Chapter 3

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Chapter 3: The Inner Gate Trial!

"She really removed it!"

"Wen Yun must be desperate to enter the inner gate!"

Seeing Wen Yun pull off the yellow paper, the other outer disciples burst into laughter, mocking her without hesitation.

"I never expected you to go so far as to become a firedisciple just to compete with me."

Ming Yuan looked at Wen Yun with a complicated expression and suddenly said, "…"

"…"

Wen Yun turned her head, silently gazing at Ming Yuan with an inscrutable expression, wondering how she had not realized that such a shameless person had a round face.

She began to doubt if she had been too harsh when she struck, maybe she had damaged the other’s brain?

Wen Yun’s decision to participate in the inner disciple trials was not to spite Ming Yuan. Being several hundred years old, she had no interest in petty competitions with young girls. She simply felt that the magical elements in the inner disciple training were stronger and more suitable for her magic practice.

Besides, whether in the outer or inner disciples, one still had to chop wood and make fire. There was no difference.

The next morning, the inner disciple trials began.

"There’s only one rule here – if you can reach the inner mountain gate before sunset, you’ve passed the trial," Steward Zhou said calmly. "You can use any means necessary, including your talisman."

These outer disciples also went through this test when they first joined. Those who succeeded are now in the inner circle. In other words, the hundreds of people now are the ones who failed back then, so they know how tough it is.

There is only one road from the outer mountain gate to the inner mountain gate, and that’s the long staircase of a thousand steps.

Climbing ten thousand steps is easy for cultivators like Ming Yuan who delivered medicine earlier, but during the trial, it’s different. The Qingliu Sword Sect’s mountain gate formation opens by just one in ten thousand, and as you climb higher, the pressure increases.

One in ten thousand may sound small, but it’s a top-tier formation that can withstand powerful Transmigration experts. It’s said to be a masterpiece created by a talented ancestor hundreds of years ago, making it a huge test for the younger generation at the Qi Refining Stage.

Steward Zhou gestured with his hand as he led the yellow dog, "Your opportunity has arrived, go on."

Suddenly, a sound of metal and stone resonated from the secluded top of the grand mountain gate, drawing in the mysterious power of the heavens and earth. The magnificent light shone on the staircase like a stairway to heaven.

The sect’s formation is active – climb the mountain and enter the inner gate!

*

Outside, the disciples were either holding talismans or clutching swords, carrying numerous magical pills and potions on their bodies, rushing ahead to be the first ones in line.

Wen Yun was still wearing the green shirt and white skirt given to her by the outside disciples, her hair loosely tied back. She held a jug of well water-cooled tea in her left hand and a piece of yellow paper in her right hand, looking calm and relaxed, as if she was out for a leisurely spring walk compared to the others.

The moment the grand array was activated, she felt her body becoming heavier, feeling like she was walking on muddy ground, which was very uncomfortable as she ascended.

As she stepped onto the one hundredth level, the pressure suddenly lightened, followed by a freezing cold wind blade attack. Another one hundred steps up, it was scorching hot like fire, with each hundred levels bringing a different torment.

However, Wen Yun maintained her pace steadily, despite her body not being in good condition. If her mental strength wasn’t strong enough to continuously release various low-level defensive magic, she might not have lasted this long.

Halfway through, more than half of the disciples had continuously failed and left the trial.

When Wen Yun stepped onto another staircase, ready to cast a defensive spell, she realized she felt no discomfort.

Yes, there was no discomfort in her body. After taking this step, each staircase seemed as plain and ordinary as any other day.

However, she stopped in her tracks.

Not only her, but everyone who stepped on these stairs stopped in their tracks, some frowning in pain, some gasping in shock, and some even screaming in terror before fleeing down the mountain in fear.

They all looked like they had seen a very frightening scene.

Steward Zhou looked up at the outer sect disciples, pet his yellow dog beside him, and sighed, "The five-thousand-and-first level is the most terrifying, many talented disciples have fallen here due to their weak will."

"They will encounter their deepest fears in there, and with each step up, the illusion becomes more real."

"Woof!" The dog barked, eager to go.

"Ha, if you, old dog, go up there, you’ll probably see an illusion of yourself getting turned into a dog meat stew!"

"Whimper…" The dog whimpered, tucking its tail and hiding behind him.

Steward Zhou watched as a few more promising disciples failed miserably, shaking his head, "This generation of outer sect disciples is the worst I’ve trained… Huh? She actually—"

Wen Yun paused for a moment before continuing forward, each step taken with great steadiness.

Other disciples saw scary monsters or witnessed the souls of people they had harmed, but no one knew what she saw.

She saw her own dead body, the tragic scene from her past life appearing in front of her.

In her previous life, she, as a mortal, created a forbidden curse that only gods were said to be able to create. Everything seemed to be successful, but when she cast the curse, it was as if she incurred the wrath of the gods. Her body was inexplicably blown to pieces, with bloody and fleshly fragments seeming to splash onto her.

"So this is how I died."

As she climbed higher, the clearer the sight became. Anyone seeing their own death scene countless times would likely go mad, but Wen Yun, in a self-mocking tone, could still reflect on it this way.

Centuries of lonely years were enough to turn the once gentle girl into a hero.

Wen Yun looked at those illusions and walked forward without avoiding her own body parts, even feeling the pain and fear deep in her soul, yet she didn’t step back, only gazing steadily ahead and moving forward.

At that moment, it seemed the illusions knew they were useless to her, so they suddenly changed.

A sword sparkling with cold light pierced through her abdomen.

The piercing pain was truly terrifying, and the two stabs in her flesh made her body shake violently.

