to him with great earnestness.

Xuanqing didn’t say more, only left a word "I’ll do my best" before leaving.

Soon, the news about Yao Wu climbing the mountain for the test gradually spread through the Inner Sect.

Everyone had been discussing Yao Wu these days, thinking: a mere Qi Refinement cultivator, does she expect to overturn the world?

It seemed the sect meant to make things difficult for her, not wanting Master Lieyang’s branch inheritance to be revealed.

No one had any confidence in Yao Wu.

After all, it involved the position of Mountain Master of Lieyang Mountain, and the test was far from simple.

Shortly after, another matter came out.

Yao Wu’s husband, that guy named Zhou Luo, actually wanted to accompany his wife into Lieyang Mountain to undergo the test.

This news emerged, and the Inner Sect disciples, already buzzing, grew excited again.

They heard this Zhou Luo was a Foundation Establishment cultivator and a second level Pill Master, but even so, could he pass Lieyang Mountain’s test?

It was said Master Lieyang excelled at a fierce, deadly sword path. The entire Lieyang Mountain was filled with sword intents. How could a second level Pill Master lead a Qi Refinement cultivator to the summit?

Clearly, most didn’t think so.

In their view, Zhou Luo joining couldn’t change the situation at all.

No wonder the sect agreed—they knew the outcome was already certain.

But some secretly pondered, what if? What if they really passed?

If they truly passed, not only would Yao Wu receive guidance from the sect leader, but after succeeding at Foundation Establishment and becoming a Second Level Gu master, she would officially become the Mountain Master of Lieyang Mountain, her status equal to a Golden Core master.

Risks and opportunities coexisted.

Five days later, dusk fell, deep and vast. Lieyang Mountain faced the setting sun. The immortal mist was extremely thin, almost gone. The vegetation, trees, insects, fish, birds, and beasts in the mountains were all clear. Nothing seemed special.

At the base, several mountain paths led to the peak. Spirit Beasts occasionally ran along the paths. The quiet roads hid no danger.

But any disciple of the Wan Gu Sect knew this was all a deception.

Since Master Lieyang passed away, Lieyang Mountain was sealed before his end. A massive sword formation was set up, and even a Golden Core master couldn’t break it easily.

Now, since Yao Wu aimed to inherit his legacy, she must challenge this sword formation.

A sword formation left by a Golden Core master, for a Qi Refinement cultivator to challenge—no matter what, reaching the summit seemed impossible.

Even with help from a Foundation Establishment cultivator nearby, it was pointless.

Of course, the Wan Gu Sect didn’t make this test a true hopeless trap.

The sect leader explicitly stated the sword formation would be weakened using his power, but even then, it remained extremely dangerous.

So he offered Yao Wu another path.

That was to give up the inheritance, return to Qinyuan City, and act as if nothing happened.

Yao Wu didn’t answer, but Zhou Luo replied for her: "The path of cultivation is about contending with heaven and earth. To pursue the Great Dao, life and death can be cast aside."

At these words, even the sect leader showed admiration.

He said nothing more after that.

Zhou Luo and Yao Wu stood at the mountain’s foot, surrounded by watching Inner Sect disciples.

Though the pair were destined to fail, everyone still wanted to see how this farce would end.

On the field, no Golden Core masters were present; only a group of disciples watched them standing on the mountain path to the summit.

At that moment, they were like a cluster of statues, silently staring at the mountain path, motionless.