NOVEL NEXT 76: Betrayed (VI)
The sky bruised purple. The disciples, mentally battered by the numerous trials, stood below the monolith named Grave of Swords. The hardest trial they faced all day.
Sat on the ground, their uniforms slick with sweat even if they hadn't moved their real bodies at all. Their eyes set on the ranking list for the current test.
The lead disciple from the Temple, Emith, saw his name in the first position. Chen Liang placed second with equal progress, even if he didn't excel in martial arts like the former.
They baited everyone with the name. Chen Liang glanced at Li Muchen, the enigmatic Peak Master from his sect. He stood near the pillar, smiling at the exhausted disciples who experienced a hard reality check in the trial.
Like many others, Chen Liang landed in the trial expecting fierce combat. However, when he saw how overwhelming Shan Pei and the immortal army were, he thought he could coast by with ease.
"You didn't have fun at the trial, huh?" Muchen's teasing question brought him out of his thoughts. "Looks like many of you didn't understand what the trial entailed till the end. Want a hint?"
He's really rubbing it in. Chen Liang looked at the expression of his fellow disciples; over half of them had failed to clear the trial, and the frustration from the late realization filled their eyes.
I knew this would happen when they let their guards down after the last few straightforward trials. Muchen leaned against the monument, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
"It happens every time this Trail comes back from rotation. Many during my time also made mistakes, that's part of the journey, so don't beat yourself up over it." He decided to be a little nicer with his words. "You should've understood already, this isn't a trial you can pass by just being good at martial arts, the overwhelming number of demons would break through eventually, it is destiny. As far as we know, there are three ways to advance through this trial. Strategy, Martial Arts, and Leadership. So, what did you choose? And did you choose it fast enough or adapt well?"
The disciples looked back at their trial, without wallowing in disappointment, they started to look for mistakes and what they could've done better. Disciples from the same sect even started to exchange opinions on the trials.
Muchen nodded in satisfaction, but he held back critical information from them. He wanted them to figure it out themselves, but mostly because the newer generation of disciples had grown softer. They gave up too easily.
Shan Pei had top-tier martial abilities. Fearless and strong charisma that uplifted the army, but he lacked in strategy. The disciples had to supplement that in the early waves and minimize casualties in the army. Muchen remembered his own struggle in the trial and the route he chose. But strategy alone has limits, same with the other two routes; even if you time your attacks with Heaven's blessing, which comes every ten rounds, it is impossible to stand your ground against the ever-increasing Demon forces with strategy alone. Even Shan Dian, the first Human Sovereign, would've died, even with his martial skills, strategy, and leadership, if Goddess Nuwa hadn't blessed his awakening on the 30th wave. That's why the trial is like an impossible challenge, akin to challenging Heaven's will, perfect for a cultivator.
Muchen shook his head. A bitter memory floated to the surface. His eyes looked at the monument, just like the disciples below. Only three people remained inside the trial.
All the star disciples of the sects had come out defeated; however, the three names on the monument had them gnashing their teeth in frustration and amazement.
Wang Yang and Sun Lingling, the weakest disciples here, are still hanging on. That has to sting. Chen Liang could already hear some people venting behind him, even the disciple who tried to look down on them for being weak, but the main focus of enmity was the last person.
"How is that outsider still in there?"
"He must be hiding behind the army and got lucky."
"Why would the elders even let him try the trial?"
Kai… that boy isn't a member of the Hundred Sect Alliance. Chen Liang tapped his chin, a hint of amusement in his sharp eyes. Something about the young man stuck out to him. Kai was the first to avoid the formation lines around him in this batch of disciples. I wonder what great sect he is from.
The monument glowed, a white light shot out and landed on the ground, and Kai stepped out of that light. He wiped the sweat with the sleeve and scowled; his eyes landed on the now changed ranking.
Grave of Swords:
1. Kai, Divine Sword Valley, 30th wave.
2. Emith, Temple, 27th wave.
3. Chen Liang, Azure Sky Sect, 27th wave
An overwhelming lead. But the boy wasn't satisfied; his eyes landed on the ones that outlasted him. The name Wang Yang made him click his tongue. However, the previously gossiping crowd now looked at the remaining two names with tense nerves.