Looking up, she saw a young man in white standing opposite her, his face filled with pity and guilt. He whispered something softly, then plunged the sword deeper.

Lowering her head again, she watched as the blood-stained Golden Core was picked out by the sword tip, blood rushing out quickly, dyeing her white dress a bright red.

In the end, all she could see was that glaring red.

This lifelike illusion, as if she had experienced it herself, tore her apart. Wen Yun took a deep breath, and after a long pause, she felt tears in the corners of her eyes.

She wiped away the tears gently, murmuring to herself, "So you’re suffering like this too."

Pausing for a moment, she added, "It’s okay, I will seek justice."

And then, she walked steadily towards the top.

*

After climbing another set of jade steps, Wen Yun finally saw the inner mountain gate, which was only a few steps away. Looking around, she noticed that out of the thousands of outer disciples, only a few dozen remained. Everyone was tired and struggling with each step up, as if carrying a heavy burden.

Without realizing it, Wen Yun had reached the front of the main group, with only three or four people ahead of her.

At that moment, the young man in front reached the inner mountain gate. He had a relieved smile on his face as he was about to take the final step, but suddenly the dark-clothed male disciple behind him threw a sharp dagger towards his feet.

The surprise attack was like the final straw that broke the camel’s back, and the young man fell to the ground at the gate.

"I’m sorry, Junior Brother Shen, we both are competing for one of the five spots as inner disciples of The First Peak. Four have already secured their spots, and I can’t let you have this last one," said the dark-clothed disciple.

Shen Xinghai, feeling hopeless, exclaimed, "Fan Pai, you are despicable!"

Disregarding Shen Xinghai’s reaction, Fan Pai confidently replied, "Steward Zhou said any means are acceptable. Do you agree, senior inner disciples?"

The onlooking inner disciples frowned at the scene but did not intervene. They watched as Fan Pai stepped over Shen Xinghai and headed towards the inner gate.

Suddenly, an old black clay pot accurately smashed against Fan Pai’s ankle, spilling light yellow herbal tea all over his clothes as he fell to the ground.

Looking so scared that he almost wet himself.

In just a short moment, Shen Xinghai gritted his teeth and used all his limbs to crawl over the final step.

After the ups and downs of joy, he was too stunned to even get up, just staring back at the figure strolling leisurely in the courtyard.

A strand of black hair was blown loose by the wind, but she didn’t bother to tuck it back, letting it drift casually over her skin as white as snow, brushing past her clear, cold, and indifferent dark eyes.

Though seemingly unadorned, this scene carried a graceful elegance as if a banished immortal had come to life again.

It was Wen Yun.

Shen Xinghai usually focused on his cultivation at the outer gates, never playing around with Wen Yun like some others, yet they had no relationship at all. This was the first time he had ever looked at her so closely.

Then he was astonished to see that the several prestigious elder martial sisters from the inner gates seemed dull and overshadowed next to the young girl.

Fan Pai below the steps roared, "Wen Yun, why do you plot against me!"

Shen Xinghai was about to defend her, but the girl calmly replied.

"Because I’m mean."

The boy couldn’t help laughing, his eyes shining as he looked at Wen Yun. He wanted to thank her, but he saw that the senior martial sisters had already gathered around her.

After everyone bowed in greeting, they all asked together, "May we know which peak Martial Sister Wen has chosen?"

Ming Yuan, who arrived earlier, felt a pang in her heart at this scene. She had already passed the inner trial path once before, with the protection of a family treasure and her illusion not being too difficult. She had rushed ahead to pass the trial.

The senior martial brothers’ reaction to her passing first was indifferent, but they were especially enthusiastic towards Wen Yun.

Unable to hold back, Ming Yuan sneered, "Senior brother, Wen Yun didn’t get to choose. Have you noticed if she has Spiritual Roots?"

Hearing this, everyone instinctively checked her, only to find that she had no spiritual power at all.

"This…" one of the inner disciples was stunned, feeling both regretful and surprised that she had climbed up without any cultivation. "You need to be at the mid-stage of Qi Refining to participate in the trial."

Wen Yun showed the yellow paper she was holding and asked gently, "May I ask if the senior brother from The Tenth Peak is here?"

Several young inner disciples looked at each other and saw confusion in each other’s eyes.

"The Tenth Peak? We haven’t heard of The Tenth Peak before, is there a Tenth Peak in the inner sect?"

"No, I’ve been in the inner sect for three years, and I’ve only heard of Nine Peaks."

Hearing this, Ming Yuan chuckled, "So even this firedisciple is fake!"

Shen Xinghai glared at her and said, "Shut up!"

Several inner disciples were kind-hearted people, otherwise they wouldn’t have been sent to assist newcomers. Moreover, they felt grateful towards Wen Yun for helping earlier, so they didn’t tease her at this moment.

"Martial Sister Wen, don’t worry, we are all relatively new to the inner sect in recent years, maybe we just don’t know about it."

Just then, a disciple from The First Peak saw his senior brother passing by not far away and quickly shouted, "Senior brother, please wait, junior brother has something to ask."

When the senior brother came over, his face changed from gentle to cold when he heard the words "The Tenth Peak", he glanced at Wen Yun and replied stiffly, "No, my Qingliu Sword Sect does not have The Tenth Peak!"

Wen Yun was slightly surprised.

Is someone playing a prank? But looking at the origin of this paper, it shouldn’t be.

Just then, a green bamboo-colored sword flew out from the depths of the clouds, stepping on a person. The white shirt, embroidered with three green bamboo leaves, fluttered in the wind, and a clear and bright male voice came from afar-

"Are you seeking death?"