Chapter Two: Trials

Lin Yi learned that Zeng Wen's death ultimately ended inconclusively, with peak masters suppressing various discussions within their respective peaks.

However, the vigilance between the five peaks became even more stringent, and mutual distrust started to grow.

Seeing this situation, Lin Yi couldn't help but smile bitterly. He didn't expect that the murderer who killed Zeng Wen would unintentionally cause discord between Long You Peak and Qiankun Peak.

The grand competition had already concluded, and the next step was for the thirty-two victorious disciples to embark on external adventures.

Following the tradition of the Taiyi Sect, each of the thirty-two individuals would lead several junior disciples on expeditions lasting from one to several years.

This rule aimed to let disciples experience the world and prevent them from being simple-minded cultivators solely focused on cultivation.

The thirty-two winners would receive corresponding rewards based on their rankings. The adventure, held once every twenty years, served as a stable way to cultivate talents.

This time, the first-place winner, Hong Tiankong, received a magical artifact called the Qiankun Bag, a powerful treasure once used by the sect master Shang Yong. The last-place winner, Jiang Xiao (now Lin Yi), received a bottle of Qi Refining Pill, an elixir that could enhance cultivation.

Due to Zeng Wenmao's unexpected demise, the thirty-two individuals became thirty-one. Except for Lin Yi (formerly Jiang Xiao), the remaining thirty people excitedly formed teams.

Lin Yi had no intention of joining a team. As one of the thirty-two winners, it was against the rules to form teams with others. This required him to establish his own team as the leader.

His goal in winning this time was to leave the sect to overcome the Small Heavenly Tribulation. Concealing his cultivation level, he dared not face the tribulation within the sect.

Therefore, his victory in this competition, which contradicted his usual habit of keeping a low profile, marked a departure from his ordinary lifestyle.

Embarking alone, Lin Yi took advantage of others still in the process of forming teams. With his adventure certificate, he departed openly through the mountain gate, flying towards the east of Copper Bo Mountain.

After spending three years at Copper Bo Mountain, Lin Yi felt a bit excited to leave for the first time. After resurrecting at the bottom of the Heaven-Demon Pool and undergoing secret training at the Sword Mound, he was immediately sent to Taiyi Sect near Copper Bo Mountain, becoming a disciple of the Qiankun Peak.

News of Zeng Wenmao's murder would soon reach the Sword Mound. It was said that this young man was the son of a certain elder in the Sword Mound. Such audacity to come out and act as an undercover agent was quite foolish. Even if the Sword Mound came after him, he wasn't afraid.

As long as Lin Yi successfully overcame the Small Heavenly Tribulation, his strength would greatly increase. At that time, even if they wanted to settle scores with him, they would have to weigh their options.

Lin Yi currently practiced both Dao and Demon cultivation. In the Dao path, he cultivated the Sword Abyss True Scripture from the Sword Mound and obtained the complete cultivation manual of Sword Abyss Gathering Qi Art at the bottom of the Heaven-Demon Pool. He was also sent to Taiyi Sect to learn the Taiyi Spirit Purification Technique.

His cultivation in Sword Abyss Gathering Qi Art had reached at least the ninth level of the Profound Realm, about to break through to the Profound Clarity realm. The Taiyi Spirit Purification Technique had been cultivated to the eighth level of the Lesser Yang Realm. However, in this competition, he displayed cultivation at the sixth level of the Lesser Yang Realm.

Cultivator realms could be divided into four major realms: Lesser Yang, Yang Bright, Upper Yang, and Great Yang. Conversely, Demon cultivators had Lesser Profound, Profound Clarity, Upper Profound, and Great Profound realms.

The major realms were roughly equivalent, with each major realm further divided into ten minor realms. Most cultivators throughout their lives could only struggle within the first major realm without breaking through.

Lin Yi was now about to face the subtle situation of breaking through the Lesser Profound realm, prompting the urgent need to leave. (Continued...)

Zeng Wen, thinking Lin Yi's cultivation was around the seventh or eighth level of the Lesser Profound realm, believed his cultivation at the tenth level of the Lesser Yang realm could easily handle Lin Yi. Naturally, he miscalculated.

With the vastness of the sea and the height of the sky, Lin Yi's mood at the moment cast away the darkness hidden in Taiyi Sect, bringing his soul to a state of tranquility, feeling extremely content.

The world Lin Yi currently inhabited had four continents: North Ice Continent, South Blaze Continent, East Spirit Continent, and West Echo Continent.

