"Mm. I think so as well. This time, there will definitely be a pleasant surprise."
In full agreement with Instructor Li's words, Deputy Envoy Yao looked down at the sparring between the boys and girls on the drill ground, nodding in satisfaction. "In the beginning, these brats were hesitant when fighting one another, not daring to strike with any real force. But after pouring so much demon beast meat and medicinal broth down their throats, their true nature is finally starting to show.
"Look at that—their strikes are far more vicious than before, every hit aimed to maim or cripple. You have to nurture a touch of malice for it to work. Only by treating the other person as an enemy can they make rapid progress!"
Injuries were inevitable when practicing martial arts, and only by genuinely attacking each other could they advance the fastest. Suspended Fate Manor was not short on medicine, and Deputy Envoy Yao did not mind these children developing some ferocity.
Even if the price was that these once-innocent and kindhearted youths had now turned into ruthless little beasts with murderous glints in their eyes... No, how could that be called a price?
This was precisely what they had wanted all along.
What the Divine Sect needed was the kind of seekers who erupted with boundless drive for their own desires, who were willing to destroy and reshape everything for their own wishes—people who, for that objective, would rather destroy themselves, unbothered even if the Divine Sect were obliterated in the process.
Yet what did that matter?
In this world, only the Divine Sect would take them in, embracing all their dreams, whether malicious or beautiful, and supporting their desires to either destroy or reshape the mortal realm.
Because...
"This is Heaven's Will."
The old man turned his head to look at An Jing, who was calmly surveying the entire grounds from the side, coordinating the sparring order of all the children and promptly stopping anyone who became too extreme.
Yao's gaze burned with intense heat, flickers of eerie green light dancing within his eyes. "Heh heh. Some people can only undergo transformation after consuming medicine. But others are born transcending the mundane.
"An Jing... ah, An Jing... Over all these years, he is one of the finest seedlings I have ever encountered."
Deputy Envoy Yao stroked his beard, a smile of immense anticipation spreading across his face. "This time, we might truly harvest some brethren who exceed our wildest expectations.
"When that day comes, perhaps I can leave this deep wilderness and return to Great Chen."
"That day will surely come," Instructor Li said, cupping his hands in respect.
"By the way, Xiao Li, I heard that recently, the red hounds from the authorities have been biting hard, and practitioners from Jiankong Mountain have even intervened? The manor's supplies are running low; we cannot let our boys go hungry."
Pleased, Deputy Envoy Yao shifted his gaze away from the drill ground and said to Instructor Li beside him, "Well? How far have they tracked us?"
"They tracked us to North Rain Marsh." As the topic turned serious, the One-Eyed Instructor promptly reported with a solemn expression, "Eight of our outposts have been uprooted.
"Several blessed grounds where we hunted demon beasts using Blood Pills as bait were also destroyed, wasting a great deal of our Great Medicine."
At this point, a hint of regret crossed his face. "Though they were medicines refined from children of ordinary aptitude, their potency was not low... How can those imperial lackeys from Great Chen have even less regard for life than us, wasting the fine medicine made from those children!"
"Then continue to use bait," Deputy Envoy Yao replied calmly. "Only this time, the prey we fish for will not be ferocious beasts, but those red-skinned dogs.
"Have the people from the surrounding altars raid county seats that are not close to us, then buy more people from those gangs to keep using as bait. Keep dangling it before them, and let us see whether we have more bait or they have more men.
"They are not Children of Calamity—just ordinary human lives. We can afford the cost."
"Understood!"
Having received the order, Instructor Li hesitated slightly, then said cautiously, "However, on Jiankong Mountain's side, it is said that a Divine Hidden Real Man, Six Yang Mystic Mirror, has arrived..."
Speaking of this, even though it was an enemy, Instructor Li subconsciously lowered his voice out of respect. "Neither of the scouting teams sent out returned with any messages; they were likely wiped out. He seems to be tracking the Northern Circuit Envoy, and we were merely caught in the crossfire."
"Real Man Mystic Mirror... Why would a grandmaster Real Man from Jiankong Mountain's Clear Mirror Sect intervene?" Deputy Envoy Yao wore a troubled expression. He pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "No. We cannot rely on luck. He may have already penetrated deep into the Western Wilderness.
"How is progress within the manor? When can the trials begin?" he asked.
Instructor Li thumped his chest with confidence. "Virtually complete! With that lad An Jing assisting, training these children has been far easier than in the past, and their progress is much faster!
