The mont Ye Lan stepped out of the restriction, Li Qingwan leaped forward to steady her before she collapsed.
"Watch your step, Senior Sister."
"Thanks, Qingwan."
Ye Lan managed a faint smile, her breathing dangerously shallow.
Hong Guang imdiately transferred true essence into her body. Color gradually returned to Ye Lan’s pale face.
"Severe wounds, but your cultivation remains intact."
He produced two elixirs. "Peak-grade Revival Pills. Rest for fifteen minutes after taking these. Return to your Residence and you’ll recover fully by dawn."
"My gratitude, Elder."
Ye Lan accepted the pills and departed with a martial institute attendant.
Li Qingwan stayed by the restriction barrier – her turn to enter the trial tower approached.
"Yang Lingrui, I’m next. See you shortly."
"Stay cautious, Xu Jianan."
Xu Jianan joined four others at the glowing barrier. This group’s performance proved markedly weaker than previous candidates – their ascent to the eighth level dragged painfully slow.
Xu Jianan withdrew imdiately upon reaching the eighth level. Witnessing earlier attempts had taught him the twelfth level lay beyond his capabilities. Whether he stopped at eighth or eleventh level made no difference – neither would grant him a seat.
Only four reached the ninth level. Three promptly retreated.
All eyes followed the solitary light representing Li Qingwan as it paused briefly before shooting to the tenth level.
"Senior Sister Li reached the tenth!"
"Impossible! She’s only eighth level!"
"That academy woman’s terrifying!"
Gasps erupted through the crowd. When Li Qingwan erged unhard except for torn sleeve edges, spectators gaped in disbelief.
Hong Guang gave an approving nod before calling the next group.
Li Qingwan scanned each new participant while waiting below the platform. She suspected Yang Lingrui had altered his appearance – a wise precaution given his striking features. Chongtian City’s elite circles bred dangerous eccentricities, as she’d learned during four years at the academy. This was no backwater like Wangyue.
After thirty tense minutes, a familiar silhouette approached the restriction barrier.
Although she couldn’t see the person’s face, Li Qingwan felt seventy to eighty percent certain of his identity from his aura and posture.
After fifteen minutes, the light representing Yang Lingrui reached the eighth level.
This speed was neither fast nor slow among peers of his realm, matching his fortieth-place ranking on the roster.
Upon reaching the eighth level, he imdiately withdrew and handed his token to Hong Guang.
Li Qingwan morized his current appearance discreetly.
Since Yang Lingrui wished to avoid attention, she wouldn’t approach him.
The first selection round lasted until nightfall.
Excluding eight who’d already secured observation seats, eighty-two out of one hundred twenty-four participants advanced.
Hong Guang then announced the next round would occur within the martial institute’s Western Expedition of Illusion Stone.
Their first-round performance would determine their second-round groupings.
This ant the eighth-level group would face the fiercest competition.
Those who cleared higher levels would find the next round easier.
Hearing “Western Expedition of Illusion Stone,” many young cultivators from powerful forces showed tense expressions.
Noticing their unease, Hong Guang chuckled. “You’ve likely heard of this treasure refined by the national master during the western expedition. It contains countless ghostly soldiers and generals. As it was personally forged by him, no one can interfere or spy within it. Enter at your own peril – you’re responsible for your life and death!”
“You’ve one night to reconsider. Leave tomorrow if you value safety. For those brave enough, et at the Pavilion of Feng Tian.”
With a wave, Hong Guang dissolved into black mist and vanished.
“Great! Tried cutting corners and got burned! Should’ve climbed two more levels!”
Walking back to their Residence with Yang Lingrui, Xu Jianan laughed bitterly.
Yang Lingrui grinned. “At the eighth level, you’ll dominate regardless of competition, Brother Xu.”
“Hope so. No one really knows what’s inside that stone though – everyone’s guesses are vague.”
They parted at a crossroads. Yang Lingrui entered his assigned cave abode.
Soon after, a knock ca at the stone door. A martial institute instructor delivered a written ssage from He Shenglai containing one line:
“In the Western Expedition of Illusion, all are permissible kills.”
Yang Lingrui burned the letter in candlelight.
As Xu Jianan said, the illusion stone’s dangers surpassed the Mayfly Treasure Land. Yang Lingrui had worried about clashing with other factions’ disciples while fighting ghostly soldiers – a double burden.
But He Shenglai’s ssage resolved this. Peaceful coexistence was ideal, but if provoked, he could eliminate opponents without concern for their backgrounds.
At dawn, Yang Lingrui and Xu Jianan waited outside the Pavilion of Feng Tian.
When Hong Guang arrived with three Condensing Essence cultivators and the illusion stone, sixty-four participants remained. Eighteen had withdrawn.
Yang Lingrui studied the millstone-sized Western Expedition of Illusion Stone. Its greasy surface glowed faintly yellow under sunlight. Sinister whispers leaked from within.
Others marveled at the Spirit Communication-level treasure requiring four Condensing Essence cultivators to activate. Yang Lingrui alone thought differently.
Gazing at it, he wondered:
“If my Immortal Master devoured this… how much power would he regain?”
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