140: phantom

The moment the white barrier disappeared.

Xiao Weiqing moved, suddenly drawing his blade and slashing, engaging in battle with the Brute Bull Yao Beast.

A minute later.

The crimson Flame Dragon dismembered the Brute Bull Yao Beast.

"Passed. You have earned three additional elemental essence crystals."

"Continue?"

"Continue!"

The white barrier rose again, waiting for the Yao Beast on the other side to form.

A red-furred monkey, ferocious in appearance and shorter than a man.

The white barrier disappeared.

"Swoosh!"

"Fierce Flame Shield!"

"Bang!"

Xiao Weiqing was sent flying backward.

"Fuck!"

Xiao Weiqing rubbed his chest; the monkey's speed was truly fast. Even though he had reacted, he was still knocked back.

"Again!!"

Three minutes later.

The Yao monkey's corpse dissipated within the cave.

"Passed! You have earned five additional elemental essence crystals."

"Continue?"

"No!"

Xiao Weiqing refused without a second thought. This Yao monkey had already been somewhat tricky to deal with. Although he could fight on, there was no need to get injured for a few elemental essence crystals. After all, there were still the second and third trials waiting for him.

As soon as he finished speaking, the scene shifted.

Xiao Weiqing returned to the main hall.

Inside the hall at this moment.

One person and one Puppet were already waiting.

Yun Xi's clothes and hair were somewhat disheveled.

no. 1 puppet beckoned with its hand.

Two boxes, one large and one small, flew toward Xiao Weiqing and Yun Xi.

"Your rewards."

Seeing Xiao Weiqing's large box, Yun Xi's pupils constricted.

"Lord No. 1, what element of essence crystals are these?" Xiao Weiqing asked.

"Don't worry, they are certainly suitable for you."

no. 1 puppet continued: "Will you two continue to the next trial?"

"I must remind you, this trial is extremely difficult. According to the division of strength, one must be at the Third Realm to possibly pass."

"Continue." X2!

"Good."

no. 1 puppet waved its hand.

Xiao Weiqing arrived on top of an arena.

Standing opposite him was a Silver General clad in armor and holding a long spear. His Aura was astonishing, like a god of war.

"Clang!"

The Silver General pointed his spear at Xiao Weiqing.

The next second, leaving an afterimage behind, he charged.

"Flame True Body!"

Xiao Weiqing didn't underestimate him and erupted instantly.

"Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!"

The collision of the long spear and the fire blade sent sparks flying everywhere.

The Silver General's attacks, one spear thrust after another, were like a violent storm. Countless spear shadows surrounded Xiao Weiqing.

Under such an intense assault, Xiao Weiqing still did not panic. In his Flame True Body state, his improvements were all-encompassing.

As for this Silver General, it was impossible for him to attack endlessly. If that were the case, it would be cheating.

Sure enough.

Five minutes later.

The storm-like rhythm of the attacks slowed down.

Xiao Weiqing seized the opening and retreated repeatedly.

"My turn!"

"Flame Dragon! Go~"

A crimson Flame Dragon flew out from behind Xiao Weiqing and coiled around the Silver General.

Xiao Weiqing raised his blade and rushed forward at high speed.

Even under these circumstances, the Silver General still did not give up resistance. His Aura erupted, slightly forcing an opening, and he held his spear horizontally above his head.

"Seamless Slash!"

The Crimson Dragon in his hand left an afterimage in mid-air. The blade passed through the spear shaft and struck the Silver General.

"Crack!"

The general's helmet was split open, revealing a human face inside, from which silver metallic liquid flowed.

"Passed!"

The scene shifted.

Xiao Weiqing returned to the main hall once more.

no. 1 puppet praised: "Not bad."

"Just luck!"

"Let's wait a moment; she hasn't finished yet."

Ten minutes later.

Yun Xi ended her battle. At this moment, she looked incredibly wretched. Her clothes were slashed in several places, revealing large patches of fair skin, and the blood at the corner of her mouth hadn't dried yet.

"Congratulations to you both."

"You may choose one treasure from these boxes."

A stone table rose from the ground with three boxes on it.

Yun Xi stepped forward, just about to reach out.

"Xiao Weiqing picks first."

Yun Xi's footsteps faltered. With frustration, she took a step back and looked away from the table.

"Lord No. 1, may I open them to take a look?" Xiao Weiqing asked.

"No."

"Then can I ask what's inside the boxes?"

"You can only ask once."

"May I ask..."