Taiyi Sect was situated in the central-western part of the Copper Drum Mountain Range on the East Spirit Continent. The East Spirit Continent was the largest among the four continents, and the combined area of the other three continents couldn't match the East Spirit Continent's vastness.

The countries were numerous, and the population was dense.

The number of sects within the continent was also the highest among the four continents.

There were various major forces and sects, such as Taiyi Sect, Yueting Pavilion, Yue Lu Academy, Heaven Buddha Sect, Myriad Machinations Gate, Sword Mound, Venomous Poison Hall, Fierce Fire Gang, Lingmiao Peak, Feng Family of Guangfeng City, Louwailou, and Myriad Forms Hall, among others.

Countless minor sects existed as well.

Lin Yi's goal this time was an island in the eastern outer sea of the East Spirit Continent. According to his plan, he intended to find an uninhabited island, cultivate in seclusion for some time, and prioritize overcoming the Small Heavenly Tribulation.

Lin Yi felt dissatisfied with his current sword's quality. After overcoming the Small Heavenly Tribulation this time, he planned to find a treasure sword to enhance his strength.

After several days of continuous flight, he finally reached the far east of the East Spirit Continent, looking at the vast sea with scattered islands in the distance.

The sea breeze carried a slightly fishy scent with a touch of saltiness. After checking the map, Lin Yi avoided several large inhabited islands and flew towards an uninhabited small island in the deep sea.

Lin Yi's action this time was somewhat adventurous. If the current land was dominated by humans, the sea, especially the deep sea, was under the influence of the demonic races.

Especially for water-type demonic beasts, their strength increased by at least thirty percent in the sea.

Lin Yi dared not be careless. The frequent occurrences of demonic beasts attacking humans were often mentioned in the records of Sword Mound and Taiyi Sect.

Finally, flying over a distance of over a thousand miles, Lin Yi reached a small island to the east of the East Spirit Continent, slightly southward over the East Sea.

The island wasn't large, easily visible from mid-air.

There was a small rocky mountain on the island, eroded by sea winds, resembling the wrinkles on an old woman's face.

Around the rocky mountain, there was a relatively gentle beach. The waves, driven by the sea breeze, would occasionally surge onto the beach, leaving behind some shells, and would then crash against the rocky mountain, creating loud bangs.

Translation into English:

Soon, three partially transformed demonic beasts arrived, each with a human-like appearance.

One had the body of a person with eagle feathers, and its true form should be the East Sea Miao Eagle.

One had the body of a person with a turtle shell on its back, and its true form should be the East Sea Profound Turtle.

One had the body of a person with a fish tail, and its true form should be the East Sea Chāng Yú (Pomfret Fish).

In three directions, three partially transformed demonic beasts surrounded the small island.

Other lower-level demonic beasts, upon seeing the arrival of the three big shots, immediately scattered like birds and beasts. Those who could dive did so, and those who could fly each dispersed.

"Turtle Brother, who dares to be so bold as to cross the Three Thunder Tribulations in the deep East Sea?" Miao Eagle asked.

"I don't know. When did humans become so daring?" Profound Turtle shook its head.

"Yeah, in this location, not to mention cultivators, even the human scent is hard to detect. Later, don't compete with me. Let me enjoy a feast," the Pomfret Fish demonic beast said with anticipation.

"First understand the situation before speaking. Otherwise, you might end up eating someone and getting your demonic core taken." Miao Eagle mocked.

"Brother Eagle, you're overly cautious. There's only one person's aura on the island. Judging from the situation, it's clear that the Small Heavenly Tribulation is imminent. Whether this kid can overcome it or not, he'll suffer severe energy loss afterward. Without reinforcements, I can handle a human kid one-on-one," the confident Pomfret Fish declared.

"Brother Pomfret, it's better to be cautious. There's only one person's presence on the island. Judging from the situation, it's clear that he's about to face the Small Heavenly Tribulation. Whether this person can overcome it or not, he will suffer significant energy depletion. Without reinforcements, I still can't defeat a human kid one-on-one," the cautious Profound Turtle agreed with Miao Eagle's viewpoint.

The Pomfret Fish demonic beast didn't respond to Miao Eagle and Profound Turtle's views, secretly thinking that once the tribulation ended, it would directly attack and devour the cultivator. The spiritual energy and physical body of cultivators were beneficial to demonic beasts.

(End of this chapter)