Chapter 16
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Chapter 16: Peril
Ye Yun felt a chill in his heart as sudden danger pressed against him.
The voice belonged to an elder ahead. Though unaware what the elder had detected, Ye Yun maintained calm and replied respectfully, "I merely sense something indescribable, as if faintly glimpsing cultivation truths from this hall’s aura."
"Oh?"
The elder’s eyes lit up, regarding him differently. "This Hall of Refining the Heart seals an alchemy pill from our sect’s ancestor. This pill contains cultivation wisdom. Gaining insight from it would be a great fortune."
"An ancestor’s alchemy pill resides here?!"
Ye Yun and every disciple present gasped.
Golden Pill masters existed only in legends. Most cultivators could never hope to reach that realm, let alone encounter one.
"Impossible!"
Duan Chenfeng blurted out. "Rumors say the Heavenly Sword Sect birthed only a handful of Golden Pill masters in centuries. Even our current Sect Leader’s attainment remains unknown. Tian Zhu Peak is merely Shadowless Peak’s outer sect pill branch! How could it hold an alchemy pill?"
Silence swallowed the crowd.
Ye Yun smirked coldly, lips curling with disdain.
This idiot’s outburst not only challenged the elder but insulted Tian Zhu Peak itself. Though the peak’s lowly status matched Duan Chenfeng’s words, provoking fellow disciples here promised future troubles.
Ye Yun’s peripheral vision caught the elder and nearby Tian Zhu Peak disciples darkening their expressions.
The elder barely restrained his rage, likely due to Duan Chenfeng’s ties to Elder Lan.
"Ignorant whelp!" he barked frostily. "Our ancestor originated from Tian Zhu Peak. After ascending, his alchemy pill was sealed here."
He turned to the cowed trial participants. "This pill remains here both as Tian Zhu Peak’s honor and to show that diligence breeds extraordinary opportunities. Though an outer sect branch, different cultivation paths yield different rewards."
Ye Yun kept his head lowered, hoping to avoid notice. Yet the elder’s gaze pinned him.
"Gaining enlightenment from this pill brings fortune. But spies or schemers…" The elder’s voice turned pointed. "…their auras would trigger the pill’s power, reducing them to dust."
Ye Yun’s blood ran cold.
Though the black and white lights within him hadn’t clashed with the hall’s aura, he couldn’t predict if they’d provoke the pill.
No time remained for thought.
"Enter!" the elder commanded, turning away.
Before the word faded, violent suction yanked every disciple into the hall.
Blinding golden light erupted.
Ye Yun felt crushing spiritual energy batter his body, the pressure locking his eyes shut. When the light faded moments later, gasps surged around him like tidal waves.
They’d entered a hall – yet before them lay only shattered cliffs and broken walls.
Across the cliff stood another sheer precipice, separated by a hundred zhang. Between them churned endless clouds, obscuring the cliffs’ true height and creating heart-stopping grandeur.
Upon the opposite cliff rose a ten-zhang stone tablet radiating golden light. "That alchemy pill…" Ye Yun’s mind shook as he sensed all spiritual pressure emanating from the tablet’s core. The golden pill had to be sealed there.
Spiritual pressure continuously swept over him, threads of energy seeping into his body. The black and white lights within him flickered without clashing with the pill’s aura. Ye Yun steadied himself.
"See the tablet across? That’s the Hall of Refining Heart’s exit," boomed the elder’s voice from above. "Descend this cliff, cross the valley stream, then climb the opposite cliff. Exit behind the tablet to pass the trial and join Tian Zhu Peak."
"Final warning: This thirteen-hundred-zhang cliff breeds illusions. Weak-willed fools will fall to their deaths. Withdraw now if you doubt yourself."
"A mere cliff can’t stop me! Cowards should quit now!" The arrogant voice belonged to Duan Chenfeng. With a mocking laugh, he leaped into the cloud sea.
"Idiot," Ye Yun cursed silently. The elder might still be speaking, and dangers lurked in those clouds. Only a fool would charge in blindly.
"Since Brother Duan jumped, I follow." Qu Yiping adjusted his green robe and jumped.
"As trial champions, we should lead." Jun Ruolan’s flower-like beauty fluttered down with skirt rippling, her grace unmatched.
Soon all trial champions had vanished into the clouds. Others followed – none would quit after coming this far. Mortal officials might respect their servant disciple outer court training, but immortality was every warrior’s true goal.
Some fourth-level Refining Organs disciples leaped as boldly as Duan Chenfeng. Weaker ones cautiously climbed down using protruding stones.
Ye Yun stood at Refining Organs’ peak, half-step from Internal Breathing stage. Few trial-takers matched his strength, but he avoided attention, waiting to assess the situation.
Only when most had descended did he inhale deeply and jump.
Cotton-like clouds offered no resistance. As Ye Yun entered the cloud sea, invisible forces tugged downward. He’d already marked a foothold – twisting mid-air, he landed on a cliffside stone.
A sudden scream echoed. Below, a whirlpool had swallowed a jumping disciple. Ye Yun froze, sharpened senses revealing countless tornado-like vortices hidden in the clouds, their suction pulling everything inward.
The vortex below couldn’t reach him, but servant disciples lower down weren’t so lucky. More screams came as flailing figures vanished into gaping whirlpools.