Divine Sword Valley… he's from there?! Even Chen Liang felt the heat, the fish was much bigger than he expected. With results like this and the express permission of the elders to participate, Kai wasn't some no-name disciple.
These elders are so damn nasty. Is this how you want to light up their competitive spirits in the younger generation?
This wasn't a simple competition between sects now; if Kai maintained his lead, it would wound the Eastern Continent's pride and reputation. Chen Liang could see the look on Li Muchen's face; no doubt, Kai's participation was his idea. You two better pull through, little juniors. Your Master has set a wonderful stage for you.
The sentiment spread among the disciples who finally got together in the face of foreign pressure.
Another stream of light broke the tense air. Sun Lingling walked out of the beam, much calmer than the others. The ranking changed again, and everyone's gaze alongside it.
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1. Sun Lingling, Azure Sky Sect, 32nd wave.
She attained the highest ranking in the current batch, but not enough to crack the all-time list. However, unlike the hubbub around her, she stood still, her eyes closed in extreme focus. Her fingers trembled and curled, holding an imaginary sword. Even then, the pressure from her body made others step back on instinct.
She had a breakthrough in there. Muchen noticed the wisps of sword qi surrounding Sun Lingling; it had become a much deeper red. The Grave of Swords wasn't all about martial skills, but that only applied to ordinary geniuses.
"She's good. No wonder that old man wanted to teach her." Kai whistled at the red qi converging into Sun Lingling, his sword-like eyes turned back to the monument as everyone held their breath.
The only disciple left inside the trial, Wang Yang, finally came out after another hour. However, unlike most disciples, he lay flat on the ground, huffing. Covered from head to toe in sweat, he gritted his teeth with clenched hands.
The disciples around him were more interested in the ranking, and to their surprise, the list changed for the last time, however, not in the way they expected.
Grave of Swords
1. Sun Lingling, Azure Sky Sect, 32nd wave.
2. Kai, Divine Sword Valley, 30th wave.
3. Wang Yang, Azure Sky Sect. 29th wave.
4. Emith, Temple, 27th wave.
5. Chen Liang, Azure Sky Sect, 27th wave
I was so close. Wang Yang covered his face, close to pulling at his hair.
"What are you moping for?" Kai nudged him with his foot.
"Well… sorry I couldn't do better than you." Wang Yang stood up with an awkward smile, calming his heart. He still remembered the words the short-tempered guy had said before.
"You're damn clueless, man." Kai shook his head and walked away, clicking his tongue once again.
"What happened now?" Confused, Wang Yang scratched his cheek.
Unaware of the gazes from other disciples. Especially the disciples from the Azure Sky sect, who thought of him as a tagalong, started to see him with fire in their eyes.
This is… Chen Liang froze on the spot, his eyes stuck on the ranking. He couldn't believe it. Inclusion of Kai, knowing he will perform well, using that to spark the competitive spirit, and bringing the disciples together in the face of a common enemy. Then the two new disciples, who are barely a year into cultivation, show incredible results and save the face of the Major Sects and leap over the elites like nothing?
This could be a coincidence, but they only go so far. This was deliberate. Like someone is trying to uplift Sun Lingling and Wang Yang. And if they, as newcomers, reach a higher status with their skills, it will become their fortune, but also make them targets. But targets to whom…
Chen Liang, in the middle of internal rambling, felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head and saw Li Muchen.
"Just because you can see something, doesn't mean you should." He said.
"Ah… I understand." Chen Liang bowed and left.
Geniuses are so tedious.
Muchen thought how tedious geniuses were again when he met Huang Bai after the trials ended. It was dinner time, and for once Han Yue wasn't around.
His junior sister had carried out the task of keeping an eye on the other representatives, however…
"You want someone to tail Hua Bo?" Surprise covered Huang Bai's usual calm face.
"Yes, he has been cooped up in the Cave of Eons alone. But you don't have to worry, someone else will do the task. Just keep an eye on Gen for now." Muchen said, placing a steamed dumpling into her plate.
"…Understood."
I know you didn't. Muchen almost rolled his eyes. But it's alright, sometimes you have to see things you don't want to, as well.
***
Huang Bai, in her disguise, moved through the dead of the night.