"I don't know."

Xiao Weiqing: "..."

no. 1 puppet remained expressionless. "What are you looking at me for? This isn't within my job responsibilities."

"I can only tell you that the three boxes contain treasures for Martial, Spiritual, and Technique Cultivators respectively. Hurry up and choose."

Xiao Weiqing stared closely at the three boxes. Aside from the different colors, he couldn't see any difference.

"What should I do?"

"Besides Teacher Qian saying the white box contains the mind spirit fruit, I don't know which of the other two colors is for Technique Cultivators."

"If I choose wrong and pick the one for those brutes, it'll be a total loss."

"If only I had let that woman reach out just now, then I'd know which one is for Technique Cultivators."

Xiao Weiqing glanced at Yun Xi out of the corner of his eye, but this woman was no fool; she wasn't looking at the boxes on the table.

After thinking for a long time, Xiao Weiqing made his move.

"Sigh, who told me to be someone who repays kindness."

To be safe, Xiao Weiqing stepped forward and took the white box into his arms.

Seeing Xiao Weiqing take the white box, Yun Xi breathed a sigh of relief.

no. 1 puppet said: "Yun Xi, it's your turn."

Yun Xi took two steps in one and took the black box into her arms.

"I give up on the subsequent trials."

"Good."

no. 1 puppet waved its hand, and a teleportation Formation appeared.

Yun Xi stepped into it and left without the slightest hesitation.

"She's leaving just like that?" Xiao Weiqing asked in confusion.

"She's afraid you'll rob her."

Xiao Weiqing quickly denied it:

"How could I? I've always been a model student; I wouldn't do such a thing. You shouldn't slander me."

After saying this, Xiao Weiqing sheathed the Crimson Dragon he had just drawn.

He secretly lamented: "Consider that girl lucky for running so fast."

no. 1 puppet: "..."

"What about you?"

"Do you want to continue with the final trial?"

"What is the final trial?"

"I don't know either. I only know it's related to the gods, and so far, no one has passed it."

Xiao Weiqing's face showed contemplation as he weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

"When Teacher Qian participated in the final trial, it was a maze that tested her Mental Energy. Teacher Qian said she didn't pass, but when she woke up, she also received something. Combined with the mind spirit fruit she selected, that's what allowed her strength to advance by leaps and bounds."

According to Qian Yi's meaning, Xiao Weiqing, with his Second Dan, was equal in strength to her back then. Participating in the final trial would definitely yield some gains.

But Xiao Weiqing knew himself that he had the strength of the Second Realm Three Dan and possessed the Samadhi True Fire.

"Let's go for it!"

I'm already here.

Judging from various pieces of information, Xiao Weiqing believed his life wouldn't be in danger. A trial of this level—if he missed it, he'd truly miss out.

"Lord No. 1, I'll participate!"

"Good!"

"Go in."

At some unknown moment.

A stone door appeared behind Xiao Weiqing, emitting a white light.

Without hesitation, he stepped inside.

He arrived in an ancient stone chamber, with the endless starry sky still above.

Hum... countless light rays converged and swept over Xiao Weiqing.

Xiao Weiqing's whole body stiffened; he was restrained and unable to move, feeling as if he were naked and being observed.

"Is this probing my background?"

Suddenly.

A majestic voice rang out.

"Divine Soul meets the requirements."

"Initiating the ultimate trial!"

In the next instant, Xiao Weiqing regained his ability to move and instinctively looked upward.

A phantom descended from the sky, treading on Holy Light and emitting a sacred Aura that made one instinctively want to worship.

"My name is Jiu Tian!"

"Submit to me, and I shall pass my techniques to you."

Xiao Weiqing raised an eyebrow. There's such a good thing? He said without hesitation:

"I submit, I submit."

The phantom said: "Your heart is not sincere!"

"What?"

Xiao Weiqing was stunned. How does this even come with mind-reading?

"I am sincere, I am! My heart is exceptionally sincere. Why don't you take another look?"

The phantom descended to the ground, taking the form of a youth, and vanished into a gold-plated Puppet.

"Fight!"

The youth was empty-handed, his powerful Qi-mechanism locking onto Xiao Weiqing.

"Fuck!"

Xiao Weiqing cursed inwardly, "Damn it, I gave you face and you didn't take it."

"If you're useful, I'll revere you as a god. If you're useless, I don't care what the hell you are, you're just some charlatan putting on an act."

"If you want to fight, let's fight!"