17: I've decided to participate in the trial! I'll prepare with all my might!

Chapter 17: Deciding to Participate in the Trial! Full Preparation!

A moment later, the majestic magic power that had been forcibly raised to the Foundation Establishment Stage receded like a tide.

A strong sense of weakness and emptiness instantly swept through Lu Qiu's entire body.

Without any hesitation, he took out a bottle of Medicinal Pills for restoring Origin Qi from his Storage Pouch, poured out one, and swallowed it.

The gentle medicinal power dissolved within his body, nourishing his slightly parched Meridians, and that uncomfortable sense of weakness gradually improved.

This was the side effect of performing the Ascension Spirit Secret Art.

Compared to other forbidden secret arts circulating in the cultivation world, this minor side effect was almost negligible.

The cultivation world never lacked forbidden arts to temporarily boost one's cultivation level, especially among those in the demonic Sects, who were particularly skilled in this path.

But the price of performing those forbidden arts was often extremely heavy: at best, one's cultivation would regress; at worst, it would deplete one's Lifespan or even cause the Dao foundation to collapse.

The price of the Ascension Spirit Secret Art, however, was merely some physical weakness, which could be easily remedied with Medicinal Pills.

As expected of an Opportunity brought by gold intelligence, it was truly extraordinary.

Lu Qiu spread his palm, and that pitch-black, cone-shaped Black Light Awl talisman treasure lay there quietly, emitting heart-palpitating and terrifying fluctuations.

He gazed at this talisman treasure, his thoughts racing, and after a moment, he finally made a decision in his heart.

He was going to participate in this Blood Colored Trial.

Now, his cultivation had reached the Qi Refining Stage Great Perfection, only a step away from Foundation Establishment.

And this step, without a foundation establishment pill, would be impossible to cross given his Three Spiritual Roots Aptitude.

Regarding Magical Artifacts, he had the top-tier qingming sword for offense and the top-tier golden origin bell for defense; with both offense and defense covered, it was perfect.

As for trump cards, he had the Black Light Awl talisman treasure as a lethal weapon for protection, enough to settle the situation in one strike.

Furthermore, he had the extremely powerful Ascension Spirit Secret Art, which allowed him to burst forth with combat power comparable to the Early Foundation Establishment Stage at critical moments.

Taken all together, even if he truly faced a genuine Early Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, even if he couldn't win, he was absolutely certain he could retreat safely.

As long as he didn't actively provoke those existences he couldn't contend with, surviving in an environment like the Blood-Colored Forbidden Land would be more than enough.

And as long as he could preserve his life, with the capabilities of the intelligence System, finding Spirit Medicine in the Forbidden Ground to obtain a foundation establishment pill would not be difficult.

Thinking of this, Lu Qiu no longer had any hesitation.

He stood up and left his Immortal Cave on Xuan Kun Mountain, heading straight for the Sect's Deacon Hall to find the Foundation Establishment Stage deacon in charge of registration for this Blood Colored Trial.

That was a middle-aged deacon with a rigid expression who only gave Lu Qiu a faint glance upon seeing him.

"Name, cultivation level."

"Outer Sect Disciple, Lu Qiu, Qi Refining Stage Perfection."

Hearing this, the deacon's pen paused, and he finally looked up to give Lu Qiu a few more glances.

Disciples at the Qi Refining Stage Perfection were not many in the Sect, but they weren't few either; however, those willing to participate in the Blood Colored Trial were very few indeed.

After all, at this level, if they waited a few more years, they might Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage, so why go to the Forbidden Ground to gamble with their lives?

Of course, this referred to the Genius Disciples within the Sect who had not yet obtained a foundation establishment pill.

Lu Qiu clearly no longer fell into that category.

"Are you sure you want to participate?"

"I'm sure."

The deacon asked no more, putting pen to jade scroll to record Lu Qiu's name.

"It's rare for a kid like you to be willing to take a risk once, not bad."

He handed an identity token engraved with a number to Lu Qiu and said casually.

"I hope you can walk out alive, kid."

Lu Qiu took the token, cupped his hands to the deacon, and said nothing more.

Resources in the cultivation world were limited; if you didn't fight or snatch, you would never have a day to stand out.