Birch trees flew by her as she stepped over leaves carried by the cool wind, running through the mountain range. She had kept an eye on the disciples through the trial and didn't find anyone suspicious. However, her brother's disciple aroused her curiosity, even more so when her own disciple talked so well of the young boy.
"He did well, even if he is the weakest among the disciples. Maybe he'll reach the all-time list like brother did next time." Huang Bai muttered, landing before a cave deep inside a valley of darkness.
The site for the special training for the disciples, Cave of Eons. The Hundred Sect Alliance guarded the area this time, at least they should've. She hadn't seen anyone around the place the entire day. The reason? Only one person stood guard at the actual cave while the rest helped with patrols instead.
Why is Hua Bo guarding this place alone? Huang Bai couldn't sit still. Even when Muchen had told her to keep her eyes on others, she came over to check the cave on her own.
In the airy cave, glimmering stones embedded in the high, rocky ceiling shone like stars. And in the middle of the wide expanse, Hua Bo knelt before a formation circle that covered the end of the cold cave. The intricate lines stretched from the floor onto the walls, forming a circular door on the ceiling containing a coiling dragon.
Has he already finished refilling the Qi? Huang Bai watched from a distance, hidden in the shadow.
Hua Bo, unaware of her presence, kept a vigilant watch on the area. He yawned from time to time out of boredom, ate a food pill every hour, but kept his eyes on the entrance, checking the formation's status every time a stick of incense burnt through.
He's grown a lot from before, but he'd gotten thinner, paler. Huang Bai slipped out of the cave after a few hours. She looked at her current wrinkly hands. If she didn't have to maintain her disguise, she would've tried talking to him.
"Though he wouldn't really be happy to talk with me." Huang Bai shook her head, vanishing into the night along with her mutter.
However, Hua Bo walked out of the cave a few minutes after her exit. A smile on his lips, bordering on a sneer.
"She didn't learn anything from Senior Li, did she?" He muttered. "When disguising, you mustn't just disguise your appearance, but your emotions too."
She had already given herself away in Long City. Those pitiful eyes of hers, I can't ever forget them. He walked back into the cave, a twisted lamp in his grasp.
"With the pest gone, shall we get started for real?"
The rusted bronze surface of the lamp had many dents and grooves. At the center, an eye popped out. The obsidian pupil contracted to get more light as the blue nerves in the sclera expanded in glee.
"This is excellent, Hua Bo. You've brought me to the right place." A rickety voice came from the mouth of the lamp. "Not only that, you've helped me gather more information. How could I ever repay you?"
"Of course, Brother Gu. We had a deal, remember?" Hua Bo said. "You haven't honored it well, I have to say."
"My apologies for that, Brother Hua, as you know, some pathetic bastards got in my way." Gu Changge's voice came out of the lamp's curved lip. "But, now that you've helped me place this modified soul lamp in the Cave of Eons, I will do everything to honor my end of the deal and destroy Azure Sky Sect."
"I don't care about the sect as a whole, but to destroy her, you need to decimate the sect." Hua Bo said.
"To have such hatred for the one who raised you like her brother." Gu Changge chuckled.
"It is precisely because of what she did that my hatred was born." Hua Bo's smile faded. "But be careful, Brother Gu, the Azure Sky Sect won't go down easily."
"They are just some sheep that I will slaughter soon." Gu Changge declared.
"You have to be careful, Brother Gu. There is a fox hidden in that herd of sheep." Hua Bo picked up the lustrous bronze lamp from the middle of the formation and placed the rusted one in its place. "But I doubt he can escape this net we have woven."
A surge of red burst forward from the center of the formation, but before it could spread, Hua Bo suppressed the signal with his control. Soon, the tendrils from the rusted lamp spread into the formation, and it took the form of the original soup lamp, sinking into the ceiling.
It is good that Fei Chao is a lazy guy. A good fall guy for me. Hua Bo smiled, exiting the cave.
"Qingliu Mountain, the treasure vault that holds souls of the esteemed ancestors who gave their all to ensure the future of humanity. The noble souls who wanted to teach their descendants so they never had to face the calamities they suffered." He scoffed, bathing in the orange hue from sunrise.
"Now, I wonder how they will feel when they have to kill the kids they wanted to watch over?"