The trial is a choice between two paths: a test of spiritual power or a test of true qi and magic. I will suppress my cultivation to match yours and fight you. If you defeat me, you can proceed to the main peak," Qiu said to Ye Bufan.
Ye Bufan found the nature of the trial somewhat amusing. The ancient tower trials in the underground city were similar, and he hadn't expected this place to be any different, with both spiritual and true qi trials being conducted separately.
"Alright then, I choose the spiritual power trial," Ye Bufan replied to Qiu.
"You may leave here directly."
Just as Ye Bufan was preparing to face the trial, Qiu uttered a sentence that shocked him.
"What about my companions?" Ye Bufan asked.
"You are the one chosen by the Ancestral Dragon. If I were to attack you, it would mean I am challenging the Ancestral Dragon," Qiu explained. "The Ancestral Dragon's power within you would counter me. There's no need for me to court disaster."
Upon hearing this, Ye Bufan finally understood. It was all thanks to the Dragon Emperor Token. He was ecstatic.
As soon as the words fell, Ye Bufan vanished from his spot and reappeared in an unfamiliar location the next second.
"Your companions will naturally find you after they pass their trials. If they fail, they will lose their qualification to enter the main peak," Qiu's voice echoed again. Ye Bufan nodded and began to observe his new surroundings.
In the air directly ahead, a massive garden-style complex floated. From afar, it resembled a traditional courtyard house, but it was incredibly vast and exuded an air of nobility.
In front of the grand entrance stood an archway, inscribed with three characters: "Taiyi Peak." They were written with a powerful and vigorous hand, possessing an inexplicable rhythm.
Passing through the archway, the surroundings instantly turned dim and obscure. Ye Bufan became instantly vigilant.
"Welcome to Taiyi Peak," an old man's voice resonated. Before Ye Bufan, a valley suddenly appeared. To his left was a fiery inferno, and to his right was an icy expanse. The two sides were divided down the middle, and the only path was a narrow stone bridge in between, which was more like a single-file path.
"From the moment you stepped through the archway, the trial has begun. The first trial is that you must choose a path to the other side of the valley," the old man's voice sounded again. "The path on the left is the Road of Purgatory. Upon crossing the stone bridge, you will be struck by heavenly lightning. A single mistake could lead to your complete disintegration or a fall into the abyss."
"The path on the right is called the Ice Storm. You will endure the most terrifying trial of chilling bone-piercing cold, facing glaciers and blizzards. Especially the wind within, which feels like it's stripping your bones. Of course, if you fall into the abyss by mistake, you will also meet your end. You have only one chance."
"Are you ready?"
Ye Bufan listened to the old man's description and felt even more delighted. Wasn't heaven helping him?
The Road of Purgatory involved facing heavenly lightning throughout the journey, and he possessed the Chongxu Thunder Art, which made him completely unafraid of heavenly lightning!
"I choose the Road of Purgatory," Ye Bufan declared without hesitation.
"Have you thought it through?" the old man's voice inquired again. "Once you enter, there is no room for regret. You cannot withdraw midway or turn back. You can only move forward."
"I have."
Leaving his words behind, Ye Bufan stepped onto the Road of Purgatory.
"Rumble—"
The moment Ye Bufan took his first step, a bolt of heavenly lightning descended. Ye Bufan circulated the Chongxu Thunder Art, converting the heavenly lightning into lightning power for body tempering. The first strike caused him no harm at all.
"Comfortable."
Ye Bufan exhaled, his body awakened by the heavenly lightning, and he felt filled with power.
"Hmm? There's someone else." Ye Bufan saw a figure in the distance. It was likely the first person to reach Taiyi Peak.
"Rumble—"
The second bolt of heavenly lightning struck. Ye Bufan, caught unprepared, was stunned for a moment. With the continuous circulation of the Chongxu Thunder Art, his condition improved significantly.
"This is practically a trial designed for me."
Ye Bufan felt that with the help of the Chongxu Thunder Art, his true qi had become even purer.
"Hoo—bring it on."
Ye Bufan took a few more steps forward. A white line descended from the sky and struck him squarely on the forehead, exploding with a loud boom.
This strike sent Ye Bufan crashing to the ground. He immediately stood up, his clothes already showing several scorched holes.
"Hoo~"
Ye Bufan took a deep breath. Only after the Chongxu Thunder Art had completely converted the lightning energy into body-tempering power did he continue to move forward.
During this time, Ye Bufan also noticed that the further he went, the stronger the heavenly lightning became. Of course, if he wanted to dodge, he could, provided his reaction speed was exceptionally fast.
"Buzz—"
When Ye Bufan had traversed one-third of the path, the Dragon Emperor Token suddenly began to vibrate. He turned his head and saw a familiar figure appearing at the starting point.
"Hiss—Living Yama." Ye Bufan looked at Living Yama, thinking he had indeed crossed paths with this formidable opponent.
However, it was strange. Living Yama seemed unable to see him, looking in Ye Bufan's direction as if he couldn't perceive anything.
"Could it be that everyone sees things differently?" This question arose in Ye Bufan's mind.
"Taiyi Divine Sect, as an ancient great sect, its trials can't possibly be this simple, can they?"
Ye Bufan carefully recalled everything he had experienced since entering. It seemed to be a matter of luck, or even intelligence, with a bit of knowledge related to formations and talismans required.
Looking back again, Ye Bufan noticed that the person he had seen earlier in the distance had disappeared. He didn't know if they had passed the Road of Purgatory or fallen into the abyss.
"Whatever, I'll just keep moving forward for now." Ye Bufan decided to focus on passing this Road of Purgatory first.
He circulated the Chongxu Thunder Art to its extreme and moved straight forward along the Road of Purgatory.
He took five consecutive steps, and five bolts of heavenly lightning descended in succession. Ye Bufan narrowly dodged the first three but was struck by the latter two.
Ye Bufan collapsed onto the ground. The Chongxu Thunder Art accelerated its conversion. Simultaneously, Ye Bufan discovered that his perception of spiritual energy had become much keener.
"This feeling! It's so wonderful!" Ye Bufan circulated the Chongxu Thunder Art while absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Due to the preceding lightning tempering, his true qi had become more condensed, allowing more true qi to enter his body and be stored in his dantian.
Five minutes later, Ye Bufan slowly opened his eyes and took another step forward.