He understood this logic better than anyone.

Returning to his Immortal Cave on Xuan Kun Mountain, the stone door slowly closed.

Lu Qiu sat cross-legged, the determination in his heart gradually settling, replaced by his usual calmness and prudence.

Since he had already signed up, he had to make the most thorough preparations.

Although he currently had many trump cards and was confident he could save his life, he still could not afford the slightest underestimation of his enemies.

After all, among those who dared to participate in the Blood Colored Trial, who didn't have a few life-saving trump cards hidden up their sleeves?

In a true life-and-death battle, what it ultimately came down to was who had more trump cards and whose trump cards were stronger.

"High-grade Talismans are still not enough; I need to prepare some more."

In a complex environment like the Forbidden Ground, consumables like Talismans were undoubtedly the most practical.

Especially Intermediate Talismans, which were enough to threaten a Foundation Establishment Cultivator; the more, the better.

At a critical moment, an Intermediate Talisman might decide life or death.

Just as he was planning to go to the market to purchase a batch of Talisman-making Materials, the Restriction outside the Immortal Cave suddenly felt a slight touch.

Following that, a gentle shout came from outside.

"Junior Brother Lu, please come out for a meeting."

It was him again.

Lu Qiu recognized the visitor's identity.

The eldest young master of the Chen Family, Chen Liyuan.

Lu Qiu stood up and opened the Immortal Cave's stone door.

Outside the Immortal Cave, Chen Liyuan was standing there with a Face full of smiles.

By his side followed a beautiful figure, who was none other than Chen Qiaoqian.

However, the current Chen Qiaoqian no longer had the lively and agile spirit she had when they first met; her entire being was shrouded in a layer of frost, her aura cold and aloof, keeping people at a distance.

Clearly, Lu Chenfeng's backstabbing had dealt her a massive blow.

"Senior Brother Chen," Lu Qiu spoke indifferently.

"Junior Brother Lu, I heard that you have already signed up for this Blood Colored Trial."

Chen Liyuan got straight to the point, his enthusiasm unchanged.

"How have you considered my previous proposal? If the two of us, plus my younger sister, join forces, we can look out for each other in the Forbidden Ground, and our safety will surely increase greatly. What does Junior Brother Lu think?"

Hearing this, Lu Qiu was silent for a moment before shaking his head.

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Senior Brother Chen, but I have always been used to being alone and am really not accustomed to teaming up with others."

He had too many secrets; if the daily intelligence System were exposed, it would be enough to bring about a fatal disaster.

Acting alone was the safest and most free choice.

Chen Liyuan seemed to want to persuade him further, but seeing Lu Qiu's calm and unruffled posture, he knew that further words were useless.

He could only sigh helplessly.

"Since Junior Brother Lu's mind is made up, then I will not force it."

"Senior Brother Chen, please leave."

Lu Qiu directly issued an order to leave and turned to return to his Immortal Cave.

"Hmph."

A very faint cold snort came from the side.

It was Chen Qiaoqian.

She looked at Lu Qiu's back, and her originally cold Face showed a hint of unmasked dissatisfaction and contempt.

Lu Qiu did not stop his pace and walked directly into the Immortal Cave. With a thought, the heavy stone door slammed shut, completely isolating the inside from the outside.

Outside the Immortal Cave, the smile on Chen Liyuan's Face was a bit hard to maintain, and he stood awkwardly on the spot.

Being rejected by Lu Qiu twice in a row made him, a direct descendant of the Chen Family, lose some Face.

"Big Brother, why sigh for such a person?"

Chen Qiaoqian spoke coldly.

"This person is merely a Three Spiritual Roots. Having luckily cultivated to the Qi Refining Stage Perfection, does he really think he's someone important? To dare to repeatedly reject your kindness, Big Brother."

"Failing to win him over isn't much of a loss for us."

Hearing his sister's words, Chen Liyuan's expression indeed looked much better.

He waved his hand with feigned magnanimity.

"What Little Sister says is true; perhaps I overestimated him."

After saying that, he took Chen Qiaoqian and turned to leave Xuan Kun Mountain.

Inside the Immortal Cave, Lu Qiu turned a deaf ear to everything happening outside.