"If pressed, I would say even today is fine!"
"Good, good. Then there is still time!"
Filled with the joy of an impending harvest, Deputy Envoy Yao looked once more at the disciples' footwork and battle formations on the drill ground. Deeming their preparation sufficient, he said, "Then let it be so. Tomorrow, open the valley and commence the ritual.
"The Divine Sect has nurtured them for many days; it is time for these little ones to show their worth."
***
The following day.
Without much explanation, under the lead of the managers and team captains of Suspended Fate Manor, the youths carried their training sabers, swords, staves, and spears, departing Suspended Fate Mountain. Following a forest trail, they arrived before a deep canyon situated behind the mountain.
Having prepared long beforehand, An Jing had quietly concealed two handguns inside his sleeves.
This canyon was Suspended Fate Valley. A clear river surged forth from within it, creating an alluvial fan of white sand.
At the center of the alluvial land, on a rather flat stretch of white sand, twelve ancient jade altars formed a circle. Surrounding each altar were nine positions—three within and six without—constructing an ancient, storied ritual array.
When An Jing first arrived, the first thing he saw was the canyon. His overly keen senses, combined with the influence of the Fuxie Sword Spirit, caused him to experience a momentary illusion. He felt that the canyon had not formed naturally, but was rather...
A sword scar!
For a moment, An Jing even envisioned a divine being holding a blade, plummeting straight from the heavens like a raging heavenly river, slashing a straight canyon through these endless mountain ranges to suppress something beneath the earth.
Countless years later, mountain streams converged here, transforming into a long, dragon-like mountain river.
*Could it be the Fuxie Sword Spirit?!*
*It was indeed me,* the Fuxie Sword Spirit seemed to recall as well, its tone solemn. *My other fragment lies within this Suspended Fate Valley.*
*I never found an opportunity to come here before, but it seems this is our final chance.*
"Understood." An Jing shook his head slightly, steadying his mind to observe their surroundings.
Yet this observation filled him with even greater dread.
For across this clean, white sand, he saw many things that were equally white, yet utterly terrifying.
Bones.
Human bones!
Scattered across the surrounding white sand were numerous skeletal remains of the same pale color. Some were skulls, some were arms and hands, and others were thighs and ribs... All the bones were exceptionally small; not a single one belonged to an adult. Some were shattered, while others remained remarkably intact...
*Sure enough, Bai Qinghan was right... Is it finally beginning?*
*Have the people of the Demon Sect finally grown 'hungry'?*
In an instant, An Jing raised his vigilance to the absolute limit.
As expected, the Demon Sect was finally about to reveal its true face!
If danger struck, he still had some ability to resist. If no one blocked the way, he could even lead people to escape into the mountain forests.
Yet the Demon Sect gave him no opportunity whatsoever.
Glancing around from the corners of his eyes, An Jing noticed that although the escorts guarding the children did not appear numerous, they blocked every possible exit.
A single person might manage to slip through, but taking others along would make escape entirely impossible.
At the very least, he had to protect the members of his own squad...
"Brother An..."
At that moment, the other eight youths following behind An Jing noticed the surrounding bones as well. Gu Yeqi subconsciously took a step back, warily scanning their surroundings as she asked, "What... what is going on here?"
"Don't be afraid,"
An Jing comforted her in a low voice. "Next up is likely the formal initiation trial into the manor... The Lineage Inheritance of Suspended Fate Manor is demanding, so it is bound to be perilous. These remains were probably left behind by disciples who failed their initiation in the past.
"But don't worry, we are strong. We will all succeed in this initiation."
"Right!" Gu Yeqi trusted An Jing completely, responding without the slightest hesitation, and the other squad members also settled their nerves.
Next came Manor Lord Yao's address.
His speech was long-winded, but the general meaning was straightforward: after more than a year of training and cultivation, these disciples of Suspended Fate Manor were to prepare for the formal initiation ritual.
The ritual was extremely dangerous. Guided by the ceremonial rites, it drew upon the power of the Exalted God of Imperial Heaven to invoke the inner demons within each person's heart.
If one could slay their inner demon, they could awaken a Heaven's Mandate Destiny Pattern and become a true disciple of Suspended Fate Manor. If they failed, there was a chance they might die; but as long as they survived, even in failure, they could still become a member of the manor.
Just like the riders and servants, Suspended Fate Manor would provide them with a bowl of rice to eat.
Naturally, whether they wished to participate was entirely up to their own choice.
Chapter 32