Upon learning of this, Fifth Elder stated plainly that there was no need to recover the storage ring.
"All right, you may pass as well."
"Thank you, True Monarch."
Seeing that the timing was about right, Lu Yang sent a voice transmission to Dai Bufan: "Senior Brother Dai, I have something to take care of. I'll be stepping away for a bit."
Dai Bufan could not wait for Lu Yang to leave—preferably dragging Meng Jingzhou along with him. Unfortunately, Lu Yang had no tact and simply walked off on his own.
Taking Lu Yang's place was Man Gu.
"Next!"
Man Gu had a booming, resonant voice, sounding like an imperial palace guard at the gates announcing an audience for some high official.
...
When the first round of trials concluded, a full eight hundred applicants advanced to the second round.
Out in the wider world, second-rank sects would scramble to snatch up any of these eight hundred, while first-rank sects would at most act a bit more reserved.
"Congratulations to everyone for passing the first round of trials. We will now begin the second round."
Dai Bufan continued presiding over the trials, while the other sect disciples formed a perimeter around the eight hundred applicants to maintain order.
The venue for the second round was the bamboo forest—the river spirit's domain.
"As the saying goes, the path of cultivation is fraught with inner demons. In truth, before you have even set foot into the cultivation world, inner demons have already taken root within your hearts.
"The earnest expectations of your parents, the doting love of your elders, the dread of failing this trial... all of these serve as the raw material for inner demons!
"This second stage will test whether you can confront your inner demons and overcome them!
"Of course, considering that your minds are not yet mature, having you overcome an inner demon presents tremendous difficulties. Therefore, in this second stage, you may choose to face your inner demon on your own, or you may choose to team up and overcome it together.
"After all, on the path of cultivation, the companionship and help of friends are indispensable."
"You two are amazing—a Water Spiritual Root, and the legendary Everlasting Immortal Physique," Daoist Xiantian said with a smile, looking at Gu Junye and Gu Xie with great envy. "I've heard that Daoist Lord Wanfa possessed the Everlasting Immortal Physique.
"Perhaps you can become a powerhouse like Daoist Lord Wanfa in the future."
Gu Xie remained unmoved by Daoist Xiantian's praise.
Gu Junye patted Gu Xie on the shoulder and said in the patronizing tone of a mentor lecturing a junior, "A constitution is certainly important, but what matters even more is having a resolute Dao heart!"
Gu Xie let out a cold snort, subtly dodging Gu Junye's hand.
"How about this? As they say, strength lies in numbers. Meeting at the mountain gates is fate in itself, so why don't the four of us team up to overcome our inner demons?"
Gu Xie sneered inwardly. *Fine by me. I'll join your team, and take this chance to eliminate all three of you so that I'm the only one who passes.*
"Very well."
In an instant, a watery mist rolled through the bamboo forest, obscuring anyone more than a zhang away.
The river spirit stood atop the water's surface as bubbles gurgled up beneath him. Floating into the air, the bubbles expanded continuously until they reached the height of a grown person.
These enormous bubbles enveloped everyone. For those who had formed teams, their bubbles collided and fused into larger ones, gathering each makeshift squad inside a single bubble so they could confront a shared inner demon.
...
"It seems this is the illusion." When Daoist Xiantian and the other three awoke once more, they found themselves in a desolate, uninhabited wasteland and realized they were inside the illusion.
Gu Xie chuckled inwardly. He wanted to see just what inner demons these three could possibly have—nothing more than parental scoldings, frightful little ghosts, or similar trivialities beneath notice.
*Just wait until the three of you make utter fools of yourselves!*
Suddenly, the winds and clouds churned. A thunderbolt crashed down, blasting a distant mountaintop to pieces on the spot. Gu Xie started in surprise. *What's going on?*
Gu Junye stood with his hands clasped behind his back, head tilted upward at a forty-five-degree angle. Staring impassively at the sky, he murmured, "It is coming."
"What is coming?" Gu Xie could not help asking.
Gu Junye covered his twitching right eye, soothing the restless Heaven-Swallowing Beast within, and pointed up at the oppressive, black sky.
In the sky, thunder rolled with the roar of dragons and the cries of phoenixes, bearing the terrifying might to tear the world asunder.
"To think that my inner demon really would be this."
"What on earth is that?" Gu Xie's eyelids twitched, seized by an ominous premonition.
Gu Junye sighed softly. "The lightning tribulation that brought about my downfall in my previous life—the Nine-Nine Immortal Ascension Tribulation."
Chapter 745